JP7392480B2 - Switches, optical units and operating devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention provides a switch comprising a casing, a movable member housed in the casing and operated based on external pressure, and an optical element that opens and closes a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member; The present invention relates to an optical unit that can be attached to such a switch, and an operating device that includes such a switch.

2. Description of the Related Art Operating devices such as mice equipped with switches such as microswitches have become popular as input devices for electronic devices such as computers. In particular, these days, various characteristics are required of mice used for computer games called e-sports. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a microswitch that can be used as a mouse switch. The microswitch disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses an optical element, and opens and closes a circuit using the optical element.

International Publication No. 2016/112842

In the microswitch disclosed in Patent Document 1, a circuit using an optical element is built inside the casing. In applications such as e-sports that require quick reactions, the required characteristics may differ depending on the genre of the game, for example. However, the mouse disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it cannot sufficiently meet various required characteristics.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch that can increase the degree of freedom in various responses.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical unit used in such a switch.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide an operating device using such a switch.

In order to solve the above problems, the switch described in the present application includes a casing, a movable member that is housed in the casing and operates based on external pressure, and opens and closes a circuit in coordination with the operation of the movable member. and an optical element that acts, the optical element being able to be attached to and removed from the housing, and when the optical element is attached to the housing, the optical element is attached to the housing. It is characterized by being linked to the movement of the movable member.

The switch further includes an optical unit that can be attached to and removed from the housing, and the optical unit includes the optical element and a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the optical element. , the optical element is attached to the housing by attaching the optical unit to the housing.

Further, in the switch, the optical unit includes a unit housing that houses the optical element therein, and the connection terminal protrudes from the unit housing.

Further, in the switch, the housing is formed with a mounting opening for attaching the optical unit, and by fitting the optical unit into the mounting opening, the optical unit is attached to the housing. It is characterized by being attached to the

Further, in the switch, the optical unit is a light emitting unit including a light emitting element that emits light as the optical element and/or a light receiving unit including a light receiving element that receives light as the optical element.

Further, in the switch, the optical unit is an integrated light emitting unit and light receiving unit, and is capable of being attached to and removed from the housing in an integrated state.

Further, in the switch, the optical unit is integrated with a member to be contacted by the movable member as the movable member is operated, and the optical unit is attached to the housing while being integrated with the member to be contacted. The abutted member is housed in the casing and comes into contact with the movable member by being attached to the movable member.

Furthermore, the switch described in the present application includes a casing, a movable member housed in the casing and operated based on external pressure, and a detection element that opens and closes a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member. The detection element is attachable to and detachable from the casing, and when the detection element is attached to the casing, the detection element is configured to control the movement of the movable member. It is characterized by being linked with

Furthermore, the optical unit described in the present application includes an optical element having a light emitting or light receiving function and a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the optical element, and a movable member that operates based on external pressure and the movable member. The optical element is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a switch having a casing that accommodates the member, and by being attached to the switch, the optical element opens and closes a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member. It is characterized by acting on.

Further, the operating device described in the present application includes a push-down operation unit that receives a push-down operation from the outside, and the switch that transmits the push-down operation received by the push-down operation unit as a push from the outside, and the switch It is characterized by outputting a signal to open and close the circuit based on the applied external pressure.

The switch, optical unit, and operating device described in the present application are capable of attaching and detaching a detection element such as an optical element.

The switch, optical unit, and operating device according to the present invention are capable of attaching and detaching a detection element such as an optical element. This brings about excellent effects such as increasing the degree of freedom in responding to various requests such as usage, design, assembly, and specifications.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the operating device described in the present application. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of a switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view showing an example of the external appearance of the switch described in the present application. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a switch described in the present application. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch described in the present application. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of an optical unit used in the switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of an optical unit used in the switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an optical unit used in the switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of a switch and an optical unit described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of an optical unit attached to the switch described in the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view showing an example of an optical unit attached to the switch described in the present application.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Application example>
The operating device described in the present application is used, for example, as an operating device such as a mouse used to operate a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). Further, the switch described in the present application is used as a microswitch in devices such as various electronic devices including operating devices. Below, the operating device 1 and switch 2 illustrated in the drawings will be explained with reference to the drawings.

