JP6711677B2 - Switch device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a switch device operated by a user pressing an operation knob, and more particularly to a switch device of a type in which the operation knob moves linearly.

In electronic devices such as in-vehicle display devices, there is known a switch device in which an operation knob is arranged on a panel surface around the display and various input operations are performed by the operation knob.

This type of switch device has an operation knob housed in a through hole of a holder so as to be able to move up and down, a detection element such as a push switch that detects the lifting operation of the operation knob, and an operation knob that is biased to an initial position in the moving direction. And a clearance for ensuring smooth sliding is secured between the inner wall of the through hole and the operation knob. Therefore, if the thickness of the electronic device body in which the switch device is mounted becomes thin, the movement stroke of the operation knob becomes short, and the length of the sliding surface cannot be secured sufficiently, and the operation knob tilts greatly during the pressing operation. The problem occurs.

Therefore, conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of arm members are provided at equal positions on the outer peripheral surface of the operation knob, and these arm members are bent outward in a zigzag shape, and A switch device has been proposed in which a convex portion formed on the tip side of an arm member is supported between a holder and a substrate.

In the switch device configured as described above, the plurality of arm members evenly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the operation knob have elasticity in the horizontal direction and the elasticity in the vertical direction. The member is maintained in a horizontal posture by receiving a biasing force toward the center from the member, and rattling of the operation knob during the pressing operation is also reduced.

JP, 2015-15164, A

However, in the switch device described in Patent Document 1, since the operation knob is elastically supported by a plurality of (for example, four) arm members extending outward from the center, the peripheral edge portion away from the center of the operation knob. When is pushed to the end, there is a problem that a large difference occurs in the displacement amount of the two arm members facing each other via the pressed portion, and the operation knob operates in a tilted posture. Further, since the convex portion formed on the tip side of each arm member is supported between the holder and the substrate, it is necessary to secure a space for disposing each arm member outside the through hole of the holder where the operation knob is exposed. However, there is also a problem in that the entire switch device becomes large in the planar direction, and two or more operation knobs cannot be arranged close to each other.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and an object thereof is to enable the operation knob to be operated vertically regardless of the pressing position, and to operate the operation knob without increasing the size in the horizontal direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a switch device capable of suppressing rattling.

In order to achieve the above object, a switch device of the present invention includes a holder having a through hole, an operation knob housed in the through hole so as to be able to move up and down, and a detection element for detecting an up-and-down movement of the operation knob. A substrate on which the detection element is mounted, a support disposed on the back side of the substrate, and a plurality of returning means for urging the operation knob toward the front side, and a cutout portion is formed on the substrate. The return means is provided on the support body located on the inner side of the cutout portion, and the operation knob has a protruding portion that is inserted into the cutout portion and abuts on the return means. It is configured to have.

In the switch device configured as described above, a plurality of return means are provided on the support disposed on the back side of the board, and the protruding portion provided on the operation knob is inserted through the cutout portion of the board. Even when the peripheral edge of the operation knob that is in contact with the return means is distant from the center of the operation knob, the angle difference in the direction of the component force of the pressing force on the return means is reduced, so the operation knob is set vertically. It becomes easy to operate. Moreover, since the plurality of return means for urging the operation knob to the initial position are arranged on the back side of the substrate, the entire switch device does not become large in the plane direction, and two or more operation knobs are brought close to each other. Can be placed.

In the above structure, although elastic rubber or the like mounted on the support can be used as the return means, the return means is an elastic arm integrally provided on the support, and this elastic arm moves the operation knob. If it extends cantileverly in the in-plane direction orthogonal to the direction, the return means can be provided on the support without the need to add a separate part, and the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Is preferable.

In this case, the support body is provided with a vent hole surrounding the elastic arm, and when the elastic arm is bent inside the vent hole, the elastic arm having a long spring span is provided in the limited space of the vent hole. The elastic arm can be disposed and damage to the elastic arm can be prevented.

Further, in the above structure, the free end side of the elastic arm is provided with the engaging hole, and when the projecting portion is inserted into this engaging hole, the relative displacement between the operation knob and the returning means is displaced. This is preferable because it can be prevented.

Further, in the above structure, a pressing protrusion for operating the detection element is provided in the central portion of the operation knob, and projecting portions are provided on two side walls facing each other via the pressing protrusion. It is preferable that the support is provided with two elastic arms corresponding to the protruding portions.

According to the switch device of the present invention, the operation knob can be operated vertically regardless of the pressed position, and rattling of the operation knob can be suppressed without increasing the size in the horizontal direction.

It is an external view of a movable nose in which the switch device according to the example of the embodiment is mounted. It is an exploded perspective view of the switch device. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1. It is an exploded perspective view showing the important section of this switch device. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of this switch apparatus.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A movable nose 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an operation panel that is openably and closably arranged in front of an on-vehicle electronic device (not shown). Although the upright posture is maintained so as to block the front, the media insertion opening and the like provided on the front surface of the electronic device are exposed by performing the open operation so as to be in the horizontal posture. A liquid crystal display 2 is mounted on the movable nose 1, and a plurality of operation knob groups including an operation knob 3 of the switch device according to the embodiment are arranged on one side of the liquid crystal display 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the switch device according to the present embodiment includes a holder 4 having two through holes 4a, two operation knobs 3 housed in each through hole 4a so as to be able to move up and down, A dual type including two push switches 5 for detecting the up-and-down movement of each operation knob 3, a substrate 6 on which each push switch 5 is mounted, and a support 7 arranged on the back side of the substrate 6. However, since these two switch devices have the same configuration, one switch device will be described in detail below.

The operation knob 3 includes a knob base 8 made of a light-shielding resin, an operation section 9 made of transparent resin or transparent glass arranged on the knob base 8, and a display sheet 10 provided on the surface of the operation section 9. The knob base 8 and the operating portion 9 are integrated by snap coupling or the like. The knob base 8 is provided with a rectangular tubular wall portion having four side walls 8a, and a pressing protrusion 8b is vertically provided at a central portion of a top surface surrounded by the angular tubular wall portion. Further, projecting portions 8c are provided at the lower ends of the two side walls 8a that face each other via the pressing protrusion 8b, and locking pieces 8d having guide holes are provided outside these both side walls 8a. There is.

The through hole 4a of the holder 4 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and wedge-shaped protrusions 4b are provided on two inner wall surfaces of the through hole 4a that face each other. The rectangular tubular wall portion of the knob base 8 and the locking piece 8d are inserted into the through hole 4a, and the lower end of the guide hole formed in the locking piece 8d abuts the projection 4b, so that the operation knob 3 is held by the holder. 4 does not fall off from the through hole 4a. Further, the two inner wall surfaces of the through hole 4a having the protrusions 4b are fitted into the side walls 8a on the long side of the knob base 8 in a concavo-convex manner, and the remaining two inner wall surfaces of the through hole 4a are the side walls on the short side of the knob base 8. 8a and 8a via a minute clearance, and the operation knob 3 can be moved up and down in the through hole 4a with these as sliding surfaces.

The substrate 6 is arranged on the back side of the holder 4, and the push switch 5 as a detection element is mounted on the substrate 6. The substrate 6 is provided with two cutout holes 6 a with the push switch 5 sandwiched therebetween, and the pressing protrusions 8 b hanging from the knob base 8 of the operation knob 3 face each other directly above the push switch 5. Further, the two protruding portions 8c provided on the knob base 8 are inserted into the notch holes 6a and protrude to the back side of the substrate 6.

The support 7 is integrated with the holder 4 with the substrate 6 sandwiched therebetween by snap coupling or the like. The support 7 is provided with a plurality of elastic arms 11 at positions facing the cutout holes 6a of the substrate 6. .. The elastic arm 11 is a cantilevered member whose fixed end is the inner wall surface of the hole 7a provided in the support 7, and the elastic arm 11 is bent a plurality of times inside the hole 7a. A conical engagement hole 11a is provided at the free end of the elastic arm 11, and a protruding portion 8c inserted through the cutout hole 6a of the substrate 6 is fitted into the engagement hole 11a. .. As a result, the operation knob 3 receives the spring force of the two elastic arms 11 provided on the support body 7, and the front side, that is, the lower end of the guide hole formed in the locking piece 8d contacts the protrusion 4b of the holder 4. It is urged in the contact direction. The cantilevered elastic arm 11 can be displaced in the vertical and horizontal directions, but in order to prevent excessive displacement in the horizontal direction, the outer peripheral surface of the tip end of the elastic arm 11 and the punched hole are prevented. The interval between the inner wall surface of 7a is set to be relatively small.

In the switch device thus configured, as shown in FIG. 6A, the operation knob 3 is held at the upper initial position when not operated, and the push switch 5 is not pressed by the pressing protrusion 8b. It is off. At that time, the lower end of the guide hole formed in the locking piece 8d of the knob base 8 receives the spring force of the two elastic arms 11 and contacts the protrusion 4b of the holder 4 (see FIG. 3). Maintain a horizontal posture in the corresponding hole 7a of the support 7.

When the user presses the operating portion 9 of the operating knob 3 in this state, the operating knob 3 moves downward in the through hole 4a of the holder 4 as shown in FIG. It is pressed by the protrusion 8b to be turned on. Further, as the operation knob 3 moves, the two protruding portions 8c of the knob base 8 descend within the extraction hole 7a of the substrate 6, so that the elastic arm 11 connected to these protrusions 8c forms the extraction hole 7a. The elastic arm 11 is internally bent in the vertical direction, and accordingly, the elastic arm 11 accumulates a biasing force in the returning direction.

