Pressure piece for an actuator of an electrical switching device, actuator with a pressure piece, and switching device with an actuator.

Abstract

A pressure piece (26) for an actuator of an electrical switching device comprising a rectangular housing element having a matrix display (2) on a front side of the pressure piece (26), via which the pressure piece (26) can be manually actuated by an operator and which is visible in an installed state of the pressure piece (26) and the actuator, wherein at least one semiconductor chip for controlling the matrix display (2) for writing information into the matrix display (2) is directly electrically contacted onto a so-called flextail, wherein the flextail is contacted with electrical connection contacts of columns and / or rows of the matrix display (2) in order to establish an electrical connection of the columns and / or rows of the matrix display (2) to the at least one semiconductor chip, and wherein the flextail with the semiconductor chip is bent onto a back side of the matrix display (2).which is opposite the front of the pressure piece, and wherein the pressure piece (26) has a hollow plunger (24) through which connecting leads (7) for the at least one semiconductor chip are guided.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a pressure piece for an actuator of an electrical switching device comprising a square housing element having a matrix display on a front side of the pressure piece.

[0002] Push buttons with a matrix display are already well-known on the market as display switches based on OLEDs. Rectangular displays are used. These buttons have the advantage that customized information can be written onto the push button, depending on the desired application.

[0003] From the US document US 2009 / 0 107 817 A1 a push button with an OLED display on a front side of the pressure piece is known, on the back of which a semiconductor chip for its control is arranged.

[0004] The European patent application EP 0 232 137 A2 shows a push button with an essentially square matrix display on a front side.

[0005] US patent US 5 278 362 A shows a push button which has a substantially square liquid crystal display on one front side. Tasks Advantages of the invention

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a pressure piece with a matrix display for an actuator of an electrical switching device, such as a push button or an electrical switch, which is improved with regard to controlling the matrix display.

[0007] The invention is based on a pressure piece for an actuator of an electrical switching device, comprising a square housing element having a matrix display on a front side of the pressure piece, via which front side the pressure piece can be manually actuated by an operator to actuate the actuator and which is visible from the outside when the pressure piece and actuator are installed. Actuation is conceivable directly via the matrix display front side on the surface of the display or via a protective layer arranged over the display. This can, for example, be firmly connected to the display surface or merely lie in contact with it. A protective layer can be elastically flexible or flexible, for example in the form of a flexible film. The protective layers should be sufficiently transparent so that the underlying display is visible to an operator from the outside.The matrix display is, for example, embedded or inserted into the housing element, at a square opening.

[0008] A further point of the invention is that at least one semiconductor chip for controlling the display for writing information into the display is directly electrically contacted, in particular bonded, to a so-called flex part. A flextail is a flexible printed circuit board on which connection contacts are provided, in particular for connecting the semiconductor chip, in particular matching the intended contact pattern of the connection contacts of the semiconductor chip(s), whereby, for example, a semiconductor chip can be bonded directly to the flexible printed circuit board, i.e. the flextail. In addition, the flextail is contacted with electrical connection contacts of columns and / or rows of the matrix display in order to establish an electrical connection between the columns and / or rows of the matrix display and the at least one semiconductor chip.For this purpose, the flextail preferably has corresponding connection points for the connection contacts and corresponding conductor tracks leading to these connection points. Furthermore, the flextail with the semiconductor chip is bent over onto the back of the matrix display, which is opposite the front of the printed circuit board, i.e., the visible side of the matrix display.

[0009] The matrix display preferably has columns and rows whose intersections define pixels of the matrix display. By contacting the at least one semiconductor chip directly on the flexible circuit board, which is preferably also designed to electrically contact all columns and rows of the matrix display, it is possible to design the matrix display in a space-saving manner at all edges, and in particular at the edge where the flexible circuit board, i.e. the flextail, is contacted on, for example, a front side of the matrix display and is bent over onto the back of the matrix display, i.e. without significantly adding installation space, which would be necessary, for example, for chip placement on the front side of the display. This opens up comparatively great flexibility with regard to the shape of the matrix display, since, in particular, no significant edge enlargements need to be taken into account during design.

[0010] The matrix display is covered, for example, with a scratch-resistant surface, such as so-called "Gorilla Glass." Preferably, the matrix display is located directly behind such a scratch-resistant surface. It is further preferred that the matrix display be a bistable display with, for example, two switching states, which are maintained, in particular, even when de-energized. In these states, the display is preferably translucent or opaque, or reflective or non-reflective in reflective mode.

[0011] With such a bistable matrix display, the energy required to display information can be minimized; in the best case, information written to the display remains stable even after the power supply is removed. For example, updating the information through a write process is only necessary at very long intervals.

[0012] The core of the invention is that the pressure piece has a hollow plunger through which connecting lines for controlling the at least one semiconductor chip are guided.

[0013] This measure makes it possible to route connecting lines to the outside in a defined and space-saving manner, in particular through a complete actuator and, if necessary, further through a switching device connected to the actuator to an electronic unit with which the at least one semiconductor chip can be controlled.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the front side of the printing piece is exactly square.

[0015] In particular, the arrangement of the at least one semiconductor chip on the flextail makes it possible to create a precisely square front side of the printed part. One challenge is that the at least one semiconductor chip must be bonded very precisely to the flextail, as contact pitches must be maintained, for example, with contact widths of approximately 25 µm and contact pitches of approximately 13 µm. The at least one control chip, for example, has dimensions of approximately 20 mm × 6.5 mm.

[0016] The semiconductor chip is preferably encapsulated with the flextail.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the matrix display is exactly square.

[0018] For an attractive design, it is desirable to have not only a perfectly square design for the push button, but also for the matrix display itself. This allows such a push button for an actuator to fit into common series with the same design language, for example, with a square outer shape. This significantly increases the acceptance of such push buttons for actuators, for example, in control units, such as control panels with numerous control devices, such as push buttons.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an active area of ​​the matrix display is exactly square.

[0020] Especially in a perfectly square matrix display, a perfectly square active area of ​​the display creates a very high-quality design. This is because the border surrounding the active area is then preferably the same width throughout.

[0021] In addition, it is advantageous if the area of ​​the front of the matrix display is smaller than 30 × 30 mm, 29 × 29 mm, 28 × 28 mm, 27 × 27 mm, 26 × 26 mm or 25 × 25 mm.

[0022] In this way, such a pressure piece equipped in this way becomes attractive for many types of actuators, since the dimensions can be integrated into other types of actuators.

[0023] In particular, it is preferred if the active area of ​​the matrix display is smaller than 20 × 20 mm, 19 × 19 mm, 18 × 18 mm, 17 × 17 mm, 16 × 16 mm or 15 × 15 mm.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the matrix display is equipped with more than 50 × 50 pixels. Preferably, the matrix display has more than 60 × 60, 70 × 70, 80 × 80, or 90 × 90 pixels.

[0025] With this minimum number of pixels, a wide range of information can be displayed on the printed piece in the desired resolution and level of detail on the matrix display for an operator.

[0026] It is also preferred that the flextail with the at least one semiconductor chip comprises connecting lines to the outside.

[0027] With the help of the at least one semiconductor chip, in particular, a desired piece of information is written onto the matrix display. Via the connecting lines, it is preferably possible to "address" the at least one semiconductor chip, e.g., to program it, so that it writes a desired piece of information, which can possibly be specified via the connecting lines, onto the matrix display. Thus, the possibility of access via the connecting lines provides a high degree of flexibility for configuring the information on the matrix display.

[0028] For example, the connecting lines are an integrated, i.e. in particular a one-piece, component of the flextail. For example, the connecting lines are designed as a connecting lug a few millimeters wide, which is in particular variable in length, for example several centimeters. For example, there are three to ten connecting line tracks on a connecting lug in order to be able to "program" the semiconductor chip and / or to write the desired information to the matrix display via the semiconductor chip. The connecting line tracks preferably comprise a power supply for the at least one semiconductor chip and optionally a power supply for lighting the matrix display, for example a backlight.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the matrix display is based on a ZBD technology.

[0030] ZBD stands for Zenithal Bistable Device, a device with two stable peaks. These are liquid crystals that can basically be used in all matrix displays. In particular, they enable two switching points that advantageously remain in this state once the information has been written into a display, for example, even if an external control voltage is removed. This opens up the option of writing information onto the matrix display via at least one semiconductor chip, for example, and this information remains as information even after the supply voltage is removed from the matrix display. The matrix display thus functions, for example, as a light valve, with two switching points: transmissive and non-transmissive, or in the reflective case, reflective or non-reflective.In particular, in combination with a backlight, which radiates light outwards at the transparent pixels in the transparent case and blocks light in the non-transparent case, an easily readable matrix display can be realized.

[0031] Another essential aspect of the invention relates to an actuator with a pressure piece according to the invention, wherein the pressure piece is located in an actuator housing.

[0032] Preferably, the actuator housing, like the matrix display, is exactly square. The pressure piece is in particular guided so as to be displaceable in the actuator housing, for example in the direction of a plunger which protrudes, for example, perpendicular to a front plane of the pressure piece on an opposite side of the pressure piece. By displacing the pressure piece in the actuator housing, a contact action is advantageously triggered, i.e. in particular when the front side of the pressure piece is manually actuated by an operator, whereby a relative movement of the pressure piece to the actuator housing occurs and thus in particular a switching element is actuated which, for example, adjoins the actuator housing and is connected to it. In a further advantageous embodiment of the actuator, connecting lines of the flextail are guided outwards through the actuator in the pressure piece.

[0033] This allows different switching devices to be attached to a single actuator, thus enabling modular technology. It is particularly advantageous if the connecting cables are also routed through any switching device. This allows easy access to the matrix display and its contents from outside by simply connecting the connecting cables. For example, from a circuit board to which the switching device is also electrically connected.

[0034] Accordingly, the invention also relates to a switching device with an actuator according to the invention and a switching apparatus connected to the actuator. Character description

[0035] Several embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings, giving further details and advantages.

[0036] They show: Fig. 1a: a matrix display according to the invention in a plan view, Fig. 1b: the matrix display after Fig. 1a in a side view, Fig. 1c: the matrix display after Fig. 1a in a bottom view, Fig. 2a: a printed piece with a matrix display in a top view, Fig. 2b: a printed piece with matrix display in a sectioned side view along the section line AA in Fig. 2a, Fig. 2c: the matrix display with pressure piece according to Fig. 2a in a side view, Fig. 3a: a housing element for a pressure piece in a plan view, Fig. 3b: the pressure piece in a sectioned side view along the section line AA in Fig. 3a, Fig. 3c: the housing element according to the Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b in an isometric view, Fig. 4a: a complete switching device with an actuator and a switching device in a perspective view obliquely from above and Fig. 4b: the switching device according to Fig. 4a in a side view.

[0037] In the Fig. 1a to 1c show a matrix display unit 1, which preferably comprises a matrix display 2, a protective glass 3 or a similar protective layer.

[0038] The matrix display 2 is preferably connected to a so-called flextail 4 of a flexible printed circuit board. For this purpose, the flextail 4 is connected to the display 2 on a display plane 5 and bent around an edge of the display 2 onto a back side 6 of the matrix display 2.

[0039] The Flextail 4, for example, has a connection lug 7 with connection contacts 8, for example connection contacts no. 1 - 15.

[0040] The flextail 4 is, for example, multi-part, for example, two-part, with a first bent section 9 and a further second section 10, which are connected to each other at a contact area 11. The contact area has, for example, contact points Nos. 1 - 27. In the first section 9, for example, an area 12 is provided, which is shown in dashed lines, for contacting electrical components, for example, a semiconductor chip.

[0041] In the second section 10, the possible area for electronic components 13 is schematically shown as a bordered box, in the present case with two cutouts, one of which is in the area of ​​the connection lug 7.

[0042] A hatched rectangle represents an area 14 that is covered, for example, with a polyamide film to protect the underlying structures, for example, with a Kapton adhesive film. The Kapton adhesive film covers, for example, area 13 and / or contact area 11.

[0043] In the component areas 11 and 13, various electronic components, for example semiconductor chips, can be accommodated, in particular bonded directly to the Flextail 4.

[0044] Electrical components which are electrically contacted on the flextail 4, for example in the areas 12 and 13 which have conductor tracks, preferably serve to control the matrix display 2, in particular an active matrix display area 15.

[0045] The active area 15 has, for example, 72 × 72 pixels and is preferably exactly square, as is a frame 16 surrounding the active area 15. The frame 16 is preferably opaque, i.e., impermeable to light. The protective glass 3, which, for example, surrounds or covers the frame 16, is located on the matrix display 2.

[0046] This means that the matrix display unit, apart from a tab 17 for removing a protective film and the connection tab 7, is exactly square in the top and bottom views. In the side view Fig. 1b, the component area 13 is illustrated with a schematically drawn height 18, which reflects an example of a possible installation height of electronic components, in particular semiconductor chips, at this location.

[0047] The matrix display unit 1 is preferably as shown in the Fig. 2a to 2c, is installed in a housing element 19. A possible embodiment of such a housing element 19 is shown in the Fig. 3a to 3b.

[0048] The housing element 19 has a preferably exactly square receiving box 20 with a bottom 21 and side walls 22 (see in particular Fig. 3c).

[0049] The base 21 is adjoined by a sleeve 23, which is particularly shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 3b is evident.

[0050] The sleeve 23 has, for example, a mounting section 24. Via the mounting section 24, a connection is made to an electronic switching device 27 (see Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b) is possible. The matrix display unit 1, inserted into the housing element 19, preferably forms a longitudinally movable pressure piece 26 in an actuator 28, which is connected to the electronic switching device 27 and in which a switching action in the electrical switching device 27 can be brought about by a movement of the pressure piece 26 of the actuator 28.

[0051] In the Fig. 2a to 2c show the state of the matrix display unit 1 installed in the housing 19, wherein it can be seen that the connection lug 7 passes through the sleeve 23 and preferably leaves the sleeve 23 or the mounting section 24 at its open end 25 and projects there. The projection can be several centimeters depending on the desired application. Accordingly, it is possible for the connection lug 7 with connection contacts 8 to also pass through the switching device 27, for example, after the matrix display unit 1 has been installed with the housing element 19 in an actuator 28 and connected to an electrical switching device 27, in order to be contacted, for example, on an electronics board (not shown) downstream of the switching device, with the option of writing to or controlling the matrix display 2 via an electronics unit.If the matrix display 2 is, for example, a bistable display, a single write operation is preferably sufficient to write information, for example a symbol, into the matrix display 2, after which this information is preferably retained even if no further write signals are present.

[0052] As from Fig. 2b, the protective glass 3 preferably projects beyond the matrix display 2 at the lateral edges, so that the protective glass sits on the respective upper edge of the side walls 22 of the housing element 19 when the matrix display unit 1 is pushed into the housing element 19. For this purpose, the connection lug 7 is preferably bent around the component area 13, then preferably runs along the rear side of the matrix display 2 to the center of the housing element 19, so that after a further bend, the connection lug 7 passes through the sleeve 23 and can leave it, in particular, at its open end 25.

[0053] The protective glass 3 is preferably glued to the upper edge of the side walls 22, for example, in the projecting areas, and advantageously ends flush with the respective outer side of the side walls 22. This advantageously creates a compact pressure piece 26 consisting of the matrix display unit 1 and the housing element 19, in which the matrix display 2 is arranged, which preferably comprises a plunger unit. Installed in an actuator 28, this plunger unit preferably performs a switching movement.

[0054] The flextail 4 with connection lug 7 can also be formed as a single piece. A different bending line of the flextail 4 on the back of the matrix display 2 is also conceivable.

[0055] In the Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b shows a switching device 29 comprising an actuator 28 with a pressure piece 26 and a switching device 27 connected thereto. A matrix display 2, over which, for example, a protective glass 3 is placed and thus forms a matrix display unit 1, is advantageously controlled via a connection lug 7 with connection contacts 8. The connection lug 7 of a flextail 4 passes through the actuator 28 and the switching device 27 and can protrude beyond the switching device 27 at the lower end, just like further connection contacts 30 (dashed in Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b). The actuator 28 is preferably connected to a switching device 27 via a thread 31.

[0056] The actuator 28 preferably has a circumferential groove 33 for receiving a mounting plate in which the switching device can be mounted in, for example, a square opening.

[0057] The terminal lug 7 of the switching device 29 according to the Fig. 4a to 4b can be connected to an electronic unit, for example, via their contacts 8. For example, the switching device 27 with the contacts 30 is located on an electronic circuit board (not shown), and a mechanical connection to the electronic circuit board is established, for example, via a locking bolt 32 or several locking bolts 32 provided on the switching device. List of reference symbols 1 matrix display unit 2 matrix display 3 protective glass 4 Flextail 5 Display level 6 Back 7 Connection lug 8 connection contacts 9 first section 10 second section 11 Contact area 12 Component area 13 Component area 14 Area 15 active matrix display area 16 frames 17 tab 18 height 19 Housing element 20 recording box 21 Floor 22 side wall 23 sleeve 24 Assembly section 25 open ending 26 Pressure piece 27 Switchgear 28 actuators 29 Switching device 30 connection contacts 31 threads 32 locking bolts 33 grooves

Claims

[1] A pressure piece (26) for an actuator of an electrical switching device, comprising a square housing element (19) having a matrix display (2) on a front side of the pressure piece (26), via which the pressure piece (26) can be manually actuated by an operator to actuate the actuator and which is visible when the pressure piece (26) and the actuator are installed, wherein at least one semiconductor chip for controlling the matrix display (2) for writing information into the matrix display (2) is directly electrically contacted to a so-called flextail (4), wherein the flextail (4) is contacted with electrical connection contacts of columns and / or rows of the matrix display (2) in order to establish an electrical connection of the columns and / or rows of the matrix display (2) to the at least one semiconductor chip, and wherein the flextail (4) with the semiconductor chip is bent over onto a rear side of the matrix display (2),which is opposite the front side of the pressure piece, characterized by that the pressure piece (26) has a hollow plunger (24) through which connecting lines (7) for the at least one semiconductor chip are guided. [2] Pressure piece according to claim 1, characterized by that the front side of the pressure piece (26) is exactly square. [3] Pressure piece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the matrix display (2) is exactly square. [4] Pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an active area (15) of the matrix display (2) is exactly square. [5] Pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an area of ​​the front of the matrix display (2) is smaller than 30 × 30 mm. [6] Pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the matrix display (2) has more than 50 × 50 pixels. [7] Pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flextail (4) with the at least one semiconductor chip comprises connecting lines (7) to the outside. [8] Pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the matrix display (2) is based on ZBD technology. [9] Actuator with a pressure piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pressure piece (26) sits in an actuator housing. [10] Actuator according to claim 9, characterized by that the connecting cables (7) of the flextail (4) in the pressure piece (26) are led out through the actuator. [11] Switching device with a switching apparatus and an actuator according to one of claims 9 or 10.

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