JP6120673B2 - Information input device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input device for inputting information by a rotating operation, and an electronic apparatus including the information input device.

  Some electronic devices such as digital cameras are equipped with an input device for inputting information by rotating operation, and various kinds of information displayed on a liquid crystal panel or the like provided on the back of the digital camera body by rotating the input device. Items and setting values can be changed. As a structure of such a rotary operation type input device, an elastic spring is urged against the concavo-convex portion, and one of the concavo-convex portion or the elastic spring rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotative operation portion. In general, the click force is generated by changing the biasing force of the elastic spring. The biasing force of the elastic spring is effective in preventing malfunction when the rotary operation unit is not operated, specifically, inadvertent rotation.

  However, in such a structure that mechanically generates a click feeling, a click sound is generated simultaneously with the click feeling. That is, for every rotation of a certain angle, a tick and an operating sound are generated due to a contact fluctuation between the elastic spring and the concavo-convex portion, and this operating sound often becomes a problem. For example, if the operation sound is recorded when the setting value is changed during moving image shooting, the operation sound is heard as noise during reproduction. To solve this problem, a method of reducing the biasing force of the elastic spring or reducing the level difference of the concavo-convex portion can be considered in order to reduce the operation sound. However, this method has a problem that the click feeling is weakened.

  Therefore, as a rotation operation type input device, one that generates a click feeling magnetically has been proposed for the purpose of improving the synchronization performance of the rotation feeling and the rotation signal output and improving the durability of the rotation feeling (for example, Patent Documents). 1). In Patent Document 1, a ring-shaped magnet magnetized with a plurality of poles is attached to a rotary operation body, and a magnet for generating a click feeling is disposed on a base that supports the rotation of the rotary operation body. And the structure which arrange | positions the detection element which detects the rotation of a rotation operation body non-contactingly so that it may oppose a ring-shaped magnet in an up-down direction is proposed. In such a configuration that magnetically generates a click feeling, no click sound is generated.

Japanese Patent No. 4175007

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 requires that a magnet for generating a click feeling be provided separately from the ring-shaped magnet, and such a magnet is not inexpensive and therefore expensive. There is a problem. In order to strengthen the click feeling while maintaining the distance (gap) between the ring-shaped magnet and the click feeling generating magnet, a magnet having a larger shape, a plurality of magnets, or a magnet having a high surface magnetic flux density is used. There is a problem that the cost is further increased.

  Patent Document 1 also describes that a magnetic material is used to generate a click feeling, but there is no specific description of the structure using the magnetic material, and the magnet is made magnetic with a ring magnet as a single pole. There is no explanation only by replacing it with the body. For this reason, when the ring-shaped magnet is a single pole, no click feeling is generated in the first place, and the rotation cannot be detected.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost rotational operation type information input device capable of reducing the click sound and obtaining a strong click feeling.

The information input apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation member which is operated to rotate, has a ring shape, a different magnetic poles formed in the radial direction, a first magnet that is fixed to the operating member, the ring-shaped has a shape, magnetic poles different in the axial direction perpendicular to the radial direction is formed, and a second magnet fixed to the operating member such that the first magnet and concentric, the first a stator having opposite magnetic pole teeth in the pole and said radial magnet in, characterized in that it comprises a rotation detecting element which faces the second magnet in the axial direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the rotational operation type information input device which can silence a click sound and can obtain a strong click feeling is realizable at low cost.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an information input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the information input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the magnetic pole formation state of the magnet unit which comprises the information input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a back surface top view which shows the positional relationship of the magnet unit which comprises the information input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment, a stator, and a rotation detection element. It is explanatory drawing of the rotation detection method in the information input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the magnetic pole formation state of the magnet unit which comprises the information input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of the ring-shaped magnet which comprises the information input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, a stator, and a rotation detection element.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The information input device according to the present invention can be applied to a rotary operation member (rotary dial) for changing a shooting mode, shooting conditions, and the like in an imaging device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera. However, the information input device according to the present invention is not limited to the imaging device, and various electronic devices (for example, image processing devices such as copiers, printers, and scanners, communication devices, electronic stationery, and medical devices) may be used. The present invention can be applied to a rotary operation member for inputting information.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an information input device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The information input device 10 is generally configured by an operation member 1, a magnet unit 2, a stator 3, a support body 4, a cover plate 5, a central button 6, a nonconductive sheet 7 and a substrate 8. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the information input device 10, FIG. 2 (a) is a cross-sectional view through the dome switches 8b and 8c mounted on the substrate 8, and FIG. 2 (b) is mounted on the substrate 8. 3 is a cross-sectional view passing through a rotation detection element 9. FIG.

