JP2000206583A - Operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by arranging many kinds of operation parts in a limited narrow space in an operating device for input operation. SOLUTION: This device is assembled in a switch supporting frame 2, and provided with a middle button 3 being a push button, an external button 4 being a rocking button arranged on the outer periphery of the button 3 and capable of pressing the quadrisected positions of the outer periphery, and a dial 5 being a turning button turnably supported on the outer periphery of the button 4 and capable of turning and indexing as the operation parts. A full automatic mode switch part and a photographing mode selecting switch part operated by the buttons 3 and 4 are disposed under the buttons 3 and 4. An electric armature 12 sliding on a conductive pattern is disposed as an exposure value setting switch part inside the dial 5, and set value information to a photographing mode is outputted corresponding to the turning position of the armature 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation device incorporated in an electronic device for inputting an operation signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73 is applicable as an operation device incorporated in a conventional portable electronic device.
No. 843 discloses a switch structure. This switch structure can be incorporated as a camera switch device, and is constituted by a push button switch and a rotary switch. A push button, which is an operation unit of the push button switch, is provided at a central portion of the rotation button which is an operation unit of the rotation switch, and the switch is operated by an axial pressing operation. The rotation button of the rotation switch is operated by a rotation operation. The push button switch is a release switch, and the rotary switch is
It is applied as a power switch, and its operation unit is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body.

An input device, which is an operating device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-331873, is also provided with a push button, which is an operating portion of a push button switch, at the center, and a swing switch on the outer periphery thereof. A swing button as an operation unit is provided. The push button is operated by an axial pressing operation. Further, the swing button can swing (tilt) in four directions, and one of a plurality of swing switches is selected and a switch operation is performed by swing pressing. The push button switch is a main switch, and the swing switch is composed of a plurality of switches and can be used for mode selection and the like. For example, the operation buttons are provided on the upper surface of a camera body or the like. A possible switch.

[0004]

However, the switch structure disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73843 has the following problems.
Both the push button switch and the rotary switch are simply turned on and off, and many types of inputs cannot be performed.

[0005] The input device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-331873 is composed of a push button switch and a swing switch. In particular, the swing switch is capable of performing a plurality of switch input operations. It is suitable for performing many types of switch operations in a narrow space on the upper surface of a camera body or the like. However, for example, when a setting other than the mode selection is required, a separate switch operation unit is provided, and it is difficult to arrange the switch operation unit in a small device with a small space. In addition, operability poses a problem when it is arranged at a remote place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in an operation device for input operation arranged in a small electronic device or the like, more operations can be performed in a limited space. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation device in which the units can be arranged and the operability thereof is also improved.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating device, wherein a push button for pressing a first switch portion is operable, and the push button is disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the push button. A part of the second switch unit, which is selected and pressed in the same direction as the operation direction of the push button to operate at least one switch of the second switch unit including a plurality of switches. A button, and a rotatable rotary button that is rotatably disposed around the swing button and that operates a third switch unit by the rotation of the push button. The first or second switch is operated by operating the button, and the third switch is operated by operating the rotary button.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the operating device according to the first aspect, the third switch portion operated by the rotary button is constituted by a plurality of switches; Can be indexed and positioned at a plurality of predetermined rotation positions corresponding to the plurality of switch operation positions.

An operation device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the operation device according to the first aspect, which is incorporated as an input operation device for a camera. A switch for selecting any one of the photographing modes; the first switch unit is a switch for returning the photographing mode selected by the second switch unit to an initial setting mode; and the third switch unit. The unit is a switch for specifying a set value in the shooting mode selected by the second switch unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the operation device according to the first aspect, the first switch section returns a photographing mode selected by the second switch section to an initial setting mode. The second switch is a switch for selecting one of a plurality of shooting modes of the camera, and the third switch is a switch for selecting a shooting mode selected by the second switch. A switch for setting an exposure correction value in the mode.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a camera in which a switch operating device as an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch operating device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch operating device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part around the switch operating device in the camera of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a switch unit and a control unit of the switch operating device.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the camera incorporating the switch operating device of the present embodiment has a front cover 20.
And a rear cover 21 that can be opened and closed. A lens barrel 22 is provided on the front surface of the front cover 20. On the upper surface of the front cover 20, a strobe light emitting section 23, a main switch operation button 24, a release switch operation button 25, a mode setting switch operation section 26, and an LCD display window 27
Etc. are arranged.

The mode setting switch operating device 26
Is a switch operating device for setting various photographing conditions of a camera or returning to an initial mode, and mainly includes a base 1 on a camera body side and a front cover 2 as a camera exterior body.
0, a switch support frame 2 formed by a part of the switch member 0, a holding plate 6 formed of a conductive material such as a metal plate for holding an operation member, and a full auto mode setting switch (first switch section) 33. A middle button 3 serving as a push button member for operating the button, and an outer button 4 serving as a swing button member fitted on the outer peripheral portion of the middle button 3 and operating a shooting mode selection switch (second switch unit) 34. A dial 5 as a rotary button member which is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the outer button 4 and operates an exposure value setting switch (third switch portion) 35, and is disposed between the outer button 4 and the middle button 3. And a conical spring 11 to be used.

Further, the switch operating device 26 is a member constituting a third switch portion, and is a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as FPC) 7 having a plurality of divided conductive patterns 7a, and A sliding contact piece that slides on the conductive pattern and a member that constitutes the first and second switch portions;
A plurality of metal switch contact pieces 9 and a switch board FPC 8 having a switch pattern.
And

The switch support frame 2 is provided with a click driving ball holding portion 2c having an opening and a stopper 2h for restricting a rotation range of the dial 5, and a dial indexing member is provided therein. A click ball 13 for the dial 5 and a compression spring 14 for urging the ball 13 toward the opening are provided.

The holding plate 6 is a member for holding the middle button 3 and the outer button 4 so as to be able to be pressed and for rotatably holding the inner peripheral portion of the dial 5. With a predetermined space provided, screws 19 are used for screw holes 2a and 2b.
And is arranged so as to cover the FPC 7. The holding plate 6 has screw insertion holes 6a, 6b.
And a hole 6 through which protruding legs of the outer button and the middle button to be described later penetrate.
c and 6d, and a ground connection contact 6e formed by bending downward.

The position of the dial 5 in the axial direction is regulated by the holding plate 6, and the dial 5 is supported on the upper outer peripheral portion of the switch support frame 2 so as to be rotatable around D2 perpendicular to a direction D1 described later. ing. In addition, valley-shaped concave portions 5a and mountain-shaped convex portions 5b are alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch on the inner peripheral portion. When rotating the dial 5, the concave and convex portions 5
The a and 5b are disengaged from the click ball 13 so that a click rotation operation for determining a rotation position can be performed.

The rotation range of the dial 5 is restricted to a predetermined angle by the stopper 2h of the switch support frame 2. Also, the turning position of the dial 5 is
1 and the numeral 5c on the dial 5.

The middle button 3 has a protruding leg 3a slidably fitted in a guide hole 4a of the outer button 4, and is mounted through the holding plate 6. It is urged upward by the conical spring 11, is locked upward by the holding plate 6 via the claw 3b, and can be pressed and moved by a predetermined amount downward in the D1 direction toward the switch support plate 2. It is supported in a state.

The outer button 4 is fitted to the inner peripheral portion of the dial 5 and is urged downward (toward the switch support plate 2) by a conical spring 11 and held. Then, on the holding plate 6, it is supported so as to be capable of swinging in four directions in which the four divided circumferences are inclined and pressed in the direction D1. The outer button 4 is provided with four projecting legs 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e penetrating the holding plate 6.

The FPC 7 is disposed below the holding plate 6 and the dial 5 and on the upper surface of the switch support frame 2. In addition to the conductive pattern 7a, the FPC 7 is a ground for an electric circuit section on the device body side. A resistance element 7e having a ground pattern 7b connected to the line and providing a different resistance value for each conductive pattern 7a is mounted. Further, holes 7d and 7c through which the protruding legs of the outer and middle buttons penetrate are provided.

The slide contact piece 12 is supported inside the dial 5, and is driven to rotate integrally with the dial 5. Due to the rotation, the slide contact piece 12 becomes F
It slides on the conductive pattern 7a of the PC 7. The output signal due to the contact between the slide contact piece 12 and the conductive pattern 7a is:
It is output to the CPU 30 via the FPC 7.

The FPC 8 of the switch board having the switch contact piece group 9 is fixed to the camera body base 1 on the lower surface side of the switch support frame 2 by screws 18. The switch contact piece group 9 is disposed at the center of the switch contact piece group 9a. The switch contact piece group 9 is elastically deformable and is pressed by the protruding leg 3a of the middle button 3. Four elastically deformable convex switch contact pieces 9 selectively pressed by the four projecting legs 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e of the button 4.
b, 9c, 9d, and 9e.

The FPC 8 is provided with switch patterns 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, and 8e disposed at positions below the switch contact pieces 9a to 9e and a common pattern 8f. When one of the switch contact pieces 9a to 9e is pressed, one of the corresponding switch patterns 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e is electrically connected to the common pattern 8f, and the CPU 30 (see FIG. 5). ), A switch operation signal is output.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit which is built in the camera and receives a switch output from the switch operating device. The CPU 30 shown in FIG. 5 is a control unit that controls all the controls of the camera. In addition to the CPU 30, the main switch 3
2, the full-auto mode setting switch 33, the photographing mode selection switch 34, and the exposure value setting switch 35 are supplied with operating power.

The full-auto mode setting switch 33
Is composed of the switch contact piece 9a operated by the middle button 3 and the switch pattern 8a.
The camera is switched to the full auto mode as the initial mode, or the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection switch 34 is switched to the full auto mode.

The photographing mode selection switch 34 is connected to the switch contacts 9b, 9c, 9 operated by the outer button 4.
d, 9e and switch patterns 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e
Are a plurality of switch groups. The output signal is C
The image is taken into the PU 30 and one of four types of shooting modes of a night view shooting mode, a portrait shooting mode, a stop action shooting mode, and a landscape shooting mode is selected and designated.

The exposure value setting switch 35 is a group of a plurality of selectable switches composed of the slide contact piece 12 rotated and driven by the dial 5 and the conductive pattern 7b. The output signal is taken into the CPU 30 as a different analog output voltage via each resistance element 7e corresponding to each index rotation position. The CPU 30 converts the analog output voltage into a digital signal, and sets nine exposure correction values from +2 to -2 according to the converted data. This exposure correction value is determined by the photographing mode selection switch 34 or the full auto mode setting switch 3
The exposure correction value in the shooting mode selected in step S3.

In the switch operating device 26 of the present embodiment configured as described above, when the middle button 3 is pressed in the direction D1, the switch contact piece 9a of the full-auto mode setting switch 33 is set via the protruding leg 3a. When pressed, the switch pattern 8a comes into contact, the switch output is captured by the CPU 30, and the shooting mode of the camera is set to the full auto mode, which is the initial mode.

When one of the four divided positions on the outer periphery of the outer button 4 is pressed in the direction D1, it swings (inclines), and the photographing mode selection switch is switched by the protruding legs 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e. One of the 34 switch contact pieces 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e is pressed. The pressed switch contact pieces correspond to the corresponding switch patterns 8b, 8c, 8d,
8e. The switch-on signal is taken into the CPU 30 as a photographing mode selection signal, and one of the photographing modes of the camera is selected.

When the dial 5 is rotated to an arbitrary index position by rotating the dial 5, the slide contact piece 12 of the exposure value setting switch 35 is set to one of the conductive patterns 7a of the FPC 7.
Make contact with one. The output signal is taken into the CPU 30 as an exposure value setting signal, and the exposure value in the above-described full auto mode or the selected shooting mode is set.

Next, the shooting mode setting operation after the power is turned off and on in this camera will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. After the power is turned off and on as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
It is checked whether or not the outer button 4 has been rocked and the photographing mode selection switch 34 has been operated. If the photographing mode selection switch 34 has been operated, the selection mode is one of the night view mode, portrait mode, stop-up mode, and landscape mode. Is determined.

If the photographing mode switch 34 has not been operated, the flow proceeds to step S6, the photographing mode is set to the full auto mode, and the flow proceeds to step S12 (see FIG. 7).

If the selection mode determined in steps S1 to S4 is the night scene mode, the process proceeds to step S7, where the photographing mode is set to the night scene mode. At that time, the shutter speed is set within the proper exposure value. Set to low speed.

If the selection mode is the portrait mode, the flow advances to step S8 to set the photographing mode to the portrait mode. At this time, the aperture is set to the open side within an appropriate exposure value.

If the selection mode is the stop action mode, the flow advances to step S9 to set the photographing mode to the portrait mode. At this time, the shutter speed is set to a high speed within an appropriate exposure value. .

If the selection mode is the landscape mode, the process proceeds to step S10, where the shooting mode is set to the landscape mode. At this time, the aperture is stopped down within the appropriate exposure value to increase the depth of the subject.

After setting the photographing mode, step S11
To check whether the full auto mode setting switch has been turned on by the middle button 3, and if it has been turned on,
Proceeding to step S6, the shooting mode is set to the full auto mode as the initial mode. If it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S12 (see FIG. 7).

In step S12, it is checked whether or not the dial 5 is at the reference position without exposure correction (the sign 21a indicates the dial "0"). If it is at the reference position, the process proceeds to step S22 without performing exposure correction. If the dial 5 has been turned to a position other than the reference position, step S1
From 3 to 20, the exposure correction value is set to -2 according to the rotational position.
Set 8 values from step to 0.5 step and +2 step,
Proceed to step S21.

In step S21, the aperture and shutter speed are corrected in accordance with the exposure correction value, and the flow advances to step S22. In step S22, a first-stage release operation is waited for, and thereafter, a shooting sequence is executed.

As described above, by applying the switch operating device 26 of the present embodiment, it is possible to arrange more switch operating units that are related to each other in a limited narrow space such as the upper surface of the camera body. This is very effective for making the camera compact. Further, by arranging the related switch operation units collectively as described above, operability is improved, and usability can be improved.

Further, the switch output information based on the rotation position of the dial 5, which is a rotation operation button, is also applied to the condition selected by the middle button 3 and the outer button 4. It will be simplified.

The switch operating device 26 can be applied to setting conditions other than the photographing mode of the camera. That is, the second switch unit can be applied to specify selection of another condition, and the third switch unit is also used to set a value set in the mode selected by the second switch unit. May be specified.

The second switch section does not necessarily need to be composed of a plurality of switches, but may be composed of a single switch. Further, the switch operating device 26 can be used not only for setting a camera but also for setting use conditions in other electronic devices.

On the basis of the above-described embodiment, (1) a push button that can be pressed to press the first switch portion and an outer peripheral portion of the push button, and one location of the outer peripheral portion are selected. A rocking button that can be rocked and pressed in substantially the same direction as the push button operation direction to press at least one of the plurality of second switch parts;
An operating device, comprising: a rotatable button rotatably disposed around the swing button, and rotatably operated to operate a third switch unit by the rotation thereof. Can be.

(2) An operation device incorporated as an input operation device of a camera, wherein the second switch unit is
A switch for selecting any one of a plurality of modes of the camera, wherein the first switch is a switch for returning a shooting mode selected by the second switch to an initial setting mode; (3) The operation device according to (1), wherein the content set by the third switch unit affects the content set by the first switch unit or the second switch unit. be able to.

(3) A first operation button which can be pressed in a first direction to press the first switch section, and a second switch section which is arranged adjacent to the second operation button. A second operation button that can be pressed in the same direction as the first direction to press the button, and a third switch unit that is disposed on the outer periphery of the first operation button and the second operation button. And a third operation button operable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction to operate the operation device.

(4) The third switch section is composed of a plurality of switches, and the third operation button can be indexed and positioned corresponding to a plurality of switch operation positions of the third switch section. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the operating device according to the above (3).

(5) An operation device incorporated as an input operation device of a camera, wherein the second switch unit is
A switch for selecting any one of a plurality of shooting modes of the camera, wherein the first switch is a switch for returning the shooting mode selected by the second switch to an initial setting mode; The operation device according to (3), wherein the third switch unit is a switch that specifies a set value in the shooting mode selected by the second switch unit.

(6) The operation according to (5), wherein the set value specified by the third switch is an exposure correction value in the photographing mode selected by the second switch. An apparatus can be provided.

[0051]

As described above, according to the operating device of the present invention, in an operating device for input operation arranged in a small electronic device or the like, a large number of types of switch operations can be performed in a limited narrow space. The parts can be arranged, and the operability is also improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a camera in which a switch operating device as an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the switch operating device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch operating device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part around the switch operating device in the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a switch unit and a control unit of the switch operating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a part of a flowchart of a shooting mode setting process after power-on in a camera to which the switch operating device of the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 7 is another part of the flowchart of the shooting mode setting process after power-on in the camera to which the switch operating device of the embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Middle button (push button) 4 Outside button (swinging button) 5 Dial (rotating button) 33 Full-auto mode setting switch (first switch) 34 Shooting mode selection switch (Second switch) 35 Exposure value setting switch (Third switch)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A push button operable to press a first switch portion; a push button disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the push button; selecting one location of the outer peripheral portion to determine an operation direction of the push button; A swing button which is pressed in substantially the same direction to operate at least one switch of a second switch unit including a plurality of switches; and a swing button operably arranged around the swing button. And a rotatable rotary button for operating a third switch unit by the rotation thereof. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third switch unit comprises a plurality of switches, and the rotary button can be indexed and positioned at a plurality of predetermined rotary positions corresponding to the plurality of switch operation positions. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein 3. An operation device incorporated as an input operation device of a camera, wherein the second switch unit is a switch for selecting one of a plurality of shooting modes of the camera, and the first switch unit is A switch for returning the photographing mode selected by the second switch unit to the initial setting mode, and the third switch unit is selected by the first switch unit or the second switch unit. 2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is a switch for specifying a set value in the set mode. 4. The first switch section is a switch for returning a shooting mode selected by the second switch section to an initial setting mode, and the second switch section includes a plurality of camera switches. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said switch is a switch for selecting one of photographing modes, and said third switch is a switch for setting an exposure correction value in the photographing mode selected by said second switch. The operating device as described.