JP4937994B2 - Multi-directional slide switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-directional slide switch used for an input device of an electronic device such as a digital camera, a mobile phone, a portable music player, or a portable game device.

  With the miniaturization of electronic devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, portable music players, and portable game devices, small multi-directional slide switches that can perform various input operations have been widely used. Various types of multi-directional slide switches that have been miniaturized have been proposed.

  One example is a multi-directional slide switch 50 as shown in FIG. The multi-directional slide switch 50 includes a slide knob 51, a knob attachment portion 52 to which the slide knob 51 is attached, a frame body 53 that surrounds the outer periphery of the knob attachment portion 52, and a space between the knob attachment portion 52 and the frame body 53. On the other hand, a knob holding member 55 having a flexible arm portion 54 for connecting the knob mounting portion 52 so as to be slidable in multiple directions within the same plane is provided. The switch pressing part 56 is provided. On the other hand, the slide knob 51 is provided with a pressing portion 57 that presses one of the switch pressing portions 56 when the slide knob 51 slides, and the switch pressing portion 56 that is moved by being pressed by the pressing portion 57 of the slide knob 51 is provided. A switch 59 is arranged at a position where the provided conductor 58 abuts.

  The switch 59 is provided at a position facing each switch pressing portion 56 of the switch board 60 installed on the lower surface side of the knob holding member 55. On the other hand, a push button switch 61 that is pressed by a slide knob 51 attached to the knob attachment portion 52 is provided at a position facing the knob attachment portion 52 of the switch board 60.

  The push button switch 61 is configured by attaching a movable contact plate 61c on a pair of contact patterns 61a and 61b. The movable contact plate 61 c is fixed by sticking the sliding sheet 62 on the switch substrate 60.

  When the knob portion 63 of the slide knob 51 is pressed in the X-axis or Y-axis direction orthogonal to each other on the same plane, the knob portion 63 slides in the pressed direction by moving in the knob insertion guide portion 65 of the upper case 64. To do. At this time, since the slide portion 66 provided on the slide knob 51 slides on the slide sheet 62 having a smooth surface, there is little resistance to the slide movement, and a smooth slide movement can be performed. Although the slide part 66 does not come into contact with the upper surface of the sliding sheet 62 in a stationary state and floats slightly, when the slide knob 51 is tilted slightly when the slide knob 51 is moved, the sliding part 66 contacts the upper surface of the sliding sheet 62. Touch. Then, the inclined surface of the pressing portion 57 at the tip of the projecting portion 67 facing the direction in which the slide knob 51 moves is in contact with the pressing surface 68 of the switch pressing portion 57 facing this, and both sides of the switch pressing portion 56 When the connecting portion 69 is bent, the switch pressing portion 56 moves in the downward direction perpendicular to the pressing direction. As a result, the conductor 58 attached directly below the switch pressing portion 56 simultaneously contacts the pair of contact patterns 59 on the switch substrate 60 facing the switch 58, and the switch 70 is turned on. When the pressure on the knob portion 63 is released, the slide knob 51 is integrated with the knob mounting portion 52 by the restoring force to return to the original shape of the four arm portions 54 bent by moving the slide knob 51. The switch pressing portion 56 is raised by the force that automatically returns to the original position, that is, the center of the frame 53, and simultaneously the pressing of the pressing surface 68 by the pressing portion 57 and the connecting portion 69 returns to the original shape. The body 58 leaves the switch 70 and the switch 70 turns off. That is, according to the multi-directional slide switch 50, an output corresponding to the slide direction of the slide knob 51 can be obtained.

  However, in a state where the slide knob 51 is slid outward and the conductor 58 and the switch 70 in the outer peripheral portion are electrically connected, the movable contact plate 61c disposed at the center is pushed onto the board by pushing the slide knob 51 to the board side. When the push button switch is turned on by pressing on the pair of contact patterns 61a and 61b provided on the switch, the switch pressing portion 71 provided at the center of the slide knob 51 is the apex of the movable contact plate 61c. The position deviated from the outside is pressed. In addition, the switch pressing portion 71 presses different positions of the movable contact plate 61c depending on the four sliding directions. For this reason, when the load applied to the dome-shaped movable contact plate 61c fluctuates, the characteristics of the movable contact plate 61c change and not only the operational feeling changes, but also the push button switch is turned on and off accurately. There was a risk that things would not happen.

  Another conventional multi-directional slide switch 2 is as shown in FIG.

  The multi-directional slide switch 80 includes a housing 81 and a conductor 82 and a resistor 83 which are disposed inside the housing 81 and are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval at an initial position where the housing 81 is not operated. A membrane switch 84 and a driver 85 that partially elastically deforms one of the conductor 82 and the resistor 83 to partially contact the conductor 82 and the resistor 83 during operation.

