JP2001283670A - Pushbutton switch, method of manufacturing the same, and composite switch using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a pushbutton switch used in various electronic devices, a method of manufacturing the same, and a composite switch using the same, which are easy to manufacture and inexpensive. SOLUTION: An operating body 13 integrally formed on an upper surface of a driving section 12B of a driving body 12 is made of an elastic material, a projection 13A is provided on the upper surface, and a projection 13 on the upper surface of the operating body 13 is provided.
A groove 1 having a volume larger than the volume of the protrusion 13A on the outer periphery of the groove A
By forming the push button switch by forming 3B,
When the operating body 13 is integrally formed with the driving body 12, the operating body 1
3 is elastically deformed so as to resiliently contact the upper surface of the recess 16A of the mold and close the groove 13B.
In the case of manufacturing a product having a different size or shape, the recess 16A can be manufactured using a single mold having a flat upper surface, and a product which is easy to manufacture and inexpensive can be obtained.

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 used for various electronic devices such as a television and a video, a method of manufacturing the same, and a composite switch using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as various types of electronic equipment have become more sophisticated and diversified, a plurality of switches for switching various functions are provided on the operation surface of the equipment, and characters and symbols representing the respective functions are operated. Of these switches, the switches used for switching power supply, recording, and recording, among others, have different color tones from the other controls to distinguish them from other switches. In many cases, protrusions or the like are provided on the surface.

[0003] Such a conventional push button switch,
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional push button switch, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the same. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a wiring board having a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) formed on an upper surface or a lower surface. Is formed.

[0005] Reference numeral 2 denotes a driving body made of an elastic material such as rubber in which a substantially flat base portion 2A is mounted on the wiring board 1.
A movable contact 2C facing the fixed contact 1A at a predetermined interval is formed on the lower surface of the central drive unit 2B protruding upward, and a thin, generally dome-shaped space is provided between the base unit 2A and the drive unit 2B. They are connected by a connecting portion 2D having a lower diameter.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a cylindrical operating body made of insulating resin;
Reference numeral 4 denotes an insulating resin case that covers the driving body 2. The operating body 3 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the driving section 2B of the driving body 2, and a projection 3A is provided at the center of the upper surface.
The operating body 3 protrudes from A to constitute a push button switch.

[0007] The push button switch having such a configuration is shown in FIG.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of (a), first, the operating body 3 formed in advance with, for example, a red insulating resin is placed in the concave portion 6B of the upper mold 6 having the concave portion 6A formed on the upper surface in accordance with the protrusion 3A. After the insertion and the combination of the upper mold 6 and the lower mold 7, the cavity 7A is filled with, for example, a gray elastic material and heated under pressure.

Thereafter, when the upper mold 6 and the lower mold 7 are opened, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the red operating body 3 provided with the projection 3A is integrally formed on the upper surface of the driving section 2B. Driver 2
Then, the gray driving body 8 having the flat upper surface adjacent thereto is completed.

After forming movable contacts on the lower surface of the driving body 2 or the driving body 8 by printing or the like, the driving body 2 or the driving body 8 is connected to the wiring board 1 having a plurality of fixed contacts formed on the upper surface.
Are placed with their contacts facing each other, and these are covered with a case 4 to complete a push button switch.

In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the operating body 3 is pressed from the neutral position in FIG. 7, the driving portion 2B of the driving body 2 moves downward while bending the connecting portion 2D, and the movable contact 2C on the lower surface. Contacts the fixed contact 1A on the upper surface of the wiring board 1, and the pair of fixed contacts 1A are electrically connected.

When the pressing force is released, the driving section 2B and the operating body 3 are moved upward and restored to the neutral position by the elastic restoring force of the connecting section 2D of the driving body 2.

When such a push button switch is mounted on an electronic device, the driving body 2 provided with the projection 3A and integrally formed with the red operating body 3 needs to be distinguished from, for example, the other. The driving body 8 having a flat upper surface and a gray color is used for switching power supply, recording, and recording, and is used for switching various other functions.

