Switch

Abstract

To provide a switch capable of expanding a function.SOLUTION: A switch comprises a housing, and houses, in the housing, a movable member that is operated on the basis of a pressure from an external part, a pair of optical units that passes or blocks an optical path according to an operation of the movable member. The pair of optical units includes a light emission unit and a light reception unit. The light emission unit contains a light emission element that emits light and a light emission unit housing that houses the light emission element. The light reception unit contains a light reception element that receives light and a light reception unit housing that houses the light reception element. The light emission unit and the light reception unit are attached to the housing so as to be covered with the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch provided with a movable member.

Background Art

[0002] As an input device for electronic devices such as computers, operating devices such as a mouse provided with a switch such as a microswitch have become widespread. In particular, recently, various characteristics have been required for a mouse used in a computer game called e-sports. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a microswitch applicable as a switch of a mouse. The microswitch disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses an optical element, and the circuit is opened and closed by the optical element.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A switch that opens and closes a circuit without contact using an element such as an optical element as disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires improvement of various characteristics and expansion of functions with the development of new fields such as e-sports. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a main object thereof is to provide a switch capable of improving various characteristics and expanding functions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the switch described in the present application includes a housing, a movable member that operates based on an external pressing force, and a pair of optical units that pass or block the optical path according to the operation of the movable member, and is a switch that houses these components within the housing. The pair of optical units includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. The light-emitting unit includes a light-emitting element that emits light and a light-emitting unit housing that houses the light-emitting element. The light-receiving unit includes a light-receiving element that receives light and a light-receiving unit housing that houses the light-receiving element. The light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are attached to the housing so as to be covered by the housing.

[0006] Furthermore, in the switch described in the present application, the light-emitting unit housing and the light-receiving unit housing are separate bodies, and an attachment port into which the light-emitting unit housing and the light-receiving unit housing can be inserted is provided on the lower surface of the housing. When the light-emitting unit housing and the light-receiving unit housing are housed in the housing through the attachment port, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are arranged at positions facing each other.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] The switch according to the present invention has excellent effects such as being able to expect improvements in various characteristics or functions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <Application Example> The operating device described in the present application is used, for example, as an operating device such as a mouse for operating a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). Further, the switch described in the present application is incorporated as a microswitch into devices such as various electronic devices including the operating device. The switch is incorporated into the operating device as a switch assembly (hereinafter referred to as a switch assembly) attached to a substrate. Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the operating device 1 and the switch 2 illustrated in the drawings, and further, the switch assembly 4 in which the switch 2 is attached to the substrate 3 will be described.

[0010] <Operating Device 1> First, the operating device 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the operating device 1 described in the present application. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the operating device 1 described in the present application is applied to a mouse used for operating an electronic device such as a personal computer. The operating device 1 includes a pressing operation unit 10 such as a mouse button that receives a pressing operation by a user's finger, and a rotating operation unit 11 such as a mouse wheel that receives a rotating operation by a user's finger. Note that the rotating operation unit 11 is configured to receive not only a rotating operation but also a pressing operation, and also functions as the pressing operation unit 10. In addition, a signal line 12 for outputting an electrical signal to an external device such as a personal computer is connected to the operating device 1. Note that the operating device 1 is not limited to wired communication using the signal line 12, and can output an electrical signal by various communication methods such as wireless communication. Further, a light emitting unit 13 designed in a wavy shape is formed on the side portion of the operating device 1. The light emitting unit 13 includes a translucent resin plate and an output load unit 130 (see FIG. 14 etc.) built therein. The output load unit 130 included in the light emitting unit 13 is formed using an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The light emitting unit 13 emits light when the LED built in as the output load unit 130 emits light inside.

[0011] Inside the operating device 1, in addition to the output load unit 130, a switch 2 described later is accommodated for each of the pressing operation unit 10 and the rotating operation unit 11. When a pressing operation is performed on the pressing operation unit 10, a part inside the pressing operation unit 10 presses the corresponding switch 2. The switch 2 outputs a signal based on the pressing situation from the signal line 12 to an external electronic device such as a personal computer. That is, the operating device 1 described in the present application includes a pressing operation unit 10 that receives an external pressing operation, a rotating operation unit 11 that receives operations such as a rotating operation, and a light emitting unit 13, and further includes a switch 2 and an output load unit 130 inside. Then, the operating device 1 transmits the pressing operation received by the pressing operation unit 10 and / or the rotating operation unit 11 as an external pressing to the switch 2, and outputs a signal based on the operation of the switch 2 from the signal line 12 to an external electronic device.

[0012] <Structure of Switch 2> Next, the switch 2 described in the present application will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the switch 2 described in the present application. In the present specification, regarding the direction of the switch 2, the front left side toward FIG. 2 is defined as the front, the rear right side as the rear, the left rear side as the left, the right front side as the right, the upper side as the top, and the lower side as the bottom. However, these are directions for convenience of explanation and do not limit the installation direction of the switch 2. As described above, the switch 2 is housed as a microswitch inside an electronic device such as the operating device 1, and receives the pressing operation received by a part such as the pressing operation part 10 of the operating device 1 as an external pressure.

[0013] The switch 2 includes a housing 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 20 is formed by a lower base 20a and an upper cover 20b. On the upper surface of the housing 20, a rectangular insertion hole 200 through which a pressing member 21 is inserted is provided at a position shifted to the left from the center in a front view. The pressing member 21 inserted through the insertion hole 200 is a member that moves up and down within a range from an upper first position to a lower second position in response to an external pressure received by the housing 20. The upper end of the pressing member 21 protrudes from the upper surface of the housing 20.

[0014] Furthermore, from the lower surface of the housing 20, a first terminal 220 which is a part of a support member 22 (see FIG. 3 etc.) to be described later, a second terminal 230 which is a part of a contacted member 23 (see FIG. 3 etc.) to be described later, a third terminal pair 240 which is a part of a light emitting unit 24 (see FIG. 3 etc.) to be described later, and a fourth terminal pair (terminal pair) 250 which is a part of a light receiving unit 25 (see FIG. 3 etc.) to be described later protrude. The first terminal 220 protrudes from the left end side of the lower surface of the housing 20. The second terminal 230 protrudes from the vicinity of the center of the lower surface of the housing 20. The third terminal pair 240 and the fourth terminal pair 250 protrude side by side in the front-rear and left-right directions from the right end side of the lower surface of the housing 20. The two terminals protruding side by side on the front side of the lower surface of the housing 20 are the third terminal pair 240, and the two terminals protruding side by side on the rear side are the fourth terminal pair 250.

[0015] In the switch 2 formed in this way, the external pressing operation received by the operating device 1 is transmitted to the pressing member 21 as a pressing force from the outside of the housing 20. The pressing member 21 moves from the upper first position to the lower second position when receiving the external pressing force, and moves from the lower second position to the upper first position when the external pressing force is released. Next, the internal structure of the switch 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross-section of the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section cut along a vertical plane including the line segment A-B shown in FIG. 2 from the front view point.

[0016] In the housing 20 of the switch 2, a space is secured as an accommodation chamber 201 for accommodating various members that open and close the electric circuit. An insertion hole 200 penetrating from the outside of the housing 20 is formed on the upper surface of the accommodation chamber 201, and the pressing member 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 200. The various members accommodated in the accommodation chamber 201 will be described. In the accommodation chamber 201, various members such as the aforementioned pressing member 21, support member 22, contacted member 23, light-emitting unit 24, and light-receiving unit 25, as well as a movable member 26, are disposed. On the left side in the accommodation chamber 201, a first locking portion 221 which is a part of the support member 22 is disposed, and near the center in the accommodation chamber 201, a second locking portion 222 which is a part of the support member 22 is disposed. On the right side in the accommodation chamber 201, the contacted member 23 is disposed. On the lower right side in the accommodation chamber 201, in front of the contacted member 23, the light-emitting unit 24 is disposed, and behind the contacted member 23, the light-receiving unit 25 is disposed. The movable member 26 is disposed so as to extend left and right in the accommodation chamber 201, and is locked by the first locking portion 221 and the second locking portion 222 of the support member 22.