<Operating device 1>
First, the operating device 1 will be explained. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the operating device 1 described in the present application. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the operating device 1 described in the present application is applied to a mouse used for operating an electronic device such as a personal computer. The operating device 1 includes a press operation unit 10 such as a mouse button that accepts a press operation with a user's finger, and a rotation operation unit 11 such as a mouse wheel that accepts a rotation operation with a user's finger. . Note that the rotation operation section 11 is configured to accept not only rotation operations but also push operations, and also functions as the push operation section 10. Further, a signal line 12 is connected to the operating device 1 to output an electrical signal to an external device such as a personal computer. Note that the operating device 1 is capable of outputting electrical signals not only by wired communication using the signal line 12 but also by various communication methods such as wireless communication.

Inside the operating device 1, a switch 2, which will be described later, is housed for each push-down operation section 10 and rotation operation section 11. When a push-down operation is performed on the push-down operation section 10, the switch 2 is An internal part presses the corresponding switch 2. The switch 2 outputs a signal based on the pressing situation from the signal line 12 to an external electronic device such as a personal computer.

That is, the operating device 1 described in the present application includes a push operation section 10 that accepts a push operation from the outside, a rotation operation section 11 that accepts operations such as a rotation operation, and further includes a switch 2 inside. Then, the operating device 1 transmits the push operation received by the push operation section 10 and/or the rotation operation section 11 to the switch 2 as an external press, and outputs a signal based on the operation of the switch 2 to an external electronic device. do.

<Structure of switch 2>
Next, the switch 2 described in the present application will be explained. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view showing an example of the external appearance of the switch 2 described in the present application. In this specification, the direction of the switch 2 is expressed as the left front side is the front, the right back side is the rear, the left back side is the left, the right front side is the right, the top is the top, and the bottom is the bottom. However, this direction is for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the direction in which the switch 2 is installed. As described above, the switch 2 is housed as a microswitch inside an electronic device such as the operating device 1, and receives a press operation received by a portion such as the push operation unit 10 of the operating device 1 as a press from the outside.

The switch 2 includes a housing 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 20 is formed of a lower base 20a and an upper cover 20b. A rectangular insertion hole 200 into which the pressing member 21 is inserted is provided on the upper surface of the housing 20 at a position to the left of the center when viewed from the front. The pressing member 21 inserted into the insertion hole 200 is a member that moves up and down in a range from a first position above to a second position below in response to pressure from the outside of the casing 20. The upper end of the pressing member 21 protrudes from the upper surface.

Further, two fixed terminals 22 for fixing the switch 2 to an external member such as a board, and four connection terminals 230 protrude from the bottom surface of the housing 20. The fixed terminal 22 protrudes from the left end side and near the center of the lower surface of the housing 20. The connection terminals 230 protrude from the right end side of the lower surface of the casing 20 in parallel in the front, back, left and right directions. The connection terminal 230 extends from the optical unit 23 housed within the housing 20 . Inside the housing 20, a light emitting unit 23a and a light receiving unit 23b are housed as the optical unit 23. Among the four connection terminals 230 protruding from the lower surface of the housing 20, the rear pair of first connection terminals 230a extend from the light emitting unit 23a, and the front pair of second connection terminals 230b extend from the light reception unit 23b. It extends from

A mounting opening 201 for inserting the optical unit 23 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 20 of the switch 2 . The optical unit 23 can be attached to the inside of the casing 20 of the switch 2 by inserting the optical unit 23 into the casing 20 through the mounting opening 201 and fitting it into the casing 20 .

In the switch 2 formed in this manner, a pressing operation received from the outside by the operating device 1 is transmitted to the pressing member 21 as a pressing force from the outside of the casing 20 . The pressing member 21 moves from the first position on the upper side to the second position on the lower side in response to external pressure, and moves from the second position on the lower side to the first position on the upper side when the external pressure is released. Moving.

Next, the internal structure of switch 2 will be explained. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the switch 2 described in the present application. 5 and 6 are schematic sectional views showing an example of a cross section of the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 5 shows a cross section cut along a vertical plane including line AB shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from the front. FIG. 6 shows a cross section cut along a vertical plane including the CD line segment shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from the right. 5 and 6 show a state in which the pressing member 21 is pressed from the outside.

