Optical rocker switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10699860-B2
Application number	US-201816205190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2018
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Problem
To be capable of specifying an operation of a knob.
Solution
A switch 1 includes an operation detecting portion 7 which detects an operation of the knob 5 . The operation detecting portion 7 includes a movable member 6 which displaces in association with the operation of the knob 5 , a through hole 62 a which penetrates through a light shielding portion 62 of the movable member 6 in a thickness direction thereof, one optical source 15 which is provided on one side of the movable member 6 in the thickness direction, a light guiding path 9 A which is provided on the other side of the movable member 6 in the thickness direction, and two light receiving elements 10 A, 10 A which are attached to the light guiding path 9 A. The light guiding path 9 A is arranged in a position of being capable of receiving light emitted from the optical source 15 through the through hole 62 a when the movable member 6 is arranged in a predetermined position by the operation of the knob 5.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a movable member displaceable in association with an operation of a knob, the movable member including a through hole penetrating therethrough in a thickness direction of the movable member;
a light emitting element arranged on one side of the movable member in the thickness direction;
a plurality of light guiding paths arranged on the other side of the movable member in the thickness direction such that at least one of the plurality of light guiding paths receives at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting element passing through the through hole when the movable member is arranged in a predetermined position via the operation of the knob; and
a plurality of receiving elements arranged on a knob-side surface of the printed circuit board and coupling the plurality of light guiding paths to the printed circuit board.

2. The switch according to claim 1 , further comprising a receiver electronics circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of receiving elements, wherein:
each light guiding path of the plurality of light guiding paths is coupled to at least two respective receiving elements of the plurality of receiving elements, the at least two respective receiving elements arranged one after the other in a longitudinal direction of the light guiding path; and
the receiver electronics circuit is configured to output a signal emulating an output signal of a mechanical switch element when both of the at least two respective receiving elements receive the light from the light emitting element via the light guiding path.

3. The switch according to claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of light guiding paths are arranged in series and spaced apart from one another in the thickness direction;
the movable member includes a first movable member and a second movable member disposed on opposite sides of a first light guiding path of the plurality of light guiding paths relative to the thickness direction, the first movable member including two first moveable member through holes and the second movable member including the through hole;
when the movable member is arranged in a first predetermined position via the operation of the knob, a center axis line of the first light guiding path intersects the one of the two first moveable member through holes; and
when the movable member is arranged in a second predetermined position via the operation of the knob, the center axis line of the first light guiding path intersects the other of the two first moveable member through holes and the through hole of the second movable member.

4. The switch according to claim 1 , further comprising a light guiding body, wherein:
the plurality of light guiding paths are disposed parallel with each other and spaced apart from one another in a displacement direction of the movable member;
the light guiding body is structured to disperse and guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to each of the plurality of light guiding paths;
a first light guiding path of the plurality of light guiding paths is arranged such that the first light guiding path receives the light emitted from the light emitting element passing through the through hole when the movable member is arranged in a first predetermined position via the operation of the knob; and
a second light guiding path of the plurality of light guiding paths is arranged such that the second light guiding path receives the light emitted from the light emitting element passing through the through hole when the movable member is arranged in a second predetermined position via the operation of the knob.

5. The switch according to claim 4 , further comprising a light separator separating optically the first light guiding path and the second light guiding path.

6. The switch according to claim 4 , wherein:
the light emitting element is arranged in an accommodation hole disposed in the knob-side surface of the printed circuit board; and
the light guiding body includes an incident portion protruding into and arranged at least partially in the accommodation hole.

7. The switch according to claim 6 , wherein:
the light guiding body further includes a first exit portion arranged to face the first light guiding path and a second exit portion arranged to face the second light guiding path;
the plurality of receiving elements couple the plurality of light guiding paths to the printed circuit board such that the plurality of light guiding paths are disposed spaced apart from the knob-side surface of the printed circuit board;
the first light guiding path is arranged facing the first exit portion; and
the second light guiding path is arranged facing the second exit portion.

8. A switch comprising:
a movable member displaceable in association with an operation of a knob;
a through hole which penetrates through the movable member in a thickness direction of the movable member;
one light emitting element arranged on one side of the movable member in the thickness direction;
at least one light guiding path arranged on an other side of the movable member in the thickness direction;
at least one receiving element attached to the at least one light guiding path;
a receiver electronics circuit;
wherein the at least one light guiding path is arranged such that the at least one light guiding path receives a light emitted from the light emitting element passing through the through hole when the movable member is arranged in a predetermined position via the operation of the knob;
wherein the at least one receiving element includes a pair of receiving elements attached to the at least one light guiding path in a longitudinal direction of the at least one light guiding path such that both receiving elements of the pair of receiving elements receive the light emitted from the light emitting element through the through hole when the movable member is arranged in the predetermined position; and
wherein the receiver electronics circuit is configured to output a signal emulating an output signal of a mechanical switch element when both receiving elements of the pair of receiving elements receive the light from the light emitting element.

9. The switch according to claim 8 , wherein:
the movable member is swingable around a rotational shaft that extends parallel to a rotational shaft of the knob; and
the movable member is rotatable from a reference position in one direction, determined in response to a rotational direction of the knob, via an operable element extending from the knob.

10. The switch according to claim 8 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the pair of receiving elements are arranged on a knob-side surface of the printed circuit board and couple the at least one light guiding path to the printed circuit board such that the at least one light guiding path is disposed spaced apart from the knob-side surface of the printed circuit board.

11. The switch according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one light guiding path has a columnar shape and includes a material facilitating transmission of light.

12. The switch according to claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of support members through which light is transmittable, wherein each receiving element of the pair of receiving elements is coupled to the at least one light guiding path via a respective support member of the plurality of support members.

13. The switch according to claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one light guiding path includes a first light guiding path and a second light guiding path, the first light guiding path and the second light guiding path a

Assignees

• Valeo Japan Co Ltd

Inventors

• Schuler Stephane

Classifications

• H01H23/168 Primary

  using cams · CPC title

• H01H2239/022

  with opto-electronic switch · CPC title

• H01H2021/225

  with push-pull operation, e.g. which can be pivoted in both directions by pushing or pulling on the same extremity of the operating member · CPC title

• H03K17/969

  having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard · CPC title

• H03K17/968

  using opto-electronic devices · CPC title