JP3753638B2 - switch - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push-type switch used in an electronic device, and more particularly to a switch that is turned on / off when both ends of a built-in coil spring are in contact with and separated from a contact terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a switch that incorporates a conductive coil spring and is turned on / off as a contact piece that can be contacted and separated from a contact terminal provided on the inner surface of the housing, for example, there is a “switch” described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-93074. “Switch” (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-93074) is composed of “(Claim 1) a case in which a substantially terminal is formed and a fixed terminal is planted in a flat shape on the inner bottom surface, and a conductive member having a spring property. A torsion coil spring contact piece having a movable end having a contact portion bent into a U-shape and having a tip end bent substantially in a semicircular shape, and a fixed end having a substantially straight shape and a contact portion at the tip, and a molded member And an operation body that has a U-shaped groove at one end, straddles the U-shaped groove over the movable end of the contact piece, and slides in the longitudinal direction. And a cover for holding the coil portion of the contact piece between the case and the case. , And as shown in FIG. 15, fixed terminals 112 and 113 are provided on the bottom surface in the case 111. The case 111 is made of a conductive member having a spring property, and one end of a coil spring-like spring portion 114e is bent in a U shape, and the tip further has a contact portion 114c bent in a substantially semicircular shape. A movable piece 114b is formed, and a contact piece 114 is provided that forms a fixed end 114a having a contact portion 114d that contacts the fixed terminal 112 at the tip, with the other end being substantially linear.
[0003]
The operation body 115 has a substantially rod shape and a U-shaped groove 115a at one end. The operation body 115 straddles the movable end 114c of the contact piece 114 and slides in the longitudinal direction so that the contact portion 114c and the fixed terminal are provided. 113 is made to contact and separate.
The cover 116 is a lid that encloses the contact piece 114 in the upper portion of the case 111. The cover 116 has a hole 116a that slidably holds the operating body 115, and is further coupled to the case 111, and a protrusion 116b that holds the coil portion 114e of the contact piece 114 together with the U-shaped recess 111a of the case 111. Have
[0004]
The conventional example formed in this way moves the movable end 114b downward by pressing the operating body 115 downward and sliding against the spring force of the contact piece 114. At this time, the movable end 114b is moved in the winding direction of the coil spring with the contact portion 114d in contact with the contact terminal 112 as a fulcrum, so that the spring force of the coil spring and the bending of the movable end 114b Move by. The contact portion 114c is moved in the horizontal direction in FIG. 15 as the movable end 114b moves downward, moves to the position of the fixed terminal 113, contacts the fixed terminal 113, and the fixed terminal 112 and the fixed terminal 113 are in a conductive state. It becomes.
[0005]
Further, when the pressing of the operating body 115 is finished, the contact piece 114 returns to its original position by its own spring force, the contact portion 114c is detached from the fixed terminal 113, and the fixed terminal 112 and the fixed terminal 113 are insulated. It becomes.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the switch shown in the conventional example, the operating body 115 is slid downward to bring the fixed end 114a and the movable end 114b of the contact piece 114 into contact with the fixed terminal 112 and the fixed terminal 113, but resists downward movement. The operation pressure and the contact pressure required for the contact between the contact terminal 112 and the fixed end 114a and the contact between the contact terminal 113 and the movable end 114b depend on the elastic force caused by twisting of the spring portion 114e of the contact piece 114 in the winding direction. .
[0007]
As described above, the elastic force generated by the twisting of the coil spring in the winding direction varies depending on the twisting amount, and it is difficult to maintain the contact pressure between the contact piece and the fixed terminal at a set value.
[0008]
In particular, in a push switch for position detection used in various electronic devices such as detecting the position of a CD tray or a CD tray of a computer, the operation force used to press the push switch is zero, and the contact piece and Ideally, the contact pressure with the fixed terminal is a set value, but in the conventional example, the contact pressure between the contact piece and the fixed terminal decreases when the operating force for pressing the push switch is reduced. In order to realize the above, there was a problem that the operating force had to be increased. That is, when the operation force is reduced, the contact pressure is also reduced, and the contact pressure at the contact start position between the contact piece and the fixed terminal is different from the contact pressure when the contact piece after the contact is further moved, There is a problem that the contact resistance at the contact start position is large, an error is generated at the position determined to be conductive, and the accuracy of the detection position is deteriorated.
