JPH11273503A - Membrane switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide membrane switches having different switch functions and good conductivity. SOLUTION: This membrane switches have a pair of insulating resin films 10, 14, upper electrode wiring patterns 12a, 12b, 12c formed on one of the resin films 10, 14 and having upper electrodes 18a, 18b, 18c at the end, and lower electrode wiring patterns 16a, 16b, 16c formed on the other resin film and having lower electrodes 20a, 20b, 20c at the end. An insulating sheet 22 is provided between the upper electrode wiring patterns and the lower electrode wiring patterns. Plural perforated holes 24a, 24b, 24c having different sizes are formed on the insulating sheet 22 at the positions where the upper electrodes and the lower electrodes are opposed each other. Then, respective upper electrodes and the lower electrodes on the pair of the resin films 10, 14 face each other sandwiching the perforated holes, and they can contact with and separate from each other, thus switches 26a, 26b, 26c are independently formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a membrane switch formed on the surface of a film-like flexible substrate and provided with a pair of electrodes facing each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional membrane switch is an actual
As disclosed in JP-A-46335, a contact formed of a pair of electrodes provided to face each other via a predetermined space formed in an insulating sheet, and the contact is formed at an end portion to form an insulating sheet. It consisted of a wiring pattern laminated via a sheet. Each of the wiring patterns is formed on an insulating resin film, and the resin films are bonded via an insulating sheet.

[0003]

In recent years, electronic devices provided with a membrane switch have been used in various places. In addition to electronic devices, products provided with a membrane switch have appeared. An increasing number of products require switches.

[0004] In a general membrane switch, all electrodes have the same switching action. Therefore, even when the same electronic device needs a different switching function,
It was necessary to use separately formed membrane switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a membrane switch having different switch functions and good conductivity.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a membrane switch comprising: a pair of insulating resin films; an upper electrode wiring pattern formed on one of the resin films and having an upper electrode at one end; A lower electrode wiring pattern formed on the other side of the film and having a lower electrode at an end, and an insulating sheet provided between the upper electrode wiring pattern and the lower electrode wiring pattern. A plurality of through holes of different sizes are formed in the insulating sheet at positions where the upper electrode and the lower electrode face each other, and the upper electrode and the lower electrode on the pair of resin films sandwich the through hole. A switch which is opposed to and can be separated by pressing is formed. Each of the wiring patterns excluding the switch portion is formed as an independent circuit wiring pattern for each of the plurality of through holes having different sizes in a state where the pair of resin films are stacked, and The wiring pattern is a membrane switch provided at a position where they do not overlap with each other, and a space communicating with the through hole is formed between the wiring patterns.

The switches provided on the respective wiring patterns are located close to each other for the respective switches having different wiring patterns. The insulating resin film uses polyethylene naphthalate or the like. Further, a space communicating with the through hole is formed between each wiring pattern, and is connected to an air hole provided at a predetermined position.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a membrane switch according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an insulating resin film 1 made of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or the like.
0, and three electrically independent upper electrode wiring patterns 12a, 12b, 12c are formed on the surface thereof. On the surface of the other resin film 14 facing the resin film 10, three electrically independent
The lower electrode wiring patterns 16a, 16b, 16c are formed.

Each of the wiring patterns 12a, 12b, 12c,
A circular upper electrode 18a, 18b, 18c is provided at each end of a plurality of predetermined locations provided on 16a, 16b, 16c.
And lower electrodes 20a, 20b, and 20c, respectively. Further, each of the wiring patterns 12a, 12b, 12c, 1
An insulating sheet 22 such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is interposed between 6a, 16b and 16c. A plurality of through holes 24a, 24b, and 24c are formed at predetermined ends of the insulating sheet 22, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper electrodes 18a, 18b, 18c and the lower electrodes 20a, 20b,
20c are opposed to each other, and the thin film switches 26a and 26c
b, 26c.

Here, the wiring pattern 12a and the switch 26
a forms a switch circuit 28a. Similarly, the wiring pattern 12b and the switch 26b are connected to the switch circuit 28b.
Are formed, and the wiring pattern 12c and the switch 26c form a switch circuit 28c. Each switch circuit 28
a, 28b and 28c electrically and independently show a switching action.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the switches 26a, 26b and 26c are provided close to each other via an insulating sheet 22 so as not to overlap with each other. different. Each wiring pattern 12a, 12
As shown in FIG. 3, b, 12c, 16a, 16b, and 16c are provided in parallel so that the projected positions do not overlap with the surfaces of the resin films 10, 14 facing each other. , 12c, 16a, 1
The insulating sheet 22 between the electrodes 6a and 6b is connected to each of the electrodes 18a and 18a.
Through holes 24 between 18b, 18c, 20a, 20b, 20c
a, 24b, and 24c, and an end of the space 30 is connected to a switch circuit 2 connected to another circuit or the like.
8a, 28b and 28c, the resin film 10
In communication with an air hole (not shown) provided in the air conditioner.

