JPH0334025Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a multi-stage push button switch that can sequentially obtain three types of conduction modes in a continuous pressing process and can provide three different types of operation feel in each conduction mode.

If multiple conduction modes are required to be operated continuously by operating a switch, for example, when shooting with automatic exposure control of a camera, first turn on the power, then activate the exposure condition setting circuit, and then activate the shutter drive circuit. There are cases where the user attempts to perform a series of actions such as

In such cases, conventional methods have been taken, such as providing a plurality of switches and sequentially turning on each switch, or sequentially selecting the conduction mode by rotating a rotary switch.

However, with such means, since the movements of the fingers are not simple, it is not only impossible to perform a series of movements quickly, but also erroneous movements are likely to occur. Also,
It is necessary to visually confirm the operating position of the switch, and it is not possible to operate the switch by relying solely on the sensations of the hands and fingers, making it unsuitable for operations such as camera operations.

This invention was made by focusing on these conventional problems, and three types of conduction modes can be obtained sequentially according to the pressing force with a single switch and in a continuous pressing process, and each conduction mode is An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stage push button switch capable of giving three different types of operation sensations in different modes.

This invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of this invention.

First, to explain the structure, reference numeral 1 in the figure is an insulating case into which fixed contacts and terminals, which will be described later, are insert-molded, and a first fixed contact 2 is provided in the center of the bottom surface 1a of the recessed part of the insulating case 1. A first terminal 3 extends from the first fixed contact 2 to the outside of the insulating case 1. In addition, a pair of opposing second contacts are provided at positions separated with the first fixed contact 2 in between.
Fixed contacts 4 are provided, these second fixed contacts 4 are electrically connected, and a second terminal 5 extends outside the insulating case 1 . Further, a third fixed contact 6 is provided in the insulating case 1 at a position separated from the first and second fixed contacts 2 and 4 and at a position having a step difference with respect to the second fixed contact 4. The third fixed contact 6 is located outside the insulating case 1.
The terminal 7 is extended.

The second fixed contact 4 also has an inverted saucer-shaped first contact made of an elastic conductive material and also serves as the first movable contact.
A movable piece 8 is arranged so as to be in constant contact with the peripheral portion, and this first movable piece 8 is separated from the first fixed contact 2 when not in use. Furthermore, an appropriate number of protrusions 9 are provided in the step portion 1c that makes the fixing positions of the second fixed contact 4 and the third fixed contact 6 different, and these protrusions 9 are made of an insulating plate with an opening in the center. 10 holes 10a.

Further, a recess 1b is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the insulating case 1, and a fixed plate 12 as a fixed end portion of the second movable piece 11 is attached to this recess 1b. This second movable piece 11 is made of an elastic conductive material, and has a flexible curved part 1 in the center that is moved toward and away from the first movable piece 8.
3 is provided, and a contact part 1 that is connected to and separated from the third fixed contact 6 on the opposite side of the fixed end part 12 with the center part as a border.
4 is provided. The free end of the second movable piece 11 has a pair of substantially parallel notches 11a in the middle, and the intermediate part formed between these notches 11a does not move freely when the pressing force exceeds a certain limit. It is made possible to do so. In addition, the second movable piece 1
A common terminal 15 extends from the fixed end of the insulating case 1 to the outside of the insulating case 1 . In this way, the cantilever type second movable piece 11 is spaced apart from the first, second, and third fixed contacts 2, 4, and 6 when not in use.

The second movable piece 11 has a stem 1 as a pressing member.
The stem 16 has a main body portion 16b and a collar portion 16a. The main body portion 16b is inserted into the central opening 17a of the upper lid 17 so as to be vertically movable.
A projection 18 provided on the outer periphery of the insulating case 1 is inserted into the hole 17b formed around the insulating case 1, thereby fixing the upper cover 17 to the insulating case 1. Note that a fixed piece 17c is formed on the upper lid 17, and this fixed piece 17c comes into contact with the fixed plate 12 of the second movable piece 11, so that when the upper lid 17 is attached, the second movable piece 11
is fixed.

Next, the action will be explained.

When the stem 16 is lightly pressed during use, the second movable piece 11 bends about the fixed plate 12, and the contact portion 1
4 comes into contact with the third fixed contact 6, thereby establishing electrical continuity between the respective contacts 6 and 14. The pressed position of the stem 16 in this case is defined as the first stage pressed position.

Next, when the stem 16 is pressed a little harder from the first push-in position, the middle part of the second movable piece 11 is bent and the flexible curved part 13 comes into contact with the first movable piece 8 . The pressed position of the stem 16 in this case is defined as the second stage pressed position. In addition, since the first movable piece 8 is always in contact with the second fixed contact 4, electrical conduction can be achieved between the flexible curved portion 13 and the second fixed contact 4 at the second stage pushing position.

Further, when the stem 16 is strongly pressed from the second push-in position, the first movable piece 8 comes into contact with the first fixed contact 2 together with the intermediate portion of the second movable piece 11 . The pressed position of the stem 16 in this case is defined as the third-stage pressed position. In this way, at the third push-in position, the first
Electrical continuity between the movable contact and the first fixed contact 2 can be achieved.

In this way, while the stem 16 moves from the first pushed position to the third pushed position, the pressure feeling transmitted to the fingers changes depending on the different elastic forces generated by the first and second movable pieces 8 and 11. Operation feel (second,
At the third push-in position, the click feeling becomes clear and the push-in position of each step can be clearly identified.

As explained above, this invention has the effect of providing a multi-stage push button switch that can provide three different operating sensations in each of the three conduction modes without unnecessarily increasing the number of parts. That's what you get. Therefore,
This has the effect that costs can be reduced accordingly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the insulating case part of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 explains the conduction state of the contacts. This is a wiring diagram. 1... Insulating case, 2... First fixed contact, 4...
...Second fixed contact, 6...Third fixed contact, 8...First movable piece, 11...Second movable piece, 13...Flexible curved part, 14...Contact part, 15...Common terminal ,1
6...Stem (pressing member), 1a...Bottom surface of the recess,
11a...notch.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A first fixed contact is provided at the center of the bottom of the recess of the insulating case, a second fixed contact is provided in the insulating case at a distance from the first fixed contact, and the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are provided in the insulating case at a distance from the first fixed contact. A third fixed contact is provided in the insulating case at a distance from the second fixed contact, and a first flexible movable piece that is brought into and out of contact with the first fixed contact is always in contact with the second fixed contact at its periphery. a second movable piece is provided in the insulating case so as to face the first movable piece from above, and the second movable piece is spaced apart from the first movable piece in the center thereof; A flexible curved portion is formed to be in contact with the common terminal, and a fixed end portion connected to the common terminal is formed on the periphery of the flexible curved portion, and the third fixed contact is formed on the opposite side of the fixed end portion with respect to the central portion. A contact portion is formed that moves toward and away from the fixed end portion, and the second movable piece is fixed to the insulating case by the fixed end portion, and when pressed by the pressing member, the second movable piece uses the fixed end portion as a fulcrum in a first step. In a second step, the flexible curved section is bent and the flexible curved section is brought into contact with the first movable piece. A multi-stage push button switch characterized in that the first movable piece is bent in three stages so that the first movable piece is brought into contact with the first fixed contact to provide a different operating feel for each conduction mode.