JPS60249216A - Switch - 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 (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a switch used by being attached to a part of the human body.

(Background and Prior Art) Bedridden elderly people, sick people, physically disabled people, etc. may not be able to move freely or make loud noises. In such cases, it would be extremely convenient if, for example, a part of the human body is equipped with an easily operable switch, and the desired purpose can be achieved by operating this switch.

By the way, although various switches have been put to practical use and are widely used, they generally include operating parts such as buttons and other mechanical contacts, making it difficult to reduce the size and weight of the switches and making them unsuitable for mounting on the human body. Furthermore, even if the switch can be made thinner so that it can be worn on the human body, it inevitably has a hard part, which gives it a poor feel when worn and lacks safety. Moreover, since it is worn on the human body, it is difficult to put it into practical use because there is a risk of accidentally touching it and causing a malfunction. Therefore, there is a need for a new switch that can be worn on the human body.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention is intended to meet such demands, and aims to be small and lightweight, have an extremely good feel when worn, and have excellent safety and reliability such as no malfunction. To provide a novel switch which is suitable for being worn on the human body and has excellent properties.

(Configuration of the Invention) The configuration of the switch according to the present invention includes: a conductive sponge block whose resistance value decreases when pressed; and a contact portion comprising a conductive terminal that contacts the conductive sponge block and becomes conductive as the resistance value decreases; It consists of a base part that can be attached and detached to a part of the human body and has the contact part attached thereto, and is characterized in that the base part is formed into a band shape so that it can be easily operated by attaching it to the arm of a bedridden elderly person or the like. do.

(Example) Below, preferred examples that further embody the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment> First, the configuration of a switch according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the switch, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the switch, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the switch showing another structural example.

First, the external configuration will be explained. The switch indicated by code (1) has a band-shaped base (
2). The base (2) is provided with hook-and-loop fasteners (3) and (4) alternately on the front and back surfaces of both ends thereof so that it can be worn in a ring shape around a part of the human body, such as an arm.

Further, an insulating sponge sheet (5) having a predetermined thickness is pasted along the surface of the base (2), and furthermore, this sponge sheet (5) is attached to the surface of this sponge sheet (5). A display sheet (8) made of, for example, a synthetic resin material is pasted along 5). This display sheet (6)
Selection marks (7a) are placed on the surface at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.
, (7b), (?c)... are displayed in a predetermined number, and the selection marks (7a), (7b), (7c)... have different color schemes, shapes, etc., and are further displayed with letters and numbers. etc. may be added.

In addition, on the side of the insulating sponge sheet (5), there are lead wires (
8a), (8b)... and (8k) are the drawers.

Next, the internal structure will be explained. As shown in Fig. 2, conductive sponge blocks (9a), (9b), (
9c) Bury... These conductive sponge blocks (9a), (9b).

(9c) ... has a resistance value close to infinity in a natural state without applying pressure, but as pressure is applied, the density increases and the resistance value decreases. For example, when a 1 cm" block is compressed to a thickness of 5 mm, it has electrical characteristics of a resistance value of 4.0 to 5.0KΩ. On the other hand, the lead wire (8a)
, (8b) - and (8k) pass through the inside of the sponge sheet (5) and the sponge block, respectively, to the corresponding sponge blocks (9a), (Elb), (Etc)...
lead to. And each lead m(8a),(8b)・
The tips of the selection marks (7a), (7b), (
7c) Sponge block (13) from the side where ... exists.
a), (9b), (8c)... while bending in the pressing direction, and the other lead! ji (8k) is also bent in the opposite direction to the pressing direction from the base (2) side, and conductive terminals (10a), (10b)... and (10k) are formed at each tip.
)... face each other with a predetermined gap. Therefore, sponge blocks (9a), (Illb), (9c)
- and a conductive terminal (10a).

(tab) +・ and (10k) ”' are the contact parts (
lla), (llb).

(Ilc)...This is not a mechanical contact.The conductive terminal (tok)...is connected to each sponge block (9a), (llb), (9c).
)... is used as a common terminal and commonly connected to the lead wire (8k).

Next, the function of the switch (1) will be explained.

Now, in Fig. 2, each sponge block (lla), (l
lb).

When no external pressing force is applied to (9C)..., conductive terminals (10a), (10b)... and (10k).
As mentioned above, the resistance value between... is close to infinity, and all contact points (lla).

(ttb)... is in the OFF state. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, assume that the contact portion (lla) is pressed from the direction of arrow (A). In this case, the sponge block (8
a) is compressed, and the conductive terminal (10a) and (
tok) decreases. Therefore, externally, the magnitude of the resistance value (actually the magnitude of the current) between the lead wires (8a) and (8k) is detected, and the contact portion (lla) is connected at a preset constant resistance value or less. The connected predetermined circuit is turned on.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows the lead wire (8a) in FIG. 2.

