JPH046110Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of application of the invention] The invention applies a force in one of four different directions to a single manually operated member, and This invention relates to a four-way switch configured to open and close by interlocking the opening and closing contacts of the four-way switch.

However, in the present invention, the term "forces in four different directions" includes four types of parallel operating forces having different points of application.

[Prior art]

This type of four-way switch is used, for example, for operating remote control mirrors for automobiles.

One remote control mirror generally has two
One of the two motors rotates the mirror left and right, and the other rotates the mirror up and down.

In order to arbitrarily rotate each of the two motors provided as described above in the forward and reverse directions, it is necessary to open and close two of the four sets of single-pole, double-throw switches in conjunction with each other.

It is easy to provide four switches for this purpose, but in order to make the operation easier and eliminate the risk of erroneous operation, it is preferable to operate the four switches with one manual operation member. This is desirable. For this reason, the aforementioned four-way switch is used.

In practical terms, in the case of automobile door mirrors, remote control mirrors are installed on the left and right sides of the car body, so two four-way switches are installed, or one four-way switch and one changeover switch are installed. must be attached.

FIG. 9A is a circuit diagram for operating the left and right remote control mirrors Ml and Mr by the four-way switch _S4 and the left and right mirror changeover switch Slr, and FIG. 9B is an opening/closing diagram thereof.

As shown, the four-way switch incorporates four sets of single-pole, double-throw switches.

When the single-pole, double-throw switches arranged vertically opposite each other in the figure are operated in conjunction with L and R, the mirror left and right rotation motors HL and HR are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

HL is a left-right rotation motor for the left mirror Ml, and HR is a left-right rotation motor for the right mirror Mr. HL operation and HR operation are the changeover switch Slr.
You can switch with .

Similarly, when the single-pole, double-throw switches arranged oppositely on the left and right in the figure are operated in conjunction with UP and DOWN, the mirror vertical movement motors VL and VR are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

The above-mentioned four-way switch conventionally generally has a structure in which four sets of fixed contacts are provided on a circuit board, and a movable contact is brought into sliding contact with each of the fixed contacts.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The conventional four-way switch configured as described above has a structure in which the movable contact slides against the fixed contact, and therefore requires an operating force sufficient to overcome the sliding resistance.

If the sliding contact pressure of the movable contact with respect to the fixed contact is reduced, conduction becomes uncertain, and if the sliding contact pressure is increased, the required operating force increases and the movable contact wears out prematurely.

This idea was created in view of the above circumstances.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a four-way switch that requires less operation force, has excellent durability, has reliable conduction, and has the manual operation member an automatic restoring function after operation.

[Means for solving problems]

To solve the above problems, the present invention uses a ball contact switch.

The above-mentioned ball contact switch was created by the present inventor and is currently under separate application (Utility Application No. 120357/1986).

FIG. 10 is a sectional view for explaining the principle of the ball contact switch, and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view.

In the figure, 1 is a base, which in this example is a printed circuit board (P, C, B), and a pair of rectangular fixed contacts 10 _-1 and 10 _-2 are arranged on the top surface of this base 1. .

Reference numeral 2 denotes a guide body having a case shape, that is, a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open bottom surface, and this guide body 2 has through holes 2a at both ends thereof. The guide body 2 thus formed is attached to the base 1 described above so as to cover the pair of fixed contacts 10 _-1 and 10 _-2 on the upper surface of the base 1. As a result, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped space 21 is formed by the base body 1 and the guide body 2.

3 and 4 are a first slider and a second slider that are housed in a space 2b defined by the above-mentioned base 1 and guide body 2 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the space 2b and facing each other; The first slider 3 and the second slider 4 are made of an insulating material, and have a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose vertical cross section is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the vertical cross section of the space 2b, and
A protrusion 3a is formed on the opposing inner surface and the opposite outer surface.
and 4a integrally protrude outward, and the protruding member 3
a and 4a are inserted into the through holes 2a of the guide body 2, respectively. The first slider 3 and the second slider 4 have an inclined surface 3 extending from the opposing inner surfaces to the bottom surface.
b and 4b are provided respectively.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a return spring, and this spring 5 is a compression spring that fits onto the projection 4a of the second slider 4 and connects the outer surface of the second slider 4 with the inner surface of the guide body 2. The first slider 3 and the second slider 4 are always urged in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG.
Then, the second slider 4 is returned to its original position.
The first slider 3, second slider 4, and spring 5 constitute the operating body of the present invention.

