Multi-input switch

Details Multi-input switch Multi-input switch

1999-11-18

2001-04-03

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Multiple circuit control

Operating means

C200S553000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06211474

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-input switch which is suitable for use in radios, CD recorders, and navigation systems for automobiles, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a conventional multi-input switch disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 5,613,600.
As shown in
FIGS. 8
to
11
, in the multi-input switch, a rotatively-operated component “R” is operated by the rotation of an operation knob “S” while a push-switch “P” is operated by the movement of the operation knob “S” in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the operation knob “S”.
The rotatively-operated component “R” is formed such that a rotary member
53
thereof is rotatably attached through a shaft
54
to a box-shaped casing
51
to which a contact member
50
having a pair of resilient contact arms
50
a
and
50
b
is fixed. A contact plate
52
sliding in contact with the resilient contact arm
50
a
in the box-shaped casing
51
is fixed to the rotary member
53
.
The push-switch “P” is formed such that a contact portion (not shown) is arranged within a cage
55
to which an operation button
56
is movably attached.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, a flat-plate-shaped insulating base plate
58
comprises a recess portion
58
a for guiding the rotatively-operated component “R”, a pair of guide rails
58
b
for preventing the rotatively-operated component “R” from coming off disposed on both sides of the recess portion
58
a
, and a recess portion
58
c
and a protruded portion
58
d
, each spaced from the recess portion
58
a.
Furthermore, in the insulating base plate
58
, fixed terminals
59
are embedded in an exposed state in the recess portion
58
a.
The rotatively-operated component “R” is attached to the insulating base plate
58
; the casing
51
of the rotatively-operated component “R” is placed on the recess portion
58
a
of the insulating base plate
58
, the guide rails
58
b
are urged in contact with step portions
51
a
of the casing
51
, and the casing
51
is elastically pressed by a torsion coil spring
60
supported by the protruded portion
58
d.
When the rotatively-operated component “R” is attached, the resilient contact arm
50
b
is in contact with contacts
59
a
exposed on the insulating base plate
58
.
The push-switch “P” is attached to the insulating base plate
58
; the cage
55
of the push-switch “P” is fitted into the recess portion
58
c
on the insulating base plate
58
, and the operating button
56
opposes a protruded portion
51
b
of the casing
51
of the rotatively-operated component “R”.
Furthermore, the operation knob “S” is attached to the rotary member
53
of the rotatively-operated component “R” by a screw
61
.
The operation of the conventional multi-input switch will now be described; when the operation knob “S” is rotated, the rotary member
53
rotates about the shaft
54
in accordance with the rotation, the contact plate
52
attached to the rotary member
53
also rotates to be contacted with and separated from the resilient contact arm
50
a
for switching the contact, the switching is derived via the resilient contact arm
50
b
and the contact
59
a
to the fixed terminal
59
.
Next, when the operation knob “S” is pushed in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft
54
, i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow “Y”, the operation knob “S” moves in the direction of the arrow “Y” against the torsion coil spring
60
accompanying the rotatively-operated component “R”.
At this time, in the state that the electrical connection of the rotatively-operated component “R” is maintained, i.e., the resilient contact arm
50
b
is sliding on the contact
59
a
of the fixed terminal
59
, the protruded portion
51
b
of the casing
51
pushes the operation button
56
of the push-switch “P”.
Thus, the contact of the push-switch “P” is switched, and then when the pressing is relieved, the rotatively-operated component “R” returns to the original position accompanying the operation knob “S” owing to the torsion coil spring
60
.
At this time, in the state that the electrical connection of the rotatively-operated component “R” is maintained, i.e., the resilient contact arm
50
b
is sliding on the contact
59
a
of the fixed terminal
59
, the operation button
56
returns to the original state, so that the contact of the push-switch “P” is switched.
In this manner, the rotatively-operated component “R” is operated by the rotation of the operation knob “S” while the push-switch “P” is operated by the movement of the operation knob “S” in the direction perpendicular to the axis.
The conventional multi-input switch involves a problem that the size thereof is large because the rotatively-operated component “R” moves when the operation knob “S” is moved in the direction perpendicular to the axis.
Also, in order to maintain the electrical connection of the rotatively-operated component “R” when the rotatively-operated component “R” is moved, it is required that the resilient contact arm
50
b
slide on the contact
59
a
of the fixed terminal
59
, so that the elongation of the component life is difficult and the manufacturing cost is increased due to the complicated structure.
Furthermore, since two components, i.e., the rotatively-operated component “R” and the push-switch “P”, are operated by the operation knob “S”, there is another problem that numerous switches cannot be switched.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-input switch comprising: an operation member rotatable and movable in a substantially perpendicular direction to a rotation axis of the operation member; a rotatively-operated electronic component arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the operation member; a first switch arranged in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the operation member; and a shaft member inserted into a center potion of the operation member to be retained in a retaining portion of the operation member or a shaft member retained at a center portion of an operation member while one end portion of the shaft member is retained in a rotational body of the rotatively-operated electronic component, wherein the rotatively-operated electronic component is operated via the shaft member by the rotational movement of the operation member and the first switch is operated by the perpendicular movement of the operation member, and wherein the shaft member is tiltable about the one end portion retained in the rotational body of the rotatively-operated electronic component as a supporting point.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-input switch comprising: an operation member having a through-hole formed so that the both sides of a retaining portion of the through-hole are conical-shaped, the operation member being rotatable and movable in a substantially perpendicular direction to a rotation axis of the operation member and also being tiltable about the retaining portion of the through-hole; a rotatively-operated electronic component arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the operation member; a plurality of switches arranged so as to oppose the operation member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the operation member; a shaft member inserted into the through-hole of the operation member to be retained in the retaining portion while one end portion of the shaft member is retained in a rotational body of the rotatively-operated electronic component, wherein the rotatively-operated electronic component is operated via the shaft member by the rotational movement of the operation member and any one of the plurality of switches is operated by the perpendicular movement of the operation member, and wherein another one of the plurality of switches is operated by the tilting movement of the operating member.
With these features, a multi-input switch may further comprise a driving member d

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