JP7361918B2 - Button switch devices and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a button switch device and an electronic device.

Conventionally, a button switch structure includes a rubber switch having a rubber dome that is pressed by a button, a substrate having a contact point at a position corresponding to the rubber dome, and an annular groove formed on the surface of the rubber switch that contacts the substrate. There are things to prepare for. The annular groove is provided so as to surround an area where it is desired to prevent liquid from entering. Therefore, liquid that has entered between the rubber switch and the substrate due to capillary action is blocked by the annular groove, and is prevented from entering the inside of the annular groove.

The above button switch structure is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-114461

Here, in the button switch structure, when the button is pushed in, the rubber dome elastically deforms accordingly. Further, the rubber dome is hollow and bulges out, and air is trapped inside the rubber dome. Therefore, when the rubber dome is elastically deformed by pressing the button, if air remains trapped inside the rubber dome, the internal pressure of the rubber dome increases. As described above, when the internal pressure of the rubber dome increases, there is a problem in that the button feel deteriorates.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a button switch device that can provide a good button feel while preventing liquid from entering.

A button switch device according to the present disclosure includes a rubber switch having a rubber dome, a substrate in contact with the rubber switch, and an annular groove formed on a surface of the rubber switch in contact with the substrate so as to surround a liquid intrusion prevention range. , an air groove formed to communicate with the inside of the rubber dome and placed inside the annular groove on the surface of the rubber switch that comes into contact with the substrate; It is equipped with an air hole arranged inside, and one button corresponding to one rubber dome to press the one rubber dome, and the plurality of air grooves each connect between two adjacent rubber domes, An air hole is provided in any one of the plurality of air grooves .

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a good button feeling while preventing liquid from entering.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an electronic device including a button switch device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of the button switch device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration of the button switch device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the configuration of a button switch device according to a second embodiment. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 7 is a rear view showing the configuration of a button switch device according to Embodiment 3; 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. FIG.

Hereinafter, in order to explain the present disclosure in more detail, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1.
A button switch device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described using FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an electronic device 50 including a button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of the button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III--III in FIG. 2. Note that in FIG. 2, the substrate 11 is removed, and the substrate 11 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

The electronic device 50 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a display device. This electronic device 50 includes a housing 51, a display panel 52, and a button switch device 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 51 is formed into a rectangular frame shape. An opening 51a is formed in the upper part of the housing 51. The display panel 52 is attached to the opening 51a of the housing 51. The button switch device 10 is attached to the lower part of the housing 51. The button switch device 10 controls an image or video displayed on the display panel 52 in response to a button operation from a user, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the button switch device 10 includes a substrate 11, a rubber switch 12, and a plurality of buttons 13. The board 11 is arranged at the rear of the button switch device 10. The button 13 is arranged at the front of the button switch device 10. Rubber switch 12 is arranged between substrate 11 and button 13.

The board 11 is for controlling images or videos displayed on the display panel 52. This substrate 11 is made of, for example, glass epoxy resin. Further, the substrate 11 has a plurality of contacts 11a on the surface facing the rubber switch 12.

The rubber switch 12 is made of, for example, elastic rubber or an elastic resin material such as silicone resin. The rubber switch 12 is formed into a flat plate shape as a whole, and has a front surface 12A and a rear surface 12B. The front surface 12A faces the button 13, and the rear surface 12B is in contact with the substrate 11.

The rubber switch 12 also includes a rubber dome 12a, a conductive portion 12b, an annular groove 12c, an air groove 12d, and an air hole 12e.

The rubber dome 12a is hollow and bulges out from the front surface 12A toward the button 13 side. When the button 13 is pushed toward the rear side of the button switch device 10, the rubber dome 12a is crushed by the pushed button 13. Furthermore, when the button 13 moves toward the front side of the button switch device 10 and the pressing force exerted by the button 13 is released, the rubber dome 12a returns to its original shape.

