JPS5889727A - Contactless microswitch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a contactless microswitch using optical fibers.

Conventionally, various types of P-micro switches such as push button types have been widely used, but most of them have normally open fixed contacts, normally open movable contacts - normally closed fixed contacts, normally closed movable contacts, etc. It was of a type that could open and close electrical signals. Furthermore, there are magnetoelectric conversion elements such as Hall elements as non-contact microswitches.

However, with this type of Mitaro switch, as one point is repeatedly opened and closed, the contacts may wear out and arcing may occur.Furthermore, if there is a magnetic field in the surrounding area, it may be affected by this. The disadvantage was that the operation was unreliable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new pointless microswitch that does not have any of the drawbacks of the conventional microswitches as described above.

Namely, in order to perform NWA on optical signals, the present invention provides an optical signal 1t between each corresponding end of the input member and output member.
The a path is opened and closed using an optical signal reflecting mirror, and an operating member for moving this reflecting mirror with a leap between the closed position and the closed position of the optical signal passing path is protruded outside the case. This operation can be performed by the same operation as that for the contact microphone switch.

Next, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the first wi, 1 is a box-shaped case, and a terminal portion 2 is formed on one side of the case 1. In this terminal part 2, two recessed parts 5.4 are arranged in parallel, and through these recessed parts 5.4, an optical signal input member 5 made of an optical fiber and an optical signal output member 6 are parallel to each other. The distal ends 5m and 6m of the six man-powered members 5 and the output member 6 that are inserted are bent at the same angle in the direction toward each other. Reference numeral 7 designates a reflecting mirror, and this reflecting mirror 7 is attached to a lowered corner 8acm of a U-shaped movable member 8 that can reciprocate in the width direction inside the nurse 1. Also, the horizontal part 8b of this movable member 8
A push button-shaped operating member 9 is provided protruding parallel to the above-mentioned falling portion, and this operating member 9 is inserted into the outside of the case 1 through a notched hole 1ot formed in the upper wall of the case 1. It protrudes to 6. Additionally, a coil spring 12 which is initially deformed is interposed between the horizontal portion 8N+ of the movable member 8 and the boss portion 11 formed at the corner portion of the case 1! Ha,
The movable member 8 is always urged upward by the coil spring 12.

2nd r! ! i shows a modified example, in which - a filter 14 for converting an optical signal into visible light is provided in a part of the cover 13 that closes the opening of the case 1; An optical path member 15 for transmitting an optical signal is connected in series, and the end of this optical path member 15 is arranged opposite to the input member tip 5a described above. Of course, an optical fiber can be used as the optical path member 15.

In the above, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2g, and 3a, when the operating member 9 is pushed up by the bias of the coil spring 12, the reflecting mirror 7 An incident signal from the input member 5 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 7 and introduced into the input member 6, facing both the member tip ends 6&. Therefore, the optical signal is transmitted from the input side to the output side, and the switch is turned on.

In this case, the light 16 passing path 16 between the optical path member 15 and the input member 5 is formed by the falling part 8 of the reflecting mirror 7 and the movable member 8.
Since the light is blocked by &, the light signal is not transmitted to the filter 14 and the light is turned off. On the other hand, 3rd T
o As shown in the figure, when the operating member 9 is pushed into the case 1 against the bias of the coil spring 12, the reflecting mirror 7 is moved to the outside of the above-mentioned reflecting position (lower part in the illustrated example). be done. Therefore, since the above-mentioned reflection is not performed, the space between the input member 5 and the output member 6 is opened, and
It turns off as a switch. Further, since the optical signal @ passage path 16 is opened, the optical signal from the input member 5 is directly introduced into the optical path member, and this is converted into a ctI visual beam by the filter 14. Therefore, the filter 14 is turned on to indicate that it is switched off. When the pushing force on the operating member 9 is released, the reflecting mirror 7 returns to its original position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 12, and the switch is turned on.

What has been described above corresponds to a contact microswitch having a normally closed w1 electrical contact and a normally closed movable contact.

Figures 4 & 4 and 4b show other modifications. That is, in this example, when the operating member 9 is pushed up by the urging force of the coil spring 12, the reflecting mirror 7
is fixed to this reflecting mirror 7t-movable member 8 so as to be located outside the above-mentioned reflection position (in the illustrated example, above), and in addition to the above-mentioned output member 6, a second output consisting of an optical fiber is provided. A member 17 is provided, and the tip g of this output member 17
The lJ portion 17m is opposed to the input member tip portion 5&. According to this #! 4&, when the operating member 9 is pushed up, the optical signal from the input member 5 is directly introduced to the output member 17 of the tube 2, so the connection between the input member 5 and the output member 17 of vs2 is The interval is turned on.

- If the operating member 9 is pushed in, the reflecting mirror 7 moves to its reflecting position, as shown in II4mW, and the optical signal I# from the input member 5 is reflected and introduced into the all output members 6.

Therefore, at this time, the input member 5 and the output member 6 of @1
On the other hand, the optical signal passage between the manual member 5 and the second output member 17 is blocked by the reflecting mirror 7 and is turned off.

4 & 4 and 4b correspond to a contact micro switch having a normally closed fixed contact, a normally open fixed contact, a normally closed movable contact, and a normally open movable contact.

Next, Figures 5& and 5b show still other modifications. In this example, when the connection between the input member 5 and the output member 6 is turned on, an optical signal is incident on the filter 14 through the optical path member 1st-, and the on state is displayed as visible light. Furthermore, when the input member 15 and the output member 6 are turned off, the reflector 7 moves outside its reflection position to prevent the optical signal from entering the optical path member 15. , and other points are the same as those described in FIGS. 5& and 5b.

In addition, in the 2nd VA to the 5th mW, elements that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted.

As is clear from the above description, with the present invention, an optical signal can be turned on or off with the same operation as a conventional contact switch. In addition, since it is not adversely affected by external magnetic fields unlike conventional magnetoelectric transducers, a non-contact microswitch with high operating reliability and no noise or contact wear is obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1111th! I is a perspective view showing a dormitory embodiment of this invention;
The figure is an overall perspective view with a part cut away of the modified example, 1113& and 5'o are side views showing the operating condition of the one shown in Figure 2, and 4& and 1i4b are other modified examples. FIGS. 5 & 5 and 5b are side views showing the operating state of m, and FIGS. 1...Case-5...Input member, 51...Input member tip, 6.17...Output member, 6m, 17m...
・Output member tip, 7...Reflector -8...Movable member, ? ...Operating member, 12...Coil spring, 1
4... Filter, 15... Optical path member, 16... Optical signal passage path. 11 Figure 3a Figure 4a Figure 5a Figure 3b Figure 4b Figure 5b

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An optical signal input member and an optical signal output member are inserted into the terminal portion of the case, and the optical signal incident from the input member is reflected inside the case and introduced into the output member. The non-contact microswitch is provided with a reflecting mirror that reflects the optical signal, and has an operating member protruding to the outside of the case for moving the reflecting mirror between a position where the optical signal is reflected inside the case and a position outside the case. (2) A patent in which a part of the nurse is provided with a filter that converts optical signals into visible light, and the optical signal passage leading to this filter is configured to open and close in response to the movement of a reflecting mirror. A non-contact microswitch according to claim 1.