JP2001266556A - Outside case panel rotating mechanism and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the selection of the outside case surface constituting the outside case part of an apparatus from a pair of outside case surfaces in the outside case panel by rotating the outside case panel, and to suppress the enlargement and complication of the structure of the apparatus in which the outside case panel is placed. SOLUTION: When inverting a front panel 20, a driving motor 48 is driven to rotate an elliptic gear 74. Thus, torque is transmitted to the front panel 20 through driven gear train 66, and the front panel 20 rotates in the same direction as the elliptic gear 74 around an center R1. The pitch diameter in an engagement part of the spurgear 64 with the elliptic 74 changes interlocked with the rotation of the front panel, and the axle-to-axle distance between the axial center R1 of the front panel 20 and the axial center R2 of the elliptic gear 74 is changed. Therefor, the slide chassis 20 moves along the depth direction (the direction of arrow D), and moves the rotating front panel 20 to a position where the panel 20 is not interbred with an inner panel 18 and a main body chassis 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to various types of equipment provided with an exterior part, and rotates an exterior panel having front and rear surfaces as exterior faces, respectively. The present invention relates to a panel rotating mechanism capable of selecting an exterior surface constituting a part, and various electronic devices in which at least a part of an exterior part is configured by an exterior panel of the panel rotating mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sound panel such as a car stereo mounted on an automobile has a front panel on which an operation section and a display section are disposed rotatably in order to prevent the apparatus main body from being stolen from the automobile. There is a front panel in which the rear surface opposite to the front surface on which the operation unit and the like are arranged is used as a camouflage exterior surface. The back surface of the front panel has a design that is consistent with, for example, the peripheral portion of the instrument body in the instrument panel. By rotating (reversing) the front panel so that the rear surface of the front panel faces the inside of the vehicle when the occupant leaves the vehicle, the rear surface of the front panel is camouflaged so that the device body does not exist.
It is desirable that such a reversing operation of the front panel is automatically performed without manual operation. Also, it is necessary to avoid an increase in the size of the audio equipment due to the provision of the rotation mechanism of the front panel. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-26 discloses an acoustic device that enables such an automatic inversion operation of the front panel and can avoid an increase in the size of the device.
No. 7699 is disclosed.

In the on-vehicle acoustic device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-267699, a second lever that swings in conjunction with the operation of a first lever, a cam plate, and the like is provided, and a tip of the second lever is provided. One end of the front panel along the surface direction of the front panel is relatively rotatably connected to the front panel, and when the second lever swings, one of the front and rear surfaces of the front panel is moved in conjunction with the second lever. Flip to face. In this on-vehicle acoustic device, since the center of rotation of the front panel is provided at one end along the surface direction, most of the front panel except the vicinity of the connection portion with the second lever is projected forward of the device. In addition, since the front panel can be inverted, there is no need to provide a space in the device to avoid collision with the front panel.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-2
In the on-vehicle acoustic device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 67699, the number of components of a mechanism for rotating the second lever and rotating the front panel in conjunction with the swing operation is large, and the structure thereof is complicated. There is a problem that the equipment cost increases.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to take into account the above facts and to select an exterior surface constituting an exterior part of a device from a pair of exterior surfaces of the exterior panel by rotating the exterior panel.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide a panel rotating mechanism having a simple structure capable of suppressing an increase in the size of a device on which an exterior panel is arranged.

Another object of the present invention is to, in consideration of the above facts, rotate an exterior panel and select an exterior surface constituting an exterior part of a device from a pair of exterior surfaces of the exterior panel, and furthermore, a structure of the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device provided with a panel rotation mechanism capable of suppressing the complexity and size of the electronic device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a panel rotating mechanism comprising: an exterior panel having first and second exterior surfaces each having a front surface and a rear surface; and an exterior portion comprising the first exterior surface. The exterior panel is rotated along a radial direction of a rotation axis while rotating the exterior panel so as to transition between a first state and a second state in which an exterior part is configured by the second exterior surface. Panel driving means for moving the first gear, the panel driving means comprising a first gear whose pitch diameter continuously changes according to a displacement in a rotational direction, and a second gear meshing with the first gear. The first gear and the second gear are transmitted while transmitting torque to the exterior panel to rotate the exterior panel.
When the torque is transmitted to the exterior panel by the first and second gears by moving the exterior panel along the radial direction according to a change in the distance between the shafts with the gears, the torque and the shaft transmitted from these gears Since the exterior panel can be shifted from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state by the force generated by the change in the distance, the exterior surface constituting the exterior part in various devices on which the exterior panel is arranged Can be replaced with any of the first and second exterior surfaces.

