Switching device and switch module

Abstract

To provide a switch device with good waterproofing and a switch module equipped with the switch device. [Solution] A switch device comprising: an operating member having an operating part used for pressing operations and a mounting part for mounting a movable contact; a case for housing the mounting part of the operating member, the case having a through hole that exposes the operating part of the operating member from the case; a reset member used to return the operating member to its original position; a plurality of fixed contacts fixed inside the case; and a movable contact provided on the mounting part of the operating member, wherein the movement of the operating member enables switching of the conductive state between the movable contact and the plurality of fixed contacts, wherein the fixed contact has a conductive part housed inside the case and a plurality of external terminals exposed from the case, and the bottom side of the case, i.e., opposite to the operating part, has a waterproof base that encloses the bases of the plurality of external terminals and protrudes in a direction away from the operating part along the extending direction of the external terminals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device and a switch module including the switch device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a switch device that switches the conduction state between a fixed contact and a movable contact by pushing an operation portion at an upper part of an operation member (see Patent Document 1). In a case of the switch device, a pair of parallel downward-facing external terminals protrudes from a bottom surface, and the pair of external terminals outputs a signal indicating the conduction state to the outside via a wiring board. In order to avoid water intrusion between the pair of external terminals that causes a short circuit between the terminals, in the prior art, the pair of external terminals of the switch device is sealed together with the wiring board on the side where the pair of external terminals is located by thermoplastic molding.

[0003] The structure of the above switch device can satisfy the waterproof performance test standard called IP67 (the so-called IP67 refers to standing still at a position of 1m water depth for 30 minutes), but cannot satisfy the stricter HINZ waterproof test requirements. (The so-called HINZ waterproof test condition refers to standing still at a high temperature of 90°C for 30 minutes, and then standing still in 5% saline for 5 minutes.) Under the HINZ waterproof test conditions, a short circuit between terminals occurs in the switch device. When analyzing the cause, it is considered that the phenomenon of thermal expansion and cooling shrinkage occurs at the joint between the bottom surface of the case and the sealing member, which allows water to intrude along the gap of the joint. When water intrudes between the pair of external terminals, a short circuit occurs between the terminals.

[0004] In order to cope with waterproof requirements under stricter conditions, it is desired to design a switch device with better waterproof performance.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0005]

Patent Literature 1

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a switch device with good waterproofing effect, and a switch module equipped with the switch device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A switch device according to technical solution 1, comprising: an operating member having an operating part used for pressing operations and a mounting part for mounting a movable contact; a case housing the mounting part of the operating member, the case having a through hole that exposes the operating part of the operating member from the case; a reset member used to return the operating member to its original position; a plurality of fixed contacts fixed inside the case; and a movable contact provided on the mounting part of the operating member, wherein the movement of the operating member enables switching of the conductive state between the movable contact and the plurality of fixed contacts, wherein the fixed contact has a conductive part housed inside the case and a plurality of external terminals exposed from the case, and the bottom side of the case, i.e., opposite to the operating part, has a waterproof base that encloses the bases of the plurality of external terminals and protrudes in a direction away from the operating part along the extending direction of the external terminals.

[0008] According to technical solution 1, by providing a waterproof base that encloses the base of the external terminals, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water is increased, and therefore, even if water enters from the bottom of the case, a short circuit between the external terminals becomes less likely to occur.

[0009] A switch device according to technical solution 2, wherein the waterproof base has a plurality of anchor portions that protrude toward the operating portion toward the operating portion, on the bottom surface side of the case, at the positions where the plurality of external terminals are located, so as to enclose the outer circumference of each of the plurality of external terminals.

[0010] According to technical solution 2, by providing anchor portions that surround the outer circumference of each external terminal, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water is increased, and therefore, even if water seeps in from the bottom of the case, a short circuit between the external terminals becomes less likely to occur.

