Switches and operating devices

Abstract

To provide a switch and a handling device, capable of realizing silent.SOLUTION: A switch 2 comprises: a normally-opened fixing contact point 230; a fixing contact point such as a normally-closed fixing contact point 240; and a movable member 25 that is operated on the basis of a pressure from an external part. The normally-opened fixing contact point 230, the fixing contact point such as a normally-closed fixing contact point 240, and a movable contact point 251 are coated with a viscous fluid 26. A handling device comprises: a depression operation part that receives a depression operation from the external part; and the switch 2 to which the depression operation received by the depression operation part is transmitted as a depression from the external part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch including a fixed contact and a movable member that operates in response to external pressure, the movable member having a movable contact that moves toward and away from the fixed contact, and to an operating device including such a switch. [Background technology]

[0002] Operating devices such as mice equipped with switches such as microswitches are widely used as input devices for electronic devices such as computers. In particular, various characteristics are now required of mice used in computer games, known as e-sports. One of the characteristics required of switches is quietness. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a microswitch that uses rubber to absorb vibrations, thereby achieving quietness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-171789 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In addition to the switch disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for various types of switches that achieve noise reduction.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its main object to provide a switch that can improve quietness.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an operating device using such a switch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the switch disclosed in the present application comprises a fixed contact and a movable member that operates based on pressure from an external source, the movable member having a movable contact that moves toward and away from the fixed contact when operated, and at least one of the fixed contact and the movable contact is coated with a viscous fluid.

[0008] In the switch disclosed in the present application, the movable member is formed so that the movable contact moves toward and away from the fixed contact by a snap action.

[0009] In the switch disclosed in the present application, a viscous fluid is attached to the movable member and the contact portion of the fixed contact that contacts the movable contact.

[0010] The switch disclosed in the present application is characterized in that a reservoir portion capable of storing the viscous fluid to be supplied to the movable contact is formed.

[0011] In the switch disclosed in the present application, the movable member is brought into contact with the viscous fluid stored in the storage portion by operation.

[0012] In the switch disclosed in the present application, the fixed contact has an opening formed therein for allowing a viscous fluid to pass through or to be held therein.

[0013] The switch disclosed in the present application further comprises a housing that houses the fixed contact and the movable member, and the housing has a supply port for supplying a viscous fluid therein.

[0014] Furthermore, the operating device disclosed in the present application is characterized by including a pressing operation unit that receives a pressing operation from the outside, and the switch to which the pressing operation received by the pressing operation unit is transmitted as a pressure from the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The switch and operating device according to the present invention exhibit excellent effects such as improved quietness by using a viscous fluid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an operating device disclosed herein. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 5] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a part of an interior of a chamber formed in a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 7] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a portion of a housing chamber formed in a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a base that constitutes a housing provided in a switch disclosed herein; [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a third terminal member included in the switch disclosed herein. FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a part of an interior of a chamber formed in a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic external view showing an example of the appearance of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a switch disclosed in the present application. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of a switch disclosed in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] <Application example> The operating device disclosed herein is used as an operating device such as a mouse used to operate a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC). The switch disclosed herein is used as a microswitch applicable to various devices including operating devices. Below, an operating device 1 and a switch 2 illustrated in the drawings will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] First Embodiment <Operating device> First, the operation device 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the operation device 1 disclosed in the present application. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the operation device 1 disclosed in the present application is applied to a mouse used to operate an electronic device such as a personal computer. The operation device 1 includes a pressing operation unit 10 such as a mouse button that accepts pressing operations with the user's finger, and a rotation operation unit 11 such as a mouse wheel that accepts rotation operations with the user's finger. The rotation operation unit 11 is configured to accept not only rotation operations but also pressing operations, and therefore also functions as the pressing operation unit 10. A signal line 12 that outputs an electrical signal to an external electronic device such as a personal computer is connected to the operation device 1. The operation device 1 can output an electrical signal not only by wired communication using the signal line 12, but also by various communication methods such as wireless communication.