  In the information input device 10, the operation member 1, the magnet unit 2, the stator 3, the support body 4, the cover plate 5, the center button 6, and the nonconductive sheet 7 are arranged coaxially. The operation member 1 formed in a ring shape is a member that is rotated by an operator, and the operation member 1 is rotatably supported by a rotation support portion 4 a provided on the support 4.

  The magnet unit 2 has a double ring shape, and the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the second ring-shaped magnet 2b arranged concentrically, and the cross-sectional shape is a concave shape due to the connecting portion connecting them. So as to be integrated (seamlessly). The magnet unit 2 is fixed to the back surface of the operation member 1 by adhesion, or is integrally formed with the operation member 1 by insert molding or the like. As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 3, the first ring-shaped magnet 2a has S poles and N poles alternately formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and different magnetic poles are formed in the radial direction. So that it is magnetized. The second ring-shaped magnet 2b is magnetized so that S poles and N poles are alternately formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and different magnetic poles are formed in the axial direction (direction perpendicular to the radial direction). Has been.

  The stator 3 includes a plurality of magnetic pole teeth facing the first ring-shaped magnet 2a. More specifically, the stator 3 includes an outer magnetic pole tooth 3a that extends in the axial direction and faces the outer peripheral surface of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a, and an inner peripheral surface of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a that extends in the axial direction. The inner magnetic pole teeth 3b facing each other and the connecting portion 3c connecting them. The number of magnetic pole teeth of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a is set to the same number (12 teeth) as the number of magnetic poles of the first ring magnet 2a (in the first embodiment, 12 poles as shown in FIG. 3). ing. The number of magnetic pole teeth of the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b is set to a number (11 teeth) less than the number of magnetic poles of the first ring magnet 2a.

  The reason why the number of magnetic pole teeth of the inner magnetic pole tooth 3b is one less than that of the outer magnetic pole tooth 3a is that one magnetic pole tooth near the rotation detecting element 9 is thinned out so as not to affect the rotation detection of the rotation detecting element 9. It depends. Therefore, the circumferential direction phases of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b are set to be the same. The stator 3 has a structure in which the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b extend in the axial direction with the connecting portion 3c interposed therebetween, and can be integrally formed by a press. This makes it possible to manufacture at a low cost.

  The support 4 has a circular opening provided at the center and a rotation support 4 a that supports the rotation of the operation member 1. The stator 3 is fixed to the support 4 by bonding or heat caulking. The cover plate 5 has a circular opening at the center, and is supported by a so-called patching stop (fitting of an elastic engaging member) or the like with the operation member 1 sandwiched between the cover plate 5 and the support 4. 4 is fixed. By fixing the cover plate 5 to the support body 4 in this way, the operation member 1 is prevented from coming off in the axial direction. In a state where the cover plate 5 is fixed to the support body 4, a slight gap is formed in the axial direction between the cover plate 5 and the operation member 1, whereby the operation member 1 is supported by the support body 4. It is possible to rotate stably in the state that has been done.

The central button 6 is disposed in the central opening of the cover plate 5 and is supported so as to be movable (pressed) in the axial direction. The cover plate 5 prevents the central button 6 from coming off in the axial direction. A cylindrical portion 6a is provided at the center of the back surface of the central button 6, and a projection 7a of the non-conductive sheet 7 and a dome switch 8a of the substrate 8 are disposed below the cylindrical portion 6a.

