JP7523496B2 - Reed switch control device and push button switch equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reed switch control device that controls the on/off operation of a reed switch, and a push button switch equipped with this reed switch control device.

Some electric trains and diesel railcars on routes with few passengers are equipped with semi-automatic doors that passengers can open and close themselves to prevent the doors from being left open for an unnecessarily long time while the train is stopped at a station, causing warm air from the heater to escape and lower the temperature in the car in winter, and causing the air conditioning to raise the temperature inside the car in summer.

In vehicles like the one above, push button switches for opening and closing the doors are installed on both the outside and inside of the door storage compartment.

A conventional push button switch of this type is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, x, y, and z indicate the x-axis direction (x direction), y-axis direction (y direction), and z-axis direction (z direction) of a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. This three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system is common to all the figures.
It is common.

The push button switch shown in Figure 4 has a reed switch 2 fixedly installed within a casing (not shown) and a push button 3 that can be freely inserted and removed from the casing, and a magnet 4 for driving the reed switch 2 is attached to the face of the push button 3 on the side of the reed switch 2. In this push button switch, the reed switch 2 forms the contact portion of the push button switch.

In this push button switch, when the push button 3 is operated, a magnet 4 magnetizes one of a pair of opposing electrodes (ferromagnetic reeds) with a contact gap (gap) between the reed switch 2, and the magnetic attraction force caused by the magnetic flux generated in the gap between the two electrodes of the reed switch 2 closes or opens the contact between the opposing electrodes, thereby controlling the reed switch 2 to be conductive (on) or non-conductive (off), turning it on and off.

In the push button switch of Figure 4, the direction of the magnetic pole axis of magnet 4 is set in the y direction perpendicular to the direction of the electrode axis of reed switch 2 (x direction, length direction), and either the north pole or the south pole of the magnetic pole axis of magnet 4 faces the reed switch 2.

In the push button switch configured as above, the contact part between the two electrodes is the reed switch 2 as described above, which allows it to be used at a relatively high voltage and makes it easy to install in trains and other vehicles. In addition, because the reed switch 2 is located to the side of the displacement path of the push button 3 in the operating direction indicated by the arrow, the overall thickness is approximately the depth length of the push button 3 plus its displacement stroke, which has the advantage of making it thinner.

Nippon Hamlin Co., Ltd. "Lead Switch Knowledge" Gensha Co., Ltd. Published on January 6, 1980

JP 2001-184973 A

However, as described above, when the reed switch control device is composed of a reed switch 2 and a magnet 4, there is room for improvement in the action of the magnet 4 on the reed switch 2, and it is desirable to shorten the stroke of the push button 3 and make it thinner without compromising the reliability of the on/off operation of the reed switch 2.

Below, we will discuss the operation and problems of conventional reed switch control devices (1) and (2).

The arrangement of the reed switch 2 and magnet 4 in a conventional reed switch control device (1) is as shown in the layout diagram in Figure 5. Figure 5(a) is a plan view, and Figure 5(b) is a side view. In these figures, the electrode axis direction of the reed switch 2 is the x direction, the magnetic pole direction of the magnet 4 is set in the y direction, and the magnet 4 moves in the z direction. In Figure 5(a), the z direction is the direction that passes vertically through the paper, and in Figure 5(b), the x direction is the direction that passes vertically through the paper.

When the push button 3 is pressed and the magnet 4 moves from the position indicated by the dashed line 4' to the position z = 0 indicated by the solid line as shown in Figure 5 (b), the magnet 4 is closest to the reed switch 2, so the magnetizing force is at its maximum and the reed switch 2 is in the ON state.

As the position of magnet 4 increases or decreases from the z = 0 position, the magnetizing force on reed switch 2 gradually decreases, and at further distances reed switch 2 turns off.

When magnet 4 moves toward position z=0 on the z-axis, reed switch 2 turns on when the magnetizing force reaches or exceeds the on magnetizing force.

In this way, in a method in which the magnetic pole direction of magnet 4 is in the y direction and magnet 4 moves in the z direction, the magnetizing force changes slowly, so the distance that magnet 4 moves to turn reed switch 2 on and off is long. As a result, in this reed switch control device, the operating stroke of push button 3 is long, and there is a limit to how thin a push button switch using this method can be made.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to solve the problem of making it possible to reduce the thickness of reed switch control devices and push button switches equipped with the same.

(1) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a reed switch control device according to the present invention includes a drive magnet that is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to an electrode axis direction of a fixed reed switch and is movable in the magnetization direction, and a fixed magnetic yoke that transmits magnetic flux from a magnetic pole of the drive magnet to an electrode of the reed switch,
When the drive magnet passes near the reed switch and moves in one of the magnetization directions,
One of the N and S magnetic poles of the drive magnet approaches one of the two electrodes of the reed switch to magnetize the one electrode, and at the same time, the other of the N and S magnetic poles of the drive magnet approaches the magnetic yoke,
the magnetic yoke guides the magnetic flux of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet to the other of the two electrodes of the reed switch, magnetizing the other electrode with the polarity of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet, so that the one electrode and the other electrode of the reed switch are magnetized with polarities opposite to each other, thereby generating a strong magnetic flux flow in the gap between the two electrodes and driving the reed switch to ON;
When the drive magnet passes near the reed switch and moves to the other of the magnetization directions,
The other magnetic pole of the drive magnet approaches one electrode of the reed switch, magnetizing the one electrode, and the drive magnet moves away from the magnetic yoke, but the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet faces the magnetic yoke, and the other electrode of the reed switch is magnetized with the polarity of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet, and as a result, the one electrode and the other electrode of the reed switch are magnetized with the same polarity, and the flow of magnetic flux in the gap between the two electrodes becomes weaker, driving the reed switch off, thereby driving the reed switch on or off.

According to the present invention, the magnetic yoke strengthens the flow of magnetic flux between the two electrodes of the reed switch when the drive magnet is moved to one side, and weakens the flow of magnetic flux between the two electrodes when the drive magnet is moved to the other side, making it possible to easily control the on/off of the reed switch without contact.

As a result, the driving magnet can be a small magnet. In addition, the length of the driving magnet in the magnetization direction can be shortened to make it plate-shaped, shortening the travel distance of the driving magnet, which makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the reed switch control device and the push button switch equipped with the same.

(2) The push button switch of the present invention is characterized by having a push button, a reed switch control device of the present invention, and a structure in which the drive magnet is moved in the magnetization direction by moving the push button.

The present invention uses the reed switch control device, which allows it to be made thinner and has a longer life because it has no friction parts.

(1) According to the reed switch control device of the present invention, by providing the magnetic yoke that transmits magnetizing force to the electrode of the reed switch, the drive magnet can control the on/off of the reed switch simply by passing near the electrode of the reed switch and moving it a short distance, and can easily control the on/off of the reed switch without contact.

Thus, according to the reed switch control device of the present invention, the drive magnet can be configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the reed switch, and a small magnet can be used as the drive magnet.
(2) According to the push button switch of the present invention, since the reed switch control device of the present invention is used, the switch can be made thinner, and since there is no friction part, the switch can have a longer life.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reed switch control device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a push button switch including the reed switch control device. FIG. 2A is a plan view of a main portion of the reed switch control device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the main portion. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reed switch control device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which also uses a bias magnet, and a push button switch including the reed switch control device. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional push button switch. FIG. 5 shows the layout of a magnet and a reed switch in a conventional push button switch, where (a) is a plan view of the main part, and (b) is a side view of the main part.

Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows the configuration of a reed switch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the layout of the main parts of the reed switch control device, with (a) being a plan view and (b) being a side view. In the figure, x, y, and z represent the x-axis direction (x-direction), y-axis direction (y-direction), and z-axis direction (z-direction) in an orthogonal three-dimensional coordinate system. Note that the push button 3 shown in Figure 1 is not shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the push button switch according to this embodiment includes a reed switch control device 1 that controls the on/off state of a reed switch 2, a push button 3, a leaf spring 4, and a casing (not shown) from which the push button 3 appears and disappears. The push button 3 is configured to appear and disappear inside and outside the casing when the leaf spring 4 is pressed in the z direction or when it returns after the pressing operation is released.

The push button 3 is fixed to approximately the center of the leaf spring 5 and can be operated in the z direction. When the push button 3 is not pressed, the leaf spring 5 is in the form of a plate arranged in the x, y plane, with one end side 5a in the y direction fixed and the other end side 5b in the y direction being a free end, and when the push button 3, which is fixed approximately in the center, is pressed in the z direction or released, the other end side 5b in the y direction bends or returns in the z direction.

The reed switch control device 1 includes a drive magnet 42 and a magnetic yoke 6.

The driving magnet 42 is fixed to the other end 5b of the leaf spring 5 near one electrode (right electrode) 21 of the reed switch 2, and can be moved in the z direction by operating the push button 3 with its magnetic poles N and S facing in the z direction. The magnetic yoke 6 is formed as a thin plate with a roughly L-shape in the xy plane, with one end 6a facing the other electrode (left electrode) 22 of the reed switch 2 in the vicinity, and the other end 6b facing the S magnetic pole, which is one of the N and S magnetic poles of the driving magnet 42, in the z direction.

The magnetic yoke 6 is used to transmit the magnetism of the drive magnet 42 to the electrode of the reed switch 2, and is disposed between the drive magnet 42 and the electrode 22 of the reed switch 2 as described above. The material for the magnetic yoke 6 is suitably an iron material with low magnetic resistance and low residual magnetic flux, such as soft iron, but is not particularly limited.

The magnetic yoke 6 is equivalent to shortening the distance between the drive magnet 42 and the electrode of the reed switch 2, and its shape, as shown in the example shown, shortens the distance between the magnetic yoke 6 and the electrode of the reed switch 2 and creates a wide opposing area. For example, since the magnetic yoke 6 is made of iron, its magnetic resistance is approximately 1/1000 that of air, and therefore, if the length of the magnetic yoke 6 is 20 mm, the magnetic yoke 6 shortens the length of the magnetic path by nearly 20 mm.

The reed switch 2 is fixed in a casing (not shown) with its electrode axis in the x direction, and is disposed facing the drive magnet 42 as described above. When the push button 3 is operated in the z direction to press the leaf spring 5 and move in and out of the casing, the drive magnet 42 attached to the other end 5b of the leaf spring 5 in the y direction moves in the z direction within the casing.

The reed switch 2 includes the right electrode 21 and the left electrode 22, with a contact provided in the gap 23 between the opposing electrodes 21, 22, and both electrodes 21, 22 sealed in a glass container 24 together with an inert gas. The on/off state of the reed switch 2 is conducted to the outside of the glass container 24 through a terminal 25.

In this reed switch 2, the electrode axis direction (longitudinal direction) is the x direction in a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, the direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction of the reed switch 2 is the y direction, and the direction perpendicular to these x and y directions is the z direction.

The electrodes of the reed switch 2 include the right electrode 21 and the left electrode 22 in the x direction. When the reed switch 2 is in the off state, a gap 23 is present between the electrodes 21 and 22, and the electrodes 21 and 22 are not conductive. When the reed switch 2 is in the on state, the electrodes 21 and 22 are conductive due to contact.

As described above, the drive magnet 42 is attached to the other end 5b of the leaf spring 5 in the y direction and is connected to the push button 3. When the push button 3 is operated, the leaf spring 5 deforms and moves in the z direction.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive magnet 42 moves in the z direction as described above, with its magnetic pole axis in the z direction. The drive magnet 42 passes near the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 in the y direction, and when it moves in the z direction, its north pole approaches the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 when it is pushed, and its south pole approaches the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 when it is returned. In Figure 2(b), the drive magnet in the push position is indicated by 42, and the drive magnet in the return position is indicated by 42'.

When the push button 3 is pressed, the drive magnet 42 moves in the z direction, i.e. downward, so that its north magnetic pole approaches the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2, magnetizing this right electrode 21 to the north pole, and the south pole of the drive magnet 42 approaches the other end side 6b of the magnetic yoke 6. As a result, the magnetic yoke 6 is magnetized to the south pole, and this magnetization is transmitted to the left electrode 22 of the reed switch 2, magnetizing the left electrode 22 of the reed switch 2 to the south pole. The electrodes 21 and 22 of the reed switch 2 are magnetized to the north pole and south pole, respectively, and a strong attractive force is generated in the gap 23 between the two electrodes, causing the contacts of the reed switch 2 to close and turn on.

When the push button 3 is released, the drive magnet 42 moves in the -z direction, i.e. upward, to the position of the drive magnet 42' in FIG. 2(b), and the S magnetic pole of the drive magnet 42' approaches the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2, magnetizing the right electrode 21 to the S pole. The S magnetic pole of the drive magnet 42' leaves the magnetic yoke 6, which is weakly magnetized to the S pole, and the left electrode 22 of the reed switch 2 is also weakly magnetized to the S pole. Both electrodes 21 and 22 of the reed switch 2 are magnetized to the S pole, the attractive force of the interelectrode gap 23 weakens, the electrodes 21 and 22 separate, and the contacts of the reed switch 2 open and turn off.

In the configuration of the reed switch control device or push button switch shown in Figures 1 and 2, the N and S poles of the driving magnet 42 are interchangeable. In addition, the left and right electrodes of the reed switch 2 are interchangeable.

2B, the drive magnet 42 is a plate-like magnet that is rectangular in side view, with its short side in the z direction. This short side corresponds to the magnetization direction and drive direction of the drive magnet 42. The drive magnet 42 is a plate-like magnet that is short in length in the magnetization direction and drive direction due to the above-mentioned shape, which makes it possible to set a short travel distance required to turn the reed switch 2 on or off.
Other Embodiments
In the embodiment of the present invention described above, by providing the magnetic yoke 6, the attractive force generated in the gap between the electrodes of the reed switch 2 is strengthened, making it possible to reduce the size of the drive magnet and the required travel distance of the drive magnet. However, as will be described in other embodiments of the present invention below, a fixed bias magnet may also be used in combination to enhance the effect of strengthening the attractive force generated in the gap 23 between the two electrodes.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a reed switch control device and a push button switch equipped with the same according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The other embodiment is characterized by the addition of a bias magnet 4 to the push button switch configuration diagram of FIG. 1. The other embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The bias magnet 4 is fixed in a position close to the right electrode 21 of the reed switch 2, for example, with the magnetic pole axis of the N and S magnetic poles in the y direction. It magnetizes the electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 to the N pole with the same polarity as the drive magnet 42 in the push state, and applies an attractive force to the gap 23 between the two electrodes, helping to turn on the reed switch 2. In the return state, the magnetizing force applied to one electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 by the drive magnet 42 and the bias magnet 4 has the opposite polarity, weakening the magnetizing force of the drive magnet 42 and helping to turn off the reed switch 2. As a result, the drive magnet 42 can be made even smaller.

The bias magnet 4 only needs to generate a magnetic flux in the gap 23 between the two electrodes so that it can be added to the ON operation of the drive magnet 42. Therefore, the magnetization direction can be arranged so that the N pole faces one electrode 21 of the reed switch 2, the S pole faces the other electrode 22 of the reed switch 2, or the N pole faces one electrode 21 of the reed switch 2 and the S pole faces the other electrode 22 of the reed switch 2 at the same time; the position is not particularly limited.

The present invention is useful as a reed switch control device that controls the on/off drive of a reed switch, and as technology for a push button switch equipped with this reed switch control device.

2 Reed switch 21 Reed switch electrode 22 Reed switch electrode 23 Reed switch inter-electrode gap 24 Reed switch glass container 25 Reed switch terminal 3 Push button 4 Bias magnet 42 Drive magnet (push position),
42' Drive magnet (return position)
5 Leaf spring 5a One end side of the leaf spring (fixed)
5b: The other end of the leaf spring (where the drive magnet 42 is attached)
6 (magnetic) yoke 6a One end side of the yoke (reed switch side)
6b: other end of the yoke (driving magnet side)

Claims (3)

a drive magnet that is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the electrode axis direction of a fixed reed switch and is movable in the magnetization direction; and a fixed magnetic yoke that transmits the magnetic flux of the magnetic pole of the drive magnet to the electrode of the reed switch.
When the drive magnet passes near the reed switch and moves in one of the magnetization directions,
One of the N and S magnetic poles of the drive magnet approaches one of the two electrodes of the reed switch to magnetize the one electrode, and at the same time, the other of the N and S magnetic poles of the drive magnet approaches the magnetic yoke,
the magnetic yoke guides the magnetic flux of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet to the other of the two electrodes of the reed switch, magnetizing the other electrode with the polarity of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet, so that the one electrode and the other electrode of the reed switch are magnetized with polarities opposite to each other, thereby generating a strong magnetic flux flow in the gap between the two electrodes and driving the reed switch to ON;
When the drive magnet passes near the reed switch and moves to the other of the magnetization directions,
The other magnetic pole of the drive magnet approaches the one electrode of the reed switch and magnetizes the one electrode, and the drive magnet moves away from the magnetic yoke, but the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet faces the magnetic yoke and the other electrode of the reed switch is magnetized with the polarity of the other magnetic pole of the drive magnet, so that the one electrode and the other electrode of the reed switch are magnetized with the same polarity and the flow of magnetic flux in the gap between the two electrodes becomes weak, driving the reed switch to off, thereby driving the reed switch to on or off.
A reed switch control device comprising: The reed switch control device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a fixed bias magnet, which is arranged to generate a magnetic flux in the gap between the two electrodes of the reed switch with the same polarity as when the drive magnet is turned on, thereby assisting in the turning on of the drive magnet. A push button and
The reed switch control device according to claim 1 or 2,
a structure for moving the driving magnet in the magnetization direction by moving the push button;
A push button switch comprising:

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