Push switch and switch module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9793072-B2
Application number	US-201414786799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2014
Priority date	Apr 26, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

Provided are a switch module and a push switch that have a soft sensation when pressed. A push switch and a switch module have a substrate, a first fixed contact point disposed on the substrate surface, a second fixed contact point disposed around the first fixed contact point on the substrate surface, a convex dome-shaped upper spring disposed on the substrate surface so that an end part is in contact with the second fixed contact point, the upper spring being pressed so as to invert the dome shape and to establish conduction between the first fixed contact point and the second fixed contact point, and a lower spring disposed below the upper spring, the lower spring adjusting the operation load applied to the upper spring during inversion of the dome shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A push switch comprising:
a substrate;
a first fixed contact point disposed on a surface of the substrate;
a second fixed contact point disposed around the first fixed contact point on the surface of the substrate;
a convex dome-shaped movable member disposed on the surface of the substrate so that an end part of the movable member is in contact with the second fixed contact point, the movable member being pressed so as to invert the dome shape and thereby establish conduction between the first fixed contact point and the second fixed contact point; and
a buffer member disposed between the movable member and the substrate so as to cover the first fixed contact point without being in contact with any one of fixed contact points when the buffer member is not pressed through the movable member, the buffer member adjusting an operation load applied to the movable member during inversion of the dome shape,
wherein the buffer member is a leaf spring interposed between the substrate and the movable member to cover the first fixed contact point.

2. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate includes one of a through hole and an indentation in a portion with which the movable member comes into contact upon the inversion of the dome shape,
the first fixed contact point is disposed around the one of the through hole and the indentation, and
the buffer member is a leaf spring mounted on the substrate to cover the first fixed contact point and the one of the through hole and the indentation.

3. The push switch according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastic protective sheet which covers the movable member.

4. The push switch according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer member adjusts a change in the operation load for an amount of deformation of the movable member after establishment of the conduction between the first fixed contact point and the second fixed contact point.

5. A switch module comprising:
a common substrate; and
a plurality of switch structures formed on the common substrate,
the plurality of switch structures each comprising:
a first fixed contact point disposed on a surface of the common substrate;
a second fixed contact point disposed around the first fixed contact point on the surface of the common substrate;
a convex dome-shaped movable member disposed on the surface of the common substrate so that an end part of the movable member is in contact with the second fixed contact point, the movable member being pressed so as to invert the dome shape and thereby establish conduction between the first fixed contact point and the second fixed contact point; and
a buffer member disposed between the movable member and the common substrate so as to cover the first fixed contact point without being in contact with any one of fixed contact points when the buffer member is not pressed through the movable member, the buffer member adjusting an operation load applied to the movable member during inversion of the dome shape,
wherein the buffer member is a leaf spring interposed between the common substrate and the movable member to cover the first fixed contact point.

6. The switch module according to claim 5 , wherein
the common substrate includes one of a through hole and an indentation in a portion with which the movable member comes into contact upon the inversion of the dome shape,
the first fixed contact point is disposed around the one of the through hole and the indentation, and
the buffer member is a leaf spring mounted on the common substrate to cover the first fixed contact point and the one of the through hole and the indentation.

7. The switch module according to claim 5 , further comprising an elastic protective sheet which covers the movable member.

8. The switch module according to claim 5 , wherein the buffer member adjusts a change in the operation load for an amount of deformation of the movable member after establishment of the conduction between the first fixed contact point and the second fixed contact point.

Assignees

• Citizen Electronics
• Citizen Holdings Co Ltd
• Citizen Watch Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Shinsuke
• Okuma Satoshi

Classifications

• H01H13/85

  characterised by tactile feedback features · CPC title

• H01H2215/008

  Part of substrate or membrane · CPC title

• H01H13/48

  using buckling of disc springs · CPC title

• H01H13/80

  characterised by the manner of cooperation of the contacts, e.g. with both contacts movable or with bounceless contacts · CPC title

• H01H2215/002

  Longer travel · CPC title