The non-conductive sheet 7 has a circular shape covering the entire five dome switches 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, and 8e mounted on the substrate 8. As shown in FIG. 2A, on the back surface of the non-conductive sheet 7, projections 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, and 7e (however, at positions corresponding to the dome switches 8a to 8e of the substrate 8) 7d and 7e are not shown). Further, the non-conductive sheet 7 is provided with a hole portion 7f for allowing the rotation detecting element 9 mounted on the substrate 8 to face the second ring-shaped magnet 2b.

Five dome switches 8a to 8e are mounted on the substrate 8, and these dome switches 8a to 8e are hemispherically raised from the surface of the substrate 8, and the switches are turned on when the surface is pushed down. It has a structure that generates an elastic click feeling. In this embodiment, the dome switches 8a to 8e are arranged in a cross shape so that the dome switches 8b to 8e are 90 degrees out of phase with the dome switch 8a as the center. The dome switch 8a is below the projection 7a of the non-conductive sheet 7, the dome switch 8b is below the projection 7b, the dome switch 8c is below the projection 7c, and the dome switch 8d is the projection 7d (not shown). The dome switches 8e are respectively disposed below the protrusions 7e (not shown).

  The rotation detection element 9 is mounted on the substrate 8 so as to face the second ring-shaped magnet 2b. The configuration of the rotation detection element 9 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the information input device 10, when the center button 6 is pressed in the axial direction, the cylindrical portion 6 a pushes down the projection 7 a of the nonconductive sheet 7, and the projection 7 a pushes down the dome switch 8 a provided on the substrate 8. Thereby, the dome switch 8a is elastically deformed to generate a click feeling, and at the same time, the switch is turned on. When the pressing of the center button 6 is stopped, the dome switch 8a is restored to the initial shape (the swelled state in a dome shape) by the click force of the dome switch 8a. The center button 6 returns to the original position.

When the circumferential end of the operating member 1 and the vicinity of the upper portion of the dome switch 8b in the axial direction are pressed down in the axial direction, the operating member 1 tilts together with the support body 4, and at that time, the magnet fixed to the operating member 1 The unit 3 and the stator 3 fixed to the support 4 are also tilted together. Then, the support 4 and the stator 3 push down the projection 7b of the non-conductive sheet 7, and the projection 7b pushes down the dome switch 8b provided on the substrate 8, whereby the dome switch 8b is elastically deformed. The switch is turned on at the same time as the click feeling occurs. When the pressing of the operation member 1 is stopped, the shape of the dome switch 8b is restored to the initial state by the click force of the dome switch 8b, and thereby the projection 7b, the support 4 and the stator 3 are also pushed up, so Return to the position (no tilt). Since the dome switches 8c to 8e have the same structure as the dome switch 8b and operate in the same manner, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the state of magnetization (magnetic pole formation) of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the second ring-shaped magnet 2b constituting the information input device 10. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the second ring-shaped magnet 2b shown in FIG. 1 are viewed from the lower side (back side). The first ring-shaped magnet 2a is equally divided into 12 parts in the circumferential direction, and S poles and N poles are alternately magnetized. The first ring-shaped magnet 2a is magnetized so that different magnetic poles are formed in the radial direction. That is, the first ring magnet 2a is magnetized to opposite poles on the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the first ring magnet 2a by radial magnetization. The second ring-shaped magnet 2b is equally divided into 12 parts in the circumferential direction, and S poles and N poles are alternately magnetized. The second ring magnet 2b is magnetized so that different magnetic poles are formed in the axial direction. That is, the second ring-shaped magnet 2b is magnetized to opposite poles on the front and back surfaces of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b by plane magnetization. The magnetic pole formation phase of the first ring magnet 2a and the magnetic pole formation phase of the second ring magnet 2b are matched.

4 is a back plan view showing the positional relationship among the magnet unit 2, the stator 3 and the rotation detecting element 9 in the information input device 10. Like FIG. 3, the magnet unit 2 shown in FIG. The state seen from) is shown. The rotation detection element 9 includes two sensors 9a and 9b inside. The sensors 9a and 9b are specifically Hall elements and face each other at a position shifted by a half pitch in the magnetization phase of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b. That is, when the sensor 9a faces the magnetic pole center, the sensor 9b faces the magnetic pole boundary. When the sensor 9a faces the magnetic pole boundary, the sensor 9b faces the magnetic pole center. Thus, the amount of rotation and the direction of rotation of the operation member 1 can be detected by the sensors 9a and 9b detecting the magnetic flux of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b.