[0019] Inside the operating device 1, a switch 2 (described later) is housed for each pressing operation unit 10 and each rotating operation unit 11, and when a pressing operation is performed on a pressing operation unit 10, a part inside the pressing operation unit 10 presses the corresponding switch 2. The switch 2 outputs a signal based on the pressing state via a signal line 12 to an external electronic device such as a personal computer.

[0020] That is, the operating device 1 disclosed in the present application includes a pressing operation unit 10 that receives pressing operations from the outside, a rotation operation unit 11 that receives operations such as rotation operations, and further includes an internal switch 2. The operating device 1 transmits the pressing operations received by the pressing operation unit 10 and / or the rotation operation unit 11 to the switch 2 as pressure from the outside, and outputs a signal based on the operation of the switch 2 from a signal line 12 to an external electronic device.

[0021] <switch> Next, the switch 2 disclosed herein will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the switch 2 disclosed herein. In this specification, the directions of the switch 2 are expressed as follows: the left front side as viewed in Fig. 2 is the front, the right rear side is the rear, the left rear side is the left, the right front side is the right, the upper side is the top, and the lower side is the bottom; however, these directions are for convenience of explanation and do not limit the mounting direction of the switch 2. As described above, the switch 2 is housed as a microswitch inside an electronic device such as the operating device 1, and receives a pressing operation received by a portion such as the pressing operation unit 10 of the operating device 1 as an external pressure.

[0022] The switch 2 includes a housing 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 20 is formed by a lower base 20a and an upper cover 20b. A rectangular insertion hole 200, through which a pressing member 21 is inserted, is formed on the top surface of the housing 20 at a position slightly left of the center in a plan view. The pressing member 21 inserted into the insertion hole 200 is a member that moves up and down within a range from a first position on the upper side to a second position on the lower side when pressed from outside the housing 20. The upper end of the pressing member 21 protrudes from the top surface of the housing 20. A first terminal member 22 protrudes from the bottom surface of the housing 20 near the left end, a second terminal member 23 protrudes from the bottom surface of the housing 20 near the center, and a third terminal member 24 protrudes from the bottom surface of the housing 20 near the right end.

[0023] In the switch 2 thus formed, an external pressing operation received by the operating device 1 is transmitted to the pressing member 21 as a pressure from outside the housing 20. The pressing member 21 moves from the first position to the second position when pressed from the outside, and moves from the second position to the first position when the pressure from the outside is released.

[0024] Next, the internal structure of the switch 2 will be described. Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the switch 2 disclosed herein. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-section of the switch 2 disclosed herein. Fig. 4 shows a cross-section cut along a vertical plane including line AB shown in Fig. 2 as viewed from the front. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the pressing member 21 is located at the first position.

[0025] A space is provided within the housing 20 of the switch 2 as a housing chamber 201 for accommodating various components for opening and closing an electric circuit. An insertion hole 200 is formed in the top surface of the housing 201, penetrating from the outside of the housing 20, and a pressing member 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 200.

[0026] The various components accommodated in the accommodation chamber 201 will now be described. In addition to the aforementioned pressing member 21, first terminal member 22, second terminal member 23, and third terminal member 24, various components such as a movable member 25 are arranged in the accommodation chamber 201. The upper end side of the first terminal member 22 protrudes into the accommodation chamber 201 from the lower part thereof and branches into left and right parts within the accommodation chamber 201. The left side branching off from the upper end of the first terminal member 22 is a first locking portion 220, which is located near the left end of the accommodation chamber 201. The right side branching off from the upper end of the first terminal member 22 is a second locking portion 221, which is located near the center of the accommodation chamber 201. The first locking portion 220 and the second locking portion 221 lock the movable member 25 so that it can move. The illustrated movement of the movable member 25 is a swinging movement.

[0027] The upper end side of the second terminal member 23 protrudes from the bottom of the accommodation chamber 201 to the lower right side inside the accommodation chamber 201, and forms a normally open fixed contact 230 (fixed contact) with which the movable member 25 comes into contact and separates from above. At the right end inside the accommodation chamber 201, an inner wall portion 202 is formed, where a portion near the right end of the base 20a that constitutes the housing 20 protrudes upward. The upper end side of the third terminal member 24 protrudes through the inside of the inner wall portion 202, and forms a normally closed fixed contact 240 (fixed contact) that extends from the upper end of the inner wall portion 202 to the upper right side inside the accommodation chamber 201. The movable member 25 comes into contact and separates with the normally closed fixed contact 240 from below.

[0028] The movable member 25 is a member formed from a conductive thin metal plate and is disposed within the accommodation chamber 201 so that its longitudinal direction extends in the left-right direction. The left end of the movable member 25 is a fixed end that is engaged with the first locking portion 220 and functions as a swing fulcrum 250. The right end of the movable member 25 is a free end that swings up and down between the normally open fixed contact 230 and the normally closed fixed contact 240. The right end of the movable member 25 forms a movable contact 251 that moves toward and away from the normally open fixed contact 230 and the normally closed fixed contact 240 as it swings up and down. The movable member 25 has a biasing portion 252 that is punched near the center and bent into an arc to function as a return spring. The tip of the biasing portion 252 is engaged with the second locking portion 221 located near the center of the accommodation chamber 201. The biasing portion 252 generates a reaction force that resists the pressing force of the pressing member 21. By forming the movable member 25 from a thin metal plate that serves as an elastic body and forming the biasing portion 252, the swinging movement of the movable member 25 becomes a snap action movement due to elastic force.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the inside of the accommodating chamber 201 formed in the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the normally-open fixed contact 230, the normally-closed fixed contact 240, and the movable contact 251 in FIG. 4 , and also shows a schematic illustration of the viscous fluid 26. The viscous fluid 26 is applied to the movable contact 251 and the normally-open fixed contacts 230 and the normally-closed fixed contacts 240, which the movable contact 251 comes into and out of contact with. For example, an oil such as silicone oil is used as the viscous fluid 26. The applied viscous fluid 26 clings to and adheres to the movable contact 251, the normally-open fixed contact 230, and the normally-closed fixed contact 240 due to surface tension. Applying the viscous fluid 26 absorbs impact noise and vibrations generated when the movable contact 251 comes into contact with the normally-open fixed contact 230 or the normally-closed fixed contact 240. That is, in the switch 2 disclosed in the present application, the viscous fluid 26 acts as a buffer to suppress vibration, thereby producing a silencing effect through vibration suppression.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cross section of the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the accommodation chamber 201 formed in the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the pressing member 21 is located at the second position. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the normally open fixed contact 230, the normally closed fixed contact 240, and the vicinity of the movable contact 251 in FIG. 6, and schematically illustrates the viscous fluid 26. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a state in which the pressing member 21 of the switch 2 is pressed from the outside, and the movable contact 251 of the movable member 25 has moved to the lower end of its swing range. When the movable contact 251 has moved to the lower end of its swing range, the applied viscous fluid 26 adheres due to surface tension so as to connect the normally open fixed contact 230 to at least the movable contact 251 and further to the thin metal plate portion of the movable member 25. When the movable contact 251 moves and collides with the normally open fixed contact 230, the normally open fixed contact 230 and the movable contact 251, which are the contact points, are covered with the viscous fluid 26, thereby reducing the impact noise. Furthermore, by connecting the movable member 25 to the thin metal plate portion with the viscous fluid 26, the vibration of the thin metal plate portion is suppressed, thereby suppressing the generation of noise due to the vibration of the thin metal plate portion. In other words, in the switch 2 disclosed herein, even when the movable member 25 moves, the viscous fluid 26 acts as a buffer to suppress vibration, thereby producing a silencing effect through vibration suppression.

[0031] 4 and 5, when the pressing member 21 is in the first position where it is not subjected to external pressure, the movable contact 251 on the right end side, which is the free end of the movable member 25, is located at the upper end of its swing range. The movable contact 251 located at the upper end of its swing range is in contact with the normally closed fixed contact 240 of the third terminal member 24 and is separated from the normally open fixed contact 230 of the second terminal member 23, and the switch 2 is in the OFF state. A viscous fluid 26 is attached to the movable contact 251, the normally open fixed contact 230, and the normally closed fixed contact 240.

[0032] When the pressing member 21 receives external pressure, the switch 2 moves downward to the second position and presses the movable member 25. When the movable member 25 is pressed, the movable contact 251 of the movable member 25 swings downward to the lower end of its swing range, reaching the state illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 . The movable contact 251 at the lower end of its swing range comes into contact with the normally-open fixed contact 230 of the second terminal member 23 and separates from the normally-closed fixed contact 240 of the third terminal member 24, turning the switch 2 on. When the movable member 25 swings, the biasing portion 252 of the movable member 25 reverses due to a snap action, causing the movable contact 251 to slam into the normally-open fixed contact 230 with great force. Viscous fluid 26 adheres to the colliding normally-open fixed contact 230 and the movable contact 251, suppressing vibrations and impact noises that occur during the collision. Furthermore, because the viscous fluid 26 adheres to the thin metal plate portion of the movable member 25, it suppresses vibration of the thin metal plate portion due to a collision and suppresses vibration noise caused by the vibration. That is, in the switch 2 disclosed herein, the viscous fluid 26 suppresses vibration, and the vibration suppression produces a silencing effect.

[0033] When the pressure of the pressing member 21 is released, the movable member 25 is urged upward by the reaction force of the urging portion 252. As the movable member 25 is urged upward, the movable contact 251 of the movable member 25 swings upward and comes into contact with the normally closed fixed contact 240 at the upper end of its swing range, resulting in the state illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 . As the movable member 25 swings upward, the pressing member 21 moves upward to the first position. When the movable member 25 swings, the inverted urging portion 252 of the movable member 25 returns to its original state by a snap action, causing the movable contact 251 to slam into the normally closed fixed contact 240. At the time of the collision, impact noise and vibration are generated, but because the viscous fluid 26 clings to and adheres to the contact portions of the movable contact 251 and the normally closed fixed contact 240 that come into contact with the movable contact 251, the viscous fluid 26 absorbs the impact noise and vibration.

[0034] The first terminal member 22, the second terminal member 23, and the third terminal member 24 of the switch 2 are connected to an electronic circuit of the operating device 1, and the operating device 1 opens and closes the electronic circuit depending on the state of the switch 2. When the pressing member 21 is not pressed, the electronic circuit connected between the first terminal member 22 and the third terminal member 24 is closed, and for example, an OFF signal is output from the operating device 1 to an external personal computer. When the pressing member 21 is pressed, the electronic circuit connected between the first terminal member 22 and the second terminal member 23 is closed, and for example, an ON signal is output from the operating device 1 to an external personal computer.

[0035] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is an embodiment in which the characteristics of the viscous fluid 26 are improved in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment shall be referred to, and detailed description thereof shall be omitted. Since the operating device 1 according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the first embodiment shall be referred to, and description thereof shall be omitted.

[0036] <switch> Next, a switch 2 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Since the appearance of the switch 2 according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the first embodiment shall be referred to and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0037] Next, the internal structure of the switch 2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-section of the switch 2 disclosed herein. The switch 2 includes various components such as a housing 20, a first terminal member 22, a second terminal member 23, a third terminal member 24, and a movable member 25. The housing 20 is formed by a lower base 20a and an upper cover 20b. A viscous fluid 26 such as silicone oil is applied to the movable contact 251 of the movable member 25, the normally open fixed contact 230 of the second terminal member 23, and the normally closed fixed contact 240 of the third terminal member 24.

[0038] Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the base 20a constituting the housing 20 included in the switch 2 disclosed herein. As illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, the vicinity of the right end of the base 20a constituting the housing 20 forms an inner wall portion 202 that protrudes upward. The upper surface portion of the inner wall portion 202 has a generally rectangular shape that is long from front to back in a plan view. The upper surface of the inner wall portion 202 is formed with a reservoir portion 203 that is capable of storing the viscous fluid 26 as a single groove along the long side on the left side of the upper surface.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of the third terminal member 24 included in the switch 2 disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the normally-closed fixed contact 240 at the upper end of the third terminal member 24 is formed in a flat plate shape with the top and bottom normal directions, and the right portion of the normally-closed fixed contact 240 is slightly bent. An opening 241 for holding the viscous fluid 26 is formed in the bent portion of the normally-closed contact. The opening 241 is a through-hole that penetrates the normally-closed fixed contact 240. By providing the opening 241, the viscous fluid 26 can be supplied to the reservoir 203 through the opening 241 even after the third member is incorporated into the base 20a that constitutes the housing 20. Furthermore, the opening 241 can hold the viscous fluid 26 due to the surface tension of the viscous fluid 26. That is, the opening 241 formed in the normally-closed fixed contact 240 of the third terminal member 24 can be used to pass and hold the viscous fluid 26.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the inside of the accommodating chamber 201 formed in the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the normally open fixed contact 230, the normally closed fixed contact 240, the movable contact 251, and the vicinity of the inner wall 202 of the housing 20, and schematically illustrates the viscous fluid 26. The viscous fluid 26 is applied and clings to the movable contact 251 and the normally open fixed contacts 230 and the normally closed fixed contacts 240, which the movable contact 251 contacts and separates from. The viscous fluid 26 is stored in a reservoir 203 formed in the inner wall 202. When the movable member 25 swings downward, the right end portion of the movable member 25 reaches a position where it contacts the viscous fluid 26 in the reservoir 203. When the movable member 25 comes into contact with the viscous fluid 26 stored in the reservoir 203, the viscous fluid 26 is supplied to the movable contact 251 through the right end portion. The viscous fluid 26 is held in the opening 241 of the normally closed fixed contact 240 by surface tension, and the viscous fluid 26 is supplied to the normally closed fixed contact 240 .

[0041] As described above, the switch 2 according to the second embodiment has improved characteristics related to the viscous fluid 26 by forming a reservoir 203 in the inner wall 202 and opening an opening 241 in the normally closed fixed contact 240.

[0042] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is an embodiment in which the viscous fluid 26 can be supplied from the outside into the switch 2 in the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first or second embodiment, and the first or second embodiment shall be referred to, and detailed description thereof shall be omitted. Since the operating device 1 according to the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the first embodiment shall be referred to, and description thereof shall be omitted.

[0043] <switch> Next, a switch 2 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the switch 2 according to the present disclosure. The switch 2 includes a housing 20 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A supply port 204 (see FIG. 14, etc.) having a substantially circular shape in plan view is formed on the top surface of the housing 20 near the right end. A lid 20c having a substantially circular shape in plan view is fitted into the supply port 204, and the supply port 204 is closed by the lid 20c. The lid 20c is formed as a rubber stopper using, for example, an elastic material such as resin. A first terminal member 22, a second terminal member 23, and a third terminal member 24 protrude downward from the bottom surface of the housing 20.

[0044] Next, the internal structure of the switch 2 will be described. FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the switch 2 disclosed herein. FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the cross-section of the switch 2 disclosed herein. The switch 2 includes various components such as a housing 20, a first terminal member 22, a second terminal member 23, a third terminal member 24, and a movable member 25. The switch 2 according to the third embodiment does not have the normally closed fixed contact 240 formed at the upper end of the third terminal member 24 in the first and second embodiments, and only has a normally open fixed contact 230. The supply port 204, which is opened on the upper surface of the cover 20b constituting the housing 20, is a substantially hemispherical recess that gradually widens from bottom to top, and its lowest end is formed as a through-hole with a substantially circular opening. The opening at the lower end of the supply port 204 is located above the movable contact 251 of the movable member 25.

[0045] The lid 20c that closes the supply port 204 is removable from the housing 20, and by removing the lid 20c from the housing 20, the supply port 204 that is opened on the top surface of the housing 20 is exposed. For example, a user can use a tool such as a dropper to supply the viscous fluid 26 from the supply port 204. The viscous fluid 26 supplied to the supply port 204 drips downward through the opening at the bottom end and is supplied to the movable contact 251.

[0046] As described above, the switch 2 according to the third embodiment has the supply port 204, which supplies the viscous fluid 26 to the inside, opened on the top surface of the housing 20. This allows, for example, a user to supply the viscous fluid 26 from the supply port 204.

[0047] As described above, the switch 2 and operating device 1 disclosed herein use the viscous fluid 26 to absorb noise and vibrations generated by events such as a collision of the movable contact 251. Therefore, the switch 2 and the like disclosed herein have excellent effects such as improved quietness.

[0048] Furthermore, the switch 2 and the like disclosed in the present application have excellent effects such as being able to supply the viscous fluid 26 to the movable contact 251 and other parts by forming the reservoir 203 capable of storing the viscous fluid 26.

[0049] Furthermore, the switch 2 etc. disclosed herein exhibits excellent effects such as being able to supply the viscous fluid 26 through the opening 241 by opening the opening 241 in the normally closed fixed contact 240. Furthermore, the switch 2 etc. disclosed herein exhibits excellent effects such as being able to hold the viscous fluid 26 in the opening 241.

[0050] Furthermore, the switch 2 etc. disclosed in the present application has an excellent effect in that the viscous fluid 26 can be supplied by opening the supply port 204 for supplying the viscous fluid 26 in the housing 20.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be expanded into various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited in any way by the description. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

[0052] For example, in the above embodiment, the reservoir 203 is formed in the base 20a and the opening 241 is formed in the normally closed fixed contact 240, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be developed into various forms. For example, the reservoir 203 or the opening 241 can be formed in the normally closed fixed contact 240, or various other forms can be developed.

[0053] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, a mouse is used as an example of the operating device 1 including the switch 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various devices such as a keyboard used for operation and various push buttons can be applied as the operating device 1, and the present invention can be developed into various forms. Furthermore, the operation of the movable member 25 included in the switch 2 is not limited to a swinging operation, and the movable member 25 can be formed as a member that performs various operations. For example, when applied to the switch 2 that is a push button, the movable member 25 is used as a member that performs a linear reciprocating movement up and down as its operation when pressed from the outside. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Operating device 10 Press operation section 11 Rotation operation unit 12 Signal line 2 Switch 20 Case 20a base 20b cover 20c lid body 200 Insertion hole Containment Room 201 202 Inner wall 203 Reservoir 204 Supply Inlet 21 Pressing member 22 First terminal member 220 First locking part 221 Second locking part 23 Second terminal member 230 Normally open fixed contact (fixed contact) 24 Third terminal member 240 Normally closed fixed contact (fixed contact) 241 Opening 25 Movable parts 250 swing fulcrum 251 Movable contact 252 energizing section 26 Viscous fluid

Claims

1. A switch comprising a fixed contact and a movable member that operates in response to pressure from an external source, the movable member having a movable contact that moves toward and away from the fixed contact when the movable member is operated, At least one of the fixed contact and the movable contact is coated with a viscous fluid, A reservoir is formed in which the viscous fluid to be supplied to the movable contact can be stored. A switch characterized by:

2. A switch according to claim 1, The movable member is The action of the nozzle causes the nozzle to come into contact with the viscous fluid stored in the storage section. A switch characterized by:

3. A switch comprising a fixed contact and a movable member that operates based on pressure from an external source, the movable member having a movable contact that moves toward and away from the fixed contact when operated, At least one of the fixed contact and the movable contact is coated with a viscous fluid, The fixed contact has an opening for passing or retaining a viscous fluid. A switch characterized by:

4. A switch comprising a fixed contact and a movable member that operates based on pressure from an external source, the movable member having a movable contact that moves toward and away from the fixed contact when operated, a housing that houses the fixed contact and the movable member; At least one of the fixed contact and the movable contact is coated with a viscous fluid, The housing has a supply port for supplying a viscous fluid therein. A switch characterized by:

5. A switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The movable member is formed so that the movable contact moves toward and away from the fixed contact by a snap action. A switch characterized by:

6. A switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A viscous fluid is attached to the movable member and the contact portion of the fixed contact that contacts the movable contact. A switch characterized by:

7. a pressing operation unit that accepts pressing operations from an external device; The switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pressing operation received by the pressing operation unit is transmitted as a pressing force from an external source. Equipped with An operating device characterized by:

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