[0011] A switch device according to technical solution 3, wherein the waterproof base has a stepped portion on the bottom side of the case that covers the central part of the outer bottom surface of the case and encloses the base of the external terminals and protrudes toward the direction away from the operating part, and a plurality of anchor portions that, at the location of the plurality of external terminals, enclose the outer circumference of each of the plurality of external terminals and protrude toward the direction away from the operating part from the stepped portion.

[0012] According to technical solution 3, by providing a stepped portion and an anchor portion located on the bottom side of the stepped portion, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water is increased, making it less likely for a short circuit to occur between the external terminals even if water enters from the bottom side of the case.

[0013] A switch device according to technical solution 4, wherein the waterproof base is provided between the plurality of anchor portions and further has a blocking portion that protrudes in a direction away from the operating portion along the extending direction of the external terminal.

[0014] According to technical solution 4, by providing a blocking portion located between multiple anchor portions, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water can be further increased, thereby further improving the waterproofness of the switch device.

[0015] A switch device according to technical solution 5, wherein the anchor portion has a plurality of steps formed in the direction of extension of the external terminal, and in a planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case, the anchor portion has an intermediate step portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the step portions at both ends.

[0016] According to technical solution 5, the bonding strength between the anchor portion and the thermoplastically molded sealing member on the outside of the anchor portion can be increased, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water can be increased, and the waterproofness of the switch device can be further improved.

[0017] A switch device according to technical solution means 6, wherein the blocking portion has a plurality of steps formed in the direction extending of the external terminal, and in a planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case, the blocking portion has an intermediate step portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the step portions at both ends.

[0018] According to technical solution 6, the bonding strength between the blocking portion and the thermoplastically molded sealing member on the outside of the blocking portion can be increased, the creepage distance between the two external terminals of water can be increased, and the waterproofness of the switch device can be further improved.

[0019] A switch device relating to technical solution means 7, characterized in that the area of ​​the bottom surface of the case is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion, and the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the anchor portion and the blocking portion.

[0020] A switch device according to technical solution means 8, wherein the case is composed of a frame with an opening at the bottom and a bottom plate that fits into the opening, the plurality of fixed contacts are integrally fixed to the bottom plate by insert molding, and the bottom plate and the waterproof base are manufactured from the same resin material.

[0021] According to the 8th technical solution, manufacturing the bottom plate and the waterproof base from the same material enables the bottom plate and the waterproof base to be molded with a single mold. For example, by curing the fixed contact in a state where it is inserted into the mold, the fixed contact can be fixed to the bottom plate. As a result, there is no gap between the external terminal of the fixed contact and the waterproof base, and even if water enters from the bottom side of the case, it is difficult for water to infiltrate into the switch device. In addition, forming the bottom plate and the waterproof base from a resin material makes it possible to obtain a greater bonding force when bonding to a thermoplastically molded seal member, compared to the case where a metal material is used.

[0022] A switch device according to the 9th technical solution, wherein the case is composed of a frame body with an upper opening and a cover fitted into the opening, the plurality of fixed contacts are integrally fixed to the frame body by insert molding, and the frame body and the waterproof base are manufactured from the same resin material.

[0023] According to the 9th technical solution, manufacturing the frame body and the waterproof base from the same resin material enables the frame body and the waterproof base to be molded with a single mold. For example, by curing the fixed contact in a state where it is inserted into the mold, the fixed contact can be fixed to the frame body. As a result, there is no gap between the external terminal of the fixed contact and the waterproof base, and even if water enters from the bottom side of the case, it is difficult for water to infiltrate into the switch device. In addition, forming the frame body and the waterproof base from a resin material makes it possible to obtain a greater bonding force when bonding to a thermoplastically molded seal member, compared to the case where a metal material is used.

[0024] A switch device according to the 10th technical solution, wherein three of the switch devices are arranged in parallel, the external terminal of each switch device outputs a detection signal indicating switching of the conduction state to the outside via a common wiring board, and the waterproof base, the external terminals, and the common wiring board are enclosed by a thermoplastically molded seal member.

[0025] According to the technical solution 10, the detected detection signal indicating switching of the conduction state can be output to the outside with favorable waterproof performance.

[0026] A switch module according to technical solution 11, comprising three switch devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3 arranged in parallel, wherein an external terminal of each switch device outputs a detection signal indicating switching of a conduction state to the outside via a common wiring board, and the waterproof base, the external terminals, and the common wiring board are encapsulated by a thermoplastically molded sealing member.

[0027] According to the technical solution 11, a plurality of detected detection signals indicating switching of the conduction state can be output to the outside with favorable waterproof performance. [Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0028] By providing a switch device and a switch module that satisfy higher waterproof requirements, water is less likely to penetrate into the interior of the switch device, and even if water penetrates to the external terminals, occurrence of short-circuiting between the external terminals can be avoided. [Brief Description of Drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] It is a front view of the switch device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of the switch device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view of an operating member, a movable contact, a reset member, and a fixed contact. [Figure 4A] It is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a bottom plate, a waterproof base and a fixed contact in the switch device. [Figure 4B] It is a plan view of FIG. 4A. [Figure 5] It is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4B. [Figure 6] It is a bottom view of FIG. 4A. [Figure 7]This is a schematic diagram of a switch device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of a switch device relating to a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 9A] This is a perspective view of a switch device according to a third modification of the first embodiment, showing that three parallel switch devices are each connected to a common wiring board. [Figure 9B] This is a perspective view of a switch device according to a third modification of the first embodiment, showing that a sealing member is further formed on the outside of the switch device and the wiring board by thermoplastic molding. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] (First Embodiment) The switch device according to the first embodiment includes an operating member having an operating part used for pressing and a mounting part for mounting a movable contact, a case for housing the mounting part of the operating member, the case having a through hole that exposes the operating part of the operating member from the case, a reset member used to return the operating member to its original position, a plurality of fixed contacts fixed inside the case, and a movable contact provided on the mounting part of the operating member, wherein the movement of the operating member enables switching of the conductive state between the movable contact and the plurality of fixed contacts, the fixed contacts having a conductive part housed inside the case and a plurality of external terminals exposed from the case, and a waterproof base on the bottom side of the case, i.e., opposite to the operating part, that encloses the bases of the plurality of external terminals and protrudes in a direction away from the operating part along the extending direction of the external terminals.

[0031] The switch device according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a front view of the switch device according to the first embodiment, and is a front view of the switch device observed when the operating member is in a non-operated state. Hereinafter, the Y direction in Figure 1, i.e., the direction in which the operating member extends, will be referred to as the vertical direction, the X direction in Figure 1, i.e., the direction in which the lead terminals are arranged, will be referred to as the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical and left-right directions, i.e., the Z direction, will be referred to as the depth direction. Note that the vertical, left-right, and depth directions described above are merely for the sake of clarity and may differ from the directions actually used.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the case 12 consists of a frame 14 with an open bottom and a bottom plate 13 that fits into the bottom opening of the frame 14. The frame 14 is used to protect the operating member 11, and a guide structure is formed inside it that can restrict the direction of movement of the operating member 11. A through hole 12a is formed in the center of the top surface that can expose the operating part 11t of the operating member 11. The bottom plate 13 is made of an insulating material such as resin and is tightly joined to the frame 14, so that water is less likely to penetrate into the inside of the case 12 from the joint between the bottom plate 13 and the frame 14.

[0034] The operating member 11 extends along the Y direction and includes an operating section 11t at its upper part, a sleeve 11r that can be fitted onto the operating section 11t, and a mounting section 11k at its lower part, the mounting section 11k being not shown in Figures 1 and 2. With the sleeve 11r fitted, the operating section 11t protrudes upward from a through hole 12a provided on the upper surface of the frame 14 and is exposed from the frame 14.

[0035] Figure 1 further shows a waterproof base 20, an external terminal 15o which is part of the fixed contact 15, and a sealing member P indicated by a dashed frame, below the case 12. The fixed contact 15 is integrally fixed to the bottom plate 13 by insert molding, and the part exposed from the case 12 is called the external terminal 15o. The external terminal 15o is a lead terminal that outputs the conductivity state of the switch device to the outside, and the direction in which the fixed contact 15 (external terminal 15o) extends is perpendicular to the plane on which the bottom plate 13 is located. The drawing shows a situation with one pair of fixed contacts 15, but the number of fixed contacts 15 is not limited to this. The waterproof base 20 is provided near the end of the external terminal 15o that is connected to the bottom surface of the case 12 and surrounds the outer circumference of the external terminal 15o. Furthermore, when the switch device 1 is actually used, the external terminal 15o below the case 12 and the wiring connected to it are sealed by thermoplastic molding, thereby achieving insulation and waterproofing by making tight contact between the bottom surface of the case 12 and the sealing member obtained after thermoplastic molding. In this diagram, the illustration of the sealing member and other members connected to the external terminal 15o is omitted, and only the position of the sealing member P is schematically shown.

[0036] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the switch device. From top to bottom, the components are the operating member 11, the movable contact 16, the reset member 17, and the combination of the fixed contact 15 and the base plate 13.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the operating member 11 consists of an operating section 11t at its upper part, a mounting section 11k at its lower part, and a sleeve 11r. In Figure 3, the operating section 11t and the sleeve 11r are provided as two separate members, but the operating member 11 is not limited to this. The operating member 11 may also include only the operating section 11t exposed from the case 12 and the mounting section 11k housed inside the case. The mounting section 11k is formed as a roughly horseshoe-shaped recess capable of accommodating the movable contact 16, and the top surface 16t of the movable contact 16 can be fixed to the inner top surface of the mounting section 11k by riveting or the like.

[0038] The movable contact 16 is a curved, elastic conductive metal plate, and consists of a flat top surface 16t and a pair of elastic wall portions 16a and 16b located on both sides and facing each other.

[0039] On the base plate 13, a mounting portion 13a for attaching the reset member 17 is formed in the middle of the fixed contacts 15 arranged along the X direction and facing the reset member 17. The reset member 17 is sandwiched between the mounting portion 13a of the base plate 13 and the top surface 16t of the movable contact 16. When the operating member 11 is pressed, the compressive force generated by compressing the reset member 17 returns the operating member 11 to its original position.

[0040] The pair of fixed contacts 15 are rod-shaped conductive metal rods and are formed on the base plate 13 at a position opposite to the pair of elastic walls of the movable contact 16. Depending on whether they are permanently connected to the movable contacts or not, the pair of fixed contacts 15 are divided into a common fixed contact 15a and a switching fixed contact 15b. The common fixed contact 15a is formed so that it can be connected to the movable contacts before the switching fixed contact 15b. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the upper end of the common fixed contact 15a can be formed above the switching fixed contact 15b.

[0041] In the non-pressed state (i.e., when the operating member 11 is not in the operating position), one elastic wall portion 16a of the movable contact 16 is connected to the common fixed contact 15a of the fixed contacts 15, and the other elastic wall portion 16b of the movable contact 16 is separated from the switching fixed contact 15b of the fixed contacts 15 and is located above the switching fixed contact 15b. At this time, the pair of fixed contacts are not electrically connected.

[0042] In the pressed state (i.e., when the operating member 11 is in the operating position), one elastic wall portion 16a of the movable contact 16 is connected to the common fixed contact 15a of the fixed contacts 15, and the other elastic wall portion 16b of the movable contact 16 is connected to the switching fixed contact 15b of the fixed contacts 15, and at this time, the pair of fixed contacts are electrically conductive.

[0043] Figure 4A is a perspective view showing the combination of the base plate, waterproof base, and fixed contacts in the switch device, and Figure 4B is a plan view showing the combination of the base plate, waterproof base, and fixed contacts in the switch device. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the VV line in Figure 4B. Figure 6 is a bottom view showing the combination of the base plate, waterproof base, and fixed contacts in the switch device.

[0044] As shown in Figure 5, the fixed contacts 15 can be divided into common fixed contacts 15a and switching fixed contacts 15b arranged in the X-axis direction, depending on whether they are permanently connected to the movable contacts. Furthermore, they can be divided along the Y-axis direction into conductive parts 15i housed within the case and external terminals 15o exposed from the case, depending on whether they are exposed to the outside of the case. Functionally, the conductive parts 15i are part of the fixed contacts that can come into contact with or separate from the movable contacts 16 as the operating member 11 moves back and forth, and the multiple external terminals 15o are part of the fixed contacts that output detection signals to the outside indicating the switching of the conductive state.

[0045] In Figure 5, multiple meandering structures and protruding structures are provided in the lower part of the conductive portion 15i, which is fixed and connected to the bottom plate. In the first embodiment, a reliable connection between the bottom plate and the fixed contact is achieved by insert molding with such a complex shape. However, the method is not limited to the above, and for example, a simple shape may be used, and a reliable connection may be achieved by methods such as welding.

[0046] As shown in Figures 4A to 6, in the first embodiment, the bottom plate 13 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate in plan view, and a waterproof base 20 is formed on the bottom side of the bottom plate 13, that is, on the side opposite to where the operating part 11t is located, which encloses the outer circumference of the base portion rt of the external terminal and protrudes downward, that is, away from the operating part 11t. The base portion rt refers to the part of the external terminal that extends from the bottom plate 13 and is close to the bottom plate 13.

[0047] The waterproof base 20 includes a stepped portion 20s, an anchor portion 20a, and a blocking portion 20b, each protruding away from the operating portion 11t. The stepped portion 20s is shown by a dashed frame in Figure 5, is provided on the bottom side of the base plate 13, and protrudes away from the operating portion, covering the central part of the base plate 13 and enclosing a part of the base portion rt of the external terminal 15o. The covering area of ​​the stepped portion 20s in the X direction is greater than the distance between the two anchor portions 20a arranged in the X direction. The anchor portion 20a is provided on the bottom side of the stepped portion 20s and protrudes away from the operating portion at the location where there are multiple external terminals 15o, enclosing the outer circumference of each of the multiple external terminals 15o. In the first embodiment, since there are two external terminals 15o, only two anchor portions 20a are provided. However, if there are three or more external terminals, the number of anchor portions 20a may be three or more, as long as the number of anchor portions 20a corresponds to the number of external terminals 15o.

[0048] The blocking portion 20b is provided on the bottom side of the stepped portion 20s and is located between multiple anchor portions 20a. If there are two anchor portions 20a and they are provided symmetrically on both sides in the X direction, the blocking portion 20b is located approximately in the center of the bottom plate 13. If multiple anchor portions 20a are provided so as to form a polygon, the blocking portion 20 only needs to be provided between each pair of anchor portions 20a. Also, in Figure 5, the ends of the anchor portions 20a and blocking portion 20b that are away from the stepped portion 20s (the lower ends in the figure) are shown to be spaced apart in the X direction, and the ends of the anchor portions 20a and blocking portion 20b that are close to the stepped portion 20s are shown to be connected in the X direction, but they do not have to be connected. Between each anchor portion 20a and between each anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b, recesses are formed that are indented from the bottom surface toward the bottom surface of the case 12. The anchor portions 20a and blocking portions 20b are not formed on a flat, coplanar plane, and as a result, the creepage distance between the external terminals 15o increases. In addition, although the anchor portion 20a shown in Figure 5 is formed such that its outer surface lies on the same plane as the outer surface of the stepped portion 20s, the outer surface of the anchor portion 20a does not have to be on the same plane as the outer surface of the stepped portion 20s.

[0049] Furthermore, the stepped portion 20s, the anchor portion 20a, and the blocking portion 20b all have bottom surfaces parallel to the base plate 13. The area of ​​the bottom surface of the base plate 13 is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion 20s, and the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion 20s is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the anchor portion 20a and the bottom surface of the blocking portion 20b. By forming multiple bottom surfaces that are parallel to each other in this way, the contact area between the sealing member P and each bottom surface can be increased, thereby increasing the bonding strength of the sealing member P. In addition, the bonding strength between each member and the sealing member P can also be increased by forming the base plate 13, the stepped portion 20s, the anchor portion 20a, and the blocking portion 20b from a resin material. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the bottom surfaces of the stepped portion 20s, the anchor portion 20a, and the blocking portion 20b are all formed in a rectangular shape, but the shape is not limited to this and may be other shapes.

[0050] As described above, by providing a waterproof base of a certain thickness at the bottom of the bottom plate 13 so as to enclose the external terminals 15o, even if water seeps in through the gap between the bottom surface of the bottom plate 13 and the sealing member P, the water intrusion path is lengthened, reducing the possibility of water coming into contact with the external terminals 15o. Even if contact does occur, the contact area can be reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of a short circuit between the two external terminals.

[0051] Furthermore, a waterproof base of a certain thickness can be designed as a multi-stage structure with uneven width, and in the first embodiment, the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b are designed as a sandwich-like multi-stage structure. For example, as shown in Figure 5, in the direction of extension of the external terminal, the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b are formed as a constricted structure in which the width of both the upper and lower ends is larger than the width of the central part. Although not shown, in the planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case 12 (the bottom surface of the bottom plate 13 in the first embodiment), the cross-sectional area of ​​the stepped portions at both ends of the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the intermediate stepped portion. The three-stage structure of the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b described above is merely an example, and other multi-stage structures may also be used.

[0052] By providing the above structure, the creepage distance when water moves along the surface of the resin material can be further increased. In other words, if water communicates between the two external terminals 15o, a short circuit occurs between the two external terminals, but by increasing the creepage distance when water moves along the surface of the resin material, the possibility of a short circuit can be reduced. In addition, because the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b with a constricted structure are formed, the bonding strength between the anchor portion 20a and the blocking portion 20b and the sealing member P is increased, and the resistance to water penetration is increased. Alternatively, the blocking portion 20b may be omitted and only the anchor portion 20a may be provided.

[0053] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the bottom plate 13 and the waterproof base 20 are manufactured from the same resin material, and the bottom plate 13 and the waterproof base 20 are integrally formed using a single mold. For example, by inserting the fixed contact 15 into the mold and curing the resin material, the fixed contact 15 is fixed to the bottom plate 13 and the waterproof base 20. As a result, there is no gap between the external terminal 15o of the fixed contact 15 and the waterproof base 20, and even if water penetrates from the bottom side of the case 12, it becomes difficult for the water to penetrate into the inside of the switch device. In addition, by forming the bottom plate 13 and the waterproof base 20 from a resin material, a greater bonding force can be obtained when joining with the thermoplastically molded sealing member P compared to when a metal material is used.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4A, a guide portion GD for guiding the flow of water may be provided on the waterproof base 20 at a certain position approximately along the extending path of the external terminals 15o, and the guide portion GD is one or more grooves. The guide portion GD may also be provided on a part of the bottom of the case 12, for example, a first groove may be formed on a part of the bottom of the case 12 (in the first embodiment, the bottom of the bottom plate 13), and a second groove may be formed on a part of the waterproof base 20, such that the second groove and the first groove are located approximately along the extending path of the external terminals. In that case, even if water seeps in through the gap between the bottom surface of the case 12 and the sealing member P, it is easier for the water to flow downward along the extending direction of the external terminals 15o, and the possibility of a short-circuit path being formed in the direction of the arrangement of the two external terminals 15o is reduced.

[0055] (First variation) Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a switch device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment.

[0056] The difference between the first embodiment and the first modification is that the waterproof base 20 is composed of an anchor portion 20a' and a blocking portion 20b', and the first modification does not have a stepped portion. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, and some explanations are omitted.

[0057] In the structure of the first modified example, a waterproof base (anchor portion 20a' and blocking portion 20b') of a certain thickness is provided at the bottom of the bottom plate 13 so as to surround the external terminal 15o, the anchor portion 20a' is provided on the bottom plate 13 so as to surround the outer circumference of the external terminal 15o and the blocking portion 20b' is located between the multiple anchor portions 20a', and the anchor portions 20a' and blocking portions 20b' are arranged with a gap in the X direction, so even if water seeps in through the gap between the bottom surface of the bottom plate 13 and the sealing member P, the water intrusion path is lengthened, reducing the possibility of water coming into contact with the external terminal 15o, and even if contact does occur, the contact area can be reduced, thus reducing the possibility of a short circuit between the two external terminals 15o.

[0058] Furthermore, both the anchor portion 20a' and the blocking portion 20b' are formed as a multi-stage structure like a sandwich. In a planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case (the bottom surface of the bottom plate in the first embodiment), the cross-sectional area of ​​the stepped portions at both ends of the anchor portion 20a' and the blocking portion 20b' is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the intermediate stepped portion.

[0059] By providing the above structure, the creepage distance when water moves across the surface of the resin material can be further increased. In addition, because the anchor portion 20a' and blocking portion 20b' with a constricted structure are formed, the bonding strength between the anchor portion 20a' and blocking portion 20b' and the sealing member P is increased, and the resistance to water penetration is increased. Similarly, in this modified example, the blocking portion 20b' may be omitted, and only the anchor portion 20a' may be provided.

[0060] (Second variation) Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a switch device according to a second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0061] In the first embodiment and the first modification, the case 12 was described as being composed of a frame 14 with an opening at the bottom and a bottom plate 13 that fits into the opening. However, in the second modification, as shown in Figure 8, the case 12' may be composed of a frame 30 with an opening at the top and a cover 40 that fits into the opening 30, and the cover 40 is provided with a through hole for the operating member 11 to extend out. In the second modification, the frame 30 and the waterproof base 20 are manufactured from the same resin material, and the frame 30 and the waterproof base 20 are integrally formed in one mold. The fixed contact 15 is inserted into the mold and the resin material is cured to fix the fixed contact 15 to the frame 30 and the waterproof base 20. As a result, there is no gap between the external terminal 15o of the fixed contact 15 and the frame 30 and the waterproof base 20, and even if water enters from the bottom side of the case 12' (the bottom side of the frame 30), it is difficult for the water to enter the inside of the switch device.

[0062] With respect to structures other than those described above, the second modified example is substantially the same as the first embodiment. With respect to the waterproof base 20, the second modified example may adopt the same structure as the first embodiment or the same structure as the first modified example, thereby enabling the second modified example to achieve the same effects as the first embodiment or the first modified example.

[0063] (Third variation) Figures 9A and 9B are perspective views of a switch device according to a third modification of the first embodiment. Figure 9A shows that three parallel switch devices are each connected to a wiring board, and Figure 9B shows that sealing members are further formed on the outside of the switch devices and wiring board by thermoplastic molding.

[0064] The following describes one usage scenario of the switch device with an example. The structure and effects of the switch device may be the same as those of the first embodiment, the first modified example of the first embodiment, and the second modified example of the first embodiment. In the third modified example, three switch devices 1 are connected in parallel as detectors to detect three types of states of the car door (non-contact, contact, and open). Each switch device corresponds to one type of car door state, and the external terminal 15o of each switch device 1 outputs a detection signal indicating the switching of the conduction state to the outside via a common wiring board B, thereby enabling the detection of changes in the three types of states of the car door. Furthermore, in order to ensure the insulation and waterproofness of the external terminal 15o, the waterproof base 20, the external terminal 15o, and the common wiring board B are encased in a thermoplastically molded sealing member P, and the upper surface of the sealing member P is tightly bonded to the bottom surface of the case.

[0065] The above describes a situation in which independent switch devices are used in combination, but three switch devices connected in parallel may also be designed as a single switch module.

[0066] In other words, one switch module has three switch devices arranged in parallel, and the external terminals of each switch device output a detection signal to the outside indicating the switching of the conduction state via a common wiring board, and the waterproof base, external terminals, and common wiring board are enclosed by a thermoplastic sealing member.

[0067] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are provided as examples only and do not limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention and are included in the claims of the invention and its equivalent scope. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 1. Switching device 11 Operating member 11t Operation unit 11r sleeve 11k mounting section 12, 12' case 12a Through hole 13 Bottom plate 13a Mounting part 14 Frame P sealing member 15 Fixed contacts 15a Common fixed contact 15b Switching fixed contact 15i Continuity part 15° External terminal 16 Movable contacts 16t top surface 16a, 16b Elastic wall section 17 Reset component 20 Waterproof stand 20s Step section 20a, 20a' Anchor section 20b, 20b' blocking part 30 Frame 40 Cover rt root

Claims

1. A switch device comprising: an operating member having an operating part used for pressing operations and a mounting part for mounting a movable contact; a case housing the mounting part of the operating member, the case having a through hole that exposes the operating part of the operating member from the case; a reset member used to return the operating member to its original position; a plurality of fixed contacts fixed within the case; and a movable contact provided on the mounting part of the operating member, wherein the movement of the operating member enables switching of the conductive state between the movable contact and the plurality of fixed contacts, The fixed contact has a conductive portion housed within the case and a plurality of external terminals exposed from the case. A switch device characterized in that it has a waterproof base on the bottom side of the case, that is, on the side opposite to the operating part, which encloses the bases of the plurality of external terminals and protrudes in a direction away from the operating part along the extending direction of the external terminals.

2. The aforementioned waterproof base is The switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the case has a plurality of anchor portions on the bottom side, at the positions where the plurality of external terminals are located, which protrude toward the direction away from the operating portion, enclosing the outer circumference of each of the plurality of external terminals.

3. The aforementioned waterproof base is On the bottom side of the case, there is a stepped portion that covers the central part of the outer bottom surface of the case and encloses the base of the external terminal, and protrudes in a direction away from the operating portion, The switch device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of anchor portions that, at the location of the plurality of external terminals, enclose the outer circumference of each of the plurality of external terminals and protrude from the stepped portion toward the direction away from the operating portion.

4. The switch device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the waterproof base is provided between the plurality of anchor portions and further has a blocking portion that protrudes toward the direction away from the operating portion along the extending direction of the external terminal.

5. The switch device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the anchor portion has a plurality of steps formed in the direction extending of the external terminal, and in a planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case, the anchor portion has an intermediate step portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the step portions at both ends.

6. The switch device according to claim 4, wherein the blocking portion has a plurality of steps formed in the direction extending of the external terminal, and in a planar direction parallel to the bottom surface of the case, the blocking portion has an intermediate step portion whose cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the step portions at both ends.

7. The switch device according to claim 4, characterized in that the area of ​​the bottom surface of the case is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion, and the area of ​​the bottom surface of the stepped portion is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the anchor portion and the blocking portion.

8. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the case is composed of a frame with an opening at the bottom and a bottom plate that fits into the opening, the plurality of fixed contacts are integrally fixed to the bottom plate by insert molding, and the bottom plate and the waterproof base are manufactured from the same resin material.

9. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the case comprises a frame with an opening at the top and a cover that fits into the opening, the plurality of fixed contacts are integrally fixed to the frame by insert molding, and the frame and the waterproof base are manufactured from the same resin material.

10. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein three switch devices are arranged in parallel, the external terminals of each switch device output a detection signal indicating the switching of the conduction state to the outside via a common wiring board, and the waterproof base, the external terminals, and the common wiring board are encased in a thermoplastically molded sealing member.

11. It is a switch module, The device has three switch devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3, arranged in parallel. A switch module characterized in that the external terminals of each switch device output a detection signal indicating the switching of the conduction state to the outside via a common wiring board, and the waterproof base, the external terminals, and the common wiring board are encased in a thermoplastically molded sealing member.

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