The magnet unit 2 is stably stationary by the magnetic attractive force at a position where the magnetic pole center of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a coincides with the tooth width centers of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b of the stator 3. That is, this stationary position becomes the cogging stable position, and the operation member 1 to which the magnet unit 2 is fixed is stationary at this position. At this time, the rotation detecting element 9 is in a state where the sensor 9a coincides with the magnetic pole center of the second ring magnet 2b and the sensor 9b coincides with the magnetic pole boundary of the second ring magnet 2b.

  The magnetic flux emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a moves toward the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b after moving toward the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a, and then the first ring-shaped magnet 2a. Head towards the inner surface. On the other hand, the magnetic flux emitted from the inner peripheral surface of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a moves toward the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a after moving toward the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b, and then the first ring-shaped magnet 2a. Head to the outer peripheral surface of. At the position where the magnetic pole center of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a coincides with the tooth width centers of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b, the magnetic resistance of these magnetic circuits becomes smaller, so that it becomes a cogging stable position.

  In the first embodiment, the magnetic pole teeth of the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b are thinned out in the vicinity of the rotation detection element 9 so as not to affect the magnetic flux detection of the second ring magnet 2b by the rotation detection element 9. . However, such thinning of the magnetic pole teeth is not necessary when the distance between the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the second ring-shaped magnet 2b is sufficiently large.

  When the operation member 1 is rotated, the magnet unit 2 is also rotated by the same angle as the rotation angle of the operation member 1, and the tooth width between the magnetic pole center of the first ring magnet 2a and the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b. Deviation from the center. At this time, until the position where the magnetic pole boundary of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a coincides with the center of the width of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b, which is the position when the operating member 1 is rotated by a mechanical angle of 15 degrees. A force to return the first ring-shaped magnet 2a (magnet unit 2) to the original works. Then, when the boundary between the magnetic pole boundary of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the center of the width of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b is exceeded, the process proceeds to the first ring-shaped magnet 2a (magnet unit 2). Power works in the direction.

Thereafter, the position when the operation member 1 is further rotated by 15 degrees at the mechanical angle, that is, the magnetic pole center of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the tooth width centers of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b again coincide. In the position, the first ring-shaped magnet 2a (magnet unit 2) rests stably again. In other words, the first ring-shaped magnet 2a (magnet unit 2) in a stationary state is brought into a stationary state again by rotating the operation member 1 by an angle corresponding to one phase of magnetization of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a. Therefore, if one of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b faces the S pole of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a before the rotation of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a, The stable stationary state is when one of the magnetic pole teeth faces the north pole of the first ring magnet 2a.

  As described above, since a stable cogging position is generated for each magnetized magnetic pole, when the magnet unit 2 is magnetized in the circumferential direction 12 poles as in the first embodiment, the stability when the operation member 1 is rotated once is stable. There are 12 positions. On the other hand, in the technique of generating a click feeling with the ring-shaped magnet and the click feeling generating magnet described in Patent Document 1 described above as the prior art, the cogging between the magnets repels when facing the same pole. The stable stop position for one rotation is half the number of magnetic poles. Therefore, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, if the stable positions for one rotation are to be provided at 12 positions, the first ring magnet needs to be magnetized to 24 poles. However, such magnetization is difficult with a small-diameter magnet, and there is a problem that the surface magnetic flux density after magnetization cannot be increased, and thus it is difficult to obtain a desired click feeling. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, since the number of magnetizations in the circumferential direction is half that of the prior art, it is easy to increase the surface magnetic flux density due to the magnetization. When the number is set, the stop position can be doubled.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a rotation detection method in the information input device 10. FIG. 5A shows a rotation detection method when the rotation direction of the magnet unit 2 is the right direction in the drawing (clockwise in FIG. 4), and FIG. A rotation detection method when the rotation direction is the left direction in the figure (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) is shown.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, the rotation detection element 9 is disposed so as to face the second ring-shaped magnet 2 b. The rotation detecting element 9 has two sensors 9a and 9b built in one package, and the magnetic flux emitted from the second ring-shaped magnet 2b is detected by the sensors 9a and 9b. Since the sensor 9a and the sensor 9b are arranged so as to always face each other at a position shifted by a half pitch in the magnetization phase of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b, when the sensor 9a faces the magnetic pole center, the sensor 9b When facing the boundary and the sensor 9a faces the magnetic pole boundary, the sensor 9b faces the magnetic pole center.

  “(I) A output” in FIG. 5 is the magnetic flux density detected by the sensor 9a, and shows a sine curve that peaks when the sensor 9a is opposed to the magnetic pole center position of the second ring magnet 2b. Draw. “(Ii) B output” is the magnetic flux density detected by the sensor 9b. Similar to the sensor 9a, the magnetic flux density detected by the sensor 9b peaks when the sensor 9b is opposed to the magnetic pole center position of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b. Here, due to the arrangement of the sensors 9a and 9b, the B output draws a sine curve that becomes 0 (zero) when the A output reaches a peak and peaks when the A output reaches 0. That is, the magnetic flux densities detected by the sensors 9a and 9b draw sine curves that are shifted from each other by ¼ phase.

  “(Iii) A signal” in FIG. 5 is a digital signal obtained by binarizing the A output of (i) with a predetermined threshold value (a position that has increased and decreased by a predetermined threshold value from 0). Similarly, “(iv) B signal” is a digital signal obtained by binarizing the B output of (ii) with a predetermined threshold ((iii) the same as the predetermined threshold of the A signal). “(V) Pulse signal” outputs High when the A signal in (iii) is High and the B signal in (iv) is also High and when the A signal is Low and the B signal is Low, and the A signal is High. This is a pulse signal obtained by exclusive OR that outputs Low when the B signal is Low and when the A signal is Low and the B signal is High. “(Vi) Rotation direction signal” in FIG. 5 is an output change point (High → Low or Low → High) of the A signal of (iii) and the B signal of (iv) (A signal change). The rotation direction is determined by observing the state of the B signal at the point and the state of the A signal at the change point of the B signal.

  When the magnet unit 2 is rotated rightward in the drawing from the state of FIG. 5A in which the sensor 9a of the rotation detecting element 9 is opposed to the N-pole center of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b, immediately (v). The pulse signal is switched. Then, when the rotation of the magnet unit 2 has passed the intermediate position from the cogging stable position to the adjacent cogging stable position (where the sensor 9b has passed the position facing the center of the N pole of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b). The pulse signal (v) is switched again. At this time, the A signal in (iii) changes from High to Low, and the B signal in (iv) at that time is High. As described above, when the output of the A signal in (iii) is changed, (iv) when the output of the B signal is in the opposite state to the A signal, the rotation direction is the normal rotation (the right direction in FIG. 5A). ). When it is determined that the rotation direction is normal rotation, the pulse signal is counted when the pulse signal (v) falls.

  The same applies to the case where the magnet unit 2 rotates in the right direction in FIG. 5A from the state in which the sensor 9a of the rotation detecting element 9 faces the center of the south pole of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b. That is, immediately after the start of rotation, the pulse signal (v) is switched, and the rotation of the magnet unit 2 has passed the intermediate position from the cogging stable position to the adjacent cogging stable position (the sensor 9b is the second ring magnet 2b). The pulse signal of (v) is switched again after passing the position facing the center of the S pole. At this time, the A signal in (iii) changes from Low to High, and the B signal in (iv) at that time is Low. In this way, when the output of the B signal in (iv) when the output of the A signal in (iii) changes, the rotation direction is the normal rotation (right in FIG. 5A). Direction). When it is determined that the rotation direction is normal rotation, the pulse signal is counted when the pulse signal (v) falls.

  When the magnet unit 2 is rotated leftward in the figure from the state of FIG. 5B in which the sensor 9a of the rotation detecting element 9 is opposed to the N-pole center of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b, (v) The pulse signal is switched. Then, when the rotation of the magnet unit 2 has passed the intermediate position from the cogging stable position to the adjacent cogging stable position (where the sensor 9b has passed the position facing the center of the S pole of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b), The pulse signal (v) is switched again. At this time, the A signal in (iii) changes from High to Low, and the B signal in (iv) at that time is Low. Thus, when the B signal in (iv) when the A signal in (iii) changes, the rotation direction is determined to be the reverse rotation (the left direction in FIG. 5B). To do. When the rotation direction is determined to be reverse rotation, the pulse signal is counted at the rising edge of the pulse signal (v).

  The same applies to the case where the magnet unit 2 is rotated in the left direction in FIG. 5B from the state in which the sensor 9a of the rotation detecting element 9 faces the center of the south pole of the second ring-shaped magnet 2b. ) Pulse signal is switched. When the rotation of the magnet unit 2 has passed the intermediate position from the cogging stable position to the adjacent cogging stable position (where the sensor 9b has passed the position facing the center of the N pole of the second ring magnet 2b), again ( v) The pulse signal switches. At this time, the A signal in (iii) changes from Low to High, and the B signal in (iv) at that time is High. As described above, when the A signal in (iii) changes and the B signal in (iv) is in the same state as the A signal, it is determined that the rotation direction is the reverse rotation (the left direction in FIG. 5B). . When the rotation direction is determined to be reverse rotation, the pulse signal is counted at the rising edge of the pulse signal (v).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, a click feeling can be obtained by cogging generated by the magnet unit 2 and the stator 3, and no click sound is generated. Noise reduction can be realized. Further, since the number of magnetization divisions of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a can be set with the same number as the number of stop positions for one rotation of the operation member 1, it becomes easy to increase the magnetization force (surface magnetic flux density), As a result, the cogging force can be increased to enhance the click feeling. Further, since the first ring-shaped magnet 2a and the stator 3 are used for generating the cogging force, the cost can be suppressed lower than the configuration in which the cogging force is generated by the magnet and the magnet.

Second Embodiment
In 2nd Embodiment, although the structure of the magnet unit 2 which comprises the information input device 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is changed, and the distance between the sensors 9a and 9b in the rotation detection element 9 is changed according to this change, The structure of other components is the same. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a magnetized state of the magnet unit 20 constituting the information input apparatus according to the second embodiment, and is drawn from the same viewpoint as FIG. In the second embodiment, only the magnet unit 2 of the first embodiment is different, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  Compared with the magnet unit 2 described in the first embodiment, the magnet unit 20 has the same outer shape, but differs only in the magnetized state. That is, the first ring-shaped magnet 20a is magnetized so that the S pole and the N pole are alternately formed by dividing into 12 equal parts in the circumferential direction, and different magnetic poles are formed in the radial direction. This structure is the same as the first ring-shaped magnet 2a of the magnet unit 2. On the other hand, the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is magnetized so that S poles and N poles are alternately formed by dividing into 24 equal parts in the circumferential direction, and different magnetic poles are formed in the axial direction. ing. That is, in the magnet unit 20, the number of magnetic poles formed on the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is set to be twice the number of magnetic poles formed on the first ring-shaped magnet 20a.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship among the magnet unit 20, the stator 3, and the rotation detecting element 29, and is drawn from the same viewpoint as FIG. The rotation detecting element 29 has sensors 29a and 29b facing each other at a position shifted by a half pitch in the magnetization phase of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b, and the sensors 29a and 29b are magnetic fluxes of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b. Is detected.

  The magnet unit 20 is stably stationary by the magnetic attractive force at a position where the magnetic pole center of the first ring-shaped magnet 20a coincides with the tooth width centers of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b of the stator 3. That is, this stationary position becomes the cogging stable position, and the operation member 1 to which the magnet unit 20 is fixed is stationary at this stationary position. At this time, in the rotation detection element 29, the sensor 29a coincides with the magnetic pole center of the second ring magnet 20b, and the sensor 29b coincides with the magnetic pole boundary of the second ring magnet 20b.

  In the second embodiment as well, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the inner magnetic pole tooth 3b thins out only one tooth of the magnetic pole teeth near the rotation detecting element 29 so as not to affect the rotation detection of the rotation detecting element 29. Yes. However, such thinning of magnetic pole teeth is not necessary when the distance between the first ring-shaped magnet 20a and the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is sufficiently large.

  Since the first ring-shaped magnet 20a has the same structure as the first ring-shaped magnet 2a of the first embodiment, the occurrence of a click feeling or the like in the second embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment. The description of is omitted.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, there are 12 stable stop positions when the operation member 1 is rotated once. At this time, the number of pulses generated by the rotation detection element 29 is generated by the rotation detection element 9. There are 24 pulses, twice the number of pulses. This is because the number of magnetic poles of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is set to be twice the number of magnetic poles of the first ring-shaped magnet 20a. Note that the pulse number counting method is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  In the first embodiment, a pulse must be generated when the peak of the cogging force is exceeded (when the center of the width of the outer magnetic pole teeth 3a and the inner magnetic pole teeth 3b faces the magnetic pole boundary of the first ring-shaped magnet 2a). I must. In such a type in which only one pulse is generated in one click, a pulse may be generated before the peak of cogging force due to a component size error or a component placement error, and the rotation operation of the operation member 1 is stopped in that state. If it is done, there is a possibility that the magnet unit 2 returns to the original position and erroneous detection occurs. In contrast, in the second embodiment, since two pulses are generated in one click, the resolution of rotation detection can be increased, and therefore accurate rotation detection is possible.

  In the second embodiment, the number of magnetic poles of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is set to twice the number of magnetic poles of the first ring-shaped magnet 20a. However, the number of magnetic poles is not limited to twice as long as magnetization is possible. You may set to natural number times, such as 3 times and 4 times. Thus, by increasing the multiple of the number of magnetic poles, the resolution of rotation detection can be further increased, and the accuracy of rotation detection can be further improved.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since the second ring-shaped magnet 20b is provided in the magnet unit 20 in addition to the first ring-shaped magnet 20a, the number of magnetic poles of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b. Can be different from the number of magnetic poles of the first ring-shaped magnet 20a. Thus, by setting the number of magnetic poles of the second ring-shaped magnet 20b to a natural number times the number of magnetic poles of the first ring-shaped magnet 20a, a pulse corresponding to the multiple can be generated in one click. Thus, the resolution of rotation detection can be improved and rotation detection can be performed more accurately.

<Other embodiments>
Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation member 2 Magnet unit 2a 1st ring-shaped magnet 2b 2nd ring-shaped magnet 3 Stator 3a Outer magnetic pole tooth 3b Inner magnetic pole tooth 9 Rotation detection element

Claims (7)

An operation member to be rotated,
Has a ring shape, a different magnetic poles formed in the radial direction, a first magnet that is fixed to the operating member,
Has a ring shape, the radial direction different magnetic poles in the axial direction perpendicular is formed, and a second magnet fixed to the operating member such that the first magnet and concentric,
A stator having opposite magnetic pole teeth in said first magnetic pole and said radial magnet,
Information input apparatus characterized by and a rotation detecting element which faces the second magnet in the axial direction. The magnetic poles in the first magnet are formed in two layers in the radial direction,
The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic poles of the second magnet are formed in two layers in the axial direction. The first in magnets, and the S and N poles are formed alternately in the circumferential direction,
The second in the magnet, and the S and N poles are formed alternately in the circumferential direction,
Information input device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first magnet magnetic pole forming phase and said second magnet pole formed are in phase. It said first magnet and said second magnet, the information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in Tei Rukoto are connected by a connecting portion. The stator, as the magnetic pole teeth, wherein the outer magnetic pole teeth arranged on the outside of the first magnet, the inside is disposed so as to face the Oite said outer magnetic pole teeth on the inside of the first magnet With magnetic pole teeth,
The inner magnetic pole teeth, wherein in the vicinity of the rotation detecting element, an information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that only one tooth fewer than the outer magnetic pole tooth. Number magnetic poles formed in the circumferential direction of the second its in magnets, the claim 1, wherein in said first magnet is a natural number times the number of magnetic poles formed in the circumferential direction of its 6. The information input device according to any one of items 1 to 5 . An electronic apparatus, comprising an information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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