Electronic component structure, lever-type input device, and method for assembling electronic component structure

Abstract

To enable easy installation of multiple electronic circuit components whose installation orientation differs from each other.SOLUTION: An electronic component structure has a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion, with electronic circuit components disposed on the surface side of each of the first portion and the second portion, and a holder provided on the back side of the flexible substrate to support the flexible substrate, and the holder has a first support portion supporting the first portion of the flexible substrate, a second support portion supporting the second portion of the flexible substrate, and a bending portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion, and is bendable with the flexible substrate at the bending portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic component structure, a lever-type input device, and a method for assembling the electronic component structure. Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a lever-type input device provided on a steering column is used in vehicles such as automobiles. A driver of the vehicle can operate various electric components (e.g., headlights, turn signals, windshield wipers, etc.) provided in the vehicle by operating the lever-type input device.

[0003] Regarding such an input device, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a lever switch in which a plurality of rotatable switches are assembled in a lever member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-76326 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires multiple electronic circuit components (circuit boards, switch knobs, etc.) with different installation orientations to be individually assembled into the lever, which poses the problem that it is not easy to install multiple components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An electronic component structure according to one embodiment comprises a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion, with electronic circuit components arranged on the front surface side of each of the first portion and the second portion, and a holder provided on the rear surface side of the flexible substrate and supporting the flexible substrate, the holder having a first support portion supporting the first portion of the flexible substrate, a second support portion supporting the second portion of the flexible substrate, and a bending portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion, and being bendable together with the flexible substrate at the bending portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment, a plurality of electronic circuit components having different orientations can be easily installed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an operation unit included in a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an operation unit included in a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an operation unit included in a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a holder and an FPC included in an operation unit according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a holder and an FPC included in an operation unit according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a case of a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a case of a stalk switch device according to an embodiment; [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of an assembly method for an operation unit according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, for convenience, the lever portion 14 of the stalk switch device 10 is taken as a reference, and the length direction of the lever portion 14 is taken as a left-right direction (Y-axis direction), the width direction of the lever portion 14 is taken as a front-rear direction (X-axis direction), and the thickness direction of the lever portion 14 is taken as a top-bottom direction (Z-axis direction).

[0010] (Overview of stalk switch device 10) 1 and 2 are external perspective views of a stalk switch device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the stalk switch device 10 in a state in which an operation knob 124 and a cover 14A are removed from a lever portion 14.

[0011] 1 and 2 is an example of a "lever-type input device" and is a device fixed to a steering column (not shown) of a vehicle such as an automobile. The stalk switch device 10 is electrically connected to various electric components (e.g., headlights, blinkers, wipers, etc.) equipped in the vehicle, and can switch the operation of the various electric components by being operated by a user.

[0012] The stalk switch device 10 includes a main body 12 and a lever 14. The main body 12 is a part that is assembled and fixed to the steering column of the vehicle. The lever 14 extends in a generally straight line from the steering column toward the radial direction of the steering shaft (not shown) and is a part that allows various lever operations to be performed to switch the operations of various electric components. The end portion of the lever 14 is supported by the main body 12 so as to be tiltable in each of the upward direction (Z-axis positive direction, D1 in the figure), downward direction (Z-axis negative direction, D2 in the figure), forward direction (X-axis positive direction, D3 in the figure), and rearward direction (X-axis negative direction, D4 in the figure).

[0013] A cap-shaped operation knob 124 is provided at the tip of the lever portion 14 so as to be rotatable. The operation knob 124 is a component of a first operation unit 120, which is an example of an electronic circuit component. The stalk switch device 10 can rotate the first operation unit 120 using the operation knob 124, and therefore can switch the operation of an electrical component corresponding to the first operation unit 120.

[0014] Further, an annular rotating part 142 is provided on the lever part 14 closer to the distal end (main body part 12 side) than the operation knob 124. The rotating part 142 is a component of the second operating part 140, which is an example of an electronic circuit component. The rotating part 142 is provided inside the lever part 14 (inside the space surrounded by the cover 14A and the case 14B). A part of the rotating part 142 is exposed from an opening 14Aa formed in the cover 14A. This allows the rotating part 142 to be rotated by the part exposed from the opening 14Aa. The stalk switch device 10 can rotate the second operating part 140 by the rotating part 142, and therefore it is possible to switch the operation of the electrical component corresponding to the second operating part 140.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the first operating part 120 and the second operating part 140 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the lever part 14 at the tip of the lever part 14 and inside the lever part 14 (in the space surrounded by the cover 14A and the case 14B). The rotation center axis 120X of the first operating part 120 and the rotation center axis 140X of the second operating part 140 are arranged coaxially (see FIG. 3). The first operating part 120 and the second operating part 140 are integrated with each other to configure the operation unit 100. The operation unit 100 is an example of an "electronic component structure".