  One of the conductor 82 and the resistor 83 that is elastically deformed by the driving body 85 is formed of a metal leaf spring, and at least one of the housing 81, the conductor 82, and the resistor 83 is electrically conductive. An interval holding means 86 is provided for making the body 82 and the resistor 83 face each other at a predetermined interval at the initial position. The drive body 85 includes a cylindrical base portion 87 and a flange portion 88 extending outward in the radial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 87. The drive body 85 is centered at the initial position. An operating means 89 that is held and tilted in all radial directions during operation or moved while being tilted is provided, so that at least a part of the membrane switch 84 faces the outer peripheral portion of the driver 85. It is arranged. The operation means 89 is formed so as to be capable of being pushed in. A first switch 90 capable of switching operation by the pushing operation of the operation means 89 is disposed inside the housing 81, and the membrane switch 84 Around the periphery, a second switch 91 is provided that can be switched by a further operation after the driver 85 partially contacts the conductor 82 and the resistor 83 when the operating means 89 is operated. .

  At least one of the first switch 90 and the second switch 91 can perform feedback of the operation feeling to the operator with respect to the input operation, and at least one of the first switch 90 and the second switch 91 has a click feeling. Switching operation (see Patent Document 2).

  According to the conventional multi-directional slide switch 80 having such a configuration, when the operating body 92 of the operating means 89 is operated in one direction, for example, to the left in FIG. The pressing body 93 moves to the left along with the body 92. Then, following the movement of the pressing body 93 to the left, the driving body 85 also moves to the left. At this time, since the collar portion 88 of the driving body 85 is disposed between the sliding surface 95 of the annular partition wall portion 94 and the guide portion 97 of the lower plate 96, it tilts toward the lower left and moves to the left. The outer peripheral portion of the collar portion 88 that moves and is located on the leading side in the moving direction comes into contact with the upper surface of the conductor 82, and then the contact portion of the conductor 82 is elastically deformed toward the resistor 83 to correspond to the corresponding position. The resistance layer of the resistor 83 disposed in contact with the deformed portion of the conductor 82.

  Therefore, in the conventional multi-directional slide switch 80, when the resistance layer of the resistor 83 comes into contact with the deformed portion of the conductor 82, as shown in FIG. Since the body 92 is inclined obliquely downward in the operated direction, the structure becomes thicker as the movement amount of the operation body 92 increases. In addition, the operator can feel the operation feeling drawn to the mounting surface side during the slide operation. Since the operation feeling drawn to the mounting surface side is different from the normal sliding feeling that moves in the same plane, the operator feels uncomfortable.

  Therefore, in order to solve the problems of the conventional multi-directional slide switch as described above, the present applicant has proposed a multi-directional slide switch 110 as shown in FIG. -295926).

  The multi-directional slide switch 120 proposed by the applicant has a plurality of contact input units. When the key top 101 is slid, the pusher 102 that slides with the key top 101 slides the contact input unit in the sliding direction. The slide signal is output when 103 is pressed.

  Specifically, a base film 105 in which a plurality of lower electrode patterns 104 are arranged on the circumference and a flexible film 107 in which an upper electrode pattern 106 facing the lower electrode pattern 104 is formed are spacers 108. The membrane switch 109 having a plurality of contact inputs stacked via the center electrode 110 has a central spacer 110 and an outer peripheral spacer 111 that are positioned independently of each other at the central portion and the outer peripheral portion of the plurality of lower electrode patterns 104. ing. Further, an annular pressing force transmission member 112 made of a single-sided adhesive sheet for the purpose of converting the sliding operation of the pusher 102 into the pressing operation of the membrane switch 109 is attached to the outer surface of the central portion of the membrane switch 109. It is attached.

  On the other hand, on the outside of the membrane switch 109, there are an upper cover plate 113 and a lower rear plate 114 for protecting the membrane switch 109, and an elastic rubber 115 that covers the entire cover plate 113 is in close contact with the cover plate 113. Has been. An annular convex portion 116 is formed on the upper surface of the rubber 115, and the multi-directional slide switch 120 attached to the cradle 117 via the rear plate 114 is a case 118 that contacts the upper surface of the rubber 115. Designed to be used in a pinched state. In this case, the annular convex portion 116 of the rubber 115 functions as a seal member due to its elastic restoring force, thereby blocking outside air. As a result, the membrane switch 109 is protected from dust and water droplets, and the reliability of the multi-directional slide switch 120 is improved.

  Therefore, when the key top 101 is slid in the outer direction, the pusher 102 fixed to the key top 101 is also slid together with the key top 101, and the pusher 102 reaches the portion where the pressing force transmitting portion 112 is disposed. Further, it continues on the pressing force transmission member 112 by continuing the slide. As a result, the pressing force transmission member 112 is pushed by the pusher 102 and displaced downward, and presses the flexible film 107. The flexible film 107 is deformed by this pressing and displaced downward, whereby the upper electrode pattern 106 formed on the flexible film 107 comes into contact with the lower electrode pattern 104 formed on the base film 105, They are conducted and a slide signal is output. When the slide of the key top 101 is released, the key top returns to the center position in the initial state by the elastic restoring force of the rubber 115.

According to the multi-directional slide switch 120 proposed by the applicant, the membrane switch constituting the plurality of contact input portions can be slid and pressed by the single pusher 102 and can be configured in a small size. By pressing the membrane switch 109 when the child 102 rides on the pressing force transmitting member 112 disposed on the membrane switch 109, the force of the sliding operation can be reliably converted into the pressing force, and this is reliable. We were able to provide an excellent product.
JP 2007-335190 A JP 2006-318860 A

  However, according to the multi-directional slide switch proposed by the applicant before this filing date, each time the key top is slid, the pusher rubs against the side surface and the upper surface of the pressing force transmission member. From this point, the corners of the lower surface of the pusher are rounded, and a friction reducing sheet is stuck on the pressing force transmitting member in order to reduce the frictional force when the pusher slides. .

  Therefore, in order to improve the durability, a friction reducing sheet is required, and it takes time and effort to attach the friction reducing sheet. In addition, since the rubber is arranged outside the cover plate, in order to maintain the airtightness in the cover plate and prevent the rubber from being displaced laterally, the convex portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rubber is used. It was necessary to design the case so that there was a part of the case of the device body that would be in close contact.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. In spite of the small structure, the key top is slid in multiple directions within the same plane parallel to the substrate. Thus, the slide switch function for detecting the position of the moving destination can be realized without a sense of incongruity, and a specific circuit is turned on by pressing the key top in the vertical direction toward the substrate at the neutral position and / or the slide end position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a durable and reliable multi-directional slide switch that can surely realize a push button switch function for switching off.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a membrane switch comprising a key top for performing an input operation, and a conductor disposed oppositely at a predetermined interval at an unoperated initial position. And a housing member that accommodates the membrane switch, wherein the one conductor is provided on an inner surface of the thin film sheet having elastic restoring force, and the one or the other conductor is provided. An insulator is disposed in the center of any of the above, and the insulator can contact either the one or the other conductor during operation, and the outer surface of the thin film sheet corresponds to the insulator An annular convex portion having a slope descending toward the center surrounding the insulator is provided at a position excluding the region where the membrane switch is formed. In the upper part of the hose, an operation convex part provided at the lower part of the key top slides outward in the slope area of the annular convex part to push down the thin film sheet via the annular convex part. And a neutral support body having an elastic restoring force toward the center so that the operation convex portion is located directly above the insulator in an unoperated initial state, and an opening is formed at an upper portion of the housing member. And an outer peripheral portion of the neutral support is supported and fixed inside the housing member, and a movable portion of the neutral support that is elastically deformed is exposed from an opening of the housing member.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the neutral support body has an elastic restoring force capable of returning the depressed operation body to an initial position in a vertical direction, and the neutral support body A substantially annular support plate through which the operation convex portion penetrates is disposed inside the support body, and the operation body is brought into contact with the outer surface of the support plate at an initial position where the operation protrusion is not operated, whereby the operation body is moved to an initial position in the vertical direction. A stop plate that cannot be moved to the outside is provided inside the neutral support.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the first or second aspect, the central fixed electrode and the central fixed electrode are connected to the surface of the flexible substrate housed in the inner bottom surface of the housing member. A ring-shaped fixed electrode is provided, and a dome-shaped movable electrode having a central convex shape is mounted on the annular fixed electrode. In the initial state, the movable electrode has a bottom surface. The end portion of the movable electrode is brought into contact with the annular fixed electrode and is conducted, and the central portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode is brought into contact with the central fixed electrode by pushing down the central portion of the movable electrode during operation. A definite switch means capable of conducting with the annular fixed electrode is provided in the lower center portion of the membrane switch, and the center portion of the thin film sheet corresponding to the insulator is pushed down. Central portion of the membrane switch is characterized in that to be able to depress the central portion of the movable electrode flexes downward downwards.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the third aspect, a pressing convex portion that contacts the central portion of the movable electrode is provided at a central portion of the lower surface of the membrane switch. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, one conductor of the membrane switch is provided on the inner surface of the thin film sheet having elastic restoring force, and an insulator is provided at the central portion of one or the other conductor. Arranged so that the insulator can come into contact with either the one or the other conductor during operation, and the outer surface of the thin film sheet is centered around the insulator at a position excluding the region corresponding to the insulator. An annular convex part is formed with a slope that descends downward, and the operation convex part slides outward in the slope area of the annular convex part through the annular convex part at the upper part of the membrane switch. Since the thin film sheet can be pushed down, when the center part of the membrane switch is pressed downward, the insulator comes into contact with the other conductor, and one conductor becomes the other conductor. Without contact, it can be one of the conductors by the annular convex portion corresponding to the peripheral portion is pressed downward of the insulator contacts the other conductor. And since the operation convex part can contact one electric conductor with the other electric conductor by the downward operation of the thin film sheet which occurs by contacting the gentle slope of the annular convex part when sliding, the movement is It is done smoothly. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, since the operation convex portion does not get over the annular convex portion, a friction reducing sheet is attached to the surface of the annular convex portion in order to reduce the frictional force between the operational convex portion and the annular convex portion. Therefore, sufficient durability of the operation convex part and the annular convex part is maintained, and if the thickness of the annular convex part is slightly larger than the gap between the pair of opposing conductors, it is surely conductive. Since the bodies can be brought into contact with each other, the position detecting function of the membrane switch can be realized with a structure having a slight thickness.

  In addition, a neutral support body having an elastic restoring force toward the center is provided so that the operation convex portion is positioned directly above the insulator in an initial state where the operation is not performed, and an opening is provided at the upper portion of the housing member, Since the outer peripheral portion of the support is supported and fixed inside the housing member, a highly reliable multi-directional slide switch without a lateral shift of the neutral support can be provided. In addition, since the airtightness can be obtained by the multi-directional slide switch itself, conventionally, the outer periphery of the rubber is maintained in order to maintain the airtightness in the cover plate (housing member) and to prevent the rubber (neutral support) from being laterally displaced. The case of the device main body that is in close contact with the convex portion provided in the portion is not necessary, and the degree of freedom in designing the device main body is increased.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the structure described in claim 1, the neutral support body has an elastic restoring force capable of returning the depressed operating body to the initial position in the vertical direction. In addition, a substantially annular support plate through which the operation convex portion passes is disposed inside the neutral support body, and the operation body is moved from the initial position in the vertical direction by contacting the outer surface of the support plate at the initial position where the operation protrusion is not operated. Since a stop plate that cannot be moved outward is provided inside the neutral support, the operating projection of the operating body that is located within the slope area of the annular convex portion is annularly convex when the operating body is slid horizontally. It moves to the highest part of the annular convex part along the slope of the part, but because the movement is restricted so that the operating convex part moves only in the horizontal direction because the stop plate suppresses the rise of the support plate, Will the operation convex part gradually push down the annular convex part? , A position detection function of the membrane switch provided in the thin film sheet can be realized with smooth movement. In addition, since the operation convex portion cannot move vertically upward by the support plate and the stop plate, and the operation convex portion can move only in the horizontal direction, the operation convex portion can be moved by moving the operation body in the horizontal direction. Since the conductors on the inner surface of the thin film sheet are brought into contact with each other by moving the slope of the annular convex part and gradually lowering the annular convex part, the detection function of the membrane switch can be achieved only by sliding operation on the same plane. This can be realized smoothly, and as a result, the operator does not feel uncomfortable. Further, since the outer peripheral portion of the neutral support is supported and fixed inside the housing member, when the force that has slid the operating body outward is removed, the operating body is restored to the initial state by the elastic restoring force of the neutral support. The operation of returning to the neutral position (central portion) is more stable than before, and the operating body can be returned to the neutral position more quickly, enabling a quicker slide operation than before.

  According to invention of Claim 3, in addition to the effect by the structure of Claim 1 or 2, on the surface of the flexible substrate accommodated in the inner bottom face part of a housing member, a center fixed electrode and this center fixed electrode Is connected to the annular fixed electrode, and a dome-shaped movable electrode whose center is convex upward is mounted on the annular fixed electrode. The bottom end of the movable electrode is in contact with the annular fixed electrode and is electrically connected. During operation, the central portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode is pressed against the central fixed electrode by pushing down the central portion of the movable electrode. A definite switch means is provided in the lower center part of the membrane switch so that it can conduct with the electrode. By pushing down the center part of the thin film sheet corresponding to the insulator, Since part has to be able to depress the central portion of the movable electrode downward bends downward, the switch capable of realizing both small and a simple structure while operation direction detecting switch function and confirmation switch function can be provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the structure described in claim 3, the pressing switch that contacts the center of the movable electrode is provided at the center of the lower surface of the membrane switch. Even when the body is slid to realize the position detection function of the operation direction detection switch, even if the operation body is pushed down from the center of the movable electrode to achieve the confirmation switch function, the entire membrane switch is bent. As a result, the center of the movable contact is surely pushed downward, so the load applied to the dome-shaped movable contact does not fluctuate and the characteristics of the movable contact do not change. The confirmation switch is accurately turned on and off over a long period of time without occurring.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 of the Invention

  First, the configuration of the multidirectional slide switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

  1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a multidirectional slide switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 showing a state when the multidirectional sliding switch according to the first embodiment is not used. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1 showing a state when the multidirectional slide switch according to the first embodiment is used. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the multidirectional slide switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the multidirectional slide switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention as viewed from below.

  The multi-directional slide switch 1 employs a structure in which a main part is accommodated by a metal base plate 2 and a metal housing member H combined with the base plate 2.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the multidirectional slide switch 1 will be described in order from the lower member of the drawing.

  The base plate 2 is composed of arm portions 4 projecting in two directions on a straight line from the central circular portion 3, and each arm portion 4 is provided with two opposing hook pieces 5 extending in the vertical direction. .

  A substrate unit 6 constituting an electric circuit for realizing the position detection function and the confirmation switch function of the multidirectional slide switch 1 is incorporated on the base plate 2.

  The substrate unit 6 folds a part of the flexible substrate 7 on which a main electric circuit is printed on a resinous film, and uses the lower side portion 8 as a confirmation switch means 9 for executing on / off of a specific circuit. A two-layer structure is adopted in which the part 10 is a membrane switch 11 for detecting the position of the operation site. In FIGS. 4 and 5, for convenience of drawing, the connection portion between the lower portion 8 and the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 is shown in a cut state.

  The lower portion 8 of the flexible substrate 7 has a main body portion 12 accommodated in the base plate 2 and an external connection portion 13 protruding from the base plate 2. A central fixed electrode 14 and an annular fixed electrode 15 that is not connected to the central fixed electrode 14 are provided around the central fixed electrode 14 at the center of the upper surface of the main body 12. A dome-shaped movable electrode 16 whose central portion is convex upward is disposed directly above the central fixed electrode 14. In the initial state where the movable electrode 16 is not operated, the movable electrode 16 is mounted on the main body 12 with the bottom surface facing downward, and the end portion of the bottom surface is in contact with the annular fixed electrode 15 and is electrically connected. During operation, the central portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode 16 can be brought into contact with the central fixed electrode 14 by pushing the central portion of the movable electrode 16 downward. In order to prevent displacement of the movable electrode 16 disposed on the central fixed electrode 14 and the annular fixed electrode 15, the whole is covered with an insulating film 17.

  On the lower surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, a presser 19 having a pressing convex portion 18 in contact with the apex portion of the movable electrode 16 is fixed via a double-sided tape 20. A circular conductive material is fixed to the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, and an annular cutout groove 22 is formed around the central portion 21 with the central portion 21 of the circular conductive material remaining. And four slide contact portions 24 are provided by forming a radial notch groove 23 that divides the conductive material into four equal parts from the annular notch groove 22 to the outside.

  In addition, on the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, an annular spacer 25 is disposed around four slide contact portions (one conductor) 24, and a thin film sheet 26 having an elastic restoring force thereon. Is attached. On the inner surface of the thin film sheet 26, a conductive conductor (the other conductor) 27 having a circular shape having the same size as the outer diameter of the four slide contact portions (one conductor) 24, and the conductor An insulating insulator 28 having the same size as the central portion 21 of the circular conductive material provided on the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 is provided in the central portion of the flexible substrate 7. Therefore, in the initial position where the operation is not performed, the four slide contact portions (one conductor) 24 on the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 and the central portion 21 of the conductive material and the conductor 27 of the thin film sheet 26 (the other one). And the insulator 28 are in a state of being opposed to each other with a predetermined interval.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the central portion 21 of the circular conductor material is left on the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, but the presence or absence of the central portion 21 is not a necessary condition. It is only necessary that the central portion of the four slide contact portions 24 of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 and the conductor 27 of the thin film sheet 26 are electrically insulated by the operation 28. Therefore, if this condition is satisfied, the insulator 28 is not limited to being an insulator.

  Further, when a vertically downward load exceeding a predetermined load is applied to the central portion of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, the central portion of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 is bent, and the movable electrode 16 The apex can be pushed down.

  6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a thin film sheet is assembled to the upper side portion of the flexible substrate according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

  On the outer surface of the thin film sheet 26, an annular convex portion 29 is provided around the insulator 28 excluding a region corresponding to the insulator 28, and a slope that descends toward the center on the center side of the annular convex portion 29. 30 is formed.

  The lower part 8 of the flexible substrate 7, which is the main member of the substrate unit 6 described above, the spacer 25, the thin film sheet 26, and the like are assembled to a rigid synthetic resin base member 31, and the synthetic resin base member 31 is assembled. Assembling is made easy by engaging the flange 5 of the base plate 2 with the recess 32 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base plate 2. In addition, two lower positioning pins 33 are erected on the lower surface of the base member 31, and by engaging with mounting holes provided in the lower side portion 8, the insulating film 17 and the like of the flexible substrate 7, Each positional relationship is maintained correctly.

  4 and 5, the base member 31 is illustrated on the upper part of the thin film sheet 26. This is for the purpose of clarifying the display of the board unit 6, and the actual assembly position is determined by the base member 31. Between the switch 9 and the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7.

  The base member 31 has substantially the same planar shape as the base plate 2, and a wall surface 35 of the central circular portion 34 and a wall surface 37 of the arm portion 36 are formed. A mating protrusion 38 is provided.

  As described above, according to the multidirectional slide switch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the slide contact portion (one conductor) 24 faces each other by pressing the inclined surface 30 of the annular convex portion 29. Since the thickness of the annular projection 29 can be as small as the gap between the pair of opposing conductors 24, 27 that can contact the other conductor 27 and the membrane switch 11 The position detection function can be realized by a structure having a slight thickness.

  In the first embodiment, four slide contact portions 24, which are one conductor, are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and eight, ten, twelve or more are possible within the range that can be manufactured. It may be.

  Next, the input operation unit 100 for realizing the confirmation switch unit 9 and the membrane switch 11 will be described.

  On the upper part of the thin film sheet 26, an operating body 40 is provided that is provided with an operation convex part 39 that slides horizontally on the slope 30 of the annular convex part 29 and can push down the thin film sheet 26.

  The operating body 40 is connected via a neutral support body 41 having an elastic restoring force toward the center so that the operating convex portion 39 is positioned immediately above the insulator 28 in the central portion of the membrane switch 11 in the initial state where the operating body is not operated. It is accommodated in the housing member H.

  The neutral support body 41 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or synthetic resin that has substantially the same planar shape as the base plate 2 and has elastic restoring force, and has a movable part 43 having a through hole 42 into which the operation body 40 is fitted in the center part. A mounting flange 44 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the. Then, by attaching the attachment flange 44 of the neutral support body 41 to the upper surface of the wall surface 35 of the circular portion 34 of the base member 31, the correct vertical positional relationship between the operation convex portion 39 and the thin film sheet 26 is determined. Yes.

  The neutral support body 41 has an elastic restoring force that can return the depressed operating body 40 to the initial position in the vertical direction. A substantially annular shape is formed below the outer peripheral portion of the movable portion 43 of the neutral support body 41. A metal stop plate 46 is attached.

  An opening K is provided in the upper part of the housing member H. The mounting flange 44 on the outer peripheral portion of the neutral support 41 is firmly supported and fixed to the housing member H in a state where it is sandwiched between the upper surface of the base member 31 placed on the base plate 2 and the lower surface of the top plate T of the housing member H. Has been. Thereby, since the elastic deformation of the action | operation part 43 can be performed, without producing the lateral displacement of the neutral support body 41, the highly reliable multidirectional sliding switch 1 can be provided. In addition, the concave and convex portion formed on the upper surface of the wall surface 35 of the circular portion 34 of the base member 31 and the concave and convex portion formed by the mounting flange 44 on the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the neutral support body 41 are in close contact with the stop plate 46 interposed therebetween, The effect of preventing the intrusion of garbage can be obtained.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the operating body 40, the stop plate 46, and the support plate 45 are assembled on the upper surface of the thin film sheet according to the first embodiment.

  A circular support plate 45 having a through hole through which the operation protrusion 39 passes is attached to the operation protrusion 39 of the operation body 40 fitted in the through hole 42 of the neutral support body 41. The support plate 45 performs a positioning function so that the operation body 40 cannot be moved outward from the initial position in the vertical direction by contacting the inner surface of the stop plate 46 at the initial position where the support plate 45 is not operated. .

  The support plate is preferably made of a thin metal. Further, in this embodiment, the operating body 40 and the support plate 45 are separated from each other, but may be integrally formed.

  A key top 47 that can be operated with a finger by an operator is fitted and fixed to the upper end portion of the operation body 40 protruding from the through hole 42 of the neutral support body 41.

  In addition, two upper positioning pins 48 are erected on the upper surface of the base member 31, and mounting holes provided in the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, the spacer 25, the thin film sheet 26, and the neutral support body 41. The correct positional relationship can be maintained by engaging. Therefore, when the input operation unit 100 including the operation convex portion 39, the operation body 40, the neutral support body 41, the support plate 45, the stop plate 46, and the key top 47 is assembled to the base member 31, the housing is formed from above the input operation unit 100. The multi-directional slide switch 1 is assembled by engaging the engaging protrusions 38 of the wall surface 37 of the arm portion 36 of the base member 31 with the engaging holes 49 provided in the housing member H in advance. Can be completed.

  Next, a method of using the multidirectional slide switch according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

  First, when the operating body 40 is pushed down to the lower side of the base plate 2 against the elastic restoring force of the neutral support body 41 by placing a finger on the key top 47, the operating convex portion 39 causes the central portion of the thin film sheet 26 to move. The insulator 28 of the thin film sheet 26 comes into contact with the central portion 21 of the conductive material on the upper surface of the upper side portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7, and the central portion 21 of the conductive material is in an annular notch groove 22. Is electrically disconnected from other contacts and electrodes, and is separated by an insulator 28, so that no switch function is realized in this state.

  Therefore, when the operation body 40 is further pushed down to the lower side of the base plate 2, the central portion of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 is bent downward, and is provided on the lower surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7. The pressing convex portion 18 of the pusher 19 can push down the apex portion of the movable electrode 16, and finally the central portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode 16 comes into contact with the central fixed electrode 14, and a specific circuit is turned on. The confirmation switch means 9 for executing the off function functions.

  Further, when the operating body 40 is slid in the horizontal direction against the elastic restoring force of the neutral support body 41 with a finger placed on the key top 47, the operating convex portion 39 is provided with an annular convex provided on the upper surface of the thin film sheet 26. The inclined surface 30 on the center side of the portion 29 is moved to come into contact with the highest portion of the annular convex portion 29. Then, since the support plate 45 provided on the operation body 40 cannot be moved outward in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the operation body 40 by the stop plate 46, the annular protrusion 29 is pushed down by the slide operation of the operation protrusion 39, and the thin film sheet 26 is in contact with the conductor 27 on the inner surface 26 and a part of the four slide contact portions 24 on the upper surface of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 (see FIG. 3). Thereby, the function of the membrane switch 11 for detecting the position of the operation part is realized by electrically reading the positional relationship between the slide contact portion 24 and the conductor 27 on the inner surface of the pressed thin film sheet 26. .

  In addition, the position where the pair of conductors 24 and 27 comes into contact with the end portion of the operation convex portion 39 is on the position of the highest portion of the inclined surface 30 of the annular convex portion 29 (the intersection of the upper surface of the annular convex portion 29 and the inclined surface 30). Since the position is desirable and the slide amount can be adjusted by changing the position of the highest part of the slope 30 according to the required specifications, it is possible to respond to the specification change of the slide amount without changing the thickness of the product. it can.

  Next, when the finger that has slid the key top 47 outward is removed from the key top 47, the operating body 40 to which the key top 47 is attached is moved to the initial neutral position (center portion by the elastic restoring force of the neutral support body 41. ) Will return. Further, since the mounting flange 44 on the outer peripheral portion of the neutral support body 41 is supported and fixed inside the housing member H, the operation body 40 returns to the neutral position more stably than before, and the slide operation is faster than ever. Can be realized.

  Further, the membrane switch 11 has a function of detecting the position of the operation portion at a target position by sliding the operation body 40 horizontally against the elastic restoring force of the neutral support body 41 by placing a finger on the key top 47. After realization, when the finger is applied to the key top 47 at that position and the operating body 40 is pushed down against the elastic restoring force of the neutral support body 41 to the lower side where the base plate 2 is located, the operation body 40 is moved away from the center. Even if it exists, since the pressing convex portion 18 of the presser 19 in the central portion of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7 can surely push down the apex portion of the movable electrode 16, the central portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode 16 is fixed at the center. The function of the definite switch means 9 that makes contact with the electrode 14 and turns on / off a specific circuit can also be realized smoothly.

  Further, since the operation convex portion 39 cannot be moved vertically upward by the support plate 45 and the stop plate 46, the operation convex portion 39 is inclined to the slope of the annular convex portion 29 by moving the operation body 40 in the horizontal direction. By moving 30, the annular convex portion 29 is gradually pushed down to bring the conductor 27 on the inner surface of the thin film sheet 26 into contact with the contact portion 24 of the upper portion 10 of the flexible substrate 7. Thus, the position detection function of the membrane switch 11 can be smoothly realized only by the sliding operation, and as a result, the operator does not feel uncomfortable.

  The operation convex portion 39 can bring one of the conductors 24 into contact with the other conductor 27 by the downward movement of the thin film sheet 26 that occurs when the operation convex portion 39 comes into contact with the inclined surface 30 with the gentle inclination of the annular convex portion 29 during sliding. Thus, durability can be improved without using a friction reducing sheet as in the prior art, and the movement can be performed smoothly. Further, it is desirable that the position where the end portion of the operation convex portion 39 rides on the highest portion of the inclined surface 30, and the length of the support plate 45 abutting on the inside of the mounting flange 44 of the neutral support body 41 at that position is conventional. As described above, since the operation convex portion 39 does not get over the annular convex portion 29 more than necessary, the surface of the annular convex portion 29 is reduced in friction to reduce the frictional force between the operation convex portion 39 and the annular convex portion 29. There is no need to affix a sheet, and the labor of installation is not required.

  Sufficient durability of the operation convex part 39 and the annular convex part 29 is maintained, and if the thickness of the annular convex part 29 is slightly larger than the gap between the pair of opposing conductors 24 and 27, the conductor Since 24 and 27 can be brought into contact with each other, the position detecting function of the membrane switch 11 can be realized with a structure having a small thickness.

It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the multidirectional slide type switch which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the top view which showed the external appearance of the multi-directional slide type switch which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1B which showed the state at the time of non-use of the multi-directional slide type switch which concerns on the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1B which showed the state at the time of use of the multi-directional slide type switch which concerns on the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the upper direction of the multi-directional slide type switch concerning Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the downward direction of the multi-directional slide type switch which concerns on Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is the perspective view which showed the state which assembled | attached the thin film sheet to the upper part of the flexible substrate which concerns on Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is the perspective view which showed the state which assembled | attached the operating body on the upper surface of the thin film sheet which concerns on Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is the perspective view of the principal part cross section which showed the 1st example of the conventional multidirectional slide type switch. It is principal part sectional drawing at the time of non-use which showed the 2nd example of the conventional multidirectional slide type switch. It is principal part sectional drawing at the time of use which showed the 2nd example of the conventional multidirectional slide type switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multi-directional slide-type switch 2 Base plate 5 Cage piece 6 Substrate unit 7 Flexible substrate 8 Lower side part 9 Confirmation switch means 10 Upper side part 11 Membrane switch 13 Connection part 14 Center fixed electrode 15 Toroidal fixed electrode 16 Movable electrode 18 Press convex Part 19 Pusher 21 Center part 24 Slide contact (One conductor)
26 Thin Film Sheet 27 Other Conductor 28 Insulator 29 Annular Convex 30 Slope 31 Base Member 32 Concave 33 Lower Positioning Pin 38 Engagement Protrusion 39 Operation Protrusion 40 Operation Body 41 Neutral Support Body 44 Mounting Flange 45 Support Plate 46 Stop Plate 47 Key top H Housing member K Opening T Top plate

Claims (4)

Multi-directional slide having a key top for performing an input operation, a membrane switch having a conductor disposed oppositely at a predetermined interval at an unoperated initial position, and a housing member for housing the membrane switch In the type switch,
The one conductor is provided on the inner surface of the thin film sheet having elastic restoring force, and an insulator is disposed at a central portion of either the one or the other conductor, and the insulator is operated during operation. The outer surface of the thin film sheet has a slope that descends toward the center surrounding the insulator at a position excluding the region corresponding to the insulator, while allowing contact with either the one or the other conductor. An annular convex portion formed is provided, and an operation convex portion provided at a lower portion of the key top slides outward in an inclined area of the annular convex portion at an upper portion of the membrane switch. The thin film sheet can be pushed down via the annular convex portion at the center so that the operating convex portion is located directly above the insulator in an initial state where the thin film sheet is not operated. A neutral support body having a resilient restoring force; an upper portion of the housing member having an opening; an outer peripheral portion of the neutral support body is supported and fixed inside the housing member; and the elastic deformation of the neutral support body A multi-directional slide switch characterized in that a movable part to be exposed is exposed from an opening of the housing member. The neutral support body has an elastic restoring force capable of returning the depressed operation body to the initial position in the vertical direction, and a substantially annular support plate through which the operation convex portion passes inside the neutral support body. A stop plate is provided on the inner side of the neutral support so that the operation body cannot be moved outward from the initial position in the vertical direction by contacting the outer surface of the support plate at an initial position where it is not operated. The multi-directional slide switch according to claim 1, wherein A central fixed electrode and an annular fixed electrode not connected to the central fixed electrode are provided on the surface of the flexible substrate accommodated in the inner bottom surface of the housing member, and the central portion is convex upward A dome-shaped movable electrode is attached to the annular fixed electrode, and in the initial state, the movable electrode is in conduction with the bottom end of the movable electrode being in contact with the annular fixed electrode. A lower center portion of the membrane switch has a definite switch means for lowering the center portion of the movable electrode so that the center portion of the lower surface of the movable electrode is in contact with the center fixed electrode and can be electrically connected to the annular fixed electrode. By pushing down the central part of the thin film sheet corresponding to the insulator, the central part of the membrane switch bends downward and the movable electrode Multi-directional slide switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to be able to depress the central portion downward. The multi-directional sliding switch according to claim 3, wherein a pressing convex portion that contacts a central portion of the movable electrode is provided at a central portion of the lower surface of the membrane switch.

Images