JP2001160338A - Multidirectional operation switching device and using method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional operation switching device that smoothly enables multidirectional switching operation, when applied to such an apparatus highly requested to be smaller and thinner as portable terminal units, and to provide its using method. SOLUTION: In this multidirectional operation switching device 30 equipped with a columnar operating member 7, that is erected at the central portion of the multidirectional switch proper 1 and provided with the top radially rotatable at will, a plurality of switches 3 circumferentially disposed with intervals around the switching body 1, operation arms 5, with the same number as the switches 3, forming switch driving portions 5a that are made ON by pressing the switch 3, a operating seal member 10 is equipped with a ball-face operating portion 10a projecting almost hemispherically on an operating knob 9 at the upper end of the columnar operating member 7 to be manipulated with one hand.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation switch device used for an operation section of various devices such as a portable terminal device and a method of using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a multidirectional operation switch device is
For example, by operating the operation unit by hand and rotating the operation knob at the upper end of the columnar operation member in the radial direction from the center such as the left-right direction or the front-rear direction, one of a plurality of multidirectional switches can be operated. It can be turned on.

[0003] As such a conventional multidirectional operation switch device, for example, there is one as shown in FIG. The conventional multidirectional operation switch device 20 operates the operation knob 9 at the upper end of the columnar operation member 7 to operate the columnar operation member 7.
Is a switch having a structure in which the switch unit 3 is turned to depress and each switch unit 3 in multiple directions is pushed and turned on.

In FIG. 3, a multi-directional switch body 1 is
It has a plurality of push switches 3 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of a predetermined radius. The push switch 3 is turned on by being pressed from above, and at this time, a snap plate (not shown) made of a spring plate material is turned over, so that the operator touching the operation knob 9 can feel the hand (response).
Is made to feel.

[0005] At the lower end of the columnar operating member 7, the same number of operating arms 5 as the push switches 3 are provided integrally extending in the radial and horizontal directions. A switch drive unit 5a for pressing the switch 3 to turn on is formed.

The lower end of the columnar operation member 7 is supported by the multidirectional switch body 1 by a structure (not shown) so that the upper end thereof can rotate so that the columnar operation member 7 falls down. An operation knob 9 is provided at the upper end of the columnar operation member 7, and the center of the upper surface of the operation knob 9 is formed in a concave shape, and the operation knob 9 is provided at the bottom with a casing 11 around the operation knob 9. A retaining plate 14 is provided so that the retaining plate 14 does not come off.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional multidirectional operation switch 20, in a structure in which the columnar operation member 7 is tilted down by the operation knob 9, the snap plate of the push switch 3 is inverted. It has a light "entrance feeling" at the time, and in order to make use of the "entrance feeling", it is impossible to unnecessarily reduce the force required for the operation.

When it is desired to reduce the size of various devices having the multidirectional operation switch 20, the height of the columnar operation member 7, the diameter of the operation knob 9 and the distance from the center of the columnar operation member 7 to the push switch 3 are increased. When the distance or the like is reduced, a greater force is required to secure a feeling of intrusion when the push switch 3 is pressed, and the operability is deteriorated. There is a problem that there is.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and when applied to a device that is required to be small and thin, such as a portable terminal device, a multi-directional switch operation can be smoothly performed with a fingertip. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-directional operation switch device and a method of using the same.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a multi-directional operation switch device according to the present invention is provided upright at a central portion of a multi-directional operation switch main body and has an upper end rotatably provided in a radial direction. A pillar-shaped operation member, a plurality of switches arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the periphery of the multi-directional operation switch body, and provided integrally with the pillar-shaped operation member and radially extending to a tip end portion. In a multidirectional operation switch device including a switch formed with a switch driving unit that turns on the switch by pressing the switch when the upper end of the columnar operation member rotates, an operation knob at an upper end of the columnar operation member is provided. And a spherical operation unit which is projected in a substantially hemispherical shape and operated by hand is provided on the top.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a multi-directional operation switch device according to the present invention, wherein the multi-directional operation switch body is provided upright at a central portion of the main body and rotatably provided at an upper end in a radial direction. A columnar operation member, a plurality of switches circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the multi-directional operation switch main body, and a columnar operation member provided integrally with the columnar operation member and extending in the radial direction at the distal end portion In a multidirectional operation switch device including a switch formed with a switch drive unit that turns on the switch by pressing the switch when the upper end of the member rotates, the same number of operation arms are provided. Using a multi-directional operation switch device provided with a spherical operation unit that is substantially hemispherically projected and manually operated by the user, the spherical operation unit of the operation knob is manually operated, whereby the columnar operation is performed. The member is tilted in any one of the radiation directions and rotated, so that the switch drive unit of the corresponding operation arm presses this switch so that any of the plurality of switches is turned on. It is characterized by the following.

