JP2000188038A - Switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switch unit thinned and improved in operability of two step pressing operation. SOLUTION: A sloped peripheral wall part 7B of a switch acting body 7 is bent by a first pressing so that a conductive rubber 7a formed on the switch starting body 7 contacts with a pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing of a flexible circuit board 3 to be conducted, and a flat part 7A of the switch acting body 7 is bent by the second pressing using the conductive rubber part 7a as a fulcrum, a snap plate 8 is deformed by a holding part 7b formed on the flat part 7A, and the snap plate 8 comes into contact with a pair of electrode patterns for a second press to be conducted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch unit provided with a two-stage push button switch used for a digital camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a switch unit of this type, a switch unit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-177826 is conventionally known as one having a two-stage push button switch. The summary is as follows. That is, a pair of electrode patterns for a second push operation, which are electrically connected to the conductive rubber contact portion as a second action portion described later by the second push operation of the two-stage push button switch on the upper surface of the base. And a metal dome-shaped snap plate so as to cover the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation. On the upper surface of the snap plate, a pair of electrode patterns for a first push operation, which are conductive by the contact of the conductive rubber contact portion also serving as the second action portion as the first action portion by the first-stage push operation, are formed. A switch operating body made of rubber is provided above the snap plate and supported in the holding cylinder, and a key top for pressing the switch operating body is provided further above. The switch operating body has a flat portion that receives the lower end of the keytop,
It is composed of an inclined peripheral wall hanging down from the periphery of the flat part and a lower end annular part of the inclined peripheral wall. A holding cylinder for guiding the switch operation of the key top is provided, the switch operating body is housed in the holding cylinder, and a lower end annular portion of the switch operating body is supported by a flange of the holding cylinder. A conductive rubber contact portion is provided projecting from a downward surface of the flat portion, and is configured to contact and conduct with a pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation on the upper surface of the snap plate. In the above configuration, when the key top is pushed in and the first-stage operation is performed, the inclined peripheral wall portion is bent, and the rubber contact portion for conduction descends, protruding further below the opening of the holding cylinder, and the upper surface of the snap plate. To make the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation conductive. When the key top is further pushed in from this state and the second stage operation is performed, the snap plate is pushed in and the inverted snap plate comes into contact to conduct the pair of electrode patterns for the second pushing operation.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional structure, the switch actuating body is held in the holding cylinder, so that even when the first-stage operation is performed, the switch is operated through the opening of the holding cylinder. It is necessary to bend the inclined peripheral wall portion until the rubber contact portion for body conduction protrudes, and then it is necessary to bend the inclined peripheral wall portion further to deform the snap plate and perform the second stage operation, The operation stroke required for switch operation has become large,
This has hindered the reduction in the thickness of the switch structure, and the provision of the holding cylinder has led to an increase in the number of components, and the switch structure has been further enlarged. Further, when conducting the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation in the first-stage operation, the conductive rubber contact portion is brought into contact with the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation provided on the upper surface of the snap plate. However, it is necessary to keep the snap plate from contacting the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a structure that considers the strength surface and the like so that the inclined peripheral wall of the switch operating body also has an appropriate click feeling while applying an appropriate pressing force to the key top. In addition, there is room for improvement in the structure of the switch operating body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch unit which can achieve a thin switch structure and can perform a good switch operation even if it has a two-stage push button switch.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a substrate having a pair of electrode patterns for a first pressing operation and a pair of electrode patterns for a second pressing operation is provided. A push button switch is formed with the push operation tool, and the push operation tool is provided with a flat portion that receives a push operation, and a peripheral wall portion that supports the flat portion with respect to the substrate. A first action portion for switching the pair of electrode patterns for the first push operation to a conductive state by bending the peripheral wall portion by a first-stage push operation; and
A second operating portion for bending the flat portion in the thickness direction by a second-stage pressing operation with the operating portion as a fulcrum and switching the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation to a conductive state by the bending. The operation and effect are as follows.

[Action] When the push operation tool is pushed, the bendable peripheral wall is bent. Then, the first action portion contacts the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation of the substrate,
The first-stage switch operation can be performed by conducting the electrode pattern. When the push operation tool is further pushed in from this state, the flat portion is bent in the thickness direction with the first action portion in contact with the pair of electrode patterns for the first push operation as a fulcrum, and the second action portion is pressed by the second action portion. The pair of electrode patterns for the push operation are switched to the conductive state.

