JP2000322980A - Multi-directional operation switch and composite switch using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a multi-directional operation switch used for various electronic devices, which surely contacts and separates a switch contact corresponding to a pressed position. SOLUTION: On a switch board 11 on which a plurality of sets of fixed contacts 11A, 11B are radially arranged, pressing portions 18, 19 on a lower surface corresponding to the respective fixed contacts 11A, 11B.
And a driving body 12 made of an elastic material integrally having a plurality of movable parts 14 having a central projection 15 and a peripheral projection 16 on the upper surface.
Is provided on the lower surface of each movable portion 14, and a support portion 17 having a tip abutting on the switch board 11 in the middle of the fixed contacts is provided, so that the support portion 17 serves as a fulcrum and the operation of the pressing portions 18 and 19 is performed. Each can be independent,
Even if the pressing position when the operating body 22 is pressed is slightly shifted, it is possible to realize an object that reliably contacts and separates only the target switch contact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation switch used for various electronic devices and a composite switch using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various electronic devices have become more sophisticated and diversified, and the input form is changing to a method of moving a cursor on a screen and determining with a selection key. In addition, there is a demand for switches having various functions for operating a plurality of switch contacts with one operating body, and various corresponding multi-directional operation switches have been proposed.

[0003] Such a conventional multidirectional operation switch will be described with reference to Figs.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-directional operation switch, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the same, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view when a central portion of the operation body is pressed, and FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of pressing operation of the part.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a switch board having a set of fixed contacts 1A for central switch contacts on the upper surface and four sets of fixed contacts 1B for peripheral switch contacts on the periphery.
Reference numeral denotes a driving body mounted on the switch substrate 1. The base 2A has a substantially flat plate shape, and the movable contact 2 which is opposed to the fixed contact 1A at the center.
B having a lower surface and a thin dome-shaped connecting portion 2C at the lower part of the outer periphery
A central drive unit 2D connected to the base unit 2A, and a movable contact 2E disposed on the periphery of the central drive unit 2D and opposed to the peripheral fixed contact 1B on the lower surface. It is composed of four peripheral drive units 2G connected to the base unit 2A by the connection unit 2F.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a thick disk-shaped operating body. The center of the lower surface is in contact with the upper surface of the central drive unit 2D, the positioning engagement unit 3A surrounding the side of the central drive unit 2D, and the outer periphery is provided on the outer periphery. It has a plurality of notches 3C in the protruding flange 3B,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a resin case having an opening 4B for projecting the operating body 3 upward, and a cutout 3C of a flange 3B of the operating body 3 on the back surface.
And a plurality of columnar projections 4A that engage with a predetermined gap.

In the normal state, the central movable contact 2
The interval A between B and the fixed contact 1A is set to be smaller than the sum of the interval B between the four surrounding movable contacts 2E and the fixed contact 1B and the interval C between the lower surface of the operating body 3 and the upper surface of the peripheral drive unit 2G. Have been.

That is, interval A <(interval B + interval C).

In the above configuration, FIG.
1 from the neutral position, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
When the central portion of the driver 2 is pressed, the central driving portion 2D of the driving body 2
Is moved downward due to the bending of the connecting portion 2C, the movable contact 2B short-circuits the fixed contact 1A on the switch substrate 1, and the central switch contact is turned on. At this time, the sum of the interval B and the interval C is equal to the interval A Therefore, the movable contact 2E on the lower surface of the peripheral drive unit 2G does not short-circuit the fixed contact 1B, and the peripheral switch contact is off.

[0010] When the pressure on the operating body 3 is removed,
The operating body 3 is pushed up by the central drive unit 2D by the elastic restoring force of the connecting portion 2C, moves upward, and returns to the neutral position.

As shown by arrows in FIG. 14, when the peripheral portion of the operating body 3 is pressed, the operating body 3 is guided by the notch 3C of the flange 3B and the columnar projection 4A of the resin case 4 described above. The driving body 2 is tilted with the flange 3B as a fulcrum.
The connecting portion 2C of the central driving portion 2D slightly bends, and the lower surface of the outer periphery of the operating body 3 comes into contact with the upper surface of the peripheral driving portion 2G opposite to the fulcrum side. 2G moves downward, the movable contact 2E short-circuits the fixed contact 1B on the switch board 1, and the peripheral switch contact is turned on.