Each of the wiring patterns 12a, 12b, 12c,
16a, 16b and 16c are formed by laminating a conductive paint layer 32 containing a metal such as silver or copper and a carbon paint layer 34. The conductive paint layer 32 is provided directly on the resin films 10 and 14. Switches 26a, 26
b, 26c the electrodes 18a, 18b, 18c, 20
In a, 20b, and 20c, the carbon paint layer 34 serves as a contact point.

Here, the polyethylene naphthalate forming the resin films 10, 14 hardly releases oligomers of low polymer, and the switch circuits 28a,
Good conductivity is maintained for a long period of time without the oligomer entering the interior of 28b, 28c. Further, as a resin film which does not release oligomers like polyethylene naphthalate, a resin film which does not easily release oligomers such as polyetherimide and polyimide can be used. These resins are expensive at present at present as compared with polyethylene naphthalate, but can be used in the following various cost reductions.

The switch circuits 28a, 28 of this embodiment
b, 28c are switches 26a, 26b of different sizes,
Since the switch 26c is provided close to the switch, when a pressure is applied, only a switch capable of connecting the upper electrode and the lower electrode with the pressing force or less is connected, and a detection circuit or the like connected to the switch and the switch circuit operates. . Also, the switch 26
a, 26b, and 26c, the switches 26a, 26c
The air in the through holes 24a, 24b, 24c provided in the b, 26c passes through the space 30 and is discharged or intrudes from the air holes, so that the connection of the membrane switch is made easily and securely, and the switches 26a, 26b, 26c are made. There is no damage.

Since the membrane switch is closed by a different pressing force, the membrane switch is installed on, for example, a seat of an automobile, and is used as a sensor for detecting what kind of person or object is placed on the seat by pressing the seat. Can be used. For example, the switch 26c of the through hole 24c having the largest diameter turns on all for weights equal to or larger than a small luggage, and the switch 26b of the through hole 24b having the smallest diameter turns on when an adult having a predetermined weight or more sits. And a switch 2 of intermediate diameter 24a.
6a is set so as to be turned on when the weight is equal to or higher than the child's weight. Thus, a person or an object located on the seat can be detected depending on which switch is set, and the operation of the seat belt or the airbag can be adjusted accordingly.

Note that the number of switch circuits, the size of the switches, and the like are appropriately selected according to the electronic device having the built-in membrane switch. Further, a plurality of sets of switches having different switch circuits as shown in FIG. 1 may be formed on one membrane switch and provided on an automobile seat or the like as described above. These sets can be set as appropriate.

Further, the membrane switch of the present invention comprises:
The present invention is not limited to the above examples, and the above embodiments are merely examples of position embodiments. The shapes and positions of wiring patterns, electrodes, and the like can be appropriately changed. In addition, other resin films that do not generate oligomers may be used, as long as good conductivity can be obtained, and paints for electrodes and wiring patterns may have any conductivity, and may be appropriately changed. It is possible.

[0018]

According to the membrane switch of the present invention, an independent wiring pattern for connecting to a different circuit or the like is provided.
The contacts are closed by different pressing forces, and can be used for detecting various different pressing forces. Further, since the wiring patterns and the switches are provided close to each other, a plurality of detection functions can be simultaneously activated by external pressing.

Further, by using polyethylene naphthalate as the insulating resin film, it is possible to prevent an insulator such as an oligomer from entering the inside of the electrode and to secure good conductivity for a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a switch of a membrane switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1 showing a switch of the membrane switch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 showing a wiring pattern of the membrane switch according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 14 Resin film 12a, 12b, 12c Wiring pattern for upper electrode 16a, 16b, 16c Wiring pattern for lower electrode 18a, 18b, 18c Upper electrode 20a, 20b, 20c Lower electrode 22 Insulating sheet 24a, 24b, 24c 26a, 26b, 26c Switch 28a, 28b, 28c Switch Circuit 30 Space 32 Conductive Paint Layer 34 Carbon Paint Layer

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Kokubu 3158 Shimookubo, Osawano-cho, Kamishinkawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of insulating resin films, an upper electrode wiring pattern formed on one of the resin films and having an upper electrode at one end, and a lower electrode wiring pattern formed on the other of the resin films. A lower electrode wiring pattern having an electrode; and an insulating sheet provided between the upper electrode wiring pattern and the lower electrode wiring pattern, wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode of the insulating sheet face each other. A plurality of through-holes of different sizes are formed at positions, and a switch is formed in which the upper electrode and the lower electrode on the pair of resin films face each other with the through-hole interposed therebetween and can be pressed and separated by pressing. Each of the above wiring patterns except the switch part is
In a state where the pair of resin films are stacked, each of the plurality of different-sized through holes is formed as an independent circuit wiring pattern, and the respective wiring patterns are provided at positions not overlapping with each other, A membrane switch in which a space communicating with the through hole is formed between the wiring patterns. 2. The membrane switch according to claim 1, wherein the switches provided on each of the wiring patterns are located close to each other for each of the switches having different wiring patterns. 3. The membrane switch according to claim 1, wherein the insulating resin film is polyethylene naphthalate.