JPH04316031A - Key matrix system switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the key matrix system switch device which is excellent even when provided dispersedly like switches of a camera while a click feeling in operation is given by gathering switches which has the same electrode for scanning on one base plate when inputted by scanning a key matrix with a switch consisting of a conductive spring and a conductive base plate. CONSTITUTION:A conductive spring 20 is supported on a conductive base plate 30 (or 31) and held at the same potential with the base plate 30 (or 31). The spring 20 when pressed down contacts a pattern on a circuit board 41 to close the switch. On one base plate, switches having the same common electrode C1 (or C2) for scanning in a group of switches of key matrix constitution are gathered, so that the signal input using the key matrix can be performed with a click feeling.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a switch that performs input by scanning using a key matrix method.

0002

[Background Art] In recent years, with the increase in the number of setting switches in electronic devices, the number of switch input ports of a one-chip IC microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as microcomputer) for detecting the state of the switch and performing arbitrary processing. has increased accordingly. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of required ports, an input method called key matrix that scans switches has come into use. This input method is a technique commonly used in calculators, television remote controls, and the like.

[0003] The input method of the switch will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a conventional input method, and FIG. 2 shows an input method using a key matrix. In Figure 1, a microcomputer 1 built into an electronic device has six input ports a, b, c, d, e, and f, and external ports are connected to each of the six ports. A corresponding switch group 2 is provided for input. According to this method, input is made by associating one port with one switch. Therefore, as the number of switches increases, the number of ports on the microcomputer, that is, the number of pins on the microcomputer increases accordingly, and the area occupied by the microcomputer itself also increases. In FIG. 2, a microcomputer 3 built into an electronic device or the like has input ports K1, K2, K3 and scanning electrodes (common electrodes) C1, C2. A switch group 4 for performing input by scanning is provided on the outside. For example, open C2,
By changing the processing for the states of ports K1, K2, and K3 when C1 is grounded, and the processing for the states of ports K1, K2, and K3 when C1 is open and C2 is grounded, one Multiple switches can be connected to a port. As a result, even if the number of switches increases, the number of ports on the microcontroller does not directly increase.

0004

By the way, conductive rubber switches are used as switches in ordinary electronic equipment. When pressed from the outside, this rubber switch elastically deforms and covers a wide area of the circuit board, so it is possible to short-circuit two patterns on the board at the same time and input signals to two ports. However, conductive rubber switches do not convey a click feeling to the user when pressed, so they are not suitable for use in cameras and the like. Therefore, a conductive metal spring (SUS or the like) is sometimes used together with the base plate to produce a click feeling when the switch is operated. In this case, a metal spring is positioned on the base plate, and a circuit board having a pattern that is brought into contact with the metal spring by operating a switch is fixed on the base plate.

[0005] In a switch using a metal spring as described above, due to its structure, the metal spring contacts the pattern on the board at only one point, and unlike a rubber switch, two patterns on the board are short-circuited at the same time. It is not possible. Furthermore, the base plate and the metal spring are structurally at the same potential. Therefore,
For switches using metal springs, in the case of the input method shown in Figure 1, it is possible to configure multiple switches on one base plate by fixing the base plate to the ground, but in the case of the key matrix method, cannot be done in the same way. Furthermore, when switches need to be arranged in a distributed manner, such as in a camera, it is impossible to configure all the switches on one base plate.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and by gathering switches having the same scanning electrodes on one base plate, conductive springs and It is an object of the present invention to provide a key matrix type switch device which has a click feeling with a switch constituted by a conductive base plate and is suitable for being installed in a distributed manner like a camera switch.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a switch group having a key matrix configuration,
In a key matrix switch device in which a signal is input to a port of a microcontroller by scanning a group of switches, the switches of the group of switches include a conductive spring that is pressed and a circuit board that is placed opposite the spring. and a conductive base plate that supports the spring and has the circuit board attached thereto, and switches having the same scanning electrodes are gathered on one base plate.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the above structure, the conductive spring is supported by the base plate and has the same potential as the base plate, and when the spring is pushed down, the spring comes into contact with the pattern on the circuit board. The switch closes. Here, among a group of switches in a key matrix configuration, switches that use the same electrode for scanning are collected on one base plate. This allows signal input using the key matrix to be performed with a click feeling.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A camera employing a key matrix switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the camera according to this embodiment. In the figure, the camera body 5 has a display L on the top surface.
It has a CD 6, and this display LCD 6 is for displaying the setting status of various setting switches. In addition, on the top surface of one side of the camera, there are three setting switches: a mode changeover switch 7 for changing the mode of each setting switch, an OFF switch 8 for turning off the setting of each setting switch, and an ON switch 9 for turning on the setting of each setting switch. It has group A. This setting switch group A is composed of setting switches having a scanning electrode (common electrode) in common. Furthermore, on the other top surface, there is a release switch 10 for releasing the shutter, a card switch 11 for operating a card that stores various photographic techniques and camera functions for each purpose, and automatic exposure with programmed aperture value and shutter speed. It is equipped with a program switch 12 for operating the mechanism, and on the back of the camera is equipped with a group B of four setting switches, including an AE lock switch 13 for fixing the aperture value. Similar to switch group A, setting switch group B is composed of setting switches having a common electrode in common.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a conductive metal spring (hereinafter referred to as a semi-spring) which is a component of the various switches described above. In the figure, a semi-spring 20 has protrusions 21 and 22. This protrusion 21 is for positioning with respect to a conductive base plate together with a substrate to be described later. The protrusion 22 is brought into contact with the conductive base plate through the substrate. FIG. 5 shows two examples of the above-mentioned conductive base plate (hereinafter simply referred to as base plate). In the same figure, base plates 30 and 31
correspond to the aforementioned setting switch group A and setting switch group B, respectively, and the protrusion 2 of the semi-spring 20 is provided on the surface.
Holes 32 for positioning the setting switches are provided in correspondence with the number of setting switches.

FIG. 6 shows the above-mentioned semi-spring 20 and base plate 30.
(or 31) shows a setting switch configured by (or 31). In the same figure, the switch 40 is connected to the semi-spring 20 and the spring 2.
The circuit board 41 is arranged opposite to the circuit board 41. The semi-spring 20 has its protrusion 21 connected to the circuit board 41.
By being inserted into the hole, the semi-spring 20 and the base plate 30 are positioned and held on the base plate 30, and are electrically in contact with the base plate 30, so that the semi-spring 20 and the base plate 30 are at the same potential. and,
The protrusion 22 of the semi-spring 20 corresponds to the control port of the microcomputer 3 shown in FIG. 2 among the patterns on the circuit board 41.
That is, it is connected to the common electrode C1 or C2, and
The pattern on the circuit board 41 that faces the pressing part 20a of the semi-spring 20 and comes into contact with the semi-spring 20 (the switch closes) when pressed is the input port K1 to K3 of the microcomputer 3.
connected to either. Therefore, one base plate 30
By gathering a group of switches that share the common electrode C1 or C2 on the top, it is possible to simplify the mounting configuration even though it is a key matrix method. Further, with this configuration, the semi-spring 20 itself can be brought to the potential of its common electrode simply by positioning the semi-spring 20.

FIG. 7 shows the base plate 30 of setting switch groups A and B.
and 31 are shown arranged on the camera body 5. In the same figure, base plates 30 and 31 are each composed of a group of setting switches having a common common electrode. Therefore, even if the setting switches are distributed, the potential of one base plate can be set as the potential input to one port of the microcomputer, and an input method using a key matrix can be adopted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible.
For example, in the above example, two base plates having a common electrode are placed on the film winding side and the film rewinding side of the top of the camera, but they can also be placed on the top and front of the camera as shown in FIG. It is possible.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, by gathering a plurality of switches having the same common electrode for scanning among a group of switches in a key matrix configuration on one base plate, the switches can be made of metal. It is formed using a manufactured spring to provide a click feeling during operation, and even when the switches are arranged in a distributed manner, such as in a camera, it is possible to easily adopt a key matrix input method, and the mounting structure is simple. Become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a switch input method.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a key matrix input method.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a single-lens reflex camera employing a key matrix type switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, a side view, and a front view showing an example of a conductive spring that constitutes a switch.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two examples of conductive base plates constituting the switch.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a switch composed of a conductive spring, a circuit board, and a conductive base plate.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view showing an example of the arrangement of switches inside the camera.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view showing another example of the arrangement of switches inside the camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

3. Microcomputer 4 Switch group 20 Conductive spring 30, 31 Conductive base plate 41 Circuit board C1, C2 Common electrode

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A key matrix type switching device having a switch group configured in a key matrix configuration, in which a signal is input to a port of a microcomputer by scanning the switch group, wherein the switch of the switch group is operated by pressing. It is composed of a conductive spring, a circuit board placed opposite to the spring, and a conductive base plate that supports the spring and attaches the circuit board. A key matrix type switch device characterized by being assembled on one base plate.