At this time, since the movable contact 2B on the lower surface of the central driving section 2D is set to have a predetermined interval from the fixed contact 1A, the fixed contact 1A does not short-circuit.
The center switch contact is off.

Then, when the pressing on the operating body 3 is removed,
By the elastic restoring force of the connecting portions 2C and 2F, the operating body 3
Is pushed up by the central drive unit 2D and the peripheral drive unit 2G, moves upward, and returns to the neutral position.

[0014]

However, the above-mentioned conventional multi-directional operation switch has a predetermined position even when the pressing position is shifted toward the outer periphery when the central portion of the operating body 3 is pressed, or when an appropriate position is pressed. When the above pressing force is applied,
There is a problem that both the fixed contact 1A for the center switch contact and the fixed contact 1B for the peripheral switch contact may be simultaneously turned on.

The present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and a multi-directional operation switch capable of reliably connecting and disconnecting only a switch contact corresponding to a target pressing position even if the pressing position slightly deviates from an appropriate position. And a composite switch using the same.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, a multidirectional operation switch according to the present invention comprises a switch board having a plurality of sets of central switch contacts and peripheral switch contacts, and a lower surface corresponding to each switch contact. A driving body made of an elastic material integrally including a plurality of movable portions having a pressing portion and a central projection on the upper surface and a peripheral projection on the upper surface is mounted, and a lower surface of each movable portion is applied to the switch substrate between the above-mentioned two switch contacts. By providing the supporting portions that are in contact with each other, the operations of the pressing portions are made independent.