6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are a pair of movable contacts, which are made of a conductive material and have a spherical shape with a smooth surface and a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the space 21 described above. . The two movable contacts 6 thus formed are connected to the inclined surface 3b of the first slider 3 and the second
The slider 4 is rotatably housed in a substantially trapezoidal space surrounded by the inclined surface 4b of the slider 4 and the upper surface of the base 1.
As a result, the two movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are moved into the space 2b by the guide 2 via the operating bodies (first slider 3, second slider 4, spring 5).
It is guided so that it rolls in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram of the operation of this ball contact switch.

On the circuit board 1', the common fixed contact 10c and 1
A pair of switching fixed contacts 10a and 10b are provided.

When the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6 _-2 are in the neutral position shown by the chain line, the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6
_-2 is the center point (meaning the center point in the projection diagram,
(indicated by a black dot in this figure)) contacts the circuit board 1'. In this state, the three fixed contacts 10c,
10a and 10b are not electrically connected to each other.

When the pair of spherical movable contacts rolls upward in the figure to the 6 _-1 ' and 6 _-2 ' positions drawn by solid lines, the fixed contact 1
0c and 10a are electrically connected.

Also, it rolls downward to 6 _-1 ″, 6 _- drawn with a broken line.
At the ₂ '' position, the fixed contacts 10c and 10b are electrically connected.

The above-mentioned operation is performed by the rolling of the movable contact, which is a spherical member, without any sliding movement, and therefore is performed smoothly and with little wear.

From the above description, it can be seen that the ball contact switch of FIG. 7A operates in the same manner as shown in FIG. 12B.

Moreover, if this is configured as shown in Figure 7A, 1
Even if the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 roll from the position shown by the chain line (neutral position) to the left or right in the figure, the fixed contacts 10c, 10a, and 10b do not conduct to each other.

The ball contacts shown in Figures 10 and 11 are 1
The inclined surfaces 3b and 4b of the pair of sliders 3 and 4 are in contact with the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 , respectively, so that they are elastically sandwiched, as shown in FIG. A similar effect can be obtained by covering the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 with a slider 11 having a pair of sloped surfaces and urging the contacts 6 -1 and 6 -2 in the direction of arrow P by a spring 12. When the slider 11 is driven back and forth in the direction of arrow S-S', the contacts are opened and closed.

In order to utilize the characteristics of the ball contact switch described above to achieve the above purpose (to provide a four-way switch with an automatic restoring function that requires less operating force and less wear), the four-way switch of the present invention has (a ) four sets of fixed contacts are provided on the circuit board; (b) one pair of spherical movable contacts is arranged to face each of the four sets of fixed contacts; (c) the four pairs of spherical movable contacts are arranged to face each other. A slider B that covers each pair of spherical movable contacts is provided, and the slider B has a slope that slides against each of the spherical movable contacts, and (d) four sliders that cover the four pairs of spherical movable contacts. (e) A spring is compressed between the slider A and each of the four sliders B, and the slider B is attached to the circuit board. (f) providing a guide means for sliding the slider A parallel to the circuit board; (g) configuring a push plate as a manual operation member separately from the above; (h) the push plate rotatably supports the center portion of the side facing the circuit board; (i) the push plate a transmission rod is integrally implanted in the center of the surface facing the circuit board; (j) the tip of the transmission rod is engaged with a recess provided in the center of the slider A; ( k) Construct a spring seat plate member having four leg-like parts that abut on the four corners of the rear surface of the push plate, and connect the spring seat plate member to the guide plate and the push plate described in item (f) above. (l) At least four return springs are compressed and interposed between the spring seat plate member and the guide plate.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when any one of four specific locations near the periphery of the push plate is pushed, the push plate tilts and connects two of the four sets of ball contact switches via the transmission lever. Open and close in conjunction. This opening/closing operation does not involve sliding, so the operating force is light and there is little wear.

Since the operating force is light, the rolling contact pressure can be increased to ensure continuity.

Moreover, since the springs apply biasing force to the four corners of the push plate through spring seats with four leg-shaped parts, when the push plate is not receiving any operating force, the spring Automatically maintains neutral position in some cases. In addition, even if the push plate is operated and rotated, since the spring seat member is interposed between the push plate and the biasing force spring, no bending force is applied to the spring, and the rotation is smooth. Operation is possible. (That is, there is no risk of the spring becoming twisted or stretched).

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a four-way switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. This FIG. 2 is viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a circuit board, which is installed inside the case 12. A guide plate 13 is provided in the case 12 in parallel with the circuit board 1, and a slider A14 is slidably housed between the guide plate 13 and the circuit board 1. The guide plate 13 has a shape as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and is fixedly installed inside the case 12. 13a is a guide surface that comes into sliding contact with the slider A14, and 13b is a drive member (first
This is an opening for inserting the transmission rod 20) shown in the figure.

A spherical movable contact 15 is covered by a slider B11'. The slider B11' is the first slider B11'.
This member corresponds to the slider 11 shown in FIG. 3, and is slidably fitted into the slider A, and is biased by a spring B16.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing enlarged details of the vicinity of the slider B11'. In Figure 1 above, this
The - cross section of the figure appears.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the slider A14, and FIG. 5B is a plan view thereof. 14a is a recessed portion that engages with a transmission rod 20 (see FIG. 1, details will be described later) that slides the slider A. Further, the space 14b is a portion that accommodates the slider B11'.

Due to the urging force of the spring B16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the slider B11' is moved to the spherical movable contact 1.
5 is pressed toward the circuit board 1.

A push plate 17 is disposed on the front side of the case 12, and its back side is rotatably supported by a spherical seat 18.

The push plate 17 is elastically supported at its four corners by springs A19 (two springs A19 are shown in FIG. 1).
When no particular external force is applied, it is in a neutral position parallel to the circuit board 1 as shown in the figure.

A transmission rod 20 is integrally connected at right angles to the rear side of the push plate 17, and its tip is attached to the slider A.
It engages with the recess of 14.

Figure 7 A, B, and C are the push plate 1
7 is a three-sided view.

20 is a transmission rod, and 20a is a retaining claw. 17U is an abbreviated arrow indicating the upward rotation operation position, and is a mark displayed on the surface of the push plate 17. 17D is for downward rotation operation, 17L
17R is a display mark for leftward rotation operation, and 17R is for rightward rotation operation.

17c is a spherical portion that fits and slides on a spherical seat provided on the back side of the push plate.

The actuator 23 shown in FIG. 1 serves as a spring seat plate that transmits the biasing force of the spring A19 to the push plate 17, and also absorbs the rotation of the push plate and does not apply bending force to the spring A19. It is a member that performs an action. Its three views are shown in FIGS. 8A, B, and C.

Numeral 23a is a leg-shaped portion that engages with the four corners of the back surface of the push plate 17, and its tip has a spherical shape and fits into the spherical seat 17d shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C. 23b is an opening.

The spring A19 is compressed and interposed between the actuator 23, which is the spring seat plate member, and the guide plate 13.

When the upper side of the push plate 17 shown in FIG. 2 (near the display mark 17U in FIG. 7A) is pushed, a force of arrow Pu in FIG. 1 is applied.

Similarly, if you press mark 17D on the bottom side, the arrow will appear.
Pd force is applied.

When the force of arrow Pu is applied, push plate 1
7 rotates clockwise in the figure around the spherical seat 18, and at the same time the transmission rod 20 tilts to the lower right in the figure, causing the slider A14 to slide downward in the figure. Along with this, the spherical movable contact 15 rolls downward in the figure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the circuit board 1. The UD ₁ member surrounded by the chain line and drawn with parallel diagonal lines are fixed contacts, and these parts correspond to the fixed contacts 10c, 10a, and 10b shown in FIG. 12A.

The two black dots shown in the UD ₁ portion of FIG. 3 represent the center of the spherical movable contact, and the reciprocating arrow represents the direction of rolling during opening/closing operation. Even if the spherical movable contact rolls in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating arrow, no opening/closing operation occurs (the switch remains open) as explained with reference to FIG. 12A.

Fixed contact group similar to fixed contact group UD ₁ above
UD ₂ , LR ₁ , and LR ₂ are provided, making a total of 4 sets.

When subjected to the forces of arrows Pu and Pd in FIG. 1, the fixed contact groups UD ₁ and UD ₂ in FIG. 3 open and close. At this time, the spherical movable contacts facing the fixed contact groups LR ₁ and LR ₂ respectively roll up and down in the figure, but no opening/closing operation is performed. As a result, the two sets of single-pole double-throw switches UP of the four-way switch _S4 shown in Figure 9A
-DOWN is linked to open and close, tilting the mirror up and down.

As can be easily understood from the above operation, the second
By alternately pushing the left and right sides of the push plate 17 shown in the figure, the two sets of single-pole double-throw switches L and R of the four-way switch _S4 shown in FIG. Tilt it.

The switching lever 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a member for operating the switching switch Slr shown in FIG. 9A. In the circuit pattern of FIG. 3, the portion shown below E-E in the figure is the fixed contact for the changeover switch Sr and its connecting portion.

22 shown in FIG. 1 is a connector socket.

[Effect of idea]

Since the four-way switch of the present invention does not have sliding contacts, the operating force is light, contact continuity is reliable, and there is no risk of premature wear. Furthermore, when the manual operating force disappears, the push plate automatically returns to the neutral position by the action of the spring, and this restoring operation is smoothly performed by the action of the spring seat plate member (actuator).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 show one embodiment of a four-way switch according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a sectional view, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a circuit board. Fourth
8 through 8 are individual views of the main constituent members of the above-mentioned embodiment. FIG. 9A shows an example of a wiring diagram of a four-way switch, and FIG. 9B is a connection diagram thereof. 10 to 13 are explanatory diagrams of a ball contact type switch. 1...Circuit board, 11'...Slider B, 13
... Guide plate, 14 ... Slider A, 15 ... Spherical movable contact, 16 ... Spring B, 17 ... Push plate, 18 ... Spherical seat, 19 ... Spring A, 20 ... Transmission rod, 21 ...switching lever,
23...actuator.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Four sets of opening/closing contacts and one manual operating member are provided, and operating forces in four directions are selectively applied to the one manual operating member, thereby producing the first four sets of opening/closing contacts. In a four-way switch in which two sets of contacts are linked to open and close, (a) four sets of fixed contacts are provided on the circuit board, and (b) one pair of spherical movable contacts are provided for each of the four sets of fixed contacts. (c) A slider B is provided to cover each pair of the four pairs of spherical movable contacts, and the slider B has an inclined surface that slides against each of the spherical movable contacts. (d) one slider A is provided in which four sliders B covering the four pairs of spherical movable contacts are slidably fitted; (e) the slider A and the four sliders B are provided; (f) a guide plate for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; (g) a guide plate for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; A push plate, which is a manual operation member, is configured separately, and the push plate is arranged facing and spaced apart from the circuit board, (h) the surface of the push plate facing the circuit board; (i) a power transmission rod is integrally implanted in the center of the surface of the push plate facing the circuit board; (j) a tip of the power transmission rod; (k) constitute a spring seat plate member having four leg-like portions that abut at four intervals on the rear surface of the push plate; A spring seat plate member is disposed between the guide plate and the push plate as described in (f) above, and (l) at least four return springs are compressed and interposed between the spring seat plate member and the guide plate. A four-way switch that features: