JPH0544985Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a contact structure for a switch, and in particular to a switch mechanism that has been improved to be suitable for a four-way switch.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the above-mentioned four-way switch is generally operated by applying a force in one of four different directions to a single manually operated member, and interlocking two of the four sets of open/close contacts. For example, it is used for operating a remote control mirror for an automobile.

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 sets of 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 installed together with

FIG. 13A 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. 13B 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 H _L and H _R are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

H _L is a left-right rotation motor for the left mirror Ml, and H _R is a left-right rotation motor for the right mirror Mr. H _L operation and H _R operation can be switched using the changeover switch Slr.

Similarly, when the single-pole double-throw switches placed oppositely on the left and right in the figure are operated in conjunction with UP and DOWN, the mirror vertical movement motors V _L and V _R 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.

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

Since the conventional four-way switch having the above structure has a movable contact that slides against a fixed contact, it 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, the 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 switch mechanism that requires less operating force, has excellent durability, and can constitute a four-way switch with reliable conduction.

[Means to solve the problem]

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. 14 is a sectional view for explaining the principle of the ball contact switch, and FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a base, which in this example is printed circuit boards P, C, and B. A pair of rectangular fixed contacts 10 _-1 and 10 _-2 are arranged on the upper surface of the 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 one size smaller than the vertical cross section of the space 2b,
A protrusion 3a is formed on the opposing inner surface and the opposite outer surface.
and 4a integrally protrude outward, and the protrusion 3a
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 3b extending from the opposing inner surfaces to the bottom surface.
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 above-mentioned space 21. . 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. 16A is an explanatory diagram of the operation of this ball contact switch.

On the circuit board 1', a common fixed contact 10c,
A pair of fixed switching 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
In this _state , the three fixed contacts 10
c, 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 10 _-c and 10b are electrically connected.

The above-mentioned operation does not involve sliding, but is performed by the rolling of the movable contact, which is a spherical member, so it is performed smoothly and with little wear.

From the above description, it can be seen that the ball contact switch of FIG. 16A operates in the same manner as shown in FIG. 16B.

Moreover, when this is configured as shown in FIG. 16A, 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 and right in the figure. Also, the fixed contacts 10c, 10a, and 10b are not electrically connected to each other.

The ball contacts shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 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. Similar effects can be obtained by covering the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 with a slider 11 having a pair of inclined surfaces and urging the contacts 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 objective (to provide a contact structure suitable for a four-way switch with light operating force and little wear), the switch contact structure of the present invention has the following features. Configure as shown below.

The basic operation of the ball contact switch mentioned above is as follows.
In FIG. 16A, a pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 ′,
Assuming that the moving directions of _6-2 ' are the X and Y directions, the structure was such that these spherical movable contacts were arranged in the X-axis direction. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 16A, when the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 move in the Y-axis direction, they open and close, but when they move in the X-axis direction, they do not open and close.

In the present invention, the pair of spherical movable contacts 6
_-1 and 6 _-2 are arranged in the x'-axis direction (or y'-axis direction) (see Fig. 16), and the ball contact switch according to the earlier application was designed to smooth the action of the spherical movable contact. This is applied with the following improvements.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of the invention of the earlier application, in which the slider 11 explained in the principle diagram (FIG. 17)
is housed in a box-shaped operating body 23 and is biased by a spring 12.

The operating body 23 is slidably held and guided between the base body 1 and the guide body 22.

A protrusion 23a is formed on the operating body 23, and this protrusion 23a is connected to the elongated hole 22 of the guide body 22.
It is slidably fitted into the hole a and guided in the left and right direction in the figure. 23b is a lever for manual operation that engages with the projection 23a.

The inventor repeatedly conducted practical tests on the ball contact switch device (Fig. 18) related to the earlier application, and
It was confirmed that the intended purpose had been achieved, but on the other hand, it was also confirmed that some problems had occurred that left room for improvement.

The above trouble is caused by the slider 24 and the operating body 2.
Due to the looseness between the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 -2, there are cases where continuity through the spherical movable contacts 6 -1 and 6 _-2 becomes unstable.

As can be easily understood from the configuration in Figure 18,
In order for this device to operate, a certain amount of clearance is required between the slider 24 and the operating body 23, but if the slider 24 wobbles due to this clearance, electrical continuity becomes unstable.

The present invention improves the switch device of the prior application and makes the conduction through the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 always stable.

