JP2003068167A - Push switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a push switch used for various electronic devices, which can obtain a stable electrical connection even if a foreign substance such as dust enters between contacts. SOLUTION: When a plurality of linear or dot-shaped conductive protrusions 14 are formed on a fixed contact 11A or a movable contact 13 to constitute a push switch, foreign matter 6 such as dust enters between the contacts. In addition, it is possible to obtain a push switch that enables stable electrical connection.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push switch used in various electronic devices such as mobile phones and video cameras.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and video cameras are often used outdoors. Therefore, push switches used for them are also protected against dust and dirt. What has been done is sought.

Such a conventional push switch will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a conventional push switch. In FIG. 8, 1 is a plurality of fixed contacts 1 on the upper surface.
A lower substrate 2 having A formed thereon is a flexible upper substrate having a movable contact 2A formed on the lower surface thereof.

Numeral 3 is a spacer such as an insulating film. The lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 2 are bonded together by an adhesive (not shown) applied to the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and the fixed contact point 1A and the movable contact point 2A. They face each other with a predetermined gap.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an operating body made of insulating resin, and 5 denotes a case made of insulating resin. The pressing portion 4A on the lower surface of the operating body 4 contacts the upper surface of the upper substrate 2, and the operating portion 4B on the upper surface is the case 5. A push switch is formed by projecting upward from the opening hole.

In the above structure, the operating portion 4 of the operating body 4
When B is pressed downward, the upper substrate 2 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 4A of the operating body 4 bends and the movable contact 2A on the lower surface fixes the lower substrate 1 as shown in the front sectional view of FIG. The electrical connection as a switch is configured by making contact with the contact 1A.

[0008]

However, in the conventional push switch described above, the fixed contact 1A and the movable contact 2A, which are substantially flat surfaces, are configured to come into contact with each other. As shown in the figure, when a minute foreign matter 6 such as dust enters between the contact points, the contact between the fixed contact point 1A and the movable contact point 2A is hindered, and the electrical connection tends to be uncertain.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a push switch capable of obtaining a stable electrical connection even if foreign matter such as dust enters between the contacts. To do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a push switch is formed by forming a plurality of linear or dot-shaped conductive convex portions on a fixed contact or a movable contact,
Even if foreign matter such as dust enters between the contacts, they are contained in the gap between the conductive protrusions and are hard to obstruct the contact of the contact surfaces, so that it is possible to obtain a push switch capable of stable electrical connection. Have an effect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a push switch is formed by linearly forming a movable contact of the upper substrate in a direction in which a plurality of fixed contacts of the lower substrate are short-circuited, and foreign matter such as dust is present. Since it is easily accommodated in the gap between the movable contacts, it has the effect that a push switch capable of stable electrical connection can be obtained.

According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, in the first or fourth aspect of the invention, the conductive convex portion or the linear movable contact has a thickness of 10 μm to 20 μm, and is suspended in the atmosphere. By making the thickness larger than about 10 μm, which is a general size of the dust to be used, the electrical connection between the contacts can be made more reliable when foreign matter such as dust enters between the contacts. It has the effect of being able to.

According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, in the first or fourth aspect of the invention, the movable contact portion of the upper substrate is projected upward in a dome shape, and the dome shape is projected during a pressing operation. Since the parts reversely operate to electrically connect the contacts, there is an effect that a good operational feeling with a moderation feeling can be obtained.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The same components as those described in the section of the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the detailed description.

(First Embodiment) Using the first embodiment,
The invention of claims 1 and 3 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG.
1 is a lower substrate such as paper phenol or epoxy with glass,
On this upper surface, a plurality of fixed contacts 11 are formed by etching a pasted copper foil or printing a flexible resin such as polyester or epoxy in which silver or carbon is dispersed.
A is formed.

Numeral 12 is an upper substrate made of a flexible insulating film such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide. On the lower surface thereof, a flexible resin such as polyester or epoxy in which silver or carbon is dispersed is used. The movable contact 13 is formed by printing and facing the fixed contact 11A.

Further, a flexible resin such as polyester or epoxy in which silver or carbon is dispersed is printed on the movable contact 13 in a line or dot shape to have a thickness of 10 μm.
A plurality of conductive protrusions 14 of m to 20 μm are formed.

Numeral 3 is a spacer such as an insulating film. The lower substrate 11 and the upper substrate 12 are bonded together by an adhesive (not shown) applied on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and the fixed contact 11A and the conductive convex portion 14 are provided. Are facing each other with a predetermined gap.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an operating body made of insulating resin, and 5 denotes a case made of insulating resin. The pressing portion 4A on the lower surface of the operating body 4 contacts the upper surface of the upper substrate 12, and the operating portion 4B on the upper surface is the case 5. A push switch is formed by projecting upward from the opening hole.

In the above structure, the operating portion 4 of the operating body 4
When B is pressed downward, the upper substrate 12 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 4A of the operating body 4 is bent as shown in the front sectional view of FIG. By contacting the fixed contact 11A, the plurality of fixed contacts 11A are electrically connected via the movable contact 13.