[0017] Thus, even if the pressing position when pressing the central portion or the peripheral portion of the operating body disposed above the driving body is slightly displaced, the multidirectional operation for reliably bringing only the intended switch contact into and out of contact. You can get a switch.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sets of central switch contacts and peripheral switch contacts which come and go by pressing from above are equidistant from a predetermined center on the upper surface at equal intervals. A switch board arranged radially at a position, and a thick base portion is placed on the switch board, and a center protrusion is provided near the center of the upper surface and a center protrusion is provided near the periphery and is lower than the center protrusion by a predetermined dimension. A movable portion having a substantially rectangular shape and a thick wall provided with a projection, a support portion having an end abutting on a switch substrate at an intermediate position on the lower surface of the movable portion, and the central switch contact and the peripheral switch contact at both end positions on the lower surface. A plurality of driving units each having a pressing portion facing each other at a predetermined interval with a set, and being connected to a lower base portion with a thin, substantially dome-shaped first connecting portion extended from the outer periphery. Drive made of elastic material having And, while covering the entire upper surface of the driving body and having a predetermined interval with the movable portion of each of the driving portions, the thin portion is connected to the lower thick peripheral portion by a thin, substantially dome-shaped second connecting portion at the lower part of the outer periphery, This peripheral portion is a multi-directional operation switch composed of a multi-directional operation switch composed of an operation body made of an elastic material placed on the base portion of the driving body,
Since the supporting portion is provided at an intermediate position on the lower surface of the movable portion of each driving portion of the driving body, at least a plurality of sets of central switch contacts when pressing the center side than the central projection at the time of pressing operation of the operating body. One is that when the peripheral side is pressed, the peripheral switch contacts near the pressed position are turned on, preventing both from turning on at the same time, and smoothing the operating body with a large restoring force when the pressure is removed. Since the operation can be returned, a multidirectional operation switch capable of performing a stable operation can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the upper surface is brought into contact with the lower surface of the operating body in the vicinity of the driving portion of the driving body so that the operation of the driving portion is prevented from being hindered. A movable cylindrical thick protrusion is provided, and the lower part of the outer periphery of the protrusion is connected to the base by a third connecting portion which is a thin, generally dome-shaped and elastically buckles when vertically moved. At the time of pressing operation of the operation body above the part, a greater restoring force is obtained and a clear sense of moderation is obtained, so that a multidirectional operation switch having a better operation feeling can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the projecting portions are arranged at respective intermediate angular positions of a plurality of driving units arranged in a radial pattern.
The same number of protruding parts that elastically buckle and restore by pressing operation as the number of driving parts can be arranged in a well-balanced manner under the operating body, so that even greater pressing operation force and restoring force and a clear sense of moderation can be obtained, making it more practical This has the effect that a multidirectional operation switch having a high level can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of sets of the central switch contacts and the peripheral switch contacts on the switch board are provided.
In both cases, a pair of fixed contacts are arranged at a predetermined interval on the switch board, and the movable contact is formed integrally with the lower surface of the pressing portion of the movable portion of the driving body. As a result, it is possible to form a switch contact in which the movable contact short-circuits between the fixed contacts, so that the number of components can be reduced by integrally forming the movable contact on the driver and the fixed contact on a switch board using a printed circuit board or the like. Since the number of the switches can be reduced, it is possible to obtain an inexpensive multi-directional operation switch that is easy to assemble.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of sets of the central switch contacts and the peripheral switch contacts on the switch board are provided.
The upper contact on the lower surface of the flexible insulating substrate and the lower contact on the switch substrate or the upper contact on the upper surface of the insulating substrate placed on the switch substrate are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval. A so-called membrane switch contact in which the pressing portions at both ends of the lower surface of the movable portion of the driving body presses the upper contact and makes contact with the lower contact can be configured, so that a multidirectional operation switch with excellent dustproofing and high contact reliability can be obtained. It has the effect of being able to.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sets of central switch contacts on the switch board are formed in a substantially ring shape so as to be a common contact. The switch contact can be formed in a substantially ring shape as a common switch contact that requires only one of a plurality of sets of central switch contacts to be turned on. This has the effect that a direction operation switch can be obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the switch structure of the central switch contact and the peripheral switch contact on the switch board has a different configuration. Yes, by using different switch structures for the center switch contact and the peripheral switch contact, the operating force and operation stroke can be changed. This has the effect that a multidirectional operation switch having a divided operation feeling can be obtained.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multidirectional operation switch according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and one of the multidirectional operation switches provided on an outer extension of a switch board of the multidirectional operation switch. The above-mentioned switch contacts and the thick cylindrical outer portion arranged above each of the switch contacts and connected to the base portion of the multi-directional operation switch at a thin, substantially dome-shaped fourth connecting portion at the lower part of the outer periphery. A driving body in which a driving unit of a multi-directional operation switch and an outer driving unit of one or more push-button switches are integrally formed, which is a composite switch including one or more push-button switches having a driving unit, and By configuring a composite switch using a switch board having switch contacts corresponding to both, there is an effect that an inexpensive and compact composite switch can be obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when a peripheral portion of the operation body is pressed, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a switch substrate having a fixed contact having another configuration.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a switch board made of an insulating board, and four sets of a pair of central switch contacts which are preliminarily configured in a circuit so that if any one set is short-circuited at the center of the upper surface, the contacts are turned on. Of fixed contact 11A and four pairs of fixed contacts 11B for peripheral switch contacts radially arranged at equal distances of 90 degrees around the fixed contact 11A, using carbon ink or metal foil. It is formed integrally with a circuit section (not shown).

Reference numeral 12 denotes a driving body made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, which has a thick base portion 13 mounted on the switch substrate 11, and 14 denotes a movable portion which is fixed. It has a thick, substantially rectangular shape facing the contact points 11A and 11B, has a central projection 15 near the center of the upper surface, a peripheral projection 16 lower by a predetermined dimension than the central projection 15 near the periphery, and a lower surface. In the middle position, the switch substrate 11 has a tip with a circular cross section and almost at the middle between the fixed contacts 11A and 11B.
The supporting portion 17 has an upper contacting portion, and pressing portions 18 and 19 each having a flat tip at positions opposed to the fixed contacts 11A and 11B at both end positions of the lower surface. A movable contact 18A printed and formed of a material or the like,
19B is provided so as to face the fixed contacts 11A and 11B at a predetermined interval D, and the outer periphery of the movable portion 14 is connected to the lower base portion 13 by a thin and substantially dome-shaped first connection portion 20. The drive unit 21 is provided.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an operation body made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and has a thick disk shape that covers the entire upper surface of the driving body 12. The space E has a predetermined space F with respect to the peripheral protrusion 16, and has four direction marks 22 B on the upper surface, and a thin, substantially dome-shaped second connecting portion 23 at the lower part of the outer periphery, and a lower thick peripheral portion. 24, the base 1 of the driving body 12
3 is on.

A resin case 25 has an opening 25A for projecting the operating body 22 upward and a rod-shaped projection 25B extending downward on the inner surface.
Is positioned by the notch portion 24 </ b> A arranged on the peripheral portion 24 and together with the base portion 13 of the driving body 12,
And is fixed between them.

The distance D between the movable contacts 18A and 19B and the fixed contacts 11A and 11B is larger than the distance E between the lower surface of the operating body 22 and the upper surface of the central projection 15 of the driver 12, and The distance F between the body 12 and the peripheral protrusion 16 is set to be larger than the distance D.

That is, the interval F> the interval D> the interval E.

In the above configuration, FIG.
As shown by an arrow in FIG. 3 from the neutral position, when the central portion of the operating body 22 is pressed, the second connecting portion 23 is bent, and the lower surface of the operating body 22 is moved by the movable portions 14 of the four driving bodies 12.
Abuts on the upper surface of the center projection 15 of the first contact portion 20 and the inner side of the first connecting portion 20 mainly bends and moves downward, and the movable contact 18A on the lower surface of the pressing portion 18 connects any one of the four sets of fixed contacts 11A on the switch substrate 11. The central switch contact is turned on by short-circuiting. At this time, the four sets of fixed contacts 11B on the peripheral side are lower on the central side with the four driving bodies 12 as fulcrums about the support portion 17, and the peripheral side is raised on the peripheral side. The switch contact is off.

Further, when a predetermined pressure or more is applied to the operation body 22, the gap between the operation body 22 and the peripheral projection 16 disappears, but the tip of the support portion 17 on the lower surface of the movable portion 14 is in contact with the switch board 11. Accordingly, the support portion 17 serves as a fulcrum, and the pressing to the pressing portion 19 side is suppressed and the predetermined contact with the fixed contact 11B is maintained without being pressed downward. The peripheral switch contact can be kept in the off state without short-circuiting the fixed contact 11B.

When the pressing of the operating body 22 is removed, the operating body 22 smoothly returns upward by the elastic restoring force of the second connecting portion 23 and the movable portion 1 of the driving body 12 is moved.
4 is also released, and the movable portion 14 moves upward by the elastic restoring force of the first connecting portion 20 and returns to the neutral position.

Next, as shown by an arrow in FIG.
When the vicinity of one of the direction marks 22B is pressed, one of the second connecting portions 23 bends, and the other extends and tilts in a direction in which the entire operation body 22 is pressed. Is pressed by the lower surface of the operation body 22, the outside of the first connecting portion 20 is mainly bent, the pressing portion 19 is turned to the switch substrate 11 side with the support portion 17 as a fulcrum, and the movable contact 19B is fixed on the switch substrate 11. When the contact 11B is short-circuited, the peripheral switch contact is turned on. At this time, since the pressing portion 18 moves upward by the rotation with the support 17 as a fulcrum, the movable contact 18A short-circuits the fixed contact 11A. The central switch contact is in the off state.

Further, even when a predetermined pressure or more is applied to the operation body 22, the tip of the support portion 17 of the movable portion 14 is
1, the pressing to the pressing portion 18 side is suppressed, and a predetermined distance from the fixed contact 11A is maintained without being pressed downward, so that the movable contact 18A short-circuits the fixed contact 11A. Without switching off, the central switch contact can be kept off.

When the pressing force on the operating body 22 is removed, the operating body 22 returns smoothly upward by the elastic restoring force of the second connecting portion 23 and the movable portion 1 of the driving body 12
4 is also released, and the movable portion 14 moves upward by the elastic restoring force of the first connecting portion 20 and returns to the neutral position.

Further, even if the pressing position of the operating body 22 is shifted to the peripheral side when the central portion is pressed or to the central side when the peripheral portion is pressed, the support portion 17 of the movable portion 14 is supported by the fulcrum. As the pressing force on the movable portion 14 acts on the center side during the pressing operation near the center portion and on the peripheral side during the pressing operation near the peripheral portion, the switch contact corresponding to the intended pressing operation position is almost certainly turned on. It can be.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the time of pressing operation of the operating body, the central switch contact is turned on when the center is pressed, and the peripheral switch contact is turned on when the peripheral is pressed. , Both can be prevented from being turned on at the same time, and the operating body can be smoothly returned by the elastic restoring force when the pressure is removed, so that stable operation is possible, and inexpensive having a large restoring force A multi-directional operation switch can be obtained.

In the above description, the fixed contact for the center switch contact is paired with four sets, and the circuit is configured in advance such that the contact is turned on if one of the sets is short-circuited. As shown in FIG. 5, if a common fixed contact 26A for the central switch contact is arranged in a ring shape on the switch board 26, and four sets of fixed contacts 26B for the peripheral switch contacts are arranged around the common fixed contact 26A. The center switch contact can be simplified and a less expensive multidirectional operation switch can be obtained.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a resin case 25 having an opening, a movable section 31 and a base section 32 are shown. About the drive body 33 made of an elastic material and the operating body 22 made of a thick disk-shaped elastic material, and the ON / OFF of the switch contact being performed by pressing the operating body 22. As in the first embodiment, except for the configuration of the switch contacts.

That is, reference numerals 42 and 43 denote flexible insulating substrates which are mounted on the switch substrate 41 and have a thickness of 100 μm.
The center switch contact and the peripheral switch contact are formed by a membrane switch 45 attached to the front and rear two flexible films made of polyethylene terephthalate or the like via an insulating spacer 44. The upper contacts 42A and 42B are provided on the upper flexible insulating substrate 42 below the portion 31 and the lower contacts 43A and 43B are provided facing the lower flexible insulating substrate 43, respectively.

The operation in this case is as follows. By pressing a predetermined position in the central part or the peripheral part of the operating body 22, the pressing part 34 on the lower surface of the movable part 31 of the driving body 33,
Alternatively, the lower surface of 35 presses the upper contact 42A or 42B to come into contact with the lower contact 43A or 43B to be turned on.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the switch contacts are configured as a membrane switch in which the upper contacts and the lower contacts are opposed to each other inside the two bonded flexible insulating substrates. This makes it possible to obtain a multidirectional operation switch having excellent contact reliability and high contact reliability.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 7 is a plan view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG.

In the figure, fixed contacts 11A and 11A
The switch board 11 having B, the thick disk-shaped operating body 22 made of an elastic material, and the resin case 25 having an opening for projecting the operating body 22 upward are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, the shape of the driving body 51 is different.

That is, a middle portion of each of the four driving portions 52 arranged on the driving body 51 is connected to the base portion 54 by a third connecting portion 53 having a thin dome shape with a thinner outer periphery so as to be elastically buckled when moving up and down. The connected thick columnar projections 55 are integrally formed.

The upper surface of the projecting portion 55 is
2 is in contact with the lower surface of
Radial center and operating body 22 at equal angular intervals of 0 degrees
Is arranged at substantially the same distance as the direction mark 22B.

In the above configuration, FIG.
When the central portion of the operating body 22 is pressed from the neutral position, the movable portion 56 of the driving portion 52 moves downward, and the projecting portion 55 disposed on the driving portion 52 also slightly deforms the lower third connecting portion 53. The movable contact 57A on the lower surface of the pressing portion 57 of the movable portion 56 short-circuits the fixed contact 11A, the central switch contact is turned on, and one direction mark 2
When a pressing operation is performed in the vicinity of 2B, the pressing portion 58 of the movable portion 56 is pressed.
Moves downward, and the protruding portions 55 on both sides of the pressed movable portion 56 also move downward with the third connecting portion 53 flexing greatly with a sense of moderation, and the movable contact 58 on the lower surface of the pressing portion 58.
B short-circuits the fixed contact 11B, and the peripheral switch contact is turned on.

