JP2007184161A - Switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching device which ensures easy mounting of many switch elements with their depressing operation directions approximately orthogonally oriented on a common circuit board, and offers the resistance to a strong operational force. <P>SOLUTION: As a single unit, a switching device 1 has a primary switch element 4 and a secondary switch element 5 with their depressing operation directions approximately orthogonally oriented which are attached to two positions on a housing 2 where a wiring metal plate 3 is buried. The switching device 1 is mounted on the corner running from a main surface 41 into a side edge 42 on a circuit board 40. The housing 2 includes an upward placement 6 which is mounted on the main surface 41 of the circuit board 40 while holding the primary switch element 4, and a laterally-facing placement 7 which is mounted on the side edge 42 of the circuit board 40 while holding the secondary switch element 5. The wiring metal plate 3 has a fold 3a which is folded back almost orthogonally between a portion buried into the upward placement 6 and a portion buried into the laterally-facing placement 7, and a terminal protruding from the upward placement 6 to the outside is served as a connection terminal 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device formed by unitizing a plurality of switch elements whose pressing operation directions are substantially orthogonal.

In game machines and the like, there is a demand for a switch device that is pressed from the side in addition to a switch device that is pressed from above. In such a case, conventionally, a small board is provided on the side end surface of the circuit board. Is widely used, and a push switch is provided on each of the main surface of the circuit board and the main surface of the small substrate. Usually, a push switch used in such a switch device has a contact structure in which a movable contact is detachably opposed to a fixed contact fixed to a housing. When a pressing operation force is applied, the movable contact is A switch-on signal is output in contact with the fixed contact. In order to obtain a click feeling at the time of operation with a small number of parts, a push switch using a circular reversing spring (tact spring) as a movable contact is widely adopted (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).
JP 2000-294079 A (page 5-6, FIG. 1)

  As described above, if a push switch is mounted on the main surface of a small board installed on the side edge of the circuit board, etc., reliability can be ensured because it is not easily damaged even if it is pressed with a strong force from the side. However, in this case, a small board must be prepared separately from the circuit board and the two boards have to be electrically connected to each other, so that there has been a problem that the cost is greatly increased. Also, the work of mounting the push switch that is pressed from above on the circuit board and the work of mounting the push switch that is pressed from the side on the small board must be performed separately, making the mounting work complicated. There was also a problem of becoming.

  In addition, a vertical type switch element whose pressing operation direction is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface and a horizontal type switching element whose pressing operation direction is substantially parallel to the mounting surface are used in combination, and both switch elements are connected to the main surface of the circuit board. If they are arranged side by side, both the pressing operation from above and the pressing operation from the side can be handled without installing the above-mentioned small substrate. However, in game machines and the like, the pressing operation is often performed with a strong force from the user, so when using a horizontal type switch element, the soldering portion of the connection terminal is easily damaged by the operating force, and the reliability is significantly reduced. Will end up.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the art, and an object of the present invention is to easily mount a plurality of switch elements whose pressing operation directions are substantially orthogonal to a common circuit board, and to achieve a strong operating force. It is to provide a switch device that can withstand.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the switch device of the present invention, a housing having an upward mounting portion mounted on a main surface of a circuit board and a lateral mounting portion mounted on a side end surface of the circuit board, A first switch element that is held by the upward placement portion and is applied with a pressing force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main surface, and is held in the lateral placement portion and pressed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side end surface A second switch element to which an operating force is applied; and a wiring metal plate that is led out from the first and second switch elements and partially embedded in the housing, wherein the wiring metal plate is Between the portion embedded in the upward mounting portion and the portion embedded in the lateral mounting portion, there is a bent portion bent at a substantially right angle, and from the upward mounting portion of the metal plate for wiring The end that protrudes outward is the connection terminal. And, the connection terminal is configured to be soldered to lands in the main surface of the circuit board.

  In the switch device configured in this manner, the connection terminal protruding outward from the upward mounting portion of the housing is made to conduct not only with the first switch element but also with the second switch element through the wiring metal plate. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a connection terminal on the sideways mounting portion of the housing. And this switch device mounts an upward mounting portion and a lateral mounting portion on the main surface and the side end surface respectively by attaching a housing to the corner portion from the main surface to the side end surface of the circuit board. Since the connection terminals can be arranged on the lands on the main surface, the mounting operation can be performed very easily. In addition, when the switch device is mounted in this way, the main surface and the side end surface of the circuit board respectively support the upward mounting portion and the lateral mounting portion of the housing from the back side, so that the first and second switching elements Even if a strong pressing operation force is applied, there is little risk of breakage. Therefore, reliability can be ensured without installing a small board on the side end face of the circuit board, and the total cost can be greatly reduced.

  In the above configuration, if the wiring metal plate is formed by cutting a hoop material inserted into the mold when the housing is molded, an integrated product of the wiring metal plate and the housing can be continuously manufactured. Therefore, productivity is increased and the cost of the switch device can be reduced.

  Further, in the above configuration, the housing is divided into an upward placement portion and a lateral placement portion connected by a wiring metal plate, and the wiring metal is interposed between the upward placement portion and the lateral placement portion. When the bent part of the plate is exposed, the angle formed by the upward mounting part and the lateral mounting part connected via the bending part can be adjusted at the time of mounting to absorb dimensional errors and the like. Therefore, the incidence of defective products can be greatly reduced.

  In the above configuration, when the housing is formed in an L shape in which the upward placement portion and the lateral placement portion are continuous, and the bent portion is embedded in the housing, the machine of the switch device The mechanical strength is increased and the handleability is improved.

  Further, in the above configuration, of the wiring metal plate, an end exposed on the inner bottom surface of the upward mounting portion serves as a fixed contact of the first switch element, and an end exposed on the inner bottom surface of the lateral mounting portion. If the part is a fixed contact of the second switch element, a switch device with a small number of parts and easy manufacture can be realized. In this case, a circular reversing spring disposed on the inner bottom surface of the upward mounting portion is used as a movable contact of the first switch element, and a circular rod disposed on the inner bottom surface of the lateral mounting portion. If the reversing spring is used as the movable contact of the second switch element, the contact structure can be simplified and the reliability can be improved.

  In the switch device of the present invention, the connection terminal protruding outward from the upward mounting portion of the housing can be electrically connected to the first and second switch elements via the wiring metal plate. There is no need to provide a connection terminal in the part, and the mounting operation can be performed very easily. When this switch device is mounted, the main surface and the side end surface of the circuit board support the upward mounting portion and the lateral mounting portion of the housing from the back side, respectively, so that the first and second switching elements Even if a strong pressing operation force is applied, there is little risk of breakage. Therefore, reliability can be ensured without installing a small board on the side end face of the circuit board, and the total cost can be greatly reduced.

  1 is a perspective view of a switch device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the switch device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the switch device. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switch device, FIG. 5 is a side view of the switch device, FIG. 6 is a front view showing the internal structure of the switch device, and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the switch device. 8 is a side view showing the internal structure of the switch device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the switch device mounted on a circuit board.

  In the switch device 1 shown in these drawings, a first switch element 4 and a second switch element 5 whose pressing operation directions are substantially orthogonal to each other are arranged in two places of the housing 2 in which the wiring metal plate 3 is embedded. And unitized. Since the switch device 1 is mounted on the circuit board 40 in the posture as shown in FIG. 9, the first switch element 4 is pressed from above and the second switch element 5 is pressed from the side. It has become.

  The housing 2 is divided into an upward placement portion 6 that holds the first switch element 4 and a lateral placement portion 7 that holds the second switch element 5. Each of the upward placement portion 6 and the lateral placement portion 7 is a resin molded product formed by inserting a hoop material, which is a base material of the wiring metal plate 3, into the mold, and after the insert molding, The wiring metal plate 3 exposed between the upward mounting portion 6 and the lateral mounting portion 7 is bent at a substantially right angle to form a bent portion 3a, thereby being connected via the wiring metal plate 3. The directions of the upward placement unit 6 and the lateral placement unit 7 are substantially orthogonal. As shown in FIG. 3, the upward mounting portion 6 is formed in a plate shape having a substantially circular storage recess 6a, and becomes a component of the first switch element 4 on the inner bottom surface of the storage recess 6a. A central fixed contact 8 and a pair of common fixed contacts 9 are provided. As shown in FIG. 7, each of these fixed contacts 8 and 9 is formed by exposing the ends of two electrically independent metal plates 3 (31, 32) for wiring to the inner bottom surface of the housing recess 6a. It is. Similarly, the lateral placement portion 7 is formed in a plate shape having a substantially circular storage recess 7a, and a central fixed contact 10 serving as a component of the second switch element 5 is formed on the inner bottom surface of the storage recess 7a. And a pair of common fixed contacts 11 are disposed. As shown in FIG. 8, each of these fixed contacts 10 and 11 is obtained by exposing each end of two electrically independent metal plates 3 (33, 32) for wiring to the inner bottom surface of the housing recess 7a. It is.

  The wiring metal plate 3 is formed by cutting the hoop material, and the electrically independent three pieces of wiring metal plates 3 (31, 32, 33) are integrated with the housing 2. That is, the wiring metal plate 31 led out from the central fixed contact 8, the wiring metal plate 32 led out from the common fixed contacts 9 and 11 and having the bent portion 3 a formed in the middle, and the central fixed contact 10. A wiring metal plate 33, which is led out and has a bent portion 3a formed in the middle, is disposed while maintaining mutual insulation. Further, one end portions of these three pieces of wiring metal plates 3 project outward from the side surfaces of the upward placement portions 6 to form connection terminals 12, and each connection terminal 12 is a main surface 41 of the circuit board 40. It is soldered to the corresponding land 43. The other end portions of the wiring metal plates 32 and 33 protrude outward from the side surface of the lateral placement portion 7, but these are dummy terminals and do not function electrically.

  In the storage recess 6 a of the upward mounting portion 6, a circular reversal spring 13 made of a thin metal plate is stored as a movable contact of the first switch element 4. The peripheral portion of the reversing spring 13 is always in contact with the common fixed contact 9, and the central portion of the reversing spring 13 is opposed to the central fixed contact 8 so as to be able to contact and separate. Further, since the opening end of the storage recess 6a is covered with the dustproof sheet 14 made of an insulating film, there is no possibility that foreign matter adheres to the fixed contacts 8, 9 and the reversing spring 13. Similarly, in the storage recess 7 a of the laterally mounted portion 7, a circular reversal spring 15 made of a thin metal plate is stored as a movable contact of the second switch element 5. The peripheral portion of the reversing spring 15 is always in contact with the common fixed contact 11, and the central portion of the reversing spring 15 is opposed to the central fixed contact 10 so as to be able to contact and separate. Further, since the opening end of the storage recess 7a is covered with the dustproof sheet 16 made of an insulating film, there is no possibility that foreign matter adheres to the fixed contacts 10, 11 and the reversing spring 15.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the switch device 1 having the above-described configuration is mounted at a corner portion from the main surface 41 to the side end surface 42 of the circuit board 40, and the first switch element 4 disposed on the main surface 41 is positioned upward. The second switch element 5 disposed on the side end face 42 is pressed from the side. That is, when a pressing operation force is applied to the center portion of the reversing spring 13 from above the circuit board 40 via the dustproof sheet 14, the center portion is reversed and comes into contact with the center fixed contact 8. Thus, the central fixed contact 8 and the common fixed contact 9 are brought into conduction, and the switch-on signal of the first switch element 4 is output from the connection terminal 12 of the wiring metal plate 31. When the pressing force is removed, the reversing spring 13 is restored to its original shape by its own elasticity, so that the conduction between the central fixed contact 8 and the common fixed contact 9 is released. Similarly, when a pressing operation force is applied from the side of the circuit board 40 to the central portion of the reversing spring 15 via the dustproof sheet 16, the central portion reverses and contacts the central fixed contact 10. The central fixed contact 10 and the common fixed contact 11 are brought into conduction through 15, and a switch-on signal of the second switch element 5 is output from the connection terminal 12 of the wiring metal plate 33. When the pressing operation force is removed, the reversing spring 15 returns to its original shape due to its elasticity, so that the conduction between the central fixed contact 10 and the common fixed contact 11 is released.

  As described above, in the switch device 1 according to the present embodiment example, each connection terminal 12 protruding outward from the upward mounting portion 6 of the housing 2 has the first switch element 4 and the first switch element 4 via the wiring metal plate 3. Since the switch element 5 is electrically connected to the second switch element 5, it is not necessary to provide a connection terminal on the laterally mounted portion 7 of the housing 2. The switch device 1 is configured such that the housing 2 is applied to a corner portion from the main surface 41 to the side end surface 42 of the circuit board 40, whereby the upper mounting portion 6 and the lateral mounting portion are respectively placed on the main surface 41 and the side end surface 42. 7 can be mounted and the connection terminals 12 can be arranged on the lands of the main surface 41, so that the mounting operation can be performed very easily. In addition, when the switch device 1 is mounted in this way, the main surface 41 and the side end surface 42 of the circuit board 40 support the upward mounting portion 6 and the lateral mounting portion 7 from the back side, respectively. Even if a strong pressing operation force from the user acts on the switch elements 4 and 5, the risk of breakage is small. Therefore, reliability can be ensured without installing a small board separately from the circuit board 40. Total cost can be greatly reduced.

  In addition, since the wiring metal plate 3 is formed by cutting the hoop material inserted into the mold when the housing 2 is molded, the switch device 1 is an integrated product of the wiring metal plate 3 and the housing 2. It can be manufactured continuously, improving productivity, and reducing costs.

  In the switch device 1, the housing 2 is divided into an upward placement portion 6 and a lateral placement portion 7, and the wiring metal plate 3 is interposed between the upward placement portion 6 and the lateral placement portion 7. Since the bent portion 3a is exposed, the angle formed by the upward mounting portion 6 and the lateral mounting portion 7 connected via the bent portion 3a is adjusted at the time of mounting to absorb dimensional errors and the like. This can greatly reduce the incidence of defective products.

  Further, the switch device 1 includes an end of the wiring metal plate 3 exposed on the inner bottom surface of the upward placement portion 6 as a fixed contact of the first switch element 4 and the lateral placement portion 7. Since the end exposed on the inner bottom surface is used as the fixed contact of the second switch element 5, the number of parts is small and the manufacture is easy. In addition, in the switch device 1, the reversing spring 13 disposed on the inner bottom surface of the upward placement portion 6 is formed as a movable contact of the first switch element 4, and is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the lateral placement portion 7. Since the reversing spring 15 is used as the movable contact of the second switch element 5, the contact structure can be simplified and the reliability is high.

  In the first embodiment described above, the wiring metal plate 31 corresponding to the first switch element 4 and the wiring metal plate 33 corresponding to the second switch element 5 are separated from each other, and each switch is operated during the pressing operation. The signals output from the elements 4 and 5 are configured to be distinguishable. For example, in the case of an application in which either the first switch element 4 or the second switch element 5 may be pressed, the wiring It is also possible to configure so that the same signals are output from the first and second switch elements 4 and 5 by connecting the metal plates 31 and 33 for use. Further, another switch element held by the upward placement portion 6 is arranged in the vicinity of the first switch element 4, or another switch element held by the lateral placement portion 7 in the vicinity of the second switch element 5. It is also possible to have a configuration in which three or more switch elements are unitized by arranging switch elements in parallel.

  10 is a perspective view of a switch device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a front view of the switch device, FIG. 12 is a plan view of the switch device, and FIG. 13 is a side view of the switch device. 14 is a front view showing the internal structure of the switch device, FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the switch device, and FIG. 16 is a side view showing the internal structure of the switch device. Portions corresponding to those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The switch device 21 shown in FIGS. 10 to 16 is different from the first embodiment described above in the shape of the housing 2. That is, the housing 2 of the switch device 21 is formed in an L shape in which the upward placement portion 6 and the lateral placement portion 7 are continuous, and the wiring metal plate 3 is disposed in the L shape housing 2. The bending part 3a is embed | buried (refer FIG. 14). Therefore, this switch device 21 has high mechanical strength of the entire housing 2 and is excellent in handleability. Since the other configuration and operation of the switch device 21 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

1 is a perspective view of a switch device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the switch device. It is a disassembled perspective view of this switch apparatus. It is a top view of this switch apparatus. It is a side view of the switch device. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus. It is a side view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state which mounted this switch apparatus in the circuit board. It is a perspective view of a switch device concerning the example of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the switch device. It is a top view of this switch apparatus. It is a side view of the switch device. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus. It is a side view which shows the internal structure of this switch apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 Switch apparatus 2 Housing 3 (31, 32, 33) Wiring metal plate 3a Bending part 4 1st switch element 5 2nd switch element 6 Upward mounting part 7 Lateral mounting part 8, 10 Center fixed Contact 9, 11 Common fixed contact 12 Connection terminal 13, 15 Reversing spring 40 Circuit board 41 Main surface 42 Side end surface

Claims (6)

A housing having an upward mounting portion mounted on the main surface of the circuit board and a lateral mounting portion mounted on a side end surface of the circuit board, and held by the upward mounting portion and substantially orthogonal to the main surface A first switch element to which a pressing operation force is applied in a direction; a second switch element that is held by the laterally mounted portion and is applied with a pressing operation force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side end surface; A wiring metal plate led out from the first and second switch elements and partially embedded in the housing;
The wiring metal plate has a bent portion bent substantially at a right angle between a portion embedded in the upward mounting portion and a portion embedded in the lateral mounting portion, and the wiring metal plate The switch device is characterized in that an end projecting outward from the upward mounting portion serves as a connection terminal, and the connection terminal is soldered to a land on the main surface of the circuit board.   2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring metal plate is formed by cutting a hoop material inserted into a mold when the housing is molded.   In Claim 1 or 2, the said housing is divided | segmented into the said upward mounting part and the said horizontal mounting part connected with the said metal plate for wiring, These upward mounting parts and a horizontal mounting part, The switch device is characterized in that the bent portion is exposed between the two.   3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in an L shape in which the upward mounting portion and the lateral mounting portion are continuous, and the bent portion is embedded in the housing. A switch device characterized by.   5. The wiring board according to claim 1, wherein an end of the wiring metal plate that is exposed on an inner bottom surface of the upward mounting portion serves as a fixed contact of the first switch element, and An end portion exposed on the inner bottom surface of the sideways placement portion is a fixed contact of the second switch element.   6. The circular reversing spring disposed on the inner bottom surface of the upward mounting portion as a movable contact of the first switch element and on the inner bottom surface of the lateral mounting portion according to claim 5 A switch device characterized in that a circular reversing spring arranged in the above is used as a movable contact of the second switch element.

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