Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Hiroshi Matsui

Tamotsu Yamamoto

Yukihiro Ishihara

Hideki Shigemoto

Hiroto Inoue

Keiji Kaizaki

Shigeru Yokoji

Koji Tamano

Jun Sato

Hisashi Watanabe

Matsuo Nishioka

Yoshinobu Nakagawa

Takashi Onizawa

Masaki Sawada

Yasunori Yanai

Kenji Kataoka

Koji Sako

Masatsugu Takeuchi

Tetsuya Fukuda

Koji Ono

Jun Sugahara

Yutaka Yamagishi

Takahiro Nishimura

Kazuhiro Enokido

Takahiro Miyashima

Tomitaro Murakami

Masayoshi Kakumu

Kazuo Sakami

Koji Umino

Tadashi Mihara

A push and rotary operating type electronic device comprises a push switch unit composed in a center of a bottom surface of a case , a rotary encoder unit composed at a periphery of the push switch unit, a discoidal operating knob mounted in a manner to be independently movable vertically, while also rotatable conjunctly with the rotary encoder unit , wherein the both component units and are operative by depression on a peripheral portion of the operating knob during a rotary manipulation and a center portion of the same in a depressing manipulation. Communication terminal equipment uses this push and rotary operating type electronic device. This structure realizes a small projected area, and allows the rotary manipulation and the depressing manipulation by operating different portions of the single operating knob

Pressing and rotating operation type electronic parts and communication terminal equipment using the electronic parts

A rotary-push type electronic component is provided for use in an electronic appliance such as a mobile phone. The electronic component includes a base unit, a frame mounted to the base unit, a support shaft coupling the frame to the base unit for pivotal and vertical movement of the frame relative to the base unit, a generally cylindrical operation knob rotatably mounted to the frame, a rotary operation device for emitting an electric signal upon rotation of the generally cylindrical operation knob, and a pair of self-restoring push operation parts spaced apart on the base unit below the frame so as to be operated by pivoting of the frame about the support shaft relative to the base unit. The support shaft is disposed at a rear portion of the frame, and the push operation parts are disposed beneath a front portion of the frame.

Rotary-push type electronic component and electronic appliance using the same

An operation type electronic component which is used for a remote controller of various electronic equipment and portable electronic equipment and is equipped with a push switch driven by the rotating and push operation of an operation knob. The component can be reduced in size and grounded by a simple construction and can be grounded by merely fitting. A dome-like movable contact (,E) is put on fixed contacts (,A,,B) disposed on a fitting substrate (,) to form a switch unit (,). An L-shaped actuator is interposed between this switch unit (,) and a driving body (,) so that the driving body (,) returns to the original state after the push operation of an operation knob (,) by the elastic operation force of the dome-like movable contact point (,E)of the switch unit (,). Further, a metal plate (,) equipped integrally with a live current portion (,) and a conductor of an earth portion (,) is fixed by insert-molding to the resin fitting substrate (,) and is electrically isolated so as to interpose a lightning conductor portion (,A) of the earth portion (,) between the live current portion (,) and the operation knob (,). According to this constitution, the number of constituent components can be reduced, the overall size can be reduced, too, and static electricity occurring in the operation knob (,) can be always conducted to the earth.

Electronic component with built-in push switch driven by rotary and pushing operation of an operating knob

A push and rotary operating type electronic device includes: a cylindrical operating knob supported rotatably about an axis extending through both end surfaces; a rotary contact plate having an electric contact surface, and disposed on one of the end surfaces of the cylindrical operating knob; a rotatable body supported rotatably at one side of it, and for rotatably supporting the cylindrical operating knob; a substrate body for rotatably supporting the cylindrical operating knob and the rotatable body as an integral unit; a push-to-operate type component disposed on the substrate body in a position apart from a supporting portion of the rotatable body in such a manner as to be actuated by a rotational movement of the rotatable body; and a contact bar having a flexible contact blade at one end for contacting resiliently with the electric contact surface provided on the rotary contact plate and an externally connecting terminal at the other end, and fixed to the substrate body. A rotary encoder includes the rotary contact plate and the contact bar. The structure can realize the push and rotary operating type electronic device featuring a smooth operation and high contact reliability, and it can reduce size of equipment wherein this device is housed.

Push and rotary operating type electronic device

A rotary operating-type electronic device used mainly in a peripheral apparatus such as a mouse for computers, portable telephones, an electronic device mounted on an automobile, and the like, in which a rotary type component and a linearly-driven type component are operated by a rotating manipulation of an operating knob attached to an operating axle and a tilting manipulation of the same knob in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the operating axle. The device is so constructed that the operating axle is supported to be rotatable together with a rotary encoder unit and also tiltable, by fitting an end of the operating axle in an axle-supporting portion having a non-circular center hole of a rotor of the rotary encoder. An operating knob of either a discal shape or a polygonal shape having a predetermined width is attached to an intermediate portion of the operating axle that protrudes from the rotor, and a push switch is disposed in a position to be in contact with another end of the operating axle.

Rotary operating-type electronic device

A rotary encoder used mainly in a peripheral apparatus for computers, a portable telephone, an on-board electronic device for automobiles, and the like, in which an encoder unit and a linearly-driven type component are operable by a rotating manipulation and a tilting manipulation of an operating axle. The rotary encoder provides accuracy and is capable of producing a large number of output signals without requiring an increase in external dimensions. The rotary encoder is so constructed that flexible contacts and make resilient contact with movable contacts on a peripheral surface of a cylindrical rotor in a main unit of the encoder. The operating axle is pivotally supported by fitting it in an axle-supporting portion of the rotor in a manner that the operating axle is rotatable together with the rotor and is also tiltable. A cylindrical operating knob is attached to the operating axle that protrudes sideways from the rotor, and a push switch is disposed in a position to be in contact with a distal end of the same operating axle, and thereby making the main unit of the encoder operable by rotating manipulation and the push switch by tilting manipulation of the operating axle.

Rotary encoder

A multidirectional controller includes: a substrate having a first end portion and a second end portion, which sways via a supporting point provided at the first end portion; an electronic part provided at the second end portion, which includes a control portion which is manipulated in a predetermined direction in which the electronic part causes the substrate to sway when the electronic part is manipulated; a supporting member for supporting the substrate; and a switch provided so as to be switched in response to the sway of the substrate, when the electronic part is manipulated in the predetermined direction.

Multidirectional controller and multidirectional controlling device using the same

A rotary type electronic component includes (a) a bearing formed of a cylindrical section and a substrate on which the cylindrical section is situated, (b) a rotary shaft formed of an upper section protruding from the bearing, a mid section journaled by the bearing, and a lower section having a flange with a hole which communicates with a recess formed axially in the shaft, (c) a case coupled with a lower face of the substrate so that the case covers the lower section of the shaft, and on its bottom plate having fixed contacts corresponding to movable contacts, (d) a spring housed in the recess of the shaft and biasing from inner section of the recess toward the bottom plate of the case, and (e) a frictional plate having a hole in the axial direction, engaging with a rim of recess opening, being urged by the spring against the bottom plate of the case, following the rotation of the shaft and yet moving axially and independently of the shaft. This construction allows the downsized component to keep required high torque with smooth tactile feel as well as a long service-life.

Rotary type electronic component and manufacturing method of the same

A push-on switch includes a casing made of insulating material and having an inner bottom surface. First fixed contacts are provided on the inner bottom surface of the casing. Second fixed contacts are provided on the inner bottom surface of the casing. Movable contacts have base portions and resilient contact arms. The base portions are placed on and electrically connected to the first fixed contacts respectively. The resilient contact arms extend from the base portions to regions above the second fixed contacts respectively. A dome-shaped spring member made of resilient insulating material has a top portion, a conical portion, and a lower end. The top portion and the lower end are connected by the conical portion. The lower end is placed on the base portions of the movable contacts. The top portion has a lower surface located above free ends of the resilient contact arms of the movable contacts. A lid member fixed to the casing has a hole through which the top portion of the dome-shaped spring member extends. The lid member presses the lower end of the dome-shaped spring member against the base portions of the movable contacts. As the top portion of the dome-shaped spring member is depressed, the dome-shaped spring member brings the resilient contact arms into contact with the second fixed contacts respectively.

Push-on switch

To present an electronic component including a contact integrated type terminal having a terminal portion with excellent mechanical strength and solderability and a contact portion with excellent contact characteristic. It comprises a contact integrated type terminal made of metal having a contact portion formed at one end and a terminal portion formed at other end, a case fixing the contact integrated type terminal, a movable contact placed in the case so as to cover the contact portion, and an operation member for operating the movable contact. The contact integrated type terminal includes a plated layer having solderability and conductivity at least on one side thereof, the terminal portion has a folded and overlaid shape so that the plated layer comes to the outside surface, the terminal portion can be soldered to a wiring board, the contact portion has the plated layer installed at the same side as the one side, and the movable portion contacts with the contact portion by operating the operation member so as to conduct with each other electrically.

Electronic component having contact integrated type terminal

A push-on switch includes a contact substrate provided thereon with a switch contact assembly, and an elastically deformable member disposed on the switch contact assembly. The push-on switch further includes a push button having a plate portion and a tubular portion. The tubular portion extends downward from the peripheral edge of the plate portion to surround an upper portion of the elastically deformable member. The plate portion is formed with a recess on an underside thereof at its center. A bottom surface of the recess is placed on a top surface of the elastically deformable member. The push-on switch further includes a tubular case fixed to the contact substrate. The tubular case supports the tubular portion of the push button so as to be vertically movable in the tubular case.

Long-stroke push-on switch with reduced height

A multidirectional switch, which performs a tilting operation in multiple directions generating a signal by tilting the shaft portion of the operating member, includes: a dome-shaped movable contact made of a resilient thin metal plate; a box-shaped case; a cover including a through hole at a center thereof, the cover covers an upper opening of the case; and a flange portion integrally formed at a lower end of the shaft portion of the operating member. The case includes, on a bottom surface thereof: an outer fixed contact on which an outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact is placed; and a plurality of inner fixed contacts provided inside positions corresponding to the outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact so as to be equiangular and equidistant from a center of the dome-shaped movable contact. In the operating member, the shaft portion extends upwards out of the through hole of the cover, an upper surface of the flange portion is in contact with an inner surface of the cover, a periphery of the operating member is fitted and supported by an inner wall of the case so that the operating member is not rotatable but is tiltable and movable vertically, first pressing portions are provided respectively at positions on a lower surface of the operating member corresponding to the plurality of inner fixed contacts, and the plurality of first pressing portions are in contact with the dome-shaped movable contact.

Multidirectional operating switch and multidirectional operating

A push switch is disclosed which includes: an insulation substrate (11) having a circular hollow portion (14) therein, first and second adhesive layers (15A, 15B) on the hollow portion and a top surface respectively and a fixing portion (12A) having a first C-shape and a hollow portion (18), having a second C-shape, arranged inside the first C-shape. The hollow portion is arranged in the circular hollow portion and fixed by the first adhesive layer and the fixing portion fixed on the top surface of the insulation substrate by the second adhesive layer. The hollow portion has at least three protruding portions (19) thereon. A center contact (21) is arranged at inside the second C-shape. There is an arm portion (22) extending from the center contact toward the outside of the second C-shape through an opening of the second C-shape. There is a movable contact (24) having a dome shape on the protruding portions and a cover sheet (26), fixed on the fixing portion so as to cover the movable contact. Sizes of the movable contact and protruding portions are so determined as to provide an ON-OFF operation. A method of producing a push switch is also disclosed wherein the outer contact and the center contact portion having the arm portion are made from a piece of trimmed metal plate by cutting connecting portions connecting them to a frame of the metal plate after arrangement on the switch substrate.

Push switch and a method of producing a push switch

A rotary operation type electric device of the present invention includes: a rotary shaft; a rotary plate which is rotatable around the rotational axis; a connecting member for connecting the rotary shaft and the rotary plate, which retracts in an axial direction of the rotary shaft and does not retract in a rotary direction of the rotary plate; and an output terminal for outputting a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary plate.

Rotary and pushbutton switch operating mechanism including flexible

A rotatively-operated electronic component with a push switch includes an attachment base plate. A rotatively-operated electronic component portion supported on the attachment base plate has a rotatable operation knob. An electric signal can be generated in response to rotation of the operation knob. The rotatively-operated electronic component portion can move relative to the attachment base plate by application of a force to the operation knob. A push switch portion is supported on the attachment base plate. The push switch portion is actuated in response to movement of the rotatively-operated electronic component portion relative to the attachment base plate by the application of the force to the operation knob.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Hiroshi Matsui