JPH0973842A - Directional key-switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure a switching action of a directional key-switch. SOLUTION: When one of four cross-shaped key top parts 11 a to 11d formed on a directional key 11 is pressed from above, pressing force exerted on one of the cross-shaped key top parts 11a to 11d is conveyed to one of switch pressing bosses (11a1 to 11d1 ) respectively hung down from a rear surface of each end, substantially, of the cross-shaped key top parts 11a to 11d. A tip end, substantially, of one of switch pressing parts (16a to 16d) of a switch pressing member 16 which abuts on the switch pressing bosses (11a1 to 11d1 ) by the pressing force transmitted to the bosses (11a1 to 11d1 ) is elastically displaced downward by the action of one of hinge part (16a1 to 16d1 ) by the force conveyed to one of the switch pressing boss (11a1 to 11d1 ). One of a plurality of electrically conductive rubber parts 15a to 15d mounted on a printed wiring board 14 thereby come into hitting contact with thereto opposite standing one of electrodes 14a to 14d on the printed wiring board 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a directional key switch used for game machines, audio machines and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, direction key switches for designating an operation direction have been widely used in game machines, audio machines and the like.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a game machine employing a conventional directional key switch, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the conventional directional key switch, and FIG. (B) is a sectional view taken along the line XX of (A), and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line YY of (A).

As shown in FIG. 3, a character 3 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 2 provided on the upper surface of the game machine 1 so as to be electronically movable in the liquid crystal panel 2. On the right side of the liquid crystal panel 2 on the upper surface of the game machine 1, the direction key 11 for selecting the operation direction is exposed.
A switch 10A is provided, and the user has a plurality of (four) key top portions (hereinafter, referred to as cross-shaped key top portions) 11a formed by crossing the direction keys 11 in a cross shape.
By operating any one of to 11d, a switch operation for designating an operation direction is performed inside the game device 1,
By selecting one of the plurality of triangular marks displayed around the direction key 11, the character 3 displayed in the liquid crystal panel 2 can be electronically moved in a desired direction. ing.

In the structure of the conventional directional key switch 10A, the lower case 12 and the upper case 13 are made of an insulating resin material, as shown in an enlarged view in FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C). The case is molded, and the upper case 13 is overlapped on the lower case 12 to form an exterior case.

Further, the printed wiring board 14 is supported on the board supporting portions 12a and 12a vertically provided in the lower case 12, and further four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d are integrated on the printed wiring board 14. Rubber member 1 protrudingly formed
5 is placed.

The rubber member 15 is used for the printed wiring board 1
4 formed so as to project upward from the flat portion 15e placed on the 4
Only the conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d have conductivity,
Moreover, the flat portion 15e is non-conductive because it is elastically displaceable with resilience due to the elastic force of rubber.
Further, the four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d formed to project on the rubber member 15 are substantially on the same diameter corresponding to the respective tips of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11. Four cross-shaped portions are provided at 90 ° intervals, and four electrodes 14a to 14 are provided on the printed wiring board 14 so as to face the four conductive portions 15a to 15d.
d are arranged at four positions in a cross shape at substantially 90 ° intervals on substantially the same diameter. Here, the conductive rubber portion 15 of the rubber member 15 is used.
a to 15d are electrodes 14a to 1 on the printed wiring board 14.
Four switches are formed by contacting and separating from 4d.

A switch pressing member 16 formed of an insulating resin material is placed on the four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d formed on the rubber member 15 so as to project therefrom. 16 is four conductive rubber parts 1
It is composed of a thin and flat disc portion 16e that comes into contact with 5a to 15d, and a small-diameter key connecting portion 16f that projects upward from the central portion of the disc portion 16e. A hole (hereinafter, referred to as a central hole 13a) penetrating a central portion of a circular recess 13a formed by forming 16f on the upper surface of the upper case 13.
_The switch pressing member 16 is designed to prevent the switch pressing member 16 from coming out of the cases 12 and 13.

Further, the direction key 11 is formed in a state where four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d for selecting an operation direction are radially extended from the center portion at intervals of approximately 90 ° and crossed in a cross shape. , These cross-shaped key tops 1
The lower parts of 1a to 11d are connected by a thin disk part 11e, and a switch pressing member connecting part 11f having a small diameter is hung from the back surface of the crossed central part.

Then, the direction key 11 is attached to the upper case 13
The four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d and the disc portion 11e are located on the circular recess 13a formed on the upper surface of the
Of the switch pressing member 16 facing the central through hole 13a ₁ with the switch pressing member connecting portion 11f that is exposed from the circular recess 13a and hangs down from the back surface of the central portion.
The directional key 11 and the switch pressing member 16 are integrated with each other by fitting the concave and convex portions on 6f. When the directional key 11 is pressed from above, the switch pressing member connecting portion 11f of the directional key 11 is guided to the central through hole 13a ₁ so that the directional key 11 and the switch pressing member 16 integral therewith reciprocate up and down. It is supposed to do.

Here, the conventional directional key having the above-mentioned structure
The operation of the switch 10A will be described. First, arrow key 11
Of any of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed in the above, for example, when one cross-shaped key top portion 11a provided on the left side of the drawing is pressed from above, it acts on the cross-shaped key top portion 11a. The pressing force passes through the switch pressing member connecting portion 11f of the direction key 11 and the key connecting portion 16f of the switch pressing member 16 which are fitted in the concavo-convex direction, and is installed in the direction of pressing in the disk portion 16e of the switch pressing member 16. Is transmitted to the left portion in the drawing in contact with the conductive rubber portion 15a, whereby one conductive rubber portion 15a is pressed by the left portion in the drawing of the disc portion 16e, and one conductive rubber portion 15a is pressed.
Contacts one electrode 14a opposed thereto, so that a switch operation for designating the left direction is performed between one conductive rubber portion 15a and one electrode 14a.

Further, among the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11, when the cross-shaped key top portions 11b to 11d are individually pressed, the same operation as above is performed. , Down, right, and up are specified.

When the adjacent cross-shaped key top portions of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11 are simultaneously pressed, for example, the cross-shaped key top portion 11a provided on the left side in the drawing is pressed. And the lower cross-shaped key top portion 11b adjacent to each other at an angle of approximately 90 ° are simultaneously pressed, the conductive rubber portions 15a and 15b are connected to the electrodes 14a and 14b.
, The switch operation for designating the intermediate direction between the cross-shaped key top portion 11a and the cross-shaped key top portion 11b is performed.

[0014]

By the way, in the structure of the conventional directional key switch 10A, when any of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the directional key 11 is pressed, as described above. In addition, the switch pressing member connecting portion 1 of the directional key 11 in which the pressing force is fitted in the concave and convex portions
One of the conductive rubber portions 15a to 15a installed in the direction of pressing of the disk portion 16e of the switch pressing member 16 via the 1f and the key connecting portion 16f of the switch pressing member 16.
5d is transmitted to the contacting direction portion, and any conductive rubber portion 15a to 15d installed in the direction pressed here comes into contact with any of the electrodes 14a to 14d facing the conductive rubber portion 15a to 15d to designate the directionality. Although the operation is performed,
Since the respective cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d cannot be directly pressed against the corresponding conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d, the switch operation becomes unstable, and
There are some problems such as the inability to get a click on the switch.

In the directional key 11, the switch pressing member connecting portion 11f is moved up and down by being guided only by the central through hole 13a ₁ , and the disc portion 11e exposed on the circular recess 13a of the upper case 13 is circular. Although the downward regulation is performed by abutting on the upper surface in the recess 13a, this structure also has a problem that backlash in the vertical direction easily occurs.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in a directional key switch capable of designating at least two operation directions, the directional key switch is supported in a case, and , A printed wiring board having a plurality of electrodes formed on substantially the same diameter, and a plurality of conductive rubber portions mounted on the printed wiring board and contacting and separating from the plurality of electrodes are projected to substantially the same diameter. The formed rubber member and a plurality of switch pressing portions whose front and back surfaces are in contact with each other on the plurality of conductive rubber portions are radially extended from the central portion, and each switch is disposed near the central portion of each switch pressing portion. Each of the hinge portions is formed to facilitate elastic displacement of the pressing portion, and a switch pressing member in which a key connecting portion extending upward from a central portion faces a hole formed on the case, and the plurality of switch pressing members are provided. Electrode and front A plurality of switches for designating an operation direction are constituted by a plurality of conductive rubber parts, and a plurality of key top parts indicating an operation direction corresponding to the plurality of switches are radially extended from a central part to form a plurality of keys. A plurality of escape holes in which a top portion is arranged above the hole formed on the case, and a plurality of switch pressing bosses, which are respectively hung from the back surface of the front end of each key top portion, are formed on the case. And a directional key having a central portion connected to the key connecting portion formed on the switch pressing member while contacting the plurality of switch pressing portions formed on the switch pressing member respectively. A characteristic directional key switch.

Further, in the directional key switch of the above invention, the switch pressing member is brought into contact with the rear surface of the central portion of the switch,
In the directional key switch, a play preventing boss for supporting a central portion of the switch pressing member is provided in the case.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Directional keys according to the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment of the switch will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

1A and 1B are views for explaining a directional key switch according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the direction key and the switch pressing member shown in FIG. 1 are integrated.

For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals will be given to the same constituent members as those shown above, and the constituent members improved as the directional key switch according to the present invention will be described. A new auxiliary code is attached to the improved portion, the same points as the conventional one will be briefly described, the improved points will be described in detail, and the operation of the directional key switch according to the present invention will be described.

The directional key switch 10B according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C is used in a game machine, an audio machine, etc., as in the conventional example, and has a switch operation for designating an operation direction. It is done. Therefore, the direction key switch 10B can also be naturally used in the game device 1 described above with reference to FIG. 3, for example, and the switch operation for designating the operation direction is performed in the same manner as described above.

1 (A) to 1 (C), a directional key switch 10B according to the present invention is a case in which a lower case 12 and an upper case 13 formed by using an insulating resin material are fitted together. The printed wiring board 14 is placed on the board supporting portions 12a, 12a of the
A rubber member 15 in which four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d are integrally formed to project is placed on the switch 4, and a switch pressing member formed by using an insulating resin material on these conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d. 16 is mounted, and further, the switch pressing member 16 and the directional key 11 fitted in the concave and convex are integrated,
Four cross-shaped key tops 11 formed on the direction key 11
The configuration in which a to 11d and the disk portion 11e are exposed on the circular recess 13a formed on the upper surface of the upper case 13 is the same as the conventional example.

The rubber member 15 is formed with a protrusion 4.
The four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d are electrically conductive and elastically displaceable with the resilience due to the elastic force of the rubber. The four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11a Corresponding to the respective tips of 11d, they are arranged in four cross-shaped locations on the same diameter at approximately 90 ° intervals,
The four electrodes 14a to 14d are arranged on the printed wiring board 14 so as to face the four conductive portions 15a to 15d at four positions in a cross shape at approximately 90 ° intervals at approximately the same diameter.
The conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d of the rubber member 15 are brought into contact with and separated from the electrodes 14a to 14d on the printed wiring board 14 to form four switches, which is also similar to the conventional example.

Here, the main points of the present invention, and the points where some of the constituent members of the conventional example are improved, will be described step by step.

First, in the lower case 12, as an improvement, a backlash preventing boss 12b is formed so as to protrude upward between the board supporting portions 12a on which the printed wiring board 14 is mounted. The play prevention boss 12b is provided with the directional key 11
Through holes (not shown) formed in the printed wiring board 14 and through holes formed in the flat portion 15e of the rubber member 15 (corresponding to the center portion of the switch pressing member 16). The central portion of the switch pressing member 16 is supported by passing through (not shown) and contacting the rear surface of the central portion of the switch pressing member 16. It should be noted that the backlash prevention boss 1 is an improvement point.
The function and effect of 2b will be described later.

Next, the switch pressing member 16 is not provided with the disk portion 16e formed in the conventional example, and as an improvement point, four radially extending from the central portion at intervals of approximately 90 ° and crossed in a cross shape. The switch pressing portions 16a to 16d are formed in a thin plate shape. These four switch pressing parts 16
a to 16d are provided so as to face the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the directional key 11, and the four switch pressing portions 16a to 16 have rubber members 1 at substantially the rear ends thereof.
The four conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d that are formed to project at 5 are in contact with each other. Further, on the back surface center portion near the switch pressing portion 16a~16d formed in the switch pressing member 16, the hinge portion _{16a 1 ~16d} 1 for facilitating resiliently displacing the switch pressing portions 16a~16d as improvement concave Are formed on the hinge portions 16a ₁ to 1
Due to the action of 6d ₁ , substantially the tips of the switch pressing portions 16a to 16 resist the elastic force of the resin material and the conductive rubber portions 15a to 15a.
It is easily elastically displaced to the d side. Further, a small-diameter key connecting portion 16f is formed to project upward from a cross point (center portion) of the switch pressing portions 16a to 16 formed on the switch pressing member 16, and the key connecting portion 16f is formed on the upper case 1
The switch pressing member 16 is prevented from coming out of the cases 12 and 13 by facing the central hole 13a ₁ penetrating the central portion of the circular recess 13a formed on the upper surface of the switch pressing member 16.

Next, the direction key 11 is formed in a state in which four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d for selecting an operation direction are radially extended from the center portion at intervals of approximately 90 ° and crossed in a cross shape. Cage, these cross-shaped key tops 1
Below 1a to 11d are connected by a thin disk portion 11e, and a switch pressing member connecting portion 11f having a small diameter is hung from the back surface of the crossed central portion. Small switch pressing bosses 11a _{1 to} 11d ₁ are respectively hung from the back surfaces of the top ends of the top portions 11a to 11d. At this time, the switch pressing boss 11a
The length of _{1 to} 11d ₁ is set to be in contact with the upper surfaces of the switch pressing portions 16a to 16d formed on the switch pressing member 16.

The direction key 11 is attached to the upper case 13
The four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d and the disc portion 11e are located on the circular recess 13a formed on the upper surface of the
Of the switch pressing member 16 facing the central through hole 13a ₁ with the switch pressing member connecting portion 11f that is exposed from the circular recess 13a and hangs down from the back surface of the central portion.
The direction key 11 and the switch pressing member 16 are integrated as shown in FIG. 2 by fitting the concave and convex portions 6f together, and further, the pressing boss 11a is hung from substantially the back surface of the tip of each of the cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d. ₁ ～11D ₁ the switch pressing portion 1 and the escape holes _13a 2 _{~13a 5} to the outer peripheral formed in the vicinity of the circular recess 13a by penetrating formed on the switch pressing member 16
The upper surfaces of 6a to 16d are brought into contact with each other.

The operation of the directional key switch 10B according to the present invention having the above structure will be described below. First, the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a formed on the directional key 11
Of any of 11d, for example, when one cross-shaped key top portion 11a provided on the left side of the drawing is pressed from above,
The pressing force acting on the cross-shaped key top portion 11a is transmitted to the switch pressing boss 11a ₁ hung from the substantially rear surface of the tip of the cross-shaped key top portion 11a, and the switch is pressed by the pressing force transmitted to the switch pressing boss 11a _1. Pressing boss 11
substantially the tip of switch pressing portion 16a of the switch pressing member 16 is in contact with the a ₁ is elastically displaced downward by the action of the hinge portion 16a _1, thereby one of the conductive rubber portion 15a at substantially the tip of switch pressing portion 16a Since one conductive rubber portion 15a abuts on one electrode 14a facing this, one conductive rubber portion 15a and one electrode 1a are pressed.
A switch operation for designating the leftward direction is performed with respect to 4a.

Further, among the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11, the cross-shaped key top portions 11b to 11d are pressed individually, respectively. switch pressing boss _11b was suspended from substantially the distal end back surface of 11b~11d ₁ ~11d 1
Via the same operation as above, downward, rightward,
A switch operation that specifies the upward direction is being performed.

When pressing adjacent cross-shaped key top portions of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11 at the same time, for example, the cross-shaped key top portion 11a provided on the left side of the drawing is pressed. And the lower cross-shaped key top portion 11b adjacent to each other at an angle of approximately 90 ° are simultaneously pressed, the conductive rubber portions 15a and 15b are connected to the electrodes 14a and 14b.
, The switch operation for designating the intermediate direction between the cross-shaped key top portion 11a and the cross-shaped key top portion 11b is performed.

Therefore, when any of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11 is pressed from above, any one of the cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 1d is pressed.
The pressing force applied to 1d causes the cross-shaped key top portion (1
Is transmitted to the switch press boss _{(11a 1 ~11d} 1) depending from a substantially front end rear surface of 1a~11d), the switch press boss _(11a 1 ~ a pressing force transmitted to the switch press boss _{(11a 1 ~11d} 1) 11d ₁ ) of the switch pressing member 16 in contact with the switch pressing portion (16a-1
6d) is substantially elastically displaced downward due to the action of the hinge portions (16a _{1 to} 16d ₁ ), whereby any of the conductive rubber portions 15a to 15d placed on the printed wiring board 14 faces it. since contact to one of the electrodes 14a~14d on the printed wiring board 14, as if one switch is a switch press boss depending from a substantially front end rear face _{(11a 1 ~11d} 1) of the cross-shaped key top portion (11 a to 11 d) The structure is such that the switch is directly pushed, the switch operation for specifying the operation direction is surely performed, and the click feeling of the switch is also improved.

When any one of the four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d formed on the direction key 11 is pressed, the backlash preventing boss 12b formed inside the lower case 12 is provided on the rear surface of the central portion of the switch pressing member 16. Since the central portion of the switch pressing member 16 is supported by abutting, the central portion of the switch pressing member 16 integrated with the direction key 11 is vertically moved even if any of the cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d is pressed. Since it does not move, there is no backlash in the vertical direction, and the backlash prevention boss 12b acts as a fulcrum of rotation for the direction key 11 and the switch pressing member 16 integral therewith, so that the cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d are pressed. The operation is reliable.

The directional key switch 1 according to the present invention
In the example of 0B, four cross-shaped key top portions 11a to 11d are formed by crossing the key top portions of the direction key 11 for selecting the operation direction in a cross shape to form four directions (or 8 directions).
Although the switch operation for designating the operation direction (direction) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and a structure for performing the switch operation for designating at least two operation directions may be used.

[0035]

The directional key according to the present invention described in detail above
According to the first aspect of the switch, when any one of the plurality of key top portions formed on the directional key is pressed from above, the pressing force applied to any one of the key top portions becomes
The tip of the switch pressing portion of the switch pressing member, which is transmitted to the switch pressing boss hanging from the back surface of the front end of the key top portion and is in contact with the switch pressing boss by the pressing force transmitted to the switch pressing boss, is the hinge portion. Is elastically displaced downward by the action of, and thereby any one of the plurality of conductive rubber portions mounted on the printed wiring board comes into contact with any of the electrodes on the printed wiring board facing this,
The switch pressing boss hanging down from the substantially rear surface of the front end of the key top portion has a structure in which one switch is directly pressed, so that the switch operation for designating the operation direction is surely performed and the click feeling of the switch is also good.

Further, according to the second aspect, when any one of the plurality of key top portions formed on the directional key is pressed,
The backlash prevention boss formed in the case contacts the back surface of the central part of the switch pressing member to support the central part of the switch pressing member, so even if any of the key top parts is pressed, it will be integrated with the direction key. Since the central part of the switch pressing member does not move up and down, there is no backlash in the vertical direction, and the backlash preventing boss acts as a fulcrum of rotation for the direction key and the switch pressing member integrated with the direction key. The pressing operation becomes reliable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a direction key switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the directional key shown in FIG. 1 and a switch pressing member are integrated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a game machine using a conventional directional key switch.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional directional key switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

10B ... Direction key switch according to the present invention, 11 ... direction keys, 11 a to 11 d ... key top portion (cross-shaped key top _portion), 11a 1 _~11d 1 _... switch press boss, 1
2 ... lower case, 12b ... anti-backlash boss 13 ... upper case, 13a 1 _... hole (central _hole), 13a 2 _~13a 5 _... escape holes, 14 ... printed circuit board, 14a to 14d ... electrode, 15 ... rubber member , 15a to 15d ... Conductive rubber part,
16 ... switch pressing member, 16 a to 16 d ... switch pressing _portion, 16a 1 _~16d 1 _... hinge portion, 16f ... key connection.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A directional key switch capable of designating at least two operation directions, and a printed wiring board supported in a case and having a plurality of electrodes formed on substantially the same diameter, A rubber member that is mounted on a printed wiring board and has a plurality of conductive rubber portions that come into contact with and separate from the plurality of electrodes and that are formed to project in a substantially same diameter, and a substantially tip rear surface on the plurality of conductive rubber portions. A plurality of switch pressing portions which are respectively abuttingly extended radially from the central portion, and with forming a hinge portion for easily elastically displacing each switch pressing portion in the vicinity of the central portion of each switch pressing portion, A plurality of switch pressing members having a key connecting portion extending upward from a central portion facing a hole formed on the case, a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of conductive rubber portions that specify an operation direction. Switch And a plurality of key top portions that indicate an operation direction corresponding to the plurality of switches and extend radially from a central portion, and the plurality of key top portions are arranged above the holes formed on the case. And a plurality of switch pressing portions formed on the switch pressing member by penetrating a plurality of escape holes formed on the case through a plurality of switch pressing bosses that are respectively hung from the back surfaces of the tips of the respective key tops. A directional key switch, comprising: a directional key that is in contact with each other and has a central portion connected to the key connecting portion formed on the switch pressing member. 2. The directional key switch according to claim 1, wherein an anti-backlash boss for supporting the central portion of the switch pressing member is provided inside the case so as to abut against the rear surface of the central portion of the switch pressing member. Directional key switch characterized by.