JPH0266824A - Sheet-shaped switch element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify its assembling work and reduce its cost, by forming it such that insulating protrusions are provided to a first and a second insulating film while spacers are divided in their cross directions and the unneeded portions of the spacers are removed to make its pattern. CONSTITUTION:An insulating film 12 comprises plural fixed electrodes 6 provided at its upper face and plural electrodes 6 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the film 12 and connected to the respective plural fixed electrodes, and wiring 7 for externally connecting the above electrodes together, and then horseshoe-shaped insulating protrusions 14 for surrounding the respective electrodes 6, and banded insulating protrusions 15 provided at almost the whole part of the outside of the protrusions 14, both of which protrusions are formed by printing means. An insulating film 13 comprises movable electrodes 8 which are provided on its lower face so as to be opposed to the respective electrodes 6, and plural electrodes 8 aligned in the cross direction of the film 13 and connected to the respective movable electrodes, and wiring 9 which is formed for externally connecting the above electrodes together, and then horseshoe-shaped insulating protrusions 16 for surrounding the respective electrodes 8, and banded second insulating protrusions 17 provided at almost the whole part of the outside of the protrusions 16, both of which protrusions are formed by printing means. Each of the protrusions 14, 15 are formed thicker than each of the electrodes 6 and the wiring 7, while each of the protrusions 16, 17 thicker than each of the electrodes 8 and the wiring 9.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] To provide a sheet-like switch element at a lower cost than before, particularly regarding a configuration for providing a bonding gap between a pair of insulating films on which fixed electrodes or movable electrodes are formed. The first insulating film has a plurality of fixed electrodes and their wiring on the upper surface, a first insulating protrusion in a horseshoe shape or a plurality of small circles surrounding the fixed electrode, and an outer side of the first insulating protrusion. at least a striped second insulating protrusion, the second insulating film bonded to the upper surface of the first insulating film has a plurality of movable electrodes facing the fixed electrode, their wiring, and the movable electrodes on the lower surface thereof. a third insulating protrusion in the shape of a horseshoe or a plurality of small circles surrounding the electrode; and at least a fourth insulating protrusion in a striped shape extending in a direction intersecting the second insulating protrusion on the outside of the third insulating protrusion; 1st. The second insulating protrusion is thicker than the fixed electrode and its wiring, and the third insulating protrusion is thicker than the fixed electrode and its wiring. The fourth insulating protrusion is thicker than the movable electrode and its wiring, and a fifth insulating protrusion covering a predetermined portion of the fixed electrode wiring is provided in place of the third insulating protrusion, and the The first insulating protrusion is further characterized in that a sixth insulating protrusion is provided instead of the fourth insulating protrusion, covering a predetermined portion of the wiring of the movable electrode and facing the fifth insulating protrusion. Second. Third. 4th. Fifth. The sixth insulating protrusion is formed by printing a paste that has slight tackiness after drying.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a sheet-like switch element that has become widely used in keyboards, and particularly to a structure for securing a bonding gap between a pair of insulating films forming fixed electrodes or movable electrodes.

In recent years, the keyboard as a computer input device has become more and more popular.
In addition to high reliability, cost reduction is also required. 1st. A plurality of fixed electrodes or movable electrodes and their wiring are formed on each of the second insulating films, and the movable electrodes formed on the second insulating film are suitable for the fixed electrodes formed on the first insulating film. Sheet-like switches (commonly known as membrane sheets) that face each other with a large gap have become widely used in low-cost keyboards.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a basic configuration diagram of a conventional sheet-like switch element, and the sheet-like switch element 1 has a structure in which an insulating spacer 2 is sandwiched between a pair of insulating films 3 and 4. The spacer 2 has a through hole 5 formed at a predetermined position. On the upper surface of one of the insulating films 3, a fixed electrode 6 facing the through hole 5 and a wiring 7 for connecting a plurality of electrodes 6 aligned in the length direction of the insulating film 3 and connecting them to the outside are formed. A movable electrode 8 facing the through hole 5 and a plurality of electrodes 8 aligned in the width direction of the insulating film 4 are connected to each other on the lower surface of the other insulating film 4, and wiring 9 is formed for externally connecting them.

In such a sheet-like switch element 1, the electrodes 6 and 8 face each other in the vertical direction within the through hole 5, and the electrode 8 comes into contact with the electrode 6 when pressed from above via a push button (key). Next, when the push-down blade is removed, the electrode 8 comes to separate from the electrode 6 due to the restoring force of the insulating film 4.

In such a sheet-like switch element 1, when the insulating spacer 2 and the pair of insulating films 3 and 4 are brought into close contact with each other, the inside of the through hole 5 becomes airtight, and when the press is pressed, the air pressure inside the through hole 5 increases, improving operability. be damaged. Therefore, it is common practice to provide the spacer 2 with a slit that communicates with the through hole 5 from the outer edge or between a plurality of through holes 5.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As explained above, the conventional sheet-like switch element is composed of an insulating spacer 2 and a pair of insulating films 3.4 on which a plurality of electrodes and conductors are formed.In order to improve operability, the spacer 2 has a transparent structure. A plurality of slits communicating with the hole 5 were formed.

However, with the insulating spacer 2 made using a mold, it is more difficult than expected to prevent the punched waste from the through hole 5 and the slit from adhering to the spacer 2. The bonding of the insulating films 3 and 4 by aligning them has a problem in that it is troublesome to prevent misalignment between them, especially when using the spacer 2 with slits formed therein.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and to provide a sheet-like switch element at a lower cost.

[Failure to solve the problem]

According to FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 showing an embodiment of the sea I-shaped switch element of the present invention, a first insulating film 12
However, a plurality of fixed electrodes 6 and their wiring 7. A first insulating projection 14 in a horseshoe shape (or a plurality of small circular shapes) surrounding the fixed electrode 6. At least striped second insulating protrusions 15 are provided on the outside of the first insulating protrusions 14, and a second insulating film 13 bonded to the upper surface of the first insulating film 12 has a plurality of second insulating films 13 on the lower surface facing the fixed electrodes 6. movable electrode 8 and its wiring 9. A third insulating protrusion 16 in a horseshoe shape (or a plurality of small circular shapes) surrounding the movable electrode 8. At least a striped fourth insulating protrusion 17 in a direction intersecting the second insulating protrusion 15 is provided on the outside of the third insulating protrusion 6; The second insulating protrusion 14.15 is thicker than the fixed electrode 6 and its wiring 7; A sheet-like switch element 11 characterized in that the fourth insulating projections 16 and 17 are thicker than the movable electrode 8 and its wiring 9, or the first insulating film 32 has a plurality of fixed electrodes 6 and their wiring on the upper surface 7. A plurality of small circular (or horseshoe-shaped) first insulating protrusions 21. surround the fixed electrode 6. At least a fifth insulating protrusion 35 covering a predetermined portion of the wiring 7 of the fixed electrode 6 is provided, and a second insulating film 33 bonded to the upper surface of the first insulating film 32 has a plurality of insulating protrusions facing the fixed electrode 6 on the lower surface. movable electrode 8 and its wiring 9. A plurality of small circular (or horseshoe-shaped) third insulating protrusions 22. surround the movable electrode 8. Movable electrode 8
At least a sixth insulating protrusion 42 is provided that covers a predetermined portion of the wiring 9 and faces the fifth insulating protrusion 35; The fifth insulating protrusion 2L35 is thicker than the fixed electrode 6 and its wiring 7; A sheet-like switch element 31 characterized in that the sixth insulating protrusion 22.42 is thicker than the movable electrode 8 and its wiring 9;
．． 42 is characterized in that it is made by printing a paste that has slight tackiness after drying.

[Effect]

According to the two-legged means, insulating protrusions corresponding to conventional spacers are provided on the first and second insulating films in the form of a pattern in which the spacer is divided in the thickness direction and unnecessary parts thereof are removed. do. Such insulating protrusions can be easily formed into a desired pattern shape by a printing method, which eliminates the problems associated with creating and handling conventional spacers, especially spacers provided with external airflow passages, and facilitates assembly. At the same time, the accuracy of facing the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, especially in the case of an insulating film having insulating protrusions formed using a paste that is slightly sticky after drying, is significantly improved in the terra assembly work and the facing accuracy.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sheet-like switch element according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet-like switch element according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an insulating protrusion formed around an electrode according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an insulating protrusion according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1(a) showing the overall structure of a sheet-like switch element, a sheet-like switch element 11 is formed by joining a first insulating film 12 and a second insulating film 13.

The insulating film 12 has on its upper surface a wiring 7 that connects a plurality of fixed electrodes 6 and a plurality of electrodes 6 extending in the length direction of the insulating film 12 and externally connects them, and then forms a horseshoe shape surrounding the electrodes 6. Insulating protrusion (first insulating protrusion) 14
There are striped insulating protrusions (
A second insulating projection) 15 is formed. These electrodes 6
．． Wiring 7. The insulating protrusions 14 and 15 are formed by printing means.

The insulating film 13 forms a wiring A9 on the lower surface that connects the movable electrode 8 facing the fixed electrode 6 and a plurality of electrodes 8 aligned in the width direction of the insulating film 13 and externally connects them.
Thereafter, a horseshoe-shaped insulating protrusion (third insulating protrusion) 16 surrounding the electrode 8 and a striped second insulating protrusion (fourth insulating protrusion) 17 are formed on almost the entire outside of the insulating protrusion 16. It becomes. Electrode 8. The insulating protrusions 16 and 17 of the wiring 9 are formed by printing means, and the horseshoe-shaped opening of the insulating protrusion 16 faces the opening of the insulating protrusion 14, and the direction of inclination of the insulating protrusion 17 is similar to the inclination of the insulating protrusion 15. It is formed so that it intersects with the other hand.

The insulating protrusions 14 and 15 are suitably thicker than the electrode 6 and the wiring 7, and the insulating protrusions 16 and 17 are thicker than the electrode 8 and the wiring 9.
Form it appropriately thicker.

FIG. 1 (+1) is a perspective view showing the relationship between the insulating protrusions 15 and 17, and by forming the insulating protrusions 15 and 17 so as to intersect, the air between the insulating films 12 and 13 is As shown by arrows in the figure, the insulating protrusions 15 and 17 do not partition the insulating protrusions 15 and 17 and allow free circulation.

In FIG. 2(a), a plurality of (
The small circular insulating protrusions 21 (six in the figure) correspond to the above-mentioned insulating protrusions 14, and the small circular insulating protrusions 22 indicated by broken lines in the figure correspond to the above-mentioned insulating protrusions 16. The reason why the insulating protrusion 22 is formed slightly smaller and facing the insulating protrusion 21 is that when the insulating films 12 and 13 are overlapped,
This is to prevent the insulating protrusion 22 from protruding from the insulating protrusion 21 even if the formation position of the insulating protrusion 21 or 22 is slightly shifted. The magnitude relationship between 21 and 22 may be reversed.

In FIG. 2(b), a plurality of (
The insulating protrusions 23 (six in the figure) have an oval shape and correspond to the insulating protrusions 14 described above. A plurality of small circular insulating protrusions 24 indicated by broken lines in the figure correspond to the insulating protrusions 16 described above, and the insulating protrusions 24 facing the insulating protrusions 23 are the insulating protrusions when the insulating films 12 and 13 are overlapped. This is to prevent the insulating protrusion 24 from protruding from the insulating protrusion 23 even if the formation position of the insulating protrusion 23 or 24 is slightly shifted.

In FIG. 3, a sheet-like switch element 31 is formed by bonding an insulating film 33 to an insulating film 32.

On the upper surface of the insulating film 32, which has through holes 34 in predetermined parts, there are a plurality of fixed electrodes 6, a wiring 7, a plurality of small circular insulating protrusions 21 around the electrodes 6, and an insulating film that covers a part of the wiring 7. A protrusion (second insulating protrusion) 35, an annular insulating protrusion 36 surrounding the through hole 34, and an insulating protrusion 37 surrounding the periphery of the upper surface of the insulating film 32 are formed. A portion of the insulating protrusion 37 has a region 40 having an opening 38 opening outward and an opening 39 opening inward.

A through hole 41 opposite to the through hole 34 is formed on the lower surface of the insulating film 33 to be bonded to the upper surface of the insulating film 32, and a movable electrode 8 facing the electrode 6, a wiring 9, and a plurality of small circles around the electrode 8 The wiring 9 faces the insulating protrusion 22 and the insulating protrusion 35.
an insulating protrusion (second insulating protrusion) 42 that covers a part of the insulating protrusion 42, an annular insulating protrusion 43 surrounding the through hole 41, and an insulating protrusion 37
An insulating protrusion 44 facing the is formed. Insulating protrusion 44
A region 45 opposite to region 40 has an opening 46 opposite to opening 38 and an opening 47 opposite to opening 39 .