[0008] At this time, by moving the exterior panel to a position corresponding to the inclination of the exterior panel along the radial direction of the rotation axis while rotating the exterior panel, for example, a device such as a car stereo on which the exterior panel is supported. Since it is possible to rotate the exterior panel while avoiding interference with the main body, it is possible to eliminate the need for a space inside the equipment body to avoid interference with the exterior panel, and the rotatable exterior panel is It is possible to prevent the provided equipment from being enlarged.

In the panel rotation mechanism according to the second aspect, the driven gear train is rotatably supported by the panel support, and
And a drive gear rotatably connected to the exterior panel rotatably supported to the second rotation position and supported by the base support so as to be rotatable while meshing with the driven gear train, Since the gears are such that the pitch diameter changes continuously according to the displacement in the rotation direction, the outer panel corresponds to the gear rotation direction by the torque transmitted from the drive gear by the driven gear train when the drive gear rotates. The first and second outer panels between the mounting position and the rotatable position with the panel support in accordance with a change in the center distance between the drive gear and the driven gear train in accordance with the rotational direction displacement of the drive gear while rotating the panel support. It can move to a position corresponding to the inclination from the second rotation position.

Therefore, according to the panel rotating mechanism of the second aspect, if the gear ratio of the drive gear and the driven gear train and the pitch line shape of the drive gear are appropriately set, interference from the base support is prevented. The outer panel at the first or second rotation position can be rotated in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the drive gear while the outer panel is separated from the base support, so that the outer panel is moved from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. In addition, the panel can be inverted to the first rotation position or from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, and the exterior panel at the first or second rotation position can be mounted on the panel mounting portion of the base support by the panel support.

As a result, when the exterior panel is rotated, the exterior panel is moved from the mounting position to the rotatable position, that is, forward of the panel mounting portion by the panel support, so that the exterior panel can be prevented from interfering with the base support. Since it becomes possible to rotate, a space for avoiding interference with the exterior panel can be eliminated behind the panel mounting portion, that is, inside the base support, and the rotatable exterior panel is provided. Equipment can be prevented from becoming larger.

Further, for example, by merely transmitting torque from a drive source such as a motor to the drive gear and rotating the drive gear, the exterior panel is automatically inverted to any of the first and second rotational positions. At the same time, the inverted exterior panel can be mounted on the panel mounting portion.

In the panel rotating mechanism according to the third aspect,
3. The panel rotation mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the drive gear rotates the exterior panel from the first rotation position to the second rotation position when the drive gear rotates from a predetermined first display position to a second display position. In conjunction with this, when the panel support at the mounting position is returned to the mounting position via the rotatable position and rotated from the second display position to the first display position,
The exterior panel is rotated from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, and in conjunction with this, the panel support at the mounting position is returned to the mounting position via the rotatable position.

Therefore, according to the panel rotating mechanism of the third aspect, if the drive gear is rotated from the first display position to the second display position or from the second display position to the first display position. Reversing the exterior surface of the exterior panel mounted on the panel mounting portion from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface, or from the second exterior surface to the first exterior surface, and attaching the exterior panel to the panel Can be mounted on the mounting part.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a panel rotating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Structure of Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a panel rotating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. The panel rotating mechanism 10 is applied to a car stereo (stereo body) installed in an installation space for electronic devices or the like provided on an instrument panel or the like of an automobile. In the following description, directions along arrows W, D, and H in the drawing are defined as a width direction, a depth direction, and a height direction of the apparatus, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the panel rotating mechanism 10 includes a main body chassis 12 which forms a part of an outer shell of a car stereo. The main body chassis 12 is made of a plate material such as a metal plate. The main body chassis 12 has a rectangular bottom plate portion 13 and a pair of side plate portions bent upward at right angles from both ends in the width direction of the bottom plate portion 13. 14,15
Are provided integrally.

A substantially flat lid member 16 is attached to the opening on the top surface of the main body chassis 12 with screws (not shown), and the opening on the rear surface is made of a metal such as aluminum. A radiator plate (not shown) having the above function is attached. As shown in FIG. 5, an inner panel 18 made of resin is attached to the main body chassis 12 so as to close an opening on the front side, and a thick front panel 20 is provided in front of the inner panel 18. Is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the both sides (front and back) of the front panel 20 along the thickness direction are each substantially rectangular with the longitudinal direction being the width direction. Here, the front surface of the front panel 20 is an operation / display surface 22 on which at least various operation buttons (not shown) and a liquid crystal panel 23 are arranged, and the back surface of the front panel 20 is unified with the peripheral portion of the stereo installation space. The camouflage surface 24 (see FIG. 3) is designed to have a characteristic.

As shown in FIG. 5, a CD (compact disc) or an MD (mi) is provided on the front side of the inner panel 18 as shown in FIG.
An opening 19 which is elongated in the width direction for inserting and ejecting a recording medium such as a ni disc) into the main body chassis 12 is formed. In addition, the operation / display surface 2 of the front panel 20 is provided on the front portion of the inner panel 18 around the opening 19.
2 and a flat panel mounting portion 26 corresponding to the surface shape of the camouflage surface 24 are formed.

A frame-shaped bezel 28 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the inner panel 18 as shown in FIG.
The panel storage portion 29 (see FIG. 5) for storing the front panel 20 is formed in the bezel 28. The panel storage section 29 is provided in the panel mounting section 2 of the inner panel 18.
The rear end side is closed by 6 and has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the front panel 20 along the depth direction. Here, the vicinity of the front end of the bezel 28 has a design consistent with the periphery of the stereo installation space in the instrument panel, similarly to the camouflage surface 24 of the front panel 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, a metal slide chassis 30 is disposed on the front panel 20 side of the main body chassis 12, and the slide chassis 30 supports the front panel 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the slide chassis 30 is provided with a base plate portion 32 elongated in the width direction on the bottom plate 13 side of the main body chassis 12. The bearing member 34 is fixed.

On the other hand, on the bottom plate 13 of the main body chassis 12, guide rods 36 each having a round bar shape are arranged at both ends along the width direction so as to extend in the depth direction.
Bearing members 34 fixed to both lower end portions of the base plate portion 32 are slidably fitted on the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of guide rods 36, respectively. Thus, the slide chassis 30 is movably supported by the pair of guide rods 36 between the mounting position, which is the backward limit, and the rotatable position, which is the forward limit, along the depth direction. The outer peripheral surface of the guide rod 36 is machined to have a sufficiently smooth curved surface, and the bearing member 34 is formed of a resin having a sufficiently low friction coefficient with respect to the guide rod 36. As a result, the movement resistance of the slide chassis 30 is effectively suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide chassis 30 has support plate portions 38, 39 which are bent upward at right angles to both ends of the base plate portion 32, respectively.
Is provided. Here, the slide chassis 30 is formed with an extended portion extending outward from the upper end of the support plate portion 38, and the distal end side of the extended portion is bent downward to be parallel to the support plate portion 38. An opposing plate portion 52 is provided. A guide member 54 having a guide groove 55 extending in the depth direction below the opposing plate portion 52 is disposed on the bottom plate portion 13 of the main body chassis 12. The lower end of the plate portion 52 is slidably inserted. Accordingly, the opposing plate portion 52 is prevented from being flexed and deformed in the width direction, and the distance between the support plate portion 38 and the opposing plate portion 52 along the width direction is kept constant.

On the other hand, on both end surfaces of the front panel 20,
As shown in FIG. 4, support shafts 56 and 57 projecting along the width direction are provided. These pair of support shafts 5
6,57 is provided on the same axis R _1, the geometric center point of the side end surface of the axial center R ₁ is a front panel 20, that is, the center point in the thickness direction and the width direction of the front panel 20 Has passed. Corresponding to the pair of support shafts 56 and 57, a pair of support plate portions 38 and 39 of the slide chassis 30 are provided with circular bearing holes (not shown) penetrating in the width direction, respectively. , The support shafts 56 and 5 of the front panel 20 are respectively provided.
7 is rotatably inserted. Thus, the front panel 20 is rotatably supported about the axis R _1.

A bearing hole (not shown) is formed in the opposite plate portion 52 of the slide chassis 30 so as to be coaxial with the bearing hole of the support plate portion 38. Here, one of the support shafts 56 of the front panel 20 passes through a bearing hole of the support plate portion 38 and a tip end thereof is rotatably inserted into the opposing plate portion 52 as shown in FIG. A panel gear 58 made of a spur gear is coaxially fixed to the outer peripheral side of the support shaft 56.
8 is supported between the support plate 38 and the opposing plate 52 by a support shaft 56.

