WO2018168072A1

WO2018168072A1 - Portable key

Info

Publication number: WO2018168072A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/041057
Authority: WO
Inventors: 涼太佐々木
Original assignee: アルプス電気株式会社
Priority date: 2017-03-14
Filing date: 2017-11-15
Publication date: 2018-09-20
Also published as: JPWO2018168072A1; JP6681514B2

Abstract

This portable key that transmits a radio wave according to the operation of a user has: a housing having an approximately rectangular shape that has the longitudinal direction as a first direction and the transverse direction as a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and having an opening part, which opens in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and a guide part, which is disposed on the periphery of the opening part and protrudes in the third direction toward the inner side; and an operation knob having an operation part exposed from the housing through the opening part, and a flange part which contacts, in the third direction, the periphery of opening part on a surface of the inner side of the housing, wherein the guide part and the flange part have portions which face or are adjacent to each other in the first direction, and at said portions, the flange part has a first portion formed in an outer R shape and the guide part extends in a fourth direction inclined with respect to the first direction when viewed in the third direction.

Description

Mobile key

This disclosure relates to a mobile key.

A portable key having an operation knob that exposes an operation unit through an opening of a housing is known.

JP 2011-042989

However, the conventional technology as described above has a problem that the operation knob is easily broken when the portable key is dropped. The operation knob is provided with a flange portion in the housing and is prevented from coming out of the housing, but the flange portion is thin and easily breaks when it hits the guide portion on the housing side.

Therefore, in one aspect, an object of the present invention is to reduce the breakage of the operation knob when the portable key is dropped.

In one aspect, a portable key that transmits radio waves in response to a user operation,
The first direction is a longitudinal direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction is a substantially rectangular shape, and the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. A housing having an opening that opens, and a guide portion that protrudes in the third direction toward the inside around the opening;
An operation knob that is exposed from the housing through the opening; and an operation knob having a flange that abuts in the third direction around the opening on the inner surface of the housing;
The guide portion and the flange portion have locations that are opposed and close to each other in the first direction, and the flange portion at the location has a first portion formed in an outer R shape, and the guide at the location The part is provided with a portable key that extends in a fourth direction inclined with respect to the first direction when viewed in the third direction.

In one aspect, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce breakage of the operation knob when the portable key is dropped.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the portable key by one Example. It is a perspective view of a portable key in the state where an upper case, an operation knob, etc. were removed. It is a perspective view of a portable key in the state where an upper case, an operation knob, a waterproof sheet, etc. were removed. It is a perspective view of an operation knob. It is the top view which looked at the operation knob from the inner side (Z2 side). It is the top view which looked at the upper case from the inner side (Z2 side). It is the top view which looked at the operation knob and the upper case from the inner side (Z2 side). It is a top view which shows the single item state of a knob guide member. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 7. It is an enlarged view of the C section of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing of the generation | occurrence | production mechanism of the fracture | rupture in a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing of the impact dispersion | distribution effect by a present Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the some application location of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing of a modification.

Hereinafter, each example will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a portable key 1 according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, three orthogonal axes X, Y, and Z are defined. Each side of the X, Y, and Z axes is indicated by X1, X2, etc. The Z axis corresponds to the thickness direction of the portable key 1, the X axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the portable key 1, and the Y axis corresponds to the short direction of the portable key 1.

The portable key 1 is a key carried by the vehicle user. The portable key 1 is an electronic key used in a keyless entry system, a smart keyless entry system, or the like.

The portable key 1 includes a housing 10 and an operation knob 30.

The housing 10 has a substantially rectangular shape in which the X direction (an example of the first direction) is the longitudinal direction and the Y direction (an example of the second direction) is the short direction. The “substantially rectangular” is a concept that may have a corner radius or the like at the corner of the rectangle. The housing 10 includes, for example, an upper case 10a and a lower case 10b. The housing 10 is integrated by fitting the upper case 10a and the lower case 10b.

The upper case 10a of the housing 10 has an opening 12 that opens in the Z direction (an example of the third direction). An operation knob 30 is provided in the opening 12.

