JP2002100265A - Push switch and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A push switch used in various electronic devices and an electronic device using the same have a small number of component parts.
An object is to provide an inexpensive one that is easy to assemble. SOLUTION: A fixed contact 12 on the upper surface of a lower substrate 11 is formed by a central fixed contact 12A and a plurality of outer peripheral fixed contacts 12B, 12C, 12D formed in a ring around the central fixed contact 12A at a predetermined interval. 13 movable contact 1 on the lower surface
By configuring the push switch 20 so as to switch a plurality of contacts by sequentially contacting the 3A, the switch can be configured only with the upper and lower substrates, so that the number of components is small, and assembly is easy and inexpensive. Can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push switch used for various electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a computer, and an electronic device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as various functions of electronic devices have been advanced and diversified, switches used for these operations have been changed to a single function of the device by operation, and a plurality of functions have been operated by one operation. For example, switching is performed in various ways.

Such a conventional push switch will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional push switch. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a lower substrate having a pair of fixed contacts 1A formed on the upper surface, and 2 and 3 denote flexible sheets such as an insulating film. 4 is an upper substrate also having flexibility,
These are sequentially disposed on the lower substrate 1.

[0005] A pair of fixed contacts 2A, 3A are formed on the upper surfaces of the sheets 2 and 3, and movable contacts 2B opposed to the fixed contacts 1A, 2A, 3A are formed on the lower surfaces of the sheets 2, 3 and the upper substrate 4. , 3B and 4B are respectively formed.

A spacer 5 such as an insulating film having an opening hole is provided between them, so that a predetermined gap is formed between each contact and an adhesive applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the spacer 5 is formed. The lower substrate 1, the sheets 2, 3 and the upper substrate 4 are bonded together by an agent (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 denotes an operating body made of an insulating resin, and 7 denotes a case made of an insulating resin.
Is in contact with the upper surface of the upper substrate 4, and the operating portion 6B on the upper surface projects upward from the opening of the case 7, thereby forming a push switch.

In the above configuration, when the operating body 6 is pressed downward, as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
The upper substrate 4 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 6A is bent, and the movable contact 4B on the lower surface contacts the fixed contact 3A of the sheet 3,
The pair of fixed contacts 3A are electrically connected via the movable contact 4B.

When a force is further applied to the operating body 6 to perform a pressing operation, the sheet 3 bends and the movable contact 3B on the lower surface comes into contact with the fixed contact 2A of the sheet 2, and when a load is further applied, the sheet 2 also bends. The movable contact 2B comes into contact with the fixed contact 1A of the lower substrate 1, and each contact is electrically connected.

The push switch having such a configuration is mounted on various electronic devices, and the electronic circuit of the device detects the electrical connection / disconnection of the plurality of contacts due to the above-described pressing operation, and switches each function. Was configured to do so.

[0011]

However, in the above-described conventional push switch, since the switches are configured by stacking the sheets 2, 3 and the upper substrate 4 on the lower substrate 1 via the spacer 5, the number of components is small. However, there is a problem that it takes a long time to assemble the switch as a whole.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive push switch having a small number of components, easy to assemble the switch, and an electronic apparatus using the same. .

[0013]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed contact on the upper surface of the lower substrate is formed by a central fixed contact and a plurality of outer peripheral fixed contacts formed annularly around the central fixed contact at a predetermined interval. A push switch is formed by opposing the movable contacts on the lower surface of the upper substrate having flexibility, and the movable contact is sequentially brought into contact with the central fixed contact and the plurality of outer fixed contacts by pressing operation, thereby forming a plurality of contacts. Since it is configured to perform switching, it is possible to configure the switch only with the upper and lower substrates, and the number of components is small,
This has the effect that an inexpensive push switch that can be easily assembled can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a flexible elastic body is disposed on the upper substrate upper surface above the movable contact, and the elastic body is provided when the pressing operation is performed. , The upper substrate is pressed, so that the upper substrate bends evenly, so that stable contact between the movable contact and the fixed contact can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a resistor is provided at the extension of the fixed contact, and the electrical contact and separation of each contact is detected as a resistance value. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the configuration of the electronic circuit of the electronic device to be mounted can be simplified.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a part of the plurality of outer peripheral fixed contacts is covered by an insulator disposed between the upper and lower substrates while exposing the central fixed contact. By making the portion covered with the insulator larger at the outer peripheral fixed contact away from the central fixed contact, when contacting the movable contact, a larger force is applied to the outer peripheral fixed contact than at the center fixed contact. Since the upper substrate needs to be bent, there is an effect that the switching of each contact for each load at the time of the pressing operation becomes clear.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the push switch according to the first aspect is mounted, and a control circuit connected to the push switch is provided between a central fixed contact and an outer peripheral fixed contact or a movable contact and each fixed contact. The electronic device is configured to switch the function by detecting the electrical contact or separation or the resistance value of the device, and it is possible to switch a plurality of functions by one operation, and to achieve a reduction in thickness, This has the effect that an inexpensive electronic device can be realized.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) Using Embodiment 1,
The invention of the first, second and fifth aspects of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an electronic device using the push switch. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes paper phenol, glass epoxy, or With a lower substrate made of insulating film such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide having flexibility,
The fixed contact 12 is formed on the upper surface by etching the attached copper foil or printing a flexible resin such as polyester or epoxy in which silver or carbon is dispersed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed contact 12 has a center fixed contact 12A and a plurality of ring-shaped outer fixed contacts 12 formed in a ring around the center fixed contact 12 at a predetermined interval.
B, 12C and 12D.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an upper substrate made of a flexible insulating film such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide. The lower surface of the upper substrate is formed by etching a pasted copper foil, or by dispersing silver or carbon in polyester or the like. The fixed contact 1 is printed by printing a flexible resin such as epoxy.
A movable contact 13A opposing the second contact point 2 is formed.

Numeral 14 is a spacer made of an insulating film as an insulator. A predetermined gap is formed between the fixed contact 12 and the movable contact 13A by the circular opening hole 14A, and the adhesive applied to the upper and lower surfaces is formed. The upper substrate 13 and the lower substrate 11 are bonded together by an agent (not shown).

Reference numeral 15 denotes a relatively hard and flexible elastic material such as polyurethane or elastomer.
4 has an outer shape larger than the opening 14A, and the movable contact 1
It is placed on the upper substrate 13 above 3A.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an operation body made of insulating resin;
Is also a case made of insulating resin, while the arc-shaped pressing portion 16A on the lower surface of the operation body 16 contacts the upper surface of the elastic body 15,
A push switch 20 is configured by an operation unit 16 </ b> B on the upper surface protruding upward from an opening of the case 17.

The push switch 20 having such a structure is mounted on an operation panel or the like of various electronic devices, and as shown in FIG. 2, each control circuit 21 is connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device. The contacts are connected to form an electronic device.

In the above configuration, when the operating body 16 is pressed downward, as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
6, the central portion of the elastic body 15 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 16A is bent downward, whereby the upper substrate 13 is bent, and the movable contact 13A on the lower surface becomes the central fixed contact 12A of the lower substrate 11.
And the outer fixed contact 12B, and the central fixed contact 12A and the outer fixed contact 12B are electrically connected via the movable contact 13A.

Further, when a force is applied to the operation body 16 to perform a pressing operation, as shown in a sectional view of FIG.
And the upper substrate 13 further bends, the movable contact 13A comes into contact with the outer peripheral fixed contact 12C, and the center fixed contact 12A and the outer peripheral fixed contact 12C are connected. When a load is further applied, the movable fixed contact 12A Outer fixed contact 12
D is also electrically connected.

Further, the electrical connection and disconnection of the plurality of contacts by the pressing operation as described above is performed by the control circuit 2 connected to the switch.
1 detects and controls the electronic circuit of the device. For example, when only the center fixed contact 12A and the outer fixed contact 12B are connected, one light emitting element such as an LED is turned on, and the outer fixed contact 12C is also connected. Two, the outer peripheral fixed contact 12D
Switch the various functions of the device, such as turning on the three light-emitting elements or changing the moving speed of the cursor and the like displayed on the screen according to the change in the load at the time of pressing operation It is configured to perform.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the fixed contact 12 on the upper surface of the lower substrate 11 is divided into a central fixed contact 12A and a plurality of outer peripheral fixed contacts 12B, 12C formed annularly at a predetermined interval around the center fixed contact 12A. 12D, and the movable contacts 13A on the lower surface of the upper substrate 13 are sequentially brought into contact with each other to switch a plurality of contacts, so that the switch can be configured only by the upper and lower substrates, and It is possible to obtain an inexpensive push switch with few parts and easy assembly.

The upper substrate 13 above the movable contact 13A
By disposing the elastic body 15 having flexibility and an outer shape larger than the opening 14A of the spacer 14 on the upper surface, the upper substrate 13 is pressed via the elastic body 15 during the pressing operation. The substrate 13 flexes evenly, and the stable movable contact 1
3A and the contact of the fixed contact 12 can be obtained.

A push switch 20 for switching a plurality of contacts for each load of the pressing operation is mounted, and a control circuit 21 detects these electrical contacts and switches the function of the device. Since the electronic device is configured to perform the operation, a plurality of functions can be switched by one operation, and a thin and inexpensive electronic device can be realized.

In the above description, the center fixed contact 12
A has been described as a configuration in which the control circuit 21 detects electrical contact and separation between the base contact A and the outer peripheral fixed contacts 12B, 12C, and 12D via the movable contact 13A, but separately from the movable contact 13A. Is used as a base contact, and a central fixed contact 12A and outer fixed contacts 12B, 12C,
The present invention can be implemented even when the control circuit 21 detects each electrical contact / separation of the 12D.

In addition to such a structure for detecting the electrical contact / separation of the respective contacts, as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, the outer peripheral fixed contacts 12B, 12C and 12D are connected to one another to constitute a push switch 20A. Then, the contact resistance of only the central fixed contact 12A and the outer fixed contact 12B via the movable contact 13A and the contact resistance of the outer fixed contact 12C and the outer fixed contact 12D which are connected in parallel thereto are added to connect each contact. May be detected as a resistance value.

(Embodiment 2) Using Embodiment 2,
The invention of the third and fourth aspects of the present invention will be described.

The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electronic apparatus using a push switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the push switch 20B is connected to the control circuit 21 and the fixed contact 12 is a central fixed contact 12
A and the outer fixed contacts 12B, 12C, and 12D are the same as those in the first embodiment, but a resistor 22 is provided at the extension of the outer fixed contacts 12B and 12C. I have.

The resistor 22 is formed by mounting a single fixed resistor on the lower substrate 11 (not shown) or by printing a flexible resin such as polyester in which carbon or the like is dispersed. The fixed contact 12B has two resistors 2
2 are connected in series, and one resistor 22 is connected to the outer peripheral fixed contact 12C.

In the above configuration, the push switch 2
When a pressing operation is performed on 0B, a central fixed contact 12A and a plurality of outer fixed contacts 12B, 12B, 12B, 12C, 12C, 12B, 12C, 12C, 12C, 12C, 12C, 12C, 12C, 12C, and 12C are provided via movable contacts 13A (not shown) on the lower surface of the upper substrate 13 according to the applied load.
C and 12D sequentially contact each other in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but each of the contacts is connected to a resistance value obtained by adding the resistance value of the resistor 22 integrally provided in the switch. Is configured to be detected by the control circuit 21.

The control circuit 21 connected to the switch detects the resistance value of each contact, controls the electronic circuit of the device, and switches each function, as in the first embodiment. The same is true.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by disposing the resistor 22 at the extension of the fixed contact 12,
Since the electrical contact / separation of each contact can be detected as a resistance value, the configuration of the electronic circuit of the electronic device to which the switch is mounted can be simplified.

In the above description, the outer peripheral fixed contact 12
Although the configuration has been described in which the resistor 22 is disposed on each of the extending portions B and 12C, as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 7, the outer peripheral fixed contacts 12B, 12C, and 12D are connected to one another, Between 12B and 12C, and outer fixed contacts 12C and 12
D, a resistor 22 is provided between each switch, and a push switch 2
The same effect can be obtained even if the OC is configured.

In the above description, the fixed contact 12 is defined as the central fixed contact 12A and the ring-shaped outer fixed contacts 12A.
B, 12C, 12D, the spacer 14 is provided with a circular opening 14A, and the configuration has been described in which all of the plurality of fixed contacts 12 are exposed from the opening 14A.
As shown in the plan view of FIG. 8, the outer peripheral fixed contact formed annularly at a predetermined interval around the center fixed contact 12A may be a triangular outer fixed contact 12E or a square outer peripheral fixed contact 12E. The fixed contact 12F may be used.

As shown in FIG. 8, the opening of the spacer 14 is a substantially rhombic opening 14B, an inverted triangular opening 14C, and a square opening 14D shifted from the outer peripheral fixed contact.
For example, a part of the outer peripheral fixed contact is covered with the spacer 14,
By increasing the portion covered by the spacer 14 as the outer peripheral fixed contact is further away from the center fixed contact 12A,
When the upper substrate 13 is brought into contact with the central fixed contact 12A, a greater force is required as far as the outer peripheral fixed contact than the central fixed contact 12A, so that simultaneous contact of the contacts with a light load is prevented, and the pressing operation force is reduced. The switching of each contact due to the difference can be made clear.

Further, in the above description, the structure in which the spacer 14 made of an insulating film is used as an insulator between the upper substrate 13 and the lower substrate 11 has been described. The movable contact 13A and the fixed contact 1 are made of resin such as epoxy, phenol and polyester.
The present invention is also applicable to a configuration in which an insulator is printed and formed by exposing 2 to thereby secure a gap between the movable contact 13A and the fixed contact 12.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that an inexpensive push switch with few components, easy to assemble, and an electronic device using the same can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view at the time of the same operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view at the time of the same operation.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional push switch.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view at the time of the same operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 11 Lower substrate 12 Fixed contact 12A Central fixed contact 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 12F Peripheral fixed contact 13 Upper substrate 13A Movable contact 14 Spacer 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D Opening hole 15 Elastic body 16 Operating body 16A Pressing part 16B Operation Unit 17 Case 20, 20A, 20B, 20C Push switch 21 Control circuit 22 Resistor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Mito 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Terms (reference) 5G006 AA02 BA01 BA03 BA07 BB06 BC01 CD07 DB01 5K023 AA07 BB04 GG08 RR03 RR08

Claims (5)

[Claims] A lower substrate having a fixed contact formed on an upper surface thereof;
It has flexibility and is composed of an upper substrate on which a movable contact opposed to the fixed contact with a predetermined gap is formed on the lower surface, and the fixed contact is formed in a ring around the central fixed contact at a predetermined interval around the central fixed contact. A push switch formed from a plurality of formed outer peripheral fixed contacts. 2. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body having flexibility is disposed on the upper surface of the upper substrate above the movable contact. 3. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein a resistor is provided at an extension of the fixed contact. 4. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein a part of the plurality of outer peripheral fixed contacts is covered by an insulator disposed between the upper and lower substrates with the central fixed contact exposed. 5. A push switch according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit connected to the push switch, wherein a central fixed contact and a peripheral fixed contact, or a movable contact and each fixed contact are electrically connected or disconnected. Electronic equipment that detects values and switches functions.