Push switch

Abstract

The invention provides a push switch which can realize two-stage switching by using relatively few fixed contacts. The push switch is provided with: a housing having a recess; the rubber seat is arranged on the concave part and is provided with a central protruding part protruding downwards, and the lower end part of the central protruding part is provided with a conductive part; a movable contact which is provided in the recess, has a dome shape that can be turned over, and has an opening in the center thereof through which the central protrusion can be inserted; a first fixed contact provided on the inner bottom surface of the recessed portion so as to face the conductive portion; and a second fixed contact provided around the first fixed contact on the inner bottom surface of the recess so as to be in contact with the movable contact, the first fixed contact having a plurality of contact parts separated from each other, the conductive part of the rubber seat being in contact with each of the plurality of contact parts through the opening of the movable contact when a pressing operation of a first stroke of the rubber seat is performed, and the conductive part of the rubber seat being in contact with each of the plurality of contact parts through the opening of the movable contact when a pressing operation of a second stroke of the rubber seat is performed. Therefore, the plurality of contact parts are in a first conduction state through the conductive part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a push switch. Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1 below, a two-stage push-button switch component is disclosed. This two-stage push-button switch component has a structure in which a first switch component and a second switch component are overlapped in the pressing direction. By pressing the second switch component, the initial input is executed. Then, by pressing the first switch component that has received the pressing force from the second switch component, the subsequent input is executed.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-175746

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the contact electrode 11 and the contact electrode 12 are electrically connected by the initial input, and the contact electrode 13 and the contact electrode 14 are electrically connected by the subsequent input. That is, different contact electrodes are electrically connected by the initial input and the subsequent input. Therefore, a relatively large number of contact electrodes are required. Summary of the Invention

[0005] A push switch according to one embodiment includes: a housing having a recess; a rubber seat provided in the recess, having a central protrusion protruding downward, and having a conductive portion at the lower end of the central protrusion; a movable contact provided in the recess, having a dome shape capable of performing a flipping action, and having an opening portion in the central portion through which the central protrusion can be inserted; a first fixed contact provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess opposite to the conductive portion; and a second fixed contact provided around the first fixed contact on the inner bottom surface of the recess and in contact with the movable contact. The first fixed contact has a plurality of mutually divided contact portions. When a pressing operation of the first stroke amount of the rubber seat is performed, the conductive portion of the rubber seat contacts each of the plurality of contact portions through the opening portion of the movable contact, thereby becoming a first conduction state in which the plurality of contact portions are electrically connected to each other via the conductive portion.

[0006] Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the push switch of one embodiment, a two-stage switch can be realized using a relatively small number of fixed contacts. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a push switch according to one embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a push switch according to one embodiment as viewed from above.

[0010] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a push switch according to one embodiment as viewed from below.

[0011] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a push switch according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 5 is a top view of a housing included in a push switch according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 6 is a top view of a first fixed contact member and a second fixed contact member included in a housing according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a first conduction state of a push switch according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a second conduction state of a push switch according to an embodiment.

[0016] Symbol description:

[0017] 100: Push switch; 110: Housing; 110A: Upper surface; 110B: Recess; 110C: Pedestal portion; 111: Claw portion; 112: First fixed contact; 112A: Contact portion; 112Aa: Contact part; 113: Second fixed contact; 114, 115: First fixed contact members; 114A, 115A: External connection terminals; 116: Second fixed contact member; 116A, 116B: External connection terminals; 120: Frame; 120A: Opening; 121: Hook; 121A: Opening; 130: Metal dome (movable contact); 130A: Opening; 131: Dome top; 132: Edge portion; 133: Leg portion; 140: Rubber seat; 141: Operation portion; 141A: Elastically deformable portion; 142: Base portion; 143: Central protrusion; 143A: Conductive portion; 144: First pressing portion; 145: Second pressing portion. Detailed implementation manners

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, the Z-axis direction in the drawings is set as the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction in the drawings is set as the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the drawings is set as the front-back direction. Among them, the positive direction of the Z-axis is set as the upper side, the positive direction of the Y-axis is set as the right side, and the positive direction of the X-axis is set as the front side.

[0019] (Outline of push switch 100)

[0020] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a push switch 100 according to an embodiment. As Figure 1As shown, the push switch 100 as a whole has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and has a substantially square shape when viewed from above.

[0021] As Figure 1 shown, in the push switch 100, the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 is covered by the rubber seat 140 and the frame 120. An operation portion 141 protruding convexly upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) is provided at the center of the rubber seat 140.

[0022] The operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 penetrates through the circular opening 120A formed in the frame 120 and protrudes upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) from the frame 120. Thus, the push switch 100 can perform a pressing operation downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140, and through this pressing operation, the switch can be switched from the off state to the first conduction state and the second conduction state.

[0023] (Configuration of the push switch 100)

[0024] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the push switch 100 viewed from above in one embodiment. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the push switch 100 viewed from below in one embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the push switch 100 in one embodiment. As Figures 2 to 4 shown, the push switch 100 successively includes a housing 110, a metal dome 130, a rubber seat 140, and a frame 120 from the lower side (negative Z-axis side) in the figure.

[0025] The housing 110 is a container-like component having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The housing 110 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above. The housing 110 has a recess 110B having a shape that is recessed downward from the upper surface 110A. The metal dome 130 is housed in the recess 110B. For example, the housing 110 is formed by insert molding using a relatively hard insulating material (such as hard resin, etc.).

[0026] On the left and right pair of side surfaces of the housing 110, claw portions 111 protruding outward are respectively formed. When the frame 120 is installed on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110, by inserting the claw portions 111 into the opening 121A of the hook 121 of the frame 120 and engaging with the hook 121, the frame 120 can be fixed relative to the housing 110.

[0027] On the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B of the housing 110, a first fixed contact 112 and two second fixed contacts 113 are provided. The first fixed contact 112 is provided at the central portion of the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B and is arranged to face the conductive portion 143A of the rubber seat 140. The two second fixed contacts 113 are respectively provided around the first fixed contact 112 on the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B and are respectively provided at two corner portions on the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B. On each of the two legs 133 of the metal dome 130, each of the two second fixed contacts 113 is placed. The first fixed contact 112 and the second fixed contacts 113 are both formed of a conductive plate material (for example, a metal plate) and are embedded in the housing 110 by insert molding.

[0028] The metal dome 130 is an example of a "movable contact" and is a dome-shaped component capable of performing a flipping action. The metal dome 130 is a component made of a thin metal plate disposed in the recess 110B of the housing 110. The metal dome 130 has a dome portion 131 that is circular in plan view and convex upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) at the central portion. A circular opening 130A is formed at the central portion of the dome portion 131. In addition, the metal dome 130 has a horizontal edge portion 132 surrounding the dome portion 131 around the dome portion 131. The metal dome 130 has an outer shape that is substantially square in plan view by having the edge portion 132.

[0029] At each of the four corner portions of the outer peripheral edge portion of the metal dome 130, each of the four legs 133 protruding outward in the radial direction is provided. Two of the four legs 133 on the negative X-axis side are respectively placed on the two second fixed contacts 113 provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B. Two of the four legs 133 on the positive X-axis side are respectively placed on the two pedestal portions 110C provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B. Thus, the metal dome 130 is stably supported at four points by the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B and is electrically connected to the second fixed contacts 113.

[0030] The metal toggle dome 130 is a so-called "toggle spring". When a pressing operation is performed through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140, the top portion (the portion around the opening portion 130A) is pressed downward by the first pressing portion 144 of the rubber seat 140. When the specified operating load is exceeded, the top portion elastically deforms (toggle action) sharply into a concave shape. As a result, the portion on the back side of the top of the metal toggle dome 130 comes into contact with the first fixed contact 112 and is electrically connected to the first fixed contact 112. Consequently, the metal toggle dome 130 can make the first fixed contact 112 and the second fixed contact 113 conduct with each other via the metal toggle dome 130. In addition, when the pressing operation through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 is released, the metal toggle dome 130 returns to its original convex shape by elastic force.

[0031] The rubber seat 140 is a component on which the operator performs a downward pressing operation. The rubber seat 140 is placed on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 and is fixed by the frame 120 in a state of closing the concave portion 110B of the housing 110. The rubber seat 140 is formed using an elastic material (e.g., rubber, silicone, etc.). The rubber seat 140 has an operation portion 141, a base portion 142, a central protrusion portion 143, a first pressing portion 144, and four second pressing portions 145.

[0032] The operation portion 141 is provided at the center of the rubber seat 140 and has a cylindrical shape protruding upward from the base portion 142. The operation portion 141 penetrates the opening portion 120A and is pressed by the operator. An elastically deformable portion 141A with a relatively thin thickness is provided in a circular ring shape around the operation portion 141. The operation portion 141 can move up and down by elastic deformation of the elastically deformable portion 141A.

[0033] The base portion 142 is a flat plate-shaped portion provided around the operation portion 141. The base portion 142 is provided integrally with the operation portion 141 and supports the operation portion 141 so as to be able to move up and down. In a top view, the outer shape of the base portion 142 has the same shape as the outer shape of the housing 110 (i.e., a substantially square shape). The rubber seat 140 is fixed to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 by being pressed from above by the frame 120 through the base portion 142.

[0034] The central protrusion portion 143 is provided so as to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the operation portion 141 and has a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than that of the operation portion 141. The central protrusion portion 143 moves up and down integrally with the operation portion 141 when a pressing operation is performed through the operation portion 141.

[0035] A disk-shaped conductive portion 143A having conductivity is provided on the bottom surface of the central protrusion 143. The conductive portion 143A is disposed opposite to the two contact portions 112A of the first fixed contact 112. When the central protrusion 143 moves downward by a pressing operation of the operation portion 141, the conductive portion 143A comes into contact with the two contact portions 112A of the first fixed contact 112 respectively. Thereby, the conductive portion 143A can electrically connect the two contact portions 112A to each other. As an example, the conductive portion 143A is made of a conductive metal.

[0036] The first pressing portion 144 is provided to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the operation portion 141 and has an annular shape surrounding the central protrusion 143 when viewed from above. When a pressing operation is performed on the operation portion 141, the first pressing portion 144 presses the top portion (the portion around the opening portion 130A) of the metal dome 130.

[0037] Four second pressing portions 145 are provided at four corner portions of the lower surface of the base portion 142. Each of the four second pressing portions 145 has a hemispherical shape protruding downward from the lower surface of the base portion 142. The four second pressing portions 145 press the four legs 133 of the metal dome 130 from above. Thereby, the four second pressing portions 145 press the four legs 133 against the two second fixed contacts 113 and the two pedestal portions 110C, and can fix the metal dome 130.

[0038] The frame 120 is a metal and flat plate-like member. The frame 120 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface 110A of the housing 110 in a state of sandwiching the base portion 142 of the rubber seat 140 therebetween, thereby fixing the rubber seat 140 to the upper surface 110A of the housing 110.

[0039] For example, the frame 120 is formed by processing a metal plate by a processing method such as stamping. A circular opening portion 120A for allowing the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 to protrude upward is formed at the center of the frame 120 when viewed from above. In addition, hooks 121 hanging downward are respectively provided on the left and right pairs of sides of the outer peripheral edge portion of the frame 120. The hook 121 has an opening portion 121A, and the claw portion 111 provided on the side surface of the housing 110 is inserted into the opening portion 121A. Thereby, the hook 121 can fix the frame 120 relative to the housing 110.

[0040] (Configuration of the first fixed contact member 114 and the second fixed contact member 116)

[0041] Figure 5 It is a top view of the housing 110 included in the push switch 100 of one embodiment. Figure 6It is a top view of the first fixed contact components 114, 115 and the second fixed contact component 116 provided in the housing 110 of an embodiment.

[0042] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, two first fixed contact components 114, 115 and the second fixed contact component 116 are integrally provided in the housing 110 by insert molding. The two first fixed contact components 114, 115 and the second fixed contact component 116 are formed by processing a metal plate.

[0043] The two first fixed contact components 114, 115 are arranged along the left - right direction (Y - axis direction) in a part on the front side (positive X - axis side) of the housing 110, and have a bilaterally symmetric shape. The first fixed contact component 114 is provided on the right side (positive Y - axis side), and the first fixed contact component 115 is provided on the left side (negative Y - axis side).

[0044] The two first fixed contact components 114, 115 each have a plate - like shape extending along the front - rear direction (X - axis direction), and have a semi - circular contact portion 112A forming the first fixed contact 112 at the rear end portion (the end portion on the X side). As Figure 5 shown, the two contact portions 112A of the first fixed contact 112 are arranged separately from each other at the central portion of the inner bottom surface of the concave portion 110B of the housing 110.

[0045] Two pedestal - shaped contact portions 112Aa are provided protruding upward from the upper surface of each of the two contact portions 112A. Thus, in each of the two contact portions 112A, when the rubber seat 140 is pressed, the conductive portion 143A of the rubber seat 140 is locally in contact with the two contact portions 112Aa respectively. That is, the first fixed contact 112 has four contact portions 112Aa. In Figure 5 and Figure 6 the example shown, when viewed from above, the four contact portions 112Aa are arranged in a cross shape, and the four contact portions 112Aa each have a rectangular shape.

[0046] The first fixed contact component 114 has an external connection terminal 114A at the front end portion (the end portion on the positive X - axis side). The first fixed contact component 115 has an external connection terminal 115A at the front end portion (the end portion on the positive X - axis side). The external connection terminals 114A, 115A are provided protruding from the side surface on the front side (positive X - axis side) of the housing 110.

[0047] The second fixed contact component 116 is provided in a part on the rear side (negative X - axis side) of the housing 110. The second fixed contact component 116 has a plate - like shape extending along the left - right direction (Y - axis direction) and has a bilaterally symmetric shape.

[0048] The second fixed contact member 116 is provided with pedestal-shaped second fixed contacts 113 protruding upward from the upper surface of the second fixed contact member 116 at the right end (the end on the positive Y-axis side) and the left end (the end on the negative Y-axis side), respectively. That is, the second fixed contact member 116 has four second fixed contacts 113. As Figure 5 shown, one of the second fixed contacts 113 is disposed at the right rear corner of the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B of the housing 110, and the other second fixed contact 113 is disposed at the left rear corner of the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B of the housing 110. Thus, when the metal dome 130 is disposed in the recess 110B of the housing 110, the two legs 133 on the rear side (the negative X-axis side) of the metal dome 130 are respectively in partial contact with each of the two second fixed contacts 113. In Figure 5 and Figure 6 the example shown, when viewed from above, the two second fixed contacts 113 each have a rectangular shape.

[0049] The second fixed contact member 116 has an external connection terminal 116A at the right end (the end on the positive Y-axis side). In addition, the second fixed contact member 116 has an external connection terminal 116B at the left end (the end on the negative Y-axis side). The external connection terminals 116A and 116B are provided protruding from the side surface on the rear side (the negative X-axis side) of the housing 110.

[0050] (Operation of the push switch 100)

[0051] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the first conduction state of the push switch 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the second conduction state of the push switch 100 according to an embodiment.

[0052] In the push switch 100 according to an embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 4 shown, when the pressing operation is not performed through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140, the operation portion 141 is in the initial state of being located at the highest position, and the metal dome 130 is in the initial state of being convex upward. At this time, the metal dome 130 is in contact with the second fixed contact 113, but neither the metal dome 130 nor the conductive portion 143A of the rubber seat 140 is in contact with the first fixed contact 112. That is, the two contact portions 112A are not electrically connected to each other, and the second fixed contact 113 and the first fixed contact 112 are not electrically connected to each other. Therefore, the push switch 100 according to an embodiment becomes an open switch state when the pressing operation is not performed through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140.

[0053] And, asFigure 7 As shown, when the push switch 100 of one embodiment is pressed by the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 by the first stroke amount, the central protrusion 143 of the rubber seat 140 passes through the opening 130A of the metal dome 130, and the conductive portion 143A provided at the lower end of the central protrusion 143 is respectively in contact with the two contact portions 112A provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess 110B of the housing 110. Specifically, the conductive portion 143A is in contact with the two contact portions 112Aa of one contact portion 112A and the two contact portions 112Aa of the other contact portion 112A. Thus, in the push switch 100 of one embodiment, the two contact portions 112A are electrically connected to each other via the conductive portion 143A, and a first conduction state is formed. That is, in the first conduction state, the external connection terminals 114A and 115A are in a conductive state with each other.

[0054] At this time, in the push switch 100 of one embodiment, the conductive portion 143A of the rubber seat 140 presses against the two contact portions 112A respectively, and the push operation performed through the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 can present a bottom feeling. Therefore, the push switch 100 of one embodiment enables the operator to tactilely recognize the situation where the first conduction state has been switched.

[0055] Next, when the push switch 100 of one embodiment is pressed by the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 by a pressing operation of more than the first stroke amount, the first pressing portion 144 of the rubber seat 140 presses the top portion (the portion around the opening 130A) of the metal dome 130.

[0056] And, as Figure 8 shown, when the push switch 100 of one embodiment is pressed by the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 by a second stroke amount greater than the first stroke amount, the top portion of the metal dome 130 is elastically deformed in a concave shape (flipping action). As a result, the portions on the back side of the top portion of the metal dome 130 are respectively in contact with the two contact portions 112A.

[0057] As a result, in the push switch 100 of one embodiment, the two contact portions 112A and the two second fixed contacts 113 are electrically connected to each other via the metal dome 130, and a second conduction state is formed. That is, in the second conduction state, the external connection terminals 114A and 115A are in a conductive state with the external connection terminals 116A and 116B.

[0058] At this time, the push switch 100 of one embodiment can present a click feeling to the pressing operation performed on the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 through the flipping action of the metal flipping dome 130. Therefore, the push switch 100 of one embodiment enables the operator to tactilely recognize the situation where the second conduction state has been switched to.

[0059] In addition, when the pressing operation performed on the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140 is released, the rubber seat 140 returns to its initial state by its own elastic force, and the metal flipping dome 130 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force. As a result, the push switch 100 of one embodiment returns to Figure 1 and Figure 4 the switch-off state shown.

[0060] In the pressing operation performed on the operation portion 141 of the rubber seat 140, before the operation amount reaches the first stroke amount, only the rubber seat 140 gradually elastically deforms, so the operation load slowly rises. Therefore, the operator can switch the push switch 100 to the first conduction state by a relatively light pressing operation.

[0061] Then, after the operation amount reaches the first stroke amount and before it reaches the second stroke amount, in addition to the rubber seat 140, the metal flipping dome 130 also elastically deforms, so the operation load rises sharply. Therefore, the operator can switch the push switch 100 to the second conduction state by a relatively heavy pressing operation.

[0062] Furthermore, when the operation amount reaches the second stroke amount, the metal flipping dome 130 performs a flipping action, so the operation load drops sharply. Therefore, the push switch 100 can present a click operation feeling to the operator at the timing when the push switch 100 is switched to the second conduction state.

[0063] As described above, the push switch 100 of one embodiment conducts the two contact portions 112A of the first fixed contact 112 with each other through the pressing operation of the first stroke amount, and conducts the first fixed contact 112 and the second fixed contact 113 through the pressing operation of the second stroke amount, that is, the common fixed contact (the first fixed contact 112) is conducted through the pressing operation of the first stroke amount and the pressing operation of the second stroke amount. Therefore, a two-stage switch can be realized with relatively few fixed contacts.

[0064] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various deformations or changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

Claims

1. A push switch, characterized in that: have: a housing having a recess; A rubber seat is arranged on the recessed portion and has a central protrusion protruding downward, and a conductive portion is provided at the lower end of the central protrusion; The movable contact is arranged in the above-mentioned recessed portion, has a dome shape capable of flipping, and has an opening in the center portion through which the above-mentioned central protrusion can be inserted; a first fixed contact provided on the inner bottom surface of the recessed portion so as to face the conductive portion; and The second fixed contact is provided around the first fixed contact in the inner bottom surface of the recess so as to be in contact with the movable contact. The first fixed contact has a plurality of contact portions separated from each other. When the rubber seat is pressed by a first stroke, the conductive portion of the rubber seat contacts the plurality of contacts through the opening of the movable contact, thereby achieving a first conductive state in which the plurality of contacts are conductively connected to each other via the conductive portion.

2. The push switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the rubber seat is pressed by a second stroke greater than the first stroke, the rubber seat presses the periphery of the opening of the movable contact, and the movable contact performs the flipping action and contacts with the plurality of contact portions, respectively, thereby achieving a second conductive state in which the plurality of contact portions are conductively connected to the second fixed contact via the movable contact.

3. The push switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: Before the operation amount of the pressing operation reaches the first stroke amount, the operation load of the pressing operation gradually increases. After the operation amount of the pressing operation reaches the first stroke amount and before reaching the second stroke amount, the operation load of the pressing operation increases sharply. When the operation amount of the pressing operation reaches the second stroke amount, the operation load of the pressing operation is rapidly reduced.

4. The push switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The conductive portion is made of conductive metal.

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