JP2009026509A - On-off switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-off switch of non-contact type having a lever switch superior in operability capable of tilting in arbitrary direction in all circumference directions. <P>SOLUTION: One end of a tube material which has flexibility and extends in free restoration to a normal state is fixed to a base material and a rod member having flexibility is inserted into the tube material, and the rod member is supported by a guide which maintains the status of the axial line of the rod member to the tube material regardless of the status of the tube material. Further, one end of the rod member is fixed to the end portion which is not fixed to the base material, and the other end is projected from the tube material, and an envelope part to surround the end portion of the rod member projected from the tube material in non-contact is provided. Then, a conversion means to convert and output the movement of the end portion projected from the tube material of the rod member against the envelope part into an electric signal 2 value is installed at the envelope part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an on / off switch for performing a switching operation between two predetermined operations such as lighting / extinguishing, starting / stopping operation equipment, and the like.

  An on / off switch is widely used to perform switching operations between two predetermined operations such as turning on / off and starting / stopping operating devices. As this on / off switch, a switch that energizes the circuit or disconnects the circuit (hereinafter referred to as a “contact switch”) using a state in which the conductive member is in contact with or separated from the state is widely used. Various ideas have been tried.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-294574 proposes a simple contact switch that has a simple structure and can give the switch lever high operability. This simple contact switch uses a coil spring at the fulcrum portion of the switch lever, thereby simplifying the structure of a lever switch with excellent operability that can tilt the tip in any direction in the entire circumference (360 degrees). be able to.

On the other hand, the contact switch has problems such as poor contact and complicated wiring routing when multifunctional. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, an attempt has been made to make the structure in which the conductive member in the contact switch mechanically contacts non-contact. As such a non-contact type switch, for example, There is a vehicle combination switch using optical signal means disclosed in JP-A-11-306925. This vehicle combination switch switches the operation by blocking the light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element through the light guide plate with a slider that slides according to the movement of the lever switch, and changing the amount of light reaching the light receiving element. Is to do. That is, instead of the mechanical contact structure, a structure in which the slider that blocks the optical path is slid is employed, so that the problem of the contact switch can be solved.
JP 2006-29457 A JP-A-11-306925

  However, since the vehicle combination switch is intended to switch a plurality of sets of two operations with one lever, the structure thereof is still complicated. Therefore, it is not suitable when a simpler and lower cost structure with only one set of operations to be switched is required. Further, the movable range of each lever switch is limited to one plane, and one lever cannot be tilted in any direction in the entire circumferential direction.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type on / off switch provided with a lever switch excellent in operability that can be tilted in any direction in the entire circumferential direction.

  In the first on / off switch according to the present invention, one end of a cylindrical material that has flexibility and is reversibly extended to a normal state is fixed to a base material, and a flexible rod is inserted into the cylindrical body. The rod is supported by a guide that maintains the state of the axis of the bar relative to the cylinder regardless of the state of the cylinder, and one end of the bar is fixed to the end of the cylinder that is not fixed to the base material. The other end is protruded from the cylindrical member, and the surrounding portion that surrounds the end portion of the rod member protruding from the cylindrical member in a non-contact manner is provided on the base material. The surrounding portion is provided with conversion means for converting the movement of the end portion of the bar member protruding from the cylindrical body with respect to the surrounding portion into an electrical signal binary and outputting it.

  In the present invention, the electric signal binary means a so-called “1” “0” signal, which means a signal depending on whether or not a predetermined voltage is obtained at the output terminal. If the signal is based on whether or not a predetermined voltage can be obtained, the predetermined voltage may be set to an optimum value depending on the use situation, and may be 5V ± 1V or 24V ± 2V, for example.

  In the present invention, the state of the axis of the bar relative to the cylinder may be considered as a relative positional relationship with the axis of the cylinder. And maintaining the state of the axis of the rod relative to the cylinder means, for example, that when the rod is inserted concentrically into the cylinder, it is made to coincide with the axis position of the cylinder, and the axis of the rod When the cylinder is inserted so that the axes of the cylinders are parallel to each other, it means that both axes are kept parallel.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the state in which the end portion of the bar is surrounded by the surrounding portion means a state in which the surrounding portion is arranged in a region that is more than half of the length in the outer peripheral direction of the rod. There is no limit on the length of the direction. For example, at the end of a bar with a total length of about 10 cm, a U-shaped plate in plan view with a thickness of about 1 mm is used as the surrounding part, the thickness direction is parallel to the axial direction of the bar, and the bar has a recess. Even if it is a case where it arrange | positions in the state penetrated, the edge part of a bar shall be surrounded by the surrounding part.

