JP2001005545A - Multi-directional inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the whole height of a multi-directional inputting device called a joy stick, and to increase the precision when an operating member and a rotary member are restored to a neutral position. SOLUTION: Rotary shaft parts 35 and 35 projecting to two directions perpendicular to each other are integrally formed at the lower part of an operating member 30. A disc part 32 is formed at the lower part of the rotary shaft parts 35 and 35. A recessed part 46B in which the disc part 32 is housed so as to be freely movable is formed on the lower face of the rotary member 40B, and bearing parts 47B and 47B into which the rotary shaft parts 35 and 35 are fit are formed on the inner face of the recessed part 46B. Flat faces 44A and 44B are formed at both edge shaft parts of the rotary members 40A and 40B. A circular slider 50 energized by a spring 60 is elastically butted from the lower part to a lower face 34 of the disc part 32 and the flat faces 44A and 44B of the rotary members 40A and 40B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device for inputting various signals by operating an operation member operated in an arbitrary direction around the input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-directional input device of this type called a joystick is usually supported in a case so as to be rotatable in two directions perpendicular to each other, and each has a long hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction. A pair of rotating members, an operating member that penetrates each of the long holes of the upper and lower rotating members, and rotates each of the rotating members by being operated in an arbitrary direction around the operating member; A return mechanism for automatically returning from a position operated in an arbitrary direction to a neutral position, and a set connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower rotating members and outputting a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of each rotating member Signal output means.

[0003] In such a multidirectional input device, the lower portion is rotatably supported by a lower rotating member in the direction of the elongated hole so as to prevent the operation member from coming off. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-19925, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-27608, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-205, the lower part of the operating member is connected to the lower rotating member by a pin in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the long hole. As a result, the operating member rotates in the direction of the long hole of the lower rotating member, and rotates the upper rotating member. Further, the lower rotating member is rotated together with the lower rotating member in the direction of the long hole of the upper rotating member, and the lower rotating member is rotated.

On the other hand, a multi-directional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19925 discloses a multi-directional input device that automatically returns an operating member from a position that has been operated in an arbitrary surrounding direction to a neutral position. A structure is employed in which only a pair of upper and lower rotating members are elastically held at a neutral position by a biased push-up member.

In the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-27608 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-283885, a dish-shaped operating body provided at the lower end of the operating member is used as the return mechanism. A structure is employed in which only the operation member is elastically held at the neutral position by being elastically pressed upward by a spring provided below the operation member.

[0006]

However, these conventional multidirectional input devices have the following problems in relation to the support structure of the operating member and the return mechanism.

In any of the multi-directional input devices, the intermediate portion of the operating member is connected to the lower rotating member by a pin, so that the number of components increases. In addition, the overall length of the operation member becomes long, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the device, including suppressing the overall height.

[0008] Regarding the return mechanism for returning the operating member to the neutral position, in the multi-directional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19925, a set of upper and lower rotating members is directly held at the neutral position. The operating member is only neutrally held indirectly. Conversely, in the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-27608 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-283885, the operating member is directly held neutral, but a pair of upper and lower rotating members are Neutral is only maintained indirectly. For this reason, the return accuracy of the operation member and the rotating member to the neutral position is not sufficient in any of the devices.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device which has a small number of parts and is easy to reduce the size of the device, including suppressing the height of the device. Aim. A second object of the present invention is to provide a multi-directional input device with high return accuracy of the operating member to a neutral position.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first object, a multi-directional input device according to the present invention is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to each other in a case, and each of the multi-directional input devices is provided in a rotational direction. A pair of upper and lower rotating members having a long hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the above, and each of the upper and lower rotating members penetrates each of the long holes and is rotated in any direction around the rotating member to rotate each rotating member. An operating member to be operated, a return mechanism for automatically returning the operating member from a position operated in an arbitrary surrounding direction to a neutral position, and a rotating mechanism connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower rotating members. A multi-directional input device comprising: a set of signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a moving angle, wherein a lower part of the operating member has a rotating shaft perpendicular to the operating member and / or a hemisphere convex upward. Part is provided integrally with a rotation type retaining part,
A recess in which the retaining portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member.

That is, in the multidirectional input device according to the present invention,
In order to prevent the operation member from coming off, a lower shaft is provided with a rotation type stopper portion comprising a rotation shaft portion smaller than the spherical portion and / or a hemispherical portion. Since it is provided on the lower surface of the rotating member to suppress the downward protrusion of the retaining portion, the number of parts is small, and furthermore, miniaturization including suppression of the overall height is easy.

The return mechanism may have a structure in which one of the operating member and the rotating member is elastically held at the neutral position, or a structure in which both are elastically held at the neutral position. In the case of a structure in which both are elastically held at the neutral position, the return accuracy of the operating member to the neutral position is improved. That is, the second object is achieved.

The return mechanism preferably has a spring housed in a compressed state in the case, and a slider biased by the spring. Thereby, the return accuracy of the operation member to the neutral position is further improved.

