JPH09115375A - Pushbutton switch with illumination mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce space necessary for illuminating the indication part of an operation knob, and lessen the number of parts. SOLUTION: A pushbutton switch 20 with a first switch 24 and a second switch 26 has a built-in LED 40 at an intermediate position between the first and the second switches 24 and 26. The operation knob 27 of the second switch 26 at an initial position, when pressed, moves to the prescribed lock position. The internal contact of the second switch 26 is thereby connected and the LED lights. In this case, a natural lighting hole 48 on a knob body 36 and a light source hole formed on a switch body 38 so as to house the LED 40 are superposed on top of each other, due to the travel of the knob body 36. As a result, the light of the LED 40 is introduced to the internal space of the second switch 26. In addition, the light reaches the reverse side of the operation knob 27 via a light guide 32, thereby illuminating the on-indicator of an indication part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-button switch with an illumination mechanism, and more specifically, it has a built-in light source and illuminates the display portion of an operation knob with the light of the light source to improve the visibility of the operating state of the switch. A push button switch with a lighting mechanism to enhance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of illuminated push-button switch, a light source is provided inside the switch for each operation knob having a display unit to be illuminated. As a result, when each operation knob is pressed, the electrical contact corresponding to each operation knob is connected, and the light source corresponding to each operation knob is turned on. It travels straight and reaches the vicinity of the operation knob, and is diffused by the lens portion provided at the end of the operation knob to illuminate the display portion of each operation knob. Further, when the operation knob is pressed again, the contact is opened, the light source is turned off, and the illumination of the display unit is also turned off. In this way, the visibility of the operating status of the switch is enhanced by illuminating the display portion of each operating knob in synchronization with the connection status of the contact corresponding to each operating knob.

[0003]

However, in such a push-button switch with an illumination mechanism, since a light source is individually incorporated for each operation knob, a space for providing the light source inside each switch is secured. There was a need. For this reason, there is a case where a switch that has a limited space such as a vehicle interior switch in an automobile and has a strong demand for downsizing cannot be sufficiently downsized. Further, since it is necessary to individually provide a light source such as an LED for each operation knob, the number of parts is increased, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

The push-button switch with an illumination mechanism of the present invention is intended to solve these problems, to illuminate the display portion of each operation knob in a smaller space than before, and to reduce the number of parts. The following composition was adopted.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action / Effect The push button switch with an illumination mechanism of the present invention comprises a plurality of operation knobs, and incorporates a number of light sources smaller than the number of the operation knobs. When one of the knobs is pressed, the contact corresponding to the operated operation knob is connected or opened, and whether the display of the pressed operation knob is illuminated by the light source is switched between the contacts. A push button switch with an illumination mechanism corresponding to the above, wherein an optical path portion for guiding the light of the light source to the display portion of the plurality of operation knobs is provided for each of the operation knobs, and the connection state of the contacts is changed. The gist of the present invention is to provide an optical path portion lighting means for blocking or communicating the light from the light source to each display portion through each optical path portion due to the change in the position of the operation knob.

In the push-button switch with the illumination mechanism of the present invention configured as described above, when one of the operation knobs provided in the push-button switch is pressed, the contact corresponding to the pressed operation knob is opened. Connected or released. Inside the push button switch, there are provided a light source of a number smaller than the number of operation knobs, and an optical path portion that guides the light of the light source to each of the display portions of the plurality of operation knobs.
When one of the operation knobs receives a pressing operation, by changing the position of the operation knob, the light from the light source to each of the display sections via each optical path section is blocked or communicated with the display section. The presence or absence of illumination and the switching of the contacts are associated with each other.

According to such a push button switch with an illumination mechanism, the connection status of the contacts corresponding to the respective operation knobs is
It can be easily viewed simply by checking the presence / absence of illumination of the display section. Further, since it is sufficient to provide the light source in the number smaller than the number of the operation knobs, the switch can be downsized, which is an excellent effect. Furthermore, since the number of light sources is less than the number of operation knobs, the number of parts is reduced,
Cost reduction can be achieved. Further, when the display portion of the operation knob is not illuminated, the optical path from the light source is blocked, so that light does not leak to other than the optical path member reaching the display portion of the operation knob for illumination.

A structure in which the light source is a light emitting diode is also suitable. In this case, since the light source has a long life, it is not necessary to replace the light source on the way, and the light source is excellent in vibration and shock resistance, so that it is possible to provide a switch suitable for vehicle mounting and the like. Furthermore, since the light source does not generate heat, it is not necessary to provide heat resistance around the light source inside the switch.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above, the embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on Examples. First, for convenience of description, the overall configuration and operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the appearance of a push button switch 20 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3A is a front view thereof, FIG. 3B is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3C is a side view thereof. The push button switch 20 is a switch used as an air conditioner switch of a vehicle including two operation knobs 25 and 27, and includes a first switch 24 and a second switch 26 in a housing 22 as illustrated. The first switch 24 is provided with an operation knob 25, and the second switch 26 is provided with an operation knob 27. These operation knobs 25 and 27 respectively project from the housing 22 to the outside. First switch 2
Reference numeral 4 is a main switch of the air conditioner, and as shown in FIG.
The display includes "A / C" and the ON indicator portion 25b. The second switch 26 is a so-called economy mode switch that operates by suppressing the air conditioner, and the display 27a of the operation knob 27 of the second switch 26 includes a display "ECON" and an ON indicator 27b. here,
The ON indicator portion indicates that the switch operating status is turned on by turning on the switch when the operating status is turned on by pressing the switch and turning off when the operating status is turned off by another operation. It enhances the visibility.

First, the push button switch 20
The outline of the operation will be described. The first switch 24 and the second switch 26 are in a state where each operation knob is most protruded in a state where it is not operated from the outside. FIG.
The position of the knob 25 of the first switch 24 shown in (B) and the position of the knob 27 of the second switch 26 shown by the dotted line correspond to this state. Hereinafter, the position where this operation knob is most protruded is called the initial position. When the operation knob 25 or 27 in the initial position receives a predetermined pressing operation,
This operation knob is pushed toward the inside of the housing 22 and once reaches the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line F in FIG. Then, when the operating force is released, the operating knob is slightly pushed back, and at the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line R in FIG. 3C, the operating knob 2 of the second switch 26 in FIG.
Stop at the position indicated by the solid line for 7. Hereinafter, FIG.
The position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line F in FIG. 3C is called the forward position, and the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line R in FIG. 3C is called the locking position. When the operation knob 25 or 27 is in this locking position, the corresponding ON indicator portion 25b or 27b lights up. When the operation knob 25 or 27 in the locking position receives a pressing operation again, the operation knob is pushed again to the forward movement position, and returns to the initial position with the release of the operation force. Along with this, the corresponding ON indicator portion 25b or 27b is turned off.

Next, the internal structure of the push button switch 20 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the first switch 24 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the first switch 24 has each constituent element arranged at a predetermined location dividing the inside of the housing 22.
Main components of the first switch 24 include a printed circuit board 60, a knob body 34, a holder 50, a guide pin 52, and a lamp 64, in addition to the operation knob 25 described above.
And the light guide 30.

The printed circuit board 60 is fixed below the inside of the housing 22, and is provided with electric parts and the like and fixed contacts (not shown). The electric components of the printed circuit board 60 are supplied with power from the outside through the connector terminals 62 arranged in the connector insertion holes 66 at the rear of the housing 22. Further, the knob body 34 is provided with the above-mentioned operation knob 25 at its front part, and when the operation knob 25 receives a pressing operation, it moves in the longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board 60 integrally with the operation knob 25, and the housing 22 It is slidably supported inside.

A holder 50 is provided above the printed circuit board 60.
Is engaged and fixed to the rear of the knob body 34 (lower side in FIG. 4), and is movable in the front-rear direction inside the first switch 24 (up and down direction in FIG. 4) integrally with the knob body 34. Further, a spring 56 is provided behind the holder 50.
Is fixed inside the switch, and this spring 56 constantly urges the holder 50 toward the front of the switch (upward in FIG. 4). Therefore, when a pressing operation is applied to the operation knob 25, the holder 50 is pressed by the knob body 34 as the operation knob 25 moves from the initial position to the forward position, and the holder 50 is pushed to the rear of the switch against the bias of the spring 56. Moving.
A movable contact 58 for opening and closing a contact (not shown) on the printed circuit board 60 is fixed to the back side (right side in FIG. 4) of the holder 50. Therefore, when the holder 50 moves along with the pressing operation applied to the operation knob 25, the movable contact 58 also moves integrally, so that the contact on the printed circuit board 60 is opened and closed, and the main switch of the air conditioner is turned on accordingly. It switches to off.

Further, one end of the guide pin 52 is the holder 5
Cam groove 51 provided above 0 (left side in FIG. 4)
, And the other end is fixed to a predetermined position on the inner wall surface of the first switch 24. With this guide pin 52,
By changing the engagement state of the holder 50 with the cam groove 51, the displacement of the operation knob 25 between the initial position and the engagement position is realized. The change in the engagement state between the guide pin 52 and the holder 50 when the operation knob 25 is pressed will be described later.

The lamp 64 is fixed on the printed circuit board 60 and receives power supply via the connector terminal 62 described above. The lamp 64 is automatically turned on when the light switch is turned on in a vehicle equipped with the switch 20. The light from the lamp 64 is generated by the knob body 34.
The light path section 68 provided in the inside of the operation knob 25 travels substantially straight to reach the back side of the display portion 25a of the operation knob 25, illuminates the display "A / C" provided on the display portion 25a, and switches the switch type at night. Visibility is enhanced.

A mechanism for moving the operation knob 25 between the initial position and the locking position when the switch 24 receives a pressing operation will be briefly described. In such a movement, as shown in FIG. 4, a cam groove 51 formed on the holder 50 along a predetermined locus, a guide pin 52 having one end engaged with the cam groove 51, and a spring 56 are involved. To do. The cam groove 51 has a groove structure formed on the holder 50 substantially symmetrically. Further, the guide pin 52 is biased by the spring structure on the fixed side at the other end so that one end contacts the bottom surface of the cam groove 51. The cam groove 51 is provided with an initial position defining portion 51a and a locking position defining portion 51b, and the bottom surface of the cam groove 51 at these both defining portions is formed deeper than the bottom surface of the cam groove 51 at the other portions. Has been done. When the operation knob 25 receives a pressing operation and the holder 50 moves, one end of the guide pin 52
It moves along the cam groove 51 while being in contact with the bottom surface of the cam groove 51.

When the operation knob 25 is at the initial position,
One end of the guide pin 52 is engaged with the initial position defining portion 51a in the cam groove 51. However, when the operation knob 25 receives a pressing operation and the holder 50 starts moving backward, the guide pin 52 defines the initial position. It deviates from the point 51a and starts moving along the cam groove 51. While receiving the pressing operation, the holder 50 receives the repulsive force from the spring 56,
The rearward movement is continued while the bottom of the cam groove 51 is traced by one end of the guide pin 52. When the operation knob 25 reaches the forward position and the pressing operation is released, the holder 50 is pushed back by the spring 56, and the guide pin 52 is deeply formed in the cam groove 51, and the locking position defining portion 51 is formed deeply.
Enter b and lock. This restricts the movement of the holder 50 to be pushed back, and the operation knob 25 stops at the locking position.

On the other hand, when the operation knob 25 in the locking position is pressed again, one end of the guide pin 52 is disengaged from the locking position defining portion 51b of the cam groove 51, so that the holder 50 is moved by the spring 56. Pushed back, the operation knob 25 returns to the initial position. At this time, guide pin 5
One end of 2 reenters the initial position defining portion 51a of the cam groove 51. Although the structure and operation of the switch 24 have been described above, the same applies to the switch 26, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the switches 24 and 26 can operate in conjunction with each other in addition to operating independently as described above.
When the first switch 24 in the initial position is pressed while the second switch 26 is in the locking position as shown in FIG. 3, the operation knob 25 of the first switch 24 is stopped in the locking position by the above mechanism. At the same time, the contacts inside the first switch 24 are connected. At this time, the operation knob 27 of the second switch 26
Switch 20 even though it has not been pressed.
A cancel mechanism provided inside returns from the locked position to the initial position. At the same time, the contact inside the second switch 26 is opened. The cancel mechanism is the cancel plate 5 provided from the upper portion of the guide pin 52 shown in FIG. 4 to the upper portion (left side in FIG. 4) of the guide pin provided inside the second switch 26 (not shown).
It is a mechanism realized by 4. The cancellation mechanism is
A detailed description is omitted because it is not an essential part of this embodiment,
This is a well-known technique for the air conditioner switch and the like for the passenger compartment described in the present embodiment. The cancel plate 54 has a thin plate structure attached to substantially the center of the first switch 24 and the second switch 26, and is rotatable in the space above the guide pins. Depending on the direction, it contacts one guide pin. As described above, when the operation knob 25 in the initial position receives the pressing operation, the cancel plate 54 is pressed by the holder inside the first switch 24 and rotates. At this time, the cancel plate 54 comes into contact with the guide pin inside the second switch 26 to remove the guide pin from the locking position defining portion. Therefore, the operation knob 27 returns to the initial position, even though it is not being pressed, and the contact inside the second switch 26 is opened.
Conversely, the same applies when the second switch 26 is pressed while the first switch 24 is in the locking position.

Next, the illumination mechanism of the ON indicator portion corresponding to the main part of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG.
3C is an end view showing a main part of a cross section taken along line 1-1 of the switch 20 in FIG. 3C, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which both operation knobs of the switch 20 are in the initial positions, and a cut surface corresponding to FIG. FIG. The illumination mechanism of the ON indicator portion mainly involves the LED 40, the light source holes 42 and 44, the lighting holes 46 and 48, and the light guides 30 and 32. The LED 40 is mounted in a hollow portion 41 provided in the middle of the switches 24 and 26,
4 or switch 26 receives a pressing operation,
It lights up as soon as its internal contacts are connected.

The light source holes 42 and 44 have a hole structure provided in the switch body 38 fixed inside the housing 22 toward the respective switches 24 and 26. The switch main body portion 38 provided with the light source holes 42 and 44 forms the wall surface of the hollow portion 41 in which the LED 40 is stored. The light source holes 42 and 44 are closed by the knob body 34 having the knob body 34 and the operation knob 27 when the operation knobs are at the initial positions.

The lighting holes 46, 48 move toward the rear of the switch along the fixed switch body 38 when the operation knobs are pressed.
It is a hole structure provided in 36. This lighting hole 46, 48
Is the hollow portion 4 in each of the knob bodies 34 and 36.
1 is formed on the side in contact with the switch body 38. The lighting holes 46 and 48 move back and forth on a substantially straight line when the operation knob is pressed, and the above-mentioned light source holes 42 and 44 are located on the moving straight line. When each operation knob receives a pressing operation and stops at the locking position, the light source holes 42 and 44 described above and the lighting holes 46 and 48 just overlap each other. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the operation knob 25 has received a pressing operation and stopped at the locking position, in which the lighting hole 48 overlaps the light source hole 44.

The light guides 30 and 32 are the knob body 3
4 and 36, and is made of a transparent resin member such as acrylic. One end of each light guide covers the ON indicator part provided on the display part of the corresponding operation knob from the back side, and the other end covers the lighting hole provided on the knob body in which the light guide is fitted. .

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram illustrating an electrical connection relationship in the switch 20. Here, when the operation knob 27 is pressed in the switch 20 in the state shown in FIG. 2, the operation knob 27 is stopped at the locking position as shown in FIG. At this time, the LED 40 lights up. At the same time, the lighting hole 48 moves with the movement of the knob body 36 and overlaps the light source hole 44, so that the light from the LED 40 is emitted from the second light source.
The inside of the switch 26 can be reached. This light is taken in by the light guide 32 covering the lighting hole 48, guided inside the light guide 32, and reaches the inside of the ON indicator portion 27b of the operation knob 27. As described above, when the operation knob 27 is pressed to perform the suppression operation of the air conditioner, the ON indicator portion 27b lights up, so that it is easy to visually recognize the operating state of the switch. Even when the operation knob 25 is pressed to perform the normal operation of the air conditioner, the ON indicator portion 25b is turned on by the same mechanism.

According to the switch 20 of the present embodiment described above, it is necessary to illuminate two ON indicator parts at one position.
Since it is only necessary to provide the individual LEDs, there is an excellent effect that the size of the entire switch can be reduced as compared with the case where the individual LEDs are provided for each switch having the ON indicator portion. Further, when an LED is provided for each ON indicator part, it is necessary to provide a lens made of a translucent resin on the back side of each ON indicator part to collect light, but in order to collect light effectively Therefore, this lens needs to be provided so as to cover the space inside the switch provided as the optical path of the LED. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a lens having a size capable of covering the optical path having a predetermined size. According to the switch 20 of the present embodiment, the light is guided from the vicinity of the LED, which is the light source, by the light guide. Therefore, the size of the light guide may be such that each end portion covers the ON indicator portion and the daylighting light. It is possible to reduce the size of the optical path part on the way. Therefore, the overall size of each operation knob and switch can be reduced. Furthermore, the number of parts is reduced by using only one LED, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

Further, in the switch 20 of this embodiment, each lighting hole is formed larger than the corresponding light source hole. Therefore, even when the operation knob is pressed to reach the forward position, or when the operation force is released and pushed back to the locking position and stopped, the lighting hole overlaps with the light source hole, and the light of the LED Can be incorporated into a light guide. Therefore, when the operation knob is pressed, it is turned on at the same time as the electrical contact is connected before the operation force is released.
The indicator can be turned on.

As described above, even when one of the operation knobs receives a pressing operation and the shared LED lights up and one of the ON indicator parts lights up, the other operation knob is in the initial position, so that the other operation knob is in the initial position. The light source hole is closed by the corresponding knob body, and the other ON indicator portion does not light up at the same time.

Further, L provided in the switch 20 of the present embodiment.
The ED 40 has a configuration in which it is turned on at the same time when a contact inside any of the switches is connected, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which the LED is always turned on. That is, the LED is automatically turned on while the vehicle engine equipped with this switch is being driven. In this case, it is possible to reduce the number of electrical contacts for lighting the LED. Further, as described above, in the switch not receiving the operation force, since the light source hole is closed by the knob body, even if the LED is always turned on, the ON indicator part of the switch in the initial position is illuminated. There is no.

In the present embodiment, the air conditioner switch having two operating knobs is used. However, in addition to this, an air volume switch for defining the air volume of the air conditioner, a blow switch for defining the air blowing position, and an air conditioning air The present invention can be applied to various switches such as an inside / outside air switch for setting the blowing port inside or outside the vehicle. These switches can have a shape in which three or four or more operation knobs are arranged in a line. In such a case, inside the switch, a hollow portion in which an LED is installed is provided at each of intermediate positions of operation knobs adjacent to each other, and the LEDs may be shared by the operation knobs adjacent to each other. In the case of a triple knob etc., when turning on the ON indicator of a switch equipped with LEDs on both sides, either one of the LEDs
The brightness of the ON indicator does not differ from each other as long as only the light is turned on. Alternatively, only one of the switches at the end may occupy the LED. Of course, a configuration in which a plurality of operation knobs are vertically arranged may be used.

Further, instead of arranging three or more operation knobs in a line as described above, the operation knobs shown in FIGS.
It is also possible to arrange them two-dimensionally as illustrated in the case of the triple and quad knobs in (B). In this case, it is necessary to prepare a space for mounting the LEDs in the substantially central portion inside the four-series or three-series knob. FIG. 6C shows the LE when the present invention is applied to the switch 20B having the quadruple knob.
It is explanatory drawing which represents typically the positional relationship in a switch cross section regarding D, a light guide, a light source hole, and a lighting hole.
An LED 40b is arranged in the substantially central portion, and four light source holes are provided in the switch body portion surrounding the LED 40b so as to face the inside of each switch, and a knob body provided with each operation knob at the front portion illuminates a predetermined position. Provide each hole. In addition, one end covers each lighting hole, and the other end has a light guide that reaches the back side of the display of each operation knob.The upper switch is provided in the lower part of the switch, and the lower switch is provided in the upper part of the switch. . With this configuration, 4
The same for switches that have one operation knob
With the individual light sources, it is possible to illuminate the ON indicator portion of each operation knob.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to these embodiments at all, and various push-button switches that require illumination of the ON indicator portion may be used within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, other than in-vehicle switches. Of course, it can be implemented in the following manner.

[0032]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an end view illustrating a lighting mechanism of a push button switch 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view at a position corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating a state where each operation knob is at an initial position.

3A and 3B are a front view, a plan view, and a side view illustrating the appearance of the push button switch 20.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is an electric circuit diagram of the push button switch 20. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20, 20B ... Push button switch 22 ... Casing 24 ... First switch 25 ... Operation knob 25a ... Display section 25b ... ON indicator section 26 ... Second switch 27 ... Operation knob 27a ... Display section 27b ... ON indicator section 30, 32 ... Light guide 34 ... Knob body 36 ... Knob body 38 ... Switch body 40, 40b ... LED 41 ... Hollow part 42, 44 ... Light source hole 46, 48 ... Lighting hole 50 ... Holder 51 ... Cam groove 51a ... Initial position prescribed location 51b ... Engagement Stop position prescribed location 52 ... Guide pin 54 ... Cancel plate 56 ... Spring 58 ... Movable contact 60 ... Printed circuit board 62 ... Connector terminal 64 ... Lamp 66 ... Connector insertion hole 68 ... Optical path section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of operation knobs are provided, light sources of a number smaller than the number of the operation knobs are incorporated, and when one of the plurality of operation knobs is pressed, the operation knob is operated. A push-button switch with an illumination mechanism, which connects or disconnects a contact and makes the display of the pressed operation knob illuminated by the light source, the push button switch having an illumination mechanism corresponding to switching of the contact, An optical path section that leads to the display section of the plurality of operation knobs is provided for each of the operation knobs, and a change in the position of the operation knob that accompanies a change in the connection state of the contact causes the light source to pass through each of the optical path sections. A push-button switch with an illumination mechanism, which is equipped with an optical path portion lighting means for blocking or connecting the light from the display unit to each of the display units. 2. The push button switch with an illumination mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.