JPH0662433U - Waterproof panel switch unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a waterproof panel switch unit having high waterproof performance, durability and a good click feeling. [Structure] An annular electrode A and an island-shaped electrode B are formed on an insulating substrate 1 at a central position of the annular electrode A, and the island-shaped electrode is electrically led to the back side of the insulating substrate 1 by a through hole BB. Then, the circuit pattern 1 formed on the back side of the insulating substrate 1
1. An insulating spacer 6 configured to output a contact signal through 1 and provided with a double-sided adhesive sheet having a through hole 6A for accommodating the annular electrode A, and a single-sided adhesive sheet laminated on the insulating spacer 6. A waterproof type panel switch unit in which the waterproof spacer 9 is configured by and the dome contact C is surrounded by the waterproof spacer 9.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a waterproof panel switch unit used as an input means for various electronic devices or communication devices.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 3 and 4 show a conventional panel switch unit. In the example of FIG. 3, a pair of electrodes A and B are formed on one surface of an insulating substrate 1 (generally a flexible printed wiring board is used), and a dome contact C is arranged facing the electrodes A and B. The case where the dome contact C is pressed and fixed by the strip-shaped single-sided adhesive tape 2 is shown. The electrodes A and B are formed of copper foil or the like, for example, and are formed into a predetermined pattern by a manufacturing method such as etching. Here, the electrode A is formed in an annular shape in which a part is cut out, and the other electrode B is formed in an island shape at the center of the annular electrode A. A circuit pattern 5 for deriving a contact signal of the electrode B is formed through the cutout portion of the electrode A 1. Reference numeral 4 shows a circuit pattern for commonly connecting the electrode A to the electrode A of another switch. Further, 3 indicates an insulating layer. The insulating layer 3 mainly has a portion that covers the notch of the electrode A, and by covering the notch, the dome electrode C prevents the electrode A and the circuit pattern 5 from being short-circuited. Although one switch part is shown in the figure, a plurality of such switch parts are formed and used as an input key board.

Although not particularly shown in the drawing, a sheet-like body integrally formed with a plurality of key tops formed of a material such as rubber on the upper surface side is covered, and this key top sheet is used. The key board is formed by covering the shape body. That is, the insulating substrate 1 is adhered to the surface of a board such as a case of an electronic device, and a sheet for a keytop is covered thereon to form a keyboard. In this application, a panel switch unit that is used by being mounted under a sheet-like body for keytop is the subject of the invention.

In the example of FIG. 4, the insulating layer 3 is covered with the electrodes A and B formed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 1, and then the double-sided adhesive sheet 6 having the through holes 6 A surrounding the electrode A is covered. The double-sided adhesive sheet 6 is covered with an insulating film 7.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 According to the structure shown in FIG. 3, since the dome contacts C are fixed one by one with the strip-shaped single-sided adhesive tape 2, there is no mass productivity. Further, since the insulating layer 3 for preventing short circuit is locally present in the portion of the electrode A on which the dome contact C is placed, the dome contact C is not supported on the plane and the load characteristics (click feeling) are poor. In addition, there are drawbacks such as poor durability. Further, since the dome contact C is exposed, there is a drawback that dust around the dome contact C easily enters the inside when the dome contact C is inverted, resulting in contact failure.

According to the structure of FIG. 4, the dome contact C is not fixed to the insulating film 7 in addition to the defect due to the presence of the insulating layer 3 in a part of the electrode A. Has the drawback of poor workability. Further, since the dome contact C is not fixed, the dome contact C is easily displaced and the click feeling tends to be deteriorated. Also, since the periphery is surrounded by the double-sided adhesive sheet 6, there is no escape path for air. Therefore, there is a drawback that the click feeling becomes worse.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks, to provide a waterproof panel switch unit having high durability, good click feeling, and a waterproof function.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In this invention, a double-sided adhesive tape is covered with a single-sided adhesive sheet, and the single-sided adhesive sheet and the double-sided adhesive sheet form a waterproof spacer, and the one-sided adhesive sheet of the waterproof spacer fixes the dome contact on the substrate. It is what Further, in this invention, the electrode B formed on the substrate is electrically led out to the back side of the insulating substrate 1 by a through hole, and the electrode B is connected to the circuit pattern formed on the back side of the insulating substrate 1 so that the electrode A has a notched portion. And the through hole formed in the insulating spacer (the dome contact C is housed in the insulating spacer). The groove is formed between each other (the through hole of the other switch part) and air is circulated through this groove so that a good click feeling can be obtained. is there.

[0009]

【Example】

 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 3 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this invention, a single-sided adhesive sheet 8 is laminated on the upper surface of the double-sided adhesive sheet 6, and the double-sided adhesive sheet 6 and the single-sided adhesive sheet 8 form a waterproof spacer 9. The double-sided adhesive sheet 6 is formed with a plurality of through holes 6A, and the electrodes A and the dome contacts C are arranged in the holes 6A. The dome contact C is adhered to the single-sided adhesive sheet 8 to fix its position.

In the present invention, a groove 6B is further formed between the through holes 6A formed in the double-sided adhesive sheet 6 as shown in FIG. 2, and air is allowed to flow between the through holes 6A by the groove 6B. The structure. With this structure, when one switch part is pushed down, when the dome contact C is reversed at that switch part, the compressed air escapes to the other switch part (the part of the through hole 6A) through the groove 6B. You can Therefore, the inversion of the dome contact point C is performed without resistance, and a good click feeling can be obtained.

Further, in this invention, the island electrode B arranged inside the electrode A is formed by a through hole. That is, the structure is such that the island electrode B is led out to the back side of the insulating substrate 1 through the through hole BB, and the contact signal is output through the circuit pattern 11 formed by printing on the back side of the insulating substrate 1. Therefore, by adopting this structure, the electrode A can be formed in a complete annular shape without a notch, and the conventionally provided insulating layer 3 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the dome contact C is supported in a state where the entire circumference is in contact with the electrode A, and is supported on the plane. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 12 is used for the purpose of insulating and protecting the circuit pattern 11 on the back surface of the insulating substrate 1, for closing the holes of the through holes BB to provide a waterproof structure, and for further adhering the insulating substrate 1 to a device or the like. To cover.

[0012]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to this invention, the double-sided adhesive sheet 6 and the single-sided adhesive sheet 8 are combined to form the waterproof spacer 9. Therefore, the dome contact C is dropped into the through hole 6A of the waterproof spacer 9. As a result, the dome contact C can be incorporated. Therefore, the incorporation of the dome contact C can be automated.

Further, since the groove 6B is provided between the plurality of through holes 6A formed in the double-sided adhesive sheet 6, the air compressed when the switch portion is pressed down escapes to the other through holes 6A through the groove 6B. be able to. Therefore, the reversing operation of the dome contact C is executed without receiving the resistance of air, and a good click feeling can be obtained. Further, according to this invention, the dome contact C is supported by contacting the electrode A over the entire circumference. Therefore, the dome electrode A is supported on a flat surface, and the durability of the dome contact C can be improved.

Further, in this invention, the front side of the insulating substrate 1 is protected by the waterproof sheet 9 and the back side of the insulating substrate 1 is protected by the double-sided adhesive sheet 12, so that a fluid such as water cannot enter from either side. Absent. Therefore, it is possible to provide a waterproof panel switch unit having high waterproof performance and high dustproof performance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a plan view for explaining a conventional technique, and B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3A.

4A is a plan view for explaining another example of the conventional technique, and B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Insulating substrate A, B Electrode C Dome contact BB Through hole 6 Double-sided adhesive sheet 6B groove 8 Single-sided adhesive sheet 9 Waterproof spacer 11 Circuit pattern 12 Double-sided adhesive sheet

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A panel switch unit having a structure in which a pair of electrodes formed on one surface of an insulating substrate are brought into contact with each other by a reversing operation of a dome contact to transmit a contact signal, and a void for accommodating the dome contact is formed. A double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a through hole for, and a single-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet that is attached to one surface of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet and closes one opening of the through-hole forms a waterproof spacer, and the waterproof spacer described above A waterproof panel switch unit, which is waterproof and dustproof by covering the dome contacts. 2. The waterproof panel switch unit according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof spacer uses a single-sided adhesive sheet to prevent lateral displacement of the dome contacts. unit. 3. The waterproof panel switch unit according to claim 1, wherein a groove for communicating between the through holes formed in the double-sided adhesive sheet forming the waterproof spacer is provided, and air is passed through this groove when the dome contact is reversed. A waterproof panel switch unit characterized by being circulated and improving the click feeling that accompanies the reversing operation of the dome contact. 4. The waterproof panel switch unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the electrodes provided on the substrate is made of an annular conductor and the other is made of a through hole provided at the center of the annular shape. Waterproof type panel switch unit.