[0016] (Configuration of operation unit 100) Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the operation unit 100 according to one embodiment. Note that Fig. 3 shows the operation unit 100 in an assembled state. However, Fig. 3 does not show the operation knob 124 of the first operation part 120 of the operation unit 100. Figs. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of the operation unit 100 according to one embodiment. Note that Figs. 4 and 5 show the operation unit 100 in an unfolded state.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the operation unit 100 includes a first operation section 120, a second operation section 140, a holder 160, and an FPC 180. As shown in FIG.

[0018] The first operating unit 120 is provided on the side of the surface 181a of the first portion 181 of the FPC 180. The first operating unit 120 is rotatable. The first operating unit 120 has a base 121, a rotating unit 122, and an operating knob 124. The rotating unit 122 has a generally cylindrical shape. The rotating unit 122 is rotatable with respect to the base 121. The first operating unit 120 fits into the first support unit 161 of the holder 160. At this time, a shaft portion 122A (see FIG. 5) provided on the bottom side of the rotating unit 122 is inserted into the cylinder of the cylinder portion 161A of the first support unit 161. As a result, the first operating unit 120 is supported by the first support unit 161 so as to be rotatable. At the same time, a first movable contact 123 (see FIG. 5) made of metal and provided on the bottom surface of the rotating portion 122 is electrically connected to a first fixed contact 181A provided on the side of a surface 181a of a first portion 181 of an FPC 180 arranged on the first support portion 161. The operation knob 124 is attached to the rotating portion 122, so that the operation knob 124 can rotate integrally with the rotating portion 122. Note that the rotating portion 122 can provide a clicking sensation every time it rotates a predetermined angle by a click mechanism (not shown) provided between the rotating portion 122 and the base portion 121.

[0019] The second operating unit 140 is provided on the surface 182a side of the second portion 182 of the FPC 180. The second operating unit 140 is rotatable. The second operating unit 140 has a base 141 and a rotating unit 142. The rotating unit 142 has a generally cylindrical shape. The rotating unit 142 is rotatable with respect to the base 141. The second operating unit 140 fits into the second support unit 162 of the holder 160. At this time, the shaft portion 142A (see FIG. 5) provided on the bottom side of the rotating unit 142 is inserted into the cylinder of the cylinder portion 162A of the second support unit 162. As a result, the second operating unit 140 is supported by the second support unit 162 so as to be rotatable. At the same time, a second metallic movable contact 143 (see FIG. 5) provided on the bottom surface of the rotating portion 142 is electrically connected to a second fixed contact 182A provided on the side of a surface 182a of a second portion 182 of an FPC 180 arranged on a second support portion 162. Note that a click mechanism (not shown) provided between the rotating portion 142 and the base portion 141 allows the rotating portion 142 to provide a clicking sensation every time the rotating portion 142 rotates a predetermined angle.

[0020] The holder 160 is a member made of resin. The holder 160 has a first support portion 161, a second support portion 162, and a bent portion 163.

[0021] The first support portion 161 has a flat plate shape. The first support portion 161 supports the first portion 181 of the FPC 180 from the side of the back surface 181b of the first portion 181 of the FPC 180. A cylindrical tube portion 161A is provided upright at the center of the front surface of the first support portion 161. The shaft portion 122A of the rotating portion 122 of the first operating unit 120 is inserted into the tube portion 161A, thereby rotatably supporting the rotating portion 122.

[0022] The second support portion 162 has a flat plate shape. The second support portion 162 supports the second portion 182 of the FPC 180 from the side of the back surface 182b of the second portion 182 of the FPC 180. A cylindrical tube portion 162A is provided upright at the center of the front surface of the second support portion 162. The shaft portion 142A of the rotating portion 142 of the second operating unit 140 is inserted into the tube portion 162A, thereby rotatably supporting the rotating portion 142.

[0023] The bending portion 163 is provided between the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162, and connects the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162. The bending portion 163 is bendable (elastically deformable).

