JPH06251660A - Push button switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a push button switch, used for the mouse function or the like of a computer input unit, with not only a direction indicating function but also a speed indicating function. CONSTITUTION:Not less than two layers, each constructed in such a manner that plural contacts 3a may be arranged in ring shape respectively at places where they respectively face plural contacts 2a arranged in ring shape, are laminated upon an insulating substrate 1, and then each of groups of plural paired contacts 3c, 4a in the upper layer and each of groups of the plural paired contacts 2a, 3a in the lower layer positioned directly below these paired contacts 3c, 4a are pushed down to close their contact gates by a projection 6d formed in ring shape in the lower part of a push button. By adjusting the operating force of the button at this time, the contact-section gates of not only the upper layer but also the lower layer are closed to provide a push button switch with direction and speed indicating functions.

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 used for a cursor key 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, 11 is a substrate on which a film-shaped lower flexible sheet 12 having a plurality of annular lower contacts 12a printed thereon is arranged. Reference numeral 13 is an upper flexible sheet formed in a film shape, and an upper contact 13a and a spacer 13b, which are opposed to the lower contact 12a from the center, are printed in the lower central portion. Reference numeral 15 is a cup-shaped rubber spring, a support rod 16a provided on the button 16 penetrates through a through hole provided at the center, and is locked by a recess 16b provided at the center of the button 16. Further, the locking projection 16 is provided at the center of the outer periphery of the button 16.
c is provided, and a locking portion 17a provided above the case 17
Also, an annular protrusion 16d is provided on the lower part of the outer periphery of the button 16 at a position facing the upper contact 13a provided on the upper flexible sheet 13.

Next, the operation will be described. Button 1
By pressing 6, the annular protrusion 16d provided on the lower portion of the outer periphery of the button 16 presses and bends the upper contact 13a printed on the upper flexible sheet 13 arranged below, and is printed on the lower flexible sheet 12. The switch is switched by connecting the lower contact 12a and the upper contact 13a to each other. When the pressing force is released, the elasticity of the cup rubber 15 causes the button 16 to return upward.

[0004]

However, such a conventional push button switch has a further switch mechanism, and when used as a mouse function of an input device of a personal computer, there is a problem that only a direction can be designated.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem by providing a switch mechanism in two or more layers, and turning on / off the second layer or more by adjusting the operating force, thereby providing a mouse function of an input device of a personal computer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an excellent push button switch capable of indicating not only the direction but also the speed, for example.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a plurality of contacts arranged in an annular shape on an insulating substrate and a contact arranged in an annular shape at a position facing the contacts. At least two layers are provided, and the lower contact points are also pressed by adjusting the operating force of a button provided with an annular protrusion that presses one of the upper contact points.

[0007]

According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, by providing the switch mechanism under two or more layers, the second and more layers can be turned on / off depending on the operation force, and used as the mouse function of the input device of the personal computer. In this case, not only the direction but also the speed, for example, can be designated.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A push button switch according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, 1 is an insulating substrate, on which
A film-shaped lower flexible sheet 2 having a first lower contact 2a is arranged. Reference numeral 3 denotes a middle flexible sheet formed in a film shape, and a first upper contact 3a and a first spacer 3b facing the first lower contact 2a from the center are printed on the central portion of the lower surface, and the upper surface further. Has a plurality of second lower contacts 3c printed in a circular shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of first lower contacts 2a are arranged and printed in an annular shape on the lower flexible sheet. The first opposite the first lower contact 2a
As shown in FIG. 5, one upper contact 3a of the
Further, the first spacer 3b is the first spacer 3b as shown in FIG.
Are printed on the lower surface of the middle flexible sheet 3 in an annular shape outside the upper contact 3a. Reference numeral 4 denotes a film-shaped upper flexible sheet, and a second upper contact 4a facing the lower contact 3c from the center in the lower surface central portion,
The second spacer 4b is printed.

The second upper contact 4a is printed on the upper flexible sheet 4 in the same shape as the first lower contact 2a shown in FIG. 4, and the second lower contact 3c and the second spacer 4b are the same as those shown in FIG. The same shape as the upper contact 3a and the first spacer 3b is printed on the upper surface of the middle flexible sheet 3.

Reference numeral 5 is a cup-shaped rubber spring, and a support rod 6a provided on the button 6 penetrates through a through hole provided at the central portion, and is locked by a recess 6b provided at the central portion of the button 6. In addition, the protrusion 6 for locking is provided on the center of the outer periphery of the button 6.
c is provided, contacts the locking portion 7a provided above the case 7, and an annular projection 6d is provided at a position below the outer periphery of the button 6 at a position facing the upper contact 4a provided on the upper flexible sheet 4. Has been.

The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
By pressing the button 6 as shown in (b), the annular protrusion 6d provided on the lower portion of the outer periphery of the button 6 is printed on the upper flexible sheet 4 arranged below.
The switch is switched by pressing a to bend it, and to conduct one of the lower contacts 3c printed on the middle flexible sheet 3 and the upper contact 4a. When the button 6 is strongly pressed, the upper contact 3a printed on the middle flexible sheet 3 is pressed and bent, and one of the lower contacts 2a printed on the lower flexible sheet 2 is brought into conduction with the upper contact 3a. Switching is performed. When the pressing force is released, the elasticity of the cup rubber 5 causes the button 6 to return upward.

FIG. 6 shows the essential parts of another embodiment, in which the central flexible sheet is divided into two parts for single-sided printing to improve the printing workability. In addition,
The other structure is similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

Further, in the above first and second embodiments,
The first lower contact 2a (FIG. 4) is one contact having the same shape as the first upper contact 3a (FIG. 5), and the upper switches 4a and 3
When c is in the contact state, the cursor moves at a slight speed in the direction of the contacted switch, the push button is pushed further down, and the switches 3a and 2a in the lower layer are in the contact state,
You can also make the cursor move at normal speed.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiments, the present invention comprises a plurality of contacts arranged in an annular shape on an insulating substrate and a contact arranged in an annular shape at a position facing the contacts. The structure has at least two layers, and the lower contact points are also pressed by adjusting the operating force of a button provided with an annular protrusion that presses one of the upper contact points. In addition to various direction indications, there is the effect that, for example, the speed can also be indicated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side sectional view of a push button switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the same.

FIG. 3A is a side sectional view of an operating state in which only one switch is turned on. FIG. 3B is a side sectional view of an operating state in which two switches are turned on at the same time.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lower flexible sheet, which is a main part of the same.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the upper flexible sheet of the same.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the other embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a side sectional view of a conventional push button switch, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of the same.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the same operating state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Insulating Substrate 2 Lower Flexible Sheet 2a First Lower Contact 3 Middle Flexible Sheet 3a First Upper Contact 3c Second Lower Contact 4 Upper Flexible Sheet 4a Second Upper Contact 6 Button 6d Protrusion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Okada 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A structure comprising a plurality of contacts arranged in an annular shape on an insulating substrate and at least two layers of contacts arranged in an annular shape at positions facing the contacts, and any one of both upper contact portions. A push button switch in which both contact points in the lower layer are also pressed by adjusting the operating force of the button provided with an annular protrusion that presses the button.