Then, when the pressing force of the user on the operation knob 3 is removed, the operation knob 3 rises in the through hole 4a by the urging force of the elastic arm 11, and when the locking piece 8d comes into contact with the protrusion 4b, the operation knob 3 is no longer moved. Is prevented from moving, the operation knob 3 is held at the initial position again as shown in FIG. 6(a).

Here, the user who presses the operation knob 3 does not necessarily press the center portion of the operation portion 9, and as shown by an arrow P in FIG. You may push the edge. In this case, two elastic arms 11 that are return means of the operation knob 3 are provided on the support 7 arranged on the back side of the substrate 6, and the one closer to the pressing point P (on the right side of the drawing) and the one farther from the pressing point P (on the other side). Since the angle difference (θ in the figure) in the direction of the component force of the pressing force on each elastic arm 11 (on the left side of the figure) becomes small, the operation knob 3 moves straight in the through hole 4a without tilting obliquely.

As described above, in the switch device according to the present embodiment, the push switch 5 (detection element) that detects the raising/lowering operation of the operation knob 3 is mounted on the substrate 6 and is arranged on the back side of the substrate 6. The support 7 is provided with two elastic arms 11, and the two protruding portions 8c of the operation knob 3 are inserted into the through holes 7a formed in the substrate 6 and are connected to the corresponding elastic arms 11 of the support 7. Therefore, even if the peripheral portion of the operation knob 3 is pushed, the angle difference in the direction of the component force of the pressing force on the two elastic arms 11 becomes small, and the operation knob 3 is straightened without being inclined. Can be moved to. Moreover, since the two elastic arms 11 that are return means of the operation knob 3 are provided on the support 7 on the back side of the substrate 6, the entire switch device does not become large in the plane direction. It is possible to incorporate two or more operation knobs 3 in 4 to form a multiple switch unit, or to arrange two or more switch devices in close proximity.

Further, in the switch device according to the present embodiment, the returning means of the operation knob 3 is composed of the elastic arm 11 provided integrally with the support body 7, and the elastic arm 11 is a surface orthogonal to the moving direction of the operation knob 3. Since it extends in a cantilever manner in the inward direction (horizontal direction), the returning means can be provided on the support body 7 without adding a separate component, and the number of components and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Moreover, since the support body 7 is provided with a hole 7a surrounding the elastic arm 11, and the elastic arm 11 is bent a plurality of times inside the hole 7a, the hole 7a is limited. The elastic arm 11 having a long spring span can be arranged in the space, and the elastic arm 11 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, the elastic arm 11 is provided with an engaging hole 11a at the free end thereof, and the protruding portion 8c for inserting the cutout hole 6a of the substrate 6 is fitted into the engaging hole 11a. It is possible to prevent relative displacement between the operation knob 3 and the elastic arm 11 (returning means).

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the two elastic arms 11 are provided as the return means of the operation knob 3 on the support body 7 has been described, but it is also possible to use three or more return means. The protrusions 8c may be provided on the four side walls 8a of the knob base 8 that is a constituent member of the knob 3, and the support body 7 may be provided with the four elastic arms 11 corresponding to the protrusions 8c. Alternatively, two or more projecting portions may be provided at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction on the operation knob that is circular in plan view, and a plurality of elastic arms may be provided on the support body corresponding to these projecting portions.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the double type switch device in which the operation knob 3 is incorporated in the holder 4 having the two through holes 4a has been described as an example, but the holder 4 having the one through hole 4a is operated. The present invention is also applicable to a single switch device incorporating the knob 3.

1 movable nose 3 operation knob 4 holder 4a through hole 5 push switch (detection element)
6 Substrate 6a Notched hole (notched part)
7 Support 7a Holes 8 Knob Base 8a Side Wall 8b Pushing Protrusion 8c Projecting Part 8d Locking Piece 9 Operating Part 11 Elastic Arm (Returning Means)
11a engaging hole

Claims (5)

A holder having a through hole, an operation knob housed in the through hole so that the operation knob can be moved up and down, a detection element for detecting an up-and-down movement of the operation knob, a board on which the detection element is mounted, and a back side of the board. And a plurality of returning means for urging the operation knob toward the front side,
A cutout portion is formed on the substrate, and the return member is provided on the support body located on the inner side of the cutout portion, and the operation knob is inserted through the cutout portion to perform the return operation. A switch device having a projecting portion that comes into contact with the means. In Claim 1, The said return means is an elastic arm integrally provided in the said support body, This elastic arm extends cantileverly along the in-plane direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the said operation knob. A switch device characterized in that 3. The switch device according to claim 2, wherein the support body is provided with a hole surrounding the elastic arm, and the elastic arm is bent inside the hole. The switch device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an engaging hole is provided on the free end side of the elastic arm, and the projecting portion is inserted into the engaging hole. In any one statement of Claims 2-4, a push projection which operates the above-mentioned detection element is provided in the central part of the above-mentioned operation knob, and the two side walls which oppose through this push projection are respectively said. A switch device characterized in that projecting portions are provided, and two elastic arms are provided on the support body corresponding to these projecting portions.