As shown in FIG. 1, a two-stage gear 62 is provided behind the panel gear 58 between the support plate 38 and the opposing plate 52 in the slide chassis 30.
The two-stage gear 62 is rotatably supported by the support plate portion 38 and the opposing plate portion 52. The two-stage gear 62 includes two spur gears 6 having different pitch diameters.
3, 64 are provided coaxially and integrally, and the small-diameter spur gear 63 is meshed with the panel gear 58. Here, the panel gear 58 disposed on the slide chassis 30
The two-stage gear 62 constitutes a driven gear train 66 that transmits torque from an elliptical gear 74 described later to the front panel 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, cover plates 46 and 47 made of resin are attached to the slide chassis 30 at the distal ends of the support plate 38 and the opposing plate 52 and the distal end of the support plate 39, respectively. I have.
The outer surfaces and the tip surfaces of the pair of cover plates 46 and 47 are designed to be unified with the bezel 28 and the front panel 20, respectively. Cover plate 4
6, 47 are slide chassis 3 as shown in FIG.
In a state where 0 is moved to the mounting position, which is a backward limit along the depth direction, a gap formed between the side end surface of the front panel 20 and the bezel 28 by the front end surface is closed. FIG.
When the slide chassis 30 is moved to the rotatable position, which is the limit of forward movement along the depth direction, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover plate 46 attached to the support plate portion 38 externally drives the driven gear train 66, the slide chassis 30 and the like. The cover plate 47 attached to the support plate portion 39 shields the connecting portion between the support plate portion 39 and the front panel 20 from the outside.

When the slide chassis 30 advances to the rotatable position as shown in FIG.
The front panel 20 supported by the slide chassis 30 also moves to the rotatable position along the depth direction and separates from the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18 forward. In this rotatable position, the front panel 20 is
8 and becomes rotatable about an axis R ₁ without contacting the body chassis 12. Here, front panel 2
The rotation range of 0 is the first rotation position (FIG. 4) in which the operation / display surface 22 is directed forward (inside the vehicle) and the operation / display surface 22 is substantially parallel to the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18. 1) and 18 from this first rotational position.
The second to rotate the camouflage surface 24 forward by 0 °
It is rotatable between a rotation position (see FIG. 3).

Further, the front panel 20 is moved to the rotatable position, and a position substantially in the middle between the first rotation position and the second rotation position,
That is, when the operation / display surface 22 is rotated to a position where the operation / display surface 22 faces upward and is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a “third rotation position”), as shown in FIG. Through the opening 19, a recording medium such as a CD is inserted into the main body chassis 12, and the recording medium inserted into the main body chassis 12 is discharged to the outside by an eject mechanism (not shown). It becomes possible to do.

One end of a coil spring 68 is connected to the rear end of the opposing plate 52 and the rear end of the support plate 39, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the side plate portions 14 and 15 of the main body chassis 12 are provided with two coil springs 68 respectively.
A plurality of locking portions (not shown) are provided, and the other ends of the coil springs 68 are connected to these locking portions, respectively. These coil springs 68 urge the slide chassis 30 rearward along the depth direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drive motor 48 is mounted on the bottom plate 13 of the main body chassis, and a worm 50 is fixed to a drive shaft of the drive motor 48.
A worm wheel 70 is disposed in the main body chassis 12 above the worm 50, and the worm wheel 70 meshes with the worm 50. Here, a pair of bearing members 72 are fixed on the bottom plate portion 13 of the main body chassis 12 so as to sandwich the worm wheel 70 along the width direction as shown in FIG. , The both ends of the rotating shaft 71 of the worm wheel 70 are rotatably inserted.

The outside of the worm wheel 70, the elliptical gear 74 by the rotation shaft 71 is coaxially supported, the elliptical gear 74, the rotation direction around the axis R ₂ of the worm wheel 70 Worm wheel 7 via a friction clutch (not shown) as a torque limiter
Connected to 0. The elliptical gear 74 meshes with a spur gear 64 of a driven gear train 66 disposed on the slide chassis 30 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the slide chassis 30 is urged rearward by the coil spring 68, the elliptical gear 74 is not affected by the position change of the slide chassis 30 in the depth direction.
The tooth surface of the elliptical gear 74 and the tooth surface of the spur gear 64 are brought into pressure contact with each other at the meshing portion between the spur gear 64 and the spur gear 64.

The pitch line L of the elliptical gear 74 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the elliptical locus,
Difference between the major diameter D ₁ and the minor axis D ₂ is equal to the moving distance from the mounting position of the slide chassis 30 (see FIG. 1) to the variable translocation (see FIG. 2). Two-stage gear 62 and panel gear 58 forming the elliptical gear 74 and the driven gear train 66
The number of teeth is set and assembly is performed so that the major axis direction of the elliptical gear 74 (the direction of arrow E in FIG. 6) and the surface direction of the front panel 20 (the direction of arrow F in FIG. 6) are always parallel. The initial phase of the elliptical gear 74 at the time is adjusted. Here, the plane direction (the direction of arrow F) of the front panel 20 refers to the operation / display surface 22 because the front panel 20 and the elliptical gear 74 are arranged in parallel with each other.
And along the camouflage surface 24, and a direction perpendicular to the axial center R _1.

