SWITCHING DEVICE

Abstract

Switching device (1), comprising: an actuating button (10) on which a tilting operation is carried out; a detected portion (20) which inclines with the inclination operation of the operating button; a detection sub-area (30, 31, 35) which detects a movement of the detected sub-area; and a substrate (40) on which the detection portion is arranged, wherein the detection portion (30, 31, 35) is aligned in a direction of the same plane as the substrate (40) and performs a switching operation upon detection of a movement of the detected portion in the direction of the same plane, wherein a locking portion (50) is provided on the front surface of the substrate (40) so that the operation button (10) provides an operation feeling, characterized in that the barrier portion (50) covers an entirety of the substrate (40) to provide a waterproof function to the substrate.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a switching device. State of the art

[0002] A momentary switch device has been proposed which allows, for example, an operating force and a displacement amount when a switch is operated to be freely adjusted to a desired value, and which only emits a sound while being operated and returns to the original state. In the switch device, a detection switch is mounted on a substrate, and two displacement portions each consisting of a base, a top formed of a rubber-based member, and a locking rubber also formed of a rubber-based member and sandwiched therebetween are provided on a housing and arranged above the substrate. Then, a switch knob formed of a synthetic resin member and having a substantially square U-shape is placed from above the housing so as to cover the housing.The switch knob is configured such that a rotating shaft protrudes from both side surfaces, openings are formed at the edges of the two side surfaces, and a lever of the detection switch is inserted through the openings. Two protruding portions are further provided on the inner surface of the upper portion of the switch knob and are respectively opposed to the top portions of the two locking rubbers provided on the housing (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). A switching device according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US2011 / 0308927 A1 (Patent Literature 2) and JP 2015-210995 A (Patent Literature 3). Literature listPatent literature Patent literature 1: JP 2005 / 251625 A Patent literature 2: US2011 / 0308 927 A1 Patent literature 3: JP 2015-210 995 A Summary of the invention

[0003] In the switching device of Patent Literature 1, the rotating shaft is provided so as to protrude from the two side surfaces of the switch knob, and the lever of the detection switch is inserted through the openings formed at the edges of the two side surfaces. Therefore, a tilting operation of the switch knob causes rotation of the rotating shaft, and movement of the lever of the detection switch with the rotation provides detection of the tilting operation of the switch knob. Devices that detect a switch knob operation via the lever of the detection switch in this manner have a problem such that the degree of freedom in disposing the detection switch is limited and it is difficult to reduce the size or thickness of the switch.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a switching device that can be reduced in size or thickness while providing a degree of freedom in arranging detection portions.

[0005] A switching device according to the present invention is defined in claim 1. The dependent claims define embodiments of the invention. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0006] According to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to reduce the size or thickness while providing a degree of freedom in arranging detection portions. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view showing the position of a knob of a switching device in embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the vicinity of a steering wheel and a driver's seat of a motor vehicle to show an example in which the switching device in the embodiments of the invention is installed on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle. Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional perspective view showing a movement of an operation knob of the switching device in the embodiments of the invention when operated. Fig. Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the switching device in the first embodiment of the invention along the line AA of Fig. 1 shows. Fig. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view when the operation knob is subjected to tilt operation. Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the switching device in the embodiments of the invention. Fig. 6 is a graphical representation of the Fig. 4A and shows an example in which the positions of detection portions are changed in a direction of the same plane as the substrate when viewed in cross section along the line AA of Fig. 1 is viewed to increase the tilt operation amount of the operation button. Fig. Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing the switching device in the second embodiment of the invention along the line AA of Fig. 1 shows. Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view at another cross-sectional position in which a guide portion is seen. Fig. 7C is a cross-sectional view when the operation knob is subjected to a tilt operation as viewed in cross section along the line AA. Description of Embodiments (First Embodiment of the Invention)

[0007] A switching device 1 in the embodiments of the invention has an operation knob 10 on which a tilting operation is performed, a detected portion 20 that tilts with the tilting operation of the operation knob 10, detection portions 30, 31 that detect a movement of the detected portion 20, and a substrate 40 on which the detection portions 30, 31 are arranged, and is configured such that the detection portion 30 is arranged in a direction of the same plane as the substrate 40 and performs a switching operation upon detection of a movement of the detected portion 20 in the same plane direction.

[0008] The switching device 1 in the first embodiment of the invention is configured such that the detected portion 20, which tilts with the tilt operation of the operation knob 10, is formed integrally with the operation knob 10. For example, the detected portion 20 is formed integrally with the operation knob 10 by resin molding and is formed as a portion of the operation knob 10. (Operation button 10)

[0009] The operation button 10 is subjected to a tilt operation by an operator and is configured to allow detection according to a direction in which the tilt operation is performed. As an application example, the switching device 1 in the embodiment of the invention is applicable as, for example, a part of a multi-operation switch 5 as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0010] As a specific example of an application, the multi-operation switch 5 including the switching device 1 is installed on a spoke 93 of a steering wheel 92 of a motor vehicle 90. The multi-operation switch 5 is configured such that, for example, the operation button 10 is located in the center and can be subjected to a tilt operation in a vertical direction. Operations, etc., on the menu can be performed by this tilt operation in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 1. Operations etc. in a horizontal direction can be performed by operating push buttons 81, 82.

[0011] In Fig. 1, for example, various selection buttons such as a backrest 85 (a backrest button), a telephone selection section 84, volume down 85, volume up 86, and voice recognition 87 are arranged around the operation knob 10. Operations, etc., on the menu displayed on a display unit 88 by operating these selection buttons can be performed by a tilt operation of the operation knob 10. As an example, when operating to control an air conditioner, a temperature on the driver's seat side can be set to increase from the initial setting by a tilt operation of the operation knob 10 in an upward direction, and to decrease by a tilt operation of the operation knob 10 in a downward direction.

[0012] As it is in Fig. As shown in Fig. 3, the operation knob 10 is formed by, for example, resin molding, so that a main body portion 11, an operation portion 10a, a center shaft 12 for a tilting movement, and the detected portion 20 are integrally formed. The operation knob 10 is assembled with a main body 100 as a housing and can be subjected to a tilting operation in an upward direction U or a downward direction D, which is shown in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0013] Fig. Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the switching device in the first embodiment of the invention along the line AA of Fig. 1 shows, and Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view when the operation button is subjected to a tilt operation. Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B are the cross sections along the line AA of the Fig. 1 in such a manner that the operating button 10 is shown on the upper side and the substrate 40 is shown on the lower side.

[0014] As it is in Fig. 4A, the operation knob 10 is arranged such that the operation portion 10a is located on one side of a front surface 40a of the substrate 40. The operation knob 10 is formed such that the operation portion 10a and the detected portion 20 are arranged opposite to each other with respect to the center shaft 12 for tilting movement. The center shaft 12 of the operation knob 10 is rotatably mounted on the main body 100. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4B, for example, when the operation portion 10a of the operation knob 10 is subjected to a tilting operation in the direction D, which is the leftward direction, the detected portion 20 is rotated in a rightward direction.

[0015] As it is in Fig. As shown in Fig. 4A, abutment portions 13, 14, which abut against a locking (or latch) portion 50, are formed on the main body portion 11 of the operating knob 10. The abutment portions 13, 14 can abut against uppermost end portions 51, 52 of a locking portion 50 (which will be described later). (Covered sub-area 20)

[0016] The detected portion 20 is formed integrally with the operation button 10, as described above. The detected portion 20 is formed to protrude on one side of a rear surface 40b of the substrate 40.

[0017] Detection surfaces 21, 22 of the detected portion 20 are objects to be detected by the detection portions 30, 31 (described later). In a case where the detection portions 30, 31 are contact switches, the detection surfaces 21, 22 are formed as abutment surfaces or contact surfaces. Meanwhile, in a case where the detection portions 20, 31 are distance sensors, the detection surfaces 21, 22 are formed as light-reflecting surfaces when detecting a distance, etc., using light, and as magnetic surfaces having permanent magnets attached thereto when detecting a distance, etc., using magnetic detection.

[0018] The detection portions 30, 31 in the first embodiment are contact switches, and therefore the detection surfaces 21, 22 are formed as abutment surfaces or contact surfaces. The detection surfaces 21, 22 abut against or come into contact with the detection portions 30, 31 in an inclined state, as shown in Fig. 4B, and can thus be formed as inclined surfaces or curved surfaces. (Survey sub-areas 30, 31)

[0019] The detection portions 30, 31 are aligned in a direction of the same plane as the substrate 40. In other words, the detection portions 30, 31 are arranged and mounted at predetermined positions on the front surface or the back surface of the substrate 40. The detection portions 30, 31 detect a movement of the detected portion 20. Specifically, the detection portion 30 is arranged on the back surface 40b of the substrate 40 to detect a movement of the detection surfaces 21, 22 of the inclined detected portion 20. Contact switches are used as the detection portions 30, 31, as described above. The contact switches are provided with contact circuits within the detection portions 30, 31 and perform a switching operation when the contact circuits are opened or closed by an external force acting thereon.In addition to contact switches, it is possible to use tactile switches or limit switches, etc. (Modification)

[0020] It is possible to use non-contact sensors, such as distance sensors, as the sensing sections 30, 31. For example, photosensors with a photodiode or phototransistor that change an output according to light intensity can be used as the sensing sections 30, 31. Alternatively, magnetic sensors that change an output according to a magnetic field, such as Hall sensors or MR sensors, can also be used as the sensing sections 30, 31. (Substrate 40)

[0021] The substrate 40 is a rigid substrate, such as glass epoxy substrate as an example, and has a circuit pattern formed on the front surface 40a, the back surface 40b, or both, on which electronic components such as the detection portions 30, 31 are mounted.

[0022] In the first embodiment, the detection portions 30, 31 are aligned in the direction of the same plane as the substrate 40 on the rear surface 40b and mounted at predetermined positions as shown in Fig. 4A. The detection portions 30, 31, which are contact switches, are mounted at positions at which the switches are turned on when the detection surfaces 21, 22 of the detected portion 20 move by a predetermined value c due to the inclination operation of the operation button 10, as shown in Fig. 4A is shown.

[0023] The substrate 40 also has a through-hole 41 formed to allow the detected portion 20 to protrude on the rear surface 40b side. The through-hole 41 may be larger than the initial setting, so that the degree of tilting operation of the operation knob 10 can be changed by changing the mounting positions of the detection portions 30, 31. (Restricted area 50)

[0024] The locking portion 50 is provided on the front surface 40a of the substrate 40 so that the operation button 10 provides an operation feel. In the first embodiment, the locking portion 50 is formed as a rubber cap using an elastomer (rubber) such as silicon, and integrally includes the top end portions 51, 52, the side portions 53, 54, and the cap portions 55, 56 formed in a raised shape and generating a click feel through deformation. The locking portion 50 also has a through-hole 57 for allowing the detected portion 20 to protrude on the rear surface 40b side of the substrate 40.

[0025] The cap portions 55, 56 apply a rubber elastic force to the operation button 10 through deformation caused by impacting or coming into contact with the abutment portions 13, 14 of the operation button 10, thereby generating a resistance force against tilting operation and also providing a click feeling for an operator. In this case, it is possible to eliminate contacts, etc., within the cap portions, allowing a reduction in the diameter of the cap and resulting in a size reduction.

[0026] In addition, the barrier portion 50 can cover the entire substrate 40 by having the side portions 53, 54, and this provides a waterproof function for the substrate. (Control unit 70)

[0027] Fig. Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the switching device in the embodiment of the invention. A control unit 70 is, for example, a microcomputer composed of a CPU (central processing unit) that performs calculation and processing, etc., of the acquired data according to a program, and a RAM (random access memory) and a ROM (read only memory) as semiconductor memories, etc. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results, etc. In addition, the control unit 70 receives signals from various selection keys located in Fig. 5, and the detection sections 30, 31 process the signals according to a predetermined program and can thereby generate a control signal S C to the motor vehicle 90 issue.

[0028] As it is in Fig. 5, detection signals S U , S Dfrom the detection sub-areas 30, 31, detection signals S 81 , S 82 from the pressure switches 81, 82, a detection signal S 83 from an air conditioning selection section 83, a detection signal S 84 from the telephone selection section 84, a detection signal S 85 from volume down 85, a detection signal S 86 of volume louder 86 and a detection signal S 87 from the voice recognition 87 to the control unit 70. Based on these input signals, the control unit changes, for example, the menu screen displayed on the display unit 88. It is also possible to control such that the setting values ​​are changed by tilting the control knob up and down, etc. (Operation of switching device 1)

[0029] The actuating button 10 is moved from a non-actuated state, which is Fig. 4A, is subjected to a tilt operation by an operator's finger, etc. In the first embodiment, the detected portion 20, which tilts upon the tilt operation of the operation knob 10, is formed integrally with the operation knob 10. Therefore, the detected portion 20 tilts together with, that is, integrated with, the tilt operation of the operation knob 10.

[0030] In the state in which, for example, the operation button 10 is subjected to a tilting operation in the direction D as shown in Fig. 4B, the detection surface 21 of the detected portion 20 abuts against or comes into contact with the detection portion 30. The contact circuit within the detection portion 30 as a contact switch is thereby switched on and the Fig. 5 shown detection signal S Dis input to the control unit 70. Similarly, when the operation button 10 is subjected to a tilting operation in the direction U, the detection signal S U to the control unit 70. (Adjustment of the tilt operation extent)

[0031] The tilting operation amount of the above-described operation button 10 depends on distances between the detection portions 30, 31 attached to the substrate 40 and the detection surfaces 21, 22 of the detected portion 20, as shown in Fig. 4A. In the example described above, the distances between the detection portions 30, 31 and the detection surfaces 21, 22 of the detected portion 20 have a predetermined value c, as shown in Fig. 4A is shown.

[0032] Fig. 6 is a graphical representation of the Fig. 4 and shows an example in which the positions of the detection portions are changed in the direction of the same plane as the substrate, as shown in the cross section along the line AA of Fig. 1, to increase the tilt operation amount of the operation button. For example, by aligning the detection portions 30, 31 in the direction of the same plane as the substrate 40, so that the distances have a value d that is larger than that shown in Fig. The value c shown in Fig. 4A can be easily changed to increase the tilt operation amount of the operation knob 10. In this regard, the through-hole 41 of the substrate 40 is formed large in advance as described above, and the through-hole 57 of the locking portion 50 is also formed large in advance.

[0033] It is also possible to simply change to reduce the inclination operation amount of the operation button 10 by, for example, attaching the detection portions 30, 31 to the substrate so that the distances have a smaller value than that in Fig. 4A shown value c.

[0034] Therefore, because the detection portions 30, 31 are aligned in the same plane direction as the substrate 40 and perform a switching operation upon detection of a movement of the detected portion 20 in the same plane direction, it is easy to change the tilt operation amount of the operation knob 10. In addition, because the switching operation is performed upon detection of the movement of the detected portion 20 in the same plane direction, the degree of freedom in arranging the detection switches is high, and the degree of freedom in designing is also high regardless of the tilt operation amount. This allows for a reduction in size or thickness of the switching device. (Second embodiment of the invention)

[0035] The switching device 1 in the second embodiment of the invention is configured such that the detected portion 20, which inclines with the inclination operation of the operation knob 10, is formed separately from the operation knob 10.

[0036] As it is in Fig. 7A, the operating button 10 is arranged in a Fig. 7B shown direction P. Pushing or sliding the actuating button 10 in the direction P, such as a pressure actuation, does not exert any force on the detected partial area 20.

[0037] However, as it is in Fig. 7B, the detected portion 20 is configured such that a center shaft 23 for tilting movement is rotatably mounted on the main body 100. Therefore, the operation knob 10 is coupled to the detected portion 20 in a rotational direction through the guide portion 25, and the operation knob 10 and the detected portion 20 rotate integrally around the center shaft 23.

[0038] Such a configuration allows the operation knob 10 to move independently in the direction P. In addition, when the operation knob 10 is subjected to a tilt operation, the operation knob 10 and the detected portion 20 tilt integrally around the center shaft 23. The remaining configuration, operation, and movement are the same as those in the first embodiment. (Operation of switching device 1)

[0039] If the operating button 10 is moved from one Fig. 7A is subjected to a pressure operation in the direction P by a finger etc. of an operator, the operation button 10 moves in the direction P. A Fig. The detection section 35 shown in Fig. 7B detects the pressure actuation and thereby a Fig. 5 shown detection signal S P to the control unit 70. This detection signal S P can be used, for example, as a confirmation signal to confirm a selection on the menu screen.

[0040] Then the operating button 10 is made of a Fig. 7A, the operation knob 10 is subjected to a tilt operation by an operator's finger, etc. In the second embodiment, the operation knob 10 and the detected portion 20 tilt integrally when the operation knob 10 is subjected to a tilt operation as described above.

[0041] In the state in which, for example, the operation button 10 is subjected to a tilting operation in the direction D as shown in Fig. 7C, the sensing surface 21 of the sensed portion 20 abuts against or comes into contact with the sensing portion 30. The contact circuit within the sensing portion 30 as a contact switch is thereby switched on and the Fig. 5 shown detection signal S D is input to the control unit 70. Similarly, when the operation button 10 is subjected to a tilting operation in the direction U, the detection signal S U to the control unit 70. Effects of the embodiments of the invention

[0042] The embodiments of the invention bring about the following effects. (1) The switching device 1 in the embodiments of the invention includes the operation knob 10 on which a tilt operation is performed, the detected portion 20 that tilts with the tilt operation of the operation knob 20, the detection portions 30, 31 that detect movement of the detected portion 20, and the substrate 40 on which the detection portions 30, 31 are disposed. It is configured such that the detection portion 30 is disposed in the same plane direction as the substrate 40 and performs a switching operation upon detection of movement of the detected portion 20 in the same plane direction. Since it is configured such that the detection portions 30, 31 are disposed on the rear surface 40b of the substrate 40, it is possible to reduce the size on the front side of the substrate and thereby reduce a height / thickness of the switch. (2) Since the detection portions 30, 31 are aligned in the same plane direction as the substrate and perform a switching operation upon detecting a movement of the detected portion 20 in the same plane direction, it is easy to change the tilting operation amount of the operation knob 10. As a result, erroneous operation can be prevented by adjusting an operation stroke depending on the positions of the detection switches. (3) In the second embodiment, it is possible to perform a tilt operation as well as a push operation on the operation knob 10, and thus it is possible to expand functions of the operation knob 10.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be implemented without deviating from or changing the technical idea of ​​the invention. Although the representative embodiments of the invention and the illustrated examples have been described, the invention according to the claims is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and illustrated examples. Therefore, please note that not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments and illustrated examples are necessary to solve the problem of the invention. List of reference symbols 1 SWITCHING DEVICE 10 OPERATION BUTTON 5 multi-operation switches 10 OPERATION BUTTON 10a OPERATION PART 11 MAIN BODY PART AREA 12 CENTER SHAFT 13, 14 Abutment section 15 MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT 20 COVERED SURBAN AREA 21, 22 DETECTION SURFACE 23 CENTER SHAFT 25 MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT 30, 31 SUB-AREA OF DETECTION 35 SUB-AREA OF DETECTION 40 SUBSTRATE 40a FRONT SURFACE 40b REAR SURFACE 41 THROUGH HOLE 50 RESTRICTED AREA 51, 52 TOP END SECTION 52, 53 SIDE PANEL AREA 55, 56 CAP PART AREA 57 THROUGH HOLE 70 CONTROL UNIT 81, 82 PRESSURE SWITCH 83 BACKREST 84 TELEPHONE DIALING SUB-AREA 85 VOLUME DOWN 86 VOLUME LOUDER 87 Speech Recognition 88 DISPLAY UNIT 90 MOTOR VEHICLE 92 STEERING WHEEL 93 SPOKE 100 MAIN BODIES

Claims

[1] Switching device (1), comprising: an actuating button (10) on which a tilting operation is carried out; a detected portion (20) which inclines with the inclination operation of the operating button; a detection sub-area (30, 31, 35) which detects a movement of the detected sub-area; and a substrate (40) on which the detection portion is arranged, wherein the detection portion (30, 31, 35) is aligned in a direction of the same plane as the substrate (40) and performs a switching operation upon detection of a movement of the detected portion in the direction of the same plane, wherein a locking portion (50) is provided on the front surface of the substrate (40) so that the operation button (10) provides an operation feeling, characterized by , that the barrier portion (50) covers an entirety of the substrate (40) to provide a waterproof function to the substrate. [2] The switching device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the operation button (10) is arranged on a side of a front surface of the substrate (40) and the detection portion (30, 31, 35) is arranged on a side of a rear surface of the substrate. [3] The switching device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detected portion (20) protrudes on the side of the rear surface of the substrate (40). [4] Switching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detected partial area (20) is formed integrally with the actuating button (10). [5] Switching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detected partial area (20) is formed separately from the actuating button (10). [6] The switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking portion (50) includes a through hole (57) for allowing the detected portion (20) to protrude on the rear surface side of the substrate (40). [7] The switching device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate (40) includes a through-hole (57) for allowing the detected portion (20) to protrude on the rear surface side of the substrate (40).

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