[Effect] In the second stage operation, the switch operation is performed by utilizing the fact that the flat part itself of the push operation tool bends in the thickness direction. A stroke that can cope with an unplanar deflection is sufficient, so that a large switch stroke is not required, and the overall switch structure can contribute to a reduction in thickness. In addition, the first-stage operation employs a configuration in which the peripheral wall is bent, so that the first-stage operation stroke can be larger than the second-stage operation stroke, and the click feeling and the thickness of the flat portion when the peripheral wall is bent can be reduced. The first-stage operation and the second-stage operation can be intuitively distinguished by the click feeling of bending in the direction, and the operation is easy. In the first-stage operation, the push operation may be performed until the first operating portion comes into contact with the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation, and the first operating portion forms the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation. Since a clear operational feeling of being received by the performed substrate can be obtained, operability is good without requiring a delicate operation touch or the like.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the characteristic configuration according to the first aspect of the present invention, the push operation tool receives a key top which receives a push operation and a key top which receives the push operation. A switch actuating body that moves and acts on the substrate, wherein the switch actuating body has a flat portion provided with the first operating portion and the second operating portion, and a peripheral wall portion that supports the flat portion with respect to the substrate. And the effect is as follows.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the push operation tool is composed of two parts, a key top and a switch operating body. As a result, the peripheral wall portion of the switch actuating member is bent, and when the switch is further pushed, the flat portion bends to enable two-stage operation.

[Effect] The portion (switch actuating body) of which the peripheral wall must be bent in order to operate the switch can be made of a material having high elasticity, and a key for moving the switch actuating body in response to a pressing operation. As for the top, a structure suitable for the function can be adopted, for example, a material of a relatively hard material can be selected from a place requiring rigidity or the like enough to drive the switch operating body and respond to the pushing operation.

[Structure] The characteristic structure according to the present invention described in claim 3 is the same as the characteristic structure according to the present invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second operation section receives the action of the second action section.
A snap plate is provided to contact the pair of electrode patterns for pushing operation and to conduct the pair of electrode patterns. The operation and effect are as follows.

According to the present invention, a snap plate is provided in the first or second aspect, and a first step in which a key top is depressed to bend the peripheral wall portion of the switch operating body. When the second stage operation is performed, the flat portion bends, and the second operating portion pushes the snap plate, and the snap plate contacts and conducts the pair of electrode patterns for the second push operation. By providing this snap plate, not only the flat part causes the plane bending at the second stage operation but also the snap plate also bends at the same time, so that they simultaneously act as a click feeling, and the click feeling is larger than the first stage operation. Can be obtained. In addition, when the operation is released, the operation of the push operation unit is released, and at the same time, the bending of the peripheral wall and the pressing of the snap plate are released. The feeling is strongly felt,
It is unlikely that a two-stage return will remain.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a substrate having a pair of electrode patterns for a first pressing operation and a pair of electrode patterns for a second pressing operation is displaceable by the pressing operation. Key top, a switch actuating body that moves in conjunction with the push operation unit thereof, and moves in response to the pushing movement of the switch actuating body, and comes into contact with the pair of electrode patterns for the second pushing operation to become conductive. A push button switch is formed with the snap plate to be switched, and the substrate on which a pair of electrode patterns for rotary operation are formed, a rotation operation unit that rotates with respect to the substrate by a rotation operation, and a rotation operation unit attached to the rotation operation unit. A rotary switch is formed with a brush that moves in contact with the pair of electrode patterns for rotary operation, and A flat portion which receives the movement of the work unit, constituted by a peripheral wall portion for supporting the flat portion to the substrate,
The switch actuating body contacts the pair of first push-operation electrode patterns by bending of the peripheral wall portion by the first-stage push operation, and switches the first pair of electrode patterns for the first push operation to a conductive state. A second portion in which the flat portion is bent in the thickness direction by a second pressing operation with the operating portion and the first operating portion as a fulcrum, and the snap plate is brought into contact with the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation by the bending. An effect portion is provided, and the operation and effect thereof are as follows.

[Operation and Effect] When the rotary switch is operated, the brush attached to the rotary switch is switched by contacting and moving with a pair of rotary operation electrode patterns. As described above, a compact switch unit can be provided in which a pair of electrode patterns for a push operation and a pair of electrode patterns for a rotary operation are formed on the same substrate, and a push button switch and a rotary switch are integrally provided. Reached.

