WO2023238461A1

WO2023238461A1 - Push switch

Info

Publication number: WO2023238461A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/008117
Authority: WO
Inventors: 嘉成黒田; 克敏舂井
Original assignee: アルプスアルパイン株式会社
Priority date: 2022-06-06
Filing date: 2023-03-03
Publication date: 2023-12-14

Abstract

This push switch comprises: a housing having an accommodating unit; a first fixed contact provided on the bottom part of the accommodating unit; a first movable contact member that is disposed inside the accommodating unit, has a dome shape, and contacts the first fixed contact by performing a reverse operation when a pressing force is received from above; a second movable contact member that is disposed inside the accommodating unit and above the first movable contact member, has a dome shape, and contacts the apex of the first movable contact member by performing a reverse operation when a pressing force is received from above; and a pressing body that has a pressing part that presses the apex of the second movable contact member. The second movable contact member has a projection projecting toward the first movable contact member side, and when the apex of the second movable contact member is pressed by the pressing body, the apex of the first movable contact member is pressed by the projection, and the projection is provided outside the pressing part of the pressing body.

Description

push switch

The present invention relates to a push switch.

In Patent Document 1 listed below, a first tact plate and a second tact plate are arranged in a housing, and the first stage deformation of the first tact plate by pressing the key top causes the convex part of the first tact plate to become the first tact plate. When the first tact plate is deformed in the second stage by pressing the key top, the convex part of the first tact plate presses the center part of the second tact plate, and the second tact plate is reversed. A two-stage operating push switch is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-31171

However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the convex portion of the first tact plate is provided at the center of the first tact plate, and when the key top is pressed, the convex portion is sandwiched between the key top and the second tact plate. Since the first tact plate is subjected to a high load, the convex portion of the first tact plate may be crushed due to a large number of operations, and there is a possibility that a contact failure and a pressing failure with respect to the second tact plate may occur.

A push switch according to one embodiment includes a housing having a housing, a first fixed contact provided at the bottom of the housing, and a dome-shaped housing that is placed in the housing and receives a pressing force from above. The first movable contact member contacts the first fixed contact, and the first movable contact member, which has a dome shape and is disposed in the accommodation portion and above the first movable contact member, resists pressing force from above. The second movable contact member contacts the top of the first movable contact member and is placed on the top of the second movable contact member and presses the top of the second movable contact member. the second movable contact member has a protrusion protruding toward the first movable contact member, and the top of the second movable contact member is pressed by the press body; When the contact member is pressed, the top of the first movable contact member is pressed by the protruding portion, and the protruding portion is provided outside the pressing portion of the pressing body.

According to one embodiment, it is possible to prevent the protruding portion of the second movable contact member from being crushed due to long-term use.

External perspective view of a push switch according to one embodiment Exploded perspective view of a push switch according to one embodiment A sectional view taken along the YZ plane of a push switch according to an embodiment An external perspective view of a second metal contact included in a push switch according to an embodiment, viewed from above An external perspective view of a second metal contact and a pressing body included in a push switch according to an embodiment, viewed from above An exploded perspective view of a second metal contact and a pressing body included in a push switch according to an embodiment, viewed from below A perspective cross-sectional view of a second metal contact and a pressing body included in a push switch according to an embodiment

Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, the Z-axis direction in the drawings will be referred to as the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction in the drawings will be taken as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the drawings will be taken as the front-rear direction. However, the Z-axis positive direction is upward, the Y-axis positive direction is rightward, and the X-axis positive direction is forward.

(Overview of push switch 100)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a push switch 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the push switch 100 has an overall rectangular parallelepiped shape that is thin in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). As shown in FIG. 1, in the push switch 100, an upper surface 160A of the housing 160 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is covered with an insulator 110. A raised portion 111 is formed in the center of the insulator 110 in a convex manner upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis). A pressing body 120 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is adhered to the back side of the raised portion 111. Thereby, the push switch 100 can be pressed downward (in the negative direction of the Z-axis) by the pressing body 120.

The push switch 100 is configured such that when a half-press operation is performed as a downward pressing operation (Z-axis negative direction) of the pressing body 120, a second peripheral fixed contact 163 and a first peripheral fixed contact provided on the housing 160 are pressed. The contacts 162 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) conduct with each other, resulting in a first switch-on state.

Further, in the push switch 100, when the push body 120 is pressed downward (in the Z-axis negative direction), a full press operation is performed, so that the central fixed contact 161 and the first peripheral fixed contact provided in the housing 160 are pressed. 162 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are electrically connected to each other, resulting in a second switch-on state.

Note that when the push switch 100 is released from the pressing operation of the pressing body 120, it returns to the OFF state.

(Configuration of push switch 100)
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the push switch 100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the YZ plane of the push switch 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the push switch 100 includes a housing 160, a first metal contact 150, an insulating sheet 140, a second metal contact 130, and a pressing body 120 in order from the bottom (Z-axis negative side) in the figure. , and an insulator 110.

<Housing 160>
The housing 160 is a container-shaped member having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The housing 160 has a rectangular shape in which the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) is the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) is the lateral direction when viewed from above. The housing 160 has a housing portion 160B that is recessed downward from the top surface 160A. The second metal contact 130, the insulating sheet 140, and the first metal contact 150 are housed in the housing portion 160B. For example, the housing 160 is formed by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating material (for example, hard resin).

The bottom portion 160C of the accommodating portion 160B of the housing 160 has a center portion 160Ca, a first peripheral portion 160Cb, a second peripheral portion 160Cc, and a third peripheral portion 160Cd.

The center portion 160Ca is formed at the center of the bottom portion 160C. A central fixed contact 161 is provided in the central portion 160Ca. The central fixed contact 161 is an example of a "first fixed contact."

The first peripheral portion 160Cb is formed outside the central portion 160Ca. The first peripheral portion 160Cb is located at a slightly lower position than the central portion 160Ca. A first peripheral fixed contact 162 is provided in the first peripheral portion 160Cb. The first metal contact 150 is placed on the first peripheral portion 160Cb.

The second peripheral portion 160Cc is formed outside the first peripheral portion 160Cb. The second peripheral portion 160Cc is higher in height than the first peripheral portion 160Cb. The insulating sheet 140 is placed on the second peripheral portion 160Cc.

The third peripheral portion 160Cd is formed outside the second peripheral portion 160Cc. The height of the third peripheral portion 160Cd is higher than that of the second peripheral portion 160Cc. A second peripheral fixed contact 163 is provided in the third peripheral portion 160Cd. The second metal contact 130 is placed on the third peripheral portion 160Cd.

For example, the central fixed contact 161, the first peripheral fixed contact 162, and the second peripheral fixed contact 163 are formed by processing a metal plate.

<First metal contact 150>
The first metal contact 150 is an example of a "first movable contact member." The first metal contact 150 is a dome-shaped member that has an apex 151 in the center and is convex upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis). The first metal contact 150 is formed using a thin metal plate. In this embodiment, as an example, the first metal contact 150 is formed by stacking three thin metal disks. The first metal contact 150 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 160B of the housing 160, and placed on a first peripheral portion 160Cb (see FIG. 4) formed at the bottom 160C of the accommodating portion 160B of the housing 160. The first metal contact 150 is electrically connected to the first peripheral fixed contact 162 provided in the first peripheral portion 160Cb by contacting the first peripheral fixed contact 162 at the back surface portion of the peripheral portion thereof. ing. The first metal contact 150 is a so-called "reversal spring", and when a pressing operation is performed by the pressing body 120, the top part 151 is pressed downward by the second metal contact 130, and when a predetermined operating load is exceeded, the top part 151 suddenly changes. 151 is elastically deformed into a concave shape (inversion operation). As a result, the first metal contact 150 comes into contact with the central fixed contact 161 on the back side of the top portion 151, and is electrically connected to the central fixed contact 161. Therefore, the first metal contact 150 can cause the central fixed contact 161 and the first peripheral fixed contact 162 to be electrically connected to each other via the first metal contact 150. Note that when the first metal contact 150 is released from the pressing force from the second metal contact 130, it returns to its original convex shape due to elastic force.

<Insulating sheet 140>
The insulating sheet 140 is formed using an insulating material. It is a sheet-like member. The insulating sheet 140 is disposed between the second metal contact 130 and the first metal contact 150. Thereby, the insulating sheet 140 insulates the second metal contact 130 and the first metal contact 150 from each other so that they do not become electrically conductive when the push switch 100 is not pressed. A circular opening 141 is formed in the center of the insulating sheet 140. That is, the opening 141 is formed at a position where the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 and the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 overlap. Thereby, the insulating sheet 140 allows the top portion 151 of the first metal contact 150 to be placed within the opening 141. That is, when the insulating sheet 140 is pressed by the pressing body 120, the back side of the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 can be brought into contact with the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 through the opening 141. It is now possible to do so.

<Second metal contact 130>
The second metal contact 130 is an example of a "second movable contact member". The second metal contact 130 is a dome-shaped member that has an apex 131 in the center and is convex upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis). The second metal contact 130 is formed using a thin metal plate. The second metal contact 130 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 160B of the housing 160, and placed on the third peripheral portion 160Cd of the bottom portion 160C of the accommodating portion 160B. The second peripheral fixed contact 163 is electrically connected to the second peripheral fixed contact 163 . The second metal contact 130 is a so-called "reversal spring", and when a pressing operation is performed by the pressing body 120, the top portion 131 is pressed downward by the pressing body 120, and when a predetermined operating load is exceeded, the top portion 131 suddenly changes. Elastically deforms into a concave shape (inversion motion). As a result, the second metal contact 130 contacts the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 at the back side of the top 131 and is electrically connected to the first peripheral fixed contact 162 via the first metal contact 150. Connected. When the second metal contact 130 is released from the pressing force from the pressing body 120, it returns to its original convex shape due to elastic force.

<Press body 120>
The pressing body 120 is a member disposed on the top portion 131 of the second metal contact 130 and in the space behind the raised portion 111 of the insulator 110. The pressing body 120 has a circular shape when viewed from above in a plan view, and has a three-dimensional shape that projects upward from the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 . The pressing body 120 is formed using a resin material such as PA. The pressing body 120 has a curved upper surface portion along the raised portion 111 of the insulator 110, and is bonded to the back side of the raised portion 111 of the insulator 110 by any adhesive means (for example, laser welding). etc.). In this embodiment, the pressing body 120 has a three-dimensional shape in which a hemispherical shape is crushed in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing body 120 may have a cylindrical shape, an ellipsoid, or the like. Further, the pressing body 120 is not limited to a circular shape when viewed from above.

<Insulator 110>
The insulator 110 is a thin sheet-like member disposed on the upper surface 160A of the housing 160. The insulator 110 is formed using a resin material such as PET. The insulator 110 has a rectangular shape, with the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) as the lateral direction, in a plan view from above. That is, insulator 110 has substantially the same shape as housing 160 when viewed from above. The insulator 110 covers the upper surface 160A of the housing 160 and is bonded to the upper surface 160A of the housing 160 by any adhesive means (for example, laser welding or the like). The insulator 110 seals the housing portion 160B by closing the upper opening of the housing portion 160B of the housing 160. A raised portion 111 is formed in the center of the insulator 110 in a convex manner upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis). As shown in FIG. 3, a pressing body 120 is bonded to the back side of the raised portion 111.

In addition, the outer shape of the second metal contact 130 has a pair of curved edges 132 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and a pair of straight edges in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) in a plan view from above. 133. The curved edge portion 132 is a portion that extends in a curved manner along a circumference having a predetermined radius. The linear edge portion 133 is a portion that extends linearly along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). That is, the second metal contact 130 has a shape in which both sides in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) are cut along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the housing 160. For example, the second metal contact 130 is a dome-shaped member having a circular shape in a plan view from above, with both sides in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) extending in a straight line along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). By being side-cut in a shape, it is molded into an outer shape having a pair of curved edges 132 and a pair of straight edges 133. That is, the second metal contact 130 has a longitudinal shape with the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) as the short direction.

(Operation of push switch 100)
In the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, when a half-press operation is performed by the pressing body 120, the pressing body 120 pushes down the top 131 of the second metal contact 130, and the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 is elastically shaped into a concave shape. Transform (reverse motion). As a result, the second metal contact 130 is electrically connected to the first peripheral fixed contact 162 via the first metal contact 150 by bringing the back side of the top 131 into contact with the top 151 of the first metal contact 150. connected. As a result, in the push switch 100, the second peripheral fixed contact 163 and the first peripheral fixed contact 162 are electrically connected to each other via the first metal contact 150 and the second metal contact 130. Turns on. At this time, the push switch 100 according to the embodiment can provide a click feeling in response to a half-press operation by the pressing body 120 due to the reversing operation of the second metal contact 130. Therefore, the push switch 100 according to one embodiment allows the operator to tactually sense that the switch has been switched to the first switch-on state.

Furthermore, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, when the pusher 120 is fully pressed, the pusher 120 further pushes down the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 . As a result, the second metal contact 130 pushes down the top part 151 of the first metal contact 150 with the back side of the top part 131, and elastically deforms the top part 151 of the first metal contact 150 into a concave shape (inversion operation). As a result, the first metal contact 150 is electrically connected to the center fixed contact 161 by bringing the back side of the top portion 151 into contact with the center fixed contact 161 . As a result, the push switch 100 enters the second switch-on state because the center fixed contact 161 and the first peripheral fixed contact 162 are electrically connected to each other via the first metal contact 150. At this time, the push switch 100 according to the embodiment can provide a click feeling in response to a full press operation by the pressing body 120 due to the reversing operation of the first metal contact 150. Therefore, the push switch 100 according to one embodiment allows the operator to tactually sense that the switch has been switched to the second switch-on state.

In addition, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, when the half-press operation and the full-press operation by the pressing body 120 are released, the first metal contact 150 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force, and the first metal contact 150 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force. The two-metal contact 130 returns to its original convex shape due to its own elastic force. As a result, the push switch 100 returns to the switch-off state.

(Configuration of second metal contact 130)
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the second metal contact 130 included in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, viewed from above. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the second metal contact 130 and the pressing body 120 included in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, viewed from above. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the second metal contact 130 and the pressing body 120 included in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, viewed from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view of the second metal contact 130 and the pressing body 120 included in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the second metal contact 130 has a dome shape with a top 131 in the center, and the pressing body 120 is disposed on the top 131. The pressing body 120 has a pressing portion 121 that projects downward (Z-axis negative side) from the bottom surface 120A and presses the top portion 131 of the second metal contact 130. As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing portion 121 has a circular shape when viewed from below (Z-axis negative side). The circular shape formed by the pressing portion 121 has a smaller radius than the circular shape formed by the bottom surface 120A.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the second metal contact 130 is attached to the back side of the top portion 131 from the back surface 130B (that is, the surface on the first metal contact 150 side) to the lower side (Z-axis negative side, that is, , the first metal contact 150 side). The protrusion 134 faces the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 . When the top 131 of the second metal contact 130 is pressed by the pressing body 120, the projection 134 provided on the back side of the top 131 presses the top 151 of the first metal contact 150.

Here, the protruding portion 134 is provided outside the pressing portion 121 of the pressing body 120 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). That is, the protruding portion 134 is provided outside the circle formed by the outer peripheral portion of the pressing portion 121 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction).

Thereby, the push switch 100 according to one embodiment can press the portion of the top portion 131 of the second metal contact 130 inside the protrusion 134 by the pressing portion 121 of the pressing body 120. Therefore, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, when the top portion 151 of the first metal contact 150 is pressed by the protrusion 134, the protrusion 134 is sandwiched between the pressing body 120 and the first metal contact 150. Therefore, the load applied to the protrusion 134 can be released toward the outside of the protrusion 134 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). Therefore, according to the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, it is possible to prevent the protruding portion 134 of the second metal contact 130 from being crushed due to long-term use.

Furthermore, the protrusion 134 has an annular shape when viewed from below (Z-axis negative side, that is, the top 151 side of the first metal contact 150).

As a result, the push switch 100 according to the embodiment can uniformly press the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 in an annular manner by the protrusion 134, and push the top 151 straight downward (in the negative Z-axis direction). I can do it.

In addition, in the push switch 100 according to the embodiment, since the protrusion 134 has an annular shape, when the protrusion 134 presses the top 151 of the first metal contact 150, the push switch 100 moves from the first metal contact 150 to the protrusion 134. Since the applied load can be uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction of the protrusion 134, it is possible to prevent the protrusion 134 of the second metal contact 130 from being crushed due to long-term use.

Further, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, since the protrusion 134 has an annular shape, the protrusion 134 can press a position away from the center of the top 151 of the first metal contact 150 (i.e., on an inclined surface). Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the center of the top portion 151 of the first metal contact 150 is pressed, the stroke amount in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the pressing operation by the pressing body 120 can be made smaller.

Further, the second metal contact 130 has a groove 135 formed along the protrusion 134 on the surface 130A (that is, the surface opposite to the surface on the first metal contact 150 side). In this embodiment, since the protrusion 134 is annular, the groove 135 is also annular. Further, the groove portion 135 is provided outside the pressing portion 121 of the pressing body 120 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). That is, the groove portion 135 is provided outside the circle formed by the outer peripheral portion of the pressing portion 121 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). For example, in the second metal contact 130, the protrusion 134 and the groove 135 are simultaneously formed by applying pressure to the metal plate from the surface 130A side by press working.

Further, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, the second metal contact 130 has the groove 135, so that when a load is applied from the first metal contact 150 to the protrusion 134, the groove 135 expands in the width direction. By elastically deforming, the load applied to the protruding part 134 can be released in the width direction of the groove part 135 and the load applied to the protruding part 134 can be absorbed, so that the protruding part 134 of the second metal contact 130 can be crushed due to long-term use. It is possible to prevent this from happening.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications or variations can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. Changes are possible.

In addition, in this document, the term "annular" in the term "protrusion" is not limited to a complete annular shape with no discontinuous parts, but also includes an annular shape with a partially discontinued part (i.e., "substantially annular"). do. That is, in the push switch 100 according to one embodiment, the protrusion 134 may include a plurality of curved partial protrusions arranged on the same circumference so as to have an annular shape as a whole. .

Furthermore, in the push switch 100 according to the embodiment, the protruding part 134 is not limited to an annular shape, but may have other shapes as long as it is provided at least outside the pressing part 121 of the pressing body 120. good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the bottom surface 120A of the pressing body 120 is provided with the pressing portion 121 that protrudes downward from the bottom surface 120A. The bottom surface 120A of the body 120 may function as the pressing portion 121.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-091737 filed on June 6, 2022, and the entire contents of that application are incorporated into this international application.

100 push switch 110 insulator 111 raised portion 120 pressing body 120A bottom surface 121 pressing portion 130 second metal contact (second movable contact member)

130A Front surface

130B Back surface 131 Top portion 132 Curved edge portion 133 Straight edge portion 134 Projection portion 135 Groove portion 140 Insulating sheet 141 Opening portion 150 First metal contact (first movable contact member)
151 Top part 160 Housing

160A Top surface

160B Housing part 160C Bottom part 160Ca Center part 160Cb First peripheral part 160Cc Second peripheral part 160Cd Third peripheral part 161 Center fixed contact (first fixed contact)
162 First peripheral fixed contact 163 Second peripheral fixed contact

Claims

a housing having a housing part;
a first fixed contact provided at the bottom of the accommodating part;
a first movable contact member disposed within the housing portion, having a dome shape, and contacting the first fixed contact by reversing in response to a pressing force from above;
The first movable contact member is disposed within the housing portion and above the first movable contact member, has a dome shape, and contacts the top of the first movable contact member by reversing in response to a pressing force from above. 2 movable contact members;
a pressing body disposed on the top of the second movable contact member and having a pressing portion that presses the top of the second movable contact member;
The second movable contact member is
It has a protrusion that protrudes toward the first movable contact member, and when the top of the second movable contact member is pressed by the pressing body, the protrusion causes the first movable contact member to Press the top of the
The protruding portion is
A push switch, wherein the push switch is provided outside the pressing portion of the pressing body.
The push switch according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an annular shape when viewed in plan from the first movable contact member side.
The second movable contact member is
The push switch according to claim 1, further comprising a groove formed on a back side of the protrusion along the protrusion on a surface opposite to the surface on the first movable contact member side.
The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second movable contact member has a shape in which a side portion is cut along the longitudinal direction of the housing.
an opening provided between the first movable contact member and the second movable contact member, and located at a position overlapping the top of the first movable contact member and the top of the second movable contact member; The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an insulating sheet having:
The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first movable contact member and the second movable contact member are both reversal springs.