JPH06131943A - Push button switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a small-sized multi-function push button switch device for the cursor key of the input device of a personal computer. CONSTITUTION:A small-sized multi-function push button switch device is constituted of lower contacts 12a circularly arranged on an insulated substrate and a lower center contact 12b, upper contacts 13a and an upper center contact 13c arranged to face them, and a circular projection 15d and a projection pressing and connecting the lower contacts 12a and the upper contacts 13a or the lower center contact 12b and the upper center contact 13c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push button switch device mainly used for cursor keys of an input device such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a substrate, and on the substrate 1, a plurality of lower contacts 2 printed in a circular shape on a film.
A lower flexible pattern 2 having a is arranged. Reference numeral 3 denotes an upper flexible pattern having contacts formed on the film, and an upper contact 3a and a spacer 3b, which face the lower contact 2a from the center, are printed in the center of the lower surface. Reference numeral 4 is a cup-shaped rubber spring, and a protrusion 5a provided on the button 5 is provided at a through hole provided at the center thereof.
Through, and a part is fitted in a recess 5b provided in the center of the button 5. Further, a locking projection 5c is provided at the center of the outer periphery of the button 5, and it abuts on a locking portion 6a provided above the case 6, and the lower part of the outer periphery of the button 5 is provided with the above-mentioned upper flexible pattern 3. A circumferential protrusion 5d is provided at a position facing the provided upper contact 3a.

The operation will be described below. When a button is pressed as shown in FIG. 7, the circumferential projection 5d provided on the lower outer peripheral portion of the button 5 has an upper portion printed on the upper flexible pattern 3 arranged below. The contact is switched by pressing the contact 3a so as to bend the contact 3a so that either the lower contact 2a or the upper contact 3a printed on the lower flexible pattern 2 is brought into conduction. When the pressing force is released, the elasticity of the cup rubber 4 causes the button 5 to return upward.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional push button switch device, in order to add a function associated therewith, it is necessary to provide a push button switch separate from the push button switch device.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compact and multifunctional push button switch device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of first contacts arranged circumferentially on an insulating substrate and the inside of the first contacts on the insulating substrate. A second contact arranged in a circle, a third contact arranged circumferentially at a position facing the first contact, and a fourth contact arranged at a position facing the second contact. And a circumferential first protrusion and the second or fourth contact provided so as to connect the first and third contacts by pressing either the first or third contact. And a button having a second protrusion provided so as to connect the second and fourth contacts by pressing any one of them.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, by providing contacts inside the plurality of contacts arranged circumferentially on the insulating substrate and at positions facing the contacts, one push button can perform a plurality of functions. A push button switch device that can be provided can be provided.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the insulating substrate 11 has a lower contact 12a corresponding to the first and second contacts formed on the film in a circular shape and by printing at the center thereof.
And a lower flexible pattern 12 having a lower central contact 12b.

Numeral 13 is an upper flexible pattern in which contacts are formed on the film, and an upper center contact 13c, a spacer 13b, and a spacer 13b are formed on the lower surface of the film in order from the center.
The upper contact 13a and the spacer 13b are formed by printing. The upper contact 13a and the upper center contact 13c are arranged at positions facing the lower contact 12a and the lower center contact 12b, respectively.

Reference numeral 14 is a cup-shaped rubber spring, and a protrusion 15a provided on the button 15 penetrates through a through hole provided at the center thereof, and a part is provided at a recess 15b provided at the center of the button 15. It is embedded. A locking projection 15c is provided at the center of the outer periphery of the button 15 and is in contact with a locking portion 16a provided above the case 16.

The upper contact 1 provided on the upper flexible pattern 13 is provided below the outer periphery of the button 15.
3a and the upper center contact 13c at the position opposite to the first
A circumferential protrusion 15d corresponding to the protrusion and a central protrusion 15a corresponding to the second protrusion 2 are provided.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the button 15 is pressed, the convex portion 15a provided on the button 15 is printed at the center of the upper contact 13a circumferentially printed on the upper flexible pattern 13 arranged below. Also, the upper center contact 13c is pressed and deflected so as to be electrically connected to the lower center contact 13c printed at a position facing the upper center contact 13c on the lower flexible pattern 12.

Further, when the button 15 is tilted while being pushed in the above state, the circumferential projection 15d provided on the lower outer periphery of the button 15 presses the upper contact 13a printed on the upper flexible pattern 13. The switch is switched by connecting the lower contact 12a and the upper contact 13a printed on the lower flexible pattern 12 to each other.

When the pressing force is released, the elasticity of the cup rubber 12 causes the button 13 to return upward.

In this way, by providing a contact also at the center of the contacts arranged in a circle, when this embodiment is used for a cursor key of an input device such as a personal computer, the contact is provided at the center. If the contacts do not conduct, the input from the contacts arranged in a circle around them cannot be accepted, the erroneous input prevention function, the wake-up function from power down, or the contacts provided in the center above are conducting. In some cases, it can be used to perform a speed adjusting function such that the moving speed of the cursor becomes faster.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the convex portion 15a provided on the button 15 of the push button switch device shown in FIG. 1 and the upper portion arranged below are shown. An elastic body 17 is further arranged between the flexible pattern 13 and the flexible pattern 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, only when the button 15 is strongly pushed down, the lower center contact 1
2b and the upper center contact 13c are electrically connected. That is, the button 15 is repeatedly pressed to turn the switch on and off.
When it is operated, since a click feeling is obtained due to the elasticity of the elastic body 17, it is possible to confirm the switching of the switch by feeling.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, by arranging the contacts inside the plurality of contacts arranged circumferentially on the insulating substrate and at the positions facing the contacts, the contacts are arranged circumferentially. If there is no continuity between the inside of the plurality of contacts and the contact arranged at the position opposite to the contact, the input of the plurality of contacts arranged in the circumferential shape cannot be received, and an erroneous input prevention function and power down 1 such as a wake-up function or a speed adjustment function such that the moving speed of the cursor becomes faster when the contact provided at the center is conductive.
It is possible to realize an excellent push button switch device that can perform a plurality of functions with one push button and can be downsized as a device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a push button switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a top view of a push button switch device according to the embodiment.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are cross-sectional views of the push-button switch device in the same embodiment during operation.

3A is a top view of a lower flexible pattern of the push button switch device in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a bottom view of an upper flexible pattern of the push button switch device in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a push button switch device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional push button switch device, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a conventional push button switch device, and FIG. 5C is a top view of a conventional push button switch device.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a lower flexible pattern of a conventional push button switch device, and FIG. 6B is a bottom view of an upper flexible pattern of a conventional push button switch device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional push button switch device in operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Insulating Substrate 12a Lower Contact 12b Lower Center Contact 13a Upper Contact 13c Upper Center Contact 15 Button 15a Projection 15d Circumferential Projection 17 Elastic Body

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Koma 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of first contacts arranged circumferentially on an insulating substrate, second contacts arranged inside the first contacts on the insulating substrate, and the first contact. A third contact arranged circumferentially at a position opposed to the second contact, a fourth contact arranged at a position opposed to the second contact, and either the first or third contact pressed By pressing the first protrusion having a circumferential shape provided so as to connect the first and third contact points and the second or fourth contact point, the second and fourth contact points are pressed. A push button switch device comprising a button having a second protrusion provided so as to connect contacts. 2. The push button switch device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is arranged between the fourth contact and the second protrusion.