[0024] 4 and 5, the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 of the holder 160 are on the same plane. The holder 160 is folded together with the FPC 180 at the folding portion 163, so that the opening angle between the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 is variable. The holder 160 is folded together with the FPC 180 by approximately 180° at the folding portion 163 in a folding direction in which the opening angle between the back surface of the first support portion 161 and the back surface of the second support portion 162 becomes smaller, so that the opening angle between the back surface of the first support portion 161 and the back surface of the second support portion 162 becomes approximately 0°, and the back surfaces of the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 overlap each other (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0025] The holder 160 has a fixing mechanism 164 that fixes the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 in an overlapping state. The fixing mechanism 164 has a recess 164A provided on the back surface side of the first support portion 161 and a protrusion 164B provided on the back surface side of the second support portion 162. The holder 160 is fixed in a state in which the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 are overlapping each other by fitting the recess 164A and the protrusion 164B into each other. However, the fixing method of the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 is not limited to this, and other fixing methods may be used.

[0026] FPC 180 is an example of a "flexible substrate." FPC 180 is a thin film-like wiring member. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, FPC 180 has first portion 181, second portion 182, connection portion 183, and lead-out portion 184. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the unfolded state of FPC 180, first portion 181, second portion 182, connection portion 183, and lead-out portion 184 are on the same plane.

[0027] The first portion 181 is a portion having a rectangular shape in a plan view. At least one electronic circuit component is disposed on the side of the front surface 181a of the first portion 181. The "electronic circuit component" includes not only electronic components mounted on the FPC 180 such as the first operating unit 120 and the second operating unit 140 described above, but also electronic contacts and the like directly provided on the FPC 180 as described below. In this embodiment, a first fixed contact 181A (see FIG. 4) made of metal is provided on the front surface 181a of the first portion 181 as an example of the "electronic circuit component". A circular opening 181B is formed in the center of the first portion 181. The first portion 181 is supported from the back surface side by the first support portion 161 of the holder 160. The first portion 181 is fixed to the front surface of the first support portion 161 of the holder 160 by any fixing means (in this embodiment, rivet).

[0028] The second portion 182 is a portion having a quadrangle in a plan view. At least one electronic circuit component is disposed on the side of the surface 182a of the second portion 182. In this embodiment, a second fixed contact 182A (see FIG. 4) made of metal is provided on the side of the surface 182a of the second portion 182 as an example of an "electronic circuit component". A circular opening 182B is formed in the center of the second portion 182. The second portion 182 is supported from the back surface side by the second support portion 162 of the holder 160. The second portion 182 is fixed to the surface of the second support portion 162 of the holder 160 by any fixing means (in this embodiment, rivet).

[0029] The connecting portion 183 is located between the first portion 181 and the second portion 182 and connects the first portion 181 and the second portion 182. The connecting portion 183 is disposed along the bent portion 163 of the holder 160, and is thereby bent together with the bent portion 163 of the holder 160.

[0030] Lead-out portion 184 has a strip shape extending linearly from second portion 182 toward the opposite side to first portion 181. One end of lead-out portion 184 is connected to second portion 182. The other end of lead-out portion 184 is connected to main body portion 12. Lead-out portion 184 has a plurality of wirings for electrically connecting each electronic circuit component provided in first portion 181, second portion 182, and connection portion 183 to the outside via main body portion 12.

[0031] 4 and 5, the holder 160 has a third support portion 165 and a second bent portion 166. The third support portion 165 has a flat plate shape. The third support portion 165 is connected to the second support portion 162 by the second bent portion 166. The third support portion 165 is bent at approximately 90° at the second bent portion 166, so that the third support portion 165 can form an opening angle of 90° with respect to the second support portion 162 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the FPC 180 has a third portion 185. The third portion 185 is a band-shaped portion drawn from the connection portion 183 in the width direction of the connection portion 183. At least one electronic circuit component is disposed on the front surface side of the third portion 185. In this embodiment, an LED 185A (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is mounted on the front surface side of the third portion 185 as an example of an "electronic circuit component". The third portion 185 is supported from the rear surface side by the third support portion 165 of the holder 160. The third portion 185 is fixed to the front surface of the third support portion 165 of the holder 160 by any fixing means (in this embodiment, rivet).

[0033] (Configuration of holding FPC 180 by holder 160) 6 and 7 are external perspective views of a holder 160 and an FPC 180 included in an operation unit 100 according to an embodiment.

