JP2007287410A - Operation switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive operation switch device having a simple structure, and allowing arrangement of various forms, in relation to an operation switch device used for operation of an audio or air-conditioning apparatus or the like of an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: Pressing bodies 12 are vertically movably housed in a plurality of openings 11A formed on the upper surface of a nearly box-like inner case 11, push switches 14 for executing electrical connection and disconnection with the vertical movement of the pressing bodies 12 are arranged, a shaft part 12B is arranged on a side surface of each pressing body 12, the shaft part 12B is engaged with a holding part 16B, 17B or 18B of the operation body 16, 17 or 18 to form a push operation switch part or a rocking operation switch part, and thus this operation switch device is composed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation switch device that is mounted mainly on a steering wheel or a front panel of an automobile and used for operations of sound, air conditioning equipment, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been an increasing number of operation switch devices in which a swing operation type or push operation type switch unit is disposed on a steering wheel or a front panel in a vehicle interior and various electronic devices such as audio and air conditioners are operated by these switch units.

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

  8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of a conventional operation switch device, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the same. In FIG. 10, operation bodies 1 and 2 each displaying “Mode” and “Mute” are displayed on one side. The attached push operation switch part is arranged, and the swing operation switch part with the operation body 3 with “Volume” displayed on the upper surface is arranged on one side. FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the push operation switch part. FIG. 9 shows cross sections of the swing operation switch part.

  In FIG. 8, 4 is an inner case made of insulating resin, and an opening 4A protruding in a cylindrical shape is formed on the upper surface side by side in the left-right direction. The operating bodies 1 and 2 are mounted so as to be movable up and down.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a wiring board having a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) formed on the upper and lower surfaces. On the upper surface of the wiring board 5, a plurality of push switches 6 having push buttons 6A biased upward are mounted. Yes.

  Further, the pressing portions 1A and 2A project from the lower surfaces of the operating bodies 1 and 2, and the lower ends of the pressing portions 1A and 2A are in contact with the push buttons 6A of the left and right push switches 6 mounted on the wiring board 5, respectively.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a substantially box-shaped cover. The cover 7 covers the inner case 4, the wiring board 5, and the like, and the upper surfaces of the operating bodies 2 and 3 protrude from the opening 7A on the upper surface of the cover 7 so that the push operation switch portion is provided. Is formed.

  Next, in FIG. 9, a shaft portion 3 </ b> A projecting downward from the center of the lower surface of the operation body 3 is pivotally supported by a concave bearing portion 4 </ b> B provided at the center of the upper surface of the inner case 4, so that the operation body 3 is mounted on the inner case 4. Is swingably held.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a substantially columnar presser inserted through the substantially cylindrical guide part 4C of the inner case 4 so as to be movable up and down. The push switch 6 is in contact with the upper surface of the push button 6A.

  Further, the upper surface of the operating body 3 protrudes from the opening 7B of the cover 7 to form a swing operation switch portion, and the swing operation switch portion and the push operation switch portion are arranged side by side to constitute an operation switch device. ing.

  As described above, the shape of the inner case 4 is different from the opening 4A of the push operation switch portion, such as the guide portion 4C and the bearing portion 4B of the swing operation switch portion. Yes.

  Further, such an operation switch device is mounted on a steering or a front panel in a vehicle interior, and a push switch 6 or the like is connected to various electronic devices such as an audio or an air conditioner or an electronic circuit (not shown) via a wiring board 5. ) Is electrically connected.

  In the above configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the upper surface of the operation body 1 on which “Mode” of the push operation switch section is displayed is pressed, the operation body 1 is lowered and the pressing section 1 </ b> A is connected to the push switch 6. The push button 6A is pressed against the biasing force.

  Then, the pressed right push switch 6 is electrically connected and separated, and for example, an audio mode, that is, radio, CD, MD, or the like is switched.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the right side of the upper surface of the operation body 3 on which “Volume” of the swing operation switch portion is displayed is pressed, the operation body 3 swings clockwise about the shaft portion 3A. The right pressing portion 3B presses the push button 6A of the push switch 6 against the urging force via the pressing member 8.

  Then, the pressed right push switch 6 is electrically connected and separated, and for example, the volume of the audio is increased.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2005-276650 A

  However, in the above-described conventional operation switch device, the arrangement of the swing operation switch portion and the push operation switch portion differs depending on the type and grade of the mounted vehicle, only the swing operation switch portion, or the push operation switch portion. In order to correspond to various operation switch devices with such an arrangement of operation forms, it is necessary to produce inner cases 4 of different shapes each time according to their different configurations, There was a problem that it was likely to be expensive.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide an operation switch device that can share an inner case with a simple configuration and that can be arranged in various manners at low cost. To do.

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

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of openings are provided on the upper surface of a substantially box-shaped case, and a pressing body that is accommodated in each opening so as to move up and down, and the vertical movement of the pressing body. Consists of switch contacts that are electrically connected and separated, and provided with a shaft portion on the side surface of the pressing body, and configured the operation switch device by engaging the shaft portion with the holding portion of the operating body disposed above the pressing body. For example, a push operation switch unit is formed in which a holding part of one operating body is engaged with a shaft part of one pressing body, and the operating body and the pressing body both move up and down by pressing the operating body. Alternatively, one operating body is arranged above two side-by-side pressing bodies, and two holding portions provided on the operating body are engaged with the respective shaft portions of these pressing bodies, thereby operating the operating body. A swing operation switch part is formed in which the operating body swings by pressing. DOO is, since it shares the inner case and the pressing member, has the effect of a simple configuration, it is possible to obtain the operation switch device capable of various arrangements of the operation mode at low cost.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, in which the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion provided on the side surface of the pressing body is substantially oval, and when the push operation switch portion is formed, The holding part of the operating body is made slightly concave with respect to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft part so that it can be engaged with the shaft part and held unrotatable with respect to the shaft part so that there is less rattling when the holding body is operated. In the case of forming the swing operation switch part, the holding part of the operating body is formed in a substantially circular concave shape, and the operating body can be rotated with respect to the shaft part by engaging the holding part with the shaft part. By holding in this manner, a smooth swinging operation is possible, and there is an effect that a reliable operation can be performed during a swinging operation or a push operation.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a substantially arc-shaped contact portion is provided on the side surface of the lower portion of the pressing body, and both end portions are close to the contact portion of the adjacent pressing body. When the operating body is arranged above both pressing bodies and either one of the left and right sides of the operating body is pressed, the pressed body is lowered. Then, the operation auxiliary body rotates and the operation body swings. However, when both pressing bodies are simultaneously pressed, the opposing side surfaces of the pressing bodies abut against the adjacent operation auxiliary bodies and the pressing bodies cannot be lowered. For this reason, there is an effect that the swing operation switch unit can be operated so that it can be reliably operated so as not to operate when the substantial center of the operating body is pressed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of obtaining an operation switch device that can be arranged in various manners at low cost with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the structure same as the structure demonstrated in the term of the prior art, and detailed description is simplified.

(Embodiment)
1 and 2 are sectional views of an operation switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view thereof. In FIG. A push operation switch unit equipped with operation bodies 17 and 16 each displaying “Mode” and “Mute” is arranged, and a swing operation switch equipped with an operation body 18 displaying “Volume” on the upper surface on one side. The section of the push operation switch section is shown in FIG. 1, and the section of the swing operation switch section is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an approximately box-shaped inner case made of an insulating resin such as polyoxymethylene or ABS, and a plurality of openings 11A having the same shape are provided on the upper surface at predetermined intervals.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a substantially cylindrical pressing body made of an insulating resin such as polyoxymethylene or ABS, and a through portion 12A is provided on the inner side, and a shaft portion 12B having a substantially oval cross section is formed on the upper inner surface. The pressing bodies 12 protrude in opposition and are accommodated in the openings 11A of the inner case 11 so as to be movable up and down.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a wiring board made of an insulating resin such as paper phenol resin or glass epoxy resin. A plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces, and the upper surface is biased upward as a switch contact. A push switch 14 having a push button 14A and various electronic components are mounted.

  Further, 16 and 17 are substantially lid-like operating bodies made of an insulating resin such as polycarbonate and ABS. The holding bodies 16A and 17A extend on the lower surface, and the lower part of FIG. As shown in the figure, concave holding portions 16B and 17B having a shape slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 12B are formed.

  Then, the holding portions 16B and 17B are engaged with the shaft portions 12B of the respective pressing bodies 12, and the operating bodies 16 and 17 are held with the rotation and rattling restricted with respect to the pressing bodies 12.

  Further, the lower end of the pressing body 12 comes into contact with the upper surface of the push button 14A of the push switch 14, and the shoulder portion 12C on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the pressing body 12 comes into contact with the step portion 11B protruding inside the opening portion 11A of the inner case 11, A push operation switch portion is formed such that the push switch 14 is electrically connected and separated through the pressing body 12 by a pressing operation on the operating bodies 16 and 17.

  Next, in the swing operation switch portion shown in FIG. 2, the push body 12 is housed in two opening portions 11 </ b> A arranged on the front side of the inner case 11 so as to be movable up and down and mounted on the wiring board 13. That the lower end of the pressing body 12 is in contact with the push button 14A is the same as the push operation switch portion shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes a substantially lid-like operating body made of an insulating resin such as polycarbonate or ABS. A holding body 18A extends downward from two locations on the lower surface, and a lower portion of the holding body 18A is shown in FIG. ), A substantially circular and concave holding portion 18B having a slightly larger diameter than the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 12B is formed.

  In addition, each holding portion 18B is engaged with the corresponding shaft portion 12B of the left and right pressing bodies 12, so that the operating body 18 is rotatably held with respect to the pressing body 12.

  Further, 19 is a laterally oblong operation auxiliary body made of an insulating resin such as polyoxymethylene or ABS. A shaft 19A protrudes from the front and rear side surfaces, and a shaft hole 11C provided on the outer surface and inner wall of the inner case 11 is provided. The operation assisting body 19 is rotatably held by the inner case 11 with the shaft 19A engaged therewith.

  A substantially arc-shaped contact portion 12D is formed on the side surface of the lower portion of the pressing body 12, and the arc portions 19B on both side surfaces of the upper portion of the operation assisting body 19 are disposed close to the left and right contact portions 12D. The shape of the arc portion 19B of the operation auxiliary body 19 and the contact portion 12D of the pressing body 12 is set so that the operation auxiliary body 19 can rotate a predetermined angle.

  When the left side or the right side of the operating body 18 is pressed, the operating body 18 swings to the pressed side and the lower pressing body 12 descends to press the push button 14A of the push switch 14 with which the pressing body 12 abuts. Thus, the swing operation switch portion is formed so as to be electrically connected and separated.

  Furthermore, 20 is a cover made of insulating resin and has a top and bottom opening, and 21 is a lower case also made of insulating resin. The cover 20 and the lower case 21 cover the push operation switch portion and the swing operation switch portion so that the operation switch device is It is configured.

  The operation switch device configured as described above is mounted on a steering wheel or a front panel in a vehicle interior, and the push switch 14 or the like is connected to various electronic devices such as audio and air conditioners or an electronic circuit (such as an automobile) via the wiring board 13. (Not shown).

  In the above configuration, for example, when the upper surface of the operation body 17 on which “Mode” of the push operation switch portion shown in FIG. 4 is pressed, the right operation body 17 is lowered as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. At the same time, the push button 14A of the push switch 14 with which the right pressing body 12 holding the operating body 17 abuts is pressed against the urging force.

  Then, the pushed push switch 14 is electrically connected / disconnected, and for example, an audio mode, that is, radio, CD, MD, or the like is selected and switched.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the right side of the upper surface of the operation body 18 on which “Volume” of the swing operation switch portion is displayed is pressed, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. The holding portion 18B rotates around the shaft portion 12B, the operating body 18 swings clockwise, the lower pressing body 12 descends via the right holding section 18B, and the pressing body 12 The push button 14A of the push switch 14 in contact is pressed against the biasing force.

  Then, the pushed push switch 14 is electrically connected and separated, and for example, the volume of the audio is increased.

  At this time, the operation assisting body 19 disposed substantially in the middle of the left and right pressing bodies 12 is operated by the contact portion 12D on the left side surface of the pressing body 12 as the right pressing body 12 is lowered. The operation assisting body 19 contacts the arcuate portion 19B on the right side of the body 19 and rotates clockwise about the shaft 19A.

  When the operation auxiliary body 19 rotates in the clockwise direction, the left arc portion 19B rotates along the contact portion 12D on the right side of the left pressing body 12, and only the right pressing body 12 descends. ing.

  In the unoperated state as shown in FIG. 2, for example, when a pressing operation is performed on a substantially middle in the left-right direction of the operating body 18, both the left and right pressing bodies 12 start to descend. The abutting portions 12D of the pressing body 12 simultaneously abut on the left and right arc portions 19B above the operation auxiliary body 19 between the bodies 12, and the pressing bodies 12 cannot be lowered at the same time.

  That is, when the left or right side of the operating body 18 is pressed, the operation auxiliary body 19 is rotated by the contact portion 12D of the pressing body 12, and only the pressed side pressing body 12 is surely lowered. When a pressing operation is performed on the approximate center of the body 18, the left and right pressing bodies 12 are prevented from being lowered at the same time, and the swing operation switch portion is capable of a reliable swing operation.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a swing operation switch part is arranged on the right side of the operation switch device, and a push operation switch part is arranged on the left side, and as shown in FIG. 4 (b), on the right side. When the push operation switch unit is changed to the configuration in which the swing operation switch unit is arranged on the left side, the operation units 16 and 17 are respectively attached to the front pressing bodies 12 and the two adjacent to the left side are arranged side by side. By mounting the operating body 18 on the pressing body 12 and mounting the operation auxiliary body 19 between the left pressing bodies 12, the inner case 11 can be shared to realize a desired operation switch device.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, when all the push operation switch parts are used, the same shape as the operation bodies 16 and 17 is used instead of the operation body 18 and the operation auxiliary body 19 mounted on one side. By attaching each of the operating bodies to the pressing bodies 12 positioned below the operating body 18, a desired operation switch device can be realized by sharing the inner case 11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pressing body 12 is accommodated in the plurality of openings 11A provided on the upper surface of the substantially box-shaped inner case 11 so as to be movable up and down. Accordingly, the push switch 14 that is electrically connected and separated is disposed, the shaft portion 12B is provided on the side surface of the pressing body 12, and the holding portions 16A and 17A of the operating bodies 16 and 17 disposed above the pressing body 12 are pivoted. By engaging the portion 12B or engaging the shaft portion 12B corresponding to the two holding bodies 18A of the operating body 18 arranged above the two aligned pressing bodies 12, the operation switch device is configured. The inner casing 11 and the pressing body are formed by the operation bodies 16 and 17 and the pressing body 12 corresponding thereto, and the push operation switch section is formed by the operating body 18 and the pressing body 12 corresponding thereto. 12 Since it is shared, with a simple configuration, it is capable of various arrangements of the operation mode at low cost to obtain a readily operation switch device.

  When the push operation switch portion is formed by making the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 12B on the side surface of the pressing body 12 substantially oval, the holding portions 16A and 17A of the operation bodies 16 and 17 are cross sections of the shaft portion 12B. By making the shape slightly larger than the shape concave and engaging with the shaft portion 12B to restrict the rotation and rattling of the shaft portion 12B, the shakiness when the operating body is pressed is reduced. When the swing operation switch portion is formed, the holding portion 18B of the operating body 18 is formed in a substantially circular concave shape and engaged with the shaft portion 12B, and the operating body 18 is engaged with the shaft portion 12B. By enabling the rotation, a smooth swinging operation can be achieved.

  In addition, a substantially arc-shaped contact portion 12D is provided on the side surface of the lower portion of the pressing body 12, and a substantially oval operation auxiliary body 19 whose both ends are close to the contact portion 12D of the adjacent pressing body 12 is rotatably disposed. Thus, when the operating body 18 is arranged above both the pressing bodies 12 and one of the left and right sides of the operating body 18 is pressed, the pressed body 12 on the pressed side is lowered and the operation auxiliary body. 19 rotates and the operating body 18 swings. However, when both pressing bodies 12 are pressed simultaneously, the contact portion 12D of each pressing body 12 comes into contact with the operation auxiliary body 19 and the pressing body 12 cannot be lowered. Thus, it is possible to provide a swing operation switch portion that can perform a reliable swing operation by preventing the operation body 18 from being operated when pressed substantially in the middle in the left-right direction.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the shape of the holding portions 16B and 17B of the operating bodies 16 and 17 for push operation is made slightly larger than the substantially oval shaft portion 12B of the pressing body 12, and the shafts of the operating bodies 16A and 17A are made. Although described as a configuration that restricts rotation and rattling with respect to the portion 12B, the substantially circular concave shape that is slightly larger than the shaft portion 12B is engaged with the shaft portion 12B, and the operation bodies 16 and 17 are rotated and rattled. The present invention can be implemented even if it is configured to be regulated by fitting with the cover 20 or the inner case 11 or the like.

  In the above description, it has been described that one operating body 16 or 17 is mounted on the upper side corresponding to one pressing body 12 to constitute a push operation switch unit, but two or more pressing bodies 12 are provided. An operating body that can be pressed simultaneously can be mounted on these pressing bodies 12 so that it has a large operating load or can control many functions at the same time.

  Further, the configuration using the push switch 14 having the push button 14A biased upward as the switch contact has been described, but the fixed contact is provided on the wiring board, and the movable contact is provided on the lower surface of rubber or the like to form the switch contact. Various configurations may be used as long as the pressing body 12 is urged upward, such as a switch contact formed by placing a movable contact made of a conductive metal in a substantially dome shape on the fixed contact of the wiring board. The switch may be used.

  In addition, by providing the pressing body 12 with the through portion 12A, a light emitting body such as an LED is mounted on the wiring board 13 below the through portion 12A, and the operation body 16, 17 or 18 is formed on the upper surface with a translucent insulating material. When a light-transmitting symbol or symbol or the like that is colored opaque is provided and the light-emitting body emits light, the light illuminates the display on the top surface of the operating body 16, 17, or 18 through the through-hole 12 </ b> A. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the operating tool even when the surroundings are dark.

  The operation switch device according to the present invention has an effect that it is possible to provide an operation switch device with a simple configuration, which is inexpensive and can be easily arranged in various manners of operation. It is useful for an operation switch device that is mounted and used to operate various electronic devices.

Sectional drawing by one embodiment of this invention Sectional view Exploded perspective view Same perspective view Enlarged view of the main part Sectional view showing the same operation Sectional view showing the same operation Sectional view of a conventional operation switch device Sectional view Same perspective view

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Inner case 11A Opening part 11B Step part 11C Shaft hole 12 Press body 12A Through-hole 12B Shaft part 12C Shoulder part 12D Contact part 13 Wiring board 14 Push switch 14A Push button 16, 17, 18 Operation body 16A, 17A, 18A Holder 16B, 17B, 18B Holding part 19 Operation auxiliary body 19A Shaft 19B Arc part 20 Cover 21 Lower case

Claims (3)

A substantially box-shaped case having a plurality of openings on the upper surface, a pressing body housed in the opening so as to be movable up and down, and a switch contact that is electrically connected and separated as the pressing body moves up and down. An operation switch device in which a shaft portion is provided on a side surface of the pressing body and an operating body provided with a holding portion that engages with the shaft portion is disposed above the pressing body. The operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion on the side surface of the pressing body is substantially oval. 2. A substantially oval-shaped operation auxiliary body having both ends close to the abutting portion of the adjacent pressing body is provided rotatably on the side surface of the lower portion of the pressing body. The operation switch device described.

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