Technical Field

The present invention relates to a switch device that is used to operate a power widow of a vehicle . Background Art

Fig . 4A shows the configuration of a switch device in the related art, in which a pusher 33 is placed on a manual switch 31 and an automatic switch 32. The self-holding force F _m of the manual switch 31 is set to have a relatively small value, and the self-holding force F ₀ of the automatic switch 32 is set to have a relatively large value . When an operator operates a knob, operating force F ₃ is exerted on the operating point P _s of the pusher 33 so that the pusher 33 pushes the manual switch 31 and the automatic switch 32. The distance L _ms between the operating point P _s of the pusher 33 and the operating point of the manual switch 31 is set equal to the distance L _OΞ between the operating point P _s of the pusher 33 and the operating point of the automatic switch 32. When the knob is operated, the manual switch 31 is pushed and turned on preferentially, and then the automatic switch 32 is pushed and turned on afterward .

Fig . 4B shows another configuration of the switch device in the related art . In this switch device, the self- holding force F _m of the manual switch 31 is set equal to the self-holding force F ₀ of the automatic switch 32 , and the distance L _ms between the operating point P ₃ of the pusher 33 and the operating point of the manual switch 31 is set shorter than the distance L ₀₃ between the operating point P ₃ of the pusher 33 and the operating point of the automatic switch 32. Therefore, when the knob is operated, the manual switch 31 is pushed and turned on preferentially, and then the automatic switch 32 is pushed and turned on afterward . Patent Document 1 : JP-A-10-106396 Disclosure of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the case of the switch device in Fig. 4A, when the automatic switch 32 is turned on with proper operating force F ₃ , the self-holding force F _m of the manual switch 31 decreases . As a result, the manual switch 31 can be turned on when an operator exerts only small force F ₃ on the knob . In the case of the switch device in Fig . 4B, when the manual switch 31 is turned on with proper operating force F ₃ , the self-holding force F ₀ of the automatic switch 32 increases

in conjunction with the self-holding force F _m of the manual switch 31. As a result, the automatic switch 32 cannot be turned on even when an operator exerts large force F ₃ on the knob .

The present invention has been invented in view of the problems inherent to the switch device in the related art, it is an advantage of an aspect of the invention to provide a switch device capable of operating both the manual switch and the automatic switch with proper force . Means for Solving the Problems

A switch device according to the invention includes : a push-type manual switch that is to be pushed against self-holding force to an ON state, the self-holding force being set to have a relatively large value ; a push-type automatic switch that is to be pushed against the self-holding force to an ON state, the self- holding force being set to have a relatively small value smaller than the relatively large value; a switch substrate that outputs manual signals for operating a power window of a vehicle to move as long as the manual switch remains in the ON state on the basis of the operation of the manual switch in the ON state, and outputs automatic signals for operating the power window to move to

an allowable position on the basis of the operation of the automatic switch in the ON state; a pusher that pushes the manual switch and the automatic switch sequentially by operating force of a knob; and the knob that can be operated by a user, and transfers the operating force to the pusher at a location closer to the manual switch side with respect to a center point of a segment connecting an operating point of pushing force exerted on the manual switch from the pusher and an operating point of pushing force exerted on the automatic switch from the pusher . Effects of the Invention

The self-holding force of the manual switch is set to have a relatively large value, and the self-holding force of the automatic switch is set to have a relatively small value , Further, the distance between the operating point of the pusher and the operating point of the manual switch is set shorter than the distance between the operating point of the pusher and the operating point of the automatic switch . As a result, when the knob is operated, the manual switch and the automatic switch are pushed by the pusher, and the manual switch is pushed and turned on preferentially and

then the automatic switch is pushed and turned on afterward . According to the configuration of the invention, it is possible to strengthen the operating force that pushes and turns on the manual switch, and to weaken the operating force that pushes and turns on the automatic switch . Therefore, both the manual switch and the automatic switch can be operated with proper operating force . Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig . 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the invention (a cross-sectional view of the internal configuration of a switch device when a manual switch and an automatic switch are in the OFF state) .