The slider is configured to elastically abut from below on a flat surface formed downward on the lower portion of the operating member and / or a flat surface formed downward on both end shafts of a pair of upper and lower rotating members. preferable. This configuration is particularly advantageous when both the operating member and the rotating member are elastically held at the neutral position.

The operating member is supported from below by an upwardly directed boss and / or a return mechanism provided on the bottom plate of the case.

The boss is preferably provided with a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion on the upper surface, and a downwardly convex hemispherical convex portion fitted into the concave portion is provided on the lower surface of the operating member. Further, it is preferable to provide an upwardly convex hemispherical convex portion on the upper surface of the boss portion, and to provide an upwardly convex hemispherical concave portion in which the convex portion is fitted on the lower surface of the operation member. As a result, the lower portion of the operation member is securely supported so as to be rotatable in any direction around the operation member.

The boss can also serve as a guide for the slider.

In place of the boss, a push switch can be arranged below the operating member. In this case, it is preferable to use a return mechanism as a mechanism for urging the operation unit upward.

The retaining portion may be only the hemispherical portion or only the rotating shaft portion. Further, a structure in which a rotating shaft portion is provided in a hemispherical portion may be used. In order to reduce the size, it is preferable to directly form a rotating shaft portion, in particular, a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, which will be described later, below the shaft portion of the operation member. The rotating shaft can prevent the operation member from rotating around the center line.

As the rotating shaft portion, an upwardly projecting substantially semi-cylindrical shape integrally provided below the shaft portion is preferable from the viewpoint of suppressing the overall height. Further, the projection may protrude from both sides from the lower portion of the operation member.

The slider can be brought into contact with the lower surface of the hemisphere. That is, the lower surface of the hemispherical portion can be used as a flat surface with which the slider contacts. When the hemispherical part is not provided, a disk part is provided below the rotating shaft part,
The lower surface of the disk portion may be a flat surface with which the slider contacts. This is suitable for a substantially semi-cylindrical rotating shaft. With respect to the pair of rotating shafts projecting to both sides, a downward flat surface is provided at the lower portion of the operation member, and the substantially cylindrical rotating shafts can be projected from both sides of the flat surface.

The disk portion is preferably housed in a recess provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member from the viewpoint of suppressing the overall height. In this case, a pair of bearings into which the rotating shaft is fitted are provided on the inner surface of the recess.

The set of signal input means may be any of an electric sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the multidirectional input device,
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of the multidirectional input device, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a three-view drawing of a lower case used in the multidirectional input device, FIG. 6 is a three-view drawing of an upper case used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a six-view drawing of an upper rotating member used in the multi-directional input device, and FIG. 9 is a drawing used in the same multi-directional input device. 6 of the lower rotating member
FIG. 10 is a three-view drawing of a slider used in the multidirectional input device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a rectangular box-shaped case 10 mounted on a substrate and two orthogonal side surfaces of the case 10. It has attached signal output means 20A and 20B. The signal output units 20A and 20B may be any of an electric sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the case 10 has a rod-shaped operating member 30 that is tilted around the lower part in an arbitrary direction around the lower part, and an upper and lower one that is rotated by the operating member 30. Set of rotating members 40A, 40B, operation member 3
A slider 50 and a spring 60 as a return mechanism for automatically returning 0 to a neutral position are housed.

Hereinafter, the structures of the case 10, the operating member 30, the rotating members 40A and 40B, and the slider 50 will be described in detail.

The case 10 includes a lower case 10a forming a bottom plate portion thereof, and an upper case 10
b is a two-piece structure.

The lower case 10a has a square bottom plate 11 as shown in FIG. Parallel 2 of bottom plate 11
A claw portion 12 protruding upward is provided on the side portion for fixing to the upper case 10b. At the center of each side of the bottom plate 11, in order to support the rotating members 40A and 40B,
A support 13 protruding upward is provided. Bottom plate part 1
A boss portion 14 having a circular cross section is provided on the upper surface of the central portion of the first member 1 so as to serve as a support member for the operation member 30 and a guide member for the slider 50. A recess 15 is formed.

The upper case 10 put on the lower case 10a
As shown in FIG. 6, b is a rectangular box-shaped cap having an open lower surface, and an opening 16 is provided in the top plate portion so as to protrude an upper portion of the operation member 30 upward. Each side wall of the upper case 10b is provided with a notch 18 into which the support 13 is fitted. A fitting portion 17 into which the claw portion 12 is fitted is provided on each inner surface of the two parallel side wall portions. The signal output means 20 is provided on two orthogonal side walls.
A, a pair of claw portions 19, 19 on both sides for fixing
Is provided.

