JP2001043773A - Input device and electronic apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device that can reduce cost with a simple structure, hardly generates noise, and can extend service life, and an electronic apparatus having the input device. SOLUTION: This input device is placed in an electronic apparatus 10, and comprises a fixed body 40, having a plurality of conductor patterns in various shapes, a rotator 20 is placed facing to the fixed body 40 and rotatable in relation to the fixed body 40, elastic conductive members 70 arranged in the rotator 20, and a plurality of conductive rotating elements 50 held rotatably by the rotator 20. The plurality of conductive rotating elements 50 are pressed relative to the fixed body 40 side with the elastic conductive members 70, and used for selecting any input item by electrically connecting the elastic members of the rotator 20 to the conductor patterns of the fixed body 40, when they are positioned on the conductor patterns corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotator 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device provided in an electronic device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items, and an electronic device provided with the input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an input device provided in an electronic device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items, there is a mode switch disclosed in JP-A-9-134561. This mode switch is a rotary encoder using a photo sensor. For example, in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing data on / from a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, the mode switch is used to detect a position such as an eject, a stop or a search. What is used.

[0003]

However, this type of mode switch uses a plurality of photosensors as described above, so that the accuracy and the life are good, but the cost is considerably high. In order to reduce the cost, a leaf spring-like sliding contact is provided on the rotor without using a photo sensor, and the rotor is attached to the stator with the leaf spring-like sliding contact in contact with the conductor on the stator side. A method of selecting an arbitrary input item by rotating the input item is also conceivable. Although this sliding contact type input device is inexpensive, it has a major drawback that noise is likely to occur and its life is short because the sliding contact in the form of a leaf spring is used. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an input device which has a simple structure, can reduce cost, and is less likely to generate noise and can have a longer life, and an electronic apparatus having the input device.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device provided in an electronic device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items. A fixed body having a plurality of conductor patterns of different shapes, a rotating body disposed opposite to the fixed body and rotatable with respect to the fixed body, and arranged on the rotating body. An elastic member having conductivity, and a plurality of rotating elements having conductivity that are rotatably held by the rotating body, each of which is pressed toward the fixed body by the elastic member, and rotates the rotating body. If the elastic member of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body are electrically connected to each other, the arbitrary input item is selected when positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the angle. A plurality of said rotating element because an input device, characterized in that it comprises a.

According to the first aspect, the fixed body has a plurality of conductor patterns of different shapes. The rotating body is disposed to face the fixed body and is rotatable with respect to the fixed body. The conductive elastic member is disposed on the rotating body. The plurality of rotating elements are rotatably held by the rotating body. The plurality of rotating elements are pressed toward the fixed body side by the elastic member, and when positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body, the elastic member of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body are combined. An arbitrary input item is selected by being electrically connected.

Accordingly, the structure is simple, and when the rotating element moves while rotating on the conductor pattern and is positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body,
The elastic member of the rotating body is electrically connected to the conductor pattern of the fixed body. Therefore, any input item can be selected by the rotary element. Since the rotating element moves on the conductor pattern, noise is less likely to be generated compared to the conventional leaf spring-shaped sliding contact.Since the rotating element only rolls on the conductor pattern, wear of the conductor pattern and wear of the rotating element occur. Wear can be significantly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent generation of noise (such as chattering) and extend the life of the conductor pattern and the rotating element.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect, the rotating body is rotatable about an axis of the fixed body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the second aspect, the plurality of conductor patterns are formed substantially concentrically around the axis on the fixed body, and each of the plurality of conductor patterns is formed on the fixed body. The element orbits with the rotating body about the axis.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the third aspect, the fixed body is a circuit board.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect, the rotating element is a sphere, and a metal sphere or a metal is coated on a resin core.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including an input device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items, wherein the electronic device is disposed in the electronic device.
A fixed body having a plurality of conductor patterns of different shapes, a rotating body arranged opposite to the fixed body and rotatable with respect to the fixed body, and a conductive body arranged on the rotating body. An elastic member having: and a plurality of conductive rotating elements rotatably held by the rotating body, each of which is pressed toward the fixed body side by the elastic member, and has a rotation angle of the rotating body. The plurality of the plurality of the plurality of the elastic members of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body are electrically connected to select the arbitrary input item when the corresponding conductive pattern is positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern. And a rotating element.

