Panel switch

• US 4,977,298 A
• Filed: 09/08/1989
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiyama, Terumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/404,879
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/86 R, 200/512-517, 235/145 R, 235/146, 341/22, 340/706, 340/711
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/054 common to all switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/024 Common site to all actuators, e.g. auxiliary
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches

Abstract

A panel switch according to the present invention has a switching unit comprising a plurality of switches which are not provided with individual click means and at least one click mechanism for the switching unit. Because the switching unit does not incorporate individual click mechanisms, the panel switch can be formed into a small size. In addition, by the integration of the provided click mechanism, the degree of freedom on the design of the panel switch is enlarged, and a small-sized panel switch which is excellent in switching feeling can be offered.

Claims

1. A panel switch comprising:

a casing;

a switch unit carrying thereon a plurality of touch switches, each touch switch which is operated when the touch switch is depressed by a light force and which is sprung back after said light force is removed;

a means for holding said switch unit in said casing, movably in directions in which said touch switches are depressed and sprung back, respectively;

a click mechanism normally urging said switch unit in the directions in which said touch switches are sprung back, said click mechanism giving a click feeling when a manipulating force which is greater than said light force is applied to any one of said touch switches, which has been depressed by said light force, so as to move the switch unit in the direction in which said touch switches are depressed; and

at least one enabling switch which is operated in association with said click mechanism giving said click feeling, for making operation of any one of said touch switches which has been depressed, effective when said enabling switch is operated.

2. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is disposed in a cover for said casing, while said enabling switch is disposed in said casing so that said enabling switch is depressed by said cover when said switch unit is depressed.

3. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is disposed in a cover for said casing which makes contact with said casing when said cover is opened, and said enabling switch being disposed in said casing.

4. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is a keyboard through which input data is manually inputted, and said enabling switch transmits said input data when said enabling switch is operated.

5. A panel switch as set forth in claim 4, wherein said switch unit carries a key matrix below said key board.

6. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit includes a sheet on which a pattern of buttons is printed, said buttons corresponding to said touch switches, respectively.

7. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is pivotally moved when any one of said touch switches is depressed.

8. A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said click mechanism is incorporated in said enabling switch.