When the upper case 10b is put on the lower case 10a, the claws 12 of the lower case 10a are fitted into the fitting portions 17 of the upper case 10b, so that the lower case 10a and the upper case 10b are fixed. In addition, since the supporting portion 13 of the lower case 10a is fitted into the cut portion 18 of the upper case 10b, the rotating members 40A,
A circular opening for supporting both end shafts of OB is formed. Further, the signal output means 20 is provided by the claw portions 19 and 19.
A, 20B are fixed to two orthogonal sides of the case 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the operating member 30 has a shaft portion 31 formed of a straight rod. Below the shaft 31, there are provided rotating shafts 35, 35 protruding in two directions perpendicular to the operation member 30. Rotating shaft 3
5 and 35 have a semicylindrical shape having a semicircular upper surface that is convex upward. Below the rotating shafts 35, 35, the shaft body 3
A disk portion 32 having a diameter larger than 1 is provided. Disk part 32
Is provided with a hemispherical convex portion 33 which is convex downward. The convex portion 33 has a shape corresponding to a concave portion formed on the upper end surface of the boss portion 14. The lower surface of the disk portion 32 except for the central portion is an annular flat surface 34 with which the slider 50 elastically contacts from below. The rotating shaft 3
The center lines 5 and 35 intersect the center of the hemispherical projection 33.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper rotary member 40A has rotary shaft portions 41A, 41A having circular cross sections at both ends, and an arc portion 42A formed by an upwardly convex arch therebetween.
have. A long hole 43A extending in the direction of the rotation center axis is provided in the arc portion 42A as a guide hole for the operation member 30. The inner surface of the arc portion 42A is provided with a rotating member 40A,
In order not to hinder the rotation of 40B, the arc surface is formed in the direction of the long hole 43A and the direction perpendicular to the long hole 43A.

The lower surface of the shaft connecting the rotating shafts 41A, 41A and the arc 42A is a flat surface 44A, 44A on which the slider 50 elastically contacts from below. The flat surfaces 44A, 44A are located slightly below the lower surface (flat surface 34) of the disk portion 32 of the operation member 30. Protrusions 45A, 45A are provided on the distal end surfaces of the rotating shaft portions 41A, 41A for connection with signal output means.

The lower rotating member 40B is combined at right angles below the upper rotating member 40A. This rotating member 4
9B, as shown in FIG. 9, has rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B having circular cross sections at both end portions, and has an upwardly convex hemispherical portion 42B between the rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B. I have. Hemisphere 42
In B, a long hole 43B extending in the direction of the rotation center axis is provided as a guide hole for the operation member 30. Hemisphere 42B
Is provided with a concave portion 46B in which the disc portion 32 of the operating member 30 is rotatably fitted, and a semicircular shape in which the semicircular rotating shaft portions 35, 35 are fitted on the inner surface thereof. Bearing part 4
7B and 47B are provided with the long hole 43B interposed therebetween.

The lower surface of the shaft connecting the rotating shafts 41B, 41B and the hemisphere 42B is a flat surface 44B, 44B on which the slider 50 elastically contacts from below. The flat surfaces 44B, 44B are the flat surfaces 44 of the rotating member 40A.
A, 44A. Protrusions 45B, 41B are provided on the distal end surfaces of the rotating shafts 41B, 41B for connection with signal output means.
45B are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of upper and lower rotating members 40A and 40B are assembled into the case 10 with their respective rotating central axes orthogonal to each other in the same plane.
It is rotatably supported in the case 10. In addition, the operating member 30 includes the long holes 43A, 43B of the rotating members 40A, 40B.
B, the disc portion 32 fits into the concave portion 46B of the lower rotating member 40B, and the rotating shaft portions 35, 35 fit into the bearing portions 47B, 47B provided on the inner surface of the concave portion 46B, The projections 33 are combined with the rotating members 40A and 40B in the case 10 in a state where the projections 33 are fitted into the recesses 15 formed on the upper end surface of the boss 14 of the lower case 10a.

As a result, the operating member 30 is
The upper part can be tilted in all directions around the convex part 33. Further, the tilting operation is performed about the rotation shaft portions 35 in the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotation member 40B. Thereby, the upper rotating member 40A rotates along the upper surface of the hemispherical portion 42B of the lower rotating member 40B. Further, the lower rotary member 40B is tilted about the rotary shaft portions 41B, 41B of the lower rotary member 40B in the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotary member 40A, whereby the lower rotary member 40B is moved upward. The rotation member 40A rotates along the lower surface of the arc portion 42A.

As shown in FIG. 10, the slider 50 for automatically returning the operation member 30 to the neutral position is a substantially square plate-like member which is fitted into the lower case 10a so as to be able to move up and down. A hole 51 is provided at the center of the slider 50 so that the protrusion 33 of the operation member 30 contacts the boss 14 of the lower case 10a. The slider 50 is the upper and lower case 10
Although it is possible to ascend and descend using the wall surfaces of a and 10b as guides, the boss portion 14 can have a guide function by making the diameter of the hole 51 substantially the same as the diameter of the boss portion 14 of the lower case 10a. , Whereby the slider 50 is more reliably moved up and down. Around the hole 51, a curved tapered portion 55 into which the convex portion 33 is fitted is provided to rotatably support the lower portion of the operation member 30. The annular flat surface formed around the hole 51 and formed on the upper surface of the slider 50 is a first contact surface 52 that is in surface contact with the lower surface (flat surface 34) of the disk portion 32 of the operation member 30. The four flat surfaces provided around the first contact surface 52 are the flat surfaces 44A, 44A of the rotating member 40A and the rotating member 4A.
The second contact surface 53 is in surface contact with each of the flat surfaces 44B, 44B.

A spring 60 is provided on the lower surface of the slider 50.
Is provided with a circular groove portion 54 into which is fitted.

The spring 60 is housed in a compressed state between the slider 50 and the bottom plate 11 of the lower case 10a.
The first contact surface 52 is elastically brought into surface contact with the lower surface (flat surface 34) of the disk portion 32 of the operation member 30 to directly hold the operation member 30 at the neutral position. In addition, the second contact surface 5
3 is brought into elastic surface contact with the flat surfaces 44A, 44A of the rotating member 40A and the flat surfaces 44B, 44B of the rotating member 40B to directly hold the rotating members 40A, 40B at the neutral position.

Next, the function of the multi-directional input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the operation member 30 is not operated, the first contact surface 52 of the slider 50 elastically comes into surface contact with the lower surface (flat surface 34) of the disk portion 32, so that the operation member 30 is directly moved to the neutral position. Elastically. Rotating member 4
With respect to 0A and 40B, the second contact surface 53 of the slider 50 elastically comes into surface contact with the flat surfaces 44A and 44A and the flat surfaces 44B and 44B, thereby being directly elastically held at the neutral position. For these reasons, the operating member 30
The return accuracy to the neutral position is improved.

When the operating member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B, the upper rotating member 40B is rotated.
When A rotates and the signal output means 20A is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation amount is output. When the operation member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 44A of the upper rotating member 40A, the lower rotating member 40B is rotated, and the signal output means 20B is operated, so that the operation amount is adjusted according to the operation amount. A signal is output. By these combinations, the operating member 3
0 is operated in a surrounding arbitrary direction, and a signal corresponding to the operation direction and the operation amount is input to an electronic device or the like using the multidirectional input device.

During this operation, the lower surface (flat surface 34) of the disk portion 32 of the operation member 30 is inclined. The rotating member 4
The flat surfaces 44A, 44A of the 0A and the flat surfaces 44B, 44B of the rotating member 40B are inclined. Due to these inclinations, the slider 50 is pushed downward against the urging force of the spring 60, and thereby the operating member 30
And a return force is applied to both the rotating members 40A and 40B.

Here, the operating member 30 is formed integrally with rotating shaft portions 35 at the lower portion thereof. For this reason,
The number of parts is reduced as compared with the case where a pin is used as the rotating shaft. Further, the length of the operation member 30, particularly the length of the portion accommodated in the case 10, is shortened, and the miniaturization of the apparatus including the suppression of the apparatus height is facilitated. Further, since the rotating shafts 35, 35 are provided directly without the interposition of the hemispherical portions, and their protrusion amounts are small, the rotating members 40A, 40B can be miniaturized, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the apparatus.

The operating member 30 is also provided on the boss 1 of the case 10.
The lower part is rotatably supported between the fourth rotating member 40B and the lower rotating member 40B. That is, the pivot of the operating member 30 is
This is performed using both the zero and the rotating member 40B.
Moreover, the rotating shaft portions 35, 35 provided at the lower portion for supporting the operation member 30 are housed in the lower rotating member 40B together with the disk portion 32 thereunder. For these reasons, the miniaturization of the device is further facilitated.

Further, the rotating shaft 3 is provided below the operating member 30.
With the provision of 5, 35, the operation member 30 is prevented from falling out and rotation around the axis is prevented.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The multidirectional input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that the operation member 30 is provided with an upwardly convex hemispherical portion 36 instead of the rotating shaft portions 35, 35. Is different from the multidirectional input device according to the first embodiment. The hemisphere 36 is integrated with the lower disk 32. The hemispherical portion 36 also contributes to the suppression of the overall height of the device in substantially the same manner as the rotating shaft portions 35, 35.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The multi-directional input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a hemispherical concave
The multidirectional input device according to the first embodiment is different from the multidirectional input device according to the first embodiment in that a 3 ′ is provided and an upwardly projecting hemispherical convex portion 15 ′ that fits into the concave portion 33 ′ is provided on the upper surface of the boss portion 14.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The multidirectional input device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is different from the multidirectional input device according to the first embodiment in that a push switch 70 is provided below the operating member 30 in place of the boss 14. Is different from In this case, the operation member 30
Is elastically supported by the slider 50 from below. The slider 50 elastically holds the operation member 30 at the neutral position. The push switch 70 is an independent switch operated by depressing the operation member 30, but may be a switch using a membrane on a substrate.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a front view of the multidirectional input device, FIG. 16 is a side view of the multidirectional input device, and FIG. FIG.
4 is a sectional view taken along line JJ, FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line KK in FIG. 14, FIG. 19 is a four-sided view of an upper rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. It is a 4th view of the lower rotating member used for the direction input device.