According to the present invention, the fixed body has a plurality of conductor patterns having different shapes. The rotating body is disposed to face the fixed body and is rotatable with respect to the fixed body. The conductive elastic member is disposed on the rotating body. The plurality of rotating elements are rotatably held by the rotating body. The plurality of rotating elements are pressed toward the fixed body side by the elastic member, and when positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body, the elastic member of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body are combined. An arbitrary input item is selected by being electrically connected.

With this structure, when the rotating element moves while rotating on the conductor pattern and is positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body, the structure is simple.
The elastic member of the rotating body is electrically connected to the conductor pattern of the fixed body. Therefore, any input item can be selected by the rotary element. Since the rotating element moves on the conductor pattern, noise is less likely to be generated compared to the conventional leaf spring-shaped sliding contact.Since the rotating element only rolls on the conductor pattern, wear of the conductor pattern and wear of the rotating element occur. Wear can be significantly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent generation of noise (such as chattering) and extend the life of the conductor pattern and the rotating element.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic apparatus provided with the input device according to the sixth aspect, the rotating body is rotatable about an axis of the fixed body.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic apparatus provided with the input device according to the seventh aspect, the plurality of conductor patterns are formed substantially concentrically around the axis on the fixed body. Each of the rotating elements orbits around the axis together with the rotating body.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic apparatus provided with the input device according to the eighth aspect, the fixed body is a circuit board.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic apparatus provided with the input device according to the sixth aspect, the rotating element is a sphere, and a metal ball or a metal is coated on a resin core.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an electronic apparatus provided with the input device of the present invention. The electronic device 10 of FIG. 1 includes a housing 12, a rotary input device 14, an interface unit 16, a headphone jack 18, and the like. The rotating body 20 of the input device 14 is provided on a wide surface of the housing 12.
Are exposed. A knurl 24 is formed around the outer periphery of the operation unit 22 to prevent the user from slipping when operating with his / her finger. An interface 16 is provided on a narrow end surface of the housing 12 of FIG. 1. The interface 16 transmits information IN such as music information from another computer 26 to the housing 1.
2 can be downloaded to the semiconductor memory 32, for example. Headphone jack 1
8 allows the user to connect the plug 30 of the attached stereo headphones 28 so that the user can use the stereo headphones 2.
For example, music information stored in the semiconductor memory 32 in the housing 12 can be listened to by using the key 8.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structural example of the input device 14 of FIG. The input device 14 generally includes a circuit board 40 as a fixed body, a rotating body 20, a leaf spring 44 as an elastic member, a plurality of rotating elements 50, a shaft 52, and the like. The circuit board 40 as a fixed body has, for example, a disk shape, and the circuit board 40 is fixed to, for example, a fixed portion F inside the housing 12. A shaft 52 passes through the center of the circuit board 40. The lower end 52A of the shaft 52 is prevented from coming off by a fitting 52B.

On the inner surface 40A of the circuit board 40, a plurality of conductor patterns A and B and a common (common) conductor pattern C are formed as shown in FIG. The conductor patterns A, B, and C have different shapes, respectively, and the conductor pattern A is located on the outermost side with the axis 52 as a center. The conductor pattern B is located on the innermost side with respect to the axis 52, and the conductor pattern C is
It is located between. These conductor patterns A, B, C
Is made of, for example, copper, silver, gold, carbon, or the like, and is formed substantially concentrically about the axis 52.

The conductor patterns A, B, and C have different shapes at four positions, for example, as shown in FIG. The four positions are for designating, for example, four input items of stop, play, fast forward, and return operations, and include a stop position STOP, a playback position FWD, a fast forward position FF, and a return position REW. .

The stop position STOP is a position for stopping, for example, a reproduction operation of, for example, music information in the semiconductor memory 32 of FIG. The reproduction position FWD is a position for reproducing the music information in the semiconductor memory 32 of FIG. 1 from a certain address. The fast-forward position FF is a position for skipping an address of the semiconductor memory 32 where music information is to be reproduced to a desired address. Return position REW
Is a position for returning an address of the semiconductor memory 32 where music information is to be reproduced to a desired address.

Returning to FIG. 2, the rotating body 20 is supported rotatably about a shaft 52 on a circuit board 40 as a fixed body. Upper end 52 of shaft 52
C is fixed to the operation unit 22 of the rotating body 20. The rotator 20 includes an operation unit 22, a leaf spring 70 as an elastic member, a housing 60, and the like. Operation unit 2
The knurl 24 as shown in FIG. This allows the user to reliably position the operation unit 22 by rotating the operation unit 22 with the finger in the R1 direction or the R2 direction. The circuit board 40 can employ, for example, glass epoxy, paper phenol, polyimide, polyester, ceramic, or the like.

Between the housing 60 and the operation section 22, leaf springs 70 and 74 as elastic members are held so as to be sandwiched therebetween. The leaf springs 70 and 74 have a structure as shown in FIG. 4, for example. FIG. 4 shows an inner surface 22A of the operation unit 22 of the rotating body (rotor) 20, and two leaf springs 70 and 74 are provided on the inner surface 22A. The leaf spring 70 includes the conductor patterns A, B,
The other leaf spring 74 is a dummy leaf spring. Leaf spring 70 and dummy leaf spring 7
4 is located 180 ° in the opposite direction about axis 52. The reason why the dummy leaf spring 74 is provided on the inner surface 22A is to balance the spring pressure when the leaf spring 70 is provided on the inner surface 22A, and as a result, the inclination of the rotor can be prevented.

Each of the leaf spring 70 and the dummy leaf spring 74 has a pressing piece 76. Each of the pressing pieces 76 is provided with three pressing pieces 76. Each of the pressing pieces 76, as shown in FIG.
It has the function of pressing to the side. The leaf springs 70 and 74
For example, it is made of a conductive metal, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, brass, SUS (stainless steel), or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing piece 76 of the leaf spring 70
Are provided with rotating elements 50, respectively. Similarly, the rotating element 50 is provided on the pressing piece 76 of the leaf spring 74. As the rotating element 50, a metal ball or a resin core whose periphery is coated with metal can be used. 2 and 5, the rotating element 5
0 is a sphere. When the rotating element 50 is a metal ball, for example, a steel ball, a brass ball, a copper ball, or the like can be used. When the rotating element 50 has a resin core coated with metal, the resin core may be made of PPS.
(Polyphenylene sulfide), LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), POM
(Polyacetal), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and the like, and gold, silver, Ni, carbon, and the like can be used as the metal to be coated. In any case, the rotating element 50 has a conductive property on its surface to conduct electricity.

In FIG. 5, the pressing piece 76 of the leaf spring 70 is connected to the conductor pattern A (or B or C) on the circuit board 40 side.
, And the plate spring 70 is electrically connected to the conductor pattern using the rotating element 50.

FIG. 6 shows the above-described conductor patterns A, B, and C.
Shows an example of connection to the control circuit 100. The control circuit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The CPU 110 is connected to the semiconductor memory 32, the interface unit 120, and the amplifying unit 1.
30. The interface unit 120 includes:
For example, information IN such as music information can be supplied from the computer 26 to the CPU 110 side.
110 can store the information IN in the semiconductor memory 32. The amplification section 130 supplies a music signal to the headphones 28 based on a signal from the CPU 110.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a position mode for designating an input item, and exemplifies the stop position STOP, the reproduction position FWD, the fast forward position FF, and the return position REW as described above. The code corresponding to each position mode is “0” for the conductor pattern A and the conductor pattern B.
This is indicated by a signal and a '1' signal. Stop position STOP
In the case of, the code is '11', and at the playback position FWD, the code is '10'. At the fast-forward position FF, the code is "01", and at the return position REW, the code is "00".

Next, an operation example of the electronic apparatus 10 including the input device 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the user inserts the flag 30 of the stereo headphones 28 into the headphone jack 18. For example, information IN, which is music information, is already downloaded from the computer 26 to the semiconductor memory 32 in the housing 12. The user operates the operation unit 22 of the input device 14 of FIG.
By rotating in one direction or the direction of R2, FIG.
And any of the four positions shown in FIG. 3 can be selected. In the example of FIG. 1, a mark 22P is formed on the operation unit 22. This landmark 2
By positioning 2P in one of four positions, the desired position can be determined.
For example, in FIG. 1, when the user rotates the operation unit 22 in the direction of R2, for example, every 60 °, the stop position STOP is sequentially changed to the reproduction position FWD,
Fast forward position FF and return position REW can be selected.

