JP2000331566A - Combined operation switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the structure of an input operation part of a combined operation switch reduced in size of a device body without limiting the freedom of disposing the input operation part on the device body, with an excellent operability by allowing a secure switching operation with a human finger. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a housing 2, first and second circuit boards 3, 4 provided with multiple circuits patterns, and multiple sliders 5, 6 on a surface opposing to the first and the second circuit boards 3, 4. The housing 2 is provided with first and second rotary operation bodies 7, 8 held rotatably on a common axis, and first and second operation parts 12, 13 provided on the first and the second rotary operation bodies 7, 8. Operation surfaces 12c, 13b are formed in parallel in an axial direction of the housing for allowing an operation in the same direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite operation switch used as input operation means for a video, personal computer, game machine, and the like, and more particularly to a structure of an operation surface of an input operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an input operation means used for a conventional video or the like, there is, for example, an image reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-92939. In this conventional image reproducing apparatus, a composite operation switch, that is, a jog shuttle switch is used when an image is enlarged and scrolled. This is because, when rotating an image, changing the enlargement ratio, or scrolling, using a normal pushbutton switch requires a plurality of pushbutton switches, which not only increases the cost but also the speed of the operation at that time. The user's will is not reflected at all, and when performing large scrolling, rotating the image, or changing the magnification, the push button switch must be kept pressed, which takes too much time, It is proposed to solve the situation where the change in the rotation and the enlargement rate cannot be stopped at the place where it is desired to be stopped and goes too far.

It is also conceivable to use a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball, but continuous operation is possible with a mouse or a trackball.
When performing large scrolling, rotating the image, or changing the magnification, the sphere (ball) must be rotated many times in one direction, which is troublesome.

On the other hand, in a conventional image reproducing apparatus using a jog / shuttle switch as an input operation means, when an image is enlarged, reduced, rotated, or scrolled, an operation is performed more than a normal push button switch. Excellent in functionality and excellent in functionality.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the structure of this conventional jog / shuttle switch. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation section of the jog / shuttle switch, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where the jog / shuttle switch is used for a remote control device.

In the figure, a switch body 21 houses two rotary switch units (not shown) having a common housing. The two rotary switches each include a circuit board (not shown) and a slider (not shown) that is slidably contacted with a circuit pattern of the circuit board. A body 22, 23 is provided. The first and second rotary operating bodies 22, 23
Is rotatably disposed on the housing on a coaxial line, and a part thereof is provided so as to protrude outward from the upper surface of the housing.

The first rotary operating body 22 is provided with a disk-shaped first operating portion (jog dial) 24, and the second rotary operating body 23 is provided with a second operating member having a ring-shaped tip. A section (shuttle ring) 25 is provided. The first operation unit 24 and the second operation unit 25 are superposed on each other on a coaxial line, and the first operation unit 24 is fitted in the ring of the second operation unit 25. It is arranged. Further, an operation concave portion 24a for operating with a human finger is provided on an exposed flat portion on the upper surface of the first operation portion 24, and an outer peripheral surface portion on a side portion of the second operation portion 25 includes: An operation projection 25a is provided.

When performing operations such as enlargement, reduction, and scrolling of a video image using the jog shuttle switch, each processing mode is selected by first pressing an image processing button 27 of a remote control device 26. .
For example, in the image magnification mode, the image magnification can be changed by rotating the first operation unit (jog dial) 24. In the scroll mode, the scroll can be adjusted by combining the rotation of the first operation unit (jog dial) 24 and the rotation of the second operation unit (shuttle ring) 25. Similarly, the rotation mode, frame advance of the image, and the like can be performed by rotating the first operation unit (jog dial) 24. That is, image processing can be performed by combining rotation operations of the first and second operation units (jog dial and shuttle ring) 24 and 25, respectively.

[0009]

However, in the above-described jog / shuttle switch of the conventional image reproducing apparatus, the operator operates the first and second operation units (jog dial and shuttle ring) 24 and 25 with fingers. When operating, each of the first and second operation units 24,
25 can be operated only from the panel surface side of the remote control device 26, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the input operation unit on the device main body is limited.