In the sheet-like switch element 31, the insulating protrusions 35 and 46, which correspond to the insulating protrusions 15 and 17 described above, are formed at the intersection of the wirings 7 and 9, so that the area thereof is significantly smaller than that of the insulating protrusion 1517. Become. In addition, through holes 34, 4
1 is used when fixing the flexible switch element 31 to a suitable support substrate, and insulating protrusions 36 and 4
3 is for sealing the through holes 34 and 41.

Furthermore, a region 40 with openings 38, 39 and an opening 4
The region 45 having an angle of 6° 47 is for allowing outside air to flow into the switch element 31 to ensure operability and to prevent dust from being sucked in together with the outside air.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the insulating protrusions 42, 43, .
It is noted that 44 can be omitted.

Furthermore, in FIGS. 1 to 3, insulating protrusions 14 to 17
．． 21-24.35-37,42. ~44 is a paste that has slight stickiness after drying, such as CY52228 (trade name) manufactured by Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., with a diluent of 10%.
If mixed insulation paste is used, insulation film 12
When joining 13 or 32 and 33, slippage on the contact surfaces can be eliminated, making joining easy and highly accurate.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the sheet-like switch element according to the present invention has insulating protrusions, which correspond to conventional spacers, in the form of a pattern in which the spacer is divided in the thickness direction and unnecessary parts thereof are removed. This is a configuration provided on a film. Such insulating protrusions can be easily formed into a desired pattern shape by a printing method, which eliminates the problems associated with creating and handling spacers with external airflow passages, making assembly easier. At the same time, it was possible to significantly improve the accuracy of the facing of fixed electrodes and movable electrodes, especially the assembly work and facing accuracy of insulating films with insulating protrusions formed using a paste that is slightly sticky after drying. effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet-like switch element according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an insulating protrusion formed around an electrode according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an insulating protrusion according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a basic configuration diagram of a conventional sheet-like switch element. In the figure, 6 is a fixed electrode, 7 is a fixed electrode wiring, 8 is a movable electrode, 9 is a movable electrode wiring, 11.31 is a sheet-like switch element, 12.32 is a first insulating film, 13.33 is the second insulating film, 14 is the horseshoe-shaped first insulating protrusion, and 15 is the striped second! It! l edge protrusion; 16 is a horseshoe-shaped third insulating protrusion; 17 is a striped fourth insulating protrusion; 21 and 23 are small circular first insulating protrusions; 22.24
indicates a small circular third insulating protrusion, 35 indicates a fifth insulating protrusion, and 42 indicates a sixth insulating protrusion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A first insulating film (12) has a plurality of fixed electrodes (6) and their wiring (7) on the upper surface, and a first insulating projection ( 14,
21, 23), at least a striped second insulating protrusion (15) is provided on the outside of the first insulating protrusion, and a second insulating film (13) is bonded to the upper surface of the first insulating film. , a plurality of movable electrodes (8) and their wiring (9) facing the fixed electrode on the lower surface, and third insulating protrusions (16) in the shape of a horseshoe or in the shape of a plurality of small circles surrounding the movable electrodes.
, at least a striped fourth insulating protrusion (17) in a direction intersecting the second insulating protrusion is provided on the outside of the third insulating protrusion, and the first and second insulating protrusions are connected to the fixed electrode. A sheet-like switch element, wherein the third and fourth insulating protrusions are thicker than the movable electrode and the wiring. (2) The first insulating film (32) has a plurality of fixed electrodes (6) and their wiring (7) on the upper surface, and a first insulating projection ( 14,
21, 23), at least a fifth insulating protrusion (35) covering a predetermined portion of the wiring of the fixed electrode is provided, and a second insulating film (33) bonded to the upper surface with the first insulating film is provided on the lower surface. A plurality of movable electrodes (8) and their wiring (9) facing the fixed electrode, a horseshoe shape or a plurality of small circular shape third insulating protrusions (16,
22), at least a sixth insulating protrusion (42) is provided that covers a predetermined portion of the wiring of the movable electrode and faces the fifth insulating protrusion, and the first and fifth insulating protrusions are connected to the fixed electrode. A sheet-like switch element that is thicker than the wiring, and wherein the third and sixth insulating protrusions are thicker than the movable electrode and its wiring. (3) The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth insulating protrusions are formed by printing a paste that has slight tackiness after drying. The sheet-like switch element described in .