Specifically, the elliptical gear 74 to the panel gear 5
Gear ratios up to 8 are set to "1" so that the rotation amount of the elliptical gear 74 and the rotation amount of the front panel 20 are equal to each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the slide chassis 30 is in the mounting position, the elliptical gear 74
The major axis direction of the elliptical gear 74 is parallel to the height direction, and the major axis direction of the elliptical gear 74 is parallel to the depth direction when the slide chassis 30 is in the rotatable position as shown in FIG. .

A printed wiring board 78 is disposed on the bottom plate 13 of the main body chassis 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and the slide chassis in the mounting position and the rotatable position is mounted on the printed wiring board 78. At least two first and second microswitches (not shown) are mounted to detect 30 respectively. The signals from these micro switches are output to a control unit (not shown) of a car stereo comprising a microcomputer or the like, and the control unit drives and drives the drive motor 48 in synchronization with the signal inputs from the two micro switches. Each stop is controlled.

Here, the front panel 20 is shown in FIG. 3 from a first rotation position where the operation / display surface 22 faces the inside of the vehicle and is on the same plane as the front end surface of the bezel 28 as shown in FIG. As shown, the camouflage surface 24 is rotatable in the range of 180 ° toward the inside of the vehicle to a second rotation position located on the same plane as the front end surface of the bezel 28. Therefore, the rotation range of the elliptical gear 74 that rotates by the same amount of rotation in the same direction as the front panel 20 is also limited to 180 °.

On the other hand, in the slide chassis 30, when the front panel 20 is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position, the major axis of the elliptical gear 74 is parallel to the height direction as shown in FIG. since it is turned in, the center distance between the axis R ₁ and axis R ₂ is the shortest. As a result, the slide chassis 30 is mounted on the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18 at the rearward limit in the depth direction, that is, at the mounting position. When the front panel is in the middle position (third rotation position) between the first rotation position and the second rotation position, the major axis of the elliptical gear 74 is parallel to the depth direction as shown in FIG. since it is turned in, the center distance between the axis R ₁ and axis R ₂ is the longest. As a result, the slide chassis 30 holds the front panel 20 at the forward limit in the depth direction, that is, at the rotatable position and in a horizontal state, so as not to contact the inner panel 18 and the main body chassis 12.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, the operation and operation of the panel rotating mechanism 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above and a car stereo using the panel rotating mechanism 10 will be described.

When the vehicle is not operating, that is, when the ignition key is in the "OFF" position, the front panel 20 is moved by the panel rotating mechanism 10 as shown in FIG.
(A) is held at the second rotation position, and the camouflage surface 24 of the front panel 20 is located on the same plane as the front end surface of the bezel 28 toward the interior of the vehicle, which is the exterior direction. Here, the camouflage surface 24 and the vicinity of the front end surface of the bezel 28 are designed so as to have a uniform design with the peripheral portion of the car stereo in the instrument panel (not shown), that is, to have the same material feel, color, and the like. .
As a result, when the front panel 20 is in the second rotation position, the stereo main body having the main body chassis 12, the front panel 20, and the like as outer shells does not seem to exist in the installation space of the electronic device due to the camouflage surface 24. Camouflage.

The user turns off the ignition key.
When the motor is turned to the "ACC" or "ON" position, a start signal is output from the electronic control circuit of the vehicle to the control unit (not shown) of the car stereo, and the power supply unit of the car stereo from the vehicle-mounted battery ( (Not shown) is supplied with a drive current. Upon receiving the start signal, the control unit of the car stereo controls the slide chassis 30 based on a signal from a first micro switch (not shown) for detecting the slide chassis 30 mounted on the printed wiring board 78 at the mounting position. After confirming that the drive motor is in the mounting position, a drive current is supplied to the drive motor
8 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the worm 5 is attached to the elliptical gear 74 at the second display position shown in FIG.
The rotational force (torque) from the drive motor 48 is transmitted by the worm wheel 70 and a friction clutch (not shown). Accordingly, elliptical gear 74 rotates about the axis R ₂ clockwise (arrow CW direction in FIG. 6 (A)).

As the elliptical gear 74 rotates clockwise from the second display position, the front panel 20 connected to the elliptical gear 74 by the driven gear train 66 also rotates clockwise. In conjunction with this, since the pitch diameter of the meshing portion of the elliptical gear 74 with the spur gear 64 increases, the slide chassis 30 advances from the mounting position to the rotatable position. At this time, since the slide chassis 30 is urged rearward by the coil spring 68, the tooth surfaces of the elliptical gear 74 and the spur gear 64 come into pressure contact with each other, and the slide chassis 30 The vehicle moves forward exactly following the change in pitch diameter at.

Here, as the elliptical gear 74 rotates clockwise, the front panel 20 supported by the slide chassis 30 separates from the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18 and then widens with the inner panel 18. While rotating clockwise. Thus, the front panel 20 can be rotated without interference by the inner panel 18 and the main body chassis 12. In this case, the relationship between the amount of rotation of the front panel 20 and the amount of movement of the slide chassis 30 can be set by adjusting the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of the elliptical gear 74.

The elliptical gear 74 is moved from the second display position to the position shown in FIG.
To the operating position shown in FIG.
When rotated by 0 °, the slide chassis 30 is moved to the elliptical gear 74.
As a result, the front panel 20 is moved to a rotatable position, which is a forward limit, and the front panel 20 is rotated to a third rotation position in which the camouflage surface 24 is directed upward to a horizontal state. As the elliptical gear 74 further rotates clockwise, the front panel 20 further rotates clockwise by the same amount of rotation as the elliptical gear 74, and at the same time, the slide chassis 30 moves from the operating position to the mounting position, which is the backward limit. Move in the direction. Also at this time, since the slide chassis 30 is urged rearward by the coil spring 68, the slide chassis 30 moves backward exactly following the change in the pitch diameter at the meshing portion of the elliptical gear 74.

The elliptical gear 74 is the first elliptical gear shown in FIG.
When the slide chassis 30 is rotated to the display position, the slide chassis 30 returns to the mounting position. At the same time, the front panel 20 rotates to the rotation position in which the operation / display surface 22 is directed to the vehicle interior, and the slide chassis 30 moves the camouflage surface to the panel mounting portion 26. It is mounted so that a part of 24 contacts. At this time, the slide chassis 3 returned to the mounting position
0 is detected by the first micro switch on the printed wiring board 78, and the control unit of the car stereo stops the drive motor 48 by a signal from this micro switch.

On the operation / display surface 22 of the front panel 20, an operation unit (not shown) including a liquid crystal panel 23 (see FIG. 1), a power switch, an eject switch, and the like is arranged. Here, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit on the operation / display surface 22, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output from the operation unit to the control unit of the car stereo. Thereby, the control unit of the car stereo controls the apparatus so that an operation corresponding to the operation signal is performed, and also controls the liquid crystal panel 23 according to the operating state of the car stereo, the music name being played, the music number, and the like. Output a drive signal to
Images corresponding to these are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 23.

When the user presses the eject switch on the operation / display surface 22 during operation of the car stereo, the control unit of the car stereo rotates the drive motor 48 in the forward direction to move the elliptical gear 74. 6A is rotated 90 ° in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of the arrow UCW in FIG. 6A) from the first display position. As a result, the slide chassis 30 moves to the rotatable position as shown in FIG. 6 (B), and in conjunction with this, the front panel 20 turns the operation / display surface 22 upward to be in a horizontal state with the third rotation. Rotate to the position. At this time, the control unit of the car stereo stops the drive motor 48 in synchronization with the signal output from the second micro switch (not shown) on the printed wiring board 78.

When the front panel 20 moves to the third rotation position, the opening 19 of the inner panel 18 is exposed into the vehicle as shown in FIG. At this time, when the recording medium is mounted on the reproducing unit in the main body chassis 12, the control unit of the car stereo causes the ejecting mechanism to eject the recording medium to the outside through the opening, and the recording medium is transmitted to the reproducing unit. When the recording medium is inserted through the opening 19 in a state where the recording medium is not mounted, the recording medium is automatically mounted on the reproducing unit by the loading mechanism. When the eject switch on the operation / display surface 22 is pressed again or the recording medium is mounted on the reproducing unit in the main body chassis 12, the control unit of the car stereo rotates the drive motor 48 in the reverse direction and slides. While returning the chassis 30 to the mounting position,
In conjunction with this, the front panel 20 is returned to the first rotation position.

Further, the user sets the ignition key to “AC
When the car stereo is rotated from the “C” or “ON” to the “OFF” position, the control unit of the car stereo rotates the drive motor 48 in the normal direction to rotate the elliptical gear 74 from the first display position to the second display position. In conjunction with the rotation of the elliptical gear 74, the slide chassis 30 at the mounting position returns to the mounting position via the rotatable position, and the front panel 20 at the first rotational position moves to the second rotational position. The slide chassis 30 and the front panel 20 when the elliptical gear 74 rotates from the first display position to the second display position.
Is common to the operation of rotating the elliptical gear 74 from the first display position to the second display position described above, except that the rotation direction is reversed, so that detailed description is omitted.

The car stereo according to the present embodiment is provided with a current detection circuit (not shown) for the drive current between the power supply unit and the drive motor, and the current detection circuit corresponds to the detected current value. The detection signal is output to the control unit of the car stereo. The control unit of the car stereo determines the current value of the drive current at regular intervals based on the detection signal from the current detection circuit, and when the current value exceeds a preset upper limit for a predetermined time or more, After the current supply to the drive motor 48 is temporarily interrupted, the front panel 20
The drive motor 4 rotates to the third rotation position shown in FIG.
8 is controlled. As a result, for example, the front panel 20 is pressed by the user when the drive motor 48 is driven, or a recording medium such as a CD is erroneously inserted between the front panel and the bezel 28, and the elliptical gear 74 is pressed.
When the rotational load of the drive becomes excessive, the drive motor 48 is temporarily stopped, and then the front panel 20 can be rotated to the third rotational position which is the safest position for the user and the recording medium.

In this embodiment, the worm wheel 7
0 and an elliptical gear 74, a friction clutch (not shown) for limiting the transmission torque is arranged.
When the rotational load of the torque transmission mechanism from the front panel 20 and the drive motor 48 to the front panel 20 becomes excessive as described above, the worm wheel 70 idles with respect to the elliptical gear 74. ,
The worm 50, the worm wheel 70 and the driven gear train 66 constituting the torque transmission mechanism are protected.

In the car stereo using the panel rotation mechanism 10 according to the present embodiment described above, the front panel 20 is in the first rotation position and the inner panel 18
When the elliptical gear 74 is rotated from the first display position to the second display position by the torque from the drive motor 48 in a state where the slide chassis 30 is mounted on the panel mounting portion 26, the slide chassis 30 in the mounted position is moved to the rotatable position. And the front panel 20 can be rotated from the first rotation position to the second rotation position in conjunction with the reciprocating movement so as to return to the mounting position, so that the exterior surface facing the vehicle interior, which is the exterior direction, is The front panel 20 can be turned over from the operation / display surface 22 to the camouflage surface 24, and the front panel 20 can be mounted on the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18.

When the front panel 20 is in the second rotation position and is mounted on the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18, the elliptical gear 74 is moved from the second display position to the first position by the torque from the drive motor 48. When the slide chassis 30 is rotated to the display position, the slide chassis 30 at the mounting position is reciprocated so as to return to the mounting position via the rotatable position, and in conjunction with this, the front panel 20 is moved to the second position.
Since the user can rotate from the rotation position to the first rotation position, the exterior surface facing the inside of the vehicle is moved from the camouflage surface 24 to the operation / display surface 22.
And the front panel 20 can be mounted on the panel mounting portion 26 of the inner panel 18.

Therefore, in the car stereo using the panel rotating mechanism 10 according to the present embodiment, the slide chassis 30
Is moved from the mounting position to the rotatable position, and the front panel 20 is rotated in conjunction therewith, whereby the front panel 20 can be rotated while avoiding interference with the inner panel 18 and the main body chassis 12. Therefore, the inside of the panel mounting portion 26, that is, the main body chassis 1
A space for avoiding interference with the front panel 20 can be made unnecessary inside the 2, and an increase in the size of the rotatable front panel 20 can be prevented.

Further, the panel rotating mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment.
Since the number 0 is smaller in number of parts and the structure is simpler than the conventional one, it is possible to suppress the complexity of the structure and the increase in the number of parts in the car stereo due to the provision of the rotation mechanism of the front panel 20.

The panel rotating mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment
At 0, the drive motor 48 is mounted on the slide chassis 30 as a drive source for the elliptical gear 74. However, such a drive source is mounted on the front panel 20, and the rotational force (rotational force) of the front panel 20 is driven. The transmission may be transmitted to the elliptical gear 74 by the gear train 66, whereby the slide chassis 30 may be moved in the depth direction in conjunction with the rotation of the front panel 20.

Further, in the panel rotating mechanism 10, the pitch line of the elliptical gear 74 as the driving gear for the driven gear train 66 is made elliptical, but the pitch line of such a driving gear does not necessarily have to be elliptical. , As the drive gear,
The present invention is applicable to a gear in which the pitch diameter continuously changes according to the phase change, as long as the rotation amount of the front panel 20 and the movement amount of the slide chassis 30 can have a predetermined relationship. Specifically, for example, the shape of the pitch line of the drive gear may be along an elliptical locus or an involute curve, and a sector gear having teeth formed only on a part of the outer peripheral surface may be used as the drive gear. Is also possible.

Further, the panel rotating mechanism 10 of the present embodiment
Can be applied to various other electronic devices having an exterior panel such as a front panel 20 in addition to a car stereo, and the exterior panel does not necessarily need to have a camouflage surface on one side. Each may be an operation / display surface, or one surface may be a display surface and the other surface may be an operation surface.