Further, since the first and second operating portions (jog dial and shuttle ring) 24 and 25 are arranged in the radial direction on the coaxial line of the housing, the first and second operating portions 24 and Since the external shape of each of the devices 25 becomes large, and the size of the device main body also becomes large with this, there is a problem that the size cannot be reduced.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can reduce the size of the apparatus main body without limiting the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the input operation unit on the apparatus main body, and can reliably perform the switching operation with a human finger. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure of an input operation unit of a composite operation switch that is possible and has excellent operability.

[0012]

According to the present invention, as a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a housing and first and second circuits provided in the housing and provided with a plurality of circuit patterns are provided. A circuit board; a first and a second rotary operation body provided with a plurality of sliders on a surface facing the first and second circuit boards and rotatably held on the housing coaxially; First and second operation units provided on the first and second rotary operation bodies, and operation surfaces provided on the first and second operation units are operable from the same direction. And are formed in parallel in the axial direction of the housing.

As a second means, an operation part identification means capable of identifying the operation part by a tactile sensation of a finger is formed on one of the operation surfaces of the first and second operation parts. It is characterized by having.

As a third means, the operation section identification means is characterized in that the operation surface is formed as an inclined surface.

[0015] As a fourth means, the operation section identification means is constituted by an uneven portion provided on the operation surface.

As a fifth means, of the first and second operating portions, the operating portion at a position remote from the housing is provided with a concave portion on an exposed plane portion orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing. Is formed.

[0017]

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a composite operation switch of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the composite operation switch of the present invention is used for a mouse as input operation means of a personal computer. .

In the figure, a housing 2 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, and a column-shaped support shaft 2a is provided at the center of the inner bottom surface. Inside the housing 2, first and second circuit boards 3 and 4 provided with a plurality of circuit patterns (not shown), and opposing surfaces of the first and second circuit boards 3 and 4 First and second sliders 5 and 6, and the first and second sliders are rotatably held on a support shaft 2 a of the housing 2.
Are provided.

The first and second circuit boards 3, 4 are:
It is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin into a substantially flat plate shape, and on one surface, a plurality of circuit patterns (not shown) made of a contact material such as brass are integrally provided by insert molding or the like. Have been. Further, first and second connection terminals 9 and 10 extending outward from the housing 2 from one end of the first and second circuit boards 3 and 4 are connected to the circuit pattern. It is formed to protrude in a conductive state. The first and second circuit boards 3 and 4 are engaged and held in the housing 2.

The first and second rotary operating bodies 7, 8
Are the first and second sliders 5 and 6 for contacts, which are also formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin and are made of a metallic leaf spring material.
Are provided at the center of the first and second rotating plates 7a and 8a, and the leading ends of the first and second rotating plates 7a and 8a protrude from the housing 2. , First and second rotating shafts 7b and 8b, and the first and second sliders 5 and 6 are connected to the respective circuit boards of the first and second circuit boards 3 and 4. It is in sliding contact with a pattern (not shown). The first rotation shaft 7b is provided with a first through hole 7c penetrating through the support shaft 2a of the housing 2, and the second rotation shaft 8b is provided with the first rotation shaft 7b. A second through hole 8c penetrating through the shaft 7b is provided. Thus, the support shaft 2a of the housing 2
, The first and second rotating shafts 7b and 8b are formed so as to be rotatable on a coaxial line. Note that the tip of the first rotating shaft 7b and the tip of the second rotating shaft 8b are
Spaces 11 are formed at regular intervals in a state of being superposed on the support shaft 2 a of the housing 2.
In addition, an engagement base of a first operation unit described later is inserted and disposed.

The first and second rotating shafts 7b, 8b
, Engagement protrusions of first and second operation portions described later are engaged, and the first and second operation portions are positioned and fixed to the first and second rotation shafts 7b and 8b. 1. Second engagement groove 7
d and 8d are provided.

The first operating section 12 is used by being fixed to the tip of the rotary shaft 7b of the first rotary operating body 7.
It is formed in a circular shape with a molding material such as a synthetic resin. In the center of the lower surface of the first operation unit 12, a cylindrical engagement base 12 is provided.
a is provided. The engagement base 12a is provided with an engagement hole 12b to be engaged with the first rotation shaft 7b,
In addition, the first operation surface 12c provided on the circumferential side portion is an inclined surface portion, and an uneven surface for operation is provided on this inclined surface portion so as to be easily operated by a human when operating with a finger. Is provided. An operation concave portion 12d for operating with a human finger is provided on an exposed flat portion on the upper surface of the first operation portion 12.
Is provided.

The second operating section 13 is used by being fixed to the tip of the rotary shaft 8b of the second rotary operating body 8.
Similarly, it is formed in a circular shape with a molding material such as a synthetic resin.
At the center of the second operation portion 13, an engagement hole 13a to be engaged with the second rotating shaft 8b is provided, and the second operation surface 13b provided on the outer peripheral surface portion is arranged in the axial direction. The second operation surface 13b is provided with an uneven surface for operation. Here, the second operation surface 13
The uneven surface for operation b is formed to have a different shape so as to have a different feel from the uneven surface for operation on the first operation surface 12c. Is possible. A pair of second engagement projections 13c are provided on the inner peripheral portion of the engagement hole 13a, and the second engagement projection 13c is attached to the second rotation shaft 8b.
Is positioned and fixed by engaging with the second engaging groove 8d. As described above, the first operation part 12 and the second operation part 13 are arranged in the axial direction of the support shaft 2d formed on the inner bottom surface of the housing 2 from below the housing 2 and then the second operation part 13 in the axial direction. And the first operation unit 12 are positioned and fixed in parallel in the order of the first operation unit 12. Similarly, the first operation surface 12 c and the second operation surface 1
3b are also arranged in parallel in the axial direction.

Next, the operation of the above-described composite operation switch of the present invention will be described. When the first operation unit 12 is operated by a human finger or the like, the first rotation shaft 7b engaged with the first operation unit 12 rotates, and the first rotation shaft 7
The first rotating plate 7a integrally formed with the rotating member b rotates.
At this time, the first slider 5 fixed to the first rotating plate 7a is disposed opposite to the first rotating plate 7a. (Not shown)
And a desired output signal (pulse signal) is obtained. This output signal is supplied to the first connection terminal 9.
Is input to other control circuit means (not shown) through the control circuit. The same operation is performed even when the second operation unit 13 is operated, so that the description thereof will be omitted here.

Next, a case where the composite operation switch of the present invention is used for a mouse as an input operation means of a personal computer will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the mouse 14 has a housing 15 formed in a substantially box shape having a size suitable for being held by a human hand, and a part thereof is exposed on the bottom surface of the housing 15. Ball (not shown) rotatably arranged in a state
An X-axis and Y-axis coordinate information input unit (not shown) having a rotation detection unit such as a rotary encoder for detecting the rotation state (rotation speed, rotation direction, and the like) of the ball; and two push button switches 16a, 16b and a jog / shuttle switch (composite operation switch) 1 for inputting Z-axis coordinate information for moving the image object in a direction orthogonal to the XY plane, or for inputting an instruction to scroll the screen. And

The jog / shuttle switch 1 is a kind of rotary switch that transmits a unique pulse signal by operating the first and second operation units 12 and 13 and controls the input of information. In this case, in the first circuit section (the first circuit board 3 and the first slider 5), information on a minute movement such as frame-by-frame playback at the time of video playback is provided. A pulse signal used for input is generated, and the second circuit section (the second circuit board 4 and the second slider 6) outputs information on a large amount of movement such as fast forward reproduction. To generate a pulse signal which is used to input the signal.

Next, the operation of the mouse 14 will be described. First, when the mouse 14 is grasped with a hand and moved on a plane in accordance with the rotational movement of the ball, a monitor (not shown) connected to a computer through the X-axis and Y-axis coordinate information input units (not shown). X-axis and Y-axis coordinate information for moving an image object such as a cursor on the XY plane on the screen of FIG. Here, when the image object moves to a desired position on the screen, the push button switch 16
By pressing (or releasing) a and 16b, the push button switches 16a and 16b are turned on (or off), and the next instruction is transmitted to the computer.