  Moreover, the surrounding part may have a surrounding wall continuous in the entire circumferential direction. In this case, the surrounding portion is disposed in the entire region in the outer peripheral direction of the bar, but also in this case, the end portion of the bar is naturally surrounded by the surrounding portion. Further, the surrounding portion may be longer than the moving region of the end portion protruding from the cylindrical member of the bar in the axial direction of the bar. In this case, the end of the bar is in a state in which a portion extending to a certain length is accommodated in the enclosure, and the end of the bar is also surrounded by the enclosure. In addition, when the surrounding part is continuous in the entire circumferential direction, the surrounding part is a cylinder.

  The conversion means may include a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and may convert the electrical signal into binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element. In this case, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in such a positional relationship that an optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element intersects a moving path of the end portion protruding from the cylindrical body of the bar. Or the light from the light emitting element is reflected by the end surface of the end protruding from the cylindrical body of the bar at a predetermined position, and is arranged in a positional relationship to reach the light receiving element. Also good.

  The end portion of the bar member protruding from the cylindrical body includes a magnetically permeable member attached to the bar member, and the conversion means is connected to the coil and the coil that normally surrounds the magnetically permeable member. An oscillation circuit may be provided and converted into the electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of induced electromotive force.

  The end portion of the rod projecting from the cylindrical body includes a magnetic body attached to the rod, and the converting means includes a magnetic sensor, and uses the strength of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor. It may be converted into a binary electric signal.

  The second on / off switch according to the present invention fixes one end of a cylindrical material that is flexible and reversibly extends to a normal state, and allows a flexible rod to be inserted into the cylindrical body. One end of the bar is fixed to the end of the cylindrical member that is not fixed to the base material, and the other end is protruded from the cylindrical member. Then, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are reflected on the base material, and the light from the light emitting element is reflected by the end surface of the end portion protruding from the cylindrical body of the bar at a predetermined position, and reaches the light receiving element. Arranged in positional relation, the inclination of the end protruding from the cylindrical body of the bar is converted into an electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element and output To do.

  According to the first on / off switch according to the present invention, the direction in which the cylindrical member is bent at the end of the cylindrical member to which one end of the rod is fixed (hereinafter referred to as “free end”; the same applies to the rod). When a force acting on the tube (hereinafter referred to as “bending force”, the same applies to the bar) is applied, the tensile force is applied in the vicinity of the end portion (hereinafter referred to as “base end”) fixed to the base material of the cylindrical member. The working part is extended, the cylindrical body is bent, and the bar inserted through the cylindrical body is bent similarly. At this time, the state of the rod axis relative to the cylinder is maintained by the guide regardless of the state of the cylinder, and the posture of the end of the cylinder relative to the base material does not change. The posture with respect to the material is the same before and after the bending force is applied. That is, the end portion (hereinafter referred to as “moving end portion”) protruding from the cylindrical member of the rod is in the free end direction along the axis (hereinafter referred to as “original axis”) of the rod before the bending force is applied. Will be moved to. The movement of the moving end of the bar is the same regardless of the direction of the bending force applied to the free end. Therefore, no matter which direction the free end is bent, its movement will be converted into a movement along the original axis of the moving end of the bar, so that the moving end is surrounded in a non-contact manner. It will make a specific move. Therefore, if the movement of the moving end with respect to the surrounding portion is converted into an electrical signal binary and output, and these two values are made to correspond to two predetermined operations, switching between these operations is performed. The operation can be performed.

  Light, magnetic force, induced electromotive force, or the like can be used to convert the movement of the moving end into a binary electric signal. For example, by providing a light emitting element and a light receiving element in the conversion means, it may be converted into an electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element. At this time, if the light path between the light emitting element and the light receiving element is arranged in a positional relationship where the light path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element intersects the movement path of the moving end of the bar, if the light path is blocked by the bar, the light emitting element Since the light does not reach the light receiving element, it can be converted into an electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element. On the other hand, when the light receiving element and the light emitting element are arranged in a positional relationship in which the light from the light emitting element is reflected by the end face of the moving end at a predetermined position and reaches the light receiving element, the bar moves and the light receiving element and the light emitting element Since the light from the light emitting element does not reach the light receiving element when the relative position changes, the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element can be used to convert it into an electrical signal binary.

  Further, the conversion means may include a coil that normally surrounds the magnetically permeable member and an oscillation circuit connected to the coil, as long as the magnetically permeable member is attached to the bar. In this case, the induced electromotive force is weakened when the bar is moved and the magnetically permeable member is moved to the position where it is removed from the coil. Therefore, the intensity of the induced electromotive force can be used to convert it into an electrical signal binary.

  Further, the conversion means may be provided with a magnetic sensor as long as a magnetic body is attached to the bar. In this case, when the bar moves and the relative distance between the magnetic body and the magnetic force sensor changes, the magnetic force detected by the magnetic force sensor changes, so that it can be converted into an electrical signal binary using the strength of the magnetic force. .

  According to the second on / off switch according to the present invention, when a bending force is applied to the free end of the tubular member, the portion where the tensile force acts in the vicinity of the proximal end of the tubular member is extended, and the tubular body is bent. The bar inserted through the body is in an inclined state in which the unfixed free end is separated from the original axis of the bar and the axis forms an angle with respect to the original axis. At this time, the end surface of the free end is also inclined with respect to the state before the bending force is applied. Therefore, no matter which direction the free end is bent, the movement is converted into a movement that tilts the end face of the moving end of the bar. Therefore, if the inclination of the end face of the moving end of the bar is converted into an electrical signal binary and output, and these two values are made to correspond to each of two predetermined actions, Switching operation can be performed. Further, on the base material, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in a positional relationship in which light from the light emitting element is reflected by the end face of the moving end of the bar at a predetermined position and reaches the light receiving element. The light from the light emitting element does not reach the light receiving element when the bar moves and the inclined state of the end face of the moving end changes. Therefore, it can be converted into an electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of main components of the on / off switch according to the embodiment. 2A and 2B are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the operating principle of the on / off switch. FIG. 2A shows a normal state, and FIG. 2B shows a state where a bending force is applied to the free end. FIGS. 3A and 3B are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the operating principle of the conversion means of the on / off switch. FIG. 3A shows a normal state, and FIG.

  The main components of the on / off switch are a cylindrical body 1, a bar 2, a base material 3, a guide 4, an enclosure 5 and a conversion means 6.

  The cylindrical body 1 employs a known coil spring, and its one end 1a (base end) is fixed to the base material 3 via a fixing member 11 fitted and fixed to the outer periphery thereof, and the bar 2 is provided inside. Is inserted. The cylindrical body 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has flexibility and can be restored to a normal state. What is necessary is just to select a suitable raw material according to a use condition.

  The bar 2 is inserted through the cylinder 1 and supported by the guide 4. Further, one end 2 b of the bar 2 is fixed to an end 1 b (free end) that is not fixed to the base material 3 of the cylinder 1, and the other end 2 a protrudes from the cylinder 1. An end 2 c (moving end) protruding from the cylindrical member 1 of the bar 2 is surrounded by a surrounding portion 5 provided on the base 3 in a non-contact manner. The bar 2 is formed by molding a synthetic resin into a shape suitable for the on / off switch, but is not particularly limited as long as it is flexible and has a necessary strength. What is necessary is just to select a suitable raw material according to a use condition.

  The guide 4 is a disk-shaped member, and an insertion hole 4 a for the bar 2 is provided at the center thereof. The guide 4 is fitted into the opening of the base end 1 a of the cylinder 1. The insertion hole 4a has a diameter that is slightly larger than the shaft diameter of the bar 2 so as to allow the bar 2 to slide, and restricts movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bar 2. . Therefore, the state of the axis of the bar 2 with respect to the cylinder 1 is maintained regardless of the state of the cylinder 1.

  The surrounding part 5 is provided with conversion means 6 for converting the movement of the moving end part 2c of the bar 2 relative to the surrounding part 5 into an electrical signal binary and outputting it.

  The conversion means 6 includes a light emitting element 61 and a light receiving element 62. The light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 are arranged to face each other across the receiving hole 51 of the bar 2 formed in the surrounding portion 5. The receiving hole 51 is open to the light emitting element 62 and the light receiving element 61 through the light guide passage 52, and the light path 52 and the receiving hole 51 pass from the light emitting element 62 to the light receiving element 61. Is forming. That is, the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 are arranged in a positional relationship in which the optical path from the light emitting element 61 to the light receiving element 62 intersects the moving path of the moving end 2 c of the bar 2. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the other elements constituting the conversion means 6 are not shown for convenience of explanation of this specific example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, according to this on / off switch, when a bending force is applied to the free end 1b of the tubular member 1, the portion where the tensile force acts in the vicinity of the proximal end 1a of the tubular member 1 is extended. It will be in the state bent, and the bar 2 inserted in the cylinder 1 will also be in the state bent (state shown in FIG.2 (b)) similarly. At this time, the state of the axis of the bar 2 with respect to the cylinder 1 is maintained by the guide 4 regardless of the state of the cylinder 1, and further, the attitude of the base end 1 a of the cylinder 1 with respect to the base material 3 does not change. The posture of the axis of the bar 2 with respect to the base material 3 is the same before and after the bending force is applied. That is, the moving end 2c of the bar 2 moves in the direction of the free end 2b along the original axis X of the bar 2 before the bending force is applied. The movement of the moving end 2c of the bar 2 is the same regardless of the direction of the bending force applied to the free end 2b. Therefore, no matter which direction the free end 2b is bent, its movement is converted into a movement along the original axis X of the moving end 2c of the bar 2, and the moving end 2c is surrounded without contact. A specific movement is made with respect to the surrounding portion 5.

  On the other hand, regarding the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62, as shown in FIG. 3, in the normal state before the bending force is applied, the optical path is in a state blocked by the bar 2 (the state shown in FIG. 3A). When the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent, and the moving end 2c moves to the free end 2b side and the optical path is opened (the state shown in FIG. 3B). When the optical path is blocked by the rod 2, the light from the light emitting element 61 does not reach the light receiving element 62, and therefore, it is converted into an electrical signal binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element 62 from the light emitting element 61. Can do. More specifically, a voltage difference is generated between the two electrodes of the light receiving element 62 when receiving light from the light emitting element 61, and a voltage difference becomes 0 when the light from the light receiving element 61 is blocked. It can be converted into an electrical signal composed of binary values of a signal “1” with a signal and a signal “0” without a voltage. Therefore, if these two values, that is, ‘1’ and ‘0’ are made to correspond to two predetermined operations, the operation can be switched. In addition, what is necessary is just to set the optimal value for the voltage in the case of determining with voltage depending on a use condition, for example, it is good also as 5V ± 1V or 24V ± 2V.

  The light receiving element 62 in this on / off switch normally receives no light and receives light when a bending force is applied. However, the state of the bar 2 and the presence or absence of light reception may be reversed. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which the relationship between the state of the bar 2 and the presence or absence of light reception is opposite to that of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. FIGS. 4A and 4B are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the operating principle of the conversion means in another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a normal state and FIG. 4B shows a state where a bending force is applied to the free end. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is simplified or omitted.

  In this embodiment, a light guide passage 21 is provided through the bar 2. In the normal state before the bending force is applied, the optical path is in an open state (the state shown in FIG. 4A). When the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent and the moving end 2c is moved to the free end 2b side. It moves and it will be in the state (state shown in FIG.4 (b)) where the optical path was interrupted by the bar 2. That is, light is received in a normal state and no light is received in a state where a bending force is applied. The light from the light emitting element 61 does not reach the light receiving element 62 when the optical path is blocked by the bar 2, and therefore reaches the light receiving element 62 from the light emitting element 61. If the electrical signal is converted into binary using the presence or absence of light and these two values are made to correspond to two predetermined operations, the operation can be switched.

  The light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 may be further differently arranged. FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment in which the arrangement of the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 is changed. FIGS. 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the operating principle of the conversion means in still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a normal state and FIG. 5B shows a state where a bending force is applied to the free end. Also in FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

  In this embodiment, the surrounding portion 5 surrounds the moving end 2c of the bar 2 including the end face 2d. The area of the moving end portion end surface 2d is widened by the enlarged diameter portion 22 formed in the moving end portion 2c. On the other hand, the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 face the moving end end face 2d, and are arranged in a positional relationship in which light from the light emitting element 61 is reflected by the moving end end face 2d in a normal state and reaches the light receiving element 62. . A baffle plate 63 is provided between the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 so that light from the light emitting element 61 does not directly enter the light receiving element 62 without passing through the moving end facet 2d. Further, a reflection plate 23 for reflecting light from the light emitting element 61 satisfactorily is attached to the enlarged diameter portion 22, and a reflection surface of the reflection plate 23 is a moving end portion end surface 2d.

  According to this embodiment, in a normal state before the bending force is applied, the light from the light emitting element 61 is in a state of reaching the light receiving element 62 through the moving end portion end surface 2d (the state shown in FIG. 5A). When the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent, the moving end 2c moves to the free end 2b side, and the distance between the light emitting element 61 and the light receiving element 62 and the moving end end face 2d is increased. The light does not reach the light receiving element 62 (the state shown in FIG. 5B). Accordingly, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 or FIG. 4, the presence / absence of light reaching the light receiving element 62 from the light emitting element 61 is converted into the binary electric signal, and these two values are determined in advance. If it is assumed to correspond to each of the two operations, the operation switching operation can be performed.

  The conversion means 6 for converting the movement of the moving end portion into the electrical signal binary may use a method other than light. Still other embodiments provided with conversion means 6 for converting the movement of the moving end 2c into an electrical signal binary using a method other than light are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operating principle of the conversion means using dielectric electromotive force in still another embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a normal state and (b) shows a bending force at the free end. Indicates the added state. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operating principle of the conversion means using magnetic force in still another embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a normal state and (b) a bending force is applied to the free end. Indicates the state. 6 and 7, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a magnetically permeable member 24 is attached to the bar 2 and this permeable member 24 is a part of the moving end 2c. The conversion means 6 includes a coil 64 that normally surrounds the magnetically permeable member 24 and an oscillation circuit 65 connected to the coil 64. For the magnetically permeable member 24, a normal coil core member is used.

  According to this embodiment, in a normal state before the bending force is applied, the magnetically permeable member 24 is in the state of being disposed inside the coil 64 (the state shown in FIG. When an electric current flows through the coil 64, a strong induced electromotive force is generated. On the other hand, when the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent, the moving end 2c moves to the free end 2b side, and the magnetically permeable member 24 is detached from the coil 64 (the state shown in FIG. 6B). Even if an alternating current flows through the coil 64 by the circuit 65, only a weak induced electromotive force is generated. Therefore, if the intensity of the induced electromotive force is converted into binary electric signals and the two values are made to correspond to two predetermined operations, the operation is switched. be able to.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a magnetic body 25 is attached to the bar 2 and this magnetic body 25 is a part of the moving end 2c. On the other hand, the conversion means 6 includes a magnetic force sensor 66. Note that an ordinary permanent magnet is used for the magnetic body 25. As the magnetic sensor 66, a known sensor using a Hall element is used.

  According to this embodiment, in the normal state before the bending force is applied, the magnetic body is in a state of approaching the magnetic sensor (the state shown in FIG. 7A), and a strong magnetic force is detected by the magnetic sensor. . On the other hand, when the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent, the moving end moves to the fixed end side, and the magnetic body is separated from the magnetic sensor (the state shown in FIG. 7B). Is detected. Therefore, if the strength of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic force sensor is converted into a binary electric signal and the two values are made to correspond to each of the two predetermined operations, these operations Switching operation can be performed.

  Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an overview of main components of the on / off switch according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operating principle of the on / off switch. FIG. 9A shows a normal state, and FIG. 9B shows a state where a bending force is applied to the free end. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the principle of converting the inclination of the end face of the moving end into an electrical signal binary in the on / off switch, where (a) shows a normal state and (b) shows that a bending force is applied to the free end. Indicates the state. 8 to 10, parts that are substantially the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted.

  In this embodiment, the diameter of the insertion hole of the guide 4 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is increased, and the restriction on the movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the bar 2 is moderate. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the rod 2 when the bending force is applied to the free end 1 b of the tube 1 and the tube 1 is bent, the moving end 2 c is the original axis X of the rod 2. In this state, the axis is inclined with respect to the original axis X (the state shown in FIG. 9B). At this time, the end surface 2d of the moving end 2c is also inclined with respect to the state before the bending force is applied. Therefore, no matter which direction the free end 2b is bent, the movement is converted into a movement that tilts the end surface 2d of the moving end 2c of the bar 2. Therefore, if the inclination of the moving end portion end surface 2c of the bar 2 is converted into an electrical signal binary and output, and these two values are made to correspond to each of two predetermined operations, Operation switching operation can be performed.

  The surrounding portion 5 surrounds the moving end 2c of the bar 2 including the end face 2d, and the same means as the embodiment shown in FIG. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the moving end portion end surface 2 d is expanded in area by the enlarged diameter portion 22 formed in the moving end portion 2 c, and light from the light emitting element 61 is provided in the enlarged diameter portion 22. A reflecting plate 23 for reflecting the light is satisfactorily reflected, and the reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 23 is a moving end portion end surface 2d.

  According to this embodiment, in a normal state before the bending force is applied, the light from the light emitting element 61 is in a state of reaching the light receiving element 62 through the moving end portion end surface 2d (the state shown in FIG. 10A). When the bending force is applied, the bar 2 is bent and the moving end portion end surface 2d is inclined, so that the incident angle of the light from the light emitting element 61 changes and the light from the light emitting element 61 does not reach the light receiving element 62 (see FIG. 10 (b)). Accordingly, if the light signal 61 is converted into a binary electric signal using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element 62, and these two values are made to correspond to each of two predetermined operations, These operations can be switched.

It is a perspective view which shows the general appearance of the main components of the on-off switch which is an Example of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the action | operation principle of the same on-off switch, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state by which bending force was applied to the free end. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the operation | movement principle of the conversion means of the same on / off switch, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state in which bending force was applied to the free end. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the operating principle of the conversion means in the other Example of this invention, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state by which bending force was added to the free end. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the operating principle of the conversion means in the further another Example of this invention, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state in which the bending force was added to the free end. In the other Example of this invention, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the operating principle of the conversion means using dielectric electromotive force, (a) is a normal state, (b) is the state in which bending force was added to the free end. Indicates. In the other Example of this invention, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the action | operation principle of the conversion means using magnetic force, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state by which bending force was added to the free end. . It is a perspective view which shows the general appearance of the main components of the on-off switch which is further another Example of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the action | operation principle of the same on-off switch, (a) shows a normal state, (b) shows the state by which bending force was applied to the free end. The longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the principle which converts the inclination of a movement end part end surface into an electrical signal binary in the same on-off switch, (a) is a normal state, (b) is the state where bending force was added to the free end. Show.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylindrical body 1a Base end 1b Free end 2 Bar 2a Other end 2b Free end 2c Moving end part 2d Moving end part end surface 3 Base material 4 Guide 4a Insertion hole 5 Enclosure part 6 Conversion means 11 Fixing member 21 Light guide path 22 Wide-diameter portion 23 Reflector 24 Magnetically permeable member 51 Receiving hole 52 Light guide passage 61 Light emitting element 62 Light receiving element 63 Baffle plate 64 Coil 65 Oscillating circuit 66 Magnetic force sensor

Claims (7)

  One end of a cylindrical material that is flexible and reversibly extends to a normal state is fixed to a base material, and a flexible bar is inserted into the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body of the axis of the bar Is supported by a guide that maintains the state of the cylindrical member regardless of the state of the cylindrical member, one end of the rod member is fixed to the end of the cylindrical member that is not fixed to the base material, and the other end is protruded from the cylindrical member. The base member is provided with a surrounding portion that surrounds the end portion of the rod member protruding from the cylindrical member in a non-contact manner, and the surrounding portion of the end portion protruding from the cylindrical member of the rod member is provided in the surrounding portion. An on / off switch characterized by comprising conversion means for converting a motion with respect to an electrical signal into a binary value and outputting it.   2. The on / off switch according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and converts the electric signal into binary using the presence or absence of light reaching the light receiving element from the light emitting element.   The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are arranged in a positional relationship such that an optical path from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element intersects with a movement path of the end portion of the bar member protruding from the cylindrical body. ON / OFF switch as described in.   The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in a positional relationship in which light from the light emitting element is reflected by the end face of the end portion protruding from the cylindrical body of the bar at a predetermined position and reaches the light receiving element. The on / off switch according to claim 2.   The end portion of the bar member protruding from the cylindrical body includes a magnetically permeable member attached to the bar member, and the conversion means is connected to the coil and the coil that normally surrounds the magnetically permeable member. The on / off switch according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillation circuit, wherein the electrical signal is converted into a binary value using the strength of the induced electromotive force.   The end portion of the rod projecting from the cylindrical body includes a magnetic body attached to the rod, and the converting means includes a magnetic sensor, and uses the strength of the magnetic force detected by the magnetic sensor. The on / off switch according to claim 1, wherein the on / off switch converts the signal into a binary electric signal. One end of a cylindrical material that is flexible and reversibly extends to a normal state is fixed to the base material, a flexible bar is inserted through the cylindrical body, and one end of the bar is connected to the cylindrical material. The other end is fixed to the end not fixed to the base material, and the other end is projected from the cylindrical member. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided on the base material, and the light from the light emitting element is Reflected by the end surface of the end protruding from the cylindrical body, and arranged in a positional relationship to reach the light receiving element, the inclination of the end protruding from the cylindrical body of the rod is changed from the light emitting element to the light receiving element. An on / off switch characterized in that the presence or absence of light reaching an element is converted into an electrical signal binary and output.

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