When the position STOP in FIG. 3 is selected, the code generated in the conductor patterns A and B shown in FIG. 7 is "11". That is, the three rotating elements 50, 50, 50 on the leaf spring 70 side in FIG.
C and B are all in contact with each other. As a result, the rotating elements 50 serving as the switches in FIG. 6 are electrically connected to the conductor patterns A, C, and B.

When the user rotates the operation unit 22 of FIG. 1 by 60 degrees in the direction of R2, the mark 22P of FIG. 1 is positioned at the reproduction position FWD. In this case, the code in FIG. 7 is “10”. That is, two rotating elements 50 and 50 are in contact with the conductor pattern A and the conductor pattern C in FIG. Indicates that the rotating element 50 has come off. When the user further rotates the operation unit 22 of FIG. 1 by 60 degrees in the direction of R2, the mark 22P is positioned at the fast-forward position FF. In this case, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the code is "01", and the two rotating elements 50 and 50 in FIG. 2 are in contact with the conductor patterns C and B in FIG. It is out of pattern A. When the user further rotates the operation unit 22 by 60 degrees in the direction of R2, the mark 22P
Is positioned at the return position REW. In this case, the code in FIG. 7 is “00”. That is, the rotating element 50 is not in contact with the conductor patterns A and B in FIG. 3, but is merely in contact with the conductor pattern C only.

As described above, depending on the type of the position, the rotating element 50 contacts any of the conductor patterns A and B, does not contact either, or contacts only one of the conductor patterns A and B, as shown in FIG. 4 can be sent to the control circuit 100 of FIG. The signals of these four positions are transmitted to the control circuit 1
00, the control circuit 100 sends the position signal to the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 issues an instruction corresponding to the contents of the position to the semiconductor memory 32 or the amplifying unit 130.
To be supplied.

For example, when the stop position STOP is selected, the CPU 110 stops the supply of the control signal to the semiconductor memory 32 and the supply of the control signal to the amplifier 130. When the reproduction position FWD is selected, the CPU 110 fetches information IN such as music information from the semiconductor memory 32 and
To its corresponding signal. Fast forward position FF
Is selected, the CPU 110 can fast-forward the music information by skipping the address of the information IN of the semiconductor memory 32 to a desired position. When the return position REW is selected, the CPU 110
By returning the address of the music information in the semiconductor memory 32 to the desired position, the music information can be returned.

The operating part 22 of the rotating body 20 and the housing 60
Is POM as an example of a resin as an electrical insulating material.
(Polyacetal), PA (polyamide), and the like. As the material of the leaf spring, for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, SUS (stainless steel), or the like can be used. The upper end 52C of the shaft 52 is preferably integrated with the operation unit 22 by mechanical caulking (thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or the like). As the circuit board 40, not only a normal board but also a flexible board or the like can be adopted.

In the illustrated example, the rotating element 50 of the rotating body 20 is
Are arranged at predetermined intervals in the radial direction according to the arrangement of the pressing pieces 76 of the leaf spring 70 in FIG. Rotating body 20
Is approximately 0 ° to 180 ° as shown in FIG. The rotating body 20 of FIG.
When the rotating element 50 rolls with respect to the conductor patterns A and B in FIG. 3, the rotating element 50 rides on and descends from the conductor patterns A or B while rolling. On the other hand, the center rotating element 50 always rolls on the conductor pattern C while riding on it. These three rotating elements 50 orbit around the corresponding conductor patterns A, B and C about the axis 52. At this time, since the rotating element 50 is in rolling friction, the rotating element 50 and the conductor The wear of the pattern can be significantly reduced.
Therefore, even when the rotating body 20 is rotated at the time of position setting, it is possible to prevent generation of noise (such as chattering) and extend the life of the rotating element 50 and the conductor pattern. Also, because the contact point between the leaf spring and the ball always changes,
A self-cleaning function can be provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, since the structure is simple, the assembly is easy, the reliability of the rotating operation is excellent, and the width D of the input device 14 in FIG. 2 can be reduced.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the shape of the rotating element 150 is different from the shape of the rotating element 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and for example, has a substantially rugby ball shape. is there. Projection 150A of rotating element 150
Is rotatably fitted in the groove 60 </ b> A of the housing 60. As a result, the peripheral surface of the rotating element 150 electrically contacts the conductor pattern A or B or C, and the pressing piece 76 presses the rotating element 150 against the conductor pattern.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The electronic device including the input device shown in FIG. 1 is used as a portable music playback device.
The electronic device including the input device of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a music information recording / reproducing device. Further, the electronic apparatus including the input device of the present invention is not limited to the recording and reproduction of music information, and can be applied to an image and audio recording and reproduction apparatus or an image and audio reproduction apparatus. The rotating element is not limited to a spherical or substantially rugby-shaped rotating element, but may have other shapes.
The number of rotating elements and the number of conductor patterns can be arbitrarily set as necessary, and are appropriately selected according to the number of input items.

The input device and the electronic apparatus provided with the input device according to the present invention are magnetic recording / reproducing devices for recording / reproducing data on / from a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium. It can also be used as a mode switch of a magnetic recording / reproducing device used for detecting a mechanical position of the / reproducing device.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The structure is simple, cost can be reduced, and noise is hardly generated, and the life can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing an example of an electronic apparatus including an input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of the input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conductor pattern on the inner surface side of a circuit board which is the fixed body of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a leaf spring on the inner surface side of the rotating body in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the rotating element, the circuit board, the operation unit, and the like in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a conductive pattern and components in a housing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a code corresponding to a position mode as an input item.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic apparatus provided with an input device, 12 ... Case, 14 ... Input device, 20 ... Rotating body, 22 ...
・ Operation part, 32 ・ ・ ・ Semiconductor memory, 40 ・ ・ ・ Circuit board (fixed body), 50 ・ ・ ・ Rotating element, 52 ・ ・ ・ Axis,
60 ... housing, 70 ... leaf spring, 76 ...
Pressing piece, A, B ... conductor pattern, C ... conductor pattern (common)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An input device provided in an electronic device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items, wherein the input device is arranged in the electronic device and includes a plurality of conductor patterns having different shapes. A rotating body disposed opposite to the fixed body and rotatable with respect to the fixed body; a conductive elastic member disposed on the rotating body; and the rotating body. A plurality of conductive rotating elements that are held rotatably at the fixed body side by the elastic member, respectively, on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body A plurality of the rotating elements for selecting the arbitrary input item by electrically connecting the elastic member of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body when positioned; Input apparatus characterized by obtaining. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is rotatable about an axis of the fixed body. 3. The plurality of conductor patterns are formed substantially concentrically around the axis on the fixed body, and each of the rotating elements orbits with the rotating body around the axis. 3. The input device according to 2. 4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the fixed body is a circuit board. 5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating element is a sphere, and a metal sphere or a metal coated on a resin core. 6. An electronic device comprising an input device for selecting an arbitrary input item from a plurality of types of input items, wherein the electronic device is arranged in the electronic device and has a plurality of conductor patterns having different shapes. A body, a rotating body disposed opposite to the fixed body and rotatable with respect to the fixed body, a conductive elastic member provided on the rotating body, and a rotation in the rotating body. A plurality of conductive rotating elements that are held so as to be pressed toward the fixed body side by the elastic member, and are positioned on the corresponding conductor pattern according to the rotation angle of the rotating body. A plurality of the rotating elements for electrically connecting the elastic member of the rotating body and the conductor pattern of the fixed body to select the arbitrary input item. Electronic apparatus including the input device, characterized in that. 7. An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 6, wherein the rotating body is rotatable about an axis of the fixed body. 8. The plurality of conductor patterns are formed substantially concentrically about the axis on the fixed body, and each of the rotating elements orbits with the rotating body about the axis. An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 7. 9. An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 8, wherein the fixed body is a circuit board. 10. An electronic apparatus comprising the input device according to claim 6, wherein the rotating element is a sphere, and is a metal ball or a metal coated on a resin core.