Next, when inputting Z-axis coordinate information for moving the image object in a direction orthogonal to the XY plane or an instruction to scroll the screen up, down, left, or right, the jog shuttle This is performed by operating the switch 1. In this case, the direction (rotation direction) of operating the jog / shuttle switch 1 and the distance (the number of rotation pulses) are detected, and the detected information is used to move the image object in a direction orthogonal to the XY plane. The information is input to the computer as Z-axis coordinate information for moving or information for scrolling an image.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the jog
The shuttle switch 1 is mounted on the housing 15 so that the first operation unit 12 and the second operation unit 13 are protruded from the side surface of the housing 15 and held, and can be operated from the same direction. Because it is arranged side by side on the side,
Necessary information can be input by rotating one thumb of the hand, and movement of the operator's finger can be reduced. Further, the degree of freedom in arranging the input operation unit in the apparatus main body is increased, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

The operation surface 12 of the first operation unit 12
c is an inclined surface, and the operation surface 13 of the second operation
Since b has a different shape, the first and second operation units 12 and 13 can be identified by the tactile sensation of the finger during operation, and reliable operation can be performed, and operability is improved. You.

An operation recess 12 for operation with a human finger is provided on an exposed flat portion on the upper surface of the first operation portion 12.
Since d is provided, depending on the design of the device, operation from both the top surface and the side surface is possible.

[0032]

As described above, in the composite operation switch of the present invention, the operation surfaces provided on the first and second operation parts are arranged in parallel in the axial direction of the housing so that they can be operated from the same direction. Therefore, necessary information can be input by rotating the thumb of one hand, and the movement of the operator's finger can be reduced. Further, the degree of freedom in arranging the input operation unit in the apparatus main body is increased, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

Further, since an operation section identification means capable of identifying the operation section by the tactile sensation of the finger is formed on one of the operation surfaces of the first and second operation sections, the finger at the time of operation is formed. The tactile sensation makes it possible to identify the first and second operation units, thereby enabling reliable operation and improving operability.

Further, since the operation section identification means is configured with the operation surface being an inclined surface section, the operation section can be identified with a simple structure without complicating the structure.

Further, since the operation section identification means is constituted by the concave and convex portions provided on the operation surface, more reliable operation is possible.

In the first and second operating portions, the operating portion located far from the housing has a concave portion formed in an exposed plane portion orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing. Depending on the design, operation from both top and side surfaces is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a composite operation switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the same of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the composite operation switch of the present invention is used for a mouse.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an operation section of a conventional jog / shuttle switch.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a conventional jog / shuttle switch is used for a remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Jog shuttle switch (composite operation switch) 2 Housing 2a Support shaft 3 1st circuit board 4 2nd circuit board 5 1st slider 6 2nd slider 7 1st rotation operating body 7a 1st 1st rotating plate 7b 1st rotating shaft 7c 1st through-hole 7d 1st engaging groove part 8 2nd rotating operation body 8a 2nd rotating plate 8b 2nd rotating shaft 8c 2nd through-hole 8d 2 engagement groove portion 9 first connection terminal 10 second connection terminal 11 space portion 12 first operation portion 12a engagement base portion 12b engagement hole 12c first operation surface 12d operation concave portion 13 second operation portion 13a Engagement hole 13b Second operation surface 13c Second engagement protrusion 14 Mouse 15 Housing 16a, 16b Push button switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A housing, and first and second housings disposed in the housing and provided with a plurality of circuit patterns.
And a first and second rotary operation body provided with a plurality of sliders on a surface facing the first and second circuit boards and rotatably held on the housing coaxially. The first and second rotary operating bodies are provided with a first
And a second operation unit, wherein the operation surfaces provided on the first and second operation units are formed in parallel in the axial direction of the housing so as to be operable from the same direction. Characteristic compound operation switch. 2. An operation unit identification means capable of identifying the operation unit by a tactile sensation of a finger is formed on one of the operation surfaces of the first and second operation units. The composite operation switch according to claim 1, wherein 3. The operation unit identification means is configured such that the operation surface is an inclined surface portion.
The composite operation switch as described. 4. The composite operation switch according to claim 2, wherein said operation unit identification means is constituted by an uneven portion provided on said operation surface. 5. A concave portion is formed in an exposed plane portion of the first and second operation portions, which is located far from the housing, in an exposed plane portion orthogonal to an axial direction of the housing. The composite operation switch according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein: