Press operation unit and switch device

Abstract

To suppress changes in operational feel and switch timing during a pressing operation depending on the installation state of a housing.SOLUTION: A pressing operation unit includes an operating member that can be pressed, a leaf spring member that has multiple legs and that elastically deforms when a pressing operation is performed to give the operating member an operating sensation, and a housing that has an opening and in which the leaf spring member is placed in the opening, and the housing has a holding portion that holds the portion of the leaf spring member placed in the opening other than the legs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressing operation unit and a switch device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for generating a feeling on an operating member by means of a reversing operation of a leaf spring member provided between the operating member and a membrane sheet in a pressing mechanism of a push switch configured to press a movable contact member of the membrane sheet against a fixed contact member by an operable operating member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the legs of the leaf spring member are held by the housing, when the thickness of the adhesive between the housing and the membrane sheet for fixing the housing changes, the distance between the leaf spring member and the membrane sheet changes, and there is a risk that the operating feel and switch timing during the pressing operation may change.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A pressing operation unit according to an embodiment includes an operating member capable of a pressing operation, a leaf spring member having a plurality of legs and configured to elastically deform to impart an operating feel to the operating member when the pressing operation is performed, and a housing having an opening and in which the leaf spring member is disposed. The housing has a holding portion that holds a portion other than the legs of the leaf spring member disposed in the opening.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the pressing operation unit according to one embodiment, it is possible to suppress the change in the operation feeling and the switch timing during the pressing operation according to the housing installation state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for convenience, the Z-axis direction in the drawing is the vertical direction, the Y-axis direction in the drawing is the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the drawing is the front-back direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction is upward, the positive Y-axis direction is rightward, and the positive X-axis direction is forward.

[0009] (Overview of Switch Device 100) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a switch device 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the switch device 100 generally has a thin three-dimensional shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The switch device 100 is used, for example, as a thin key for a keyboard of a personal computer or the like.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, in the switch device 100, a sheet-like membrane sheet 140 is attached to the upper surface 150A of a flat plate-like plate 150, and further, a pressing operation unit 100A is placed and fixed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140.

[0011] In the pressing operation unit 100A, the upper surface 130A (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of a thin plate-like housing 130 is covered by a sheet-like insulator 111 that constitutes an operation member 110. A second projection 113 protruding upward (in the positive Z-axis direction) is provided at the upper surface and the central portion of the insulator 111. Thereby, in the pressing operation unit 100A, it is possible for an operator to press downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) the second projection 113.

[0012] When the second projection 113 of the switch device 100 is not pressed by the operator, the membrane switch 141 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided on the membrane sheet 140 is in an off state.

[0013] When the operator presses the second projection 113 downward (in the negative Z-axis direction), the membrane switch 141 is pressed by the metal contact 120 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided in the pressing operation unit 100A (the opening 131 of the housing 130), and the membrane switch 141 switches to the on state.

[0014] At this time, the switch device 100 can impart an operation feeling to the operator via the second projection 113 when the metal contact 120 undergoes a reverse operation (elastic deformation).

[0015] (Configuration of Switch Device 100) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a switch device 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the switch device 100 according to an embodiment taken along the YZ plane. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch device 100 includes a pressing operation unit 100A, a membrane sheet 140, a plate 150, and an adhesive 160.

[0016] The pressing operation unit 100A has an operation member 110, a metal contact 120, and a housing 130.

[0017] The operation member 110 can be pressed in the pressing operation direction D1 (negative Z-axis direction) by the operator. The operation member 110 has an insulator 111, a first projection 112, and a second projection 113. The specific configuration of the operation member 110 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0018] The metal contact 120 is an example of a "leaf spring member". The metal contact 120 is disposed below the operation member 110 (negative Z-axis side) and at the opening 131 of the housing 130. The metal contact 120 is a metal dome-shaped member having a circular shape in plan view from above (positive Z-axis direction) and convex upward (positive Z-axis direction). The metal contact 120 is formed using one or a plurality of thin metal plates. The metal contact 120 has a circular opening 121 at the central portion.

[0019] The metal contact 120 is provided with four legs 122 extending outward and downward from the circular outer peripheral edge of the metal contact 120 at equal intervals (i.e., 90-degree intervals). As shown in FIG. 3, when the pressing operation unit 100A is installed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140, each of the four legs 122 of the metal contact 120 lands on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140, and thus the metal contact 120 is supported from below by the membrane sheet 140.

[0020] When a pressing operation in the pressing operation direction D1 (negative Z-axis direction) of the operation member 110 is performed on the metal contact 120, the central portion where the opening 121 is formed is pressed downward by the operation member 110, and when a predetermined operation load is exceeded, the central portion rapidly elastically deforms (inverts) into a concave shape. Thereby, the metal contact 120 can present an operation feeling (click operation feeling) to the operator of the operation member 110. When the metal contact 120 is released from the pressing force from the operation member 110, it returns to its original convex shape by the elastic force.

[0021] The housing 130 is a thin plate-like member having a thin three-dimensional shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The housing 130 has a generally square shape in a plan view from above (the positive Z-axis direction). The housing 130 has an upper surface 130A and an opening 131 that penetrates the housing 130 in the vertical direction. A metal contact 120 is disposed in the opening 131. Therefore, the opening 131 has substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the metal contact 120 (that is, a shape in which four legs 122 protrude from a circular shape) in a plan view from above (the positive Z-axis direction). The housing 130 is formed using a relatively hard insulating material (for example, hard resin, etc.).

[0022] The membrane sheet 140 is a flexible resin-made sheet-like member. The pressing operation unit 100A is placed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 in a state where the center of the membrane sheet 140 coincides with the center of the pressing operation unit 100A. Then, the pressing operation unit 100A is fixed to the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 by an adhesive 160 placed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0023] A membrane switch 141 is provided at the central portion of the membrane sheet 140. The membrane switch 141 is configured to have a thin-film-like upper contact 141A and a lower contact 141B, both made of a conductor, which are arranged to face each other in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). When a pressing operation in the pressing operation direction D1 (negative Z-axis direction) of the operation member 110 is performed, the membrane switch 141 is pressed by the first projection 112 of the operation member 110, and the upper contact 141A and the lower contact 141B come into contact with each other, thereby switching to the switched-on state.

[0024] The plate 150 is a relatively rigid resin-made and flat plate-like member. The plate 150 supports the membrane sheet 140 in a horizontal state by attaching the membrane sheet 140 to the upper surface 150A of the plate 150 by any adhesive means (e.g., double-sided sheet, adhesive, etc.). The plate 150 is formed using a relatively rigid insulating material (e.g., hard resin, etc.).

[0025] (Configuration of the operation member 110) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an operation member 110 included in the switch device 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation member 110 has an insulator 111, a first projection 112, and a second projection 113.

[0026] The insulator 111 is a thin sheet-like member attached to the upper surface 130A of the housing 130. The insulator 111 is formed using a resin material such as PET. The insulator 111 has a shape (i.e., generally square shape) corresponding to the outer shape of the housing 130 in a plan view from above (the positive Z-axis direction). The insulator 111 is adhered to the upper surface 130A of the housing 130 by any adhesive means (e.g., laser welding, etc.) in a state of covering the upper surface 130A of the housing 130. The insulator 111 seals the opening 131 by closing the upper opening of the opening 131 of the housing 130.

[0027] The first projection 112 is provided at the center of the back surface 111B (the surface on the metal contact 120 side) of the insulator 111. The first projection 112 is welded to the back surface 111B of the insulator 111 by laser welding. The first projection 112 has a thin cylindrical shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The first projection 112 is formed using a resin material. The first projection 112 has a smaller diameter than the second projection 113. Furthermore, the first projection 112 has a smaller diameter than the opening 121 of the metal contact 120 and is disposed through the opening 121 of the metal contact 120.

[0028] The second projection 113 is provided at the center of the front surface 111A (the surface on the operator side) of the insulator 111 (i.e., at a position facing the first projection 112). The second projection 113 is welded to the front surface 111A of the insulator 111 by laser welding. The second projection 113 has a thin cylindrical shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The second projection 113 is formed using a resin material. The second projection 113 has a larger diameter than the opening 121 of the metal contact 120, so that when a pressing operation is performed, it can press around the opening 121 of the metal contact 120 to cause the metal contact 120 to perform a reversing operation.

[0029] (Operation of the switch device 100) When the second projection 113 of the operation member 110 is not pressed by the operator, in the switch device 100 according to an embodiment, the insulator 111 of the operation member 110 is in a horizontal state, and the metal contact 120 is in a convex dome shape upward (in the positive Z-axis direction). Also, since the upper contact 141A and the lower contact 141B of the membrane switch 141 are separated from each other, the switch is in an off state.

[0030] When the second projection 113 of the operation member 110 is pressed in the pressing operation direction D1 (negative Z-axis direction) by an operator, the central portion of the insulator 111 of the operation member 110 deflects downward (negative Z-axis direction), and the first projection 112 of the operation member 110 moves downward (negative Z-axis direction) together with the second projection 113. At this time, the second projection 113 presses the central portion (peripheral portion of the opening 121) of the metal contact 120 through the insulator 111. For this reason, the central portion of the metal contact 120 is gradually elastically deformed downward (negative Z-axis direction), and accordingly, the operation load of the pressing operation of the operation member 110 gradually increases.

[0031] Furthermore, when the stroke amount of the pressing operation of the operation member 110 reaches a predetermined amount, the central portion of the metal contact 120 is rapidly elastically deformed (inverted operation) into a concave shape. As a result, the operation load of the pressing operation of the operation member 110 rapidly decreases. Thereby, an operation feeling (click operation feeling) is presented to the operator of the operation member 110.

[0032] Also, the first projection 112 passes through the opening 121 of the metal contact 120 and presses the membrane switch 141 simultaneously with the inverted operation of the metal contact 120. As a result, the membrane switch 141 switches to the ON state when the upper contact 141A and the lower contact 141B come into contact with each other.

[0033] Furthermore, even after the membrane switch 141 switches to the ON state, when the second projection 113 is further pushed in the pressing operation direction D1 (negative Z-axis direction) by the operator (that is, when a so-called overstroke operation is performed), the first projection 112 elastically deforms so as to be crushed, whereby the second projection 113 can move slightly downward.

[0034] Thereafter, when the pressing of the second projection 113 by the operator is released, the metal contact 120 returns to its original convex shape by its own elastic force. Along with this, the insulator 111 returns to the horizontal initial state. Also, the membrane switch 141 has the contact between the upper contact 141A and the lower contact 141B eliminated and returns to the switched-off state.

[0035] Here, the second projection 113 is made of a material harder than that of the first projection 112. That is, the second projection 113 is made of a relatively hard material, and the first projection 112 is made of a relatively soft material.

[0036] Thereby, the switch device 100 according to one embodiment can suppress the wear of the second projection 113 against repeated pressing operations by the operator, and can enhance the durability of the second projection 113.

[0037] Also, thereby, after the reverse operation of the metal contact 120 (that is, after the membrane switch 141 is switched on), the switch device 100 according to one embodiment can overstroke the second projection 113 by the first projection 112 being elastically deformed so as to be further crushed.

[0038] (Retention Structure of Metal Contact 120 by Housing 130) FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the disassembled state of the metal contact 120 and the housing 130 included in the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the assembled state of the metal contact 120 and the housing 130 included in the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the housing 130 included in the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the assembled state of the metal contact 120 and the housing 130 included in the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the opening 131 of the housing 130 has a shape that is substantially the same as the outer shape of the metal contact 120 and is slightly larger than the outer shape of the metal contact 120. Specifically, the opening 131 of the housing 130 has a circular portion 131A in which the circular portion of the metal contact 120 is accommodated, and four leg accommodating portions 131B that project in four directions outward in the radial direction from the circular portion 131A. Each of the four leg accommodating portions 131B accommodates each of the four legs 122 of the metal contact 120.

[0040] Here, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, in addition to the four legs 122, the metal contact 120 has two arm portions 123 made of a metal plate that extend outward and downward from the outer peripheral edge of the circular portion in a portion other than the legs 122. The two arm portions 123 are provided at positions facing each other with the center of the metal contact 120 interposed therebetween.

[0041] Specifically, one arm portion 123 is provided at an intermediate position between the two legs 122 on the positive X-axis side at the outer peripheral edge of the metal contact 120. The other arm portion 123 is provided at an intermediate position between the two legs 122 on the negative X-axis side at the outer peripheral edge of the metal contact 120.

[0042] The housing 130 is formed with two holding portions 132 having a shape that is recessed outward in the radial direction from the circular portion 131A of the opening 131 at positions corresponding to the two arm portions 123. That is, the two holding portions 132 are provided at positions facing each other with the center of the housing 130 interposed therebetween.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, each of the two holding portions 132 accommodates each of the two arm portions 123 of the metal contact 120. Each of the two holding portions 132 has a horizontal planar bottom surface portion 132A. Thereby, each of the two holding portions 132 can hold each of the two arm portions 123.

[0044] The housing 130 can hold the metal contact 120 so that the metal contact 120 does not fall out downward from the opening 131 by holding the two arm portions 123 of the metal contact 120 accommodated in the opening 131 by the two holding portions 132.

[0045] Thus, the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment can carry the metal contact 120 integrally with the housing 130 before the pressing operation unit 100A is attached to the switch device 100. For this reason, when performing the work of attaching the pressing operation unit 100A to the switch device 100, the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment does not require the work of incorporating the metal contact 120 into the housing 130. Further, the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment can prevent the loss of the metal contact 120, the omission of incorporating the metal contact 120 into the housing 130, and the like.

[0046] Each of the two arm portions 123 of the metal contact 120 has a curved surface portion 123A formed in a shape bent so as to be convex downward, and is placed on each of the two holding portions 132 at the curved surface portion 123A.

[0047] Thus, in the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment, during the pressing operation, the non-sharp curved surface portion 123A of the metal contact 120 slides with respect to the bottom surface portion 132A of the holding portion 132, so that shaving and wear of the bottom surface portion 132A can be suppressed.

[0048] (State change of the pressing operation unit 100A) FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment in a state where it is not placed on the membrane sheet 140. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment in a state where it is placed on the membrane sheet 140.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 10, when the pressing operation unit 100A is not placed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140, the metal contact 120 is disposed in the opening 131 of the housing 130 and is held by the two holding portions 132 of the housing 130 at the two arm portions 123. For this reason, the metal contact 120 is prevented from falling downward from the opening 131.

[0050] At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the four leg portions 122 of the metal contact 120 protrude below the lower surface 130C of the housing 130. For this reason, when the four leg portions 122 of the metal contact 120 are being placed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 with the pressing operation unit 100A, they come into contact with the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 prior to the housing 130.

[0051] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the pressing operation unit 100A is completely placed on the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140, the metal contact 120 moves upward relative to the housing 130 and is in a state of floating from the housing 130. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, the two arm portions 123 of the metal contact 120 are in a state of floating from the bottom surface portions 132A of the two holding portions 132 of the housing 130.

[0052] As described above, the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment is configured such that the four leg portions 122 of the metal contact 120 come into contact with the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 prior to the housing 130. For this reason, even when the gap width between the lower surface 130C of the housing 130 and the upper surface 140A of the membrane sheet 140 changes due to fluctuations in the thickness of the adhesive or the like, the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment ensures that the distance between the membrane sheet 140 and the dome portion of the metal contact 120 in the vertical direction remains constant.

[0053] Therefore, according to the pressing operation unit 100A according to one embodiment, it is possible to suppress a change in the operation feeling and the switch timing during the pressing operation according to the installation state of the housing 130.

[0054] As described above in detail for one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications or changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0055] 100 Switch device 100A Pressing operation unit 110 Operating member 111 Insulator 111A Surface 111B Back surface 112 First projection 113 Second projection 120 Metal contact (plate spring member) 121 Opening 122 Leg portion 123 Arm portion 123A Curved surface portion 130 Housing 130A Upper surface 130B Opening 130C Lower surface 131 Opening 132 Holding portion 140 Membrane sheet 140A Upper surface 141 Membrane switch 141A Upper contact 141B Lower contact 150 Plate 150A Upper surface 160 Adhesive D1 Pressing operation direction

Claims

1. An operating member that can be pressed; a leaf spring member having a plurality of legs and elastically deforming when the pressing operation is performed to give the operating member an operating sensation; a housing having an opening, the leaf spring member being disposed within the opening; Equipped with The housing includes: A holding portion that holds the portion of the leaf spring member other than the leg portion disposed in the opening portion. A pressing operation unit characterized by:

2. The housing includes: The housing has a pair of holding portions provided at positions facing each other across the center of the housing. The pressing operation unit according to claim 1 .

3. The leaf spring member is The arm portion extends outwardly from a portion other than the leg portion, The holding portion is The arm portion of the leaf spring member is placed on the plate, thereby holding the arm portion of the leaf spring member. The pressing operation unit according to claim 1 .

4. The arm portion has a curved surface portion, and is placed on the holding portion at the curved surface portion. The pressing operation unit according to claim 3 .

5. The operating member includes an insulator that covers the housing, The insulator has a projection fixed to a center portion of a surface thereof facing the leaf spring member. The pressing operation unit according to claim 1 .

6. The leaf spring member has a dome shape, and when pressed by the operating member, it performs a reversing motion, thereby providing an operating sensation in response to the pressing operation. The pressing operation unit according to claim 5 .

7. The leaf spring member has an opening at the center through which the projection passes when the leaf spring member is pressed. The pressing operation unit according to claim 6 .

8. A membrane sheet having a membrane switch; a pressing operation unit according to claim 1, which is placed on the membrane sheet and presses the membrane switch by the leaf spring member when the pressing operation is performed; A switch device comprising:

9. The pressing operation unit is fixed to the membrane sheet in the housing by an adhesive.

9. The switch device according to claim 8.

10. The pressing operation unit is When fixed to the membrane sheet, each of the legs of the leaf spring member lands on the membrane sheet.

10. The switch device according to claim 9.

11. The operating member is an insulator covering the housing; a first projection provided on a surface of the insulator facing the membrane sheet; a second projection provided on an operator side surface of the insulator; having The first projection is made of a softer material than the second projection.

9. The switch device according to claim 8.

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