JPH0341374Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a switch device using a light projecting element and a light receiving element.

(Prior Art) As one means for making a switch device contactless, it has been conventionally practiced to utilize a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. As an example of this type of switch device, conventionally, a light guide member made of plastic or an optical fiber is used to form an optical path between a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a light path that appears in and out of this optical path in response to manual operation is used. A configuration with a shielding plate is provided.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional switch device described above not only requires a relatively expensive light guide member or optical fiber, which increases the cost, but also reduces the structure of the movable parts including the shielding plate, etc. There is also the problem that it becomes complicated. In addition, a shielding plate that requires a predetermined operation stroke is required separately from the light guide member or optical fiber, which makes it difficult to reduce the overall size and thickness, and there are problems in that productivity is also poor. .

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce costs and simplify the structure while being a non-contact type that uses a light emitting element and a light receiving element. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch device that can be made smaller and thinner, and can also significantly improve productivity.

[Structure of the idea]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The switch device according to the present invention has a flexible and light-guiding first switch whose optical refractive index is set to be approximately equal.
and a second plate-like member, which are arranged in an overlapping manner with a predetermined gap between them, and a light emitting element that projects light into the first plate-like member; A light receiving element is provided for receiving light from within the second plate member and generating a switching signal in the light receiving state, and at least one of the first and second plate members is deformed so that they come into contact with each other. The light emitting element is configured such that when the light emitting element is in the above-mentioned state, the light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element through both the plate-like members.

(Function) When the first and second plate-like members are not deformed, that is, when there is a gap between the two plate-like members, the light projected into the first plate-like member is transmitted to the second plate-like member. Therefore, the light receiving element is in a non-light receiving state and no switching signal is output. Further, when at least one of the first and second plate-like members is pressed and deformed with a finger or the like, and these plate-like members are brought into contact with each other, the optical refractive indexes of both plate-like members are approximately the same. As a result, the light projected into the first plate-like member is transmitted into the second plate-like member, whereby the light-receiving element assumes a light-receiving state and a switching signal is output.

(Example) In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a first film which is a first plate-like member, and is made of, for example, transparent plastic material or silicone rubber, and has flexibility and light-guiding properties. In this embodiment, it has a rectangular shape. Further, on the left edge of the top surface of the first film 1 in the drawing, a light diffusing section 2 is provided by printing a strip of light-scattering paint. Reference numeral 3 denotes a light-shielding film made of, for example, plastic and having flexibility and light-guiding properties, and is attached to the upper surface of the first film 1 so as to cover the entire surface thereof. Reference numeral 4 denotes a spacer in the shape of a rectangular frame, which is made of a light-shielding material and has a width narrower than that of the first film 1; Attached with parts removed. 5 is a second film serving as a second plate-like member, which is similar to the first film.
The first film 1 is made of the same material as the first film 1, and has flexibility and light guiding properties, and has the same optical refractive index as the first film 1. The second film 5 is formed into a rectangular shape having approximately the same size as the spacer 4, and is attached to the lower surface of the spacer 4. In this way the first
film 1, spacer 4 and second film 5
As a result, both films 1 and 5 are placed one on top of the other with a predetermined gap 6 between them. Therefore, when the central part of the light-shielding film 3 (corresponding to the gap 6) is pressed with a finger or the like, the light-shielding film 3 and the first film 1 are deformed as shown in FIG.
The second film 1 comes into contact with the second film 5. Then, when the pressure is released from this state, the light-shielding film 3 and the first film 1 are returned to deformation, and the contact state is released. Further, on the right edge of the upper surface of the second film 5 in the figure, a light diffusing portion 7 is provided by printing a light scattering paint in a band shape. Reference numeral 8 denotes a rectangular reinforcing plate, which is made of a light-shielding material and has a width narrower than that of the second film 5; Attached with parts removed.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a light emitting element, such as a light emitting diode, which is installed so as to face the light diffusing section 2 of the first film 1 from below. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 9 enters the first film 1 and is diffused by the light diffusion section 2, and a part of the diffused light is transmitted to the first film as shown by the arrow in FIG. It is reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of 1 and travels inside it in the longitudinal direction. Reference numeral 10 denotes a light receiving element, for example a phototransistor, which is placed so as to face the light diffusing portion 7 of the second film 5 from below. As a result, when light enters the second film 5, the light is diffused by the light diffusion section 7, and a portion of the diffused light is received by the phototransistor 10.
Although not shown, the phototransistor 10
is configured to generate a switching signal in the light receiving state. Note that the first film 1, the light-shielding film 3, the spacer 4, the second film 5, and the reinforcing plate 8 may be fixed, for example, by adhesive, or by holders that sandwich the respective peripheral edges. Good.