[0009]
Furthermore, since the operation direction of the contact piece by the operating body deforms the contact piece in the winding direction of the coil spring, it is difficult to shorten the length of the switch operation direction.
[0010]
In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch in which a change in contact pressure due to a position of a contact piece is small.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present invention
[0012]
A case forming a housing shape;
One end forms a contact portion that is exposed on the inner surface of the case, and the other end is a first fixed terminal that is provided outside the case;
One end forms a contact portion exposed on the side of the case, and the other end is a second fixed terminal provided outside the case;
Provided inside the case, the middle part consists of a coil spring that has elasticity in the coil winding direction and the compression direction, and one end forms a fixed contact part that extends from the coil spring and is always in contact with the first fixed terminal. Is provided with a curved portion at the tip of the coil spring to form a movable contact portion that can contact the second fixed terminal, and a contact piece that is inserted into the case with the coil spring compressed in the winding direction;
One end is pivotally locked to the case on the coil spring side in the case, and the other end forms an action part placed on the movable contact part of the contact piece, and the upper part facing the action part is convex It is located outside the case to form a pressing portion, and when the pressing portion is pressed, the action portion presses the movable contact portion and bends while compressing the coil spring to make the movable contact portion a contact portion of the second fixed terminal. A switch comprising an operating body to be contacted ,
[0013]
I will provide a. The operation of the present invention will be described below.
The contact piece provided in the case has a fixed contact part at one end always connected to the fixed terminal, and the movable contact part at the other end is pressed against the case inner wall by the elastic force in the twisting direction of the coil spring. Although it is contacted and positioned so as to be in contact with other fixed terminals, it is not contacted in a normal state.
In this state, when the operating portion of the operating body is pressed, the operating body is moved in the case. Then, the pressing portion of the operating body is pressed and compressed in the direction of compressing the coil spring of the contact piece.
[0014]
The contact piece is pushed by the operating body and moved while the movable contact portion is in contact with the inner wall of the case by the elastic force in the twisting direction of the coil spring, and is brought into contact with another fixed terminal.
In the switch, the fixed contact portion and the movable contact portion of the contact piece are in contact with the fixed terminals, respectively, so that the fixed terminals are short-circuited to be in an electrically conductive state.
When the pressure on the operating portion of the operating body is released, the contact piece expands due to the elastic force in the compression direction of the coil spring and returns to the initial position. Therefore, the operating body is also moved to the original position by the elastic force in the compression direction of the coil spring.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a right side view, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG . 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a part of the first embodiment is removed, FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view of the same, and FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an explanatory front view thereof, FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view of the same plane, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.
[0016]
Reference numeral 1 denotes a switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The switch 1 is a push switch for position detection used in various electronic devices. For example, it detects a movable position of a position of a CD tray used as a movable member in a CD drive for audio or a computer. It is used. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, the switch 1 includes a case 2 including a case body 2 a having a substantially housing shape with one opening and a lid body 2 b covering the opening of the case body 2 a. A first fixed terminal 3 provided with the contact portion 3a exposed on the bottom surface 2c of the case 2, a second fixed terminal 4 provided with the contact portion 4a exposed on the side surface of the case 2 in the case 2, and an intermediate portion The contact piece 5 is formed of a coil spring shape and both ends thereof are brought into contact with the side surface 2d in the case 2 by the elastic force in the twisting direction of the spring, and the operation body 6 capable of pressing the contact piece 5 from the outside of the case 2.
[0017]
In the case 2, the case main body 2a is formed of polyphthalamide resin, a protrusion 2e for positioning the contact piece 5 is provided on the end of the bottom surface 2a, and the lid 2b is formed of a metal plate. The The lid 2b has a hole 2f through which the operating body 6 can be inserted at a position located on the end side of the case body 2a different from the upper part of the protrusion 2e when the lid 2b is covered with the opening of the case body 2a. To drill.
[0018]
One end of the first fixed terminal 3 forms a planar contact portion 3a, and the other end forms a connection terminal 3b.