The multidirectional input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention mainly differs from the aforementioned multidirectional input device in the structure of the retaining portion of the operation member 30 and the structure of the return mechanism. Hereinafter, the configuration of the multidirectional input device will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, a multidirectional input device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention comprises a square box-shaped case 10 mounted on a substrate and two orthogonal It has signal output means 20A and 20B attached to the side. As the signal output means 20A, 20B, a volume (variable resistor) which is an electric sensor is used here, and a plurality of terminals 20A ', 20 protruding downward.
B ′.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the case 10, a rod-shaped operation member 30 which is operated in an arbitrary surrounding direction, a pair of upper and lower members operated by the operation member 30, and a rotating member 40A, 40B, a slider 50 and a spring 60 as a return mechanism for automatically returning the operation member 30 to the neutral position are housed.

Hereinafter, the case 10, the operating member 30, the rotating members 40A and 40B, the slider 50 and the spring 60
Each structure will be described in detail.

The case 10 comprises a lower case 10a forming the bottom plate portion thereof, and an upper case 10
b is a two-piece structure. The lower case 10a has a square bottom plate portion 11. A circular concave portion 11 ′ is formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 11 for positioning the spring 60, and a boss portion 14 protruding upward is formed at the center of the concave portion 11 ′.
The boss portion 14 is a columnar body having a circular cross section.
And the slider 50 are supported. The upper end surface of the boss 14 is a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion 15.

Claws 12 projecting upward are provided on two parallel sides of the bottom plate 11 for fixing to the upper case 10b. At the center of each side of the bottom plate portion 11, a support portion 13 projecting upward is provided to support the rotating members 40A and 40B.

The upper case 10 put on the lower case 10a
Reference numeral b denotes a square box-shaped cap having an open lower surface, and a circular opening portion 16 is provided in a top plate portion thereof so as to protrude an upper portion of the operation member 30 upward. Lower case 10
A cut-shaped fitting portion 17 with which the claw portion 12 is engaged is provided on the two parallel side walls a. On each side wall,
A notch 18 into which the support 13 is fitted is provided. Signal output means 20A,
A pair of claw portions 19, 19 on both sides are provided for fixing 20B.

When the upper case 10b is put on the lower case 10a, the claws 12 of the lower case 10a engage with the fitting portions 17 of the upper case 10b, thereby fixing the lower case 10a and the upper case 10b. Further, the support portions 13 of the lower case 10a are fitted into the cut portions 18 of the upper case 10b, thereby forming both end support portions of the rotating members 40A and 40B. The claw portions 19, 19 allow the signal output means 20A, 20
The volume as B is orthogonal to the upper case 10b.
Fixed to the side.

The operating member 30 includes an upwardly convex hemispherical portion 36 rotatably fitted to the lower rotating member 40B, and a hemispherical portion 36.
Shaft 31 having a circular cross section protruding upward from the top of
And a pair of rotating shaft portions 35, 35 projecting laterally from both sides of the hemispherical portion 36. The lower surface of the hemispherical portion 31 is a circular annular flat surface 34 perpendicular to the central axis except for the central portion. At the center of the lower surface of the hemispherical portion 31, a convex portion 33 having a downwardly convex hemispherical shape is provided.
The convex portion 33 fits into a hemispherical concave portion 15 formed on the upper end surface of the boss portion 14 of the lower case 10a. The pair of rotating shaft portions 35 on both sides have a substantially cylindrical shape in which a lower portion of a horizontal cylindrical body is removed, and the lower surface thereof is a flat surface continuous with the flat surface 34.

As shown in FIG. 19, unlike the other members, the upper rotating member 40A is formed integrally by bending a metal plate. A rotating shaft 41A is provided at one end of the rotating member 40A, and a connecting portion 48A for connecting to the signal output means 20A is provided at the other end. An arc portion 42A composed of an upwardly convex arch is provided between the rotation shaft portion 41A and the connection portion 48A. An elongated hole 43A extending in the direction of the rotation center axis is formed in the circular arc portion 42A.
0 is provided as a guide hole.

As shown in FIG. 20, the lower rotating member 40B has rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B at both ends, and a hemispherical portion 42B having an upward convex is provided between the rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B. Have. A long hole 43B extending in the rotation center axis direction is provided in the hemispherical portion 42B as a guide hole for the operation member 30. The hemispherical portion 3 of the operating member 30 is provided on the lower surface of the hemispherical portion 42B.
6 is provided with a hemispherical concave portion 46B in which
A pair of bearing portions 47B, 47B are provided with the concave portion 46B interposed therebetween. The operating members 30 are provided on the bearing portions 47B and 47B.
Are fitted from below.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a pair of upper and lower rotating members 40A and 40B are assembled in the case 10 with their respective rotating central axes orthogonal to each other in the same plane. It is rotatably supported within 10. Further, the operating member 30 allows the shaft 31 to pass through the long holes 43A and 43B of the rotating members 40A and 40B, and the hemispherical portion 36 to be fitted into the recess 46B of the lower rotating member 40B. , 35
Are fitted to the rotating members 40A, 40B in the case 10 in a state where the are fitted to the bearing portions 47B, 47B of the rotating member 40B. In this state, the convex portion 33 of the operation member 30
The lower case 10a is fitted into a hemispherical concave portion 15 formed on the upper end surface of the boss portion 14.

Here, the rotating shaft portions 35, 3 of the operating member 30
Reference numeral 5 is in the same plane as the rotating shafts of the rotating members 40A and 40B, and is orthogonal to the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B, that is, the direction of the rotation center axis. Further, the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B, that is, the direction of the rotation center axis is
It is orthogonal to the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotating member 40A, that is, the direction of the rotation center axis. The center of the hemispherical protrusion 33 provided on the lower surface of the operation member 30 is located on the rotation center line of the operation member 30.

Accordingly, the operating member 30 is provided with the rotating shaft 35,
35, a long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B.
Is tilted in the direction of. Thereby, the upper rotating member 40A rotates along the upper surface of the hemispherical portion 42B of the lower rotating member 40B. The operation member 30 is configured such that the rotation shafts 41B and 41B of the lower rotation member 40B are centered.
By being tilted in the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotating member 40A, the lower rotating member 40B is rotated along the lower surface of the arc portion 42A of the upper rotating member 40A.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the slider 50 for automatically returning the operation member 30 to the neutral position is a ring slidably fitted to the boss portion 14 of the lower case 10a. The slider 50 is urged upward by a coil-type spring 60 provided outside the boss 14 and housed in a compressed state between the slider 50 and the bottom plate 11 of the lower case 10a. This allows
The slider 50 has its flat upper surface
Elastically pressed against an annular flat surface 34 formed on the lower surface of the operating member 30 to hold the operating member 30 at the neutral position. The spring 60 is of a tapered type whose winding diameter gradually increases downward, and is positioned by a circular recess 11 ′ formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 11 of the lower case 10 a.

Next, the function of the multidirectional input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the operating member 30 is not operated, the slider 50 is attached to the annular flat surface 34 formed on the lower surface thereof.
The operation member 30 is directly elastically held at the neutral position by making the flat upper surface elastically come into surface contact.

When the operating member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B, the upper rotating member 40B is rotated.
When A rotates and the signal output means 20A is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation amount is output. When the operation member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotating member 40A, the lower rotating member 40B is rotated, and the signal output means 20B is operated, so that the operation amount is adjusted according to the operation amount. A signal is output. By these combinations, the operating member 3
0 is operated in a surrounding arbitrary direction, and a signal corresponding to the operation direction and the operation amount is input to an electronic device or the like using the multidirectional input device.

Here, the operating member 30 is formed integrally with rotating shafts 35 at the lower part thereof. For this reason,
The number of parts is smaller and the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with the case where a pin is used as the rotating shaft. In addition, the length of the operation member 30 is reduced as compared with the case where the middle portion of the operation member is supported, and the overall height of the device can be suppressed.

The operating member 30 is directly held at the neutral position by the slider 50 urged upward by the spring 60 and guided by the boss portion 14 without passing through the rotating members 40A and 40B. Is relatively small.

Further, the hemispherical portion 36 and the rotating shaft portions 35 of the operating member 30 are connected to the concave portions 46B of the lower rotating member 40B.
The operation member 3 is housed in the inside and the bearing portions 47B, 47B.
In addition to the positioning of the boss 1 of the lower case 10a,
By fitting into the hemispherical concave portion 15 formed on the upper end surface of the operation member 4, the downward movement of the operation member 30 is reliably prevented, and the rotation center position of the operation member 30 is securely positioned and fixed. You. Also in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a concave portion on the lower surface of the operation member 30 and a convex portion on the upper end surface of the boss portion 14.

As described above, the boss 14 of the lower case 10a
Not only the guide member of the slider 50 but also the operation member 30
And also serves as a center positioning member. Therefore, both high functionality and a simple structure are achieved.

The spring 60 is of a tapered type whose winding diameter gradually increases downward. For this reason, despite the coil spring being accommodated in a space with a limited height below the rotating members 40A and 40B, a sufficient urging force is ensured, which also contributes to suppressing the overall height of the device.

Thus, the multidirectional input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is excellent in function and economical in spite of its small height and small size.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 22 is a side view of the multidirectional input device.

The multidirectional input device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is different from the multidirectional input device according to the fifth embodiment in the signal output means 20A and 20B, and the other structure is substantially the same. Is the same as

The signal output means 20A and 20B used in the multidirectional input device according to the sixth embodiment are optical sensors (photo sensors). Each signal output means has two support plates 21 and 22 attached to the side surface of the case 10 with a predetermined gap. A substantially fan-shaped gear plate 23 is arranged on the back side of the inner support plate 21.
The rotating shaft 23a formed at the base of the gear plate 23 is rotatably attached to the back surface of the support plate 21, and is connected to one of the rotating members 40A and 40B in the case 10. The tip of the gear plate 23 is an internal gear 23b.
A photo IC 2 as a light receiving element is provided on the surface of the support plate 21.
4 is attached.

