Press input device

Abstract

A pressing input device is an input device in which a reaction force characteristic when a single metal inverted dome is pressed downward becomes a first reaction force characteristic in which the reaction force monotonically increases from an initial position to a maximum position, the reaction force monotonically decreases from the maximum position to a minimum position, and the reaction force monotonically increases after the minimum position; the reaction force characteristic when the elastic member of the single body is pressed downward becomes a second reaction force characteristic in which the reaction force monotonically increases from the initial position, and the reaction force characteristic when the operation member is displaced downward becomes a combined reaction force characteristic in which the first reaction force characteristic and the second reaction force characteristic are combined. A plate-like intermediate member having a larger area than the elastic member in plan view is provided between the metal inverted dome and the elastic member, and the elastic member is formed of a metal plate spring member having a peripheral portion abutting against the plate-like intermediate member and a central portion separated from the plate-like intermediate member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a pressure input device. Background Art

[0002] The following patent document 1 discloses the following technology: in a push-to-connect switch configured to cause a reversing action type movable contact to perform a reversing action by pressing a button, a pressing elastic body is provided at the center of the lower surface of the push button, and the reversing action type movable contact is pressed via the pressing elastic body to cause it to perform a reversing action, thereby causing the pressing elastic body to deform (shrink) a specified amount before the reversing action type movable contact performs a reversing action, and the action stroke is increased accordingly.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-161599 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, in the technology of patent document 1, the stroke amount (S5-S4) of the push button during the reversal action of the reversal action type movable contact is equal to the stroke amount (S2-S1) of the single reversal action type movable contact during the reversal action, so it is difficult to further shorten the stroke amount of the push button during the reversal action of the reversal action type movable contact, and therefore, it is impossible to present a sharp operating touch to the operator.

[0008] Means for solving problems

[0009] A pressing input device according to one embodiment is an input device as follows, the input device comprising: a housing having a first housing portion; a central fixed contact disposed at the bottom of the first housing portion; a base; a metal inverted dome disposed above the base; an elastic member disposed above the metal inverted dome; and an operating member disposed above the elastic member and supported to be displaceable downward, wherein the reaction force characteristics of the single metal inverted dome when pressed downward are such that the reaction force increases monotonically from an initial position to a maximum position, decreases monotonically from the maximum position to a minimum position, and decreases monotonically after the minimum position. The first reaction force characteristic of monotonically increasing force, the reaction force characteristic of the single elastic component when the inserted component is pressed downward becomes the second reaction force characteristic of monotonically increasing reaction force from the initial position, so that the reaction force characteristic when the operating component is displaced downward becomes a synthetic reaction force characteristic obtained by synthesizing the first reaction force characteristic and the second reaction force characteristic, a plate-like intermediate component whose area is larger than that of the elastic component when viewed from above is provided between the metal inversion dome and the elastic component, and the elastic component is composed of a metal leaf spring component whose peripheral portion abuts against the plate-like intermediate component and whose central portion is separated from the plate-like intermediate component.

[0010] Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the pressure input device of one embodiment, it is possible to present a sharp operation feeling to the operator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the appearance of a pressing input device according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a pressure input device according to one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a pressure input device according to one embodiment.

[0015] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pressing input device according to one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing the reaction force characteristics of the pressing input device according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the following description, for convenience, the Z-axis direction in the figure is set as the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction in the figure is set as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the figure is set as the front-back direction. Among them, the positive direction of the Z-axis is set as the top, the positive direction of the Y-axis is set as the right, and the positive direction of the X-axis is set as the front.

[0018] (Overview of the Press Input Device 100)

[0019] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a pressure input device 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the pressure input device 100 as a whole has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and has a substantially square shape in a plan view.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 of the pressure input device 100 is covered by the frame 120. The housing 110 accommodates a rod 130 and the like. The rod 130 has an operation portion 131 protruding upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) at the center thereof.

[0021] The operating portion 131 of the rod 130 passes through the circular opening 120A formed in the frame 120, and protrudes upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the frame 120. Thus, the pressing input device 100 can perform a pressing operation downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) through the operating portion 131 of the rod 130, and through this pressing operation, the switch-off state can be switched to the switch-on state.

[0022] (Configuration of the Press Input Device 100)

[0023] Figure 2 It is an exploded perspective view of the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure input device 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the pressure input device 100 includes a housing 110 , a metal inverted dome 140 , a plate-like intermediate member 150 , an elastic member 160 , a rod 130 , and a frame 120 in order from the lower side (negative side of the Z axis) in the figure.

[0024] The shell 110 is an example of a "base". The shell 110 is a container-like component having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). The shell 110 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above. The shell 110 has a recess 110B that is recessed downward from the upper surface 110A. In the recess 110B, a metal inverted dome 140, a plate-like intermediate component 150, an elastic component 160, and a rod 130 are accommodated in sequence from the lower side (the negative side of the Z-axis). For example, the shell 110 is formed by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating raw material (for example, a hard resin, etc.).

[0025] Claws 111 protruding outward are formed on a pair of left and right side surfaces of the housing 110. When the frame 120 is mounted on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110, the claws 111 are embedded in the opening 120Ba of the hook 120B of the frame 120, thereby engaging with the hook 120B, thereby fixing the frame 120 to the housing 110.

[0026] A central fixed contact 112 and four peripheral fixed contacts 113 are provided at the bottom 110Ba in the recess 110B of the housing 110. The central fixed contact 112 is provided at the center of the bottom 110Ba. The four peripheral fixed contacts 113 are provided at the four corners of the bottom 110Ba. Both the central fixed contact 112 and the peripheral fixed contacts 113 are formed using a conductive raw material (e.g., a metal raw material).

[0027] The metal inverted dome 140 is a metal thin plate-shaped member disposed on the bottom 110Ba in the recess 110B of the housing 110. The metal inverted dome 140 is a dome-shaped member having a top 140A in the center and convex upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis). In addition, the metal inverted dome 140 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above.

[0028] Legs 141 protruding radially outward are provided at four corners of the outer peripheral edge of the metal inverted dome 140. The metal inverted dome 140 is disposed on the bottom 110Ba of the recess 110B of the housing 110, so that the four legs 141 are in contact with four peripheral fixed contacts 113 provided on the bottom 110Ba of the recess 110B of the housing 110.

[0029] The metal inversion dome 140 is a so-called "inversion spring". When the operation part 131 of the lever 130 is pressed, the top part 140A is pressed downward by the plate-shaped intermediate part 150. When the predetermined operation load is exceeded, the top part 140A is elastically deformed into a concave shape (inversion action) suddenly. As a result, the metal inversion dome 140 contacts the central fixed contact 112 at the back side of the top part 140A and is electrically connected to the central fixed contact 112. As a result, the metal inversion dome 140 can make the central fixed contact 112 and the peripheral fixed contacts 113 conduct to each other via the metal inversion dome 140. In addition, when the pressing operation of the operation part 131 of the lever 130 is released, the metal inversion dome 140 returns to its original convex shape by elastic force.

[0030] In addition, the metal inverted dome 140 may have a circular shape in a plan view, and may not have the leg portion 141 .

[0031] The plate-like intermediate member 150 is a flat plate-like member disposed between the metal inverted dome 140 and the elastic member 160. The plate-like intermediate member 150 has a substantially square shape in a plan view, the area of ​​which is larger than the area of ​​the elastic member 160. The plate-like intermediate member 150 is a so-called rigid body, and is formed using a relatively hard raw material (e.g., a resin raw material, a metal raw material, etc.).

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, the plate-like intermediate member 150 has a pressing portion 151 protruding downward at the center of the bottom surface. The pressing portion 151 is a portion that presses the top portion 140A of the metal inversion dome 140 when the operation portion 131 of the lever 130 is pressed.

[0033] In addition, the upper surface of the plate-like intermediate member 150 is a flat surface 150A on which the elastic member 160 is provided.

[0034] The elastic member 160 is a metal thin plate-shaped member provided on the flat surface 150A of the plate-shaped intermediate member 150. The elastic member 160 is dome-shaped and has a top 160A in the center and is convex upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis). In addition, the elastic member 160 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above.

[0035] Legs 161 protruding outward in the radial direction are provided at four corners of the outer peripheral edge of the elastic member 160. The elastic member 160 is composed of a "metal leaf spring member" and when the "metal leaf spring member" is provided on the flat surface 150A of the plate-like intermediate member 150, each of the four legs 161 (an example of a "peripheral portion") abuts against the flat surface 150A of the plate-like intermediate member 150, and the top 160A (an example of a "central portion") is separated from the flat surface 150A of the plate-like intermediate member 150.

[0036] When the elastic member 160 is pressed by the operating portion 131 of the rod 130, the top portion 160A is pressed downward by the pressing portion 133 of the rod 130, thereby elastically deforming in a gradually crushed manner while applying an operating load to the rod 130. Furthermore, when the back side of the top portion 160A of the elastic member 160 contacts the flat surface 150A of the plate-like intermediate member 150, the elastic member 160 becomes horizontal (i.e., completely crushed). At this time, the operating load applied by the elastic member 160 to the rod 130 is the largest. In addition, when the pressing operation by the operating portion 131 of the rod 130 is released, the elastic member 160 returns to its original convex shape by elastic force.

[0037] In addition, the elastic member 160 may have a circular shape in a plan view, or may not have the leg portion 161 .

[0038] The lever 130 is an example of an “operating member” and is pressed downward by an operator. For example, the lever 130 is formed using a relatively hard insulating material (for example, hard resin). The lever 130 includes an operating portion 131 , a supporting portion 132 , and a pressing portion 133 .

[0039] The operating portion 131 is provided at the center of the rod 130 , has a cylindrical shape protruding upward from the support portion 132 , and is a portion that is pressed by an operator.

[0040] The support portion 132 is a flat plate-shaped portion provided around the operating portion 131. The support portion 132 is provided integrally with the operating portion 131, and supports the operating portion 131. The support portion 132 has a substantially square shape in a plan view.

[0041] The pressing portion 133 is provided to protrude downward at the center of the bottom surface of the lever 130. The pressing portion 133 is a portion that presses the top portion 160A of the elastic member 160 when the operation portion 131 of the lever 130 is pressed.

[0042] The lever 130 is disposed between the frame 120 and the elastic member 160 in a state where the operation portion 131 passes through the opening 120A of the frame 120 and the pressing portion 133 is in contact with the top portion 160A of the elastic member 160 .

[0043] The frame 120 is a metal, flat plate-shaped member. The blocking frame 120 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110, thereby blocking the upper opening of the recess 110B of the housing 110 while the components (metal inverted dome 140, plate-shaped intermediate member 150, elastic member 160, and rod 130) are accommodated in the recess 110B of the housing 110.

[0044] For example, the frame 120 is formed by processing a metal plate using a processing method such as stamping. In a plan view, a circular opening 120A is formed in the center of the frame 120 for allowing the operating portion 131 of the lever 130 to protrude upward. In addition, hooks 120B hanging downward are respectively provided on a pair of left and right sides of the outer peripheral edge of the frame 120. The hook 120B has an opening 120Ba, and a claw 111 provided on the side of the housing 110 is embedded in the opening 120Ba. Thus, the hook 120B can fix the frame 120 to the housing 110.

[0045] (Operation of Pressing Input Device 100)

[0046] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment.

[0047] like Figure 4As shown in (a), when the pressing operation of the operating part 131 based on the rod 130 is not performed, the elastic member 160 is in an initial state of convex upward, and the metal inverted dome 140 is in an initial state of convex upward. Therefore, the metal inverted dome 140 contacts the peripheral fixed contacts 113, but does not contact the central fixed contact 112. That is, the peripheral fixed contacts 113 and the central fixed contact 112 are not connected to each other. Therefore, when the pressing operation of the operating part 131 based on the rod 130 is not performed, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment is in a switch-off state.

[0048] Furthermore, the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment is as follows: Figure 4 As shown in (b), when the operation portion 131 of the lever 130 is pressed, the pressing portion 133 of the lever 130 presses the top 160A of the elastic member 160. As a result, the elastic member 160 is elastically deformed, and the elastic member 160 presses the plate-shaped intermediate member 150, and further, the pressing portion 151 of the plate-shaped intermediate member 150 presses the top 140A of the metal inverted dome 140, so that the elastic member 160 is elastically deformed.

[0049] Furthermore, the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment is as follows: Figure 4 As shown in (c), when the operation load of the pressing operation of the operating portion 131 of the lever 130 exceeds a predetermined threshold value (i.e., when the stroke of the lever 130 exceeds the top stroke amount), the elastic member 160 is completely crushed, and the top 140A of the metal inverted dome 140 is elastically deformed (inverted) into a concave shape. As a result, the stroke of the lever 130 becomes the bottom stroke amount, and the metal inverted dome 140 contacts the central fixed contact 112 through the back side of the top 140A, thereby being electrically connected to the central fixed contact 112.

[0050] As a result, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment is in a switch-on state by making the central fixed contact 112 and the peripheral fixed contact 113 conduct with each other via the metal inversion dome 140. At this time, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment can present a click feeling (Japanese: click feeling) to the pressing operation of the pressing portion 133 of the rod 130 through the inversion action of the metal inversion dome 140. Therefore, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment can make the operator know that the switch is switched to the switch-on state by tactile sense.

[0051] In addition, when the pressing operation of the pressing portion 133 of the rod 130 is released, the elastic member 160 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force, and the metal inverted dome 140 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force. As a result, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment returns to the switch-off state.

[0052] (Reaction Force Characteristics of Pressing Input Device 100)

[0053] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing the reaction force characteristics of the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment. Figure 5 (a) shows an example of reaction force characteristics when the elastic member 160 of a single body is pressed downward. Figure 5 (b) shows an example of reaction force characteristics when a single metal inversion dome 140 is pressed downward. Figure 5 (c) shows an example of a reaction force characteristic obtained by combining the reaction force characteristic of the elastic member 160 as a single body and the reaction force characteristic of the metal inversion dome 140 as a single body. Figure 5 In each of the graphs shown, the vertical axis represents the reaction force [N], and the horizontal axis represents the stroke amount [mm] of the pressing operation.

[0054] like Figure 5 As shown in (b), the reaction force characteristics of the single metal inversion dome 140 when pressed downward become the first reaction force characteristics in which the reaction force monotonically increases from the initial position to the maximum position N1, the reaction force monotonically decreases from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2, and the reaction force monotonically increases after the minimum position N2.

[0055] In addition, if Figure 5 As shown in (a), the reaction force characteristic of the elastic member 160 when pressed downward becomes a second reaction force characteristic in which the reaction force increases monotonically from the initial position to the maximum position N1. However, in the second reaction force characteristic, the reaction force of the elastic member 160 increases sharply compared with the reaction force of the metal inversion dome 140 of the single body.

[0056] In addition, the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment has an elastic member 160 superimposed on the metal inverted dome 140 via the plate-shaped intermediate member 150, and the elastic member 160 is composed of a "metal leaf spring member", so that the reaction force characteristics when the rod 130 is displaced downward (that is, when the pressing operation is performed by the operating portion 131 of the rod 130) are as follows: Figure 5 As shown in (c), Figure 5 The first reaction force characteristic shown in (b) is Figure 5The synthetic reaction force characteristic is a synthesis of the second reaction force characteristic shown in (a).

[0057] like Figure 5 As shown in (c), the above-mentioned resultant reaction force characteristic has a slow increase in the reaction force from the initial position to the maximum position N1, and a sharp decrease in the reaction force from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2. That is, in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristic, the stroke amount from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 (that is, the stroke amount of the rod 130 during the reversal action of the metal reversal dome 140) is short.

[0058] For example, Figure 5 As shown in (b), the top stroke amount in the first reaction force characteristic is referred to as S2', and the bottom stroke amount in the first reaction force characteristic is referred to as S1'.

[0059] In addition, if Figure 5 As shown in (a), the top stroke amount in the second reaction force characteristic is set to S2, and the bottom stroke amount in the first reaction force characteristic is set to S1.

[0060] In this case, if Figure 5 As shown in (c), the top stroke amount of the rod 130 in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristics is (S2+S2'), and the bottom stroke amount in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristics is (S1+S1').

[0061] Therefore, the pressure input device 100 of one embodiment is as follows: Figure 5 As shown in (c), the stroke amount ((S1+S1')-(S2+S2')) from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the above-mentioned synthetic reaction force characteristics can be made shorter than the stroke amount (S1'-S2') from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the single metal inversion dome 140, so that the stroke amount of the rod 130 during the inversion action of the metal inversion dome 140 can be shortened. For example, Figure 5 In the example shown in (c), the stroke amount of the rod 130 when the metal inversion dome 140 is inverted is about 0.03 mm.

[0062] The results, such as Figure 5 As shown in (c) of FIG. 1 , the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment can make the reaction force from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristics drop sharply, thereby being able to present a sharp operation touch to the operator.

[0063] In the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment, the elastic member 160 hardly bends in the overtravel region (region after the minimum position N2) in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristics, so the stroke of the rod 130 can be shortened even in this overtravel region.

[0064] In particular, the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment is as follows: Figure 5 As shown in (c), the reduction in the reaction force per unit displacement from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the above-mentioned synthetic reaction force characteristic can be made greater than the reduction in the reaction force per unit displacement from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the above-mentioned first reaction force characteristic.

[0065] Thus, the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment can make the reaction force drop sharply from the maximum position N1 to the minimum position N2 in the above-mentioned combined reaction force characteristics, and thus can present a sharp operation feeling to the operator.

[0066] In addition, in the pressing input device 100 of one embodiment, the second reaction force characteristic of the elastic member 160 of the single body increases the amount of increase per unit displacement of the reaction force sharply after the reaction force becomes equal to the reaction force at the maximum position N1 of the metal inverted dome 140 of the single body. This is because after the reaction force of the second reaction force characteristic becomes equal to the reaction force at the maximum position N1 of the metal inverted dome 140 of the single body, the elastic member 160 becomes completely crushed and does not bend further.

[0067] Thus, the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment can achieve both a shorter stroke of the rod 130 and a lower height of the entire pressing input device 100 .

[0068] In the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment, the dimension of the elastic member 160 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is smaller than the dimension of the metal inversion dome 140 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0069] Thus, the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment can achieve a further reduction in the height of the entire pressure input device 100 .

[0070] In addition, in the pressing input device 100 according to one embodiment, the plate-shaped intermediate member 150 has the flat surface 150A on which the elastic member 160 is provided.

[0071] Thus, the pressure input device 100 according to one embodiment can achieve a further reduction in the height of the entire pressure input device 100 .

[0072] As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0073] This international application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-154570 for which it applied on September 28, 2022, and all the contents of this application are cited in this international application.

[0074] Description of Reference Numerals

[0075] 100-press input device

[0076] 110 Shell (base)

[0077] 110A upper surface

[0078] 110B concave part

[0079] 110Ba bottom

[0080] 111 claws

[0081] 112 Central fixed contact

[0082] 113 Peripheral fixed contacts

[0083] 120 Frames

[0084] 120A opening

[0085] 120B hook

[0086] 120Ba opening

[0087] 130 rod (operating part)

[0088] 131 Operation Department

[0089] 132 Supporting part

[0090] 133 Pressing part

[0091] 140 Metal Inverted Dome

[0092] 140A Top

[0093] 141 Legs

[0094] 150 Plate-shaped intermediate parts

[0095] 150A flat surface

[0096] 151 Pressing part

[0097] 160 Elastic component (metal leaf spring component)

[0098] 160A top (center)

[0099] 161 Legs (peripheral area)

Claims

1. A pressing input device, which is the following input device, the input device comprising: abutment; A metal inverted dome is arranged above the base; an elastic member disposed above the metal inverted dome; and The operating member is disposed above the elastic member and supported so as to be displaceable downward. The reaction force characteristics of the metal inversion dome when it is pressed downward are first reaction force characteristics in which the reaction force increases monotonically from the initial position to the maximum position, decreases monotonically from the maximum position to the minimum position, and increases monotonically after the minimum position. The reaction force characteristic when the elastic member as a single unit is pressed downward becomes a second reaction force characteristic in which the reaction force increases monotonically from the initial position. The reaction force characteristic when the operating member is displaced downward is made to be a combined reaction force characteristic obtained by combining the first reaction force characteristic and the second reaction force characteristic, A plate-shaped intermediate member having an area larger than that of the elastic member in a plan view is provided between the metal inverted dome and the elastic member. The elastic member is composed of a metal leaf spring member whose peripheral portion is in contact with the plate-shaped intermediate member and whose central portion is separated from the plate-shaped intermediate member.

2. The pressure input device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A decrease in the reaction force per unit displacement from the maximum position to the minimum position in the combined reaction force characteristic is greater than a decrease in the reaction force per unit displacement from the maximum position to the minimum position in the first reaction force characteristic.

3. The pressure input device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second reaction force characteristic of the single metal leaf spring member is such that the increase in the reaction force per unit displacement increases sharply after the reaction force becomes equal to the reaction force at the maximum position of the single metal inversion dome.

4. The pressure input device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dimension of the metal leaf spring member in the up-down direction is smaller than the dimension of the metal inversion dome in the up-down direction.

5. The pressure input device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plate-shaped intermediate member has a flat surface on which the metal leaf spring member is disposed.

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