[Structure] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the characteristic structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second action portion is provided on the substrate of the flat portion. At the center part of the facing surface, the first action part is arranged at two opposite locations in a semicircular shape,
The second operating portion is arranged at an intermediate position between the two opposing first operating portions, and the operation and effect are as follows.

[Effects] Since the semi-circular first action portions are arranged at two positions facing each other, when the switch operation body is pushed in by the pushing operation, the switch operation body slightly tilts. However, any one of the first action portions can maintain the contact state with the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation, and a somewhat rough operation is allowed. Moreover, since the first operating portion is provided at two locations around the second operating portion, the first operating portion contacts the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation at the first stage, and the contacted first operating portion is used as a fulcrum. As a result, the operation of bending the second operation portion located in the middle between the first operation portions is performed, so that the depression of both the first operation portions is effective, and the pressing operation is stabilized.

[Structure] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the characteristic structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation and the second electrode pattern are provided. A pair of electrode patterns for two-push operation,
It is formed on the same plane of the substrate, and its operation and effect are as follows.

[Function and Effect] Since the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation and the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation are formed on the same plane, the substrate can be used in common. There is no difference in height between the portions where the pair of electrode patterns are applied, and the substrate may be thinner accordingly. As a result, the substrate can be easily manufactured, and the switch can be made thinner.

[Structure] The characteristic structure according to the present invention described in claim 7 is the same as the characteristic structure according to the invention described in claim 4,
A detent mechanism that provides a click feeling at the time of positioning and rotation of the rotation operation unit includes an uneven portion formed on a base surface that supports the substrate, and a protrusion that contacts the uneven portion while rotating together with the rotary operation portion. The configuration and the operation and effect are as follows.

[Operation and Effect] When the rotation operation section is rotated and the rotation operation is stopped at a desired concave portion of the projections and depressions, a desired operation position at that position can be obtained and positioning can be performed. When the rotation operation unit is rotated from this state, the projection moves while contacting the uneven portion, so that the impact is given each time the projection falls into the recess and comes up, which gives a click feeling at the time of the rotation operation. Therefore, the sense of operation can be confirmed by obtaining a click feeling at the time of rotation, and the operation position can be positioned.

[Structure] The characteristic structure according to the present invention described in claim 8 is the same as the characteristic structure according to the invention described in claim 7,
A lock member for preventing the rotation operation of the rotation operation portion is provided, and its operation and effect are as follows.

[Effects] By the locking action of the lock device, the rotation operation unit is not accidentally operated even if the rotation operation unit is unconsciously touched when no operation is required.

[Structure] The characteristic structure according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is the same as the characteristic structure according to the eighth aspect,
A plate-shaped metal seppen is attached to the rotary operation section, and the metal seppen is provided with a mechanism for urging the brush, the protrusion, and the lock member into a locked state. It is as follows.

[Effects] A brush and a detent mechanism for connecting a pair of electrode patterns for rotary operation by utilizing the fact that the metal pen is attached to the rotary operation part to make use of the metal pen. And the urging mechanism for the lock device can be integrally formed with the seppen, and the dual use is effectively utilized.

[Structure] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holding space for guiding the operation of the push operating portion and the switch operating body, and a holding space for guiding the operation. There is a bearing body that forms a support part that supports the rotary operation part radially outward from the space. The operation and effect are as follows.

[Function and Effect] By providing the bearing, the movement of the push operating portion and the switch operating member which are operated upon receiving the push operation can be smoothly guided, and the rotation operation of the rotary operating portion which operates upon receiving the rotating operation. Can be smoothed, and a bearing that can function to guide the movement of both the push operation unit and the rotation operation unit can be shared by the bearing body, which simplifies the equipment configuration. Have been.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A switch unit A used for a digital camera or the like will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the switch unit A is a composite switch in which a two-stage push button switch and a rotary switch are arranged outside the two-stage push button switch. The two-stage push button switch and the rotary switch are configured as follows. ing. 1 to 4
As shown in the figure, the rotary switch fixes the bearing body 2 to the base 1 by welding while holding the flexible circuit board 3 therebetween, and connects the rotor 4 and a rotary switch knob (an example of a rotary operation unit) 5. A rotor 4 and a knob 5 for a rotary switch, which are integrated by press-fitting, are rotatably supported on the bearing body 2,
It is composed. The two-stage push button switch is knob 5
A key top 6 for a push button and a switch actuating body 7 interlocked with the key top 6 are arranged in the internal space of the key top 6 on the rotation center side of the. 8 is arranged on the flexible circuit board 3 and configured.

The base 1 forming the base of the push button switch and the rotary switch will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of insertion holes 1A for inserting the legs 2A of the bearing 2 are provided near the center of the disk forming the base 1, and the six legs 2A of the bearing 2 are inserted into the insertion holes 1A. The base 1 and the bearing body 2 are welded in a state of being inserted and overlapped, and the bearing body 2 is welded.
Is fixed to the base 1. A protruding portion 1C protruding from the base surface 1B radially outward from the insertion hole 1A and penetrating the flexible circuit board 3 and facing upward is formed, and the surface of the protruding portion 1C is formed as an uneven surface. This protruding uneven surface is the rotor 4
A projection 9 formed on a later-described seppen 9 that rotates together with the projection 9
The contact with A provides a click feeling when operating the rotary switch knob 5, and also functions as a detent mechanism for positioning the operation position of the rotary switch knob 5.

The bearing 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the bearing body 2 includes a cylindrical main body 2B and legs 2A extending from the cylindrical main body 2B.
Is formed so as to receive the switch actuating body 7 and the key top 6 in the center portion thereof. Cylindrical body 2B
A flange portion 2C that projects inward is formed at an upper end opening portion of the through space in FIG.
A structure is formed to prevent the key top 6 from coming out of the bearing body 2 by engagement with the key A. The leg 2 </ b> A protrudes downward through the base 1, and its protruding end is fixed to the base 1 by performing caulking. Cylindrical body 2
A flange portion 2D projecting outward is formed on the upper end surface of B, and the knob 5 is supported on the upper surface of the flange portion 2D and the rotor 4 integrated with the knob 5 is formed.
Is applied to the lower surface of the flange portion 2D to position the knob 5.

The rotary switch knob 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the knob 5 includes a flat portion 5 </ b> A and a peripheral wall portion 5 hanging down from the periphery of the flat portion 5 </ b> A.
B. A through hole 5a for accommodating the key top 6 is provided in the center of the flat portion 5A, and an intermediate wall 5C is hung inside the peripheral wall portion 5B.
C and the peripheral wall 5B form a double wall. The peripheral wall 4A of the rotor 4 is fitted and mounted between the peripheral wall 5B and the intermediate wall 5C. An engaging groove 5b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 5B, and the engaging convex groove 4a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 4A of the rotor 4 is engaged with the engaging concave groove 5b. The rotor 4 is press-fitted into the knob 5 and is integrally rotated. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a concave portion is formed at one position in the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the knob 5 to serve as a finger pad 5 c for operating a lock button 10 described later.

The rotor 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the rotor 4 has a flat portion 4B extending inward from an intermediate height position of the peripheral wall portion 4A, and an insertion hole 4C for inserting the bearing body 2 at a center position of the flat portion 4B. And a downwardly facing inner wall surface 4D is formed at a part of the inner peripheral edge of the insertion hole 4C so as to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body 2 to perform a guide function. Seppen 9 on the lower surface of rotor 4
Is attached, and a conductive brush 9 </ b> B for the flexible circuit board 3 is formed on the seppen 9.

The seppen 9 will be described. 2 and 5
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6, the seppen 9 attached and fixed to the lower surface of the rotor 4 is a metal donut-shaped plate, in which a part of the donut-shaped plate is inclined downward, and the above-described inclined surface is provided on the downward surface. The projection 9A is formed, and as shown in FIG. 8, the projection 9A and the projection 1C of the base 1 give a click feeling at the time of the rotation operation, and constitute a detent mechanism for positioning. A conductive brush 9B that is inclined downward is formed together with the projection 9A. A pair of conductive brushes 9B are provided inside and outside, and are configured to contact a pair of rotary electrode patterns described later to make them conductive. It is. Further, a bulging portion 9C protruding outward is provided at one location in the circumferential direction, and the bulging portion 9C is configured to support a lock button 10 described later.

A mechanism for locking the rotation of the rotary switch knob 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, a through hole 5d is formed in the finger pad 5c of the knob 5, and a through hole 4b is formed in the rotor 4 at a position corresponding to the through hole 5d. Is inserted. A projection 10A is provided on the inner surface of the lock button 10 facing the bearing 2, and a recess 2a is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flange 2D of the bearing 2, thereby forming the projection 10A.
Is configured to be engageable with the recess 2a. Projection 10A
Is engaged with the recess 2a in the locked position, and the engaged state is released by the downward movement of the lock button 10. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6, the lock button 10 is supported by the seppen 9 with its bottom surface being in contact with the bulging portion 9C of the seppen 9, and is urged upward by the elastic force of the seppen 9. With the above configuration, the lock button 10
The knob 5 cannot be rotated in the locked state in which the projection 10A of the second member engages with the concave portion 2a of the bearing body 2. From this locked state, when the upper surface 10B of the lock button 10 protruding from the knob 5 is pressed downward against the elastic force of the seppen 9, the engaged state of the projection 10A and the recess 2a is released, and the knob 5 is released. Can be rotated.

The key top 6 constituting the push button switch will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, flanges 6 a protruding outward are formed at three places in the circumferential direction of a flange 6 A formed on the key top 6, and a cylindrical main body 2 B of the bearing body 2 is formed. The key top 6 is allowed to move only up and down, and does not rotate. As shown in FIG. 4, a projection 6B is formed at the center position of the lower surface of the key top 6, and the projection 6B is brought into contact with the upper surface of the switch operating body 7, and the upper surface of the key top 6 is pushed by a finger to project. The switch operating body 7 is configured to be pushed in through the portion 6B.

The switch operating member 7 will be described. The switch operating body 7 is made of silicone rubber and has a highly elastic and easily bendable structure. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the switch actuating body 7 includes a thick, disk-shaped flat portion 7A, a thin-walled inclined peripheral wall portion 7B hanging down from the periphery of the flat portion 7A, and an inclined peripheral wall portion. The flange 7C includes a flange 7C formed outwardly from the lower end of the flange 7B, and a flange 7D further protruding outward at three places in the circumferential direction of the flange 7C. The rotation of the switch operating body 7 is prevented by engaging the flange 7D with the recess 2b of the bearing body 2. When the switch operating body 7 is arranged in the internal space of the bearing body 2, the flange 7 </ b> C is placed on the flexible circuit board 3, and the plane part 7 </ b> A is arranged so as to be located inside the knob 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B is formed to be extremely thin compared to the flat surface portion 7A. Therefore, when the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B is pressed through the key top 6, it bends at the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B and becomes flat. Moves down. In this switch operating body 7, since the switch operating body 7 is formed of rubber, the switch operating body 7 is pressed down and the inclined peripheral wall 7 is pressed.
When bending B, a click feeling is left on the hand operated by the bending resistance. However, when the pressing operation is released, the click when returning the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B from the bent state to the original posture is performed because the rubber is made of rubber. There is no feeling left. As described above, the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B may be provided with a fold along the circumferential direction in order to make the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B bend more easily than the flat surface portion 7A. As shown in FIG. 7, on the other hand, on the lower surface of the plane portion 7A, two substantially C-shaped conductive rubber portions (an example of a first working portion) 7a are provided. As shown in FIG.
The conductive rubber portions 7a, 7a make contact with a pair of electrode patterns 13 for a first pressing operation of the flexible circuit board 3 described later and act to conduct the two electrode patterns 13. At the center of the lower surface of the flat portion 7A, a pressing portion (an example of a second operating portion) 7b is provided, which protrudes downward, and a snap plate 8 described later is pressed and deformed by the pressing portion 7b, and the flexible circuit board 3 is deformed. The other electrode patterns 14 for the second pressing operation are brought into contact with each other to actuate the two electrode patterns 14. Comparing the conductive rubber portion 7a and the pressing portion 7b, the pressing portion 7b is located above, and when the key top 6 is pressed, the conductive rubber portion 7a contacts the pair of electrode patterns 13 first. I have.
The snap plate 8 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the snap plate 8 is formed in a middle and high dome shape with a highly conductive metal plate, and is attached to the center position of the flexible circuit board 3 with an adhesive tape 12.

Next, the flexible circuit board 3 will be described. This flexible circuit board 3 is made of a soft resin. As shown in FIG. 9, at the center position of the circular substrate 3A,
A pair of electrode patterns 13 for a second push operation and a pair of electrode patterns 14 for a first push operation for a two-stage push button switch are arranged, and a pair of electrode patterns 14 for the first push operation are arranged outside. I do. A pair of rotary operation electrode patterns 15 for a rotary switch is arranged outside the pair of first push operation electrode patterns 14. A pair of electrode patterns 1 for the second pressing operation
As shown in FIG. 8, the snap plate 8 contacts and conducts, as shown in FIG. 8, and includes a circular pattern 13a provided at the center and a donut pattern 13b formed outside the circular pattern 13a. Be composed. As shown in FIG. 9, the pair of electrode patterns 14 for the first pressing operation includes:
The conductive rubber portions 7a, 7a of the switch actuating body 7 are brought into contact with each other to conduct, and are constituted by a donut-shaped pattern 13b and an arc-shaped pattern 14a surrounding the donut-shaped pattern 13b. I have. The pair of electrode patterns 15 for the rotary operation is a half-moon pattern 15 arranged on the side of the arc-shaped pattern 14a.
a and an arc-shaped pattern 15b arranged outside the half-moon pattern 15a. As shown in FIG. 8, the two brushes 9B formed on the seppen 9 contact the crescent-shaped pattern 15a and the arc-shaped pattern 15b, respectively, thereby switching the two patterns 15a and 15b to the conductive state. Reference numeral 16 in FIG. 9 denotes an arc-shaped through hole,
This is for projecting the projection 1C of the base 1.
Reference numeral 17 is for penetrating the leg 2A of the bearing body 2.

The switch unit configured as described above is used, for example, for selecting a mode of a digital camera, and the operation of the rotary switch and the push button switch is as follows. (1) First, press the lock button 10 and turn the knob 5
Is rotated, the brush 9B moves on the pair of electrode patterns 15 for rotary operation, and the
9A comes into contact with and moves on the protrusion 1C of the base 1.
The feeling of contact between the protrusion 9A and the uneven surface of the protrusion 1C can be grasped as an operation feeling, and the mode selection position can be grasped sensuously. The firing pattern 15b and the half-moon pattern 15a selected by this operation are conducted through the brush 9B, and the mode can be selected. (2) Next, when the key top 6 for the push button switch is operated, focusing is performed by the first operation, and photographing is performed by the second operation. When key top 6 is operated,
As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4B, the inclined peripheral wall portion 7B of the switch operating body 7 is bent, and the plane portion 7A moves downward. Thereby, the conductive rubber portion 7 of the switch operating body 7
a and 7a contact the pair of electrode patterns 14 for the second pressing operation, and the arc-shaped pattern 14a and the donut-shaped pattern 1
3b is switched to a conductive state. When the keytop 6 is further pressed from this state, as shown in FIG. 4C, the switch operating body 7 is set with the conductive rubber portions 7a and 7a as fulcrums.
Is bent in the indented state, and the snap plate 8 is pressed by the center pressing portion 7b of the bent flat portion.
The pressed snap plate 8 comes into contact with the pair of electrode patterns 14 for the first pressing operation, and makes the donut-shaped pattern 13b and the arc-shaped pattern 14a conductive. (3) When the operation on the key top 6 is released, only the click feeling when the metal snap plate 8 returns to the original position is felt, and the flat portion 7A of the rubber switch operating body 7 is felt.
When the user returns to the original posture and the inclined peripheral wall surface 7B of the switch operating body 7 returns to the original posture at the same time, the clicking feeling is hardly felt, and the feeling of returning in two stages is rarely left.

Another embodiment will be described below. [1] In the above-described embodiment, the composite switch in which the push-button switch and the rotary switch are integrated has been described, but the rotary switch may not be particularly provided (corresponding to claims 1 to 3). ). [2] As an example of the configuration of the push button type switch, the example in which the key top 6 and the switch operating body 7 are used has been described. However, a two-stage push button switch may be configured using only the switch operating body 7. . The one constituted by the key top 6 and the switch actuating body 7 or the one constituted only by the switch actuating body 7 is generically called a push operating tool (corresponding to claim 1). [3] Instead of providing the snap plate 8, the pressing portion 7b provided on the flat portion 7A of the switch operating body 7 is made conductive, and the pressing portion 7b made conductive by the second operation is used. A pair of electrode patterns 13 for the second pressing operation
May be switched to the holding conductive state (corresponding to claims 1 and 2). [4] A brush 9B, a projection 9A, and a mechanism 9C for urging the lock member to the locked state are provided on the seppen 9, but these are individually configured and attached to the rotary operation unit 5. (Corresponding to claim 1). Incidentally, reference numerals are written in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the attached drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the switch unit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a base, a flexible substrate, and a bearing body of the switch unit.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a two-step operation of a push button switch in order.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a mounting state of a lock device.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a relationship between a lock device and a seppen.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the switch unit.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a flexible substrate and a seppen.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a flexible substrate.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a seppen.

[Description of Signs] 5 Rotating operation part 6 Key top 7 Switch operating body 8 Snap plate 9 Seppen 10 Locking device 13 A pair of electrode patterns for second pressing operation 14 A pair of electrode patterns for first pressing operation 15 For rotation operation A pair of electrode patterns

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takuhiko Kanemoto 1-4-33 Kitakyuho-ji Temple, Yao-shi, Osaka Ho-Siden Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5G006 AA02 AB25 AZ01 BA01 BA02 BA09 BB03 BC01 BC04 CD07 FB04 FB06

Claims (10)

[Claims] A push button switch is formed by a substrate on which a pair of electrode patterns for a first push operation and a pair of electrode patterns for a second push operation are formed, and a push operating tool. A flat portion that receives a pressing operation and a peripheral wall portion that supports the flat portion with respect to the substrate are provided.
A first operating portion for switching the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation to a conductive state by bending the peripheral wall portion by a first-stage pressing operation, and a two-stage operation using the first operating portion as a fulcrum; A switch unit provided on the flat portion, the second flat portion being provided with a second operating portion for bending the flat portion in the thickness direction by an eye pressing operation and switching the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation to a conductive state by the bending. 2. The push operation tool according to claim 1, wherein the push operation tool includes a key top that receives a push operation, and a switch actuating body that moves in response to the push operation and acts on the substrate. The switch unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a flat portion having a portion and a second action portion; and a peripheral wall portion supporting the flat portion with respect to the substrate. 3. The second operation portion receives an operation of the second operation portion.
The switch unit according to claim 1, further comprising a snap plate that comes into contact with the pair of electrode patterns for a push operation and conducts the pair of electrode patterns. 4. A pair of electrode patterns for a first pressing operation,
A substrate on which a pair of electrode patterns for a second pressing operation are formed, a key top displaceable by the pressing operation, a switch actuating body that moves in conjunction with the pushing operation unit, and receives a pushing movement of the switch operating body. And a snap plate that contacts the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation and switches to a conductive state by contacting with the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation. Forming a rotary switch with a rotary operation unit that rotates with respect to the substrate by an operation, and a brush that is mounted on the rotation operation unit and moves by contacting the pair of electrode patterns for the rotary operation; Comprises a flat portion that receives the movement of the push operation portion, and a peripheral wall portion that supports the flat portion with respect to the substrate. A first operating portion that contacts the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation by the refraction of the peripheral wall portion by the first-stage pressing operation and switches the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation to a conductive state; A second pressing operation using the first action portion as a fulcrum, and bending the flat portion in the thickness direction by the second pressing operation to cause the snap plate to contact the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation by the bending.
A switch unit provided with an action unit. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second action portion is provided at a center portion of a surface of the flat portion facing the substrate, and the first action portion is provided at the first portion.
The operation part is arrange | positioned at two places opposing in a semicircular arc shape, The said 2nd operation part is arrange | positioned in the intermediate position of the two opposing 1st operation parts, The one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Switch unit. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pair of electrode patterns for the first pressing operation and the pair of electrode patterns for the second pressing operation are formed on the same plane of the substrate. Switch unit according to one of the above. 7. A positioning mechanism for the rotary operation unit and a detent mechanism for providing a click feeling at the time of the rotation operation are provided on an uneven portion formed on a base surface supporting the substrate, and on the uneven portion while rotating together with the rotary operation unit. 5. The switch unit according to claim 4, wherein said switch unit comprises a contacting projection. 8. The switch unit according to claim 7, further comprising a lock member for preventing a rotation operation of the rotation operation section. 9. A plate-shaped metal seppen is attached to the rotary operation section, and the brush, the protrusion,
9. The switch unit according to claim 8, further comprising a mechanism for urging the lock member into a locked state. 10. A bearing body that forms a holding space for guiding the operation of the push operating portion and the switch operating body, and a support portion that supports the rotary operating portion radially outward from the holding space. The switch unit according to claim 9, further comprising: