JP2002083520A - Switch structure and electronic device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a switch structure capable of simplifying the structure while ensuring waterproofness, reducing the manufacturing cost, and reducing the thickness. An opening is formed in an outer case, and a button is inserted into the opening. The button 11 is provided with a concave portion 11a having an opening inside the outer case 10, and a magnet 12 is accommodated in the concave portion 11a. A magnetic fluid 14 is disposed between the button 11 and the opening edge of the outer case 10, and the magnetic fluid 14 is held on the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 by the magnetic force of the magnet 12 housed in the button 11. It has become.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch structure and an electronic device having the same, and more particularly to a switch structure suitable for use in a portable electronic device requiring a waterproof structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in electronic equipment such as a wristwatch, a switch structure having operation buttons may be provided on a side portion of an outer case in some cases. This switch structure is configured so that the button can be moved in the direction of inward and backward with respect to the outer case, but the mounting structure of the button to the outer case is configured as follows in order to ensure waterproofness of the electronic device. .

In this switch structure, as shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical pipe 2 is welded to an opening 1a formed in an outer case 1, and a button 3 serving as an operating member is provided inside the pipe 2. Is inserted through the shaft portion 3a at the base. An annular groove is formed in the shaft portion 3a, and a ring-shaped packing 4 is mounted in the annular groove. Shaft part 3
A C-shaped engagement ring 5 is fitted to the inner end of the button a, and the engagement ring 5 prevents the button 3 from being pulled out.

In this switch structure, when the head 3b of the button 3 is pushed in from the outside, the shaft portion 3a moves to the inside of the outer case 1, and the inner end of the button 3 contacts inside the outer case 1. It is configured to contact the member 6. The contact member 6 is attached to a spring piece 7 and is always held at a predetermined position by the elasticity of the spring piece 7. When the contact member 6 is moved inward by the inner end of the button 3, a contact structure (not shown) is opened or closed, and a switch operation is performed.

[0005]

By the way, in the switch structure of the above-mentioned conventional wristwatch, the opening 1a of the outer case 1 is provided.
Since it is difficult to machine the inner surface of the button into a smooth cylindrical surface, the pipe 2 is welded in the opening 1a, and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3a of the button 3 slides on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2. It is configured as follows. The packing 4 ensures waterproofness at the sliding contact between the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3a. Therefore, the number of parts is increased, and the shape of each part is complicated, so that processing is difficult, and the assembling work is complicated, so that there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased.

Conventionally, the waterproofness is secured by using the packing 4 at the sliding contact portion between the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3a, so that the packing is performed over the entire stroke range of the button 3. The length of the pipe 2 is required to be in sliding contact with the packing 4, and the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2 must be formed in a smooth surface over the entire sliding contact range of the packing 4.
In order to ensure waterproofness between the packing 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 2, the packing 4 attached to the shaft portion 3a of the button 3 has a certain length, that is, a length corresponding to the waterproof pressure resistance. ,Is required. For this reason, it is necessary to make the pipe 2 and the button 3 sufficiently long, so that the distance from the inner end to the outer end of the button 3, that is, the thickness of the switch structure cannot be reduced. Exterior case 1
However, there is a problem that the button 3 protrudes greatly outside the outside. In particular, when a switch structure is provided in a device requiring a high design, such as a wristwatch or the like, it is difficult to form a good design because the button 3 protrudes greatly.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the problem is to reduce the number of parts, simplify the shape of the parts or simplify the structure, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a switch structure capable of reducing the thickness. Another object of the present invention is to realize a structure in which the waterproofness of the device can be ensured even when the thickness of the switch structure is reduced.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a switch structure comprising: a wall member having an opening; an insertion member inserted and retracted into and out of the opening; and an opening edge of the wall member. A magnetized portion provided in the vicinity and at least one of the insertion members, a contact portion opened and closed by movement of the insertion member, and held by the magnetized portion between the opening edge and the insertion member. And a magnetic fluid.

According to the present invention, the insertion member is removably inserted into the opening of the wall member, the magnetic fluid is disposed between the opening edge of the wall member and the insertion member, and the magnetic portion is provided by the magnetized portion. Since the fluid is magnetically held, the sealing property between the opening edge of the wall member and the insertion member can be ensured even when the insertion member is moved in the retracting direction.

According to the present invention, directly at the opening of the wall member,
Since it can be configured simply by inserting the insertion member and disposing the magnetic fluid between the opening edge and the insertion member, the number of parts is reduced, and the shape and structure of each part can be simplified. Further, since the labor of the assembling operation can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the magnetic fluid is held by the magnetic force of the magnetized portion and the structure is simplified as described above, the thickness of the switch structure can be reduced while ensuring waterproofness.

Here, it is particularly preferable that the magnetized portion is provided on the insertion member because it can be easily manufactured, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. On the other hand, it is more preferable to provide the magnetized portion on the opening edge because it is not necessary to make the opening edge thick even if the insertion / retraction stroke of the insertion member is increased.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the insertion member is formed with an engagement portion that engages with the opening edge from one side of the wall member. Since the engagement portion provided on the insertion member engages with the opening edge from one side of the wall member, it is possible to prevent the insertion member from coming off to the other side of the wall member. For example, when the wall member is a case body, by configuring the engaging portion to engage with the opening rim from inside the case body, the insertion member can be prevented from falling out of the case body.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a spring member is provided for pressing the insertion member from one side of the wall member. Since the spring member that presses the insertion member from one side of the wall member is provided, the insertion member can be held in a state where the insertion member protrudes to the other side of the wall member by the spring member.
In particular, when the insertion member is provided with an engagement portion that engages with the opening edge from one side of the wall member, the engagement portion is held in a state of being engaged with the opening edge by the spring force of the spring member. Can be
The reference posture of the insertion member can be stabilized.

In the present invention, there is provided an operating member disposed on the other side of the wall member and configured to be movable with respect to the wall member. It is preferable to be constituted so that. The insertion member may be configured as an operation member such as the button as it is, however, an operation member is separately provided on the other side of the insertion member, and the insertion member is pressed by moving the operation member, so that the insertion member is retracted. It may be configured to move.

Next, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention has any one of the above switch structures. Electronic devices include various devices equipped with electronic circuits.
It is preferably a portable electronic device such as a wristwatch, a mobile phone, a pager, a portable information terminal, a diver's watch, and the like. Portable electronic devices require a switch structure having buttons and the like as operating members, and often require some waterproofness such as simple waterproofing. Further, the switch structure is small, thin, and lightweight. Is required.

In the present invention, the wall member is preferably an exterior case. Since the wall member itself is the exterior case, the case structure of the device is simplified, and the manufacturing cost and the size of the device can be reduced.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the wall member is an inner case, and that the wall member has an outer frame as an operation member for pressing the insertion member inserted and fitted to the inner case to move the insertion member. Since the wall member is the inner case and the exterior frame as the operation member is provided, the insertion member can be operated to perform switching by operating the exterior frame. Therefore, it is possible to design the appearance with a higher degree of freedom than before.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a switch structure according to the present invention and an electronic apparatus having the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view (a) and an enlarged partial outer view (b) of a wristwatch showing a switch structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. An opening 10 a is formed in the outer case 10, and the opening 10 a
The substantially cylindrical button 11, which is both the insertion member and the operation member, is inserted therein. The button 11 is provided with a concave portion 11a having an opening facing the inside of the outer case 10, and a disk-shaped magnet 12 (for example, a ferrite magnet, a rare earth magnet, or the like) is accommodated in the concave portion 11a. The magnet 12 is magnetized in the radial direction of the disk, and has magnetic poles of opposite polarities at the center and the outer periphery of the disk. The magnet 12 is sealed inside the button 11 by a lid member 13.

At the inner end of the button 11 (that is, the end inside the outer case 10), there is provided an annular flange portion 11b configured to engage with the opening edge of the opening 10a from inside. ing. This flange portion 11b is
This is for preventing the button 11 from falling out of the opening 10a. The contact portion 15a of the spring piece 15 comes into contact with the inner end surface of the button 11 (the outer surface of the lid member 13 in the illustrated example) from inside the outer case 10, and presses the flange portion 11b of the button 11 against the outer case 10. ing.

A magnetic fluid 14 is arranged between the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening edge of the outer case 10. The magnetic fluid 14 is generated by the magnetic force of the magnet 12 housed in the button 11. 11 is held on the outer peripheral surface. As the magnetic fluid 14, a known fluid can be used as appropriate, and for example, a fluid having lubricity adapted to be used for a magnetic bearing or the like is preferable.

When the magnetic fluid 14 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 in a state where the button 11 is taken out from the opening 10a, the magnetic fluid 14 has a predetermined surface determined by the surface tension and viscosity of the fluid, the strength of the magnetic field and its direction. (For example, a shape having a convex curved surface as shown by a chain line in FIG. 1). Then, when the button 11 is introduced into the opening 10a in this state, as shown in FIG.
Numeral 4 is spread along the gap between the opening edge of the outer case 10 and the button 11 by being crushed or by capillary action, and completely closes the gap between the opening edge of the outer case 10 and the button 11. . Even in this state, the magnetic fluid 14 is held on the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 by the magnetic force, so that even if the button 11 is moved in and out, the closed state of the gap by the magnetic fluid 14 is maintained.

The button 11 is pressed by pressing a head 11 c protruding outside the outer case 10 so that the outer case 1 is pressed.
0 is pushed inward, whereby the spring piece 15 is also pushed inward. The spring piece 15 is directly provided with a contact portion (not shown), or the spring piece 15 is connected to a contact structure (not shown) separately provided so as to open and close the contact in conjunction with the movement of the spring piece 15.

According to this embodiment, when the button 11 is pressed, the spring piece 15 is pressed and bent as described above, and the above-mentioned contact portion or contact structure opens and closes. On the other hand, when the button 11 is released, the button 11 is pushed back outward by the elastic force of the spring piece 15, and the button 11 is held in a state where the flange portion 11 b is engaged with the opening edge of the outer case 10.

In the present embodiment, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the opening edge of the outer case 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 is
2 is closed by the magnetic fluid 14 held by the magnetic force of 2, so that the button 11 can be moved in and out without any trouble even if the inner surface of the opening 10a of the outer case 10 or the outer peripheral surface of the button 11 is not a smooth curved surface. At the same time, the closed state of the gap between the opening edge and the button 11 can be maintained.

In this embodiment, the button 11 provided with the magnet 12 only needs to be inserted into the opening of the outer case 10 and the magnetic fluid 14 is disposed therebetween, so that the number of parts can be reduced and each part can be reduced. The shape of becomes simple
In addition, the labor for assembling can be greatly reduced. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, the amount of protrusion of the button 11 with respect to the outer surface of the outer case 10 can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional case.
The degree of freedom of design can be increased, such as realizing a neat design.

The thickness of the outer case 10 is adjusted by the button 11.
Can be reduced to a thickness very close to the hammering stroke.
Therefore, if the outer dimensions of the case are the same, the inner volume of the case can be increased, and the display area of the wristwatch can be increased. For example, in the case of a wristwatch with a water pressure of 10 atm, a case thickness of at least 3 mm is required in the conventional structure, but in the present embodiment, sufficient waterproofness can be ensured even with a case thickness of about 1.2 mm. Further, since the conventional engagement ring is not required, the switch mechanism of the module can be arranged at a portion closer to the inner surface of the outer case than before. Therefore, the size of the circuit board (PCB) mounted on the movement can be increased. Further, the reduction in the thickness of the outer case 10 leads to a reduction in the weight of the wristwatch, and also contributes to an increase in the degree of freedom in designing the outer case 10.

The button 11 has a magnet 12 housed therein.
In order to efficiently apply the magnetic field generated from the magnetic fluid 14 to the magnetic fluid 14, a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, non-magnetic stainless steel, or synthetic resin is preferable. The exterior case 10 as a wall member is generally made of synthetic resin in the case of a wristwatch.
It is made of stainless steel, titanium alloy, brass or the like, but may be a non-magnetic material or a magnetic material.

In the above embodiment, the magnetic fluid 1
Magnet 1 as a magnetized part for generating a magnetic force for holding the magnet 4
2 is provided inside the button 11, but on the contrary,
May be provided with a magnet at the opening edge. Further, at least the vicinity of the opening edge of the button 11 or the outer case 10 may be made of a ferromagnetic material, and the button 11 or the outer edge of the outer case 10 may be subjected to a magnetizing process. Further, instead of a permanent magnet, an electromagnet may be used as the magnetized portion.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a switch structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the present embodiment includes the same outer case 10, button 11, magnet 12, and magnetic fluid 14 as those in the first embodiment, but a description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the magnet 12 is housed in the recess 11a of the button 11 as in the first embodiment, but the cover member 13 does not exist and the magnet 12 is exposed. Here, it is preferable that the magnet 12 is fixed to the inside of the concave portion 11a by bonding or the like.

The spring piece 25 is provided with two contact portions 25a that contact the outer peripheral portion of the button 11 while avoiding the opening of the concave portion 11a at the inner end portion.

In the present embodiment, basically the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. However, the number of parts can be further reduced, and the assembling work can be simplified. Further, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a switch structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view (a) showing the switch structure of the third embodiment and a schematic horizontal configuration diagram (b) schematically showing a main body structure of a wristwatch (for example, a digital wristwatch) provided with this switch structure. is there. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the wristwatch.

In the wristwatch of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, a movement 39 is arranged inside the inner case 30, and an outer frame 38 is attached outside the inner case 30. The waterproofness of the wristwatch is ensured by the inner case 30.

Openings 30a shown in FIG. 3A are respectively formed on the upper, lower, left and right side surfaces of the inner case 30 in the drawing, and a fitting member 31 is inserted into the opening 30a. The entire insertion member 31 is formed of a magnetized magnet similar to the magnet 12 of the first and second embodiments.

A magnetic fluid 34 is disposed between the opening edge of the inner case 30 and the insertion member 31, and the opening edge of the inner case 30 and the insertion member 31 are arranged similarly to the first and second embodiments.
To close the gap. Inside the insertion member 31, contact portions 35a of the terminal pieces 35 connected to the movement 39 are arranged at a slight interval.

On the other hand, the outer frame 38 configured to cover the outer side of the inner case 30 has the inner surface of the outer frame 38 attached thereto.
1 is provided with four projections 38a facing each other.
Further, the entire exterior frame 38 is attached to the inner case 30 so as to be movable up, down, left, and right in FIG. 3B. Then, when the exterior frame 38 moves, the above-mentioned protrusion 38a on the opposite side to the moving direction comes into contact with the insertion member 31 opposed thereto, and pushes the insertion member 31 inward, whereby the insertion member 31 It comes into contact with the contact portion 35 a of the terminal strip 35. When the terminal strip 35 comes into contact with the insertion member 31 in this manner, a predetermined switch switching action occurs, for example, the terminal strip 35 is set to a predetermined potential (for example, ground potential).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a display unit 3 composed of a liquid crystal display panel or the like is provided on the front surface of the inner case 30.
0D is provided, and the display unit 30D is driven by the movement 39. Here, the exterior frame 38 has a front opening for making the display unit 30D visible.

Operation marks 30D- corresponding to the moving direction of the outer frame 38 are respectively provided on the upper, lower, left and right ends of the display section 30D.
UP, 30D-RI, 30D-LE, and 30D-LO are displayed. The switches are switched as described above by moving the exterior frame 38 as shown by arrows 1 to 3 in FIG. 3B so as to correspond to these operation marks,
It is configured such that four different operation modes can be realized in accordance with the moving directions. These operation marks may be provided on the front surface of the exterior frame 38.
Further, both ends of the watch main body including the display unit 30 </ b> D and the outer frame 38 are connected to the watch band 40.

According to this embodiment, a plurality of operation modes can be realized without providing a protrusion such as a button on the outside of the timepiece body.

In the present embodiment, the insertion member 31 is moved by operating the exterior frame 38 which is an operation member, and the insertion member 31 comes into contact with the terminal strip 35. Also, as in the second embodiment, the terminal piece 35 may be moved by moving the insertion member 31, and the terminal piece 35 may be brought into contact with another member. Alternatively, the terminal piece 35 may be configured to be opened and closed by interlocking a contact having a terminal structure separately formed with the contact.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the gap between the opening edge of the wall member and the insertion member can be closed by the magnetic fluid, the number of parts of the switch structure can be reduced. The simplification of the component shape and the simplification of the assembling work can be achieved, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the protrusion amount of the switch structure and the wall thickness of the wall member can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the size of the device, enlarge the display area, improve the design flexibility, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view (a) and an enlarged partial outer view (b) of a wristwatch showing a first embodiment of a switch structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view (a) and an enlarged partial external view (b) of a wristwatch showing a second embodiment of the switch structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view (a) of a wristwatch and a transverse sectional view (b) of a wristwatch body showing a third embodiment of a switch structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a wristwatch according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view showing a switch structure of a conventional watch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Outer case 10a Opening 11 Button (insertion member) 11a Depression 11b Flange part 12 Magnet 13 Cover member 14 Magnetic fluid 15, 25 Spring piece 30 Inner case 30D Display part 30a Opening 31 Insertion member 34 Magnetic fluid 35 Terminal piece 38 Exterior frame 39 Movement 40 Watch band

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A wall member having an opening, an insertion member inserted and retracted into and out of the opening, and provided on at least one of the vicinity of an opening edge of the wall member and the insertion member. A magnetic portion held by the magnetized portion between the opening edge and the insertion member, the contact portion being opened and closed by movement of the insertion member, and a magnetic fluid held by the magnetized portion. Switch structure. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
A switch structure, wherein an engaging portion that engages with the opening edge from one side of the wall member is formed. 3. The switch structure according to claim 1, further comprising a spring member that presses the insertion member from one side of the wall member. 4. The operation member according to claim 1, further comprising an operation member disposed on the other side of the wall member and configured to be movable with respect to the wall member. The switch structure is configured so that the insertion member is pressed and moved in and out by the movement of. 5. An electronic device having the switch structure according to claim 1. Description: 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the wall member is an exterior case. 7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the wall member is an inner case, and an outer frame is provided as an operation member for pressing the insertion member inserted into the inner case to move the insertion member. Electronic equipment.