JPH04220918A - Key switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a key switch device with certain contact motions, which can be assembled through easy works, by adopting the constitution according to the invention as described hereunder. CONSTITUTION:A first switch panel 25 is connected with a second switch panel at a thin connection part 31, while this second switch panel 30 is connected with the second wiring board 35 at another thin connection part 36 in such an arrangement as to be capable of folding freely at these connection parts 31, 36. The wiring path of the contact circuitry on the second wiring board 36 is extended to the second switch panel 25, and a contact 17 in electrical connection with the end of extension is provided on the first wiring board 15. Thus a key switch device according to the invention is accomplished, which can be assembled at a single time by folding the connection parts 31, 36, and when the first switch panel 25 is placed on the first wiring board 15, the end of extension of the contact circuitry on the second wiring board 36 is connected automatically with the contact 17 of the first wiring board 15.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device in which push buttons with different operating directions are arranged on a plurality of sides of a housing.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of a conventional key switch device, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the same, and FIG. 7 is a VII of FIG.
-VII line sectional view. In these figures, the symbol 1
The box-shaped housing shown by is composed of an upper case 2 and a lower case 3. A display window 4 is formed in the upper part of the upper case 2, twelve push button insertion holes 5 are formed in the center part, and a plurality of ribs 6 are provided in the lower surface. Two push button insertion notches 7 are formed on one side of the lower case 3, and a surrounding wall 8 stands up from the bottom of the lower case 3 to surround these insertion notches 7. A pocket 9 is formed by the enclosing wall 8 and the side surface of the lower case 3. Reference numeral 12 denotes mounting ribs, which are provided one opposite to the other from the bottom surface of the lower case 3, and one of the ribs has a notch 13 formed therein.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a first wiring board, which constitutes the main wiring board of this device. Twelve contact circuit parts 16 are arranged in the center of the surface, and a display 18 is attached to the upper part. ing. Furthermore, a large number of electronic components 19 and connectors 41 are mounted on the back surface of the first wiring board 15. 25 is the first switch panel with 12 push buttons 26
are integrally formed via flexible leg portions 27. A conductive contact 27 is attached to the lower surface of the push button 26. This conductive contact 27 and the contact circuit section 16 constitute a first key switch.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a second switch panel, on which two push buttons 32 are integrally formed via flexible legs 33. A conductive contact 34 is attached to the lower surface of the push button 32. A second wiring board 45 constitutes a sub-wiring board of the present device, and two contact circuit sections 46 are disposed thereon. This contact circuit section 46 and the conductive contact 34 constitute a second key switch. A bent portion 47 bent at a right angle is formed at one end of the second wiring board 45, and a terminal portion 48 is provided at the tip.

The assembly method and operation will be explained below. Connector 41 of first wiring board 15 to second wiring board 4
5 is inserted and electrically coupled, the first wiring board 15 is placed on the rib 12, and the second wiring board 45 is fitted into the pocket 9. At this time, the second wiring board 45
The bent portion 47 of the rib 12 is fitted into the notch 13 of the rib 12. Insert the second switch panel 30 into the pocket 9 and press the button 3
2 into the fitting notch 7. The first switch panel 25 is placed on the first wiring board 15, and the upper case 2 is placed on the lower case 3 and fixed. The push buttons 26 of the first switch panel 25 protrude from the fitting holes 5 of the upper case 2, and the push buttons 32 of the second switch panel 30 protrude from the fitting notches 7 of the lower case 3, respectively, to the outside of the housing. The conductive contact 28 of the push button 26 and the conductive contact 34 of the contact circuit section 16 and the push button 32
and contact circuit section 46 are arranged to face each other.

In the key switch device assembled in this manner, when the push button 32 is pressed, the leg portion 33 is bent, the conductive contact 34 comes into contact with the contact circuit portion 46, and the contact circuit portion 46 is closed. Similarly, when the push button 26 is pressed, the contact circuit 16 is closed, and the contents of these operations are displayed on the display 4.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional key switch device described above, a large number of electronic components are mounted on the first wiring board, which is the main wiring board, through an automatic assembly process. It is not possible to integrate other parts such as the second wiring board with the second wiring board, which increases the number of parts, and the assembly work is complicated because the connector is used as a means for electrically connecting both wiring boards. This causes a problem that it is difficult to insert the second wiring board into the pocket due to variations in the amount of insertion. Therefore, if the capacity of the pocket is increased to improve the insertion work of the wiring board, variations will occur in the arrangement positional relationship between the contact circuit section and the conductive contacts, which will lead to malfunction of the key switch. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and its object is to provide a key switch device that is easy to assemble and has reliable contact operation.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The key switch device of the present invention includes a first switch panel in which a first push button is integrally formed, and a key switch panel that is arranged to overlap the first switch panel and is arranged such that the first push button is pressed. a first wiring board provided with a contact circuit operated by the switch panel; a second switch panel provided with a second push button whose operation direction is different from that of the first push button; and a second wiring board provided with a contact circuit that is arranged and operated by pressing a second push button, and a second switch panel is connected to the first switch panel, and a second wiring is connected to the second switch panel. The boards are connected at thin-walled connections so that they can be bent freely at these connections, and the wiring path of the contact circuit of the second wiring board is extended to the first switch panel, and this extended end is connected to the electrical connection. A contact point for electrical connection is provided on the first wiring board.

