Push Switch Device

Abstract

To provide a push switch device that can obtain a relatively linear response. [Solution] The push switch device includes a fixed unit (31), a movable unit (32) and a detection unit, the fixed unit includes a housing (311) and a through hole, the movable unit includes a moving body (321) and a light shielding body (322), the light shielding body extends outward from the moving body and has a tapered V-shaped side structure, the light shielding body can move between a first position and a second position relative to the housing, the detection unit includes a signal transmitting module and a signal receiving module, the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module are respectively provided on both sides of the through hole, when the light shielding body is located at the first position, the light shielding body is accommodated in the housing, and when the light shielding body is located at the second position, the light shielding body extends outward from the through hole and is located between the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a push switch device, and more particularly to a push switch device used in a keyboard. [Background technology]

[0002] The push switches on early keyboards only had signals to drive opening and closing, but with the development of technology, push switches can now detect the degree of pressing, so that a light touch can speed up the rhythm of the game, and a stronger press can drive other commands. Also, one switch can execute two or more commands depending on the settings of the computer program. Currently, there are two main types of push switches that can detect the depth of pressing: optical induction switches and magnetic induction switches.

[0003] 1 and 2, the conventional light induction switch 2 includes a body 211 and a pressing body 221 movably mounted on the body 211. A convex structure 212 is formed on the bottom of the body 211, and a window 213 is formed on the convex structure 212. A light-shielding pole 222 is provided on the bottom of the pressing body 221. The light-shielding pole 222 has a cylindrical structure. When the pressing body 221 moves downward, the light-shielding pole 222 gradually blocks the window 213 to block the light beam passing through the window 213. A detector (not shown) on the keyboard detects the light beam passing through the window 213 to determine the pressing depth of the pressing body 221.

[0004] Although a light induction type switch 2 capable of detecting the pressing depth has been disclosed as a conventional technique, the following problems still remain when it is actually used.

[0005] 1. The sensed voltage cannot show a linear response.

[0006] When the pressing body 221 is not pressed, the light passes through the window 213 with maximum intensity, and when the pressing body 221 starts to make the light-shielding pole 222 block the window 213, the light passing through the window 213 becomes weak rapidly, and the detection voltage of the detector changes rapidly; however, when the pressing body 221 is pressed to the bottom, the change in the light passing through the window 213 is relatively weak, and the change in the detection voltage of the detector is not clear, so the detection voltage of the detector changes in a curve according to the position where the light-shielding pole 222 blocks the window 213, and cannot show a linear response.

[0007] 2. The detector is not sensitive enough.

[0008] When the light-shielding pole 222 enters the convex structure 212 and starts to block the window 213, a sudden change may occur in the detection voltage of the detector, so that the computer can accurately obtain the pressing depth of the pressure body 221. However, when the light-shielding pole 222 is pressed to the bottom, the change in the detection voltage is not clear, so the detection sensitivity of the detector is not sufficient.

[0009] 3. The pressing sensation is not good.

[0010] Next, since the detector detects when the pressure body 221 is pressed to the bottom, the change in the detected voltage obtained is not clear and may even generate noise, so that the pressure stroke of the pressure body 221 is limited and a longer pressing stroke cannot be obtained, and it is not possible to provide the user with a good pressing feeling.

[0011] Therefore, improving the structure of the optical induction switch to enable the detector to output a more linear response and effectively detect the pressing depth of the pressure body 221 to extend the pressing stroke and output a more accurate command are urgent goals that related engineers should strive for. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a push switch device, which includes a fixed unit, a movable unit and a sensing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The fixed unit includes a housing and a through hole formed in the housing.

[0014] The movable unit includes a moving body provided in the housing and a light shielding body connected to the moving body, the light shielding body extending outward from the moving body and having a tapered V-shaped side structure, and the light shielding body can move between a first position and a second position relative to the housing.

[0015] The detection unit includes a signal transmitting module provided outside the housing, and a signal receiving module provided outside the housing, the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module being provided on both sides of the through hole, respectively.

[0016] When the light shield is located at the first position, the light shield is accommodated in the housing, and when the light shield is located at the second position, the light shield extends outward from the through hole and is located between the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module.

[0017] Another technical measure of the present invention is that the above-mentioned movable unit further includes at least one stopper connected to the moving body, and when the light blocking body is located at the second position, the stopper resists the housing to adjust the length of the light blocking body extending outward from the through hole.

[0018] In still another technical means of the present invention, when the light blocking body is located at the second position, the length of the light blocking body extending outward from the through hole is 2.8 mm to 4.5 mm.

[0019] In still another technical solution of the present invention, the number of the stoppers is two, and the two stoppers are provided on both sides of the light blocking body, facing each other.

[0020] In still another technical solution of the present invention, the above-mentioned movable unit further includes a tip body mounted on the light blocking body, and the movable body and the tip body are respectively mounted on both ends of the light blocking body.

[0021] In still another technical aspect of the present invention, the side structure of the tip body is rectangular, its length is 0.5mm and its width is 0.5mm.

[0022] Another technical means of the present invention is that the above-mentioned light shielding body can be moved to a third position between the first position and the second position relative to the housing, and when the light shielding body moves to the third position, the tip body is located between the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module.

[0023] In still another technical solution of the present invention, when the light blocking body is located at the first position, the tip body is located within the through hole but does not protrude outside the through hole.

[0024] In still another technical solution of the present invention, the above-mentioned fixing unit further includes a blocking wall provided on an outer surface of the housing, the blocking wall surrounding the signal transmitting module, the signal receiving module and the through hole.

[0025] In still another technical solution of the present invention, the blocking wall has a reduced opening structure between the signal transmitting module and the through hole, and between the signal receiving module and the through hole. Effect of the Invention

[0026] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the V-shaped structure of the light shield stabilizes the change of the sensed voltage of the signal-receiving module during the full pressing stroke of the movable unit, so that a relatively linear response is obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view for explaining a side structure of a known optical induction switch. [Diagram 2] 4 is a schematic side view for explaining a side structure of a pressing body of the optical induction switch. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a three-dimensional shape of a push switch device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the light induction switch according to the preferred embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a state of a light blocking body in a first position relative to the housing; [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining a side structure of the movable unit in the preferred embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a three-dimensional shape of the movable unit in the preferred embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the light induction switch in the preferred embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the state of the light blocking body in a third position relative to the housing; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the light induction switch in the preferred embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a state of the light blocking body in a second position relative to the housing; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The features and technical contents of the patent applications related to the present invention will be clearly presented in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0029] 3, 4 and 5, which shows a preferred embodiment of the push switch device of the present invention, the push switch device includes a fixed unit 31, a movable unit 32 and a detection unit 33. As shown in FIG.

[0030] The fixing unit 31 includes a housing 311, a through hole 312 provided in the housing 311, and a blocking wall 313 provided on the outer surface of the housing 311. The housing 311 includes an upper housing 3111, a lower housing 3112, and a spring 3113, the upper housing 3111 and the lower housing 3112 are detachably coupled, and the spring 3113 is provided in the upper housing 3111 and the lower housing 3112.

[0031] The movable unit 32 includes a moving body 321 provided in the housing 311, a light blocking body 322 connected to the moving body 321, at least one stopper 323 connected to the moving body 321, and a tip body 324 provided on the light blocking body 322, and the spring 3113 is connected to the movable unit 32 and outputs an upward pushing force, and the moving body 321 may be provided with a keycap (not shown), and the keycap is pressed to move the movable unit 32 downward relative to the housing, and when the force pressing the keycap is removed, the spring 3113 pushes the movable unit 32 upward and returns it to its original position.

[0032] The detection unit 33 includes a signal transmitting module 331 provided outside the housing 311 and a signal receiving module 332 provided outside the housing 311, and the signal transmitting module 331 and the signal receiving module 332 are provided on both sides of the through hole 312, respectively. The signal transmitting module 331 is preferably an infrared transmitter, and the signal receiving module 332 is preferably an infrared receiver. In actual implementation, the detection unit 33 may be, but is not limited to, another detector. The light shielding body 322 protrudes from the through hole 312 and is located between the signal transmitting module 331 and the signal receiving module 332, and the light shielding body 322 blocks the light irradiated from the signal transmitting module 331 to the signal receiving module 332.

[0033] 6, in the preferred embodiment, the number of the stoppers 323 is two, but is not limited thereto, and the two stoppers 323 are provided on opposite sides of the light blocking body 322. When the movable unit 32 is pressed, the stoppers 323 can adjust the length of the light blocking body 322 extending outward from the through-hole 312 against the housing 311, thereby controlling the pressing stroke of the movable unit 323.

[0034] 5 and 6, the movable body 321 and the tip body 324 are provided at both ends of the light blocking body 322, and the light blocking body 322 extends outward from the movable body 321 and has a tapered V-shaped side structure. The tip body 324 is provided at an end of the light blocking body 322, and the side structure of the tip body 324 is rectangular, and the length of the tip body 324 is 0.5 mm and the width of the tip body 324 is 0.5 mm, but is not limited thereto, and the end of the light blocking body 322 and the tip body 324 have the same width.

[0035] 5, 7 and 8, the blocking wall 313 is provided at the bottom of the housing 311, and the blocking wall 313 surrounds the signal transmitting module 331, the signal receiving module 332, and the through-hole 312. The blocking wall 313 has a reduced opening structure between the signal transmitting module 331 and the through-hole 312 and between the signal receiving module 332 and the through-hole 312. The opening structure passes light output from the signal transmitting module 331. In actual implementation, the blocking wall 313 may not be provided in the fixing unit 31, and is not limited thereto.

[0036] Here, the height of the front body 324 is higher than or equal to the height of the blocking wall 313, so that the detection unit 33 can confirm that the movable unit 32 is pressed, and it is preferable, but not limited to, that the height of the blocking wall 313 is 0.3 mm and the height of the side structure of the front body 324 is 0.5 mm. The width of the opening structure of the blocking wall 313 is formed larger than the width of the side structure of the light blocking body 322, so that the detection unit 33 can confirm the pressed-down distance of the movable unit 32, and when the movable unit 322 is pressed down to the lowest, the light blocking body 322 blocks the light irradiated from the signal transmitting module 331 to the signal receiving module 332 to the maximum extent.

[0037] The light shield 322 is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position relative to the housing 311, the third position being between the first position and the second position. Figure 5 shows the light shield 322 in the first position relative to the housing 311, Figure 7 shows the light shield 322 in the third position relative to the housing 311, and Figure 8 shows the light shield 322 in the second position relative to the housing 311.

[0038] Referring again to FIG. 5, when the light shielding body 322 is located in the first position, the light shielding body 322 is accommodated in the housing 311, the tip body 324 is located in the through hole 312 but does not protrude from the through hole 312, and the light output from the signal transmitting module 331 reaches the signal receiving module 332 with the maximum luminous flux.

[0039] Referring again to FIG. 7, when the light blocking body 322 moves to the third position, the tip body 324 is positioned between the signal transmitting module 331 and the signal receiving module 332, and the tip body 324 blocks a portion of the light emitted from the signal transmitting module 331, and it is possible to confirm that the movable unit 32 has been pressed through the detection voltage of the signal receiving module 332.

[0040] 8 again, when the light blocking body 322 is located at the second position, the light blocking body 322 extends outward from the through hole 312 to be located between the signal transmitting module 331 and the signal receiving module 332, and the stopper 323 adjusts the length of the light blocking body 322 extending outward from the through hole 312 against the housing 311. When the light blocking body 322 is located at the second position, the length of the light blocking body 322 extending outward from the through hole 312 is preferably, but not limited to, 2.8 mm to 4.5 mm.

[0041] When the light shield 322 is positioned between the third position and the second position, the light shield 322 having the tapered V-shaped structure can correspond to the pressing depth of the movable unit 32 with different widths, and according to the width, the signal transmitting module 331 blocks the light irradiated to the signal receiving module 332, so that the detection voltage of the signal receiving module 332 corresponds to the pressing depth of the movable unit 32.

[0042] It should be noted that in the light flux detection method using the initial window structure, the change in the detection voltage of the sensor occurs abruptly at the beginning of the movement stroke (e.g., the voltage rises suddenly), but the change is not clear at the later stage of the movement stroke (e.g., the voltage rises slowly or even does not rise at all), so that the movement stroke is limited and the detection sensitivity is reduced. However, the present invention uses the light shield 322 with a tapered V-shaped side structure, so that the width of the light shield 322 effectively corresponds to the pressing position of the movable unit 32, and the initial, middle and later stages of the movement stroke all change linearly, making the output response of the detection unit more linear.

[0043] From the above description, it can be seen that the push switch device of the present invention has the following advantages.

[0044] 1. The sensed voltage has a linear response.

[0045] The present invention mainly uses a tapered V-shaped light shield 322 with different widths corresponding to the pressing depth of the movable unit 32, and further includes a rectangular tip 324, which enables the detection unit 33 to confirm that the movable unit 322 is pressed, and makes the change in the detection voltage of the signal receiving module 332 more linear.

[0046] 2. The sensitivity when strongly pressed can be improved.

[0047] When the light blocking body 322 is located at the third position, the front end body 324 is located at the middle of the light area output by the signal transmitting module 331 and blocks the middle light with the smallest area, so that the light passes through both sides of the front end body 324 to reach the signal receiving module 332. When the light blocking body 322 moves gradually from the third position to the second position, the light blocking body 322 gradually increases the light blocking area according to the moving position. This reduces the light flux that reaches and is received by the signal receiving module 332, and the light blocking body 322 blocks the light output from the signal transmitting module 331 with the largest area until the light blocking body 323 resists the housing 311 and reaches the second position, thereby stabilizing the change in light during the movement of the movable unit. This improves the detection sensitivity of the push switch device.

[0048] 3. It is possible to provide an optimal pressing feel.

[0049] The light shield 322 having a tapered V-shaped structure can make the change in the detection voltage more linear and improve the sensitivity of the push-in detection, so that the structure of the stopper 323 and the light shield 323 can be made according to the required push-in stroke, and the optimal push-in feeling can be provided to the user.

[0050] As described above, the tip 324 is provided at the end of the light blocking body 322, and the height of the tip 324 is higher than or equal to the height of the blocking wall 313, so that the detection unit 33 can confirm that the movable unit 32 is pressed, and the light blocking body 322 extends outward from the moving body 321 and has a tapered V-shaped side structure, and the light blocking body 322 can correspond to the pressing depth of the movable unit 32, so that the detection unit 33 can respond linearly, thereby improving the moving stroke of the push switch device and improving the detection sensitivity. Furthermore, the user can be provided with an optimal pressing feeling, and the object of the present invention can be reliably achieved.

[0051] The above is only one preferred embodiment of the present invention, which does not limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all simple equivalent changes and formulas made based on the patent scope and description of the present invention are all within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 2. Optical induction switch 211 Main unit 212 Convex Structure 213 Window 221 Pressurized body 222 Shading Pillar 31 Fixed Unit 311 Housing 3111 Upper housing 3112 Lower Housing 3113 Spring 312 Through hole 313 Blocking Wall 32 Mobile Unit 321 Mobile 322 Shading body 323 Stopper 324 Tip body 33 Detection Unit 331 Signal Transmitting Module 332 Signal Receiving Module

Claims

1. a fixing unit having a housing and a through hole formed in the housing; a movable unit including a moving body provided in the housing and a light blocking body connected to the moving body, the light blocking body extending outward from the moving body and having a side structure of a tapered V-shape, the light blocking body being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing; a signal transmitting module provided outside the housing, and a signal receiving module provided outside the housing, the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module each including a detection unit provided on both sides of the through hole; A push switch device, wherein when the light shield is located at the first position, the light shield is contained in the housing, and when the light shield is located at the second position, the light shield extends outward from the through hole and is located between the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module.

2. 2. The push switch device according to claim 1, wherein the movable unit further includes at least one stopper coupled to the moving body, and when the light blocking body is located at the second position, the stopper resists the housing to control a length of the light blocking body extending outward from the through hole.

3. 3. The push switch device according to claim 2, wherein when the light blocking body is located at the second position, a length of the light blocking body extending outward from the through hole is 2.8 mm to 4.5 mm.

4. 3. The push switch device according to claim 2, wherein the number of said stoppers is two, and said two stoppers are provided on both sides of said light blocking body facing each other.

5. 2. The push switch device according to claim 1, wherein the movable unit further includes a tip body provided on the light blocking body, the moving body and the tip body being provided on both ends of the light blocking body, respectively.

6. 6. The push switch device according to claim 5, wherein the side structure of the tip body is rectangular, the length being 0.5 mm and the width being 0.5 mm.

7. 6. The push switch device of claim 5, wherein the light blocking body is movable relative to the housing to a third position between the first position and the second position, and when the light blocking body is moved to the third position, the tip body is positioned between the signal transmitting module and the signal receiving module.

8. 6. The push switch device according to claim 5, wherein when said light blocking body is located at said first position, said tip body is located within said through hole but does not protrude outside said through hole.

9. The push switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing unit further comprises a blocking wall provided on an outer surface of the housing, the blocking wall surrounding the signal transmitting module, the signal receiving module and the through hole.

10. The push switch device according to claim 9 , wherein the blocking wall has a reduced opening structure between the signal transmitting module and the through hole and between the signal receiving module and the through hole.

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