The conductive portion 12b is provided on the inner ceiling surface of the rubber dome 12a. The conductive portion 12b is made of a conductive material such as gold or carbon, for example. Further, the conductive portion 12b comes into contact with the two contacts 11a on the substrate 11 when the rubber dome 12a is elastically deformed by pressing the button 13. Therefore, the two contacts 11a are electrically connected to each other via the conductive portion 12b, and the switch is turned on.

The annular groove 12c is a groove for preventing moisture, condensation, and liquids such as drinks from entering. This annular groove 12c protects, for example, vias (not shown) of the substrate 11 from liquid. A via is a hole in the substrate 11 plated with copper and wired therein, and the substrate 11 is provided with a plurality of vias. When the liquid enters the via, the copper migrates and moves, which may cause the wiring to break and cause the board 11 to malfunction. The annular groove 12c is provided on the rear surface 12B of the rubber switch 12 that contacts the substrate 11 so as to surround a liquid intrusion prevention area, that is, an area where a via is provided. Therefore, when liquid enters between the substrate 11 and the rear surface 12B of the rubber switch 12 due to capillary action, the liquid is taken in and remains in the annular groove 12c, and is prevented from entering the inside of the annular groove 12c. be done. Note that FIG. 2 shows an example in which all the rubber domes 12a are surrounded by one annular groove 12c.

The air groove 12d discharges air accumulated inside the rubber dome 12a toward the outside of the rubber dome 12a as the rubber dome 12a elastically deforms. This air groove 12d is provided on the rear surface 12B of the rubber switch 12. Moreover, the air groove 12d is arranged inside the annular groove 12c. The air groove 12d communicates with the inside of the rubber dome 12a and extends outward from the rubber dome 12a. At this time, the air groove 12d does not reach the annular groove 12c. That is, the air groove 12d remains inside the annular groove 12c from the inside of the rubber dome 12a.

The air hole 12e discharges the air flowing in the air groove 12d toward the outside of the button switch device 10. This air hole 12e communicates with the air groove 12d and is open to the front surface 12A of the rubber switch 12. Moreover, the air hole 12e is arranged inside the annular groove 12c. That is, one end of the air groove 12d communicates with the rubber dome 12a, and the other end of the air groove 12d communicates with the air hole 12e.

The button 13 is provided to cover the rubber switch 12 from the front side. Further, the button 13 can be pushed into the button switch device 10 toward the rubber switch 12 side. At this time, the button 13 is always urged toward the front side of the button switch device 10 by the reaction force of the rubber dome 12a.

Here, in the button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment, two rubber domes 12a are provided for one button 13 in order to obtain a good button feeling no matter which position of the button 13 is pressed. We are prepared. Therefore, each button 13 has two pressing parts 13a. The two pressing portions 13a correspond to the two rubber domes 12a, respectively. The pressing portion 13a protrudes from the rear surface of the button 13 toward the rubber switch 12, and faces the corresponding rubber dome 12a.

That is, when one button 13 is pushed in against the reaction force of the rubber dome 12a, the two rubber domes 12a corresponding to that button 13 are simultaneously pressed and elastically deformed. On the other hand, when one button 13 is released from being pressed, the button 13 returns to its original position due to the reaction force of the rubber dome 12a, and the two rubber domes 12a corresponding to this button 13 return to their original shape. Return to

Therefore, when the button 13 is pushed in against the reaction force of the rubber dome 12a, the pressing portion 13a moves back together with the button 13 and presses the top of the rubber dome 12a. On the other hand, the rubber dome 12a is elastically deformed by being pressed by the pressing portion 13a. Further, as the rubber dome 12a elastically deforms, the conductive portion 12b comes into contact with the two corresponding contacts 11a.

Furthermore, when the rubber dome 12a is elastically deformed, the internal space of the rubber dome 12a becomes smaller. Therefore, the air existing in the internal space is pushed out into the air groove 12d and flows within the air groove 12d. The air flowing through the air groove 12d is discharged to the outside of the device from the air hole 12e. In this way, the button switch device 10 can release air from the inside of the rubber dome 12a when the rubber dome 12a is pressed and crushed.

As a result, the button switch device 10 can suppress an increase in the internal pressure of the rubber dome 12a when the button 13 is pressed. Therefore, in the button switch device 10, the button 13 can be easily pressed and a good button feeling can be obtained.

Note that in FIG. 2, two rubber domes 12a are provided for one button 13, but the number of rubber domes 12a for one button 13 is not limited to this.

In FIG. 2, the annular groove 12c has a rectangular shape, but the shape of the annular groove 12c is not limited to this. Further, although the annular groove 12c is provided so as to surround all the rubber domes 12a, it may be provided so as to surround each one or more rubber domes 12a.

In FIG. 2, the air groove 12d is formed in a straight line, but the longitudinal shape of the air groove 12d is not limited to this.

Moreover, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing another configuration of the button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the button switch device 10 may include an air hole 11b instead of the air hole 12e. The air hole 11b penetrates the substrate 11 in the thickness direction, and communicates between the inside of the air groove 12d and the outside of the button switch device 10. Therefore, the air hole 11b can discharge the air flowing in the air groove 12d toward the outside of the button switch device 10. Note that the button switch device 10 may include both air holes 11b and 12e.

As described above, the button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a rubber switch 12 having a rubber dome 12a, a substrate 11 in contact with the rubber switch 12, and a rear surface 12B of the rubber switch 12 in contact with the substrate 11. An annular groove 12c provided so as to surround the intrusion prevention area and a rear surface 12B of the rubber switch 12 that contacts the substrate 11 are formed so as to communicate with the inside of the rubber dome 12a, and air is disposed inside the annular groove 12c. It includes a groove 12d and air holes 11b and 12e that open from the air groove 12d to the outside of the air groove 12d and are arranged inside the annular groove 12c. Therefore, the button switch device 10 can provide a good button feeling while preventing liquid from entering.

Further, the air hole 12e is formed in the rubber switch 12. Therefore, in the button switch device 10, the air groove 12d is connected to the air hole 12e provided inside the annular groove 12c, and does not need to be connected to the outer circumferential part of the rubber switch 12, and can cross the annular groove 12c. Not yet. As a result, the annular groove 12c can maintain its shape, and can prevent liquid that has entered from the outside by capillary action from penetrating into the inside.

Further, the air hole 11b is formed inside the annular groove 12c in the substrate 11. Therefore, in the button switch device 10, the air groove 12d is connected to the air hole 11b provided inside the annular groove 12c, and does not need to be connected to the outer circumferential part of the rubber switch 12, and can cross the annular groove 12c. Not yet. As a result, the annular groove 12c can maintain its shape, and can prevent liquid that has entered from the outside by capillary action from penetrating into the inside.

The electronic device 50 includes a button switch device 10. Therefore, in the button switch device 10, the electronic device 50 can obtain a good button feeling while preventing liquid from entering.

Embodiment 2.
A button switch device 20 according to a second embodiment will be described using FIGS. 5 to 6.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the configuration of the button switch device 20 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG.

A button switch device 20 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration in which the air groove 12d is replaced with an air groove 22d in the configuration of the button switch device 10 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rubber switch 12 of the button switch device 20 has a plurality of air grooves 22d. The air groove 22d communicates between the two rubber domes 12a corresponding to one button 13. One end of the air groove 22d communicates with the inside of one rubber dome 12a, and the other end of the air groove 22d communicates with the inside of the other rubber dome 12a. The air hole 12e is provided between the two rubber domes 12a in the air groove 22d.

Therefore, when the rubber dome 12a is elastically deformed, the internal space of the rubber dome 12a becomes smaller. Therefore, the air existing in the internal space is pushed out into the air groove 22d and flows within the air groove 22d. The air flowing through the air groove 22d is discharged to the outside of the device from the air hole 12e. In this way, the button switch device 20 can release air from the inside of the rubber dome 12a when the rubber dome 12a is pressed and crushed.

As described above, in the button switch device 20 according to the second embodiment, the air groove 22d communicates between the two rubber domes 12a, and the air hole 12e is provided between the two rubber domes 12a in the air groove 22d. Therefore, in the button switch device 20, the air holes 12e can be shared in two rubber domes 12a corresponding to one button 13.

Embodiment 3.
A button switch device 30 according to Embodiment 3 will be explained using FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a rear view showing the configuration of the button switch device 30 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7.

The button switch devices 10 and 20 according to Embodiments 1 and 2 have a plurality of rubber domes 12a for one button 13, whereas the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 A button switch device 30 according to No. 3 is configured to include one rubber dome 12a for one button 13. That is, in the button switch devices 10 and 20, the plurality of rubber domes 12a corresponding to one button 13 are pressed simultaneously, whereas in the button switch device 30, the plurality of rubber domes 12a are pressed independently. be done.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the plurality of air grooves 22d each connect two adjacent rubber domes 12a. The air hole 12e is provided in the middle of any one of the plurality of air grooves 22d.

The button 13 is provided to cover the rubber switch 12 from the front side. Each button 13 corresponds to one rubber dome 12a. Therefore, each button 13 has one pressing portion 13a.

That is, when one button 13 is pushed in against the reaction force of the rubber dome 12a, one rubber dome 12a corresponding to the button 13 is pressed alone and elastically deforms. On the other hand, when one button 13 is released from being pressed, the button 13 returns to its original position due to the urging force, and one rubber dome 12a corresponding to this button 13 returns to its original shape.

Further, when any one rubber dome 12a is elastically deformed, the internal space of the rubber dome 12a becomes smaller. Therefore, the air existing in the internal space is pushed out into the air groove 22d, flows through the air groove 12d as it is, and is discharged to the outside of the device from the air hole 12e, or the air is elastically deformed into a rubber dome. It flows through the air groove 12d while passing through the inside of the rubber dome 12a other than 12a, and is discharged to the outside of the device from the air hole 12e. In this way, the button switch device 30 can release air from the inside of the rubber dome 12a when the rubber dome 12a is pressed and crushed.

As described above, the button switch device 30 according to the third embodiment includes one button 13 that presses one rubber dome 12a in correspondence with one rubber dome 12a, and one button 13 that presses one rubber dome 12a. An air hole 12e is provided in one air groove 22d. Therefore, even if the button switch device 30 includes one button 13 for one rubber dome 12a, it is possible to share the air holes 12e.

Note that this disclosure does not include any free combination of embodiments, modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment, within the scope of the disclosure. It is possible.

The button switch device according to the present disclosure is suitable for use in a button switch device, etc. that can prevent liquid from entering and provide a good button feel by providing an air groove and an air hole inside the annular groove. Are suitable.

10, 20, 30 button switch device, 11 board, 11a contact, 11b air hole, 12 rubber switch, 12A front surface, 12B rear surface, 12a rubber dome, 12b conductive part, 12c annular groove, 12d air groove, 12e air hole, 13 Button, 13a Pressing part, 22d Air groove, 50 Electronic device, 51 Housing, 51a Opening, 52 Display panel.

Claims (4)

a rubber switch having a rubber dome;
a substrate in contact with the rubber switch;
an annular groove formed on a surface of the rubber switch in contact with the substrate and provided so as to surround a liquid intrusion prevention range;
an air groove formed to communicate with the inside of the rubber dome and disposed inside the annular groove on a surface of the rubber switch that contacts the substrate;
an air hole that opens from the air groove to the outside of the air groove and is arranged inside the annular groove;
one button that corresponds to one rubber dome and presses the one rubber dome,
A plurality of air grooves each connect two adjacent rubber domes,
The button switch device, wherein the air hole is provided in any one of the plurality of air grooves. The button switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the air hole is formed in the rubber switch. The button switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the air hole is formed inside the annular groove in the substrate. An electronic device comprising the button switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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