[0009]

[Operation] In the key switch device of the present invention, the first switch panel and the second switch panel are connected to the second switch panel, and the second switch panel and the second wiring board are connected to each other by thin-walled connection portions. It can be assembled in one step by folding at the connection part, and the wiring path of the second key switch is extended to the first switch panel, and a contact point for electrical connection with this extended end is provided on the first wiring board. Therefore, alignment for electrically coupling both wiring boards is not required, and the electrical coupling can be performed reliably.

0010

EXAMPLES The present invention will be explained in detail below based on examples. 1 is an overall perspective view of the device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of main parts, and FIG. 4 is IV-I in FIG.
It is a sectional view taken along the V line. In these figures, the same reference numerals as in the prior art indicate the same configurations, and detailed explanations will be omitted. Reference numeral 11 denotes a pair of ribs erected on the bottom surface of the lower case 3. On one side edge of the surface of the first wiring board 15,
The contact terminal portion 17 is printed and wired.

A second switch panel 30 is integrally formed with the first switch panel 25 via a thin connection portion 31. The second switch panel 30 is connected to this connection part 31.
It can be folded freely as a fold. Further, a second wiring board 35 is integrally formed on the second switch panel 30 via a thin connection portion 36 . The second wiring board 35 can be folded at the connecting portion 36 as a fold.

On the back side of the second wiring board 35, conductive contacts 34 of the push buttons 32 and a contact circuit 37 constituting a key switch are printed and wired. The printed wiring of this contact circuit 37 is extended to the side edge of the back surface of the first switch panel 25, and an extended contact portion 38 is provided. This extended contact portion 38 corresponds to the contact terminal portion 17 of the first wiring board 15, as will be described later.

The assembly method will be explained below. The first wiring board 15 is placed on the mounting rib 11 of the lower case 3. The second wiring board 35 is folded in the direction of arrow A with the connecting portion 36 as a crease, and folded onto the second switch panel 30. The second switch panel 30 is bent at a right angle with the connecting portion 31 as a fold. In this state, the first switch panel 25 is placed on the first wiring board 15, and at the same time, the folded second switch panel 30 and second wiring board 35 are inserted into the pocket 9. At this time, the first switch panel 15
The extended contact portion 38 of the first switch panel 25 is placed on the contact terminal portion 17 of the first switch panel 25, and both contacts are electrically connected. Place the upper case 2 on the lower case 3 and fix it.

[0014]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the first switch panel, the second switch panel, and the second wiring board are integrated, and the contact circuit of the second wiring board is connected to the first switch. A contact that extends to the back of the panel and electrically connects to this extension contact is provided on the surface of the first wiring board so that the extension contact and the contact can be connected at the same time as assembly, so the connection is reliable and can be made evenly. Assembling time is significantly reduced. Further, since all parts are automatically positioned and all parts can be assembled from one direction, automation is easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main parts of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of a conventional key switch device.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional key switch device.

7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Housing 9 Pocket 15 First wiring board 17 Contact part 25 First switch panel 30 Second switch panel 35 Second wiring board 38 Extension contact part

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A first switch panel in which a first push button is integrally formed, and a second switch panel provided with a contact circuit that is arranged to overlap the first switch panel and is activated when the first push button is pressed. a second switch panel in which a second push button is provided with a second push button whose operating direction is different from that of the first push button;
a second wiring board that is arranged to overlap the second switch panel and is provided with a contact circuit that is activated when the second push button is pressed; The second wiring board is connected to the second switch panel through a thin-walled connection part so that it can be bent freely at this connection part, and the wiring path of the contact circuit of the second wiring board is connected to the first switch panel. A key switch device characterized in that the first wiring board is provided with a contact that extends and is electrically connected to the extended end.