Push-button switch and multiple switch using the same

Details Push-button switch and multiple switch using the same Push-button switch and multiple switch using the same

2001-08-20

2003-09-16

Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Multiple circuit control

Multiple switch

C200S517000, C200S332000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06621017

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a push-button switch employed in various electronic apparatuses, such as television receivers and video cassette recorders, and it also relates to a multiple switch using the push-button switch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, the market has demanded that electronic apparatuses have versatile and advanced functions. This market situation entails versatile applications and specifications for push-button switches. To be more specific, in addition to switching a mono-function with one push-button, the need to move a cursor on a screen, for instance, up and down or side to side with a plurality of push-buttons, and the need to select a menu with another push-button, have increased in the market.
Such a conventional push-button switch is described with reference to
FIG. 13
to FIG.
15
.
FIG. 13
is a cross sectional view of a conventional push-button switch, and
FIG. 14
is an exploded perspective view of the same switch. In
FIGS. 13 and 14
, insulating board
1
has a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) on its upper and lower faces. A pair of fixed contacts
1
A are disposed at the center of the upper surface of board
1
, and four sets of fixed contacts
1
B are radially formed to be equally spaced apart around contacts
1
A.
Actuator
2
is made of resilient material such as rubber. Base section
2
A of actuator
2
forms an approximately flat board and overlies insulating board
1
. On base section
2
A, first actuating section
2
B and second actuating section
2
C protrude upward, and linking sections
2
D and
2
E for linking both actuating sections
2
B and
2
C to base section
2
A are formed. Each of linking sections
2
D and
2
E is formed as a thin dome.
Movable contacts
2
F and
2
G are formed on the underside of actuating sections
2
B and
2
C, and face respective fixed contacts
1
A and
1
B at a given spacing. Case
3
, having an open underside, covers actuator
2
. Case
3
is made of insulating resin, and has five openings
3
A on its upper surface. Through openings
3
A, actuating sections
2
B and
2
C protrude upwardly.
Operation of the conventional push-button switch discussed above will now be described. The upper surfaces of actuating sections
2
B and
2
C protruding from the upper surface of case
3
are depressed, so that actuating sections
2
B and
2
C move downward by bending linking sections
2
D and
2
E. Movable contacts
2
F and
2
G are brought into contact with fixed contacts
1
A and
1
B on board
1
, thereby closing the pair of contact points
1
A and
1
B.
When the pressure to the actuating sections is removed, movable contacts
2
F and
2
G spring back to a neutral position (contacts are open) shown in
FIG. 13
due to the elastic restoring force of linking sections
2
D and
2
E.
This type of push-button switch is mounted to an operation panel of an electronic apparatus, and is connected to an electronic circuit of the apparatus. This switch is used, for instance, in the following application: any one of four second actuating sections
2
C is depressed to move the cursor up and down or side to side on the screen, then first actuating section
2
B is depressed to select an item from a menu.
In this conventional switch, the shapes or the thickness of actuating sections
2
B and
2
C or linking sections
2
D and
2
E can be varied, thereby changing the required operating force or stroke of the switch somewhat. However, it is difficult to set a significantly different required operating force or stroke for respective actuating sections
2
B and
2
C due to limitations such as size and layout of the entire switch, although the respective actuating sections are to be used for different functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem discussed above, and aims to offer a push-button switch in which the required operating force and stroke can be variously set in accordance with an application. The push-button switch of the present invention comprises the following elements. An insulating board has a plurality of switch-contacts formed thereon. An actuator is made of resilient material and includes a base section on the insulating board; a first actuating section coupled to the base section via its linking section; and a second actuating section coupled to the base section via its linking section. An urging body includes a first end journaled by a supporting section formed on the insulating board or another supporting section formed on the actuator, and a second end for urging the first actuating section. An operating button is arranged for depressing the mid section of the urging body.
This structure allows the push-button switch to be operated in the following way: Depressing force travels to the first actuating section via the urging body and also travels to the second actuating section directly, not via the urging body. The first and second actuating sections thus have substantially different operating forces and strokes, so that various combinations of operating forces and strokes can be used for the push-button switch. A multi-switch device employing this push-button switch can be provided.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4486637 (1984-12-01), Chu
patent: 4866221 (1989-09-01), Obermann et al.
patent: 5012055 (1991-04-01), Matsui
patent: 5719361 (1998-02-01), Lee
patent: 6201202 (2001-03-01), Katagiri

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