Switch device

• US 7,763,819 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Haneda, Hideo, Ito, Takeshi, Ieda, Kiyokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi; Ross N
• Application Number:
  US11/630,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20080067050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 361/288, 361/290, 361/291
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch

Abstract

As sensor means for sensing an operation input of a user, a switch device X comprises a first electrode 11 that is an elastic plate member, and a second electrode 12 that is opposed to the first electrode 11. The first electrode 11 is provided so as to be switchable between a first stable posture in which the first electrode is biased to a switch input cancellation position and a second stable posture in which the first electrode is biased to a switch input position. An operation member 17 is provided for applying an operation force to the first electrode 11, thereby returning the posture thereof from the second stable posture to the first stable posture after the posture has been changed from the first stable posture to the second stable posture.

Claims

1. A switch device, comprising:

a sensor for sensing an operation input of a user comprising a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, the first electrode including an elastic plate member arranged to be switchable between a first stable posture in which the first electrode is at a switch input cancellation position, and a recessed second stable posture in which the first electrode is at a switch input position;

a switch device external wall portion; and

first and second switch device sealing portions arranged inside the switch device external wall portion, the first and second switch device sealing portions bonded together at a joint to form a sealed internal space in which the first and second electrodes are disposed, the joint being covered by the switch device external wall portion;

the first switch device sealing portion being operably connected to the first electrode such that the posture of the first electrode is changed from the first stable posture to the second stable posture when an operation input of a user is applied to the first switch device sealing portion, and such that the first switch device sealing portion applies an elastic restoring force to the first electrode while the first electrode is in the second stable posture;

wherein, after the operation input of a user is released, the posture of the first electrode is returned from the second stable posture to the first stable posture by the elastic restoring force of the first switch device sealing portion.

2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is of a capacitance-type in which a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is changed as a distance therebetween changes.

3. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is of a piezoelectric-type for detecting a change in a pressure applied by the first electrode to the second electrode.

4. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic sealing material is held at the joint between the first and second switch device sealing portions.

5. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the first switch device sealing portion is connected to the first electrode by an operating member attached to the first switch device sealing portion and extending through the elastic plate member.

6. The switch device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second switch device sealing portions are bonded together by pressure bonding.

7. The switch device according to claim 6, wherein the joint is formed between respective side faces of the first and second switch device sealing portions, which side faces being covered by the switch device external wall portion.

8. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic plate member is deformable between the first and second postures along a path intersecting the second electrode.

9. The switch device according to claim 8, wherein the first sealing member is elastically deformable along said path.

10. The switch device according to claim 8, further including a button arranged to be manually depressed along said path in a direction for elastically deforming the first sealing member.