JP5317013B2 - Illuminated switch structure and push button - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a luminous switch structure with high durability and excellent reliability, and a push button. The luminous switch structure comprises the following components: a substrate (10) which is provided with an insertion hole (11); a switch unit (20) which is fixed on the substrate (10) and is provided with a driven part (23) that is set to reciprocate for the action of switch; an illumination part (LED30); and a push button (40). The push button (40) comprises the following components: a light penetration part (522) which is provided at the outer end and forms a space for accommodating the illumination part and causes the light of the illumination part to pass through; a fixing paw (60) which extends from one side part (511a) of the push button (40) and passes through the insertion hole (11) for fixing with the substrate; a clamping projection (70) which clamps the substrate (10) between the front end of the fixing paw (60); and combination parts (80, 80A) which are provided at the other side part (511c) of the push button (40) and are combined with the driven part (23) of the switch unit (20).

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminated switch structure applied to various electronic devices such as an electronic keyboard instrument and an acoustic mixer, and a push button for the structure.

  Illuminated switch structures are frequently used in various electronic devices such as electronic keyboard instruments and acoustic mixers. This type of switch structure performs switching such as on / off each time a user presses a push button with a finger. In order to clearly indicate the switching state, a light emitting unit is arranged inside the push button, and the light emitting unit is switched between blinking each time the switching state is changed. For this reason, in the illuminated switch structure, the push button is provided on the substrate so as to be movable up and down so as to cover the switch unit and the light emitting portion.

  Various types of conventional illuminated switch structures of this type have been used and proposed. For example, in the switch structure described in Patent Document 1, a function setting unit such as a tact switch and a light emitting element are disposed below a push button (operator), and the operator is thin at a base end portion fixed to the substrate. Are coupled via a swing hinge. Switching is performed each time the push button is pressed, and accordingly, the blinking of the light emitting element is switched.

  In the switch structure described in Patent Document 2, a guide hole is formed in a substrate on which a switch unit, a push button unit, and a light emitting unit are provided, and a guide pin coupled to the push button unit is inserted into the guide hole. It is. When the push button unit is pushed, the guide pin is guided in the guide hole and moves linearly, and the push button unit moves in parallel. Therefore, each time the push button unit is pushed, the push button unit reciprocates by parallel movement, and switching of the switch unit and switching of blinking of the light emitting unit are performed.

Japanese Patent No. 3794337 Japanese Patent No. 4046032

  However, in a switch structure including an operation element coupled via a thin swing hinge as described in Patent Document 1, it is likely to be damaged due to material fatigue or the like by being subjected to repeated operations many times. Operation may become unstable or stop functioning.

  Further, in the switch structure that performs reciprocal movement based on the parallel movement between the guide pin and the guide hole as described in Patent Document 2, the gap between the guide pin and the guide hole is made small in order to perform accurate parallel movement without inclination. High dimensional accuracy is required. On the other hand, if the diameters of the guide pin and the guide hole are too close, the push button cannot be smoothly moved when the direction of the push operation is different from the movement direction of the guide pin. From this point of view, the structure described in this document also describes that a cylindrical guide member for improving the sliding of the pin is inserted into the substrate. However, there is a difference between the operating direction and the moving direction of the pin. On the other hand, it is insufficient to ensure a smooth operation.

  An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art and to provide an illuminated switch structure excellent in durability against repeated operations and reliability of operation, and a push button for the structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a switch unit having a substrate 10 in which a fitting hole 11 is formed and a driven portion 23 provided so as to be capable of reciprocating for switching. 20, a light emitting unit (LED 30) adjacent to the switch unit and fixed to the substrate 10, and a push button 40 attached to the substrate 10 through the fitting hole to drive the switch unit 20. The push button 40 is provided on an outer end portion located on the substrate 10 and away from the substrate, and forms a space 55 for accommodating the light emitting portion between the substrate and the substrate. A light-transmitting part 522 that faces the light-emitting part and transmits light from the light-emitting part, and is provided on one side 511a of the push button 40 and extends so as to be inserted into the fitting hole 11 of the substrate. Tip (hook) A locking claw 60 that is locked to the substrate by the portion 62), and a clamping protrusion 70 that is provided on the push button 40 at the same side portion 511a as the locking claw and clamps the substrate between the locking claw 60 And coupling portions 80 and 80A, which are fixed to the other side portion 511c of the push button 40 and coupled to the driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20 to transmit the pushing operation exerted on the outer end portion to the driven portion 23. e Bei the door, providing illuminated switch structure being characterized in that to allow oscillating the push button the clamping portion 41 of the substrate and the locking claw by said pinch protrusions as fulcrum.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also comprises an illuminated switch that covers the adjacent switch unit 20 and the light emitting portion on the substrate 10 and drives the switch unit 20 in response to a pressing operation. A push button 40 to be attached, which is provided at an outer end portion located away from the substrate surface so as to form a void 55 for accommodating the light emitting portion when mounted on the substrate 10, A translucent portion 522 to be transmitted, a locking claw 60 extending from one side so as to be inserted into the fitting hole 11 provided in the substrate 10, and locking to the substrate at the inserted tip, and the locking A clamping projection 70 that is provided on the same side as the claw and that holds the substrate 10 between the claw and a claw projection 70 provided on the side facing the locking claw 60 and coupled to the driven part 23 of the switch unit 20. To be exerted on the outer end. The pressing operation example Bei a coupling portion 80,80A tell the driven portion 23, that allows oscillating the push button the clamping portion 41 of the substrate by said clamping projection and the locking claw as a fulcrum An illuminated switch push button characterized by the above is provided.

  In the illuminated switch structure according to the present invention, the push button positioned on the substrate receives a push operation for switching at the outer end portion on the side away from the substrate, and is provided at the outer end portion of the push button. The light-transmitting part facing the light transmits the light from the light-emitting part and functions as an illumination switch.

  In the push button, the translucent part provided at the outer end part forms a space for accommodating the light emitting part between the push button and the driven part of the switch unit on the side part of the push button. And a coupling portion that transmits a pushing operation exerted on the outer end portion to the driven portion. As a result, the push button can cover the light emitting portion in a state where the switch unit and the light emitting portion are provided adjacent to each other on the substrate, and can receive a push operation for switching.

  In addition, a locking claw and a holding projection are provided on one side of the push button, and the locking claw extends to be inserted into the fitting hole of the board and is locked to the board at the inserted end. The clamping protrusions clamp the substrate between the locking claws. The coupling portion provided on the other side of the push button is coupled to the driven portion of the switch unit and transmits a push operation exerted on the push button to the driven portion.

  Therefore, the push button swings with the pressing operation, with one side portion serving as a fulcrum for swinging at the substrate clamping portion formed by the locking claw and the clamping projection. The swing is transmitted to the switch unit by the coupling portion located on the other side of the push button, and switching by the push operation is performed.

  In this structure, the latching claw and the clamping protrusion sandwich the substrate to form the fulcrum portion, so there is no need to provide a thin swing hinge, and it is not easily damaged by material fatigue or the like even if it is repeatedly operated. . Therefore, excellent durability against repeated operations can be obtained. Further, since the push button swings, high dimensional accuracy is not required as in the case of a guide structure that moves in parallel. Therefore, it is difficult for smooth operation to be hindered due to inaccuracy, and excellent operational reliability can be obtained.

  The coupling portion may be engaged with the driven portion so as to operate with the driven portion in both operation directions in the reciprocating motion of the driven portion of the switch unit. As a result, since the coupling portion and the driven portion are interlocked, when the switch unit has a return function by a spring force or the like for a switching operation such as pushing, it is necessary to provide the return function on the push button side. Absent. However, in order to make the return function more reliable, both the switch unit side and the push button side may be provided with a return function by a spring or the like.

  In the illumination type switch structure, the holding protrusions 70 may be arranged on both sides of the locking claw 60 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the holding state of the substrate by the locking claw and the holding protrusion and the swing of the push button are more stable, so that more reliable switching operation is possible.

  The push button according to the present invention is inserted into the light-transmitting portion provided at the outer end portion that forms the space for accommodating the light emitting portion and the fitting hole, as described above for the illumination type switch structure. A locking claw for locking, a clamping protrusion for clamping the substrate between the locking claw, and a coupling portion provided on a side portion facing the locking claw and coupled to the driven portion of the switch unit I have. Therefore, the illumination type switch structure is configured by being coupled to the switch unit on the substrate and attached to the substrate so as to cover the light emitting portion, and the same operational effects as the structure are achieved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an illuminated switch structure that is excellent in durability against repeated operations and reliability of operation, and a push button for the structure.

1 shows an example of an electronic piano equipped with an illuminated switch structure according to the present invention, (a) is a plan view thereof, (b) is an enlarged plan view of a control panel unit, and (c) is an illuminated switch structure. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG.1 (b) which shows the illumination type switch structure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the illumination type switch structure shown in FIG. 2 from the downward direction of the side with a switch unit. It is a vertical side view which shows the illumination type switch structure which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along line V-V in FIG. 4.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is partially omitted.

  FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an electronic piano equipped with an illuminated switch structure according to the present invention. This electronic piano is provided with a control panel P for setting and switching control parameters such as tone color, tone quality, and effects on the heel side (the side far from the performer) of the keyboard K. FIG. 1B shows the control panel portion P in an enlarged manner. The control panel portion P is provided with a slide type operation element B, a push button C having no illumination function, a rotary type operation element D and the like in addition to the push button A having an illumination type switch structure.

  2 and 3 show an illuminated switch structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 (b), and FIG. 3 shows the structure of the switch unit. It is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of a certain side. This switch structure is coupled to the substrate 10 disposed inside the panel P0 of the control panel portion P. The illuminated switch structure of the present invention can be used regardless of the vertical direction. For convenience of explanation, the side with the panel P0 will be described above and the side with the substrate 10 will be described below.

  This switch structure includes a switch unit 20, an LED 30 that is a light emitting unit, and a push button 40 coupled thereto.

  Electronic components for transmission / reception of control parameters and various controls are mounted on the board, a fitting hole 11 for attaching a push button, a through hole 12 through which a terminal 21 of the switch unit 20 is passed, and an LED 30 which is a light emitting unit. A through hole 13 through which the terminal 31 passes is formed.

  The switch unit 20 includes a base portion 22 mounted on the substrate 10 through the terminal 21 through the through hole 12, and a driven portion 23 supported by the base portion and capable of reciprocating in a direction across the mounting surface of the base portion. It has. The driven portion 23 includes a trunk portion 231 that is supported by the base portion 22 so as to be able to reciprocate, a neck portion 232 that extends upward from the trunk portion and has a smaller diameter than the trunk portion, and a head that extends upward from the neck portion and has a larger diameter than the neck portion. The unit 233 is integrally provided. The body 231 has a circular cross section, and the neck 232 and the head 233 have a rectangular cross section.

  The LED 30 is mounted adjacent to the switch unit 20 on the substrate 10 and is arranged so that the main emission direction is a direction perpendicular to the substrate 10 and light is emitted in a direction away from the substrate. Although a signal line and a power supply line are connected to the switch unit 20 and the LED 30, illustration is omitted.

  The push button 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and includes a housing 50 located on the substrate. In this embodiment, the housing 50 includes a frame portion 51 that can swing with respect to the substrate 10, and an operated portion 52 that is fixed to the frame portion.

  The frame portion 51 of the housing 50 includes a side wall 511 that is positioned to stand up from the substrate 10 and a top wall 512 that forms an outer end portion that is positioned away from the substrate 10, and the top wall 512 has an opening 512 ′. Is provided. The operated portion 52 includes a side wall 521 and a top wall 522, and a lower end portion is opened and an outward flange 523 is provided. With respect to the frame portion 51, the operated portion 52 has a flange 523 that is in contact with the lower surface of the top wall 512 of the frame portion 51, and a side wall 521 that protrudes upward from the opening 512 '. And the upper part (part on the side far from the board | substrate 10) of the to-be-operated part 52 protrudes from the opening part P1 of the panel P0, and functions as the push button A which receives pushing operation for switching.

  The housing 50 forms a space 55 for accommodating the LED 30 (light emitting unit) between the top wall 522 and the substrate 10. Further, the operated portion 52 is formed of a transparent resin, and the top wall 522 is positioned facing the LED 30 and functions as a light transmitting portion 522 ′ that transmits light of the LED. The frame portion 51 and the operated portion 52 are integrally formed by two-color molding. However, both of them may be molded separately and bonded together by bonding or the like, or the whole may be made into one molded body.

A locking claw 60 and a clamping protrusion 70 are provided on one side of the housing 50. The locking claw 60 includes an extending portion 61 that extends downward from substantially the center height of the side wall 511 a of the frame portion 51 beyond the lower end of the frame portion 51, and a hook portion provided at the lower end portion of the extending portion 61. 62. Both side portions of the extending part 61 in the side wall 511a are cut out as openings 513 from the lower end of the side wall 511a to the position of the upper end of the extending part 61.
The locking claw 60 extends downward from the side wall 511 a of the frame portion 51 and is inserted into the fitting hole 11 of the substrate 10, and the hook portion 62 is locked to the substrate 10.

  The sandwiching protrusion 70 extends slightly below the two side walls 511b adjacent to the sidewall 511a on which the sandwiching protrusion is provided, and is formed by the lower end of the adjacent portion of the opening 513 in the sidewall 511a. A portion of the sandwiching projection 70 that contacts the substrate 10 is a contact portion 71 having an arcuate roundness in the thickness direction. The fitting hole 11 of the substrate 10 extends from the locking position of the hook portion 62 to the inside of the housing 50 and has a size that allows the hook portion 62 to pass loosely.

  The latching claw 60 and the clamping protrusion 70 support the casing 50 so as to be swingable with the clamping portion 41 as a fulcrum by clamping the substrate 10 in the substrate thickness direction (the swinging direction is shown in FIG. 2). S). Hereinafter, the juxtaposed direction of the locking claws 60 and the sandwiching protrusions 70 is referred to as a swinging axis direction (indicated by W in FIG. 3), and a surface perpendicular to this is referred to as a swinging surface. FIG. 1C shows the substrate near the hook portion 62 and the fitting hole 11. In a state where the locking claw 60 is passed through the fitting hole 11 and locked to the substrate 10, the upper surface 62 a of the hook portion 62 is in contact with a position indicated by 41 c on the back surface of the substrate 10, and the sandwiching protrusion 70 is shown by alternate long and short dashed lines 41 a and 41 b. The substrate 10 is sandwiched in contact with the location indicated by, and a swing fulcrum portion is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (c), the locking claw 60 includes a rib 63 that extends shortly upward from the center in the width direction on the upper surface of the hook portion 62. The fitting hole 11 is provided with a notch corresponding to the rib 63, and is formed with a notch side portion 11a facing the side surface 63a of the rib 63 with a slight gap. In a state where the locking claw 60 is passed through the fitting hole 11 and locked to the substrate 10, the notched side portions 11 a are opposed to both side surfaces 63 a of the rib 63, whereby the rib 63 is positioned. By positioning the rib 63, the hook portion 62 and the push button 40 including the hook portion 62 are also positioned. Therefore, the rib 63 is provided so as to extend along a plane passing through the center in the width direction of the push button 40 (a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis), thereby determining the center when the push button 40 is mounted on the substrate 10. Therefore, the position error of the switch unit can be reduced, and mounting at an accurate position can be easily performed.

  A coupling portion 80 is provided on a side portion 511 c of the housing 50 opposite to the locking claw 60. The coupling part 80 has a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross section, has a side wall 81 facing the swing axis direction and a side wall 82 facing the direction along the swing surface, and the lower end is open. The side walls 81 and 82 are received along the side surface of the head 233 of the switch unit 20. The side wall 82 facing along the swing surface is bent inwardly at the lower end to form a locking portion 821, and is locked to a stepped portion between the neck 232 and the head 233 of the switch unit 20. Thereby, the coupling part 80 is engaged with the driven part so as to operate together with the driven part in both directions in the reciprocating motion (vertical movement) of the driven part of the switch unit.

  In order to form an illuminated switch structure on the substrate 10, first, the terminals 21 and 31 of the switch unit 20 and the LED 30 (light emitting part) are respectively inserted into the through holes 12 and 13 and fixed. Next, the push button 40 is attached. This is performed by passing the locking claw 60 of the housing 50 through the fitting hole 11 and connecting the connecting portion 80 to the driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20. In the coupling of the coupling portion 80, the locking portion 821 is locked to the neck 232 such that the head portion 233 of the switch unit 20 is covered with the side walls 81 and 82 of the coupling portion 80. The locking claw 60 passes the hook portion 62 through the fitting hole 11 to reach the back side of the substrate 10. At this time, the locking claw 60 elastically bends the extending portion 61 inward of the housing 50 and inserts the hook portion 62 into the fitting hole 11. After the insertion, the hook portion 62 engages with the edge portion of the fitting hole 11 of the substrate 10 by the elastic force of the locking claw 60. In this regard, the latching claw 60 has a lengthened portion 61 by notching a part of the side wall 511a on both sides of the latching claw 60. Easy to elastically deform.

  Since the illuminated switch structure is configured in this way, when the user presses the operated portion 52 (push button A), the housing 50 causes the holding portion 41 of the substrate 10 by the locking claw 60 and the holding protrusion 70 to be held. The coupling portion 80 pushes the driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20 along with the oscillation. When the pressing force of the side wall 521 is released, the coupling portion 80 is pushed back by the force of the spring built in the switch unit 20 to return to the original position. Thus, the switching operation of the switch unit 20 is performed. In detail, when the operated portion 52 is pressed, the casing 50 receives a force toward the substrate 10 and swings around the front end portion of the holding protrusion 70, and when the pressing is released, the casing 50 is released. Receives a force in a direction away from the substrate 10, and swings around the engaging portion of the hook portion 62 that contacts the substrate 10.

  Therefore, according to this switch structure, the casing 50 for the switching operation can be swung without requiring a thin swing hinge, and excellent durability against repeated operations can be obtained. In addition, the rocking motion of the housing only needs to be provided with the locking claw 60 and the sandwiching protrusion 70 so as to sandwich the substrate 10, so that high dimensional accuracy like a guide structure for parallel movement is not required, It is difficult for smooth operation to be hindered due to inaccuracy, and excellent operational reliability can be obtained.

  4 and 5 show an illuminated switch structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a longitudinal side view, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal front view, FIG. 4 corresponds to a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 corresponds to a cross section taken along line VV in FIG. In FIG. 5, the switch unit 20 does not show a cross section but shows an outer shape viewed from the front.

  This switch structure has substantially the same structure as the previous embodiment, but the form of the coupling portion is different. The coupling portion 80A of the switch structure according to this embodiment is configured to sandwich the upper end portion of the driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20 from above and below. The driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20 can be reciprocated in the vertical direction, and includes a neck portion 234 extending upward from the base portion 22 and a head portion 235 positioned above the neck portion. In this example, the head 235 has a small vertical dimension and is formed in a flange shape.

  The coupling portion 80A includes a central wall 83 projecting in the direction along the swing surface from the central portion of the side wall 511c of the frame portion 51 in the swing axis direction, and from the side wall 511 to the central wall 83 at positions away from both sides of the central wall. And a pair of side walls 84 projecting in parallel. The center wall 83 has a lower end in contact with the upper end surface of the head 235 of the switch unit 20, and a pair of side walls 84 extend from both sides toward the switch unit 20, and a tip end 841 is in contact with the lower surface of the head 235. ing. Thereby, the coupling portion 80A is coupled to the driven portion 23 of the switch unit 20, and operates together with the driven portion in both directions in the reciprocating motion (vertical movement) of the driven portion of the switch unit.

  As in the previous embodiment, the housing 50 is swingable with the pinching portion 41 of the substrate 10 formed by the locking claws 60 and the pinching protrusions 70 as a fulcrum portion. Therefore, when the user presses the operated portion 52 (push button A), the housing 50 swings in the swinging direction S around the clamping portion 41, and accordingly, the coupling portion 80 </ b> A is driven by the switch unit 20. When the portion 23 is pushed in and the pressing force is released, the connecting portion 80 is pushed back by the spring force of the switch unit 20 to return to the original position, and switching is performed.

  Therefore, this switch structure also has excellent durability against repeated operations and operational certainty as in the previous embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, various light sources such as an emission end of an optical fiber and a small lamp can be used for the light emitting unit instead of the LED.

  It suffices that at least one locking claw and a clamping protrusion forming the pivot point of the swinging of the housing are provided, and the clamping projections are provided on both sides of the locking claw as in the embodiment of FIGS. It is also possible to provide a plurality of locking claws on both sides of the sandwiching protrusion, or to alternately provide a plurality of retaining claws and sandwiching protrusions.

  The coupling portion of the push button and the driven portion of the switch unit can be coupled in various forms such as screwing and pin insertion in addition to the above-described structure.

10: board, 11: fitting hole, 20: switch unit, 22: base, 23: driven part, 40: push button, 41: clamping part, 50: housing, 51: frame part, 52: operated part, 60: locking claw, 61: extension part, 62: hook part, 70: clamping protrusion, 80, 80A: coupling part, 511a: side part, 511c: side part, 522: translucent part, 821: locking part 841: tip portion, P: control panel portion, S: swinging direction

Claims (4)

A substrate having a fitting hole formed thereon;
A switch unit having a driven portion provided so as to be capable of reciprocating for switching and fixed to the substrate;
A light-emitting unit provided next to the switch unit and fixed to the substrate;
A push button attached to the substrate through the fitting hole to drive the switch unit;
The push button
A space is provided between the substrate and the outer end of the push button away from the substrate to accommodate the light emitting unit, and the light from the light emitting unit is transmitted opposite the light emitting unit. A translucent part;
A locking claw that is provided on one side of the push button and extends so as to be inserted into the fitting hole of the substrate, and engages with the substrate at the inserted tip.
A clamping protrusion provided on the push button on the same side as the locking claw and holding the substrate between the locking claw and
E Bei a coupling portion for transmitting a press operation exerted on the outer end portion coupled with the driven part of the switch unit provided on the other side of the push button to said drive unit,
An illumination type switch structure characterized in that the push button can be swung with a holding portion of the substrate formed by the locking claw and the holding protrusion as a fulcrum portion .   The said coupling | bond part is engaged with this to-be-driven part so that it may operate | move with this to-be-driven part in both the operation directions in the reciprocating motion of the to-be-driven part of the said switch unit. Illuminated switch structure.   The illuminated switch structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping protrusions are arranged on both sides of the locking claw. A switch unit and a light emitting unit that are provided next to each other are covered on a substrate to form an illuminated switch, and a push button that is attached to drive the switch unit in response to a push operation,
A light-transmitting part that is provided at an outer end portion that is positioned away from the substrate surface so as to form a space for accommodating the light-emitting part when mounted on the substrate, and transmits light from the light-emitting part;
A locking claw that extends from one side so as to be inserted into a fitting hole provided in the substrate, and locks to the substrate at the inserted tip.
A clamping protrusion provided on the same side as the locking claw and holding the substrate between the locking claw,
Provided on the side opposite to the locking pawl, by being coupled with the driven part of the switch unit, Bei example a coupling portion for transmitting a press operation exerted on the outer end portion to said drive unit,
An illuminated switch push button characterized in that the push button can be swung with a holding portion of the substrate formed by the locking claw and the holding protrusion as a fulcrum portion .

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