[0059]

As described above, according to the panel rotating mechanism of the present invention, the exterior panel constituting the exterior of the device can be selected from the pair of exterior surfaces of the exterior panel by rotating the exterior panel. It is possible to suppress an increase in the size and complexity of the device on which the device is arranged.

According to the electronic device of the present invention, the exterior panel constituting the exterior portion of the device can be selected from the pair of exterior surfaces of the exterior panel by rotating the exterior panel. Can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a panel rotating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an operation / display surface of a front panel faces the front.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a panel rotating mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a front panel is in a horizontal state and a recording medium can be inserted and ejected.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a panel rotation mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a camouflage surface of a front panel is facing the front.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the panel rotation mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the front panel is in a horizontal state and a recording medium can be inserted and ejected.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a configuration of the panel rotating mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the front panel is in a horizontal state so that a recording medium can be inserted and ejected.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the panel rotation mechanism shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which an operation / display surface of a front panel faces the front and a horizontal state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 panel rotation mechanism 12 main body chassis (base support) 18 inner panel (base support) 20 front panel (exterior panel) 22 operation / display surface (first exterior surface) 23 liquid crystal panel (display unit) 24 camouflage surface ( 2nd exterior surface) 26 Panel mounting portion 30 Slide chassis (panel support) 50 Worm (torque transmitting means) 58 Panel gear (torque transmitting means) 62 Two-stage gear (torque transmitting means) 63 Spur gear (second gear, Torque transmitting means) 64 Spur gear (torque transmitting means) 66 Driven gear train (torque transmitting means) 68 Coil spring (biasing member) 70 Worm wheel (torque transmitting means) 74 Elliptical gear (first gear, drive gear)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G11B 33/02 503 G11B 33/02 503Q B60R 11/02 B60R 11/02 B

Claims (7)

[Claims] An exterior panel having first and second exterior surfaces, respectively, a first exterior surface comprising the first exterior surface, and an exterior portion comprised by the second exterior surface. Panel driving means for moving the exterior panel along a radial direction of a rotation axis while rotating the exterior panel so as to transition between the second state and the second state. The driving means transmits torque to the exterior panel by means of a first gear whose pitch diameter continuously changes in accordance with a displacement in the rotation direction and a second gear meshing with the first gear, thereby rotating the exterior panel. And a panel rotating mechanism for moving the exterior panel along the radial direction in accordance with a change in an axial distance between the first gear and the second gear. 2. An exterior panel having front and rear surfaces respectively as first and second exterior surfaces; and an exterior panel connected to the exterior panel so that the exterior panel is connected to the first exterior surface.
A panel support member rotatably supported at a first rotation position in which the exterior surface faces a predetermined exterior direction and a second rotation position in which the second exterior surface faces the exterior direction; and the first or second panel support. A panel mounting portion to which the exterior panel at the rotation position is detachably mounted is provided, and the panel support is separated from the mounting position at which the exterior panel is mounted to the panel mounting portion and the exterior panel from the panel mounting portion. And a base support movably supported between a rotatable position rotatable to the first and second rotation positions; and a torque transmission between the exterior panel rotatably supported by the panel support. A driven gear train that is connected so as to be rotatable; and a drive that is supported by the base support so as to be rotatable while meshing with the driven gear train, and that has a pitch diameter that continuously changes according to a displacement in the rotational direction. A gear, wherein the drive gear rotates the exterior panel in a direction corresponding to a rotation direction at the time of the rotation, and the exterior panel between the mounting position and the rotatable position while holding the panel support body. A panel rotation mechanism for moving the panel to a position corresponding to an inclination from the first and second rotation positions. 3. When the drive gear rotates from a predetermined first display position to a second display position, the drive gear rotates the exterior panel from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. When the panel support at the mounting position is returned to the mounting position via the rotatable position in conjunction with and rotated from the second display position to the first display position, the exterior panel Rotating the panel support from the second rotation position to the first rotation position and returning the panel support at the mounting position to the mounting position via the rotatable position in conjunction with the rotation. 3. The panel rotating mechanism according to claim 2, wherein 4. The panel rotating mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the drive gear has an elliptical pitch line. 5. An urging member for urging the panel support so that the driven gear train is brought into pressure contact with the drive gear at a position where the driven gear train meshes with the drive gear. Or the panel rotation mechanism according to 4. 6. An electric signal to the panel rotating mechanism according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and a display unit or an operation unit disposed on at least one of the first and second exterior surfaces. An electronic device comprising: a control unit configured to perform input and output. 7. A torque transmitting means for transmitting torque to the driving gear to rotate the driving gear, and a load detecting means for detecting a rotational load of the driving gear when transmitting torque from the torque transmitting means to the driving gear. The electronic device according to claim 6, comprising: