JP2008192560A - Rotary input device, and portable electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary input device capable of being incorporated in a saved space while allowing a plurality of functions to be intuitively controlled; and a portable electronic apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This rotary input device 1 can control a plurality of functions by generating a control signal. The rotary input device is characterized by having a rotary shaft 8, and comprising: a knob 9 arranged slidably only by a predetermined range in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 8; a rotary encoder 10 arranged on the rotary shaft 8, and generating the control signal by converting a rotational displacement amount of the knob 9 to an electric signal; a detection part 11 detecting the position of the knob 9 in the axial direction; and a control object determination part selectively selecting one function used as a control object from the plurality of functions based on the position of the knob 9 detected by the detection part 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary input device and a portable electronic device mounted on a portable electronic device or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or an electronic dictionary, a rotary input device using a rotary encoder (see, for example, Patent Document 1) is used for applications such as volume adjustment and item selection.

  This is because a rotational displacement amount when a rotating body having a rotating shaft is operated and rotated by a user is converted into an electrical pulse by a rotary encoder provided on the rotating shaft and used as various control amounts of the electronic device. Is.

This input device has an advantage that the user can perform an intuitive operation because the operation amount of the rotating body and the control amount are substantially proportional.
JP 2002-150895 A

By the way, with the increase in functionality of portable electronic devices, control parameters with continuous amounts such as volume, brightness of a display unit such as a liquid crystal screen, contrast, screen scrolling, and the like are increased, and further miniaturization is required.
However, since the rotary input device of Patent Document 1 can basically only adjust the control amount of one function, in order to enable an intuitive operation for all the functions described above, a plurality of input devices are used. It is necessary to provide it. This hinders the above-mentioned request for downsizing.

  On the other hand, there is a method in which an environment setting screen in which various functions as described above are integrated is displayed on a display unit by operating an input device such as a button key, and the above control is performed using up / down / left / right movement keys. Although adopted, there is a problem that a desired key must be continuously pressed, and the operation is not intuitive. In addition, the environment setting screen calling method itself is often difficult for the user to understand, and the convenience for the user is not always sufficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a rotary input device and a portable electronic device that can be incorporated in a space-saving manner while allowing a plurality of function controls to be performed intuitively. And

  The present invention is a rotary input device capable of controlling a plurality of functions by generating a control signal, having a rotary shaft, and arranged so as to be slidable within a predetermined range in the axial direction of the rotary shaft. A rotating body, a rotational displacement amount conversion unit that is provided on the rotating shaft and generates the control signal by converting the rotational displacement amount of the rotating body into an electrical signal, and detects the position of the rotating body in the axial direction And a control target determining unit that alternatively selects one function to be controlled among the plurality of functions based on the position of the rotating body detected by the detection unit. Features.

  According to the rotary input device of the present invention, the control object is selected by the detection unit and the control target determination unit by adjusting the position of the rotary body in the axial direction, and the rotational displacement amount conversion unit is rotated by rotating the rotary body. Thus, a control signal corresponding to the rotational displacement amount is generated.

  The detection unit is arranged to be separated from the mover provided on the rotating shaft in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and is in electrical contact with the mover when the rotating body slides in the axial direction. It may have a stator. In this case, a plurality of function controls can be performed with a simple structure.

  The rotary input device according to the present invention includes a plurality of engagement grooves provided on the outer periphery of the rotation shaft in parallel with the axis of the rotation shaft and at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, and the engagement with the engagement grooves. Each time the rotating body rotates by a predetermined displacement amount, a resistance force when the engaging groove and the elastic engaging member are disengaged to rotate the rotating body. May be further provided with a rotation feeling generating section that generates a rotation feeling on the rotating body. In this case, the user can easily grasp and adjust the operation amount, and the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  The rotary input device of the present invention has a fitting groove provided over the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, and when the rotating body is slid in the axial direction, the fitting groove and the detection unit are It may further include a sliding feel generating portion that generates a sliding feel on the rotating body by fitting.

  In this case, when the function to be controlled is selected by sliding the rotating body in the axial direction, the rotating shaft can be positioned at a position where the fitting groove and the detection unit are fitted. In addition, when the fitting groove and the detection unit are fitted, a sliding feel is generated in the rotating body, so that the user can easily grasp the function of the selected control target, and the user's operational feeling can be improved. Can be improved.

A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes the rotary input device according to the present invention.
According to the portable electronic device of the present invention, a plurality of functions can be intuitively operated by a single input device by rotating the rotating body and sliding the rotating shaft in the axial direction.

The portable electronic device includes a first casing having a display unit, a second casing having an operation unit, and a hinge that foldably connects the first casing and the second casing, The rotary input device may be arranged at one end of the hinge so that the hinge and the rotation shaft are coaxial.
In this case, since the rotary input device can be provided integrally with the hinge, it is not necessary to provide a separate space for providing the rotary input device, and the portable electronic device can be further downsized.

According to the rotary input device of the present invention, a plurality of functions can be controlled by one input device while allowing the user to perform an adjustment operation intuitively.
In addition, according to the portable electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to configure a portable electronic device that has multiple functions and is small and intuitively operable.

Hereinafter, a rotary input device and a portable electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic dictionary (portable electronic device) 2 equipped with a rotary input device 1 of the present embodiment. The electronic dictionary 2 includes a first housing 4 having a display unit 3 having a backlight (not shown), a second housing 6 having operation keys (operation units) 5, a first housing 4 and a second housing. 6 and a hinge 7 that is foldably connected. The rotary input device 1 is integrated with the hinge 7 at the right end of the hinge 7.

  FIG. 2A shows the rotary input device 1 in a normal state. The rotary input device 1 includes a knob (rotary body) 9 having a rotation shaft 8, a rotary encoder (displacement amount conversion unit) 10 provided on the rotation shaft 8, and a detection unit provided near the side surface of the rotation shaft 8. 11.

  The knob 9 is formed of a resin or the like, and includes a rotating shaft 8 and a substantially cylindrical knob main body 12 provided coaxially with the rotating shaft 8.

  The rotary encoder 10 has a known configuration of an incremental method, and is in contact with the rotary contact portion 13 formed on the outer peripheral surface spaced apart from the knob body 12 of the rotary shaft 8 by a predetermined distance, and the rotary contact portion 13. And a fixed contact 14 provided.

  In the rotary contact portion 13, a strip-shaped metal piece 15 having a predetermined length is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 8 made of resin and is parallel to the axis of the rotary shaft 8 over the entire circumference at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. Has been placed. The fixed contact 14 is a member made of a rod-like or plate-like conductor whose tip contacts the rotary contact portion 13, and its base end is connected to a circuit board 16 provided along the rotary shaft 8.

A disc-like movable element 17 formed of a conductor such as metal is provided at a predetermined position on the rotary shaft 8 further away from the knob body 12 than the rotary contact portion 13.
On the circuit board 16, a plurality of contact terminals (stator) 18 </ b> A, 18 </ b> B, 18 </ b> C provided side by side with the fixed contact 14 are disposed so as to be in contact with the movable element 17 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 8. ing. The detection part 11 is comprised from the needle | mover 17 and each contact terminal 18A, 18B, 18C.

  The rotary shaft 8 passes through both ends of a cylindrical case 19 having a diameter smaller than that of the knob body 12 so that the rotary shaft 8 and the case 19 are coaxial, and the rotary encoder 10, the detection unit 11, and the circuit board. 16 is housed in a case 19.

  A stopper 20 having the same diameter as that of the case 19 is provided at the end of the rotating shaft 8 penetrating the case 19, and the knob 9 is configured to be slidable within a predetermined range in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 8. The case 19 and the stopper 20 are accommodated and fixed in the hinge 7.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic dictionary 2. The fixed contact 14 and the contact terminals 18A, 18B, 18C on the circuit board 16 are connected to a control unit (control target determination unit) 21 provided in the second housing 6. The control unit 21 is composed of a semiconductor device or the like, and is also connected to the display unit 3 and the operation keys 5, and performs overall control of the electronic dictionary 2.

The operation of the rotary input device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).
As shown in FIG. 2A, the movable element 17 is in contact with the contact terminal 18A on the stopper 20 side at the standard time when the knob main body 12 is pushed to the position P1 where it contacts the case 19. In this state, a signal generated from the rotary input device 1 is recognized by the control unit 21 as a screen scroll control signal for the display unit 3.

  When the user rotates the knob body 12, the rotary contact portion 13 provided on the rotary shaft 8 rotates. Along with this, the metal pieces 15 and the resin between the metal pieces 15 alternately come into contact with the fixed contacts 14, and the fixed contacts 14 are repeatedly turned on and off for each predetermined amount of rotational displacement. The rotary encoder 10 converts the rotational displacement amount of the rotary shaft 8, which is an analog amount, into a digital signal with a direction by using the pulse and the phase generated along with the on and off, and passes through the circuit board 16. To the control unit 21.

  The control unit 21 treats the signal as a control signal related to the screen scroll as described above based on the contact state between the movable element 17 and the contact terminals 18A, 18B, and 18C in the detection unit 11, and the direction indicated by the signal. And according to the amount, the display of the contents of the dictionary search item displayed on the display unit 3 is scrolled.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the left end of the knob body 12 is pulled to the position P3, the stopper 20 comes into contact with the case 19 as shown in FIG. 2 (b), and the mover 17 comes into contact with the knob body 12 most. Contact terminal 18C.

  When the user rotates the knob main body 12 in this state, a digital signal having a direction and an amount is generated by the rotary encoder 10 and sent to the control unit 21 through the circuit board 16 as described above. At this time, the control unit 21 treats the digital signal as a control signal related to the volume of the electronic dictionary 2 based on the contact state of the detection unit 11, and adjusts the volume based on the direction and amount of the control signal.

  Further, when the user slides the knob 9 to the position P2 where the movable element 17 and the contact terminal 18B are in contact with each other by the same operation as described above, the control unit 21 displays the signal generated by the rotary encoder 10 on the display unit 3. It is handled as a control signal relating to the brightness of the backlight, and the brightness of the backlight is adjusted based on the direction and amount of the control signal.

  According to the rotary input device 1 and the electronic dictionary 2 of this embodiment, the knob 9 is slid in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 8 to change the contact terminals 18A, 18B, and 18C that are in contact with the mover 17. The position of the knob 9 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 8 is detected by the detection unit 11, and the function to be controlled is selected and determined by the control unit 21 based on the position. Therefore, a plurality of types of analog amounts can be controlled by one rotary input device 1, and even an electronic dictionary having multiple functions can be miniaturized.

  Further, there is no need for the user to display an environment setting screen or the like on the display unit 3 for adjustment of various functions, and direct control is performed by sliding the knob body 12 and adjusting and rotating the position of the mover 17. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of user operation steps and simplify the operation.

Further, since the control amount of the target function can be adjusted by the rotation amount of the knob body 12, the adjustment can be performed intuitively compared to the adjustment by the operation key 5. Therefore, the user's operational feeling can be improved.
Furthermore, since the rotary input device 1 is attached to one end of the hinge 7 almost integrally with the hinge 7, it is not necessary to secure a new space for installing the rotary input device 1, and the portable electronic device can be renewed. Can contribute to downsizing.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that the rotation shaft is provided with a rotation feeling generator and a sliding feel generator, the shape of the detector, and the contact between the rotation shaft and the detector. It is an aspect.
In addition, about the component similar to the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the rotary input device 31 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5A, in the knob 32 of the present embodiment, the section of the rotary shaft 33 located between the rotary encoder 10 and the detection unit 34 has a cross section orthogonal to the axis of the rotary shaft 33 approximately V. A character-like engagement groove 35 having a predetermined length is provided over the entire circumference in parallel with the axis and at regular intervals. One engagement groove 35 may be provided for one metal piece 15 of the rotary encoder, or a predetermined plurality, for example three, may be provided for one metal piece 15.

At a predetermined position facing the engagement groove 35 in the case 19, an elastic engagement member 36 having an engagement tooth (not shown) at the tip of a substantially rectangular tongue piece formed of resin or the like is provided in the engagement tooth. Is engaged with the engagement groove 35, and the engagement groove 35 and the elastic engagement member 36 constitute a rotation feeling generating portion 37.
Fitting grooves 38A and 38B having a substantially V-shaped cross section parallel to the rotating shaft 33 are provided in a portion closer to the stopper 20 than the engaging groove 35 of the rotating shaft 33 so as to be orthogonal to the axis over the entire circumference. In addition, a sliding feel generating part 40 is constituted by the fitting grooves 38A, 38B and the detecting part 34.

The detection unit 34 of the present embodiment has two switches 39A and 39B provided on the inner surface of the case 19. Each switch 39A, 39B is provided on each of the bases 41A, 41B fixed on the inner surface of the case 19, and is provided on each of the bases 41A, 41B so as to protrude upward and move up and down. And substantially conical protrusions 42A and 42B provided on the surface.
The fixed contact 14 and the switches 39A and 39B are connected to the control unit 21 through a circuit board (not shown) as in the first embodiment.

The operation of the rotary input device 31 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c).
First, at the standard time shown in FIG. 5A, the knob body 12 is pushed to the position P <b> 1 where it contacts the case 19. At this time, since both of the fitting grooves 38A and 38B on the rotating shaft 33 are located on the stopper 20 side from the switch 39A, the protruding portions 42A and 42B of each switch are pressed against the outer surface of the rotating shaft 33. Has been turned on. In this state, the control unit 21 handles the control signal issued from the rotary encoder 10 as a control signal related to screen scrolling of the display unit 3.

  When the user rotates the knob body 12, the engagement groove 35 and the engagement teeth of the elastic engagement member 36 are repeatedly engaged and disengaged every time the knob body 12 is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle. The feeling of resistance when rotating is released for each predetermined amount of rotational displacement, and the user feels a click feeling as a rotation feel. At the same time, a control signal is generated by the rotary encoder 10 and sent to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 performs control for scrolling the display of the display unit 3 as in the first embodiment.

  When the user pulls the knob main body 12 in the axial direction from the state of FIG. 5A, the switch 39A and the fitting groove 38A are moved when the left end of the knob main body 12 reaches the position P2, as shown in FIG. 5B. The projecting portion 42A projects into the fitting groove 38A. At this time, when the switch 39A of the sliding feel generating portion 40 and the fitting groove 38A are fitted, a click feeling as a sliding feel is generated in the knob body 12, and the switch 39A is turned off. In this state, the control unit 21 handles the control signal generated by the rotary encoder 10 as a control signal related to the brightness of the backlight of the display unit 3.

  When the knob body 12 is further pulled in the axial direction, the switch 39A is detached from the fitting groove 38A. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the left end of the knob body 12 reaches the position P3, the fitting groove 38A is fitted with the switch 39B, and the fitting groove 38B is fitted with the switch 39A. A click feeling as a sliding feel occurs in the main body 12. At this time, as for each switch, protrusion part 42A, 42B protrudes in fitting groove 38A, 38B, and will be in an OFF state. In this state, the control unit 21 handles the control signal generated by the rotary encoder 10 as a control signal related to volume.

  According to the rotary input device 31 of the present embodiment, the engagement between the engagement groove 35 of the rotation feeling generating portion 37 and the elastic engagement member 36 every time the user rotates the knob body 12 by a displacement amount corresponding to a predetermined angle. By repeatedly engaging and disengaging the teeth, a click feeling as a rotation feeling is generated and recognized by the user. Therefore, the user can recognize the operation amount more clearly and can easily adjust the operation amount, so that the operation feeling can be improved.

  Further, when the knob body 12 is slid in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 33 and the function to be controlled is selected, the fitting grooves 38A and 38B of the sliding feel generating portion 40 and the protrusions of the switches 39A and 39B are selected. Since the portions 42A and 42B are fitted to each other to generate a click feeling as a sliding feeling, the user can easily recognize that a desired function has been selected. At the same time, the rotation shaft 33 can be reliably positioned at a position for selecting the control target function.

  Further, the fitting grooves 38A and 38B are formed in a substantially V shape, the projecting portions 42A and 42B of each switch are formed in a substantially conical shape, and the projecting portions 42A and 42B are vertically moved toward the rotating shaft 33 by the urging means. Since it protrudes so as to be movable, it is possible to easily disengage the fitting by keeping sliding the rotating shaft 33 while securely fitting at the fitting position. Therefore, the control target function can be selected smoothly by sliding the knob 32.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which an incremental rotary encoder is used as the rotational displacement amount conversion unit has been described. However, instead of this, an absolute rotary encoder may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the detection unit is configured by a mechanism such as a mover and a contact terminal provided on the rotating shaft has been described. Instead, the case end of the rotating shaft is transmitted by transmitted light or the like. It is also possible to configure the rotary input device so that the control unit determines the function to be controlled by the software program based on the protrusion amount detected by the detection unit, such as a mechanism that detects the amount of protrusion from the detection unit. Is possible.

Furthermore, the positions of the rotational displacement amount conversion unit, the rotation feeling generation unit, and the detection unit on the rotation axis are not limited to the above-described embodiments. These mechanisms are configured so that the rotary contact portion and the fixed contact, the engagement groove and the engagement teeth of the engagement member, and the movable element and the contact terminal are always linked within the sliding range of the knob body. For example, the mechanisms can be installed in any order from the knob body side.
Further, the number of contact terminals and switches of the detection unit is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be freely set according to the number of function items to be controlled.

  In addition, the position of the stopper is not limited to the outside of the case as in the above embodiment, and the stopper is provided so as to abut against a partition provided inside the case, so that the knob body is not separated from the case by a certain distance or more. May be.

  The portable electronic device of the present invention is not limited to the electronic dictionary of the embodiment. The rotary input device of the present invention is also applicable to a mobile phone having a hinge. Further, although the effect of space saving is slightly lost, it can be applied to a portable electronic device having no hinge.

It is a perspective view of the electronic dictionary provided with the rotary input device of 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the standard state of the rotary input device of the embodiment, (b) is a figure which shows the state which pulled the knob main body from the state of (a) in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic dictionary of the embodiment. It is the elements on larger scale near the hinge of the electronic dictionary of the embodiment. (A) is a standard state of the rotary input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a state in which the knob body is pulled in the axial direction of the rotary shaft from the state of (a), and (c) is ( It is a schematic diagram which each shows the state which pulled the knob main body in the axial direction of the rotating shaft further from the state of b).

Explanation of symbols

1, 31 Rotary input device 2 Electronic dictionary (portable electronic device)
3 Display unit 4 First housing 5 Operation keys (operation unit)
6 Second housing 7 Hinge 8, 33 Rotating shaft 9, 32 Knob (Rotating body)
10 Rotary encoder (rotational displacement converter)
11, 34 Detection part 17 Movable element 18A, 18B, 18C Contact terminal (stator)
21 Control unit (control target determination unit)
35 engagement groove 36 elastic engagement member 37 rotation feeling generating portion 38A, 38B fitting groove 40 sliding feeling generating portion

Claims (6)

A rotary input device capable of controlling a plurality of functions by generating a control signal,
A rotating body having a rotating shaft and disposed so as to be slidable within a predetermined range in the axial direction of the rotating shaft;
A rotational displacement amount conversion unit that is provided on the rotation shaft and generates the control signal by converting the rotational displacement amount of the rotating body into an electrical signal;
A detection unit that detects a position of the rotating body in the axial direction;
A control target determining unit that alternatively selects one function to be controlled among the plurality of functions based on the position of the rotating body detected by the detection unit;
A rotary input device comprising: The detector is
A mover provided on the rotating shaft;
A plurality of stators which are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and which come into electrical contact with the mover when the rotating body is slid in the axial direction;
The rotary input device according to claim 1, comprising: A plurality of engaging grooves provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft in parallel to the axis of the rotating shaft and at regular intervals in the circumferential direction;
An elastic engagement member that engages with the engagement groove;
Each time the rotating body rotates by a predetermined displacement amount, the engagement force between the engaging groove and the elastic engaging member is disengaged to release the resistance force when rotating the rotating body, and the rotating body feels to rotate. The rotary input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation feeling generating unit that generates the rotation. Having a fitting groove provided over the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft;
When the rotating body is slid in the axial direction, a sliding feel generating section is further provided that generates a sliding feel on the rotating body by fitting the fitting groove and the detection section. The rotary input device according to any one of claims 1 and 3.   A portable electronic device comprising the rotary input device according to claim 1. The portable electronic device is
A first housing having a display unit;
A second housing having an operation unit;
A hinge that foldably connects the first housing and the second housing;
6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the rotary input device is disposed at one end of the hinge so that the hinge and the rotation shaft are coaxial.

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