JPH0433626Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The invention applies a force in one of four different directions to one manually operated member, and generates four sets of two interlocking members. The present invention relates to a four-way switch configured to open and close a set of single-pole, single-throw switching contacts.

However, in the present invention, the term "forces in four different directions" includes four types of parallel operating forces having different application points.

[Prior art]

This type of four-way switch is used, for example, for operating remote control mirrors for automobiles.

One remote control mirror generally has two
One of the two motors rotates the mirror left and right, and the other rotates the mirror up and down.

In order to arbitrarily rotate each of the two motors installed as described above in the forward or reverse direction, one of the four sets of single-pole, single-throw switches, which open and close two by two, must be interlocked. Must be opened and closed.

For this purpose, it is easy to provide four double-pole single-throw switches or four single-pole double-throw switches, but
In order to facilitate operation and eliminate the risk of erroneous operation, it is desirable to be able to operate the four sets of switches with one manual operation member. For this reason, the aforementioned four-way switch is used.

In practical terms, in the case of automobile door mirrors, remote control mirrors are installed on the left and right sides of the car body, so two four-way switches are installed, or one four-way switch and one changeover switch are installed. must be installed together with

Figure 4A is a circuit diagram for operating the left and right remote control mirrors M _l and M _r using the four-way switch S ₄ and the left and right mirror changeover switch S _lr , and Figure 4B is its opening/closing diagram. It is.

As shown, the four-way switch incorporates four single-pole, double-throw switches.

The four single-pole, double-throw switches mentioned above are 2
It can be replaced with four single pole single throw switches that are individually interlocked.

In FIG. 4A, when the single-pole double-throw switches arranged vertically opposite each other are operated in conjunction with L and R, the mirror left and right rotation motors H _L and _HR are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

H _L is the left-right rotation motor for the left mirror M _l ,
H _R is a left-right rotation motor for the right side mirror M _r .
H _L operation and H _R operation can be switched with the changeover switch S _lr .

Similarly, when the single-pole, double-throw switches arranged oppositely on the left and right in the figure are operated in conjunction with UP and DOWN, the mirror vertical movement motors V _L and V _R are rotated in the forward and reverse directions.

The above-mentioned four-way switch conventionally generally has a structure in which four sets of fixed contacts are provided on a circuit board, and a movable contact is brought into sliding contact with each of the fixed contacts.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The conventional four-way switch configured as described above has a structure in which the movable contact slides against the fixed contact, and therefore requires an operating force sufficient to overcome the sliding resistance.

If the sliding contact pressure of the movable contact with respect to the fixed contact is reduced, the conduction becomes uncertain, and if the sliding contact pressure is increased, the required operating force increases and the movable contact wears out prematurely.

This idea was created in view of the above circumstances.
To provide a four-way switch that requires less operating force, has excellent durability, and has reliable conduction.

[Means for solving problems]

To solve the above problems, the present invention uses a ball contact switch.

The above-mentioned ball contact switch was created by the present inventor and is currently under separate application (Utility Model Application No. 120357/1986).

FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining the principle of the ball contact switch, and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view.

In the figure, 1 is a base, in this example a printed circuit board (PCB), on which a pair of rectangular fixed contacts 10 _-1 and 10 _-2 are arranged.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a guide body having a case shape, that is, a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open bottom surface, and this guide body 2 has through holes 2 _a at both ends thereof. The guide body 2 thus formed is attached to the base 1 described above so as to cover the pair of fixed contacts 10 _-1 and 10 _-2 on the upper surface of the base 1. As a result, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped space 21 is formed by the base body 1 and the guide body.

3 and 4 are first housings that are slidably slidable in the longitudinal direction of the space _2b and are housed in a space _2b defined by the base body 1 and the guide body 2, facing each other.
a slider and a second slider, the first slider
The slider 3 and the second slider 4 are made of an insulating material, and have a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose vertical cross section is approximately equal to or one time smaller than the vertical cross section of the above-mentioned space 2 _b , and has an opposing inner surface and an opposite outer surface. Protrusions 3 _a and 4 _a are integrally provided on the guide body 2 to project outward, and the protrusions 3 _a and 4 _a are respectively inserted into the through hole 2 _a of the guide body 2 . The first slider 3 and the second slider 4 are provided with inclined surfaces 3 _b and 4 _b , respectively, extending from the opposing inner surfaces to the bottom surfaces.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a return spring, and this spring 5 is a compression spring that is fitted onto the protrusion 4 _a of the second slider 4 mentioned above, and is connected to the outer surface of the second slider 4 and the inner surface of the guide body 2 . The first slider 3 and the second slider 4 are always urged in the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG.
Then, the second slider 4 is returned to its original position.
The first slider 3, second slider 4, and spring 5 constitute the operating body of the present invention.

6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are a pair of movable contacts, which are made of a conductive material and have a spherical shape with a smooth surface and a diameter slightly smaller than the width of the space 21 described above. The two movable contacts 6 thus formed can be rolled in a substantially trapezoidal space surrounded by the inclined surface 3 _b of the first slider 3, the inclined surface 4 _b of the second slider 4, and the upper surface of the base 1. Store it in. As a result, the two movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are rotated in the longitudinal direction of the space 2 _b by the guide 2 via the operating bodies (first slider 3, second slider 4, spring 5). You will be guided to move.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of the operation of this ball contact switch.

On the circuit board 1', common fixed contacts _10j and 1
A pair of switching fixed contacts 10 _h and 10 _i are provided.

When the pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6 _-2 are in the neutral position shown by the chain line, the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 , 6
_-2 contact the circuit board 1' at their respective center points (meaning the center points in the projection view, indicated by black dots in this figure). In this state, the three fixed contacts 10
_j , 10 _h , and 10 _i are not mutually conductive.

When the pair of spherical movable contacts rolls upward in the figure to the 6 _-1 ' and 6 _-2 ' positions drawn by solid lines, the fixed contact 1
0 _j and 10 _h are electrically connected.

Also, it rolls downward to 6 _-1 ″, 6 _- drawn with a broken line.
At the ₂ '' position, the fixed contacts _10j and _10i are electrically connected.

The above-mentioned operation does not involve sliding, but is performed by rolling of the movable contact, which is a spherical member, so it is performed smoothly and with little wear.

From the above description, it can be seen that the ball contact switch of FIG. 7A operates similarly to the single pole double throw switch shown in FIG. 7B.

The ball contacts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are made by elastically sandwiching the inclined surfaces 3 _b and 4 _b of a pair of sliders 3 and 4 in contact with spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 , respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, a slider 11 having a pair of inclined surfaces covers the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 , and a spring 12 moves the contacts in the direction of arrow P. The same effect can be obtained even if it is energized. When the slider 11 is driven back and forth in the direction of arrow S-S', the contacts are opened and closed.

In order to achieve the above purpose (to provide a four-way switch with light operating force and less wear) by utilizing the characteristics of the ball contact switch described above, the four-way switch of the present invention is shown in Figure 7A. The arrangement of fixed contacts is improved and applied as shown in FIG.

6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are spherical movable contacts, and A and B are their turning points (centers of circles in planar projection).

FIGS. 9 to 15 schematically represent conductive patterns on the circuit board, and the contact portions are shown with hatching. This is for convenience in drawing and does not mean a cross section. The white areas represent electrically insulating areas.

In FIG. 9, a pair of movable contacts A and B are spaced apart from a fixed contact. This state is called the neutral position.

Assume an X-axis connecting two points A and B, and an axis Y perpendicular to this.

A fixed contact _10c is provided on the side of point A in the X-axis direction, in the direction of arrow X'.

Similarly, a fixed contact 10 _f is placed on the arrow X direction side of point B.
and a fixed contact 10 at the center of points A and B.
Provide _a .

Fixed contact 1 on the side of point A in the direction parallel to arrow Y
0 _b , fixed contact 10 _d on the side parallel to arrow Y'
are provided respectively.

Similarly, on the arrow Y direction side and Y' direction side of point B,
Fixed contacts _10g and _10e are provided respectively.

In this embodiment, a fixed contact group consisting of seven fixed contacts _10a to _10g is provided as described above.
A pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 face and rotate against the circuit board surface on which the fixed contact group is provided.

The pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are in contact with and electrically conductive with each other as described above.

In the neutral position shown in FIG. 9, the contact points A and B of the spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 are separated from any of the fixed electrodes, and the wires a to g are all open to each other. ing.

As shown in FIG. 10, a pair of spherical movable contacts 6
_-1 and _6-2 are rolled upward in the figure (in the direction of arrow Y), the spherical movable contacts _6-1 and _6-2 roll into contact with the fixed electrodes 10b _{and 10g} , respectively, and the wirings b and g are Closed.

Similarly, when it is rolled downward in the figure as shown in FIG. 11, the wires d and e are closed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, rolling to the right in the figure closes the wires a and f, and rolling to the left as shown in FIG. 13 closes the wires a and c.

From the above operations, the configuration shown in FIG.
4 4 single pole single throw switches S ₁₀ as shown in Figure 4
It can be seen that this is equivalent to providing ~S ₁₃ .

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, the fixed contacts _10a and _10e can be connected to each other so that they are always electrically connected for use. As can be easily understood from Fig. 14, there is no switch function between the fixed contacts _10a and _10e , so even if they are always electrically connected, the four switches _S10 to S shown in Fig. 14 Does not interfere with ₁₃ functions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the fixed contacts 10 _b , 10 _c , and 10 _d can be kept in constant electrical conduction with each other for use.

The above-mentioned purpose (operation The four-way switch according to the present invention (a) has a contact group consisting of at least seven fixed contacts on the circuit board. (b) one for each of the above two groups of fixed contacts;
(c) a slider B is provided to cover each pair of the spherical movable contacts of the two pairs of spherical movable contacts; (d) one slider A is provided in which two sliders B covering the two pairs of spherical movable contacts are slidably fitted; (e) the slider A and the two sliders B are slidably fitted; (f) providing guide means for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; (f) providing a guide means for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; g) A push plate, which is a manual operation member, is constructed separately from the above, and the push plate is arranged facing and spaced apart from the circuit board, (h) The push plate is arranged facing the circuit board, and (i) a transmission rod is integrally implanted in the center of the surface on which the push plate faces the circuit board; (j) the transmission rod is rotatably supported on the side facing the circuit board; The tip of the rod is engaged with a recess provided in the center of the slider A.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when any one of four specific locations near the periphery of the push plate is pushed, the push plate tilts and causes the two pairs of spherical movable contacts to roll via the transmission rod. to open and close two groups of fixed contacts. This opening/closing operation does not involve sliding, so the operating force is light and there is little wear.

Moreover, since it has a simple configuration with two groups of fixed contacts and two pairs of spherical movable contacts, the manufacturing cost is low, and in this sense, the operating force is also light.

Since the operating force is light, the rolling contact pressure can be increased to ensure continuity.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a four-way switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. This FIG. 2 is viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a circuit board, which is installed inside the case 12. A guide plate 13 is provided in the case 12 in parallel with the circuit board 1, and a slider A14 is slidably housed between the guide plate 13 and the circuit board 1.

A spherical movable contact 15 is covered by a slider B11'. The slider B11' is the eighth
This member corresponds to the slider 11 shown in the figure, and is slidably fitted into the slider A, and is biased by a spring B16. The slider B11' presses the spherical movable contacts 15, 15' toward the circuit board 1 due to the above biasing force.

A push plate 17 is disposed on the front side of the case 12, and its back side is rotatably supported by a spherical seat 18.

The push plate 17 is elastically supported at its four corners by springs A19 (two springs A19 are shown in this figure), and when not receiving any particular external force, the circuit board 17 is supported as shown in the figure.
The neutral position is parallel to .

A transmission rod 20 is integrally connected at right angles to the rear side of the push plate 17, and its tip is attached to the slider A.
It engages with the recess of 14.

When the vicinity of the upper side of the push plate 17 shown in FIG. 2 is pushed, a force of arrow P _u shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

Similarly, when you push near the bottom edge, the force of arrow P _d is applied.

When the force of arrow P _u is applied, push plate 1
7 rotates clockwise in the figure around the spherical seat 18, and along with this, the transmission rod 20 tilts from the bottom right in the figure.
Slide the slider A14 downward in the figure. Along with this, the spherical movable contact 15 rolls downward in the figure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the circuit board 1. P ₁₅ and P ₁₆ shown surrounded by chain lines are fixed contact groups provided on the conductive pattern, respectively.

The fixed contact group P ₁₅ corresponds to the fixed contact group shown in FIG. 15, and the fixed contact group P ₁₆ corresponds to the fixed contact group shown in FIG. 16.

The shaded areas in Figure 3A are the first
This corresponds to the shaded area in FIGS. 5 and 16. t is a wire connection point.

FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram in which conductive portions are marked with spots to make it easier to read the pattern shape.

The spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 shown in FIG. 9 are in opposing contact with the fixed contact groups P ₁₅ and P ₁₆ , respectively, and the four single poles shown in FIG. It performs the same function as single-throw switches _S10 to _S13 .

The pair of spherical movable contacts 6 _-1 and 6 _-2 shown in FIG. 9, which is a principle diagram, are provided in two pairs in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and one pair each in the cross section of FIG. These circles are drawn as 15 and 15'.

When subjected to the forces of arrows P _u and P _d in FIG. 1, the fixed contact groups P ₁₅ and P ₁₆ in FIG. 3 open and close. In this way, one of the four single-pole single-throw switches constituted by the fixed contact group _P15 and the four single-pole single-throw switches constituted by the fixed contact group _P16 Opening/closing is performed in conjunction with one of the single-throw switches.

The switching lever 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a member for operating the switching switch _Slr shown in FIG. 4A. In the circuit pattern of Fig. 3A, the part shown below from E-E is the changeover switch Sl _r.
Fixed contacts and their connections.

22 shown in FIG. 1 is a connector socket.

[Effect of idea]

Since the four-way switch of the present invention does not have sliding contacts, the operating force is light, contact continuity is reliable, and there is no risk of premature wear.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show one embodiment of a four-way switch according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a sectional view, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a circuit board. Fourth
Figure A shows an example of a wiring diagram of a four-way switch, and Figure B is its connection diagram. 5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of a ball contact type switch. 9 to 16 are explanatory diagrams of a ball contact type switch improved to constitute the above embodiment. 1...Circuit board, 11'...Slider B, 13
... Guide plate, 14 ... Slider A, 15 ... Spherical movable contact, 16 ... Spring B, 17 ... Push plate, 18 ... Spherical seat, 19 ... Spring A, 20 ... Transmission rod, 21 ...Switching lever.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. Four sets of single-pole, single-throw switching contacts that open and close in conjunction with each other and one manual operation member are provided, and the one manual operation member has four sets of single-pole single-throw switching contacts that open and close in conjunction with each other, and one manual operation member In a four-way switch that selectively applies an operating force to open and close one set of the four sets of switching contacts, (a) a contact group consisting of at least seven fixed contacts on a circuit board; (b) one for each of the above two groups of fixed contacts;
(c) a slider B is provided to cover each pair of the spherical movable contacts of the two pairs of spherical movable contacts; (d) one slider A is provided in which two sliders B covering the two pairs of spherical movable contacts are slidably fitted; (e) the slider A and the two sliders B are slidably fitted; (f) providing guide means for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; (f) providing a guide means for sliding the slider A in parallel with the circuit board; g) A push plate, which is a manual operation member, is constructed separately from the above, and the push plate is arranged facing and spaced apart from the circuit board, (h) The push plate is arranged facing the circuit board, and (i) a power transmission rod is integrally implanted in the center of the surface on which the push plate faces the circuit board; (j) the power transmission rod A four-way switch characterized in that the tip of the rod is engaged with a recess provided in the center of the slider A. 2. The four-way switch according to claim 1, wherein the at least seven fixed contact groups are arranged as follows. (a) The points at which the pair of spherical movable contacts roll into contact with the circuit board when they are in the neutral position are A and B, and (b) The X axis connecting the above two points A and B is perpendicular to this. (c) One fixed contact is placed on each side of two points A and B on the X-axis, (d) Two points A on the X-axis. , at least 1 in the middle of B
(e) For each of the two points A and B, a pair of fixed contacts are provided on both sides in the Y-axis direction.