JPS6016693B2 - Electronic clock with external operation switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic timepiece with an external operation switch.

Electronic watches with externally operated switches have a contact pattern formed on the top of the module directly below the externally operated push button, and when the push button is pressed, the conductive rubber changes the contact pattern on the top of the module. It is designed to be energized.

For this reason, when there are a large number of push buttons, such as a watch with a calculation function, for example, the space occupied by the contact pattern on the top surface of the module becomes large, and as a result, the module becomes large and the watch case that houses it becomes large.
Furthermore, if the module is made round, it is not possible to arrange many push buttons within the circumference of the round shape. In particular, when the push buttons are arranged in a rectangular shape, the display section becomes extremely small, so the module must be made into an irregular shape, which increases the cost of manufacturing the module. As described above, the conventional structure has the drawback of being severely restricted in terms of design. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic timepiece with an external operation switch that is not subject to design restrictions.

In addition to the above object, the present invention also provides an electronic timepiece with an externally operated switch that has a more reliable switch function.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to illustrated embodiments.

Fig. 1 is an external front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1; Watch case 1 has a switch unit storage section 11 with an irregular planar shape formed on the lower part of the upper surface for arranging the switch unit 20, and a lower switch base inserted into the center of the switch unit storage section 11 in a rectangular shape. A hole 12 is formed. Further, on the back side of the watch case 10, a circular module storage section 13 for arranging the module 30 is formed so as to partially correspond to the switch unit storage section 11. The switch unit 20 has a switch upper plate 21 and a lower switch base 22 as switch members, and the switch upper plate 21 and the switch lower base 22 are made of a resin material.

The switch top plate 21 has a portion corresponding to the push button 23 forming an upwardly projecting elastic protrusion 21a. The lower switch base 22 has a base 22a that is inserted into the switch unit housing 11 of the watch case 10, and a shaft 22b with a rectangular outer shape that is inserted into the lower switch base insertion hole 12 of the watch case 10 on the lower surface of the base 22a. . The lower surface of the base 22a has a hole 1 along the rectangular lower switch insertion hole 12.
A packing groove 22 in which a packing 24 is attached to the outer periphery from 2.
c is formed. The lower switch stand 2 is installed in the rut 22b.
2 to the watch case 10 with an E-ring 25. Further, a rectangular conductive connection rubber insertion hole 22e into which a conductive connection rubber 26 (to be described later) is inserted is formed in the center of the wisteria portion 22b. The upper switch plate 21 and the lower switch base 22 are attached to a stepped portion 27a formed on the inner periphery of the lower surface of the front cover 27 made of resin.

The front cover 27 is formed with a push button insertion hole 27b into which the push button 23 is inserted and a counterbore 27c into which the flange 23a of the push button 23 comes into contact at a portion corresponding to the switch top plate 21a. K
It is formed in an irregular shape so that it can be attached to the irregularly shaped inner periphery of the switch unit storage portion 11 of the switch unit 10. Further, a nameplate 28 is fixed to the upper surface of the front cover 27. As shown in FIG. 5, the conductive connecting rubber 26 is integrally formed by laminating an insulating part 26b between conductive parts 26a.

Furthermore, conductive patterns are formed on the switch upper plate 21 and the switch lower base 22, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a front view of the conductive pattern formed on the lower surface of the switch upper plate 21 by screen printing or the like, as seen from the upper surface, and FIG. 7 is a front view of the conductive pattern formed on the upper surface of the switch lower base 22 by screen printing or the like. FIG. 3 is a front view of a conductive pattern. On the switch upper plate 21, a common guide part 40 is formed at the protrusion 21a, and conductive parts 41 are formed in each part with a certain gap between the common guide part 40 and the common guide part 40. and common conductive part 4
0 are all connected by a connecting portion 42, and a pattern portion 43 is formed so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the guide portion 26a at the center of the conductive connecting rubber 26 from the connecting portion 42. Further, the conductive portion 26 of the conductive connecting rubber 26 is adjacent to the terminal portion 43.
A plurality of terminal portions 44 are formed so as to be in contact with the upper surface of a. These terminal portions 44 are respectively connected to the different polarity portions 41 by connecting portions 45 . Round guide portions 46 are formed on the lower switch base 22 in correspondence with the common conductive portion 40 and the respective conductive portions 41, respectively. Next, the assembly of the electronic timepiece constructed as described above will be explained.

