JPH08273471A - Pressure sensitive switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a small size and thin pressure sensitive switch with a simple structure regarding a pressure sensitive switch to be employed for an input operation part of various kinds of electronic appliances. CONSTITUTION: A switch contact point part 15 is formed on a rigid insulating substrate 13, wherein the switch contact point part 15 has flexibility and is composed of a pattern contact point 12a, which is a first contact point formed with a conductive paste, a pressure sensitive conductive layer 14 formed with a pressure sensitive conductive ink and layered on the pattern contact point 12a, and a pattern contact point 12b, which is a second contact point and formed with a conductive paste and layered further on the pressure sensitive conductive layer 14. Moreover a movable element 16 to push the switch contact point part 15 vertically downward from the upper side while being accompanied with click touch is installed, so that a small size and thin pressure sensitive switch with a simple structure and high quality can be composed of the lessened number of parts by lessened number of processes.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive switch having a switch contact portion in which a pressure-sensitive conductive layer is sandwiched between contacts by screen printing or the like on a rigid or flexible insulating substrate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the miniaturization and thinning of various electronic devices, there has been a demand for miniaturization and thinning of pressure-sensitive switches used for input operation sections.

A conventional pressure-sensitive switch will be described below. 17 and 18 show the structure of a conventional pressure-sensitive switch of the first example. 17 and 18, 1
Reference symbols a and 1b are comb-shaped pattern contacts, which are printed and formed on the insulating substrate 2 with a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 is arranged so as to cover the pattern contacts 1a and 1b. On the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3, an insulating sheet 5 having a movable contact 4 on the lower surface so as to face the pattern contacts 1a and 1b is arranged via an insulating spacer 6 provided on the insulating substrate 2, A mover 7 is installed on the table 5.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch constructed as described above will be described below. When the mover 7 is vertically pressed from above the insulating sheet 5, the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 is compressed via the movable contact 4, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 forms a conductor in the vertical direction. This enables electrical conduction, and the pattern contact 1a → the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 → the movable contact 4 → the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 → the pattern contact 1b conducts, and the switching circuit is turned on.

Next, FIG. 19 shows the structure of a second conventional pressure-sensitive switch. In FIG. 19, 1a,
1b is a comb-shaped pattern contact, which is printed and formed on the insulating substrate 2 with a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste, and a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 is arranged so as to cover the pattern contacts 1a and 1b. An insulating sheet 5 having a movable contact 4 on its lower surface is disposed on the lower surface of the metal diaphragm 8 so as to face the pattern contacts 1a and 1b via an insulating spacer 6.
Is attached on the insulating sheet 5 so as to face the pattern contacts 1a and 1b by a diaphragm holding sheet 9 so as to be reversible, and a hinge button portion 10 for pressing and pressing the metal diaphragm 8 from above via the diaphragm holding sheet 9 is used. Place it on the center of coaxial circle 8
The case 11 having the hinge button portion 10 is the insulating sheet 5.
It is composed by overlapping on top.

The operation of the switching circuit composed of the pattern contacts 1a and 1b, the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber sheet 3 and the movable contact 4 is the same as that of the above-mentioned first example.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, many component parts are produced separately and combined to produce a large number of parts and man-hours, the product is complicated and large, and the total thickness is small. It had a thick problem (high product height).

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compact and thin pressure-sensitive switch having a simple structure.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, a pressure-sensitive switch of the present invention has a first pattern contact formed of a conductive paste on a rigid insulating substrate and a first pattern contact overlaid on the first pattern contact. A pressure sensitive conductive layer formed of a pressure sensitive conductive ink and a second pattern contact formed on the pressure sensitive conductive layer and formed of a conductive paste. It has a structure in which a means for pushing from above is arranged on the switch contact portion.

[0010]

[Operation] With this configuration, the structure is simplified,
The thickness can be reduced and the number of parts and man-hours can be significantly reduced.

[0011]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, 12
Reference numeral a denotes a pattern contact which is a first contact formed by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste on the rigid insulating substrate 13 made of a paper-based phenol resin, and the pattern contact 12a The pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 is formed on the pressure-sensitive conductive ink by a method such as screen printing, and the screen is further stacked on the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste. The pattern contact 12b which is the second contact is formed by a method such as printing.
A flexible switch contact portion 15 composed of a and 12b and the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 is formed, and the pattern contact 12b is formed.
The movable element 16 is provided on the top.

A rubber button 17 for pushing and pressing the pattern contact 12b with a click feeling is arranged vertically above the pattern contact 12b of the switch contact portion 15 and the rubber button 17 is formed in an opening provided in a case 18. Part 1
Alternatively, the rubber button 17 may be inserted and fixed on the insulating substrate 13 with the case 18 inserted in the case 9.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, attach the mover 16 or the rubber button 17 to the pattern contact 1
When pressed vertically above 2b, the pattern contact 12a, which is the first contact, the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14, and the pattern contact 12b, which is the second contact, are arranged in close contact with each other. Is an electrically non-conducting state (OFF state)
However, the contact portion 15 is pressed and pressed by the mover 16 or the rubber button 17, and the electrical continuity state (ON state) of the switching circuit composed of the pattern contact 12a → the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 → the pattern contact 12b. ) Is formed.
Regardless of which part of the pattern contact 12b is pressed, a stable electrical conduction state (ON state) is ensured with the pattern contact 12a via the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14. When the pressing / pressurizing state of the contact point 15 of the mover 16 or the rubber button 17 is removed, the switching circuit forms an electrically non-conducting state (OFF).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 1 is formed on the insulating substrate 13 between the pattern contacts 12a and 12b.
The pressure-sensitive switch can be made compact and thin with a simple structure by forming the contact portion 15 by sequentially screen-printing so as to sandwich 4 between them.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, 12
a is a flexible insulating substrate 20 made of a polyester film
A pattern contact which is a first contact formed by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as a silver paste or a carbon paste on the front surface or the back surface of the above, and pressure-sensitive conductive ink is used by overlapping on the pattern contact 12a. To form the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 by a screen printing method or the like, and further overlay the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 with a conductive paste such as a silver paste or a carbon paste to form a second contact point by a screen printing method or the like. Forming a certain pattern contact 12b,
The flexible contact portion 15 composed of the pattern contacts 12a and 12b and the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 is used as a dome-shaped dome-shaped portion 20a, and the insulating substrate 20 is superposed on the rigid insulating substrate 21. The movable element 22 is provided in the. The insulating substrate 20 is made of a flexible material, and the dome-shaped portion 20a is flexible together with the pattern contact 12a, the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 and the pattern contact 12b formed on the front surface or the back surface, and the contact portion 15 is provided. It is configured so that it can be reversed with a click feeling.

A case 24 having a hinge button portion 23 made of ABS resin is superposed on the rigid insulating substrate 21 with the insulating substrate 20 interposed therebetween so that the hinge button portion 23 is arranged on the dome-shaped portion 20a. It can also be configured.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, when the mover 22 or the hinge button portion 23 is pressed and pressed vertically downward from above the dome-shaped portion 20a, the pattern contact 12a which is the first contact, the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 and the pattern contact which is the second contact. 12b are arranged in close contact with each other, and are normally in an electrically non-conducting state (O
In the FF state), the dome-shaped portion 20a having the contact portion 15 is inverted downward with a click feeling, and the pattern contact 12a → sensed by the reversal pressing force of the contact portion 15 when the dome-shaped portion 20a is inverted. A stable and electrically conductive state (ON state) of the switching circuit constituted by the piezoelectric conductive layer 14 → the pattern contact 12b is always formed. When the push-pressed state of the dome-shaped portion 20a by the mover 22 or the hinge button portion is removed, the dome-shaped portion 20a flips upward with a click feeling due to its own return force and returns to the position before the push-pressed state. , The switching circuit forms an electrically non-conducting state (OFF).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pattern contacts 12a,
By sequentially screen-printing the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 so as to sandwich the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 12b to form the contact portion 15, the pressure-sensitive switch can be made compact and thin with a simple structure.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, 12a is formed on the rigid insulating substrate 13 made of a paper-based phenol resin by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste. The pattern contact, which is the first contact, is overlaid on the pattern contact 12a to form the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 by a method such as screen printing using pressure-sensitive conductive ink, and further overlaid on the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14. The pattern contact 12b, which is the second contact, is formed by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste.
A flexible insulating layer 25 was formed so as to cover the flexible contact portion 15 composed of 12b and the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 by a method such as screen printing using an insulating resist of vinyl acetate = vinyl chloride. It is configured.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch constructed as described above is the same as that of the first embodiment as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 1 is formed on the insulating substrate 13 between the pattern contacts 12a and 12b.
By providing a structure in which the contact portions 15 formed by sequentially screen-printing so as to sandwich 4 are covered with the insulating layer 25, the same unique effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, 12a is formed on the front surface or the back surface of the flexible insulating substrate 20 made of a polyester film by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste. The pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 is formed by a method such as screen printing using the pressure-sensitive conductive ink on the patterned contact 12a by overlapping the patterned contact 12a.
The second pattern contact 12b is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 4 by a method such as screen printing using a conductive paste such as silver paste or carbon paste.
A flexible insulating layer 25 was formed so as to cover the flexible contact portion 15 composed of 2b and the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 by a method such as screen printing using a vinyl acetate = vinyl chloride-based insulating resist. It is configured.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch constructed as described above is the same as that of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the patterned contacts 12a,
By providing a structure in which the contact portions 15 formed by sequentially screen-printing so as to sandwich the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 between 12b are covered with the insulating layer 25, the same unique effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment) A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, reference numeral 26a designates a pattern contact 1 having the same construction as that of the third embodiment.
2a, 12b and a pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 which is a contact portion 15 having flexibility and an insulating layer 25 having flexibility.
The first contact point unit 26a is overlapped on the coaxial center of the first
A second contact point unit 26b having the same structure as the contact point unit 26a is formed by printing.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
First, when the mover 16 or the rubber button 17 is pushed vertically from above the second contact point unit 26b, the first contact point unit 26a and the second contact point unit 26b.
Each of the switching circuits is normally in an electrically non-conducting state (OFF state), but the first contact unit 26a and the second contact unit 26b are pressed and pressurized by the mover 16 or the rubber button 17. In other words, the first contact point unit 26a and the second contact point unit 26b simultaneously and surely always form a stable electrical conduction state (ON state). When the pressing and pressurizing state of the mover 16 or the rubber button 17 is removed, the first contact unit 26a
The switching circuits of the second contact unit 26b and the second contact unit 26b simultaneously form an electrically non-conducting state (OFF state).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first contact point unit 26a having the contact point 15 covered with the insulating layer 25 having the same structure as the third embodiment has the same structure. With the configuration in which the second contact unit 26b is formed by printing, the same unique effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Embodiment 6) A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, 26a has the same structure as that of the fourth embodiment on the front surface or the back surface of the dome-shaped portion 20a provided on the flexible insulating substrate 20 made of a polyester film. Pattern contact 12a, 1
2b and the pressure-sensitive conductive layer 14 and the flexible contact portion 15 and the flexible insulating layer 25, which is the first contact portion unit formed by printing, and the first contact portion unit 26a. A second contact point unit 26b having the same structure as the first contact point unit 26a, being superposed on the coaxial center of
Are formed.

The operation of the pressure-sensitive switch configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.
First, when the mover 22 or the hinge button portion 23 is pushed vertically downward from above the dome-shaped portion 20a, the first contact portion unit 26a and the second contact portion unit 26 are pressed.
Each of the switching circuits of b is normally in an electrically non-conducting state (OFF state), but the dome-shaped portion 20a is pushed and pressed by the mover 22 or the hinge button portion 23, and the dome-shaped portion 20a has a click feeling. And the second contact portion unit 26a and the second contact portion unit 26b when the dome-shaped portion 20a is inverted, the first contact portion unit 26a and the second contact portion 26b are reversed. At the same time, each switching circuit of the unit 26b surely forms a stable electrical conduction state (ON state). Mover 22 or hinge button 23
When the pressing and pressurizing state of the dome-shaped portion 20a due to is removed,
The dome-shaped portion 20a is flipped upward by its own return force with a click feeling and returns to the position before the pressing and pressing state, and the switching circuit is simultaneously in the electrically non-conducting state (OFF).
State).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first contact unit 26a having the contact 15 covered with the insulating layer 25 having the same structure as the fourth embodiment has the same structure as the first contact unit 26a. With the configuration in which the second contact unit 26b is formed by printing, the same unique effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

[0037]

As described above, in the pressure-sensitive switch of the present invention, the first contact formed by the conductive paste and the first contact formed on the rigid or flexible insulating substrate are overlapped on the first contact to detect the pressure. A flexible switch contact portion composed of a pressure-sensitive conductive layer formed of conductive ink and a second contact formed of a conductive paste is further provided on the pressure-sensitive conductive layer.
By arranging the means for pushing the switch contact part, the structure becomes extremely simple, and it is possible to realize an excellent pressure-sensitive switch that can be made compact and thin, and the number of parts and man-hours can be greatly reduced. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an operating state of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an essential part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an essential part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing an operating state of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of an essential part of a switch contact portion of a pressure-sensitive switch according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing an operating state of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the switch contact portion.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a main part of a pattern contact of the conventional pressure-sensitive switch of the first example.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating state of a pattern contact portion of the switch.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a conventional second pressure-sensitive switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12a, 12b Pattern contact (contact) 13 Rigid insulating substrate 14 Pressure-sensitive conductive layer 15 Switch contact portion 20 Flexible insulating substrate 20a Dome-shaped portion 21 Rigid insulating substrate 25 Insulating layer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first contact formed of a conductive paste on a rigid insulating substrate, a pressure-sensitive conductive layer formed of pressure-sensitive conductive ink on the first contact, and further on the pressure-sensitive conductive layer. A pressure-sensitive switch in which a flexible switch contact portion composed of a second contact formed by overlapping with a conductive paste is provided, and means for pushing from above is arranged on the switch contact portion. 2. A first inversion-type dome-shaped portion provided on a flexible insulating substrate or formed on the back surface thereof with a conductive paste.
And a pressure-sensitive conductive layer formed of pressure-sensitive conductive ink on the first contact, and a second contact formed of conductive paste on the pressure-sensitive conductive layer. A pressure-sensitive switch in which a switch contact portion having flexibility is provided, the flexible insulating substrate is arranged on a rigid insulating substrate, and means for pushing the switch contact portion is arranged. 3. The pressure-sensitive switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch contact portion is covered with a flexible insulating layer formed of an insulating paste. 4. The pressure-sensitive switch according to claim 3, wherein the switch contact portion and the flexible insulating layer are formed by printing. 5. The pressure-sensitive switch according to claim 3, wherein the switch contact portion and the flexible insulating layer are stacked in a plurality of stages on the coaxial center.