Inside the casing 20 of the switch 2, an area is secured as a storage chamber for accommodating an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes an electric circuit. An insertion hole 200 penetrating from the outside of the housing 20 is provided in the upper surface of the storage chamber, and a pressing member 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 200.

The opening/closing mechanism accommodated in the accommodation chamber will be explained. In addition to the above-mentioned optical unit 23, a first locking piece 24, a second locking piece 25, a fixed member 26, and a movable member 27 are arranged as an opening/closing mechanism in the storage chamber. The optical unit 23 is arranged as a light receiving unit 23b and a light emitting unit 23a at the front and rear of the lower right side of the housing chamber. The first locking piece 24 is arranged on the lower left side inside the storage chamber, and the second locking piece 25 is arranged on the lower center side inside the storage chamber. The first locking piece 24 and the second locking piece 25 are integrally molded with the fixed terminal 22 that protrudes from the left end side of the lower surface of the housing 20. The fixing member 26 is disposed on the right side of the storage chamber between the light receiving unit 23b and the light emitting unit 23a, and is integrally molded with the fixed terminal 22 protruding from near the center of the lower surface of the housing 20. The movable member 27 is arranged so as to extend from side to side within the storage chamber, and is locked by a first locking piece 24 and a second locking piece 25.

The switch 2 includes, as an optical unit 23, a light emitting unit 23a that emits light, and a light receiving unit 23b that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 23a. The light emitting unit 23a is configured using a light emitting element 231a such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as an optical element 231, and has a pair of first connection terminals 230a. The light receiving unit 23b is configured using a light receiving element 231b such as a PD (Photo Diode) or a PT (Photo Transistor) as an optical element 231, and has a pair of second connection terminals 230b. There is. The light emitting element 231a of the light emitting unit 23a and the light receiving element 231b of the light receiving unit 23b are positioned to face each other so that the light receiving unit 23b receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 23a. The optical element 231 of the optical unit 23 is molded within a unit housing 232 made of resin, and the connection terminal 230 protrudes from the unit housing 232. By supplying electricity to the light emitting unit 23a through the first connection terminal 230a, the light emitting element 231a of the light emitting unit 23a emits light. Since the light-receiving element 231b of the light-receiving unit 23b changes its energization state when it detects light, it outputs an on signal from the second connection terminal 230b based on the change in the energization state due to light reception.

The fixing member 26 has a thin plate shape that is erected so that the normal direction is the front-rear direction, and is spaced apart from the light emitting unit 23a and the light receiving unit 23b in a position in front of the light emitting unit 23a and behind the light receiving unit 23b. It has been erected. The upper part of the fixing member 26 is bent into an arm shape and has a substantially U-shape with an open left side, and the lower part of the fixing member 26 has a substantially circular transmission hole 261 through which the light from the optical unit 23 passes. The light shielding plate 260 is opened. The fixed member 26 is disposed such that the movable contact portion 270 on the right end side of the movable member 27 is sandwiched between the upper and lower U-shaped openings. The inner upper part of the opening of the fixed member 26 is a first abutment against which the movable contact portion 270 of the movable member 27 hits when the pressing member 21 is located at the first position and the movable member 27 is not pressed by the pressing member 21. This is a contact portion 262. The inner lower part of the opening of the fixed member 26 is a second abutment against which the movable contact portion 270 of the movable member 27 comes into contact when the press member 21 is located at the second position and the movable member 27 is pressed by the press member 21. This is a contact portion 263. The movable contact portion 270 of the movable member 27 extends so as to fit between the first contact portion 262 and the second contact portion 263 of the fixed member 26 . The first contact portion 262 of the fixed member 26 has a tip that extends to the left and projects downward so that the movable member 27 that is not pressed can easily contact the first contact portion 262. contact from The second contact portion 263 of the fixed member 26 has a central portion protruding upward so that the pressed movable member 27 can easily contact the second contact portion 263, and the movable member 27 contacts the second contact portion 263 from above. . The fixing member 26 is preferably formed using a metal material in order to generate a suitable click sound and click feeling, but it may also be formed using a material such as organic material rubber, inorganic material rubber, or hard resin. It is also possible to do so. Moreover, the fixing member 26 can be replaced as appropriate, for example, in order to make the click sound and click feeling suitable.

