Abstract: In a flexible switch, a circuit member having an electrode is provided on a adhesive sheet. A spacer sheet, having a through hole situated so as to correspond to the electrode on the circuit member, is provided on the circuit member. A front sheet, having a projected portion, is provided on the spacer sheet, in which a contact portion provided on an inner face of the projected portion is brought into contact with the electrode through the through hole in the circuit member when the projected portion is depressed. At least one of the adhesive sheet, the circuit member, the spacer sheet, and the front sheet has flexibility.

Abstract: An oscillating switch includes: a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob so as to depress the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passing through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member.

Abstract: In a flexible switch, a circuit member having an electrode is provided on a adhesive sheet. A spacer sheet, having a through hole situated so as to correspond to the electrode on the circuit member, is provided on the circuit member. A front sheet, having a projected portion, is provided on the spacer sheet, in which a contact portion provided on an inner face of the projected portion is brought into contact with the electrode through the through hole in the circuit member when the projected portion is depressed. At least one of the adhesive sheet, the circuit member, the spacer sheet, and the front sheet has flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention is a processing unit for processing a substrate in a casing, having: a transfer port provided in the casing through which the substrate passes when the substrate is carried into the casing by a carrier for carrying the substrate; and an inflow restricting device for controlling an atmosphere outside the casing to restrict the atmosphere from flowing into the casing through the transfer port. According to the present invention, it is possible to control the atmosphere outside the casing to restrict the atmosphere from flowing into the casing, which restricts the temperature of the substrate in the processing unit from partially varying and the temperature distribution from becoming ununiform within a plane of the substrate.

Abstract: An upper surface of a bottom surface (31) of a lower casing (30), covering a lower surface of an FPC (23), is made flat so as not to hinder a coating operation in which solder paste is coated to the upper surface of the FPC (23) by a squeegee. This lower casing is made of a heat-resistant insulative material, and the lower casing is charged into a solder reflow furnace, with electronic parts (25) attached to the FPC (23).

Abstract: A standard circuit unit (200) for a vehicle door includes a first flexible printed circuit member (220a), having a standard switch circuit portion for controlling the operation of a power window drive mechanism, an input/output signal wire (220b), which forms a lead portion for connecting the first flexible printed circuit member (220a) to a host door control unit, and an input/output signal wire (220c) which forms a lead portion for connecting the first flexible printed circuit member (220a) to a courtesy lamp mechanism (13) on a door trim (10). The first flexible printed circuit members (220a) and the input/output signal wires (220b, 220c) are produced separately from each other, and thereafter are fixedly secured to each other by piercing terminals, and therefore are electrically connected together.

Abstract: A compact, thinned and water-tightened combined switch, is structured by a single switch comprising a front sheet having a domed projection which can be reversed to the back side and is provided at the back side with an electrode, an electric circuit body having an electric contact to contact with the electrode and a domed convex portion provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed projection. In operation process, firstly the projection is reversed and an electrode provided near the periphery of the convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body and secondly an electrode provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body.

Abstract: A curved portion 1g of a lead line set 1e is received in a recessed portion 13d that is formed in an inner face 13c of a base piece 13 in the open state. An inner face 17a of a first folded piece 17 is folded on the inner face 13c of the base piece 13, and the curved portion 1g of the lead line set 1e is sandwiched between the base piece 13 and the first folded piece 17. Thereafter, an inner face 21a of a second folded piece 21 is folded on an outer face 17e of the first folded piece 17, and the lead line set 1e portion that is slightly nearer the distal end than the lead line set 1e portion that is folded along a folding line X is sandwiched between the first and the second folded pieces 17 and 21.

Abstract: In a dome switch (21) including a surface sheet (22), a spacer sheet (23), an FPC (24) serving as a circuit member, and an adhesive sheet (25), an accommodating portion (34) for a chip component (38) mounted on a contact (37) side of the FPC (24) is formed in the spacer sheet (23). In addition, an embossed portion (28) for the chip component (38) is formed in the surface sheet (22), as required.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit (FPC) (23) and a rubber contact (27), superposed on this FPC (23), are received and held in a lower casing (30) and an upper casing (40), and key tops (29a to 29g) are mounted on the upper casing (40), and can open and close respective switch contacts (23a), provided on the FPC (23), through the rubber contact (27). Those portions of an upper surface of a bottom wall (31) of the lower casing (30), opposed respectively to switch-mounting portions (43a to 43e) of the upper casing (40), are defined by flat surfaces, respectively, and electronic parts (25) are mounted in a concentrated manner on those regions of the FPC (23) disposed respectively on the flat surfaces (34) of the lower casing (30).

Abstract: In a flexible switch, a circuit member having an electrode is provided on a adhesive sheet. A spacer sheet, having a through hole situated so as to correspond to the electrode on the circuit member, is provided on the circuit member. A front sheet, having a projected portion, is provided on the spacer sheet, in which a contact portion provided on an inner face of the projected portion is brought into contact with the electrode through the through hole in the circuit member when the projected portion is depressed.

Abstract: A first casing (11, 12)includes a first end (30, 31). A second casing (11, 12) is mated with the first casing (11, 12). The second casing (11, 12) includes a second end (30, 31) facing the first end (30, 31). A flexible circuit member (23) is housed between the first and second casings (11, 12). The circuit member (23) is drawn out from the first and second ends (30, 31). The circuit member (23) is retained between the first and second ends (30, 31) under pressure.

Abstract: The lever switch has a shaft, an operating body turnable around the shaft, and a contact assembly. The contact assembly includes a movable contact piece turning in response to the turn of the operating body, a fixed contact piece secured to the shaft and slidingly contacting the movable contact piece, and a movable contact piece retainer disposed between the operating body and the fixed contact piece for retaining the movable contact piece. The movable contact piece retainer is opposed to the operating body and the fixed contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. A first clearance is provided between the movable contact piece retainer and the fixed contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, and a second clearance is provided between the movable contact piece retainer and the operating body in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A steering assembly having a switch device attached to a steering column which rotatably supports a steering wheel. The steering wheel includes a steering wheel boss, a steering wheel ring and steering wheel spokes coupling the boss and the ring. The switch device is composed of an operating shaft and a first operating ring formed around it. The entire length of the operating shaft is set that its tip is located between an outer edge and an inner edge of the steering wheel ring in a radial direction of the steering wheel. The first operating ring provided around the operating shaft is rotatable in both directions.

Abstract: A compact, thinned and water-tightened combined switch, is structured by a single switch comprising a front sheet having a domed projection which can be reversed to the back side and is provided at the back side with an electrode, an electric circuit body having an electric contact to contact with the electrode and a domed convex portion provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed projection. In operation process, firstly the projection is reversed and an electrode provided near the periphery of the convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body and secondly an electrode provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body.

Abstract: In a dome switch (21) including a surface sheet (22), a spacer sheet (23), an FPC (24) serving as a circuit member, and an adhesive sheet (25), an accommodating portion (34) for a chip component (38) mounted on a contact (37) side of the FPC (24) is formed in the spacer sheet (23). In addition, an embossed portion (28) for the chip component (38) is formed in the surface sheet (22), as required.

Abstract: The present invention is a processing unit for processing a substrate in a casing, having: a transfer port provided in the casing through which the substrate passes when the substrate is carried into the casing by a carrier for carrying the substrate; and an inflow restricting device for controlling an atmosphere outside the casing to restrict the atmosphere from flowing into the casing through the transfer port. According to the present invention, it is possible to control the atmosphere outside the casing to restrict the atmosphere from flowing into the casing, which restricts the temperature of the substrate in the processing unit from partially varying and the temperature distribution from becoming ununiform within a plane of the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-stage click switch (21) includes a contact circuit member (25) having switch contact portions (41a, 41b, 42a and 42b) disposed respectively in opposed relation to pressing portions (36a, 36b, 37a and 37b) formed on an operating knob (35) mounted on a housing (32), and a rubber switch member (30) having rubber contact portions (28a, 28b, 29a and 29b) which can sequentially close and open the switch contact portions in a multi-stage manner in accordance with the movement of the pressing portions. Each of the rubber contact portions produces a suitable click feeling by a resilient force, produced by elastic deformation of the rubber contact portion, at the time of operating the operating knob (35). The rubber contact portion (28a) has overstroke means by which after its conductive piece (22a, 23a) contacts the opposing switch contact portion (41a, 42a), a click feeling is not produced until the switching operation of the rubber contact portion (28b, 29b) is completed.

Abstract: A standard circuit unit (200) for a vehicle door includes a first flexible printed circuit member (220a), having a standard switch circuit portion for controlling the operation of a power window drive mechanism, an input/output signal wire (220b), which forms a lead portion for connecting the first flexible printed circuit member (220a) to a host door control unit, and an input/output signal wire (220c) which forms a lead portion for connecting the first flexible printed circuit member (220a) to a courtesy lamp mechanism (13) on a door trim (10). The first flexible printed circuit members (220a) and the input/output signal wires (220b, 220c) are produced separately from each other, and thereafter are fixedly secured to each other by piercing terminals, and therefore are electrically connected together.

Abstract: An oscillating switch includes: a lower casing; a contact circuit member provided on the lower casing and including a through hole; a rubber switch member provided on the contact circuit member and including a pair of rubber contact portions and a through hole; an upper casing for covering the rubber switch member; an operating knob pivotally supported by the upper casing; pressing portions formed on the operating knob SO as to depress the corresponding rubber contact portions, respectively; and a click feeling-producing mechanism, for producing a suitable click feeling when the operating knob is operated, which passing through the through holes of the contact circuit member and the rubber switch member.