[0034] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, holder 160 can be folded approximately 180 degrees at folding portion 163, so that first support portion 161 and second support portion 162 overlap each other such that the back surface of first support portion 161 and the back surface of second support portion 162 are in contact with each other.

[0035] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, holder 160 can be bent at bending portion 163 by approximately 180 degrees with FPC 180 placed thereon, thereby bending FPC 180 by approximately 180 degrees.

[0036] At this time, connection portion 183 arranged along folding portion 163 is folded together with folding portion 163. As a result, while first portion 181 of FPC 180 is supported by first support portion 161 of holder 160 and second portion 182 of FPC 180 is supported by second support portion 162 of holder 160, the back surface of first support portion 161 and the back surface of second support portion 162 can be placed in a state where they overlap each other.

[0037] That is, holder 160 can be bent approximately 180° while holding FPC 180, thereby bending FPC 180 approximately 180°, and therefore the orientation of surface 181a of first portion 181 and the orientation of surface 182a of second portion 182 can be made to differ by 180°. Holder 160 can be fixed in the approximately 180° bent state by fixing mechanism 164, thereby maintaining the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0038] Moreover, in a state in which holder 160 is bent approximately 180 degrees, cylinder portion 161A of first support portion 161 and cylinder portion 162A of second support portion 162 are positioned coaxially. This allows holder 160 to align rotation center axis 120X of first operation portion 120 attached to first support portion 161 and rotation center axis 140X of second operation portion 140 attached to second support portion 162 coaxially (see FIG. 3).

[0039] 6 and 7, the third support portion 165 of the holder 160 is bent at the second bending portion 166 by approximately 90°, so that the holder 160 can form an opening angle of 90° with respect to the second support portion 162. This allows the holder 160 to bend the third portion 185 of the FPC 180 supported by the third support portion 165 by approximately 90° with respect to the connection portion 183 of the FPC 180. Therefore, the holder 160 can make the orientation of the LED 185A mounted on the third portion 185 of the FPC 180 different from the orientation of the second operation portion 140 attached to the second support portion 162 by approximately 90°.

[0040] (Installation of operation unit 100) 8 and 9 are partial enlarged views of the case 14B included in the stalk switch device 10 according to one embodiment. Fig. 8 shows the case 14B in a state where the operation unit 100 is not installed. Fig. 9 shows the case 14B in a state where the operation unit 100 is installed.

[0041] 8, the case 14B has, in order from the tip side, a housing portion 14Ba, a housing portion 14Bb, and a housing portion 14Bc. The housing portion 14Ba houses the first operating unit 120 in a predetermined orientation. The housing portion 14Bb houses the holder 160 in a predetermined orientation. The housing portion 14Bc houses the second operating unit 140 in a predetermined orientation.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit 100 is assembled such that the first operation section 120, the second operation section 140, the LED 185A, the holder 160, and the FPC 180 are integrated together, so that the first operation section 120, the second operation section 140, the LED 185A, the holder 160, and the FPC 180 can be assembled together with respect to the case 14B with each of the first operation section 120, the second operation section 140, and the LED 185A facing in a predetermined direction.

[0043] (Procedure for assembling the operation unit 100) FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a method for assembling the operation unit 100 according to one embodiment.

[0044] First, the worker places the FPC 180 on the holder 160 (step S201: placing process).

[0045] Specifically, the worker places the first portion 181 of the FPC 180 on the surface of the first support portion 161 of the holder 160. At this time, the worker can easily position the first portion 181 with respect to the first support portion 161 by inserting the tube portion 161A of the first support portion 161 into the opening portion 181B of the first portion 181. The worker can also fix the first portion 181 to the first support portion 161 by inserting the protrusion 161B (see FIG. 6) provided on the surface of the first support portion 161 into a hole provided in the first portion 181 and crimping it.

[0046] The worker also places second portion 182 of FPC 180 on the surface of second support portion 162 of holder 160. At this time, the worker can easily position second portion 182 with respect to second support portion 162 by inserting tube portion 162A of second support portion 162 into opening portion 182B of second portion 182. The worker can also fix second portion 182 to second support portion 162 by inserting protrusion 162B (see FIG. 7) provided on the surface of second support portion 162 into a hole provided in second portion 182 and crimping it.

[0047] The worker also places third portion 185 of FPC 180 on the surface of third support portion 165 of holder 160. At this time, the worker can fix third portion 185 to third support portion 165 by inserting protrusions 165A (see FIGS. 6 and 7) provided on the surface of third support portion 165 into holes provided in third portion 185 and crimping them.

[0048] The positions and the number of rivets are appropriately determined for fixing first portion 181, second portion 182, and third portion 185. Also, other fixing methods (for example, a fixing method using an adhesive or a adhesive agent, a fixing method in which one portion is pressed by another member such as the base of the operation portion, etc.) may be used for fixing first portion 181, second portion 182, and third portion 185.

[0049] Next, the worker attaches the first operation unit 120 to the first support portion 161 of the holder 160 (step S202: first attachment step). In this embodiment, the worker can easily attach the first operation unit 120 to the first support portion 161 by pressing and fitting the base portion 121 of the first operation unit 120 into the first support portion 161 using a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

[0050] Next, the worker attaches the second operation unit 140 to the second support portion 162 of the holder 160 (step S203: second attachment step). In this embodiment, the worker can easily attach the second operation unit 140 to the second support portion 162 by pressing and fitting the base portion 141 of the second operation unit 140 into the second support portion 162 using a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

[0051] Next, the worker bends the holder 160 together with the FPC 180 at the bending portion 163 by approximately 180° (step S204: bending process). As a result, the worker causes the first operation unit 120 and the second operation unit 140 supported by the holder 160 to face in directions that differ from each other by approximately 180°.

[0052] Next, the worker fixes the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 of the holder 160 in an overlapping state by using the fixing mechanism 164 of the holder 160 (step S205: fixing step). In this embodiment, the worker can fix the first support portion 161 and the second support portion 162 in an overlapping state by pushing and fitting the protrusion 164B provided on the back surface of the second support portion 162 into the recess 164A provided on the back surface of the first support portion 161 by using the snap-fit ​​mechanism.

[0053] Next, the worker bends the third support portion 165 of the holder 160 together with the third portion 185 of the FPC 180 at the second bending portion 166 by approximately 90° (step S206: second bending process). This allows the worker to change the orientation of the LED 185A mounted on the third portion 185 by approximately 90° with respect to the orientation of the second operation portion 140 supported by the second support portion 162. The bending operation in step S206 can also be performed after the operation unit 100 is incorporated into the case 14B.

[0054] By following the above steps, the operator can set the operation unit 100 to a state in which the first operation section 120, the second operation section 140, the LED 185A, the holder 160, and the FPC 180 are integrated together, with the first operation section 120, the second operation section 140, and the LED 185A each facing in a predetermined direction, as shown in FIG.

[0055] In particular, in the operation unit 100 according to one embodiment, the first operation unit 120 and the second operation unit 140 can be attached to the holder 160 from the same direction when the holder 160 is unfolded, and therefore the attachment work can be easily performed. In addition, after the attachment work, the installation orientation of the first operation unit 120 and the installation orientation of the second operation unit 140 can be made to differ from each other by approximately 180° simply by bending the holder 160 by approximately 180°. Therefore, according to the operation unit 100 according to one embodiment, it is easy to install a plurality of electronic circuit components having different installation orientations.

[0056] (Stress absorption configuration of FPC180) Hereinafter, the stress absorbing configuration of the FPC 180 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, in the stalk switch device 10 according to one embodiment, the case 14B of the lever portion 14 has a pair of holding portions 14C at an end portion on the main body portion 12 side in the space of the case 14B (i.e., the base portion of the lever portion 14). The pair of holding portions 14C are cylindrical and protruding, and hold the end portion on the main body portion 12 side of the drawn portion 184 of the FPC 180 by fitting a pair of circular openings 184A formed at the end portion on the main body portion 12 side of the drawn portion 184 of the FPC 180. Note that the case 14B of the lever portion 14 is not limited to a pair of holding portions 14C, and may have one or three or more holding portions 14C.

[0057] In the stalk switch device 10 according to the embodiment, the drawn-out portion 184 of the FPC 180 has a flexible portion 186 in the space of the case 14B. The flexible portion 186 is provided between the holding portions 14C of the drawn-out portion 184 and the other end portion (the end portion on the second portion 182 side) of the drawn-out portion 184 (i.e., on the inner side of the pair of holding portions 14C).

[0058] With this configuration, in the stalk switch device 10 according to the embodiment, when an abnormal load is applied to the lever portion 14 due to, for example, an operation or an accident, the lever portion 14 breaks from its base, and a tensile force is applied to the drawn-out portion 184 of the FPC 180, first, the narrow width portion 184B (see FIG. 9) around the pair of openings 184A in the drawn-out portion 184 is cut, and the holding of the drawn-out portion 184 by the holding portion 14C is released, and then the flexible portion 186 is stretched. As a result, the stalk switch device 10 according to the embodiment can gradually absorb the tensile force applied to the drawn-out portion 184 of the FPC 180. Therefore, the stalk switch device 10 according to the embodiment can suppress the plurality of components connected to the other end of the drawn-out portion 184 of the FPC 180 from being scattered due to the application of a tensile force to the plurality of components. Furthermore, in the past, it was necessary to make the FPC flexure longer to better absorb tensile forces when abnormal loads were applied. However, this could result in rubbing noises between the case and the FPC when the lever was operated. Therefore, in this configuration, under normal circumstances, FPC180 is held by holding portion 14C and flexure 186 is within the area inside the lever. Therefore, when the lever is tilted, the movement of FPC180 due to the relative movement between lever portion 14 and the base portion does not affect FPC180 at flexure 186. Therefore, the length of FPC180 at flexure 186 can be freely set without having to worry about rubbing noises with the case.

[0059] The holding portion 14C is not limited to the above configuration (a configuration having a protrusion fitted into the opening 184A of the drawn-out portion 184), and may have a configuration in which the holding portion 14C holds the drawn-out portion 184 of the FPC 180 by clamping the drawn-out portion 184. The configuration for holding the drawn-out portion 184 may be other configurations as long as the mechanism holds the FPC 180 under a tensile load during normal operation and releases the FPC 180 before the flexible portion 186 extends when an abnormal tensile force exceeding the tensile load during normal operation is applied. In this embodiment, the holding portion 14C and the flexible portion 186 are provided inside the lever portion 14, but the holding portion 14C and the flexible portion 186 may be provided inside the main body portion 12. In this case, the holding portion 14C may hold the FPC 180 closer to the lever portion 14 than the flexible portion 186.

[0060] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0061] For example, the "electronic circuit components" arranged on each of the "first portion," "second portion," and "third portion" of the "flexible substrate" may be any components that constitute at least a part of an electronic circuit. For example, the "electronic circuit components" may be fixed contacts, LEDs, sensors, switches, microphones, speakers, displays, ICs, etc.

[0062] In addition, in this embodiment, an example in which the operation unit is provided in both the "first part" and the "second part" is shown, but the operation unit may be provided in only one of the "first part" or the "second part". In this case, the other part may be provided with only an electronic circuit including electronic circuit components, or with components such as a lens or a light guide. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10. Stalk switch device (lever-type input device) 12 Main body 14 Lever section 14A Cover 14Aa opening 14B Case 14C Holding part 100 Operation Unit 120 1st operation section 120X Rotational Axis 121 Base 122 Rotating part 122A Shaft 123 1st movable contact 124 Operation knob 140 2nd operation section 140X Rotational Axis 141 Base 142 Rotating part 142A Shaft 143 2nd movable contact 160 Holder 161 1st support part 161A Cylinder part 161B Protrusion 162 Second support part 162A Cylinder part 162B Protrusion 163 Bending section 164 Fixing mechanism 164A Recess 164B Convex 165 Third support part 165A protrusion 166 Second bending part 180 FPC 181 Part 1 181a surface 181b back side 181A 1st fixed contact 181B opening 182 Part 2 182a surface 182b back side 182A 2nd fixed contact 182B opening 183 Connection 184 Drawer section 184A opening 184B Narrow part 185 Part 3 186 Flexure

Claims

1. a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion, and electronic circuit components disposed on a surface side of each of the first portion and the second portion; a holder provided on the rear surface side of the flexible substrate and supporting the flexible substrate; Equipped with The holder includes: a first support portion that supports the first portion of the flexible substrate; a second support portion that supports the second portion of the flexible substrate; a bent portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion, The flexible substrate is bendable at the bending portion, The first support portion and the second support portion are overlapped with each other by being folded approximately 180 degrees together with the flexible substrate at the folding portion.

1. An electronic component structure comprising:

2. The holder includes: A fixing mechanism is provided to fix the first support portion and the second support portion in an overlapping state.