The movable member 27 is a plate-shaped member made of metal such as SUS that extends in the left-right direction within the storage chamber. The left end side of the movable member 27 is a fixed end that is locked by the first locking piece 24 and functions as a swing fulcrum 271 . The right end side of the movable member 27 is a movable contact portion 270 that moves up and down as a free end between the first contact portion 262 and the second contact portion 263 of the fixed member 26 . Further, the right end side of the movable member 27 is a substantially rectangular light shielding piece 272 that is bent downward from the movable contact portion 270 . The light shielding piece 272 is formed so that the normal direction is the front-rear direction, and has a substantially rectangular transmission window 273 through which the light from the optical unit 23 passes. The light-shielding piece 272 is positioned in front of the fixing member 26 and behind the light-receiving unit 23b, and is spaced apart from the fixing member 26 and the light-receiving unit 23b, so as to fit between the fixing member 26 and the light-receiving unit 23b. ing. The movable member 27 is formed with a biasing portion 274 that is punched out near the center and bent into an arc shape to function as a return spring, and the tip of the biasing portion 274 is formed near the center of the storage chamber. It is locked by a second locking piece 25. The urging portion 274 generates a reaction force against the pressing force of the pressing member 21 .

In the opening/closing mechanism configured in this manner, the pressing member 21 moves downward in response to external pressure, and presses down the movable member 27. When the movable member 27 is pressed down, the movable contact portion 270 and the light shielding piece 272 on the right end side which is the free end of the movable member 27 are lowered. By lowering the light-shielding piece 272 of the movable member 27, the optical path from the light-emitting element 231a of the light-emitting unit 23a to the light-receiving element 231b of the light-receiving unit 23b passes through the transmission window 273 formed in the light-shielding piece 272. Therefore, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The light passes through a transmission window 273 provided in the light shielding piece 272 and reaches the light receiving element 231b of the light receiving unit 23b. When the light-receiving element 231b receives light from the light-emitting element 231a, the circuit is closed and the switch 2 outputs an on-signal to an external electronic device. Further, by lowering the movable contact portion 270 of the movable member 27, the movable contact portion 270 hits the second contact portion 263 of the fixed member 26. When the movable contact portion 270 of the metal movable member 27 collides with the second contact portion 263 of the fixed member 26, a metallic sound is generated. The user recognizes the metallic sound generated when the movable member 27 hits the fixed member 26 as a click sound. Further, the user recognizes the sensation when the movable member 27 hits the fixed member 26 as a click sensation.

When the pressure of the pressing member 21 is released, the movable member 27 is urged upward by the reaction force of the urging section 274. By forcing the movable member 27 upward, the pressing member 21 moves upward. As the movable member 27 is biased upward by the biasing portion 274, the movable contact portion 270 and the light shielding piece 272 located on the right end side of the movable member 27 are raised, and the light from the optical unit 23 is blocked by the light shielding piece 272. The circuit is opened and the circuit is in the OFF state. Furthermore, the movable abutting portion 270 located on the right end side of the movable member 27 is raised and comes into contact with the first abutting portion 262 of the fixed member 26 . As described above, the optical element 231 included in the optical unit 23 described in the present application has a function of coordinating with the operation of the movable member 27 when opening and closing a circuit by being installed in the housing 20 of the switch 2. .

The switch 2 and optical unit 23 described in this application will be further explained. 7 and 8 are schematic external views showing an example of the optical unit 23 used in the switch 2 described in the present application. 7 is a front view of the optical unit 23, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the optical unit 23. As described above, the optical units 23 such as the light emitting unit 23a and the light receiving unit 23b are formed by molding the optical elements 231 such as the light emitting element 231a and the light receiving element 231b with a sealing resin. The optical unit 23 formed by molding has a shape in which connection terminals 230 such as a first connection terminal 230a and a second connection terminal 230b protrude from a molded unit housing 232. The unit housing 232 is provided with an engaging protrusion 233 protruding from the unit housing 232 to be engaged within the housing 20 of the switch 2 .