An external gear 25 and a slit disk 26 are coaxially and integrally connected between the support plates 21 and 22. These are rotatably attached to the back surface of the outer support plate 22, and the external gear 25 meshes with the internal gear portion 23 b of the gear plate 23. A large number of slits are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the slit disk 26.
On the surface of the outer support plate 22, an LED 27 as a light emitting element combined with the photo IC 24 is mounted. The LED 27 includes an opening provided in the support plate 22,
And the photo IC 2 through the outer periphery of the slit disk 26.
Confronting 4.

When the rotating members 40A and 40B in the case 10 are rotated, the gear plate 23 connected thereto is rotated, and the external gear 25 and the slit disk 26 are rotated. The direction and the operation amount are optically detected.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a multidirectional input device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The multidirectional input device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention differs from the multidirectional input devices according to the fifth and sixth embodiments described above in that the signal output means 20A and 20B are different, and the other structures are the same. Substantially the same.

The signal output means 20A and 20B used in the multidirectional input device according to the seventh embodiment are magnetic sensors. Each signal output means has a magnet 28 connected to the rotating members 40A, 40B in the case 10, and a pair of Hall elements 29, 29 combined with the magnet 28. The Hall elements 29, 29 are mounted on a substrate 70 on which the input device is mounted. Rotating members 40A, 4
The Hall element 2 is driven by the rotation of the magnet 28 accompanying the rotation of the
The output balance of 9, 29 changes.

Thus, the operation direction and the operation amount of the operation member 30 are magnetically detected.

As described above, the signal output means used in the multidirectional input device according to the present invention may be any of an electric sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.

[0091]

As described above, claim 1 of the present invention is provided.
The multi-directional input device according to the present invention is provided integrally with a rotation-type retaining portion formed of a rotation shaft portion perpendicular to the operation member and / or a hemispherical portion projecting upward at a lower portion of the operation member. The number of components can be reduced by providing a recess in which the stopper is rotatably fitted on the lower surface of the lower rotating member.
In addition, it is possible to reduce the size of the device, including suppressing the height of the device.

Further, the multidirectional input device according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided for automatically returning the operating member to the neutral position.
When the operation member and / or the rotation member are elastically held at the neutral position and both the operation member and the rotation member are elastically held at the neutral position, the return accuracy of the operation member to the neutral position is improved. Can be.

The multidirectional input device according to claim 3 of the present invention uses a combination of a spring housed in a compressed state in a case and a slider biased by the spring as the return mechanism. The return accuracy of the operating member to the neutral position can be particularly increased, and when both the operating member and the rotating member are elastically held at the neutral position, the slider is brought into contact with both of the members. Thereby, the structure can be simplified.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the slider is provided with a flat surface formed downward at a lower portion of the operating member and / or a shaft at both ends of a pair of upper and lower rotating members. By elastically abutting the flat surface formed at the bottom from below, the return accuracy of the operating member to the neutral position can be particularly enhanced with a simple structure.

In the multidirectional input device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an upward boss portion is provided on the bottom plate of the case, and the lower portion of the operating member is supported by the boss portion so as to be rotatable in any direction around the operation member. Therefore, the operation member can be reliably supported.

In the multidirectional input device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion is provided on an upper surface of the boss portion, and a downwardly convex convex portion fitted to the concave portion is provided on a lower surface of the operating member. Since the hemispherical convex portion is provided, it is possible to reliably support the operation member while avoiding an increase in the device height.

In the multidirectional input device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an upwardly projecting hemispherical convex portion is provided on the upper surface of the boss, and the lower surface of the operating member is provided on the upper surface where the concave portion fits. Since the convex hemispherical concave portion is provided, it is possible to reliably support the operation member while avoiding an increase in the height of the device.

In the multidirectional input device according to claim 8 of the present invention, the boss portion also serves as a guide for the slider, so that the slider can be reliably supported even when a small slider is used.

In the multidirectional input device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a push switch which is urged upward by a return mechanism and which is pressed by the operation member is disposed below the operation member. By doing so, the function can be improved.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the rotating shaft portion having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape convex upward is provided as a retaining portion of the operation member, the height of the device is particularly reduced. Can be suppressed.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, a disk portion is provided below a rotating shaft portion having a generally upwardly convex substantially semicircular shape, and the lower surface of the disk portion is attached to the lower surface. Since the downward flat surface with which the slider comes into contact is used, the operation member can be automatically and reliably returned to the neutral position even though the retaining portion has a substantially kamaboko shape.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the multidirectional input device, a recess in which the disk portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and the inner surface of the recess is Since a pair of bearings are provided as recesses into which the shafts fit, it is possible to avoid an increase in the height of the device due to the provision of the disk.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since a pair of rotating shafts protruding on both sides are provided as retaining portions of the operating member, a problem arises when a hemispherical portion is provided. The rotation of the operation member around the axis can be prevented. Since the rotating shaft is projected from the lower portion of the operating member, particularly from both sides of the flat surface with which the slider abuts, the rotating member is located at the lowermost end of the operating member and the rotating shaft is provided. An increase in height can be avoided.