In other words, the reason why it was difficult for the slider 24 to slide quietly and stably in the ball switch device of the prior application shown in FIG. 18 was that the distance W between the two surfaces guiding the vertical movement of the slider 24 was This is because it is longer than the length L of the sliding surface in the sliding direction. The above-mentioned sliding direction refers to the sliding direction of the slider 24 with respect to the operating body 23, and is the vertical direction in this figure. The principle behind the improvement of the device of the earlier application will be described with reference to the configuration of the earlier application (FIG. 18). Fixed (may be configured in one piece). The other divided part is supported so as to be slidable in the vertical direction in the figure, and biased toward the substrate 1 by a spring 12.

As a result, the interval W between the guide surfaces is significantly shortened (approximately 1/2), guiding and sliding are performed smoothly and quietly, and contact conduction is therefore stable.

[Effect]

According to the above means, the fixed contacts are arranged in the X, Y direction with respect to the moving direction X, Y of the pair of spherical movable contacts.
direction, and the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-
1 and 6 _-2 are arranged at an angle of 45° in the x' direction (or y' direction).

Therefore, even if the pair of movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 move in the X direction or in the Y direction, conduction between the fixed contacts is opened and closed.

Therefore, unlike the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 16B, which is a single-pole, single-throw switch, the configuration shown in FIG. obtain.

Therefore, the number of sets of spherical movable contacts required to perform the same function is only half, and the required operating force is also approximately half.

Furthermore, when a pair of spherical movable contacts are rolled while sliding against each other, if the moving directions It can operate smoothly with little effort. Furthermore, the looseness described with reference to FIG. 18 is prevented, and reliable conduction can be obtained.

〔Example〕

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the contact structure according to the present invention.

Set orthogonal coordinates XY and orthogonal coordinates x'y' which are rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise on the substrate surface.

Two pairs of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6 _-2 and 6 _-3 , 6
_-4 are arranged in contact with each other in the x'-axis direction, and operating means are provided so as to reciprocate in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction while maintaining this relative position. Operation means having such a function are disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 62-80783, Utility Model Application No. 62-80784, and Utility Model Application No. 62-106268.

Points,,,, are respectively spherical movable contacts 6
_-1 , _6-2 , _6-3 , and _6-4 are points in contact with the substrate, and are the center points of their respective projection circles in terms of plan view.

A point A ₁ is defined a distance L _Y from the point in the −Y direction, that is, downward in the figure. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the X and Y directions will be referred to as left and right and top and bottom in the figure, respectively.

Regarding the above-mentioned distance L _Y , in this embodiment, in order to keep the configuration simple, L _Y =L= _LX .

Take a point B ₁ a distance L above the point, take a point C ₁ a distance L to the right from the point, take a point D ₁ a distance L left from the point, and take a point A a distance L below the point. ₂ , take a point B ₂ above the point by a distance L, take a point C ₂ a distance L from the point to the right, take a point D ₂ a distance L from the point to the left, take a distance L from the point. Take a point A ₃ downward, take a point B ₃ above the point by a distance L, take a point C ₃ a distance L from the point to the right, take a point D ₃ a distance L from the point to the left, and get the points. Take a point A ₄ below a distance L from the point, take a point B ₄ a distance L above the point, take a point C ₄ a distance L to the right from the point, and take a point D ₄ a distance L left from the point. Take.

Then, provide a fixed contact A including points A ₁ and C ₂ , provide a fixed contact B including points D ₁ and B ₂ , provide a fixed contact C including point B ₁ , and provide a fixed contact D including point C ₁ . Provide a fixed contact H including point A ₂ , provide a fixed contact H including point D ₂ , provide a fixed contact H including points A ₃ and C ₄ , and provide a fixed contact H including points D ₃ and B ₄ . provide a fixed contact including point B ₃ ; provide a fixed contact including point C ₃ ; provide a fixed contact including point A ₄ ; and provide a fixed contact including point D ₄ .

The above-mentioned FIG. 3 is organized and shown in FIG. 4.

A, B to W shown with parallel hatching are fixed contacts, respectively.

The area indicated by the chain line in Figure 4 is
These are the areas around the points , , , shown in Fig. 3, respectively. These areas shall not be provided with patterns such as fixed contacts.

The spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 to 6 _-4 indicated by dashed-line circles in FIGS. 3 and 4 are in neutral positions, and in this neutral position, the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 to 6 _-4 are connected to the pattern on the board. Each of the fixed contacts A to O is in an open state (regardless of the presence or absence of external conduction).

The four spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 to 6 _-4 mentioned above are
If it is moved upward by a distance L while maintaining its relative position, the result will be as shown in FIG. In this state, fixed contacts B, C, and J and I are closed. (The fixed contact C is electrically connected to the fixed contact B via the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 .)

When it is moved downward by a distance L, it becomes as shown in Fig. 6, and the fixed contacts A, E, and T and L are closed.

When it is moved to the right by a distance L, it becomes as shown in Fig. 7, and fixed contacts A, D, and G and N are closed.

If it is moved to the left by a distance L, it will become as shown in Fig. 8, and the fixed contacts B, C, and C, W will be closed.

The above FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrams of the principle. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, fixed contacts A and B are used.
Fixed contacts C and D, fixed contacts G and J, and fixed contacts L and W are connected integrally and are always electrically connected. Its actual shape is shown in FIG. The portion with parallel hatching is the portion that functions as a fixed contact.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the circuit board 14 including the two groups of fixed contacts shown in FIG. 10. Reference numeral 15 surrounded by a virtual line is a switch circuit portion for switching the operation of the left and right mirrors.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the vicinity of the spherical movable contact portion in this example. This embodiment is an improvement by applying the present invention to the device of the earlier application shown in FIG. It is a constituent part of FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the above embodiment.

The slider 24' of this example includes a pair of slopes 24a,
It is divided into two parts 24A, 24B each having a diameter 24b.

Of the divided parts, 24A is a parallel slider that can move parallel to the surface of the substrate 1 while being guided by the substrate 1 and the guide body 22.

The other divided portion 24B is a vertical slider supported by the parallel slider 24A and slidably guided in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 1, and is biased toward the substrate 1 by a spring 26. has been done.

The parallel slider 24A has an inclined surface 24a, and the vertical slider 24B has an inclined surface 24b, and a pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are sandwiched and held between the pair of inclined surfaces 24a and 24b. has been done.

The slider 24' is biased by the spring 26,
The spherical movable contact 6 _- via the slope 24b (Fig. 11)
₂ , the spherical movable contact is pushed toward the fixed contact 10b by the action of the slope 24b, and approximately the same force is also pushed toward the spherical movable contact _6-1 as shown by arrow P. .

The spherical movable contact 6 _-1 receives the pressing force of arrow P.
Due to the action of the slope 24a, it is pressed toward the fixed contact 10a with a force of approximately the same magnitude. In this way, it is always pressed with a stable force and conduction is stably maintained.

As shown in FIG. 11, the distance W' between the two surfaces guiding the vertical sliding of the vertical slider 24B is approximately equal to the length L' of the guide portion in the sliding direction. Therefore, the vertical slider 24B is guided smoothly and quietly without play, and contact continuity is always maintained stably.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is the circuit board explained with reference to FIG.

On the circuit board 14, there are four spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6 _-2 , 6 _-3 , 6 _-4 as explained with reference to FIG.
are arranged in pairs in the x'-x' axis direction.

The above-mentioned spherical movable contacts are housed in the slider 24' described in connection with FIG. 11, and are biased by a spring 26 via the vertical slider 24b also shown in FIG. Pushed towards 14.

The slider 24' is guided parallel to the circuit board 14 by the guide body 22, and is moved by the operating means 40 in the X-X axis direction and the Y-Y axis direction.

The operating means 40 includes a case 40a that accommodates the guide body 22 and covers the circuit board 14, and a rectangular push plate 4 to which a transmission rod 40b is fixed.
0c.

The transmission rod 40b passes through a through hole 40d on the upper surface of the case 40a, and a retaining member 40e is fitted onto the outside, and its tip ends at the opening 24c of the slider 24'.
is engaged in. As a result, when any side of the push plate 40c is pushed, the transmission rod 40b is tilted to move the slider 24 in the X and Y directions.

The push plate 40c is urged by a spring 40f via a transmission member 40g to assume a neutral position (a position parallel to the circuit board 14).

41a is a member for operating the reciprocating slider 41b, and is a component for a changeover switch between a mirror provided on the left side of the vehicle body and a mirror provided on the right side of the vehicle body. This left/right changeover switch portion corresponds to the switch Slr in FIG. 13.

Reciprocating slider 41 for the left/right switch mentioned above
b is equipped with the aforementioned ball contact mechanism, and includes two pairs of spherical movable contacts 6 and two vertical sliders 24.
B' and two springs 26' are housed therein.

The two pairs of spherical movable contacts 6 are pressed against the left/right selector switch circuit portion 15 described with reference to FIG.

The reciprocating slider 41b is driven reciprocally in the X-axis direction by manual operation of the knob 41a, and switches the left/right switch circuit 15.