Fig . 2 is a view showing the disposition relationship among a pusher, the manual switch and the automatic switch when the manual switch and the automatic switch are in the OFF state .

Fig . 3 is a view showing the relationship between the ratio of contact point load and the ratio of operating location .

Figs . 4A and 4b are views showing switch devices in the related art . Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

An embodiment according to the present invention will

be described with reference to accompanying drawings .

A switch substrate 1 includes a printed circuit board. A fixed manual contact point 2 and a fixed automatic contact point 3 are formed on a wiring pattern of the switch substrate 1 as shown in Fig . 1. A switch case 4 is fixed on the switch substrate 1 and is provided with a plurality of leg parts 5. A sheet-shaped holder base 6 is interposed between the plurality of leg parts 5 and the switch substrate 1. The holder base 6 is made of conductive rubber and fixed between the plurality of leg parts 5 and the switch substrate 1 , not so as to deviate .

The holder base 6 includes a movable manual contact point 7 , which is integrally formed therewith as a rubber contact point . The movable manual contact point 7 includes a contact point part 8 and a skirt part 9, and the contact point part 8 is coupled with the holder base 6 through the skirt part 9. The contact point part 8 and the skirt part 9 correspond a relative rigid body and a relative elastic body, respectively . The contact point part 8 comes into contact with the fixed manual contact point 2 so as to turn a switch on when the skirt part 9 is elastically deformed, and is separated from the fixed manual contact point 2 so as to turn the switch back to off when the skirt part 9

elastically returns due to the elastic force of the rubber . That is, the fixed manual contact point 2 and the movable manual contact point 7 constitute a push-type manual switch 10.

The holder base 6 includes a movable automatic contact point 11 , which is integrally formed therewith as a rubber contact point . The movable automatic contact point 11 includes a contact point part 12 acting as a relative rigid body and a skirt part 13 acting as a relative elastic body. The contact point part 12 comes into contact with the fixed automatic contact point 3 so as to turn the switch on when the skirt part 13 is elastically deformed, and is separated from the fixed automatic contact point 3 so as to turn the switch back to off when the skirt part 13 elastically returns due to the elastic force of the rubber . The skirt part 13 of the movable automatic contact point 11 is thinner than the skirt part 9 of the movable manual contact point 7. The self-holding force F ₀ of the movable automatic contact point 11 is set to be smaller than the self-holding force F _m of the movable manual contact point 7 as shown in Fig . 2. Meanwhile, the reference numeral 14 in Fig . 1 indicates a push-type automatic switch constituted by the fixed automatic contact point 3 and the movable automatic contact

point 11.

The switch substrate 1 is connected to an ECU of a vehicle, and outputs manual signals to the ECU when the manual switch 10 is in the ON state and outputs automatic signals when the automatic switch 14 is in the ON state . The ECU operates the power window of the vehicle on the basis of the manual signals and the automatic signals transmitted from the switch substrate 1 , that is, the ECU operates the power window as long as the manual signals are detected when only the manual signals are detected, and operates the power window to an allowable position regardless of the detecting period of the automatic signals when the automatic signals are detected.

The switch case 4 includes a tubular knob base 15 as shown in Fig . 1. The knob base 15 receives a pusher 16 therein, and the pusher 16 includes a manual pushing part 17 and an auto pushing part 18. The manual pushing part 17 and the auto pushing part 18 are supported by the movable manual contact point 7 and the movable auto contact point 11 , respectively . Thus the manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 are held in a normal state against the load of the pusher 16.

A knob 19 is mounted on the knob base 15 so as to

pivot on a shaft 20. The manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 are disposed on a common straight line parallel to the pivoting direction of the knob 19. The knob 19 includes a vertical plate-shape operating part 21. The operating part 21 has a surface shape of circular arc and linearly contacts with an operating point P ₅ on the upper surface of the pusher 16 as shown in Fig . 2. The operating point P ₃ is set at a location closer to the manual switch 10 side than the automatic switch 14 side with respect to a center point of a segment connecting an operating point P _m of pushing force, which is exerted on the contact point part 8 of the manual switch 10 from the manual pushing part 17 of the pusher 16, and an operating point P ₀ of pushing force, which is exerted on the contact point part 12 of the automatic switch 14 from the automatic pushing part 18 of the pusher 16, and the knob 19 transfers the operating force to the pusher 16 at the operating point P ₃ .

If the knob 19 is operated in the direction of the arrow in Fig . 1 at the time that the manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 are in the OFF state, the operating force is transferred to the pusher 16 via the operating part 21 of the knob 19, and thus the manual pushing part 17 and the auto pushing part 18 of the pusher 16 push the contact

point part 8 of the manual switch 10 and the contact point part 12 of the automatic switch 14 , respectively . Then, the skirt part 9 of the manual switch 10 is elastically deformed, and thus the contact point part 8 comes into contact with the fixed manual contact point 2 , thereby turning on the manual switch 10 preferentially. After that, while the manual switch 10 remains in the ON state, the skirt part 13 of the automatic switch 14 is elastically deformed, and thus the contact point part 12 comes into contact with the fixed automatic contact point 3, thereby turning on the automatic switch 14 in succession to the manual switch 10.

Fig . 2 shows the relationship among the manual switch 10, the automatic switch 14 and the pusher 16 when the manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 are in the OFF state . The conditions that the pusher 16 pivots on the operating point P _s clockwise when the operating force F ₃ is exerted on the operating point P ₃ of the pusher 16 in the OFF state of the manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 are expressed as follows : Expressions ( 1 ) and (2 ) .

L _ms • F _s > L _mo • F ₀ ( 1 )

F _m + F _o = F ₃ ( 2 )

Here, F _s is an operating force exerted on the pusher 16 from the knob 19, L _ms is the distance from the operating

point P _s of the pusher 16 to the operating point P _m of the manual switch 10 , and L _mo is the distance from the operating point P _m of the manual switch 10 to the operating point P ₀ of the automatic switch 14.

Expression (3 ) is obtained by inputting Expression ( 2 ) into Expression ( 1 ) . Expression ( 3 ) represents the condition that the pusher 16 pivots clockwise in Fig . 2 in conjunction with the operation of the knob 19, that is , the condition that the automatic switch 14 is operated in preference to the manual switch 10 by mistake . Expression ( 4 ) is obtained by changing Expression ( 3 ) and shows the relationship between ' L _ms / L _mo ' and ¹ F _n , / F ₀ '

L _ms / L _mo > F ₀ / ( F _m + F ₀ ) ( 3 )

F _m / F ₀ > { 1 / (L _ms / L _mo ) } - 1 ( 4 )

Fig . 3 shows a graph represented by the Expression ( 4 ) . In Fig . 3, the hatched portion is the abnormal region, in which the automatic switch 14 is turned on preferentially, and the non-hatched portion is the normal region, in which the manual switch 10 is turned on preferentially . That is, In the case that ' L _ms / L _mo ' is set smaller than ' 0.5 ' , if ' F _m / F ₀ ' is set larger than ' 1 ' , the manual switch 10 is turned on preferentially and thus the abnormal operation in which the automatic switch 14 is turned on preferentially does not

occur .

According to the embodiment, the self-holding force F _m of the manual switch 10 is set to have a relatively large value, and the self-holding force F ₀ of the automatic switch 14 is set to have a relatively small value . Then, the distance between the operating point P _s of the pusher 16 and the operating point P _m of the manual switch 10 is set shorter than the distance between the operating point P ₃ of the pusher 16 and the operating point P ₀ of the automatic switch 14. Therefore, it is possible to strengthen the operating force F ₃ that pushes and turns on the manual switch 10, and to weaken the operating force F _Ξ that pushes and turns on the automatic switch 14 , consequently, both of the manual switch 10 and the automatic switch 14 can be operated with proper operating force F ₃ .

According to the embodiment, even though the movable manual contact point 7 and the movable automatic contact point 11 are made of conductive rubber, the movable manual contact point 7 and the movable automatic contact point 11 are not limited thereto and may be made of non-conductive rubber . In this case, it is possible to mount conductive movable contactors on the contact point part 8 of the movable manual contact point 7 and the contact point part 12

of the movable automatic contact point 11.