According to the multidirectional operation switch device having such a configuration and the method of using the same, by manually operating the spherical operation portion of the operation knob, the columnar operation member is tilted in one of the radial directions and turned. The switch drive unit of the corresponding operation arm presses this switch so that any one of the plurality of switches is turned on by operating the switch. Therefore, there is a demand for a smaller and thinner device such as a portable terminal device. In the case of applying to a device having a high power, a multi-directional switch operation can be smoothly performed with a fingertip. Therefore, the operability can be improved, and the burden on the finger can be reduced to prevent the finger from being damaged.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3
FIG. 1 is a diagram referred to for describing a first embodiment of a multidirectional operation switch device and a method of using the same according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a multi-directional operation switch device 30 according to the present embodiment. The multi-directional operation switch device 30 in the figure operates the operation knob 9 at the upper end of the columnar operation member 7. This is a switch having a structure in which the column-shaped operation member 7 is rotated so as to be tilted, and the switch units 3 in multiple directions are pushed and turned on.

In FIG. 1, a multi-directional switch body 1 includes
It has a plurality of push switches 3 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of a predetermined radius. The push switch 3 is turned on by being pressed from above, and at this time, a snap plate (not shown) made of a spring plate material is turned over, so that the operator touching the operation knob 9 can feel the hand (response).
Is made to feel.

At the lower end of the columnar operating member 7, the same number of operating arms 5 as the push switches 3 are provided integrally extending in the radial and horizontal directions. A switch drive unit 5a for pressing the switch 3 to turn on is formed.

The lower end of the columnar operation member 7 is supported by the multi-directional switch body 1 by a structure (not shown) so that the upper end can rotate so that the columnar operation member 7 falls down. An operation knob 9 is provided at the upper end of the columnar operation member 7, and a concave portion is formed at the center of the upper surface of the operation knob 9, and the operation knob 9 is provided at the bottom thereof with a casing around the operation knob 9. A retaining plate 14 is provided so that the retaining plate 14 does not come off the connector 11.

An operation knob 9 at the upper end of the columnar operation member 7
An operation seal member 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided in a concave portion at the center of the upper surface of the device, and the operation seal member 10 has a substantially hemispherical spherical operation portion 10a formed at the center thereof. Since the operation seal member 10 is formed of a rubber-based material having a high friction coefficient, the operator's finger is brought into contact with the spherical operation portion 10a of the operation seal member 10 to move the push switch 3 in any direction. When pressing, the frictional force between the finger and the spherical operation unit 10a and the spherical operation unit 10 of the finger
The operation knob portion 9 can be smoothly operated by the geometrical engagement with “a”.

The operation of the multi-directional operation switch device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When the operator operates the spherical operation portion 10a of the operation seal member 10 of the operation knob portion 9 with the finger of the hand, the columnar operation member 7 is tilted in any one of the radial directions and rotated. As a result, this ON switch is turned on so that one of the plurality of push switches 3 is turned ON.
The switch drive unit 5a of the operation arm 5 corresponding to the push switch 3 to be pressed pushes the push switch 3. At this time, the operation knob 9 can be smoothly operated by the frictional force of the operation seal member 10 between the finger and the spherical operation unit 10a and the geometrical engagement of the finger with the spherical operation unit 10a.

When the operation seal member 10 is operated lightly, the switch drive unit 5a can push the push switch 3 in any direction, so that fatigue of the finger can be reduced at the time of operation. The performance is improved.

As described above, according to the multidirectional operation switch device 30 according to the present embodiment, the operator operates the spherical operation portion 10a of the operation seal member 10 on the operation knob portion 9 with the finger of the hand. By doing so, the columnar operation member 7 is tilted in any one of the radiation directions and rotated, so that any one of the plurality of push switches 3 is turned on.
The switch drive unit 5a of the operation arm 5 corresponding to the push switch 3 to be turned on presses the push switch 3.

For this reason, when the present invention is applied to a device that is required to be small and thin, such as a portable terminal device, it is possible to smoothly perform a multi-directional switch operation with a fingertip. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability of the device for which the demand for miniaturization and thinning is high, and also to prevent the finger from being damaged by reducing the load on the finger.

As described above, since the switch operation can be performed smoothly, the operability can be prevented from deteriorating even if the switch is used for a long time. Since the finger does not become tired by the operation, the multidirectional operation switch device 30 can be easily used.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the operation seal member 10 is adhered on the concave portion of the operation knob 9 has been described. However, the operation seal member 10 may be replaced with a new one when it is worn or damaged. It is also possible to adopt a system that can be replaced on the concave portion of the operation knob 9 so that it can be replaced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the push switch 3 is used in which the snap plate is inverted so that the operator who touches the operation knob 9 can feel the hand. The present invention does not need to be limited to the push switch 3 using such a snap plate, and any switch can be used as long as it is pressed and turned on.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible based on the technical idea of the present invention. Can be changed.

[0028]

As described above, according to the multi-directional operation switch device and the method of using the same according to the present invention, the spherical operation portion of the operation knob is manually operated to move the columnar operation member in any of the radial directions. To rotate in the direction of
The switch drive unit of the corresponding operation arm presses this switch so that one of the plurality of switches is turned on, so that it is applied to a device that is required to be small and thin, such as a portable terminal device. In this case, the switch operation in multiple directions can be smoothly performed with the fingertip. Therefore, the operability can be improved, and the burden on the finger can be reduced to prevent the finger from being damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a multi-directional operation switch device 30 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an upper portion is sectioned.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation seal member 10 in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a conventional multidirectional operation switch device 20 with an upper portion in section.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Multidirectional switch body, 3: Push switch, 5:
Operation arm, 5a: switch drive unit, 7: columnar operation member, 9: operation knob unit, 10: operation seal member, 10a
... Spherical operation unit, 11 ... Casing, 14 ... Retaining plate,
20, 30 ... Multi-directional operation switch device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A column-shaped operating member which is provided upright at a central portion of a multi-directional operation switch main body and whose upper end is rotatably provided in a radial direction, and is circumferentially spaced around a periphery of said multi-directional operation switch main body. A plurality of switches, and a switch drive unit that is provided integrally with the columnar operation member, extends in the radial direction, and presses the switch when the upper end of the columnar operation member rotates at the tip portion to turn on the switch. A multi-directional operation switch device comprising the same number of switches and the same number of operation arms as described above, wherein a spherical operation portion which is substantially hemispherically projected and operated by hand is provided on an operation knob at an upper end portion of the columnar operation member. Characteristic multi-directional operation switch device. 2. The multi-directional operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein said operation portion is formed of a rubber material having a high friction coefficient. 3. A column-shaped operating member which is provided upright at a central portion of the multi-directional operation switch main body and whose upper end is rotatably provided in a radial direction, and which is circumferentially spaced around the multi-directional operation switch main body. A plurality of switches, and a switch drive unit that is provided integrally with the columnar operation member, extends in the radial direction, and presses the switch when the upper end of the columnar operation member rotates at the tip portion to turn on the switch. A multi-directional operation switch device comprising the same number of switches and the same number of operation arms as described above, wherein a multi-directional operation device is provided, in which a spherical operation portion which is substantially hemispherically protruded above an operation knob at an upper end portion of said columnar operation member and is manually operated. By operating the spherical operation portion of the operation knob by hand using an operation switch device, the columnar operation member is tilted in any one of the radial directions, and the operation is performed. A method of using a multi-directional operation switch device, wherein a switch drive unit of an operation arm corresponding to the switch is pressed so that one of the switches is turned on.