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the optical unit 23 used in the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 9 shows the appearance of the optical unit 23 during the manufacturing process, and the inside of the unit housing 232 is visible. As illustrated in FIG. 9, two approximately linear lead frames 234 are arranged inside the unit housing 232 of the optical unit 23. One end of the lead frame 234 protrudes outward from the inside of the unit housing 232 and serves as a connection terminal 230. The other end of the lead frame 234 is located inside the unit housing 232, on which optical elements 231 such as a light emitting element 231a and a light receiving element 231b are mounted, and are bonded with wires 235. The optical unit 23 as a completed product is obtained by filling and molding a resin into a unit housing 232 illustrated in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 10 is a schematic external view showing an example of the switch 2 and optical unit 23 described in the present application. FIG. 10 is a perspective view conceptually showing attachment and detachment of the optical unit 23 to and from the housing 20 of the switch 2. As described above, the mounting opening 201 for inserting the optical unit 23 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 20 of the switch 2. The optical unit 23 is attached to the switch 2 by inserting the optical unit 23 into the housing 20 through the attachment port 201 and fitting it into the housing 20. In the housing 20 , the inner diameter of the area into which the optical unit 23 is fitted is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the unit housing 232 of the optical unit 23 . The unit 23 is positioned so that it is located in a proper fitting position. When the optical unit 23 is fitted into the housing 20, the engaging protrusion 233 protruding from the unit housing 232 engages with an engaging recess (not shown) inside the housing 20, so that the optical unit 23 is fitted into the housing 20. The unit 23 is fixed at a predetermined position within the housing 20. Furthermore, by pulling out the fitted optical unit 23 from inside the housing 20, the optical unit 23 can be taken out. As described above, the optical unit 23 described in the present application is formed so that it can be attached to and removed from the housing 20 of the switch 2.

As described above, in the switch 2 described in the present application, the optical unit 23 can be attached and removed. Therefore, the optical unit 23 can be replaced not only during the assembly process during the manufacture of the switch 2, but also after the switch 2 is completed, and even after it is assembled into the operating device 1. Therefore, for example, specifications such as contact shape, output method, response performance, etc. of the optical element 231 of the switch 2 can be changed after the switch 2 is completed. Furthermore, in applications such as e-sports that require quick reactions, it is possible to develop various usage methods, such as using optical elements 231 with different characteristics for each game. Furthermore, by replacing the optical unit 23 with a unit incorporating a detection element other than the optical element 231, such as a magnetic sensor, a sonic sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, etc., various characteristics can be improved at the design or assembly stage. It is possible to expand this to switch 2. That is, the switch 2 described in the present application has excellent effects such as being able to increase the degree of freedom in responding to various demands such as usage, design, assembly, and specifications.

The present invention is not limited to each of the embodiments described above, and can be developed into various other forms. Therefore, the embodiments described above are merely illustrative in every respect, and should not be interpreted in a limiting manner. The technical scope of the present invention is explained by the claims, and is not restricted in any way by the main text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes that come within the scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the optical units 23 are attached or removed one by one from the lower surface side of the housing 20 of the switch 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the optical unit 23 can be attached from the side of the casing 20, and various other configurations are possible.

FIG. 11 is a schematic external view showing an example of the optical unit 23 attached to the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 11 shows an example of an optical unit 23 in which a light emitting unit 23a and a light receiving unit 23b are integrated. The switch 2 described in the present application can be developed into various forms, such as using an optical unit 23 that integrates a light emitting unit 23a and a light receiving unit 23b as the optical unit 23, as illustrated in FIG. The optical unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 11 can be attached to and removed from the housing 20 of the switch 2 in an integrated state. By integrating the light-emitting unit 23a and the light-receiving unit 23b, it is possible to install and remove the light emitting unit 23a and the light-receiving unit 23b in one operation, thereby improving the workability of the installation and removal operations. In addition, for example, since matters such as light emission, light reception, and optical path between the light emitting unit 23a and the light receiving unit 23b can be inspected in advance, it is possible to provide an optical unit 23 with stable quality and less problems caused by compatibility. etc., with excellent effects.

FIG. 12 is a schematic external view showing an example of the optical unit 23 attached to the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 12 shows an example in which a fixing member 26 is further integrated with the optical unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 11. The switch 2 described in the present application can be developed into various forms, such as using an optical unit 23 that integrates a light emitting unit 23a, a light receiving unit 23b, and a fixing member 26 as the optical unit 23, as illustrated in FIG. It is possible. As described above, the movable member 27 comes into contact with the fixed member 26 as it moves. That is, the fixed member 26 has a function as a member to be abutted by the movable member 27. By appropriately changing the material and shape of the fixed member 26, which functions as the abutted member, the sound and impact when the movable member 27 abuts, that is, the click sound and click feeling for the user, can be changed. Therefore, by integrating the optical unit 23 used in the switch 2 described in the present application with the fixed member 26 (abutted member), the optical unit 23 has excellent effects such as being able to change the click feeling and click sound as appropriate. play.

1 Operating device 2 Switch 20 Housing 201 Mounting port 23 Optical unit 23a Light emitting unit 23b Light receiving unit 230 Connection terminal 230a First connection terminal 230b Second connection terminal 231 Optical element (detection element)
231a Light emitting element 231b Light receiving element 232 Unit housing 26 Fixed member (abutted member)
260 Light shielding plate 261 Transmission hole 27 Movable member 272 Light shielding piece 273 Transmission window

Claims (7)

A switch comprising a casing, a movable member housed in the casing and operated based on external pressure, and an optical element that operates to open and close a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member, the switch comprising:
A pair of optical units that can be attached to and removed from the housing,
The first optical unit is
As the optical element, a light emitting element that emits light;
a first connection terminal for electrically connecting to the light emitting element;
a first unit housing that houses the light emitting element therein;
A light emitting unit comprising:
The second optical unit is
As the optical element, a light receiving element that receives light;
a second connection terminal for electrically connecting to the light receiving element;
a second unit housing that houses the light receiving element therein;
a light receiving unit separate from the first optical unit, comprising:
The optical element can be attached to and removed from the housing,
By attaching the pair of optical units to the housing, the optical element is attached to the housing,
A switch characterized in that, when the optical element is attached to the housing, the optical element cooperates with the operation of the movable member. The switch according to claim 1 ,
The first connection terminal provided in the first optical unit protrudes from the first unit housing,
The second connection terminal provided in the second optical unit protrudes from the second unit housing.
A switch characterized by: The switch according to claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The housing is formed with a mounting opening for mounting the optical unit,
The switch is characterized in that the optical unit is attached to the housing by fitting the optical unit into the attachment opening. The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The optical unit is integrated with a member to be abutted with which the movable member abuts as the movable member moves,
By attaching the optical unit to the casing while being integrated with the abutted member, the abutted member is housed within the casing and the movable member comes into contact with it. Features a switch. A switch comprising a casing, a movable member housed in the casing and operated based on external pressure, and a detection element that operates to open and close a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member, the switch comprising:
The housing includes an output unit and a detection unit that can be attached and detached, respectively,
The output unit is
an output element that provides a detectable output;
a first connection terminal for electrically connecting to the output element;
an output casing that accommodates the output element therein;
Equipped with
The detection unit includes:
the detection element that detects the output of the output element;
a second connection element for electrically connecting to the detection element;
a detection casing that accommodates the detection element therein;
Equipped with
The output unit and the detection unit are separate bodies,
The output element and the detection element can be attached to and removed from the housing,
By attaching the output unit to the housing, the output element is attached to the housing,
By attaching the detection unit to the casing, the detection element is attached to the casing,
A switch characterized in that, when the output element and the detection element are attached to the housing, the detection element is linked with the operation of the movable member. an optical element having only one of a light emitting function and a light receiving function ;
and a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the optical element,
The switch is configured to be attachable and detachable to a switch that includes a movable member that operates based on external pressure and a casing that accommodates the movable member;
An optical unit characterized in that, by being attached to the switch, the optical element operates to open and close a circuit in conjunction with the operation of the movable member. a push-down operation section that accepts push-down operations from the outside;
The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a press operation received by the press operation unit is transmitted as an external press.
The operating device is characterized in that the switch outputs a signal for opening and closing a circuit based on a transmitted external pressure.

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