2. The electronic component structure according to claim 1 .

3. a first operation unit that is the electronic circuit component provided on the front surface side of the first portion of the flexible substrate; a second operation unit that is the electronic circuit component provided on the front surface side of the second portion of the flexible substrate; 3. The electronic component structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The first operating unit and the second operating unit are rotatably operable, When the first support portion and the second support portion are overlapped with each other, a rotation center axis of the first operating portion and a rotation center axis of the second operating portion are arranged coaxially.

4. The electronic component structure according to claim 3.

5. The first operation unit is By fitting into the first support portion of the holder, the first operation portion is supported by the first support portion so as to be rotatable, and at the same time, a first movable contact of the first operation portion is electrically connected to a first fixed contact, which is an electronic circuit component disposed in the first portion, The second operation unit is By fitting into the second support portion of the holder, the second operation portion is supported by the second support portion so as to be rotatable, and at the same time, a second movable contact of the second operation portion is electrically connected to a second fixed contact, which is an electronic circuit component disposed in the second portion.

5. The electronic component structure according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The flexible substrate comprises: a third portion on the side of the surface on which the electronic circuit components are disposed; The holder includes: a third support portion that supports the third portion of the flexible substrate; a second bent portion provided between the third support portion and the first support portion or the second support portion, The third support portion is bendable together with the third portion at the second bend portion.

6. The electronic component structure according to claim 1 .

7. A flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion having electronic circuit components disposed on a surface side of each of the first portion and the second portion; a holder provided on the rear surface side of the flexible substrate and supporting the flexible substrate; Equipped with The holder includes: a first support portion that supports the first portion of the flexible substrate; a second support portion that supports the second portion of the flexible substrate; a bent portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion, The flexible substrate is bendable at the bending portion, The flexible substrate comprises: a strip-shaped lead-out portion that is led out from the first portion or the second portion and that is for electrically connecting each of the plurality of electronic circuit components arranged on the flexible substrate to an external device; 1. An electronic component structure comprising:

8. A base and a lever portion supported by the base portion and operable by a lever; an electronic component structure disposed inside the lever portion; Equipped with The electronic component structure includes: a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion, and electronic circuit components disposed on a surface side of each of the first portion and the second portion; a holder provided on the rear surface side of the flexible substrate and supporting the flexible substrate; Equipped with The holder includes: a first support portion that supports the first portion of the flexible substrate; a second support portion that supports the second portion of the flexible substrate; a bent portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion, The flexible substrate is bendable at the bending portion. A lever-type input device comprising:

9. The flexible substrate comprises: a strip-shaped pull-out portion that is pulled out from the first portion or the second portion, that extends inside the lever portion along a longitudinal direction of the lever portion, that is pulled out from a root portion of the lever portion, and that is connected to the base portion; The lever portion is A holding portion for holding the pull-out portion is provided therein, The lead-out portion of the flexible substrate is A flexible portion is disposed in a flexible state between the holding portion and the first portion or the second portion.

9. The lever-type input device according to claim 8.

10. The holding portion is The pull-out portion is held under a tensile load during normal operation, and when an abnormal tensile force exceeding the tensile load during normal operation is applied, the pull-out portion is held so that the pull-out portion is released before the flexible portion is extended.

10. The lever-type input device according to claim 9.

11. The holding portion is The pull-out portion is supported by a protrusion that is fitted into an opening in the pull-out portion.

11. The lever-type input device according to claim 10.

12. a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion; a holder having a first support portion that supports the first portion, a second support portion that supports the second portion, and a bent portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion; A method of assembling an electronic component structure comprising: a bending step of bending the holder together with the flexible substrate at the bending portion so that the first support portion and the second support portion face in different directions from each other; In the bending process, the first support portion and the second support portion are folded approximately 180 degrees together with the flexible substrate at the folding portion, so that the first support portion and the second support portion overlap each other.

13. A method for assembling an electronic component structure comprising:

13. A base, a lever portion supported by the base portion and operable by a lever; an electronic component structure disposed inside the lever portion; A method for assembling the electronic component structure used in a lever-type input device comprising: a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion; a holder having a first support portion that supports the first portion, a second support portion that supports the second portion, and a bent portion provided between the first support portion and the second support portion; A method of assembling an electronic component structure comprising: The method includes a bending step of bending the holder together with the flexible substrate at the bending portion so that the first support portion and the second support portion face in different directions from each other.

13. A method for assembling an electronic component structure comprising:

Images