In the multidirectional input device according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the pair of rotating shafts projecting on both sides are fitted to the pair of bearings provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member. ,
An increase in the height of the apparatus due to the provision of the rotating shaft can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrow AA in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are three views of a lower case used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG.

6A and 6B are three views of an upper case used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a diagram showing a line D-D.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are four views of an operation member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view, FIG. 7B is a front view, FIG. 7C is a side view, and FIG. is there.

8A and 8B are six views of an upper rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a front view, (d) is a view indicated by an arrow EE, and (e) is F.
-F line arrow view, (f) is a bottom view.

9A and 9B are six views of a lower rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 9A is a plan view, FIG. 9B is a front view,
(C) is a side view, (d) is a view taken along line GG, and (e) is H
-H line arrow view, (f) is a bottom view.

10A and 10B are three views of a slider used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 10A is a plan view, FIG. 10B is a front view, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an II line arrow.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a multi-directional input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line KK of FIG.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are four views of the upper rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, where FIG. 19A is a plan view, FIG. 19B is a left side view, FIG. 19C is a front view, and FIG. Is a right side view.

FIG. 20 is a four-sided view of a lower rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line LL of (a), and (c) is a sectional view. (A) cross-sectional view taken along line MM,
(D) is a right side view.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a multi-directional input device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 10a Lower case 10b Upper case 14 Boss part 15 Concave part 15 'Convex part 20A, 20B Signal output means 30 Operating member 32 Disk part 33 Convex part 33' Concave part 34 Flat surface 35 Rotation shaft part (prevention part) 36 Hemispherical portion (retaining portion) 40A, 40B Rotating member 41A, 41B Rotating shaft portion 42A Arc portion 42B Hemispherical portion 43A, 43B Long hole 44A, 44B Flat surface 45A, 45B Projection 46B Depression 47B Bearing portion 48A Connection portion 50 Slider 52 First contact surface 53 Second contact surface 60 Spring 70 Push switch

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A pair of upper and lower pivot members, each of which is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to the inside of a case and has an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction, and a pair of upper and lower pivot members An operation member that penetrates each long hole of the member and rotates each rotation member by being operated in a surrounding arbitrary direction, and an operation member,
A return mechanism for automatically returning from a position operated in a surrounding arbitrary direction to a neutral position, and connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower pivot members to output a signal corresponding to the pivot angle of each pivot member A multi-directional input device comprising a set of signal output means, a rotation-type stopper provided below the operation member, the rotation shaft portion being perpendicular to the operation member and / or the hemispherical portion projecting upward. A multi-directional input device, wherein a concave portion in which the retaining portion is rotatably fitted is provided on a lower surface of a lower rotating member. 2. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the return mechanism elastically holds the operating member and / or the pair of upper and lower rotating members at a neutral position. 3. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, wherein the return mechanism has a spring housed in a compressed state in a case, and a slider biased by the spring. 4. The slider is configured to elastically contact a flat surface formed downward at a lower portion of the operation member and / or a flat surface formed downward at both end shaft portions of a pair of upper and lower rotating members from below. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, wherein the input device is in contact with the input device. 5. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case has an upwardly directed boss on the bottom plate, and the boss supports a lower portion of the operating member so as to be rotatable in an arbitrary surrounding direction.
The multidirectional input device according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. The boss portion has a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion on an upper surface thereof, and the operation member has a downwardly convex hemispherical convex portion fitted to the concave portion on a lower surface thereof. The multidirectional input device according to claim 5, further comprising: 7. The boss portion has an upwardly convex hemispherical convex portion on an upper surface thereof, and the operating member has an upwardly convex hemispherical concave portion fitted to the convex portion on a lower surface thereof. The multidirectional input device according to claim 5, comprising: 8. The multidirectional input device according to claim 5, wherein the boss portion also serves as a guide for the slider. 9. A push switch which is urged upward by the return mechanism by the return mechanism, and a push switch pressed by the operation member is disposed below the operation member. 5. The multidirectional input device according to 3 or 4. 10. The operation member according to claim 1, wherein the operation member has, below the shaft body portion, a rotation shaft portion having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape convex upward as a retaining portion. , 5,
The multidirectional input device according to 6, 7, 8 or 9. 11. The operating member has a disk portion below a rotating shaft portion having an upwardly convex substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the lower surface of the disk portion is a downward flat surface with which the slider abuts. The multidirectional input device according to claim 10, wherein: 12. A recess in which the disc portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and a pair of bearing portions are formed on the inner surface of the recess as a recess in which the rotating shaft is fitted. The multidirectional input device according to claim 11, wherein the input device is provided. 13. The operating member has a downward flat surface on which the slider abuts, and a pair of substantially cylindrical rotating shafts protruding from both sides of the flat surface as a retaining portion at a lower portion thereof. Claim 1, characterized in that:
The multidirectional input device according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. 14. The multi-piece according to claim 13, wherein a pair of bearing portions are provided on a lower surface of a lower rotating member as a concave portion into which the pair of rotating shaft portions are rotatably fitted. Direction input device. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said set of signal input means is one of an electric sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor. , 8,
The multidirectional input device according to 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14.