[Effect of the invention]

Since the contact structure of the present invention does not have a sliding contact, the operating force is light, contact continuity is reliable, and there is no risk of premature wear. Moreover, since the four-way switch can be constructed using two sets of spherical movable contacts, the four-way switch has a simple structure, is low in cost, and requires less operating force.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a four-way switch constructed by applying the switch mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a circuit board in one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of the principle of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of the fixed contact. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the contact portion, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view. FIG. 13A shows an example of a wiring diagram of a four-way switch, and FIG. 13B is a connection diagram thereof. 14 to 18 are explanatory diagrams of a ball contact type switch. 2... Guide body, 3, 4... Slider, 5...
Spring, 6, 6 _-1 , 6 _-2 ... Spherical movable contact,
10 _-1 , 10 _-2 ... fixed contact, 14 ... circuit board, 15 ... left/right selector switch circuit part, 22 ...
...Guide body, 24...Slider, 24a, 24b
...Slope, 24c...Opening, 24A...Parallel slider, 24B...Vertical slider, 26, 26'...
... Spring, 40 ... Operating means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1 (a) A plurality of fixed contact groups are provided on a circuit board, and (b) A pair of spherical movable contacts are arranged to face each of the plurality of fixed contact groups. (c) In the switch mechanism in which the plurality of pairs of spherical movable contacts mentioned above are made to roll on the board while slidingly touching each other, (d) the number of fixed contact groups is two, and the spherical The number of movable contacts is two pairs; (e) Assuming orthogonal coordinate axes X, Y and orthogonal coordinates x', y' obtained by rotating the above orthogonal coordinates by 45 degrees on the board surface, and the spherical movable contacts The diameter of R
(f) Set an area with no fixed contacts on the circuit board at a distance R in the x'-axis direction, and an area without any fixed contacts at a distance R in the x'-axis direction, and ( g) Position and hold the two pairs of spherical movable contacts in the above-mentioned area, above, and area, respectively, and make these two pairs of spherical movable contacts communicate with each other, and simultaneously move the distance L in the X-axis direction. While moving back and forth by _X ,
Independently of this, an operating means is provided that can reciprocate by a distance L _Y in the Y-axis direction, (h) a distance L _Y in the -Y direction from the center of the area without fixed contacts (hereinafter referred to as the area).
Let the point be A ₁ , and similarly the center of the area (hereinafter,
The point at distance L _Y in the -Y direction from the area (referred to as the area) is set as A ₂ , the point at distance L _Y in the +Y direction from the area is set as B ₁ , and similarly the point at distance L _Y in the +Y direction from the area is set as B _2. Let _C1 be the point at distance LX in the + _X direction from the above area, C2 be the point at distance _LX in the +X direction from the area, and let _C2 be the point at distance _LX in the -X direction from the above area. Similarly _, let D ₁ be _a point at a _{distance L} A point at a distance L _Y in the -Y direction from the center of the area (hereinafter referred to as the area) is set as A ₄ , a point L _Y at a distance L Y in the +Y direction from the area is set as B ₃ , and similarly a distance L in the +Y direction from the area. _The point _Y is B ₄ , the point at a distance L _X in the +X direction from the above area is C ₃ , and the point _{L A} point at a distance L _X is designated as D _{3 ,} and a point _at a distance _L Fixed contact B including points B ₂ and D ₁ ; Fixed contact C including the above point B ₁ ; Fixed contact D including the above point C ₁ ; Fixed contact E including the above point A ₂ ; A fixed contact including the point _D2 , a fixed contact including the above points _A3 and _C4 , a fixed contact including the above points _B4 and _D3 , and a fixed contact including the above point _B3 . a fixed contact L, a fixed contact N including the point C ₃ , a fixed contact L including the point A ₄ , and a fixed contact W including the point D ₄ ; Each pair of spherical movable contacts are brought into contact with each other and pressed toward the board.
a slider having a recessed portion with two pairs of sloped surfaces; a spring that applies the above-mentioned pressing force; and a slider that guides the slider parallel to the substrate surface;
(k) a parallel slider having one slope, which is guided and operated parallel to the substrate surface by dividing the slider having the two pairs of slopes into each pair; l) a vertical slider supported by the parallel slider and guided perpendicular to the substrate surface; (m) the spring configured to be perpendicular to the parallel slider so as to bias the vertical slider toward the substrate surface; A switch mechanism characterized in that it is interposed between a slider and a slider. 2. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixed contacts A and B, and the fixed contacts G and G are integrally connected and electrically connected. 3. The switch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fixed contacts D and C and the fixed contacts L and I are each integrally connected and electrically connected.