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional push button switch, the protrusion 3 on the upper surface of the operation body 3 is not provided.
In order to manufacture the driving body 2 having a different size and shape of A, it is necessary to manufacture the upper mold 6 having a different size and shape of the concave portion 6A on the upper surface of the concave portion 6B each time. However, there is a problem that it takes a long time to manufacture and becomes expensive.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem and to provide an inexpensive push-button switch which is easy to manufacture.

[0015]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating body integrally formed on the upper surface of the driving section of the driving body is made of an elastic material, and a projection is provided on the upper surface. The push button switch is formed by forming a groove having a volume larger than the volume of the protrusion on the upper surface of the driving unit. It elastically deforms so as to close the groove part by resiliently contacting it, so even when manufacturing those with different sizes and shapes of protrusions, it is possible to manufacture with a single mold with a flat upper surface of the concave part, This has the effect that an easy and inexpensive push button switch can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, after the operation body is inserted into the concave portion having the flat upper surface of the mold, an elastic material is filled into the mold under pressure, and the protrusion of the operation body is formed into the mold. The method of manufacturing a push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the drive body and the operating body are integrally formed by being elastically contacted with the upper surface of the concave portion. Have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an operating portion having a movable contact on a lower surface and a substantially dome-shaped lower outer periphery is integrally formed on a base portion of a driving body of the push button switch according to the first aspect of the present invention. A composite switch is constructed by providing fixed contacts facing the movable contact of this operation unit at a predetermined interval on the wiring board to provide a composite switch.It has various operation functions, has few components, and is easy to assemble. This has the effect that an inexpensive composite switch can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the third aspect of the present invention, a diaphragm made of a substantially arc-shaped elastic metal thin plate or a substantially arc-shaped movable lower surface is used instead of the movable contact of the driving body. A film diaphragm on which contacts are formed is placed on a wiring board so as to face the fixed contacts at a predetermined interval, and when an operating body or an operating unit is pressed, a connecting portion of the driving body is formed. By adding the elastic restoring force of these diaphragms to the elastic restoring force of (1), there is an effect that a good operation feeling with a moderation feeling can be obtained.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The same components as those described in the section of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) Using Embodiment 1,
The invention of the first and second aspects of the present invention will be particularly described.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a push button switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the push button switch. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) on an upper surface or a lower surface. ) Is a wiring substrate formed of carbon ink, metal foil, or the like, and a pair of fixed contacts 1A connected to the conductive pattern is formed on the upper surface of the wiring substrate.

Numeral 12 denotes a driving body made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer having a substantially flat base portion 12A mounted on the wiring board 1, and a central driving portion 12B protruding upward.
A movable contact 12C made of carbon or the like facing the fixed contact 1A at a predetermined interval is formed on the lower surface of the base portion 12A.
A and the driving portion 12B are connected by a connecting portion 12D having a thin and substantially dome shape and having a lower diameter.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a cylindrical operating member made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer similar to the driving member 12, which is integrally formed on the upper surface of the driving portion 12B of the driving member 12, and has a hemispherical shape in the center of the upper surface. The protrusion 13A is provided, and an annular groove 13B having a volume larger than the volume of the protrusion 13A is formed on the outer periphery of the protrusion 13A.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a case made of insulating resin which covers the driving body 12, and the operating body 13 projects from the opening 4A of the case 4 to constitute a push button switch.

A push button switch having such a configuration is shown in FIG.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of (a), first, the operating body 13 preformed with, for example, a red elastic material is inserted into the recess 16A in which the upper surface of the upper mold 16 is flat with the protrusion 13A facing upward.
After assembling the upper mold 16 and the lower mold 7, the cavity 7A is filled with, for example, a gray elastic material and heated under pressure.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the operating body 13 is pressed against the flat upper surface of the recess 16A by filling the elastic material, and the projection 13A resiliently contacts the upper surface of the recess 16A, thereby forming the groove 13B. It is elastically deformed to close.

Thereafter, when the upper mold 16 and the lower mold 7 are opened,
As shown in FIG. 3C, the protrusion 13A is restored to its original state by an elastic restoring force, and the driving body 12 in which the red operating body 13 is integrally formed, and the upper surface adjacent to the driving body 12 are flat and gray. The driving body 8 is completed.

After a movable contact is formed on the lower surface of the driving body 12 or the driving body 8 by printing or the like, the driving body 12 or the driving body 8 is connected to the wiring board 1 having a plurality of fixed contacts formed on the upper surface. Are placed facing each other, and these
To complete the push button switch.

In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the operating body 13 is pressed from the neutral position in FIG. 1, the driving section 12B of the driving body 12 is connected to the connecting section 12 as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
The movable contact 12C on the lower surface contacts the fixed contact 1A on the upper surface of the wiring board 1, and the pair of fixed contacts 1A are electrically connected.

When the pressing force is released, the driving body 12
By the elastic restoring force of the connecting portion 12D, the driving portion 12B and the operating body 13 are moved upward and restored to the neutral position.

When such a push button switch is mounted on an electronic device, the driving body 12 provided with the projection 13A and integrally formed with the red operating body 13 needs to be distinguished from, for example, the other. The driver 8 is used for switching power supply, recording, and recording. The driving body 8 having a flat upper surface and gray is used for switching other various functions.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projection 13A is provided on the upper surface of the operation body 13 made of an elastic material,
A groove 13B having a volume larger than the volume of the projection 13A is formed on the outer periphery to constitute a push button switch. When the operation body 13 is integrally formed with the driving body 12, the projection 1
The protrusion 3A is elastically deformed so that the groove 3B is closed by making the 3A elastically contact the upper surface of the concave portion 16A of the mold.
In the case of manufacturing a device having a different size or shape, the recess 16A can be manufactured with a single mold having a flat upper surface, so that an easy and inexpensive push button switch and a manufacturing method thereof can be obtained. You can do it.

(Embodiment 2) Using Embodiment 2,
The invention of the third and fourth aspects of the present invention will be described.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a composite switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, an upper surface of a wiring board 21 on which a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) are formed, In addition to the pair of fixed contacts 1A, eight pairs of fixed contacts 21A are formed.

The driving body 22 having the substantially flat base portion 22A mounted on the wiring board 21 has a driving section 21B in which the operating body 13 is integrally formed on the upper surface as in the case of the first embodiment. In addition, a movable contact (not shown) facing the fixed contact 21A at a predetermined interval is formed on the lower surface, and eight operating portions 22C connected to the base portion 22A at the lower part of the outer periphery of the substantially dome shape are integrally formed. Is formed.

The case 24 that covers the driving body 22 includes
Eight opening holes 24B from which the upper surface of the operation unit 22C protrudes are provided in addition to the opening holes 24A from which the upper surface of the operation body 13 fixed to the upper surface of the driving unit 21B protrudes, thereby forming a composite switch.

In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the operating body 13 is pressed, the driving section 21B moves downward, and the fixed contact 1A is electrically connected by the movable contact on the lower surface. Same as in the case.

In the case of the present embodiment, in addition to the pressing operation of the operating body 13 described above, when one of the operating sections 22C of the driving body 22 protruding from the case 24 is similarly pressed, the operating section 22C is substantially The lower part of the outer periphery of the dome shape is moved while flexing, and the movable contact formed on the lower surface of the dome shape causes the fixed contact 21 formed on the lower side by the pressing operation.
A is configured to make the electrical connection.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of operating portions 22C are integrally formed on the base portion 22A of the driving body 22, and the electrical contact and separation of the operating portions 22C are performed on the wiring board 21 by the operating portions 22C. Since a plurality of fixed contacts 21A are provided to form a composite switch, a composite switch having various operation functions, few components, easy assembly, and low cost can be obtained.

In the above description, the driving bodies 12 and 22
A configuration has been described in which a movable contact is formed on the lower surface of the wiring board and the fixed contact formed on the upper surface of the wiring board 1 or 21 is electrically connected by the movable contact. However, the configuration shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. However, implementation of the present invention is possible.

That is, in FIG. 6, a central fixed contact 26A connected to a conductive pattern (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the wiring board 26, and a horseshoe-shaped outer fixed contact 2
6B are formed as a pair.

Instead of the movable contact formed on the lower surface of the driving body, the lower end of the outer periphery of the diaphragm 27 made of a substantially circular elastic thin metal plate is provided on the outer fixed contact 26B at a predetermined distance from the center fixed contact 26A. The lower surface of the driving body 28 abuts on the upper surface of the center of the diaphragm 27 while being spaced apart and opposed.

The diaphragm may be a diaphragm made of a film having a substantially arc shape and a movable contact printed on its lower surface by carbon or the like, in addition to the diaphragm made of an elastic metal sheet.

In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the operating body 13 is pressed, the driving section 28B of the driving body 28 moves downward, and the diaphragm 27 whose central upper surface is pressed against the lower surface of the driving body 28 performs a reversing operation. , The central lower surface is the central fixed contact 2
6A, so that the central fixed contact 26A and the outer fixed contact 26B are electrically connected via the diaphragm 27.

Accordingly, the push-button switch and the composite switch having the above-described structure exert an elastic restoring force of the diaphragm in addition to the elastic restoring force of the connecting portion of the driving body when the operating body or the operating portion is pressed. Therefore, a good operation feeling with moderation can be obtained.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to obtain an inexpensive push-button switch, a method of manufacturing the same, and a composite switch using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a push-button switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mold.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view at the time of the pressing operation.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a composite switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional push button switch.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the mold.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21, 26 Wiring board 1A, 21A Fixed contact 4, 24 Case 4A, 24A, 24B Opening hole 7 Lower mold 7A Cavity 8, 12, 22, 28 Driver 12A, 22A Base 12B, 21B, 28B Drive Part 12C Movable contact 12D Connecting part 13 Operating body 13A Projection part 13B Groove part 16 Upper die 16A Depression 22C Operation part 26A Central fixed contact 26B Outside fixed contact 27 Diaphragm

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Shibuya 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5G006 AA02 BA01 BB03 FB04 FB06 5G023 AA12 CA41

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wiring board having a pair of fixed contacts formed on an upper surface thereof, a base portion mounted on the wiring board, and a lower surface facing the fixed contacts at a predetermined interval. A driving unit made of an elastic material, having a driving unit having a movable contact formed therein, wherein the base unit and the driving unit are connected by a thin-walled, substantially dome-shaped connecting portion having an enlarged diameter at a lower portion; An operating body integrally formed on the upper surface of the operating body, the operating body was made of an elastic material, a projection was provided on the upper surface, and a groove having a volume larger than the volume of the projection was formed on the outer periphery of the projection on the upper surface of the operating body. Push button switch. 2. An operation body is inserted into a recess having a flat upper surface of a mold, and then an elastic material is pressurized and filled into the mold, and the projection of the operation body is elastically contacted with the upper surface of the recess of the mold. The method for manufacturing a push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the driving body and the operating body are integrally formed. 3. An operating portion having a movable contact on a lower surface and a substantially dome-shaped lower peripheral portion is integrally formed on a base portion of the driving body of the push button switch according to claim 1, and the operating portion is formed on a wiring board. A composite switch provided with fixed contacts that face the movable contacts at a predetermined interval. 4. A diaphragm made of a substantially arc-shaped elastic metal thin plate, or a diaphragm made of a substantially arc-shaped film having a movable contact formed on a lower surface thereof, instead of a movable contact of a driving body.
4. The push-button switch according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the switch is mounted on a wiring board so as to face the fixed contact with a predetermined interval.