JPS60250531A - Membrane 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 [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a membrane switch, and more particularly, c) a base layer, a plurality of fixed contacts supported on the base layer,
an insulating contact sheet layer provided on the base layer and spaced therefrom; and operating contacts supported on the lower surface of the contact sheet layer and arranged in correspondence with the fixed contacts,
The operation contact selectively contacts the fixed contact by a force acting on the upper surface of the contact sheet layer, and the space between the fixed contact and the corresponding operation contact is such that the space between the other fixed contact and the corresponding operation contact is This invention relates to a membrane switch for a washing machine that is configured to allow air to freely flow back and forth in the space between the washing machine and the washing machine.

[Background of the invention]

A washing machine is a device that is exposed to moisture, rain, etc., such as in a bathroom or outdoors. Therefore, unlike applications to other devices, the membrane switch with the above configuration also requires protection against moisture and water intrusion. ,・.

Therefore, the operating contacts and fixed contacts are hermetically sealed to separate them from the outside air and prevent poor insulation and deterioration of the contacts due to moisture. A plurality of separate operating units adopts an adhesive sandwich structure to satisfy the above specifications.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the pressing force and the air chamber volume when the contact resistance of the contacts is constant. The air chamber volume in which only a single operation unit is independently separated is 5 people, and the pushing force at this time is a. Normally, a single key uses a 12x12m square area as the operation part, but the gap between both contacts is approximately 0.
Since it is about 4m, Piv1= P 2 V! From the relationship of
When you press the key to make a contact, it needs to be compressed to about Vx (Vt).Of course, P*=3Pt, so a pressure three times the atmospheric pressure is required.Here, K to reduce the operating force is ,
If the air reservoir is made larger, it is necessary to reduce the rate of change in volume. The optimal operating force is to increase vl by 5 times, and if PsX (5V1) = PxV*, then V x
= (4+ a) V s and F) P z Medium 1.
15 Pt is established, and input at low pressure is possible.

Specifically, an air passage is provided to the input key of the adjacent υ, and a triac is used in the control circuit of the washing machine. Since it is common to one side of the AC, the input SW needs to have a sufficient insulation distance according to circuit insulation standards. The specific configuration is to place a panel reinforced with an insulating plate on the top of the membrane switch, and to make it so that when only the input key is suppressed, the membrane switch can be turned on by bending. A cover sheet indicating the position of the entry key is attached to the door. The insulating board is made of plastic, etc., and does not bend even if you press anything other than the keys, making it impossible to input data.

Under the above prerequisites, devices other than washing machines do not require a panel for insulation, so the Kazari sheet can be attached directly to the top surface of the membrane switch. However, it is impossible to widen the air passage connecting the inlet oysters and the inlet oysters because the unevenness of the simembrene sheet can be seen by the touch of the fingertips through the cover sheet. Therefore, it was necessary to secure the necessary volume by placing several oysters in a row.

This configuration has the drawback that the insulating layer of the membrane switch is separated, which tends to cause problems such as breakage during bonding. In addition, the narrow air passage for air movement has the drawback that it is difficult to manufacture due to restrictions on the punching shape.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a membrane switch that is hermetically sealed, provides multiple but light operating touches, eliminates problems during production, and allows easy production of a cutting die.

[Embodiments of the invention]

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a fully automatic washing machine.

In Fig. 1, 1 is an outer frame, 2 is a top cover that covers the upper surface of the outer frame 1, and 3 is a corner plate that is fixed to the upper four corners of the outer frame 1, and the water receiving tank 4 is hung from the four corners of the rod 5. I fully support it. A vibration-proof spring 6 is attached to the hanging rod 5 and is formed to absorb vibrations of the water receiving tank 4 during dewatering. 7 is a basket which rotates at high speed during spin-drying to centrifugally spin-dry the laundry. Reference numeral 8 denotes a motor, and the power of the motor 8 is transmitted to a clutch speed reduction unit 11 via a belt 9 and a pulley 10 to be decelerated, and the rotor blade 12 is driven to rotate at a low speed.

14 is a base hose, 15 is a water inlet for supplying water from a faucet into the water tank 4, and 16 (see Figure 2) is an electronic timer that controls the operation of electric parts such as the motor 8 and the water supply valve 13. It is designed to be controlled by instructions. Further, the motor 8 is designed to rotate in both forward and reverse directions, and to be able to rotate -12 repeatedly in the forward and reverse directions.

In FIG. 2, 17 is a phase advancing capacitor for the motor 8, 18 is a drain valve, 19 is a power outlet, 20 is a power switch, 21 is a neon lamp, and 22 is a connector. 23 is a pressure sensor, 24 is a safety switch, and 25 is an instruction control unit including the various parts and circuits shown in the figure, which is an LSI element having a calculation function such as a microcomputer. 2
Reference numeral 6 is a nine-way display section composed of light emitting diodes, and 27 is a power supply circuit section, which converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).

Reference numeral 128 is an oscillation circuit section which converts the high voltage (ACI 0OV) to the low voltage (Dcxoy) to generate a power source for the electronic timer 16, and supplies clock to the instruction control section 25. The oscillation frequency of the buzzer 29 is supplied directly from the instruction control section 25.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an input signal processing circuit, which is configured as a trap so that the input signal is transmitted to the instruction control section 25 through the input signal path line 31.
is an input switch section, which similarly transmits the signal to the instruction control section 25 via the signal path line 31. Reference numeral 33 denotes an output signal path line which transmits signals from the instruction control section 25 to the progress display section 26 and the drive circuit 34.

Further, the line 35 is connected to the water supply valve 13 via the connector 22, the line 36 is connected to the forward rotation side of the motor 8, the 2-in 37 is connected to the reverse rotation side, and the line 38 is connected to the drain valve 18.

In the above configuration, when an operation instruction is input to the input switch section 32, the signal from the pressure sensor 23 is determined, and when the water is not full, the signal is sent from the output circuit of the instruction control section 25 to the drive circuit via the output signal path line 33. The signal is amplified and switched at 34, and a signal to turn on the water supply valve 13 is issued from the switch 35, and water is supplied from the water inlet 15 through the water injection hose 14. When the water is full, the signal from the pressure sensor 23 switches, the water supply valve 13 is de-energized, and the washing process begins.

Washing is usually done by short-cycle reversals, such as clockwise rotation for 0.8 seconds, pause for 0.5 seconds, counterclockwise rotation for 0.3 seconds, and pause for 0.5 seconds, and mechanical force is applied to the laundry by the action of the rotary blades 120. is what works. In the above-mentioned washing method, the washing time can be up to about 12 minutes, but the washing time can be adjusted to be shorter depending on the degree of dirt.

Next, FIG. 3 shows details of the input/output board and other related circuits. It is equipped with 9 input keys and 13 light emitting diodes. 101 is a push button switch key, and 1o2 is a light emitting diode. light emitting diode 1
It is connected to the 0211 output exclusive terminal, and when a high level signal is output, it is connected to the light emitting diode 102 via the current limiting resistor 230 to display light emission. The pressure sensor 23 determines the fluctuation of the water level from time to time, processes it in the input signal processing circuit 30, and transmits the signal to the second terminal of the instruction control section 25.

Note that the same reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate equivalent parts.

FIG. 4 shows a sandwich structure and an air-sealed membrane switch unit. A circuit pattern having a plurality of fixed contacts 126 is supported on the base layer 125, and an insulating layer 120 is provided on the base layer 12fl. Adhesives (not shown) are provided on both sides of the insulating layer 120 to form a Hundermansch structure of the base layer 125 and the contact sheet layer 115. The contact sheet layer 115 has cylindrical extruded parts 116 arranged corresponding to the fixed contacts 126 on the base layer 125, and the lower surface of the extruded parts 116 has operating contacts 117. In addition, the contact sheet layer 115
A Kiban panel 110 is placed on top, and an operation sheet 1 is placed on top of it.
05 will be provided. As shown in FIG. 5, it corresponds to the fixed contact 126! A plurality of movable pieces 112 are integrally formed with the control panel 110, and an operating protrusion 113 is provided in the center. Therefore, the movable piece 112 of the Kiban panel 11G
The acting force on the operation section 106 integrated with the operation sheet 105 arranged corresponding to the control panel 110 is transmitted to the control panel 110,
The movable piece 112 formed as one piece moves downward and the operation protrusion 113 causes the extrusion part 115 of the contact sheet layer 115 to be moved downward.
An acting force is applied to 9, and the contact between the operating contact 117 and the fixed contact 126 is completed. 1141 is a diode optical path (a) for transmitting the light from the light emitting diode 102 onto the operation sheet layer 105; Further, the panel panel 110 and the operation sheet 105 are fixed and sealed by adhesive or the like.

Therefore, even if an acting force is applied to a part other than the operating unit that operates on the control panel 110, since the movable piece 112 is provided for each contact, it will not affect other operating units and the contact will be located at the required position. is opened and closed. 11
1 is a contact layer pressing part, a base layer 125, an insulating layer 12
0 and the unit of the contact sheet layer 115 are provided in an appropriate relationship. If the tabs, contact sheet layer 115, etc. shift upward toward the texture/panel 110 side, they will be pressed by the operation protrusion 113 of the panel panel 110, and the operation contact 117 and fixed contact 126 will be pressed, regardless of the user's intention. This prevents contact from completing the circuit.

FIG. 6 shows details of the contact sheet layer 115.

The contact sheet layer 115 has fixed contacts 1 on the base layer 125.
A convex cylindrical extrusion part 116 is provided corresponding to the extrusion part 26, and an operating contact 117 is arranged on the lower surface of the extrusion part 116. 11
B is a sheet layer protrusion. Figure M7 is a detailed view of the insulating layer 120, 121 is an air passage, and 122 is an optical path for transmitting light from the light emitting diode 102. In the light emitting diode 102, the fixed contact 126 and the operating contact 117 are brought into contact with each other by the action of the operating portion 106 of the operating sheet 105 to complete a circuit and emit light.

The insulating layer 120 has an air passage 121 at a location corresponding to the fixed contact 126 and has a shape that matches the stroke size of the point 117 so that the operation contact 117 selectively contacts the fixed contact 126 to complete the circuit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the fixed contact 126 side of the base layer 125. The base layer is made by overprinting silver and carbon on a transparent polyester sheet to form the fixed contacts 126, and the patterns are laid out so that they do not overlap, and the terminal portion (not shown) is formed.
It is connected to a connector and then connected to the instruction control section 25. The light emitting diode 102 is located on the lower surface of the base layer 125 and displays light through the base layer 125. Further, as described above, adhesive is provided on both sides of the insulating layer 120 to form a sandwich structure between the base layer 125 and the contact sheet layer 115, but since the air passage 121 and the optical path 122 are punched out in the same manner, the adhesive is not applied. The agent is fixed contact 126
and the operating contact 117, and there is no fear of damaging both contacts. Although the sandwich structure described above uses an adhesive for adhesion, it is also possible to use heat-sealed and hermetically sealed structures.

The air passage 121 has a shape that allows at least two or more operation units to complete a circuit. Without these air passages 121, the user would feel a sense of elastic resistance when pressing the button 105, and the air inside the unit would be pushed out with great force from between the adhesives. ,
When the pushing force is removed, the inside of the unit is kept in a vacuum state,
It becomes impossible to return to the original state. According to the present invention, the area of the air passage 121 of the insulating layer 12'O can be increased, and the air can move smoothly within the space. The touch sensation of the operation sheet 105 also becomes better.

To explain the contact sheet layer 115 described above in detail, a convex cylindrical extruded portion 116 is provided on the base layer 125 at a portion corresponding to the fixed contact 126, and an operating contact 117 is provided on the lower surface of the extruded portion 116. Allocate. By providing the convex cylindrical extruded portion 116 on the contact sheet layer 115, the distance between the operating contact 117 and the fixed contact 126 can be kept constant at all times, allowing reliable opening and closing of the contact. Further, even if the contact sheet layer 115 is deformed due to heat or the like, there is no fear that the contacts will complete the circuit. The upper surface of the extruded portion 116 is in contact with the operation protrusion 113 of the movable piece 112 formed integrally with the panel panel 110, and when an acting force is applied to the operation sheet 105, the convex cylindrical shape provides a good contact sensation. , provides easy operation. Concave sheet layer protrusion 11
A plurality of sheet layer projections 118 are provided around the extruded portion 116 , and the lower surface of the sheet layer protrusion 118 is in close contact with the upper surface of the base layer 120 via the air passage 121 of the insulating layer 120 . Therefore, the sheet layer protrusion 118 is disposed in the air passage 1210 portion, and the fixed contact 126 of the base layer 125 and the contact sheet layer 11
The interval between the operating contacts 116 of No. 5 can be maintained constant, and even if the area of the air passage i21 is increased so that air can freely move back and forth, the contact point layer 115 will not be deformed. That is, the contact sheet layer ZXS is provided with a convex, cylindrical protruding portion 116 that contacts the operating protrusion 113, and the extruded portion 11
An operating contact 117 is disposed on the lower surface of 60. Air passage 121
is an area in which at least two or more extrusion parts 116 corresponding to the extrusion parts 116, so-called operation units, can complete a circuit. A plurality of concave sheet layer protrusions 118 are provided around the extruded portion 116 of the contact sheet layer 115.

The sheet layer protrusion 118 is configured to be in contact with the base layer 125 via the air passage 121.

Therefore, the air passage 121 has an area that allows at least two or more operating units to complete a circuit, and because it is formed with the same width, it does not need to have a complicated shape as in the past.

〔Effect of the invention〕

If the membrane switch of the present invention as described above is used, 1) a convex cylindrical extrusion part is provided on the contact sheet layer, an operating contact is arranged on the lower surface of the extrusion part, and a concave sheet layer protrusion is provided around the extrusion part. By arranging a plurality of parts, a light operation with a good touch feeling can be obtained. Further, the contact sheet layer and the base layer are not deformed by heat or the like, and the operating contact and the fixed contact do not come into electrical contact against the user's will.

2) Since the air passage has the same width so that at least two or more operating units can complete the circuit, the area of the air passage can be increased compared to the conventional one. Therefore, when the operating means of one operating unit is pressed, the air contained therein is easily pushed out, and there is no feeling of resistance, resulting in a light operation.

Moreover, since they are formed with the same width, they can be easily manufactured.

As described above, this has extremely significant practical effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an electronically controlled washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the one related to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detailed input/output circuit diagram, and Fig. 4 is a membrane switch. Figure 5 is a detailed view of the Kiban panel, Figure 6 is a detailed view of the contact sheet layer, tl! Figure 7 is a detailed diagram of the insulating layer.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between pressure and volume. FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the base layer. 115...Contact sheet layer, 116...Extrusion part, 1
17... Operation contact, 118... Layer protrusion, 1
2o...” Insulating layer, 121 air passage, 125...
- Base layer, 126... Fixed contact. Agent Patent attorney Akio Taku Takahashi

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. a base layer, a plurality of fixed contacts supported on the base layer, an insulating contact sheet layer provided apart from the space layer key, and supported on the lower surface of the contact sheet layer; operating contacts arranged corresponding to the fixed contacts, the operating contacts selectively contacting the fixed contacts by a force acting on the upper surface of the contact sheet layer, and the fixed contacts and the corresponding operating contacts; In a membrane switch in which an insulating layer is disposed in the space between and an air passage is arranged so that air can freely flow, a convex extruded part corresponding to the fixed contact of the contact sheet layer is provided, and a convex extruded part is provided on the lower surface of the extruded part. A membrane switch characterized in that an operating contact is arranged and a plurality of concave sheet layer protrusions are arranged around the extrusion part through the air passage of the insulating layer.