JPH04158425A - Push-button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the defective contact of a push-button switch due to the wear of a contact caused by a long period of use, the dust, etc., by using an optical sensor in order to transduce the external driving force into the electric signals. CONSTITUTION:When a key top 2 is depressed for the actuation of a push-button switch 1, the top 2 enters a fixed part 9. Then an optical path is formed between a light emitting element 4 and a light receiving element 5 and the switch 1 is actuated. In this case, a circuit (not shown in the diagram) is actuated with the switching action of the element 5 and the element 4 is temporarily turned off. Thus a fact that the switching action is accepted is displayed. Then the light emitted again from the element 4 is radiated on the upper surface of the top 2. At the same time, the light beam is reflected at the side of the top 2 by a light shielding part 6. Thus the characters, symbols, etc., are shown on the surface of the top 2. In such constitution, the contact resistance and the contact wear are never caused.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to push button switches.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in push button switches used as input elements for electronic computers, etc., a contact type conversion element such as a reed switch is used as a conversion element for converting and outputting input information.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the push button switch using the conventional contact conversion element described above, the contact resistance during operation varies due to aging, etc., so a circuit to absorb the variation is required on the electronic circuit side that receives the output of the contact. The disadvantage is that long-term use can cause poor contact due to contact wear and flaking. Another disadvantage is that additional lighting must be provided to indicate that the pushbutton switch is in operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch that eliminates the need to worry about contact resistance and contact wear, and allows for the reduction of man-hours and costs during manufacturing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The push button switch of the present invention has a fixed part incorporating a switch mechanism, and is held slidably linearly within the fixed part, and is normally biased and held in a predetermined direction to prevent external drive. A push button switch comprising a movable part that, when received, slides in the opposite direction of the biasing direction to operate the switch mechanism, wherein when the movable part receives external drive and slides, the movable part is provided with a light emitting light. An optical path is provided between the element and a light receiving element provided in the fixed part to detect switch operation, and a light beam blocking part provided on the bottom surface of the movable part blocks the light emitted by the light emitting element. It is also possible to have a configuration in which

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. The push button switch 1 includes a key top 2 made of a transparent material that has a light emitting element 4 and a light beam blocking part 6 that blocks light, an elastic member 3 that normally urges the key top 2 upward, and a reflective surface inside. 7 and a fixing part 9 for indicating a light receiving element 5 and a power cord 8. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the key top 2 portion shown in FIG. 1.

Next, the operation of this push button switch 1 will be explained. In normal times, the push button switch 1 is urged upward and held down by a holding mechanism (not shown), and remains stationary in the shown state. When the key top 2 is pressed down to operate the push button switch 1 from this state, the key top 2 enters the inside of the fixing part 9, an optical path is formed between the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5, and the switch is operated. At this time,
In response to the switch operation of the light receiving element 5, a circuit (not shown) is operated to temporarily extinguish the light emitting element 4, thereby indicating that the switch operation has been accepted. Then, the light emitted from the light emitting element 4 is emitted again to the upper surface of the key top 2. At this time, the light rays are reflected toward the key top side by the light ray blocking section 6, and by displaying characters or symbols on the surface of the key top, they can be clearly seen with the light rays coming from below.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention uses an optical sensor to convert external drive into an electrical signal, which solves the problem of contact resistance associated with contact type systems, and reduces the wear and tear of the contacts due to long-term use. , there is no need to worry about poor contact due to cracks, etc. In addition, by incorporating the light emitting element itself into the push button and using the emitted light beam to indicate the operation of the switch mechanism and to illuminate characters and symbols, the number of man-hours during production can be omitted and costs can be reduced. There is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a perspective view of the key top part shown in a figure. ■...Push button switch, 2...Key top, 3
118 elastic member, 4... light emitting element (LED), 5...
- Light-receiving element, 6... Light blocking section, 7... Reflective surface, 8
...power cord, 9...fixing part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fixed part incorporating a switch mechanism, and a fixed part that is linearly slidably held within the fixed part and is normally biased and held in a predetermined direction to prevent external drive. A push button switch comprising a movable part that, when received, slides in the opposite direction to the biasing direction to operate the switch mechanism, wherein when the movable part receives external drive and slides, the movable part is equipped with a light emitting device. A push-button switch, characterized in that an optical path is provided between the element and a light-receiving element provided in the fixed part, and switch operation is detected. 2. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted by the light emitting element is blocked by a light blocking section provided on the bottom surface of the movable section.