FR3054370A1 - ELECTRICAL SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE CHANNEL SWITCHES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a switch (10) comprising an insulating support (12), a first fixed contact (42), a second fixed contact (44) and a third central stationary contact (46), a movable contact member (14) of generally convex shape which comprises an annular peripheral support zone (70) which is simultaneously supported on the first and second fixed contacts (42, 44) and thus establishes a first electrical switching path (42-44), which under the action of an actuating member (16) is in a position in which a central zone (66) bears on the third central stationary contact (46) to establish a second electrical switching channel (44-46 ) and interrupting the first electrical switching path (42-44), wherein the carrier (12) has an edge (100) around which a peripheral portion of the movable contact member (14) tilts upwards. in such a way as to cause the annular peripheral zone (70) to move away of the first peripheral fixed contact (42).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electrical switch with multiple switching channels.

The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to an electrical switch with a tactile effect.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates more particularly to an electrical switch, of small dimensions, of the type comprising an insulating contact carrier support which delimits a housing in a bottom of which are arranged at least three fixed electrical contacts comprising a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a third fixed contact.

The invention relates to such an electrical switch in which a movable contact member of generally domed shape makes it possible, in a first stable state of rest, to establish a first switching path between the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact then, in a second elastically deformed state corresponding to a low switching position and after having interrupted the first switching channel, makes it possible to establish a second electrical switching channel between the first fixed contact and the third fixed contact.

The invention aims to propose a design of such an electrical switch using a movable contact member of generally domed shape which is elastically deformable under the action of an actuating member, for example a pusher, which acts on a central part or section of the triggering member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the housing.

The invention aims in particular, but not exclusively, to propose a design of such an electrical switch in which the movable contact member is a trigger member for sudden change of state so as to be able to provide its user, who acts directly or indirectly on the actuating pusher, a tactile sensation of the change of state of the triggering member, and therefore of the change of state of the electrical switch passing from the establishment of the first electrical switching channel to its interruption and the establishment of the second electrical switching channel.

It is in particular desirable to be able to ensure the greatest reliability and reproducibility of the operation of the electrical switch, and in particular to guarantee, over time, almost simultaneous changes of electrical switching channels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an electrical switch comprising:

- an insulating support which carries at least three fixed electrical contacts comprising a first peripheral fixed contact, a second peripheral fixed contact and a third central fixed contact;

- a generally domed mobile contact member:

* which, under the action of an actuating member acting in a generally vertical direction, is elastically deformable from a stable state of rest;

* which has an upper central section on which the actuating member acts;

* which includes an annular peripheral support zone which, in the stable state of rest, is supported simultaneously on the first and second peripheral fixed contacts and establishes a first electrical switching path between the first and second peripheral fixed contacts;

* which, after having undergone an elastic deformation under the action of the actuating member, is in a low switching position in which a central zone of the central upper section is supported on the third central fixed contact, in view of 'establishing at least one electrical connection between the second peripheral fixed contact and the third central fixed contact, to establish at least one second electrical switching channel;

* of which, in the low switching position, the annular peripheral zone is no longer pressing on the first fixed peripheral contact to interrupt the first electrical switching channel, switch in which the insulating support has a projecting edge which extends opposite a portion facing the underside of the movable contact member and around which, during said elastic deformation of the movable contact member, a peripheral portion of the contact member mobile rocks upwards so as to cause the annular peripheral zone to move away from the first peripheral fixed contact.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

- the edge extends opposite the first peripheral fixed contact;

- the edge is a straight horizontal edge;

- the rectilinear edge extends in a direction orthogonal to a line connecting the central fixed contact to the first peripheral fixed contact;

- The upper central section of the movable contact member is in the form of a spherical cap connected to the annular peripheral support zone;

- the annular peripheral support zone is connected to the upper central section of the movable contact member by an intermediate frustoconical ring;

- the peripheral annular zone is curved with its convexity oriented vertically downwards;

- The first peripheral fixed contact comprises a first upper horizontal support surface for the annular peripheral support zone of the movable contact member and the edge is offset vertically downward relative to the first upper horizontal surface of support;

the central fixed contact comprises an upper horizontal central support surface for the central area of the central upper section of the movable contact member and the horizontal central support surface is offset vertically downward relative to the edge and relative to the first upper horizontal support surface;

- The second peripheral fixed contact comprises a second upper horizontal support surface for the annular peripheral support zone of the movable contact member and the first and second upper horizontal support surfaces are coplanar;

the insulating support has several horizontal support facets for the peripheral annular support area of the movable contact member and the horizontal support facets and the upper horizontal support surfaces are coplanar;

- the movable contact member is an upper trigger dome with sudden change of state which provides a tactile sensation by change of state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view which illustrates the main components of an exemplary embodiment of an electric switch according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view from below on a larger scale of the pusher forming the actuator of the electric switch illustrated in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 which illustrates on a larger scale the insulating support contact carrier with the movable contact member in position in the insulating support;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the contact carrier insulating support of the electric switch of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a top view of the contact carrier insulating support of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the various fixed electrical contacts incorporated in the insulating support portecontacts of Figures 1, 4 and 5;

- Figure 7 is a detail view on a larger scale of a part of the movable contact member of the electric switch of Figure 1 which is shown in section by a transverse vertical plane;

- Figure 8 is a partial perspective view and in section through a vertical and longitudinal plane of the sub-assembly illustrated in Figure 3;

- Figure 9 is a detail view on a larger scale and in section through a vertical and longitudinal plane of the sub-assembly illustrated in Figure 3; and

- Figure 10 is a sectional view through a vertical and longitudinal plane of the electrical switch according to the invention in which the pusher forming the actuator and the movable contact member are illustrated in the low switching position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions will be designated by the same references.

In the following description, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the trihedron L, V, T in the figures will be adopted without limitation. A horizontal plane is also defined which extends longitudinally and transversely.

There is shown in Figures 1 and 10 an electrical switch 10 which, according to a known general design, successively comprises, stacked vertically from bottom to top, a lower insulating support electrical contact carrier 12, a movable contact member 14, a pusher 16 forming an actuator and a metal upper cage 18 for assembling and closing the components of the switch as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The insulating support 12 is a plastic molded part of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape which is in particular delimited by a horizontal lower face 20, a horizontal upper face 22 and four lateral faces arranged in opposite pairs 24 and 26.

Each of the opposite lateral faces 24 has a relief shape 28 allowing the hooking by elastic interlocking of the vertical and longitudinal lateral branches 29 of the cage 1 8.

The insulating support 12 comprises a housing 32 which opens into the upper face 22 and which is here of generally concave cylindrical shape.

The housing 32 is delimited by a concave vertical cylindrical wall 34 and a horizontal bottom 36.

The electrical switch 10 illustrated in the figures has a general design symmetry with respect to the two median vertical planes PVL and PVT indicated in FIG. 5.

Laterally, on either side of the PVL plane, the bottom 32 has two extra-flat flats 39, each of which is delimited by a flat upper horizontal facet 40.

In the bottom 32 of the contact carrier insulating support 12, three fixed electrical contacts are arranged.

These three electrical contacts include a first fixed peripheral electrical contact 42, a second fixed peripheral electrical contact 44 and a third fixed and central electrical contact 46.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, and as can be seen in particular in Figure 5, the first and second peripheral fixed contacts 42 and 44 are arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the central fixed contact 46 which is centered on the general vertical axis A of the electrical switch 10 corresponding to the intersection of the planes PVL and PVT.

Thus, each peripheral fixed contact 42, 44 is HERE arranged near the vertical side wall 34 of the housing 32, the latter comprising - at the right of each peripheral fixed contact - an associated recess 43 and 45 respectively.

Likewise, the central fixed contact 46 is arranged within a cylindrical recess 47 formed in the bottom 32.

Each of the two peripheral fixed contacts 42 and 44 is delimited vertically upwards by a horizontal upper face of support and electrical contact 48, 50 respectively.

The two electrical contact and support faces 48 and 50 are coplanar with one another and are located at an altitude H2 relative to the plane of the upper face 22.

The central fixed contact 46 is here produced in the form of an annular element and it is delimited vertically upwards by an annular horizontal upper face of support and electrical contact 52.

As can be seen in particular in Figure 9, the upper face of electrical contact and support 52 of the central fixed contact 46 extends in a plane located at an altitude H3 relative to the plane of the upper face 22 of the insulating support contact holder 12, the surface 52 being offset vertically downward relative to the plane common to the surfaces 40, 48 and 50, that is to say that H3 is greater than H2.

As can be seen in detail in FIG. 6, and according to a technique customary in the field, the fixed contacts 42, 44 and 46 belong to parts made of electrically conductive material produced by bending and / or stamping which are as many inserts embedded by molding in the insulating material constituting the contact carrier support 12.

The first peripheral fixed contact 42 belongs to a part 54 which is extended by a tab 56 projecting outside the support 12 to allow the electrical connection of the first fixed contact 42 with the outside, for example with a conductive pad of a printed circuit board (not shown).

Likewise, the second fixed contact 44 belongs to a second part 58 which has a connection tab 60.

Finally, the third central fixed contact 46 belongs to a third part 62 which here has two symmetrical tabs 64 for its electrical connection.

In order to allow different electrical connections between the various fixed electrical contacts, the electrical switch 10 comprises a movable contact member 14 which is here produced in the general form of a trigger dome.

The mobile contact member in the general shape of a dome comprises a main central upper section 66 which is here in the general shape of a spherical cap.

The upper central section 66 is extended, radially towards the periphery, by an intermediate section in the form of a frustoconical ring 68.

The movable contact member 14 comprises, at its radially external periphery, an annular peripheral zone called the support 70 - and electrical contact zone - which is delimited radially outwards by a circular peripheral edge 72.

By way of non-limiting example, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in section through a vertical plane, the annular peripheral support zone 70 has a convex profile with its convexity oriented axially vertically downwards.

The annular peripheral support zone 70 is delimited vertically downwards by a lower annular support surface 74.

The movable contact member 14 is received and is housed in the housing 32, with clearance radially between its circular lateral edge 72 and the portions facing the internal cylindrical vertical wall 34 of the housing 32.

The movable contact member 14 as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3 and 7 to 9, is in a normal free and stable state called rest in which it is not elastically deformed.

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In this stable state of rest, the annular peripheral zone 70 bears vertically downwards on the horizontal upper faces 48 and 50 of the fixed peripheral electric contacts 42 and 44.

At least the inner bottom face 76 of the movable contact member is made of an electrically conductive material.

Thus, due to the support of the lower face 74 of the annular peripheral support zone 70 on the upper faces 48 and 50 of the first peripheral fixed contact 42 and the second peripheral fixed contact 44, the movable contact member 14 establishes at rest a first electrical switching channel between the first and second peripheral fixed electrical contacts 42 and 44.

In this stable rest position, and as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 8 and 9, the central portion of the concave lower internal face 76 of the movable contact member 14 is situated vertically at a distance from the plane of the upper face 52 of the third central fixed contact 46.

Thus, in the stable state of rest, the third central fixed electrical contact 46 is not electrically connected to either of the other two peripheral fixed electrical contacts 42 or 44.

In known manner, the movable contact member 14 is capable of changing state and position by being elastically deformed.

To this end, the actuator 16 comprises, in its lower face, a lower section 80 forming a pusher which is delimited by a lower face 82 which cooperates with the portion facing the upper face 77 of the central section 66 of the movable contact member 14.

The actuator 16 comprises an upper actuating section 84 which is delimited by a horizontal upper face 86 on which a user can act - directly or indirectly - vertically along the axis A and from top to bottom (considering Figures 1 and 10) to cause a vertical displacement of the lower section forming pusher 80 and thus cause an elastic deformation of the movable contact member 14.

The actuator 16 also comprises a lateral skirt in the form of a horizontal plate 88 which is mounted clamped vertically between the portions facing the upper face 22 of the contact carrier insulating support 12 and the lower face 89 of the horizontal plate main 90 of the assembly and closing cage 18.

For the passage of the upper section 84 of the actuator 16, the upper plate 90 has a central hole 92.

The actuator 16 is for example made of elastomer and, in addition to its actuator function, it seals the housing 32 relative to the outside by means of its side skirt 88 ,.

When one acts, vertically downwards, on the actuator 16, its lower section 80 forming a pusher causes the elastic deformation of the movable contact member 14, and in particular of its central section 66 to bring the latter to bear and in electrical contact with the horizontal annular upper face 50 of the central fixed contact 48 as illustrated in FIG. 1 0.

In this low position or state of elastic deformation, the movable contact member 14 is thus capable of establishing an electrical connection, and therefore an electrical switching path, between the third central fixed contact 48 and any other fixed electrical contact on which the movable contact member 14 is in support and in electrical contact via the lower annular face 74 of its annular peripheral portion 70.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the design of the electrical switch 10 is such that the change of state of the movable contact member 14 almost simultaneously causes the interruption of the first electrical switching path between the first and second contacts fixed electrical contacts 42 and 44 and the establishment of a second electrical switching path between the third central fixed contact 48 and the second peripheral fixed electrical contact 44.

To this end, the contact carrier insulating support 12 has in its bottom 32, and in the vicinity of the first fixed electrical contact 42, a rib 100 formed in relief which projects vertically upwards relative to the plane of the bottom 36.

The edge 100 is a rectilinear edge which extends horizontally and which is produced integrally by molding with the insulating contact carrier 12.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, and as can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, the horizontal rectilinear edge 100 extends in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane of symmetry PVL passing through the three fixed electrical contacts 42, 44 and 46 and in particular here by the axis A.

As indicated in FIG. 9, the vertex 102 of the straight edge 100 is situated at an altitude H1 relative to the plane of the upper face 22 of the contact carrier insulating support.

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The dimension H1 is less than the dimension H2, that is to say that the vertex 102 of the rectilinear edge 100 is offset vertically upward relative to the plane of the horizontal upper faces 48 and 50 of the two peripheral fixed contacts 42 and 44 and upper horizontal facets 40 of the flats 39.

In the stable state of rest of the movable contact member 14, there is a vertical clearance between the top 102 of the horizontal rectilinear edge 100 and the portion facing the concave inner underside 76 of the section upper central 66 of the movable contact member 14.

When one acts on the actuator 16, the movable contact member 14 is deformed and its peripheral portion facing the rectilinear edge 100 comes to bear on the top 102 of the latter to cause a tilting local of this peripheral lateral portion of the movable contact member 14, substantially around a horizontal axis corresponding to the apex 102 of the horizontal rectilinear edge 100.

This tilting is illustrated in detail on the left-hand side of FIG. 10 in which it can be seen that, in the deformed state of the movable contact member 14, to the right of the stop 100 and of the first fixed contact 42, the area annular peripheral 70 with its lower face 74 is no longer in support, nor therefore in electrical contact, with the horizontal upper face 48 of the first fixed contact 42.

Thus, the first electrical switching channel between the first and second fixed electrical contacts 42 and 44 is interrupted, while a new and second electrical switching channel has been established between the second fixed peripheral electrical contact 44 and the third fixed electrical contact. central 48.

The quasi-simultaneous double change of switching state is obtained thanks to the presence and arrangement of the horizontal rectilinear edge 100 and to the stability conferred on the movable contact member 14 due to its design with an area annular support device 70.

Claims (12)

1. Electric switch (10) comprising: - an insulating support (12) which carries at least three fixed electrical contacts comprising a first peripheral fixed contact (42), a second peripheral fixed contact (44) and a third central fixed contact (46); - a movable contact member (14) of generally convex shape: * which, under the action of an actuating member (16) acting in a generally vertical direction (A), is elastically deformable from a stable state of rest; * which comprises an upper central section (66) on which the actuating member (16) acts; * which includes an annular peripheral support zone (70) which, in the stable state of rest, is supported simultaneously on the first and second peripheral fixed contacts (42, 44) and establishes a first electrical switching channel (42 -44) between the first and second peripheral fixed contacts; * which, after having undergone an elastic deformation under the action of the actuating member (16), is in a low switching position in which a central zone of the central upper section (66) is supported on the third contact fixed central (46), in order to establish at least one electrical connection between the second peripheral fixed contact (44) and the third central fixed contact (46), to establish at least one second electrical switching channel (44-46) ; * of which, in the low switching position, the annular peripheral zone (70) is no longer pressing on the first peripheral fixed contact (42) to interrupt the first electrical switching channel (42-44), a switch in which the insulating support (12) has a projecting edge (100) which extends opposite a portion facing the underside (76) of the movable contact member (14) and around which, when of said elastic deformation of the movable contact member (14), a peripheral portion of the movable contact member (14) swings upwards so as to cause the annular peripheral zone to move away from the first fixed peripheral contact (42 ). 2. Electric switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge (100) extends opposite the first peripheral fixed contact (42). 3. Electrical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge is a horizontal rectilinear edge (100). 4. Electric switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the rectilinear edge extends in a direction orthogonal to a line connecting the central fixed contact (46) to the first peripheral fixed contact (42). 5. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper central section (66) of the movable contact member (14) is in the form of a spherical cap connected to the annular peripheral support zone (70). 6. Electric switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular peripheral support zone (70) is connected to the upper central section (66) of the movable contact member (14) by an intermediate frustoconical ring (66) . 7. Electric switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral annular zone (70) is curved with its convexity (74) oriented vertically downwards. 8. Electric switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fixed peripheral contact (42) has a first upper horizontal surface (48) for the support annular peripheral support area (70) of the movable contact member (14), and in that the edge (100) is offset vertically downward relative to the first upper horizontal support surface (48). 9. An electrical switch according to claim 8, characterized in that the central fixed contact (46) has an upper central horizontal support surface (52) for the central zone of the central upper section (66) of the movable contact member. (14), and in that the horizontal central support surface (52) is offset vertically downward relative to the edge (100) and relative to the first upper horizontal support surface (48). 10. Electrical switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second peripheral fixed contact (44) has a second upper horizontal support surface (50) for the annular peripheral support zone (70) of the mobile contact member (14), and in that the first and second upper horizontal support surfaces (48, 50) are coplanar. 11 electrical switch according to claim 10, characterized in that the insulating support (12) comprises several horizontal facets (40) for supporting the annular peripheral support zone (70) of the movable contact member (14), and in that the horizontal support facets (39) and the upper horizontal support surfaces (48, 50) are coplanar. 12. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable contact member (14) is an upper trigger dome with sudden change of state which provides a tactile sensation by change of state. 1/6 2/6