At this time, as shown in the front sectional view of FIG. 3, when a minute foreign matter 6 such as dust, which is generally about 10 μm and floats in the atmosphere, enters between the contacts,
These foreign matters 6 are conductive projections 1 having a thickness of 10 μm to 20 μm.
It is configured so as to fit in the gap between the four and to prevent the conductive convex portion 14 and the surface of the fixed contact 11A from coming into contact with each other.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of linear or dot-shaped conductive convex portions 14 are formed on the movable contact 13 to form a push switch, so that dust or the like is kept between the contacts. Even if the foreign matter 6 invades, these are contained in the gap between the conductive convex portions 14 and are hard to obstruct the contact of the contact surface, so that a push switch capable of stable electrical connection can be obtained.

Further, by setting the thickness of the conductive convex portion 14 to 10 μm to 20 μm, which is larger than about 10 μm which is a general size of dust floating in the atmosphere, electrical connection between the contacts can be made more reliable. Can be one.

In the above description, the structure in which a plurality of linear or dot-shaped conductive convex portions 14 are formed on the movable contact 13 has been described, but the movable contact 13 has a substantially flat surface shape and the fixed contact 11A. The same effect can be obtained even if a plurality of conductive protrusions 14 are formed on the top.

(Second Embodiment) Using the second embodiment,
The invention of claims 2 and 4 will be described.

The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a push switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a plurality of fixed contacts 11A are formed on the upper surface of a lower substrate 11, and a spacer 3 is provided. The lower substrate 11 and the flexible upper substrate 12 are bonded together by the same method as in the first embodiment.

The pressing portion 4A on the lower surface of the operating body 4 abuts on the upper surface of the upper substrate 12, and the operating portion 4B on the upper surface projects upward from the opening hole of the case 5 as in the first embodiment. Similarly, a plurality of movable contacts 1 facing the fixed contacts 11A on the lower surface of the upper substrate 12 with a predetermined gap therebetween.
The push switch 6 is formed linearly in a direction in which the plurality of fixed contacts 11A are short-circuited.

In the above structure, the operating section 4 of the operating body 4
When B is pressed downward, the upper substrate 12 whose upper surface is pressed by the pressing portion 4A of the operating body 4 is bent as shown in the front sectional view of FIG. 11
By contacting the plurality of fixed contacts 11A, the plurality of fixed contacts 11A are electrically connected via the movable contact 16.

At this time, FIG. 6 in the direction orthogonal to FIG.
As shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 1, since the plurality of movable contacts 16 are linearly formed in the direction in which the plurality of fixed contacts 11A are short-circuited, when a minute foreign matter 6 such as dust enters between the contacts, The foreign matter 6 is housed in the gap between the linear movable contacts 16 and is hard to obstruct the contact between the movable contacts 16 and the surface of the fixed contact 11A.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the movable contact 16 of the upper substrate 12 is replaced by the plurality of fixed contacts 1 of the lower substrate 11.
By forming the push switch by linearly forming 1A in the direction of short-circuiting, even when foreign matter 6 such as dust enters between the contacts, they are contained in the gap between the linear movable contacts 16 and the contact surface Since it is difficult to block the contact of the push switch, it is possible to obtain a push switch capable of stable electrical connection.

Further, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7, the movable contact portion of the upper substrate 12 is projected upward in a dome shape, and the projection portion 12A is provided, so that the dome-shaped projection portion 12A is inverted during the pressing operation. Since the contacts are electrically connected to each other by operating, it is possible to obtain a good operation feeling with a feeling of moderation.

In the above description, the lower substrate 11 is made of paper phenol, glass-filled epoxy, or the like. However, the same flexible polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide as the upper substrate 12 may be used. Implementations of the invention are possible.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an advantageous effect that a push switch capable of stable electrical connection can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a push switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the same operation.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view when the foreign matter enters

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a push switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the same operation.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the same foreign matter when entering the same.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of a conventional push switch.

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of the same operation.

FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the same foreign matter when invading.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 spacers 4 operation body 4A pressing part 4B operation part 5 cases 11 Lower substrate 11A fixed contact 12 Upper substrate 12A protrusion 13 movable contacts 14 Conductive protrusion 16 movable contacts

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koichi Sannohe             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5G006 AA01 AB01 AC05 BA01 BB06                       BC09 CD05 FB14 FB36 FD02                 5G051 AA07 AB10 AC18                 5G052 AA07 BB01 HC04

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lower substrate having a fixed contact formed on an upper surface,
The upper substrate is flexible and has a lower surface on which movable contacts that face the fixed contacts with a predetermined gap are formed, and a plurality of linear or dot-shaped conductive members are formed on the fixed contacts or the movable contacts. Push switch with a convex section. 2. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein the conductive protrusion or the linear movable contact has a thickness of 10 μm to 20 μm. 3. The push switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable contact portion of the upper substrate is projected upward in a dome shape. 4. A lower substrate having a plurality of fixed contacts formed on an upper surface, and an upper substrate having flexibility and having a movable contact formed on the lower surface to face the fixed contacts with a predetermined gap therebetween. A push switch in which the movable contact is linearly formed in a direction in which the fixed contacts are short-circuited. 5. The push switch according to claim 4, wherein the conductive convex portion or the linear movable contact has a thickness of 10 μm to 20 μm. 6. The push switch according to claim 4, wherein the movable contact portion of the upper substrate is projected upward in a dome shape.