[0017] A further description will be given of the support member 22 and the contacted member 23. FIG. 5 is a schematic external view showing an example of the support member 22 and the contacted member 23 provided in the switch 2 described in the present application. FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating only the support member 22 and the contacted member 23 disposed within the switch 2 from the viewpoint in the front direction of the switch 2. The support member 22 and the contacted member 23 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are all formed from a conductive metal plate and are spaced apart within the housing 20.

[0018] The support member 22 has a thin plate shape and is erected so that the normal direction is the front-rear direction. The lower portion of the support member 22 is formed as a first terminal 220 that protrudes from the lower surface of the housing 20. The upper portion of the support member 22 located within the accommodation chamber 201 branches into two in the left-right direction, with the left side formed as a first locking portion 221 and the right side formed as a second locking portion 222. The first locking portion 221 and the second locking portion 222 are bent forward so as to easily lock the movable member 26.

[0019] The contacted member 23 has a thin plate shape erected so that the normal direction is the front-rear direction, and is erected at a position behind the light-emitting unit 24 and in front of the light-receiving unit 25 and separated from the light-emitting unit 24 and the light-receiving unit 25. The lower portion of the contacted member 23 is formed as a second terminal 230 that protrudes from the lower surface of the housing 20. The upper portion of the contacted member 23 located within the accommodation chamber 201 becomes a contacted portion 231 where the movable member 26 contacts when the pressing member 21 is in the second position and the movable member 26 is pressed by the pressing member 21. In the contacted member 23, a light-shielding plate 232 that shields the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 24 is formed below the contacted portion 231, and a through hole 233 through which the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 24 passes is provided in the light-shielding plate 232.

[0020] The light-emitting unit 24 and the light-receiving unit 25 will be further described. FIG. 6 is a schematic external view showing an example of the light-emitting unit 24 included in the switch 2 described in the present application. The light-emitting unit 24 illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 emits light, and the light-receiving unit 25 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 24. The light-emitting unit 24 is configured using a light-emitting element 241 such as an LED. The light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 is molded within a resin unit housing 242, and the third terminal pair 240 protrudes from the unit housing 242. Inside the unit housing 242, two substantially linear lead frames 243 are arranged. One end of the lead frame 243 protrudes from the inside of the unit housing 242 to the outside and serves as the third terminal pair 240. The other end side of the lead frame 243 is located within the unit housing 242, on which the light-emitting element 241 is placed and bonded by a wire 244. The light-emitting element 241, the lead frame 243, and the wire 244 are arranged at the bottom of a recess formed within the unit housing 242. The recess formed within the unit housing 242 is filled with a resin having a high transmittance, such as an epoxy resin, during the manufacturing process, and members such as the light-emitting element 241 are molded within the unit housing 242 in a state visible from the outside. FIG. 6 shows the light-emitting unit 24 in a state where the inside is visible with a resin having a high transmittance filled within the unit housing 242. The light-receiving unit 25 is configured using a light-receiving element 251 such as a PD (Photo Diode) or a PT (Photo Transistor) as a detection unit for detecting light. Since the configuration of the light-receiving unit 25 is substantially the same as that of the light-emitting unit 24, the description of the light-emitting unit 24 will be referred to, and a detailed description will be omitted. Note that the light-emitting element 241 and the third terminal pair 240 described as the configuration of the light-emitting unit 24 shall be read as the light-receiving element 251 and the fourth terminal pair 250 for understanding the light-receiving unit 25.

[0021] Within the housing 20 of switch 2, the light-emitting unit 24 and the light-receiving unit 25 are arranged such that the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 and the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25 face each other at positions where the light emitted from the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 is received by the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25. By energizing the light-emitting unit 24 through the third terminal pair 240, the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 emits light. Since the energization state of the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25 changes when light is detected, an on-signal based on the change in the energization state due to light reception is output from the fourth terminal pair 250.

[0022] The movable member 26 will be further described. The movable member 26 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a member formed of a conductive metal plate and is arranged in the accommodation chamber 201 such that its longitudinal direction is the left-right direction. The left end side of the movable member 26 is locked to the first locking portion 221 and serves as a fixed end functioning as a swing fulcrum 260. The right end side of the movable member 26 is a movable contact portion 261 that swings as a free end and comes into contact with and separates from the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23 by swinging. Further, the right end side of the movable member 26 is a substantially rectangular light-shielding piece 262 bent downward from the movable contact portion 261. The light-shielding piece 262 is formed such that its normal direction is the front-rear direction, and a substantially rectangular transmission window 263 through which the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 24 passes is provided. The light-shielding piece 262 is located in front of the contacted member 23 and behind the light-emitting unit 24, and enters between the contacted member 23 and the light-emitting unit 24 in a state separated from the contacted member 23 and the light-emitting unit 24. Note that an urging portion 264 functioning as a return spring is formed on the movable member 26, with its center portion punched out and bent into an arc shape, and the tip of the urging portion 264 is locked to the second locking portion 222 formed near the center in the accommodation chamber 201. The urging portion 264 generates a reaction force against the pressing of the pressing member 21.

[0023] The switch 2 configured as described above has the pressing member 21 move downward under an external pressing force to press the movable member 26. When the movable member 26 is pressed, the movable contact portion 261 and the light-shielding piece 262 on the right end side, which is the free end of the movable member 26, move downward. When the movable contact portion 261 of the movable member 26 moves downward, the movable contact portion 261 contacts the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23. When the movable contact portion 261 of the movable member 26 contacts the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23, conduction is established from the first terminal 220 of the support member 22 to the second terminal 230 of the contacted member 23. When conduction is established between the first terminal 220 and the second terminal 230, it becomes possible to close the first circuit outside the switch 2 and output an on signal. When the light-shielding piece 262 of the movable member 26 moves downward, the optical path leading from the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 to the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25 passes through the transmission window 263 formed in the light-shielding piece 262. Therefore, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 passes through the transmission window 263 formed in the light-shielding piece 262 of the movable member 26, and further passes through the transmission hole 233 formed in the light-shielding plate 232 of the contacted member 23 to reach the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25. When the light-receiving element 251 receives the light from the light-emitting element 241, the second circuit outside the switch 2 is closed to enter an on state, making it possible to output an on signal. Further, when the movable contact portion 261 of the movable member 26 moves downward, the movable contact portion 261 contacts the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23. When the movable contact portion 261 of the metal movable member 26 hits the contacted portion 231 of the metal contacted member 23, a metallic sound is generated. The user recognizes the metallic sound generated when the movable member 26 hits the contacted member 23 as a click sound. Also, the user recognizes the feeling of the movable member 26 hitting the contacted member 23 as a click feeling. By appropriately designing the materials and shapes of the movable member 26 and the contacted member 23, it is also possible to control the sound and the feeling generated when the movable member 26 hits the contacted member 23 and adjust the click sound and the click feeling. For example, by using materials and shapes that are less likely to generate a click sound, it is possible to achieve quiet operation during clicking.

[0024] When the pressing of the pressing member 21 is released, the movable member 26 is biased upward by the reaction force of the biasing portion 264. When the movable member 26 is biased upward, the pressing member 21 moves upward. When the movable member 26 is biased upward by the biasing portion 264, the movable contact portion 261 and the light shielding piece 262 located on the right end side of the movable member 26 rise. When the movable contact portion 261 of the movable member 26 rises, the movable contact portion 261 separates from the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23. When the movable contact portion 261 of the movable member 26 and the contacted portion 231 of the contacted member 23 are separated, the insulation state is established between the first terminal 220 of the support member 22 and the second terminal 230 of the contacted member 23. When the insulation is established between the first terminal 220 and the second terminal 230, the first circuit is opened. When the light shielding piece 262 of the movable member 26 rises, the light emitted from the light emitting element 241 of the light emitting unit 24 is blocked by the light shielding piece 262, and the second circuit is in an off state where it is opened.

[0025] Next, the opening and closing of the circuit by the switch 2 described in the present application will be described. FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the switch 2 described in the present application. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a cross-section cut along a vertical plane including the line segment A - B shown in FIG. 2 from the front view point. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the outer shapes of the support member 22 and the contacted member 23 hidden by the housing 20 are shown by broken lines. FIG. 7 shows a state where the pressing member 21 is not receiving external pressing and is located at the upper first position, and FIG. 8 shows a state where the pressing member 21 receives external pressing and descends to the lower second position. By transitioning from the state illustrated in FIG. 7 where no pressing is received to the state illustrated in FIG. 8 where pressing is received, the right end side of the movable member 26 descends, and the movable member 26 contacts the contacted member 23. When the movable member 26 and the contacted member 23 come into contact, conduction is established from the first terminal 220 of the support member 22 to the second terminal 230 of the contacted member 23. When conduction is established between the first terminal 220 and the second terminal 230, a current flows as indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. 8, and the first circuit is closed and becomes an on state. When the external pressing is released and the state illustrated in FIG. 7 is restored, the flowing current is interrupted, and the first circuit is opened and becomes an off state.

[0026] Figs. 9 and 10 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the switch 2 described in the present application. Figs. 9 and 10 show a cross-section cut along a vertical plane including the line segment C-D shown in Fig. 2 from a rightward perspective. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the pressing member 21 is not subjected to external pressing and is located at the upper first position, and Fig. 10 shows a state in which the pressing member 21 is pressed from the outside and descends to the lower second position. By transitioning from the state illustrated in Fig. 9 where no pressing is applied to the state illustrated in Fig. 10 where pressing is applied, the right end side of the movable member 26 descends, and the optical path leading from the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 to the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25 comes to pass through the transmission window 263 formed in the light-shielding piece 262. Therefore, as indicated by the solid-line arrow in Fig. 10, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 241 of the light-emitting unit 24 passes through the transmission window 263 formed in the light-shielding piece 262 of the movable member 26, passes through the transmission hole 233 formed in the light-shielding plate 232 of the contacted member 23, and reaches the light-receiving element 251 of the light-receiving unit 25. When the light-receiving element 251 receives the light from the light-emitting element 241, the second circuit is closed to be in an on state. When the external pressing is released and the state illustrated in Fig. 9 is restored, the optical path between the light-emitting element 241 and the light-receiving element 251 is blocked, and the second circuit is opened to be in an off state. As described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10, the switch 2 described in the present application opens and closes the first circuit and the second circuit based on the operation of the movable member 26, so that it is possible to synchronize the opening and closing timing of the first circuit and the second circuit.

[0027] <Switch assembly 4> Next, an implementation example of the switch assembly 4 described in the present application, in which the switch 2 is attached to the substrate 3, will be described. The switch 2 described in the present application is incorporated into the operating device 1 as a switch assembly 4 mounted on the substrate 3. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the first embodiment of the switch assembly 4 described in the present application. In FIG. 11, the switch 2 and the substrate 3 included in the switch assembly 4 are shown separated from each other so as to easily understand the relationship between the switch 2 and the substrate 3. In the substrate 3, a first terminal mounting hole 30 through which the first terminal 220 is inserted, a second terminal mounting hole 31 through which the second terminal 230 is inserted, a third terminal pair mounting hole 32 through which the third terminal pair 240 is inserted, and a fourth terminal pair mounting hole 33 through which the fourth terminal pair 250 is inserted are formed. In the switch assembly 4, the first terminal 220, the second terminal 230, the third terminal pair 240, and the fourth terminal pair 250 of the switch 2 are inserted into the first terminal mounting hole 30, the second terminal mounting hole 31, the third terminal pair mounting hole 32, and the fourth terminal pair mounting hole 33 formed in the substrate 3, and are attached to the substrate 3 by an attachment method such as soldering. On the substrate 3 included in the switch assembly 4, various circuit elements and other electronic components are attached in addition to the switch 2, and each electronic component is electrically connected by wiring formed on the substrate 3 by a method such as etching.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a second embodiment of the switch assembly 4 described in the present application. FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the switch assembly 4, and the switch 2 and the substrate 3 included in the switch assembly 4 are shown separated from each other so as to easily understand the relationship between the switch 2 and the substrate 3. In the substrate 3, a mounting hole 30 for the first terminal, a mounting hole 31 for the second terminal, a mounting hole 32 for the third terminal pair, and a mounting hole 33 for the fourth terminal pair are formed. The third terminal pair 240 of the light emitting unit 24 is previously attached to the mounting hole 32 for the third terminal pair formed in the substrate 3 by a mounting method such as soldering, and the fourth terminal pair 250 of the light receiving unit 25 is previously attached to the mounting hole 33 for the fourth terminal pair by a mounting method such as soldering. Then, in the assembly process, the switch 2 not provided with the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25 is attached to the substrate 3 to which the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25 are previously attached. The switch 2 is attached so as to cover the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25 on the substrate 3. Further, the first terminal 220 of the switch 2 is inserted into the mounting hole 30 for the first terminal, and the second terminal 230 is inserted into the mounting hole 31 for the second terminal, and they are respectively attached onto the substrate 3 by a mounting method such as soldering.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a third embodiment of the switch assembly 4 described in the present application. FIG. 13 shows still another embodiment of the switch assembly 4, and shows the switch 2 and the substrate 3 included in the switch assembly 4 separated from each other so as to easily understand the relationship between the switch 2 and the substrate 3. On the substrate 3, a mounting hole 30 for a first terminal and a mounting hole 31 for a second terminal are formed. On the substrate 3, a conductive metal is pre-wired by a method such as etching, and a light emitting unit 24 and a light receiving unit 25 are pre-mounted on the wiring of the substrate 3 by a method such as surface mounting. The light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25 illustrated in FIG. 13 are optical units for surface mounting and are directly mounted on the substrate 3. The switch 2 is mounted so as to cover the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25 on the substrate 3. Further, the first terminal 220 of the switch 2 is inserted into the mounting hole 30 for the first terminal, and the second terminal 230 is inserted into the mounting hole 31 for the second terminal, and are respectively mounted on the substrate 3 by a mounting method such as soldering.

[0030] As exemplified above in the first to third embodiments, the switch assembly 4 in which the switch 2 is mounted on the substrate 3 is formed in various ways. Next, an implementation example of the operating device 1 equipped with the switch 2 described in the present application will be described. FIG. 14 is a block diagram conceptually showing an example of the first embodiment of the operating device 1 described in the present application. The switch 2 includes a contact mechanism 27 using members such as a support member 22 and a contacted member 23, and a non-contact mechanism 28 using members such as a light emitting unit 24 and a light receiving unit 25. The contact mechanism 27 opens and closes the circuit of the signal control unit 14, which is the first circuit, by the swinging of the movable member 26, and outputs an electrical signal to an external device such as a personal computer. The non-contact mechanism 28 opens and closes the circuit of the load control unit 15, which is the second circuit, by the swinging of the movable member 26, and lights up the output load unit 130 of the light emitting unit 13. The first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 is an embodiment in which the first circuit and the second circuit are configured as different circuits. In the first embodiment, by pressing the pressing operation unit 10 of the operating device 1, a signal is output to an external device, and the light emitting unit 13 is caused to emit light. Thereby, when the operating device 1 is operated, an effect that the light emitting unit 13 emits light can be achieved, so that characteristics such as an improvement in the function of the operating device 1 and the switch 2 can be improved. Note that as the output load unit 130, various power loads such as a speaker that outputs sound and a vibrator that vibrates can be applied, not limited to light emission. Further, it is possible to appropriately design, for example, to open and close the circuit of the load control unit 15 with the contact mechanism 27 and to open and close the circuit of the signal control unit 14 with the non-contact mechanism 28.

[0031] FIG. 15 is a block diagram conceptually showing an example of the second embodiment of the operating device 1 described in the present application. The second embodiment is an example in which the first circuit and the second circuit are configured as the same circuit. In the second embodiment, the signal control unit 14 is used as a first circuit opened and closed by the contact mechanism 27 and a second circuit opened and closed by the non-contact mechanism 28. By making the first circuit and the second circuit the same circuit, both the contact mechanism 27 and the non-contact mechanism 28 open and close the signal control unit 14. Therefore, even if a problem occurs in one of the contact mechanism 27 and the non-contact mechanism 28, the other can compensate for it. Accordingly, characteristics such as an improvement in the reliability of the operating device 1 and the switch 2 can be improved.

[0032] Embodiments of the operating device 1 described in the present application can be developed in various forms regardless of the implementation examples described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. For example, in a mechanism for opening and closing a circuit using an optical element such as the non-contact mechanism 28 exemplified, continuous or intermittent energization of the optical element is required, which may cause a standby power problem. To solve such a problem, by using the contact mechanism 27 as a mechanism for opening and closing the energization circuit to the optical element, it becomes possible to suppress standby power. Specifically, in the switch 2, in the standby state, it is set to an off state in which the energization to the non-contact mechanism 28 is cut off. Then, when the contact mechanism 27 becomes on, it can be developed in a form in which the non-contact mechanism 28 is energized to the on state and the non-contact mechanism 28 is operated for a period in the on state or until a certain period elapses after becoming on. The non-contact mechanism 28 that is energized and becomes on can open and close the circuit associated with the operation on the pressing operation unit 10 of the operating device 1. Note that the energization control of the optical element by the contact mechanism 27 is not limited to the energization control of the non-contact mechanism 28 associated with the operation on the pressing operation unit 10, and can also be developed to the energization control of the optical element used for detecting the position of the operating device 1 (position operation of the mouse cursor). Thus, the operating device 1 and the switch 2 described in the present application can improve various characteristics such as suppression of standby power.

[0033] As described above, the operating device 1, the switch 2, and the switch assembly 4 described in the present application include a contact mechanism 27 using members such as the support member 22 and the contacted member 23, and a non-contact mechanism 28 using members such as the light emitting unit 24 and the light receiving unit 25. Thereby, excellent effects can be obtained, such as being able to improve various characteristics such as function expansion, reliability improvement, and standby power suppression.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to each of the embodiments described above, and can be developed into various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in every respect and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not restricted by the text of the specification in any way. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] For example, in the above-described embodiment, as the contactless mechanism 28, an optical mechanism using a light-emitting element 241 that emits light and a light-receiving element 251 as a detection unit that detects the light to be detected is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various mechanisms without contacts can be used. For example, it is possible to apply it to various forms such as configuring the contactless mechanism 28 using a magnet that generates a magnetic force and a Hall element as a detection unit that detects the magnetic force to be detected.

[0036] Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, as the contact mechanism 27, a form in which a conductive support member 22 and a contacted member 23 are used and the first circuit is opened and closed by contacting and separating a conductive movable member 26 is shown. However, any opening and closing mechanism having contacts may be used, and it is not limited to conductive members. That is, if the circuit can be opened and closed by the contact and separation of the swinging movable member 26, it is possible to appropriately design a form in which the contacted member 23 pressed by the movable member 26 moves to open and close the circuit. Note that for the contactless mechanism 28, the movable member 26 does not need to be a conductive member.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 1 Operating device 13 Light-emitting unit 130 Output load unit 14 Signal control unit 15 Load control unit 2 Switch 20 Housing 21 Pressing member 22 Support member 23 Contacted member 231 Contacted portion 232 Light Shielding Plate 233 Through-Hole 24 Light-Emitting Unit 241 Light-Emitting Element 25 Light-Receiving Unit 251 Light-Receiving Element (Detection Unit) 26 Movable Member 260 Oscillation Fulcrum 261 Movable Contact Portion 262 Light-Shielding Piece 263 Transmission Window 27 Contact Mechanism 28 Contactless Mechanism 3 Substrate 4 Switch Assy (Switch Assembly)

Claims

1. Equipped with a housing, A switch that accommodates in the housing a movable member that operates based on pressure from the outside and a pair of optical units that open or close an optical path in response to the operation of the movable member, The pair of optical units includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, The light emitting unit includes a light emitting element that emits light and a light emitting unit housing that houses the light emitting element, the light receiving unit includes a light receiving element that receives light and a light receiving unit housing that houses the light receiving element; The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are attached to the housing so as to be covered by the housing. A switch characterized by:

2. The light emitting unit housing and the light receiving unit housing are separate bodies, a mounting opening into which the light-emitting unit housing and the light-receiving unit housing can be inserted is provided on a bottom surface of the housing; The light emitting unit housing and the light receiving unit housing are housed in the housing through the mounting opening, so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element are disposed in opposing positions.

2. The switch according to claim 1 .

Images