When the pressing of the operating body 22 is removed, the operating body 22 adds to its own elastic restoring force,
Due to the elastic restoring force of No. 2 and the elastic restoring force of the third connecting portion 53 of the protruding portion 55, it moves upward and returns to the neutral position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the elastic restoring force of the protruding portion 55 can be obtained in addition to the elastic restoring force of the driving section 52 at the time of pressing the peripheral portion of the operating body 22. A large return force is obtained and a clear moderation feeling is obtained, so that a multi-directional operation switch having a better operation feeling can be obtained.

In the above description, the same number of protrusions 55 as the drive unit 52 has been described. However, the protrusions 55 may be provided only at one position or only at two opposing positions as necessary. Of course.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a composite switch according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of switches are mounted on the same switch board as the multi-directional operation switch according to the third embodiment. Are provided.

That is, the fixed contacts 61 A and 61 B on the switch board 61, the driving unit 63 on the base 62,
4 and a thick disk-shaped operation body 66
Is housed in the resin case 67 to form a multi-directional operation switch as in the third embodiment, but a plurality of thicknesses are provided above the base 62 extended from the multi-directional operation switch. An outer movable portion 68 having a thick cylindrical shape is provided, and a plurality of outer driving portions 70 connected to the lower base portion 62 by a thin, substantially dome-shaped fourth connecting portion 69 at the lower part of the outer periphery are integrally formed. The upper portion of the outer movable portion 68 protrudes above the opening 67A of the resin case 67, and the lower surface has a plurality of movable contacts (not shown).

On the upper surface of the switch board 61 extended from the multi-directional operation switch, a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts 61C are provided corresponding to the respective movable contacts to constitute a plurality of push button switches. Things.

In the above arrangement, when the outer movable portion 68 protruding from the opening 67A of the resin case 67 is pressed, the fourth connecting portion 69 bends and the movable contact short-circuits the fixed contact 61C to turn it on. When removed, the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact 61C by the elastic restoring force of the fourth connecting portion 69 and returns to the off state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a multi-directional operation switch and a push button switch using a common drive body and a switch board in which a drive unit and an external drive unit of one or more push button switches are integrally formed. Can be configured in a single resin case, and can be provided with various functions to obtain an inexpensive and compact composite switch.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the movable contact is formed on the lower surface of the driving body, and the fixed contact formed on the upper surface of the switch substrate is short-circuited to contact and separate the switch contact. Although the configuration using was described, the movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate is arranged on the fixed contact formed on the upper surface of the switch board, and the movable contact of the driving body is pressed by the lower surface of the pressing portion, or The first embodiment described above is also applicable to a case where the movable contact made of a thin elastic metal plate or a single push-on switch is arranged only at the fixed contact for the peripheral switch contact so that the operational feelings of the central switch contact and the peripheral switch contact are different from each other. Needless to say, the same effects as those of Nos. To 4 can be obtained.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, on a switch substrate having a plurality of sets of central switch contacts and peripheral switch contacts, a lower surface pressing portion corresponding to each switch contact and a central projection on the upper surface and peripheral portions are provided. A driver made of an elastic material integrally having a plurality of movable parts with projections is mounted,
By providing a supporting portion on the lower surface of each movable portion between the two switch contacts and abutting on the switch board, the supporting portion serves as a fulcrum and the operation of the pressing portions is made independent, so that the driving body Even if the pressing position when pressing the central part or the peripheral part of the operation body arranged above is slightly shifted, only the central switch contact or the peripheral switch contact can be securely connected and separated, and the contact reliability of the switch contact An advantageous effect is obtained that an inexpensive multidirectional operation switch having high resilience, a large restoring force, and a good operation feeling, and a compact composite switch using the same can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when a central portion of the operating body is pressed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view when a peripheral portion of the operating body is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a switch substrate having fixed contacts having the same configuration.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a multi-directional operation switch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a composite switch according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional multidirectional operation switch.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view when the central portion of the operation body is pressed.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view when a peripheral portion of the operation body is pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 26, 41, 61 Switch board 11A, 11B, 26A, 26B, 61A, 61B, 6
1C Fixed contact 12, 33, 51, 65 Driver 13, 32, 54, 62 Base 14, 31, 56 Movable section 15 Central projection 16 Peripheral projection 17 Supporting section 18, 19, 34, 35, 57, 58 Pressing Part 18A, 19B, 57A, 58B Movable contact 20 First connecting part 21, 52, 63 Driving part 22 Operating body 22B Direction mark 23 Second connecting part 24 Peripheral part 24A Notch part 25, 67 Resin case 25A, 67A Opening 25B Projections 42, 43 Flexible insulating substrate 42A, 42B Upper contact 43A, 43B Lower contact 44 Insulating spacer 45 Membrane switch 53 Third connecting part 55, 64 Projecting part 68 Outside movable part 69 Fourth connecting part 70 Outside driving part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A switch board in which a plurality of sets of central switch contacts and peripheral switch contacts that come into contact with and separate from each other by pressing from above are arranged radially at equal distances from a predetermined center on an upper surface. A thick rectangular base portion is placed on the switch board, and a substantially rectangular and thick movable portion is provided with a central projection near the center of the upper surface and a peripheral projection lower than the central projection by a predetermined dimension near the periphery. A supporting portion having a tip abutting on the switch substrate is provided at an intermediate position on the lower surface of the movable portion, and a pressing portion opposed to a pair of the central switch contact and the peripheral switch contact at both ends of the lower surface at a predetermined interval. A driving unit made of an elastic material having a plurality of driving units connected to the lower base unit by a thin, substantially dome-shaped first connecting unit extended from the outer periphery, and an upper surface of the driving unit Cover the whole It has a predetermined distance from the movable part of the moving part and is connected to the lower thick peripheral part by a thin, substantially dome-shaped second connecting part at the lower part of the outer periphery, and this peripheral part is on the base part of the driving body. A multi-directional operation switch consisting of an operation body made of an elastic material placed on. 2. A thick columnar protruding portion is provided in the vicinity of the driving portion of the driving body, the upper surface of which is in contact with the lower surface of the operating body, and which can move up and down within a range that does not hinder the operation of the driving portion. 2. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the outer periphery of the projecting portion is connected to the base portion by a third connecting portion which is a thin, substantially dome-shaped and elastically buckles when vertically moved. 3. The multi-directional operation switch according to claim 2, wherein the protruding portions are arranged at intermediate angular positions of a plurality of driving units arranged radially. 4. A plurality of sets of a central switch contact and a peripheral switch contact on a switch board, wherein a pair of fixed contacts are arranged at predetermined intervals on the switch board, and a movable contact is formed on a movable portion of a driving body. The multidirectional operation switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switch is formed integrally with the lower surface of the pressing portion. 5. A plurality of sets of central switch contacts and peripheral switch contacts on a switch substrate, wherein a predetermined upper contact on the lower surface of the flexible insulating substrate and a lower contact on the upper surface of the insulating substrate mounted on or on the switch substrate are fixed. The multidirectional operation switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multidirectional operation switch is arranged so as to be opposed to each other with an interval. 6. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of central switch contacts on the switch board are formed in a substantially ring shape so as to be a common contact. 7. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch structure of the central switch contact and the peripheral switch contact on the switch board has different configurations. 8. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, one or more switch contacts provided on an outer extension of a switch substrate of the multidirectional operation switch, and the switch thereof. Located above each of the contacts,
A composite switch comprising one or more pushbutton switches having a thick-cylindrical outer driving portion connected to a base portion of the multi-directional operation switch at a thin, substantially dome-shaped fourth connecting portion at a lower outer periphery.