[0019]
One end of the second fixed terminal 4 forms a planar contact portion 4a, and the other end forms a connection terminal 4b.
[0020]
The first fixed terminal 3 and the second fixed terminal 4 are such that the connection terminal 3b and the connection terminal 4b protrude outside the case body 2a, the contact portion 3a is exposed to the bottom surface 2c inside the case body 2a, and the contact portion. It is integrally formed by insert molding together with the case body 2a so that 4a is exposed to the side surface 2d inside the case body 2a.
[0021]
The contact piece 5 is made of a conductive member, and an intermediate portion forms a coil spring portion 5a having a coil spring shape. As shown in FIG. 8, the coil spring portion 5 a has elasticity in the coil winding direction and also in the compression direction indicated by the arrow C in the drawing. One end of the contact piece 5 extending from the coil spring portion 5a forms a fixed contact portion 5b. The fixed contact portion 5b is formed by providing one end of the coil spring portion 5a in a straight line. Furthermore, the other end of the contact piece 5 forms a movable contact portion 5c. The movable contact portion 5c is provided with a bent portion 5d at its tip and bent into an L shape, and further, a straight tip portion 5e is formed from the bent portion 5d.
[0022]
The operation body 6 is formed of a rod-like body that can be inserted into the hole 2f formed in the lid body 2b, and one end located outside the case 2 in a state of being inserted into the lid body 2b forms a pressing portion 6a. The other end located inside forms the action part 6b. The pressing part 6a is a part to be position-detected, for example, pressed by a CD tray or the like. The action part 6b is formed by forming a U-shaped groove 6c at the tip thereof. The operating body 6 is provided by inserting the straight end portion 5e of the movable contact portion 5c into the U-shaped groove 6c in a state where the operating portion 6b is inserted into the lid 2b so that the action portion 6b is positioned in the case 2.
[0023]
Then, as shown in each figure, the contact piece 5 has a fixed contact at a position where a protrusion 2e protruding in the case 2 with the fixed contact portion 5b on the bottom surface 2c side enters the hollow portion of the coil spring portion 5a. The portion 5b and the movable contact portion 5c are inserted into the case body 2a in a state where the portion 5b and the movable contact portion 5c are compressed in the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a. Therefore, the contact piece 5 comes into contact with the contact portion 3a of the first fixed terminal 3 provided on the bottom surface 2c of the case 2 with the fixed contact portion 5b, and the second contact piece 5c provided on the side surface 2d of the case 2 with the movable contact portion 5c. It is located above the contact portion 4a of the fixed terminal 4. Further, with the operating body 6 inserted through the hole 2f of the lid 2b, the tip straight portion 5e of the movable contact portion 5c is inserted into the U-shaped groove 6c. In this state, the lid 2b is further attached and fixed so as to close the opening side of the case main body 2a. Accordingly, the fixed contact portion 5b is compressed in the compression direction C between the operating body 6 and the bottom surface 2c because the lid body 2b is attached to the case body 2a in this way, and therefore the compression direction C of the coil spring portion 5a is compressed. The contact state is maintained by the elasticity of. Furthermore, the movable contact portion 5c is also located above the contact portion 4a provided on the side surface 2d, and is provided in a contacted state pressed against the side surface 2d by the elastic force in the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a.
[0024]
The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.
The switch 1 is pressed by the pressing portion 6a of the operation body 6 in a state where the switch 1 is attached to a predetermined position such as a circuit board.
Then, the operating body 6 slides in the hole 2f of the lid 2b. When the operating body 6 is slidably moved, the straight end portion 5e of the movable contact portion 5c is inserted into the groove 6c of the operating body 6, so that the coil spring portion 5a of the contact piece 5 is compressed and moved in the direction of arrow C. Since the point of action on the contact piece 5 is the tip straight part 5e that is separated from the coil spring part 5a, the coil spring part 5a buckles. Then, the curved portion 5d of the movable contact portion 5c is moved while being in contact with the side surface 2d in the case body 2a, and eventually comes into contact with the contact portion 4a of the fixed terminal 4, and the contact piece 5 is connected to the first fixed terminal 3 and the second fixed terminal 4. The fixed terminal 4 is electrically connected. At this time, the contact pressure between the contact portion 4a of the fixed terminal 4 and the curved portion 5d of the movable contact portion 5c is due to the elastic force in the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a. The change is almost zero.
[0025]
When the pressing of the pressing portion 6a is released, the operating body 6 is returned to its original position by the elastic force of the spring portion 5a in the direction of arrow C, and the curved portion 5d of the movable contact portion 5c is also moved upward in each figure. The contact with the contact portion 4a of the second fixed terminal 4 is released.
[0026]
In the switch 1 according to the first embodiment, the operation direction is the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a. However, the operation direction of the switch 1 that can be operated even at right angles to the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a will be described below. The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the switch 1 according to the second embodiment, the operating body 6 also serves as the lid 2b without providing the lid 2b.
[0027]
That is, the operating body 6 is formed of a plate-like body having substantially the same shape as the opening of the case main body 2a, and a pressing portion 6a, which is a mountain-like protruding portion having a gentle slope, is formed on the upper end portion of the operating body 6. To do. Furthermore, central projections 6d serving as a swinging center capable of swinging the pressing portion 6a are provided on both sides of the operating body 6 opposite to the pressing portion 6a. And since the spring part 5a and the movable contact part 5c contact | abut on the surface opposite to the press part 6a of the operation body 6 at the time of case body 2a attachment, this opposite surface forms the action part 6b.
[0028]
Further, the case body 2a to which the operating body 6 is locked is formed in a substantially housing shape with one side opened as in the first embodiment. Similarly, similarly to the first embodiment, the first fixed terminal 3 is formed by providing the contact portion 3a and the connection terminal 3b, and the second fixed terminal 4 is also formed by providing the contact portion 4a and the connection terminal 4b. . As in the first embodiment, the first fixed terminal 3 and the second fixed terminal 4 are such that the connection terminal 3b and the connection terminal 4b protrude outside the case body 2a, and the contact portion 3a is a bottom surface inside the case body 2a. It is integrally formed by insert molding together with the case main body 2a so that it is exposed to 2c and the contact portion 4a is exposed to the side surface 2d inside the case main body 2a.
[0029]
Thus, unlike the first embodiment, the case main body 2a integrally formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the operating body is placed on both side surfaces 2d and 2g on the side where the protrusion 2e protrudes from the bottom surface 2c. An attachment hole 2h through which the center projection 6d of 6 can be inserted is formed. Therefore, the case body 2a is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the mounting hole 2h is provided.
[0030]
Furthermore, the contact portion 4a is also formed by providing a coil spring portion 5a, a fixed contact portion 5b, a movable contact portion 5c, a curved portion 5d, and a tip straight portion 5e, as in the first embodiment.
[0031]
The switch 1 according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that the center protrusion 6d of the operating body 6 is inserted into the mounting hole 2h of the case body 2a with the contact piece 5 provided in the case body 2a. Then, the operating body 6 is swingably attached to the case body 2a. In this state, the contact piece 5 is provided in the case main body 2a in a stable state in which the contact piece 5 is not compressed in the direction of the arrow C, and is thus deformed by the elastic force in the winding direction of the coil spring portion 5a. The curved portion 5d provided on the movable contact portion 5c of the contact piece 5 is in a state of being pressed by the side surface 2d of the case body 2a. And the operation body 6 is the state which made the press part 6a protrude from the upper part of the case main body 2a in the state mounted on the coil spring part 5a and the movable contact part 5c of the contact piece 5. FIG.
[0032]
In the switch 1 according to the second embodiment formed as described above, when the pressing portion 6a of the operating body 6 is pressed, the operating body 6 swings toward the bottom surface 2c side of the case body 2a around the center protrusion 6d. Is done. Then, as in the first embodiment, the movable contact portion 5c of the contact piece 5 moves toward the bottom surface 2c along the side surface 2d in the case body 2a, and the bottom surface 2c while the coil spring portion 5a is slightly buckled. The curved portion 5d of the movable contact portion 5c comes into contact with the contact portion 4a of the second fixed terminal 4 provided on the side surface 2d of the case body 2a, and the contact piece 5 is contacted with the first fixed terminal 3 and the second fixed portion. The fixed terminal 4 is electrically connected.
[0033]
When the pressing of the pressing portion 6a is released, the operating body 6 is returned to its original position by the elastic force of the spring portion 5a in the direction of arrow C, and the curved portion 5d of the movable contact portion 5c is also moved upward in each figure. The contact with the contact portion 4a of the second fixed terminal 4 is released.
[0034]
Therefore, in the second embodiment, since the operating body 6 is provided so as to be swingable and the action portion 6b compresses and moves the coil spring portion 5a and the movable contact portion 5c, the operation of the switch 1 is performed from above the switch 1 to the bottom surface. 2c, that is, a pressing force in the compression direction of the coil spring portion 5a, or a direction parallel to the upper surface of the switch 1, that is, a pressing force in a direction of pressing toward the inclined surface of the pressing portion 6a of the operating body 6 may be used. . In the case of the operation by the pressing force in the direction parallel to the upper surface of the switch 1, a part of the pressing force that presses the slope of the pressing portion 6a is converted into a swinging force that swings the operating body 6 toward the bottom surface 2c. The pressing force is in the direction of compressing the coil spring portion 5a.
[0035]
In the second embodiment, the operating body 6 is attached without compressing the contact piece 5 in the direction of the bottom surface 2c of the case main body 2a. However, when the operating body 6 is attached to the case main body 2a, the operating portion 6 A locking concave portion and a locking convex portion for restricting the sliding of the case body 2a on the 6b side are provided on the operation body 6 on the action portion 6b side and the upper portion of the case body a, and the coil spring portion 5a of the contact piece 5 is provided on the bottom surface 2c. You may attach the operation body 6 to the case main body 2a in the state compressed in the direction.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the switch is formed as described above, there is almost no deformation in the winding direction of the coil spring portion during operation. Therefore, the contact pressure when the contact piece 5 comes into contact with the fixed terminal is reduced. Since the contact piece is substantially constant regardless of the amount of movement change, the contact pressure at the contact start position where the contact piece brings the fixed terminal into a conductive state and the contact pressure when the contact piece is further moved after contact are generated. An error does not occur in the position where it is determined that the conducting state is performed, and the accuracy of the detection position can be improved.
In addition, since it can operate without changing the contact piece in the diameter direction of the coil, the contact piece can be installed so that the coil diameter direction of the coil spring portion and the switching operation direction of the contact piece are different, and the length of the switching operation direction Can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory front view of the same. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram on the right side of the same FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG . 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a part of the first embodiment is removed. FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view showing a part according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view of the plane representing the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 11. FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG. 10. FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch 2 Case 2a Case main body 2b Cover 2c Bottom 2d Side 2e Protrusion 2f Hole 2g Side 2h Mounting hole 3 First fixed terminal 3a Contact part 3b Connection terminal 4 Second fixed terminal 4a Contact part 4b Connection terminal 5 Contact piece 5a Coil Spring part 5b Fixed contact part 5c Movable contact part 5d Curved part 5e Straight end part 6 Operation body 6a Press part 6b Action part 6c Groove 6d Protrusion

Claims (1)

A case forming a housing shape;
One end forms a contact portion that is exposed on the inner surface of the case, and the other end is a first fixed terminal that is provided outside the case;
One end forms a contact portion exposed on the side of the case, and the other end is a second fixed terminal provided outside the case;
Provided inside the case, the middle part consists of a coil spring that has elasticity in the coil winding direction and the compression direction, and one end forms a fixed contact part that extends from the coil spring and is always in contact with the first fixed terminal. Is provided with a curved portion at the tip of the coil spring to form a movable contact portion that can contact the second fixed terminal, and a contact piece that is inserted into the case with the coil spring compressed in the winding direction;
One end is pivotally locked to the case on the coil spring side in the case, and the other end forms an action part placed on the movable contact part of the contact piece, and the upper part facing the action part is convex It is located outside the case to form a pressing portion, and when the pressing portion is pressed, the action portion presses the movable contact portion and bends while compressing the coil spring to make the movable contact portion a contact portion of the second fixed terminal. A switch comprising an operating body to be contacted .

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