The operation knob 30 is in the form of a switch operated by the user. The operation knob 30 is formed of a resin material (for example, acrylic resin). For example, a plurality of operation knobs 30 are provided. Various functions are assigned to each of the operation knobs 30. The various functions are functions such as door lock, door unlock, trunk open / close, and the like.

In this embodiment, as an example, there are four operation knobs 30, and the operation knob 30 on the X2 side has a rectangular shape in which the Y direction is the longitudinal direction and the X direction is the short direction, The operation knob 30 also has a substantially rectangular shape in which the Y direction is the longitudinal direction and the X direction is the short direction. On the other hand, two operation knobs 30 on the X1 side that are provided side by side in the Y direction are approximately half the length in the Y direction with respect to the operation knob 30 on the X2 side, and have a substantially square shape.

The operation knob 30 includes an operation unit 32 that is exposed through the opening 12 of the housing 10. A picture or the like representing the function of the corresponding operation knob 30 may be provided on the surface of the operation unit 32. The operation knob 30 is movable in the Z direction and is operated by being pushed to the Z2 side.

2 and 3 are perspective views showing the inside of the portable key 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the upper case 10a and the operation knob 30 removed, and FIG. 3 shows the upper case 10a and It is a perspective view in the state where operation knob 30, waterproofing sheet 50, etc. were removed.

Various electronic components are provided inside the housing 10 via a waterproof sheet 50. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the electronic component 70 is an antenna, and the electronic component 72 is a battery. For example, when the operation knob 30 is operated and a tact switch (not shown) (another example of the electronic component) is turned on, the electronic component 70 that is an antenna transmits a predetermined wireless signal.

The waterproof sheet 50 is formed of a rubber sheet (rubber material sheet) and performs a waterproof function on various electronic components inside the housing 10. The waterproof sheet 50 is provided so as to be adjacent to the upper case 10a and the operation knob 30 from the Z2 side, and extends substantially in the XY plane. The term “extending in a substantially XY plane” means that the surface is not completely flat, but has irregularities. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof sheet 50 includes a dome-shaped portion 52 for a tact switch. The waterproof sheet 50 has an outer shape corresponding to the outer shape of the portable key 1, and an outer peripheral portion is sandwiched and held between the upper case 10a and the lower case 10b in the Z direction. At this time, the waterproof sheet 50 exhibits a waterproof function by being held in an elastically deformed state.

Next, the operation knob 30 and the upper case 10a will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

4 and 5 are single product views of one operation knob 30, FIG. 4 is a perspective view as viewed from the Z1 side, and FIG. 5 is a plan view as viewed from the Z2 side. 4 and 5, as a representative, the operation knob 30 on the X2 side in the X direction among the plurality of operation knobs 30 is shown.

The operation knob 30 includes an operation part 32 and a flange part 34.

The operation unit 32 is a part exposed through the opening 12 of the upper case 10a as described above, and is a part that is touched and pressed by the user's finger during operation.

The flange portion 34 is a portion located on the inner side of the housing 10. The flange portion 34 is provided over the entire circumference around the operation portion 32 as viewed in the Z direction. The flange portion 34 is located at the end portion on the Z2 side of the operation portion 32 and extends in the XY plane. The flange portion 34 abuts in the Z direction around the opening 12 on the inner side surface (the Z2 side surface) of the upper case 10a. That is, the flange portion 34 abuts the Z1 side surface in the Z direction on the inner side surface (Z2 side surface) of the upper case 10a (see FIG. 9 described later). The flange portion 34 functions to prevent the operation knob 30 from coming off through the opening 12 of the upper case 10a.

The flange part 34 has four corners 310 as shown in FIG. The corner portion 310 is formed in an inner R portion 311 (an example of a second portion) formed in an inner R shape, an outer R portion 312 (an example of a first portion) formed in an outer R shape, and an outer R shape. And an outer R region 313 (an example of a third region). “Inner R” and “Outer R” are defined with the center side of the flange portion 34 as the inner side when viewed in the Z direction. That is, “inner R” is an R that is concave toward the center side of the flange portion 34 when viewed in the Z direction, and “outer R” is the side away from the center side of the flange portion 34 when viewed in the Z direction. It is R of the aspect which becomes convex. The

outer R regions

312 and 313 are located on both sides of the inner R region 311. 4 and 5, some of the

outer R portions

312 and 313 are formed in a relatively small outer R shape, but are assumed to be formed in an outer R shape necessary for manufacturing.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the upper case 10a viewed from the inner side (Z2 side). FIG. 7 is a plan view of the operation knob 30 and the upper case 10a as viewed from the inner side (Z2 side). FIG. 7 also shows the knob guide member 90. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a single item state of the knob guide member 90. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper case 10a has a guide portion 14 that protrudes in the Z direction (toward the Z2 side) around the opening portion 12 on the inner surface. As shown in FIG. 7, the guide portion 14 is provided around the flange portion 34 along the outer peripheral shape of the flange portion 34 of the operation knob 30. The guide part 14 projects in the Z direction to guide the displacement of the operation knob 30 in the Z direction during operation. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the guide portion 14 is not provided over the entire circumference around the flange portion 34, but may be provided over the entire circumference around the flange portion 34.

9 and 10, the guide portion 14 has a slight clearance with respect to the flange portion 34 in the XY plane. However, since the operation knob 30 has a clearance with respect to the opening 12 in the XY plane, when the operation knob 30 is displaced due to the clearance with respect to the opening 12, the guide portion 14 and the flange portion 34 are in the XY plane. There is a case to hit in.

In this embodiment, a knob guide member 90 is provided as an example. The knob guide member 90 is fixed to the upper case 10 a and forms the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the knob guide member 90 includes a guide portion 94 that performs the same function as the guide portion 14. The knob guide member 90 has

beam portions

92, 93 and 96. The beam portion 92 extends in the Y direction between the operation knob 30 on the X2 side in the X direction and the operation knob 30 in the center in the X direction, and the beam portion 93 includes the operation knob 30 in the center in the X direction, It extends in the Y direction between the operation knob 30 on the X1 side in the X direction and the operation knob 30 in the center in the X direction. The beam portion 96 extends in the X direction between the two operation knobs 30 on the X1 side in the X direction. By providing the knob guide member 90, rattling of the operation knobs 30 in the XY plane is reduced.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. However, in FIG. 11, the illustration of the knob guide member 90 is omitted, and a detailed shape relationship between the guide portion 14 of the upper case 10a and the flange portion 34 of the operation knob 30 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 11, the guide portion 14 of the upper case 10a and the flange portion 34 of the operation knob 30 have a portion P that is opposed and close in the X direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “proximity portion P”). In FIG. 11, two proximity points P are shown as representatives. There are four proximate points P in the same manner at four corners of one operation knob 30.

As shown in FIG. 11, the flange portion 34 in the proximity point P has an outer R portion 312 formed in an outer R shape. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide portion 14 at the proximity point P extends in a direction D (an example of a fourth direction) inclined with respect to the X direction in plan view (viewed in the Z direction). The direction D is preferably about 45 degrees with respect to the X direction, as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the wall portion 141 of the guide portion 14 at the proximity point P terminates at the end point E1 when extending in the direction D to the Y2 side (the side away from the flange portion 34 in the Y direction). However, it may further extend beyond the end point E1 shown in FIG.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

12 and 13 are explanatory diagrams of the comparative example, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the guide part 241 of the upper case and the flange part 341 of the operation knob according to the comparative example.

In the comparative example, the guide portion 241 is formed with a certain clearance along the shape of the flange portion 341. Therefore, in the comparative example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the outer R shape of the guide portion 241 is formed along the inner R shape of the flange portion 341.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a manner of transmitting an impact applied to the operation knob when the portable key is dropped according to a comparative example. When the portable key is dropped, an impact is applied to the operation knob through the casing. Since the portable key is relatively heavy and the flange portion of the operation knob is thin, the flange portion of the operation knob is easily broken when an impact is applied to the flange portion of the operation knob.

In the case of the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 13, assuming that the X-side falls to the ground or the like on the X1 side and an impact is applied to the X2 side, the flange portion 341 is indicated by an arrow F in FIG. Thus, the impact force toward X2 acts in the X direction. Since the flange portion 341 is thin, a relatively large stress is generated in the stress concentration portion near the center of the inner R-shaped portion 342 due to the impact force, leading to breakage (FIG. 13 shows breakage). The line Cr is schematically shown).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a manner of transmitting an impact applied to the operation knob 30 when the portable key 1 is dropped according to the present embodiment.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, assuming a case where it falls in the X direction and hits the ground or the like on the X1 side and an impact is applied to the X2 side, the flange portion 34 has an arrow F1 in FIG. As shown, an impact force is applied. At this time, the impact force F1 does not become parallel to the X direction because the guide portion 14 extends obliquely with respect to the X direction as described above. That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 14, the impact force F1 is decomposed into a component F2 in the X direction and a component F3 in the Y direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the component F2 in the X direction is smaller in magnitude than the impact force F according to the comparative example. As a result, according to the present embodiment, compared with the comparative example, the stress generated in the stress concentration portion near the center of the inner R region 311 in the flange portion 34 is reduced, and the possibility of breakage is reduced. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the direction of the force applied to the flange portion 34 is also dispersed in the Y-direction component, so that the breakage of the operation knob 30 when the portable key 1 is dropped can be reduced.

Here, in addition to dropping in the X direction, the portable key 1 can also drop in other directions, such as the Y direction. However, since the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the portable key 1 as described above, the form of dropping in the X direction is the most severe form for the operation knob 30 (because the area receiving a load from the ground or the like becomes small). . Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the breakage of the operation knob 30 when the portable key 1 is dropped can be reduced even when the portable key 1 is dropped in a direction other than the X direction.

In addition, in FIG. 11, although the detailed shape relationship of the guide part 14 of the two upper cases 10a and the flange part 34 of the operation knob 30 was demonstrated in two adjacent locations P as a representative, it is typically shown in FIG. As shown, a similar shape relationship may be realized in many other proximity points P (proximity points in the Q portion). At this time, the guide portion 94 of the knob guide member 90 can also be handled in the same manner as the guide portion 14.

As mentioned above, although each Example was explained in full detail, it is not limited to a specific Example, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range described in the claim. It is also possible to combine all or a plurality of the components of the above-described embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the corner portion 310 of the flange portion 34 includes the inner R portion 311 formed in the inner R shape and the

outer R portions

312 and 313 formed in the outer R shape. Not limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the corner portion 310A of the flange portion 34A may have only an outer R portion 312A (an example of a first portion) formed in an outer R shape. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, the guide portion 14 </ b> A extends in a direction D inclined with respect to the X direction in plan view (viewed in the Z direction). The direction D is preferably about 45 degrees with respect to the X direction, as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

This application claims priority of the basic application 2017-049177 filed on March 14, 2017 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable key 10 Case 10a Upper case 10b Lower case 12 Opening part 14 Guide part 14A Guide part 30 Operation knob 32 Operation part 34 Flange part 50 Waterproof sheet 52 Domed part 70 Electronic component 72 Electronic component 90 Knob guide member 92 Beam part 93 Beam part 94 Guide part 96 Beam part 141 Wall part 310 Corner part 310A Corner part 311 Inner R part 312 Outer R part 312A Outer R part 313 Outer R part 341 Flange part

Claims

A portable key that transmits radio waves in response to a user operation,
The first direction is a longitudinal direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction is a substantially rectangular shape, and the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. A housing having an opening that opens, and a guide portion that protrudes in the third direction toward the inside around the opening;
An operation knob that is exposed from the housing through the opening; and an operation knob having a flange that abuts in the third direction around the opening on the inner surface of the housing;
The guide portion and the flange portion have locations that are opposed and close to each other in the first direction, and the flange portion at the location has a first portion formed in an outer R shape, and the guide at the location The unit is a portable key that extends in a fourth direction inclined with respect to the first direction when viewed in the third direction.
The portable key according to claim 1, wherein the fourth direction is about 45 degrees with respect to the first direction when viewed in the third direction.
The corner of the flange portion includes the first part, a second part formed in an inner R shape, and a third part formed in an outer R shape,
The portable key according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second part is formed between the first part and the third part.
The portable key according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation knob has a substantially rectangular shape in which the second direction is a longitudinal direction and the first direction is a short direction.
The portable key according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the operation knobs are provided.