First, set up the switch unit 20. That is, the lower switch base 22 and the upper switch plate 21 are fixed together by ultrasonic welding or the like with their dew conduction pattern surfaces facing each other. On the other hand, a push button 23 is attached to the front cover 27. Therefore, the lower switch base 22 to which the switch upper plate 21 is integrally fixed is fixed to the stepped portion 27a of the front cover 27 on which the push button 23 is attached using an adhesive or the like. Then, the nameplate 28 is fixed to the surface of the front cover 27 with adhesive or the like. Of course, this nameplate 28 may be fixed to the front cover 27 in advance. Finally, the conductive connecting rubber 26 is installed in the conductive connecting rubber insertion hole 22e of the lower switch base 22, and the packing 24 is installed in the packing groove 22c of the lower switch base 22, thereby completing the assembly of the switch unit 20. Next, the chest 22b of this switch unit 20 is inserted into the switch lower base insertion hole 12 of the watch case 10, and the front case 27 is attached to the switch unit storage part 11 of the watch case 10. Then, when the E-ring 25 is pushed into the upper twill portion of the projection 22d from the back side of the watch case 10, the switch unit 20 is fixed to the watch case 1. On the other hand, a contact pattern (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of the module 30 at a position corresponding to the conductive portion 26a of the conductive connection rubber 26.

Therefore, when the module 30 is housed and fixed in the watch case 10 from the back side of the watch case turtle 0, the lower surface of the conductive portion 26a comes into contact with the contact pattern of the corresponding module 30. As described above, the conductive portion 26a of the conductive connection rubber 26
The upper surfaces of the terminals 43 and 44 of the switch upper plate 21 are respectively
Therefore, when any push button 23 is pressed, the elastic protrusion 21a of the switch top plate 21 deforms downward, and the common conductive part 40 formed on the lower surface of the switch top plate 21 and the respective conductive parts 41 is the conductive part 46 of the lower switch base 22
come into contact with.

As a result, the terminal portion 43 and the pressed push button 23
The terminal portions 44 corresponding to are connected, and these terminal portions 43,
The contact pattern of the module 30, which is in contact with the lower surface of the conductor part 26a, performs a switching action through the conductive part 26a of the conductive connection rubber 26 that contacts the conductive part 44. In this way, the conductive part 26a that comes into contact with the contact pattern of the module 30 is the fifth conductive part 26a.
Since the contact pattern of the module 30 is rounded as shown in the figure, the space occupied by the contact pattern of the module 30 is very small, and the push button 23 may be arranged on the outside of the module 30.

As a result, the shape of the module is not restricted and can be round, and the design can be diversified by making the module smaller, expanding the display space, and arranging many push buttons. Further, since a large number of push buttons are made into a unit, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing and assembly, and therefore costs can be reduced. FIGS. 8 and 9 show other embodiments of a pair of conductive patterns formed on the switch upper plate 21 and the switch lower base 22. FIG.

Note that parts corresponding to the conductive patterns shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described with the same reference numerals. Circular conductive parts 41 are provided on the sides of the protruding part 21a of the switch top plate 21.
is formed. Each conductive portion 41 is connected to a terminal portion 44 by a connecting portion 45 as in the case of FIG. Further, in this embodiment, the common conductive portion 4
0 is formed on the lower switch base 22 to correspond to the conductive parts 41 of each part, and these common conductive parts 40 are connected by a connecting part 42. A terminal portion 43 connected to this connecting portion 42 is formed on the switch upper plate 21. Furthermore, a contact portion 47 is formed on the surface of the switch upper plate 21 facing the connecting portion 42 so that the terminal portion 43 will surely contact the connecting portion 42 when the switch upper plate 21 and the lower switch base 22 are fixed together. As a result, the Common Command 4
0' is connected to the terminal section 43. Now, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the switch is not turned on unless both the common conductive section 40 and the individual conductive sections 41 come into contact with the conductive section 46.

For this reason, if the protrusion 21a becomes bothersome and deforms due to the way the push button 23 is pressed or misaligned, a switch failure will occur. On the other hand, in the case of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the switch is turned on simply by the contact of the respective conductive parts 41 with the common conductive part 40, so that a highly reliable switching function can be obtained. FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a structure in which the switch unit 20 is fixed to one side of the watch case.

In the case of the above embodiment (see Fig. 2), the E-ring 25 was used for fixing, but in the case of this embodiment, the protrusion 2 formed on the bag portion 22b
2d is formed to engage with the lower surface of the lower switch base insertion hole 12 portion, and the protrusion 22d is formed with a tapered portion 22f whose lower side is inclined inward so that the shaft portion 22b can be easily inserted. When the protrusion 22d is formed into a hook shape in this manner, the switch unit 20 is fixed to the watch case 10' simply by aligning the shaft portion 22b with the lower switch base insertion hole 12 and inserting the switch unit 20 by pressing. Further, as shown in this embodiment, the name plate 28 as shown in FIG. 2 may be omitted. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which the push button 23 is removed and the switch upper plate 21 is deformed by pressing immediately after the push button 23 is removed. Omitting the push button 23 in this way reduces the number of parts and allows the switch unit 20 to be made thinner. In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the switch unit 20 is provided on the top surface of the watch case 10, but it may be provided on the side surface.

Further, the conductive connecting rubber 26 may be embedded in the lower switch base 22 integrally in advance. As is clear from the above explanation,
According to the electronic watch with an externally operated switch according to the present invention, the lower switch base has a plurality of conductive parts arranged in close proximity to each other that are conductive to the contact pattern of the module, and a switch base that is respectively adapted to be conductive to the plurality of conductive parts. and a switch upper plate having a plurality of terminal parts formed as a switch, and a switch upper plate having a plurality of protrusions that are elastically deformed when directly or indirectly operated from the outside and come into contact with a switch lower base to form a switch part. Since each terminal section is connected to the switch section to form a switch with a contact pattern of the module, the shape of the module is not restricted, and external operation sections such as push buttons can be freely arranged. This results in diversification and miniaturization of designs.

In addition, if the switch part has conductive parts for each part on the protrusion of the switch top plate and a common conductive part is formed at the position of the lower switch base opposite to the conductive part of each part, the conductive part of each part will simply contact the common conductive part, and the switch will be switched. This provides highly reliable switching function.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the conductive connection rubber, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the lower switch base that is paired with the switch upper plate in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 shows the switch upper plate and other parts in the same state as FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the lower switch base that pairs with the upper switch plate of FIG.
FIG. 0 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the structure for fixing the switch unit to the watch case, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the push button is omitted. 10...Watch case, 20...Switch unit,
21...Switch top plate, 21a...Protrusion, 22...
・Switch lower stand, 23...Push button, 26...
・Conductive connection rubber, 26a... Conductive part, 30... Module, 40... Common conductive part, 41... Each part conductive part, 42... Connection part, 43, 44... Terminal part, 45・
...Connection part, 46...Guiding turtle part. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conductive connecting rubber that is integrally molded with a plurality of conductive parts disposed on the contact pattern formed on the top surface of the module and connected to the contact pattern through an insulating part, and this conductive connecting rubber is attached. a lower switch base disposed on the module and having a conductive part formed in a portion corresponding to an elastic protrusion of the switch upper plate described later; and a plurality of conductive parts of the conductive connection rubber disposed on the lower switch base. a plurality of elastic protrusions, each having a plurality of terminal portions respectively formed to conduct electricity, and elastically deformed when operated directly or indirectly from the outside to contact the lower switch base to form a switch portion; What is claimed is: 1. An electronic timepiece with an externally operated switch, comprising: a switch top plate having an externally operated switch; and a switch top plate having a module contact pattern by connecting each of the terminal parts to the switch part.