According to the above configuration, a gap 6 exists between the first film 1 and the second film 5 in the non-operating state, that is, in the state where the first film 1 is not pressed and deformed as shown in FIG. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 9 into the first film 1 is not transmitted into the second film 5, so that the phototransistor 10 is in a non-light receiving state and a switching signal is output. There is no. Moreover, when the center part of the light-shielding film 3 is pressed, the third
The first and second films 1 and 5 as shown in the figure
come into contact with each other. Then, as shown by arrows in the figure, light is projected into the first film 1 from the light emitting diode 9, is diffused by the light diffusing section 2, and travels in the longitudinal direction of the first film 1.
and 5 have the same optical refractive index, so that the light is transmitted into the second film 5 through these contact portions, and a part of the light is diffused by the light diffusion section 7 and received by the phototransistor 10. Become. Therefore, a switching signal is output from the phototransistor 10 in response to a pressing operation on the central portion of the light-shielding film 3, and such an output state returns to the state shown in FIG. 1 when the pressing operation is released. It will be stopped when the

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the light shielding film 3, the first film 1, the spacer 4, the second film 5, and the reinforcing plate 8, each of which has a simple shape and is relatively inexpensive, can be superimposed at a very low cost. It is a safe and simple structure, and of course, the structure of the movable parts is also extremely simple, and the overall size and thickness can be reduced. Moreover, in this case, it is sufficient to simply overlap each of the above-mentioned parts, and each part (including the light diffusion parts 2 and 7) can be manufactured using only press technology and printing technology.
This can dramatically increase productivity. Furthermore, by modifying the shape of the spacer 4 and the like, it can be easily configured as a multiple switch, which has the advantage of greatly widening the range of applications.

In the above embodiment, the light diffusing parts 2 and 7 were provided on the first film 1 and the second film 5, respectively, but they were also provided at the same positions on the light shielding film 3 and the spacer 4, respectively. is also good. Further, the light diffusion sections 2 and 7 are not necessarily necessary, and become unnecessary when, for example, the light emitting diode 9 and the phototransistor 10 are arranged as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings; for example, other elements may be used as the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, as is clear from the above explanation, although it is a non-contact type switch device that uses a light emitting element and a light receiving element, it is possible to reduce the cost and simplify the structure, and also to reduce the overall cost. This has the beneficial effect of promoting miniaturization and thinning, and furthermore, achieving a dramatic improvement in productivity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in a different state from FIG. 1. In the figure, 1 is a first film (first plate member),
2 and 7 are light diffusion parts, 3 is a light shielding film, 4 is a spacer, 5 is a second film (second plate-like member),
6 is a gap, 8 is a reinforcing plate, 9 is a light emitting diode (light emitting element), and 10 is a phototransistor (light receiving element).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] first and second plate-like members having flexibility and light-guiding properties, which are arranged in an overlapping manner with a predetermined gap between them, and have substantially equal optical refractive indexes; A light projecting element arranged to project light into the plate-like member; and a light-receiving element arranged to receive light from inside the second plate-like member and generating a switching signal in a light-receiving state. , when at least one of the first and second plate members is deformed and comes into contact with each other, the light emitted from the light projecting element is received by the light receiving element through both the plate members. A switch device characterized in that it is configured to