Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Solid contact – Membrane type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-07
2004-03-02
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Solid contact
Membrane type
C200S516000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06700086
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a flexible switch comprising a front sheet, having dome-like projected portions, a spacer sheet, a circuit member, and an adhesive sheet and a method for the flexible switch.
FIGS. 35 and 36
show the first embodiment of a related switch. In
FIGS. 35 and 36
, this related switch comprises a board
411
, having a switching circuit (not shown) formed on a face thereof, an integral-type rubber switch unit
415
, an integral-type key top unit
420
, and a casing
413
. The board
411
, the integral-type rubber switch unit
415
and the integral-type key top unit
420
are fixedly secured by screws
412
to the casing
413
in a generally laminated manner.
With respect to the integral-type rubber switch unit
415
, reference numeral
416
denotes rubber switch portions, reference numeral
416
a
denotes a flaring portion, and reference numeral
416
b
denotes an electrode. With respect to the integral-type key top unit
420
, reference numeral
421
denotes key tops, reference numeral
422
denotes a numeral, a character, a sign or the like, reference numeral
423
denotes an arm, reference numeral
424
denotes a frame, reference numeral
424
a
denotes a longitudinal frame portion, and reference numeral
424
b
denotes a transverse frame portion. With respect to the casing
413
, reference numeral
413
a
denotes openings.
FIGS. 37 and 38
show the second embodiment of a related switch. In
FIG. 37
, a plurality of switches
2
to
6
are mounted on an instrument panel
1
(which is one of component parts of an automobile), and are disposed at suitable positions around indicating meters
7
. For example, the construction of the switch
2
will be described with reference to FIG.
38
. This switch
2
comprises a circuit member
8
, rubber switches
9
and
9
, key tops
10
, and a bezel
11
.
The circuit member
8
comprises a rigid board
12
, and a plurality of circuits
13
are formed on this board in desired patterns. Contacts
14
for the rubber switches
19
, as well as a plurality of electrical function parts
15
, are provided on the circuits
13
. In
FIG. 38
, reference numeral
16
denotes an FFC, and reference numeral
17
denotes a connection portion of this FFC
16
.
In the above construction, the circuit member
8
is mounted on the inside of the instrument panel
1
through the rigid board
12
. The rubber switches
9
and
9
are mounted respectively on the contacts
14
and
14
on the circuit member
8
. Further, the key tops
10
are mounted on the rubber switches
9
and
9
, and then the bezel
11
is mounted on these key tops. The bezel
11
is fitted in an opening formed in the instrument panel
1
. Design portions
18
are formed on the faces of the key tops
10
and bezel
11
by printing, ornamentation or the like.
The above first embodiment of the related switch has the following problems.
Firstly, the overall structure is complicated, and the thickness of the main component members in the laminating direction is large, and most of the parts are made of rigid materials, and therefore there are encountered problems that it is difficult to achieve the thin/lightweight design of the switch and that the degree of freedom with respect to the configuration is almost zero.
Secondly, there is encountered a problem that a region where the switch is installed (or mounted) is limited to a portion where a large receiving space or a flat-face configuration is available.
Thirdly, there is encountered a problem that the special and cumbersome fixing, utilizing locks, screws or the like, is required.
Next, in the above second embodiment of the related switch, when it is necessary to change the design portions
18
, the printing, ornamentation or the like for the key tops
10
and the bezel
11
must be changed, and therefore there is encountered a problem that this change is complicated. For example, in the case where it is necessary to provide variations in accordance with the grade of an automobile, the design portions
18
must be changed in accordance with this variation, which invites a problem that the change becomes more complicated.
And besides, in the above related switch, the switch
2
(like the other switches
3
to
6
) is thick, and therefore there is encountered a problem that the switch
2
can not be installed unless a large receiving space is provided at the inside of the instrument panel
1
. Naturally, this problem is also encountered with the installation of an optional switch.
Furthermore, the above related switch has a problem that the switch
2
(like the other switches
3
to
6
) can not be installed unless there is provided a flat face having no two-dimensional/three-dimensional face (In other words, there is encountered a problem that the installation portion is limited.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flexible switch and a method for producing the same which increases the installation range, and has a thin/lightweight design and a high degree of freedom for the configuration, and facilitates the mounting, and enables the space-saving, and enable to reflects the design change and model change of a machine and motor or a like.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a flexible switch comprising:
an adhesive sheet;
a circuit member, provided on the adhesive sheet, and having an electrode;
a spacer sheet, provided on the circuit member, and having a through hole situated so as to correspond to the electrode on the circuit member; and
a front sheet, provided on the spacer sheet, and having a projected portion, in which a contact portion provided on an inner face of the projected portion is brought into contact with the electrode through the through hole in the circuit member when the projected portion is depressed; and
wherein at least one of the adhesive sheet, the circuit member, the spacer sheet, and the front sheet has flexibility.
Preferably, a form of the projected portion is shaped into a hemisphere.
Preferably, the flexible switch further comprising an external connection member, for electrically connecting the circuit member to an external member, and the external connection member provided on the circuit member.
Preferably, the external member is at least one of an automotive component and an automotive accessory.
In this configurations, when the projected portion is depressed, and is inverted inwardly, the electrode on the inner face of the projected portion is brought into contact with the contact on the circuit member through the through hole in the spacer sheet, so that the conductive condition is obtained. When the depressing of the projected portion is canceled, so that this projected portion is restored into its original condition, the conductive condition is canceled. Here, the spacer sheet functions as a member for preventing the excess deformation of the front sheet. The flexible switch includes the adhesive sheet, and has flexibility, and the circuit member has the external connection member. Therefore, the installation region is not limited to a portion where a large receiving space or a flat face-configuration is available, but the switch can be installed or mounted on a portion, such for example as a curved face. And besides, the fixing of the switch is effected merely by bonding the adhesive fixing face to the mounting member, and therefore the switch can be easily mounted.
Therefore, there can be provided the flexible switch of the invention in which the switch operating functions are obtained with the small construction and the simple structure, and besides the installation range is increased, and the thin/lightweight design is achieved, and the degree of freedom for the configuration is enhanced, and the mounting is easy.
Here, it is preferable that, the external connection member includes at least one of an edge connector terminal and a connector.
In this configuration, the electrical connection to the exterior is effected via the edge connector termin
Kawaguchi Kenichiro
Kubota Minoru
Nishitani Keizo
Serizawa Yasuyoshi
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