Among (8b)... and (8k), the lead wire part inside the switch (1) and the conductive terminals (10a) and (10b)
)... and (10k)... are provided as circuit patterns (12) and (13) made of copper foil etc. on the inner surfaces of the base (2) and the display sheet (6), and each pattern (
12) and (13) are the lead wires (8a) and (8b)
...and (8k) are supported.

These patterns (12), (13) are brought into contact with the surfaces of corresponding sponge blocks (8a), (9b), (9c), . . . , respectively. Note that a film or the like provided with circuit patterns (12) and (13) may be provided on the surface of the base (2) if necessary. The structure and function of FIG. 3 are the same as those of FIG. 2.

Second Embodiment Next, the configuration of a switch according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an arbitrary contact portion of the switch, and FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the switch worn on a finger.

First, the structure of the contact section indicated by the reference numeral (41) includes a base (42) as shown in FIG.
It can be formed from the same material as 2). This base (42) can be attached to each digit of the hand, and hook-and-loop fasteners (43) and (44) are provided alternately on the front and back surfaces of both ends of the base (42). On the other hand, a conductive sponge block (45) is fixed to the surface of the substantially central part of the base (42), and a conductive terminal (48a) in contact with the sponge block (45) is provided on this fixed surface. A lead wire (48) is connected to. This sponge block (45) is made of the same material as the sponge block (9a), for example.

Then, prepare the required number of contact parts (41) (up to a maximum of 10, which is the index of both hands) (5 in the example), and place them in each digit (47) and (48) as shown in FIG.

(49), (50), and (51) and attach the conductive sponge block (45) to the palm of the hand (52).
Position it on the side. This allows the switch (40) to be configured. Sweet 2chi (40) is thumb (47)
Connect the contact part (41a) attached to the negative pole (movable contact)
and the other four fingers (48), (49), (50), (5
Contact parts (41b), (41c), (41
If d) and (41e) are connected as positive electrodes (fixed contacts), they can function as selection contacts for a total of four circuits. Note that it is desirable that each base (42) has a different color scheme so that it can be distinguished. Further, although the base (42) is formed in the shape of a band, for example, the base (42) may be formed in the shape of a glove, and sponge blocks (45) may be fixed to each finger insertion part.

Next, the function of the switch (4o) will be explained.

First, all the contact portions (41a) to (41e) are in the OFF state when the respective girders (47) to (51) are all expanded. On the other hand, the thumb (47) and another finger, such as the index finger (48), are pressed against each other to form a contact portion (41a) at each digit (47) and (48).

(41b) sponge block (45), (45)
By bringing them into contact with each other and pressing them, the lead wires (48) connected to the sponge blocks (45) and (45), respectively,
), (48) decreases. Therefore, the magnitude of the resistance value is detected, and when the resistance value is below a preset constant value, the required circuit connecting the contact portions (41b) and (41a) is turned on.

Therefore, the above-described switch (40) can be attached to a part of the body of a person who cannot move freely or make a loud voice, such as a bedridden elderly person, a sick person, or a physically disabled person, and can be used for necessary errands, such as drinking tea. If you want to drink water, press the corresponding contact and activate the sound generator etc. to generate the voice "Ocha woku dasai" by voice synthesis, or if you want to turn on the light, press the corresponding contact. It can be used for various purposes such as turning on a light switch by pressing the button.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the switch according to the present invention has a contact portion consisting of two conductive sponge blowers whose resistance value decreases when pressed, and a conductive terminal that comes into contact with the sponge block and becomes conductive as the resistance value decreases. .

Since it consists of a base that is detachably attached to a part of the human body and has the contact portion attached thereto, there is no mechanical contact.

Therefore, it can be configured to be small and lightweight, has an extremely good feel when worn on the human body, and is also excellent in safety. Also, if a certain pressure is not applied, the switch will turn ON.
Since there are no , malfunctions and excellent reliability, it can be provided as a suitable switch for use by bedridden elderly people.

The switch according to the present invention is not only intended to be worn on the human body, but can also be widely applied to other technical fields, such as computer input keys or joysticks, input to digital equipment, pressure detection sensors, etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same switch, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same switch showing another structural example, and FIG. 4 5 is a perspective view of an arbitrary contact portion in a switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the switch worn on a finger. In the drawing, (2) and (42) are the base, (9a) and (9
b), (9c)..., (45) are conductive sponge blocks, (10a). (10b)-(10k), (4Ba) are conductive terminals, (l
la), (llb). (llc) ..., (41), (41a), (41b
), (41c), (41d), (41e) are contact parts, (
12) and (13) are circuit patterns. 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A contact portion consisting of a conductive sponge block whose resistance value decreases when pressed, a conductive terminal that comes into contact with the conductive sponge block and becomes conductive as the resistance value decreases, and the contact portion is detachably attached to a part of the human body. A switch characterized in that it consists of a base.