JP2002182848A - Digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional position indicating device which outputs and indicates an operation direction and a manipulated variable with a digital signal. SOLUTION: This digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device has a common fixed contact 8 formed at the center part of a base 1, a plurality of fixed contact groups 9 which are separated from the contact 8 in a radial direction and arranged and formed in increments of regular angle in a circumferential direction on the base 1, a plate spring movable contact 3 positioned opposed to the fixed contact groups 9, a pusher 7 for applying a pressing operation to the contact 3, and a disk-shaped housing 5 waving/ holding the pusher 7. The contact 3 consists of a central part 31 that comes into contact with the contact 8 and a plurality of elastic contact pieces 32 which are extended and formed integrally and warped upward in increments of regular angle from the central part 31. The contact groups 9 consist of a plurality of independent fixed contacts 91 arranged discretely in a radial direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device, and more particularly to a digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device for outputting an operation direction and an operation amount by a digital signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. On the upper surface of the printed wiring board 1, a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts 24 constituting the outer peripheral switch 2 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the surface in the circumferential direction. A fixed contact pair 34 of the center switch 3 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the printed wiring board 1. Although only two pairs of fixed contacts 24 of the outer peripheral switch 2 are shown on the outer peripheral portion of the multi-directional position indicating device, actually four pairs or eight pairs are formed point-symmetrically. Reference numeral 36 denotes a metal dome that is upwardly convex and reverses by clicking, and is disposed on the surface of the printed wiring board 1 so as to face the fixed contact pair 34 of the center switch 3. Reference numeral 37 denotes an adhesive sheet for joining and fixing a metal dome 36 disposed on the surface of the printed wiring board 1 to the surface of the printed wiring board 1. Reference numeral 50 denotes a thin key top made of a synthetic resin film sheet that is embossed convexly upward, and a movable contact 25 of the outer peripheral switch 2 corresponding to each fixed contact pair 24 of the outer peripheral switch 2 in the circumferential direction on the rear surface. Are formed. Here, as the synthetic resin forming the thin plate key top 50, a synthetic resin having relatively high rigidity such as polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate is employed. Then, by embossing the thin plate key top 50 into a circular shape with the outer peripheral portion being angular, a click operation can be generated when the outer peripheral portion of the thin plate key top 50 is pressed.

When the central portion of the thin plate key top 50 is pressed downward, the thin plate key top 50 is elastically deformed, and the metal dome 36 is pressed downward and turned over. The metal dome 36 contacts and closes the fixed contact pair 34 of the center switch 3 by inversion. Then, when the pressing of the thin plate key top 50 is released, both the metal dome 36 and the thin plate key top 50 elastically return to the original lifting position, so that the fixed contact pair 34 is released. Here, the movable contact 25 of the outer peripheral switch 2 formed in the outer peripheral portion on the rear surface in the circumferential direction by pressing the outer peripheral portion of the thin plate key top 50 to partially elastically deform the thin key top 50 contacts the corresponding fixed contact pair 24. Close this. Then, when the pressing of the thin plate key top 50 is released,
The fixed contact pair 24 is released by the elastic return of the thin plate key top 50 to the original lifting position. Further, the thin key top 50 made of a synthetic resin film sheet convexly embossed upward is locally elastically deformed when the outer peripheral portion is partially pressed, and at this time, a click operation feeling is obtained.

The center switch 3 is operated by pressing the center of the thin plate key top 50 downward.
6 to control the opening and closing of the fixed contact pair 34 via
The metal dome 36 functions as a spacer for a downward pressing operation, and an upward reaction of the metal dome 36 is applied. Due to this upward reaction, there is a small possibility that the outer peripheral portion of the thin plate key top 50 is displaced downward due to the downward pressing operation of the central portion of the thin plate key top 50,
Malfunctions in which the outer peripheral switch 2 also operates at the same time can be reduced.

[0005] Another conventional example will be described with reference to FIG.
The position indicating device shown in the figure includes a mounting plate 10, a push button plate 50, and a nameplate 70. This position pointing device comprises a substrate 15 having a resistor pattern 23 extending linearly on the surface thereof,
5 comprises a base 31 fixed to the base 5 and a long arm 33 protruding from the base 31 and bent upward and positioned on the resistor pattern 23. The arm 33 has a plurality of lower portions in the longitudinal direction. A metal spring plate 30 provided with a projection 38 protruding in the direction, and a push button 55 that moves up and down above the vicinity of the tip of the arm portion 33 of the spring plate 30. The arm 33 is tilted downward so as to abut on the resistor pattern 23 in order from the protrusion 38 closest to the base 31.

[0006]

In each of the above conventional examples, the operation direction and the operation amount are regarded as ON / OFF of a contact or a change in an analog amount such as a resistance value, and the output is instructed by an analog signal. It is a position pointing device. When digital processing is performed on these analog output signals, an analog-to-digital conversion circuit and software for converting the analog output signals into digital signals are required. Therefore, even if the multi-directional position pointing device itself is reduced in size and thickness, the accompanying circuit device is required separately from the position pointing device. The complexity increases, and the manufacturing costs increase accordingly.

The present invention uses an analog-to-digital conversion processing circuit and software by applying a position pointing device for generating a digital output signal of the format of FIG. 9 to the multidirectional position pointing device of the above-mentioned type of FIG. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device which solves the above-mentioned problem of outputting and indicating the operation direction and the operation amount by a digital signal without performing the operation.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 has a substrate 1, and has a common fixed contact 8 formed at the center of the substrate 1, and is circumferentially separated from the common fixed contact 8 in a radial direction. Fixed contact groups 9 arranged at equal angular intervals on the substrate 1
And a disc-shaped housing 5 that has a leaf spring movable contact 3 that is positioned to face the fixed contact group 9, that has a pusher 7 that presses the leaf spring movable contact 3, and that swings and holds the pusher 7. In the digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device, the leaf spring movable contact 3 is formed integrally with the central portion 31 in contact with the common fixed contact 8 at equal angular intervals from the central portion 31 and has a plurality of elastic members which can bend upward. The fixed contact group 9 is made up of the contact pieces 32, and the digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device is made up of a plurality of independent fixed contacts 91 arranged discretely in the radial direction.

Claim 2: In the digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device according to claim 1, the number of the fixed contact groups 9 is 4, and the elastic contact of the leaf spring movable contact 3 correspondingly. A digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device in which the number of the pieces 32 is four was constituted. Claim 3: In the digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the pusher 7 is disposed below the pusher 7 and the swing support fulcrum 73 is provided.
And a swinging fulcrum member 6 that supports the disk-shaped housing 5 and the swinging fulcrum member 6 in a state where the swinging fulcrum member 6 and the swinging member 4 are overlapped with each other. Member 4
And a digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device, each of which is fixed.

Further, in the digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device according to claim 4, the pusher 7 has an elastic contact piece driving portion 72 protrudingly formed on the lower surface thereof.
A digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device is formed in the disk-shaped housing 5 so as to penetrate a driving part entry hole 54 into which the elastic contact piece driving part 72 enters.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-directional position pointing device, FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of the multi-directional position pointing device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of the multi-directional position pointing device from the back. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a cross section taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB ′ of FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate of the multi-directional position pointing device, and reference numeral 11 denotes a through hole formed in the center of the substrate 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a mounting hole for the substrate. Reference numeral 13 denotes a land on which the LED chip is mounted. Reference numeral 8 denotes a common fixed contact formed near the through hole 11 at the center of the substrate 1. Reference numeral 9 denotes a fixed contact group formed on the surface of the substrate 1. The fixed contact group 9 is arranged in four sets at equal angular intervals of 90 ° in the radial direction from the vicinity of the common fixed contact 8 on the surface of the substrate 1. The fixed contact group 9 includes a plurality of independent fixed contacts 91 arranged discretely in the radial direction.
Although not shown, a lead wire is led out of each of the plurality of independent fixed contacts 91.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a disk-shaped pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having both surfaces as pressure-sensitive adhesive surfaces. The adhesive sheet 2 has a cross-shaped open window 21 corresponding to the common fixed contact 8 and the fixed contact group 9, a round hole 22 corresponding to the mounting hole 12, and a long hole 2 corresponding to the land 13.
3 are formed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a leaf spring movable contact, which comprises a central portion 31 and four elastic contact pieces 32 extending from the central portion 31 at equal angular intervals of 90 ° in four directions. The elastic contact piece 32 is configured to be curved convexly downward and warp upward. The central portion 31 is electrically led out through the common fixed contact 8. Reference numeral 30 denotes a movable contact center hole.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a swing member made of a metal plate. The swing member 4 is formed with four arm portions 41 each having a bent attachment piece 42 at the tip at equal angular intervals of 90 ° around the periphery.
At the center, a spherical fulcrum 43 is formed to protrude downward by plastic deformation. Reference numeral 5 denotes a disk-shaped housing. An annular outer peripheral edge 51 is formed on the surface of the disk-shaped housing 5, and a square flat portion 52 corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the swing fulcrum member 6 is formed at the center portion. Fan-shaped pedestal 53
Are formed, and a rectangular square hole 54 that is a drive unit entrance hole extends over each side of the square planar portion 52 and the inner peripheral edge of the annular outer peripheral edge portion 51.
Are formed. Reference numeral 511 denotes an LED mounting slot into which the LED mounted on the land 13 of the substrate 1 enters. The level of the upper surface of the fan-shaped pedestal 53 is configured to be slightly higher than the level of the upper surface of the annular outer peripheral edge 51. The corner of the fan-shaped pedestal 53 is notched horizontally to form a swing fulcrum member mounting step 531, and a support leg piece insertion hole 532 is vertically formed in the swing fulcrum member mounting step 531. As a result, an extremely shallow arc-shaped concave portion 55 is formed coaxially with the annular outer peripheral edge 51 over the inner peripheral edge of the annular outer peripheral edge 51 and the arc surface of the fan-shaped pedestal 53. Reference numeral 56 denotes a center connecting rod that fits into the through hole 11 at the center of the substrate 1, and 57 denotes a peripheral connecting rod that fits into the mounting hole 12 on the peripheral edge of the substrate 1.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a swing fulcrum member made of a metal plate.
The swing fulcrum member 6 is composed of a central plate portion 61 and four support leg pieces 62 which are arranged at equal angular intervals of 90 ° around the peripheral edge of the central plate portion 61 and whose distal end portions are bent downward. The central portion of the central plate portion 61 is plastically deformed downward to form a spherical fulcrum portion 6.
3 are protrudingly formed. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pusher. In the pusher 7, through holes 71 into which the fan-shaped pedestals 53 formed on the surface of the disk-shaped housing 5 enter when the pusher 7 is pressed and pressed down are formed corresponding to the four fan-shaped pedestals 53. I have. At the center of the lower surface, a swing fulcrum 73 is formed so as to protrude. Reference numeral 72 denotes an elastic contact piece driving unit, and a driving projection 72
1 is formed. 74 is a swing member mounting groove.

Here, the assembly of the multi-directional position pointing device will be described. (Step 1) In a state where the swing fulcrum member 6 and the swing member 4 are overlapped, the support leg piece insertion hole 53 of the disc-shaped housing 5 is provided.
2, the support leg piece 62 of the swing fulcrum member 6 is inserted from above,
The swing fulcrum member 6 is assembled to the disk-shaped housing 5. (Step 2) The mounting piece 42 of the oscillating member 4 with the pusher 7 positioned on the upper surface of the disk-shaped housing 5 with the elastic contact piece driving portion 72 corresponding to the rectangular hole 54 of the disk-shaped housing 5 is moved. The pusher 7 is fitted and fixed to the swing member mounting groove 74 of the pusher 7 from below through the square hole 54. here,
The pusher 7, the swing fulcrum member 6, the disk-shaped housing 5, and the swing member 4 include a swing fulcrum 73, a spherical fulcrum 63,
The center connecting rod 56 and the spherical fulcrum 43 are aligned with a common center line and are integrally combined.

(Step 3) The adhesive sheet 2 is inserted into the round hole 22
Is attached to the substrate 1 so as to correspond to the mounting hole 12 of the substrate 1. (Step 4) The leaf spring movable contact 3 is inserted into the movable contact center hole 3.
The elastic contact piece drive which is placed along with the cross-shaped open window 21 of the adhesive sheet 2 in a state corresponding to the through hole 11 of the substrate 1 and is exposed through the square hole 54 of the disc-shaped housing 5 The center connecting rod 56 of the disc-shaped housing 5 is fitted into the through hole 11 of the board 1 with the portion 72 corresponding to the elastic contact piece 32 of the leaf spring movable contact 3, and the disc-shaped housing 5 is Press. As a result, the substrate 1 and the disc-shaped housing 5 are joined to each other via the adhesive sheet 2, and the assembling of the digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device is completed.

The operation of the digital signal output multidirectional position pointing device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 (a)
FIG. 7A shows a standby state in which no pressing operation is performed. In this state, the four elastic contact pieces 32 are equally curved convexly downward and warp upward around the central portion 31 of the leaf spring movable contact 3. Does not contact any of the independent fixed contacts 91. FIG. 6B shows a state in which a portion corresponding to the left elastic contact piece driving portion 72 of the pusher 7 is pressed to the end and is pressed down. In this case, the elastic contact piece 32 corresponding to the elastic contact piece driving section 72 is pressed down and is in a state of contacting all of the fixed contact group 9. By the way, when the elastic contact piece driving section 72 starts to be pressed downward, the elastic contact piece 32 has a fixed contact group 9 near its base.
Of the elastic contact pieces 32 due to the downward pressing operation, and gradually come into contact with the outer independent fixed contacts 91 as the elastic contact piece 32 gradually progresses downward. The operation direction corresponding to the pressing operation of the elastic contact piece driving unit 72 is specified and the number of contacts between the elastic contact piece 32 and the independent fixed contact 91 corresponds to the operation amount in the direction. In the case of pressing the portion corresponding to the right elastic contact piece driving section 72 on the right side in FIG. 6B, the operation direction corresponding thereto is also specified and the number of contacts between the elastic contact piece 32 and the independent fixed contact 91 is determined. It corresponds to the operation amount in the direction. The same applies to the case where a portion corresponding to the elastic contact piece driving portion extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is pressed.

Here, when a pressing operation is performed between the elastic contact piece driving sections 72 whose stretching directions are at an angular interval of 90 ° from each other, the two elastic contact pieces 32 corresponding to the elastic contact piece driving sections 72 are pressed. Contact the independent fixed contacts 91 of each fixed contact group 9. When a portion corresponding to 45 ° in the middle of both elastic contact piece driving portions 72 is pressed, the number of elastic contact pieces 32 that contact the independent fixed contact 91 becomes equal. Thereby, the operation direction is set to the two elastic contact piece driving units 72.
Can be specifically indicated that the angle is 45 °, which is an intermediate angle, and the operation amount in that direction can be made to correspond in proportion to the number of contacts between the elastic contact piece 32 and the independent fixed contact 91. Also in the case where the operation direction is an intermediate position other than 45 ° of the both elastic contact piece driving units 72, as in the case of 45 °, both elastic contact pieces 32 contact the independent fixed contacts 91 of each fixed contact group 9, The number of contacts differs depending on the operation direction. That is, the operation direction can be specified and specified based on the difference in the number of contact between the two elastic contact pieces 32 and the independent fixed contact 91.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the common fixed contact 8 formed at the center of the substrate 1 is provided, and is radially separated from the common fixed contact 8 in the circumferential direction. A plurality of fixed contact groups 9 arranged at angular intervals are provided on the substrate 1, a leaf spring movable contact 3 positioned opposite to the fixed contact group 9 is provided, and a pusher 7 for pressing the leaf spring movable contact 3 is provided. In the digital signal output multidirectional position indicating device having the disk-shaped housing 5 for swinging and holding the pusher 7, the leaf spring movable contact 3 is at an equal angle from the central portion 31 contacting the common fixed contact 8. Consisting of a plurality of elastic contact pieces 32 that are integrally formed at intervals and are warped upward,
The fixed contact group 9 has a configuration including a plurality of independent fixed contacts 91 that are discretely arranged in the radial direction. When a portion corresponding to the elastic contact piece driving section 72 is pressed downward, the elastic contact piece Reference numeral 32 denotes a portion near the base contacting the innermost independent fixed contact 91 of the fixed contact group 9, and sequentially forms the outer independent fixed contact as the downward deformation of the elastic contact piece 32 due to the downward pressing operation progresses gradually. It comes to contact 91. By this contact, the corresponding operation direction can be specified and indicated, and the number of contacts can be digitally made to correspond to the operation amount in the operation direction.

When the operation direction of the pusher 7 corresponds to the middle of the adjacent elastic contact piece driving section 72, the two elastic contact pieces 32 contact the independent fixed contacts 91 of each fixed contact group 9, and Although the pieces 32 indicate different numbers of contacts, the operation direction can be specified and specified based on the difference in the number of contacts, and the operation amount in the operation direction is also proportional to the number of contacts between the elastic contact piece 32 and the independent fixed contact 91. Digitally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a continuation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment viewed from below.

FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross section taken along line A-A ′ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a cross section taken along line B-B ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 11 Through hole 12 Mounting hole 13 Land 2 Adhesive sheet 21 Open window 22 Round hole 23 Long hole 3 Leaf spring movable contact 30 Moving contact center hole 31 Central part 32 Elastic contact piece 4 Oscillating member 41 Arm part 42 Mounting piece 43 Spherical fulcrum 5 Disk-shaped housing 51 Annular outer peripheral edge 511 LED mounting long hole 52 Square flat surface 53 Sector-shaped pedestal 531 Swing fulcrum member mounting step 532 Support leg piece insertion hole 54 Square hole 55 Arc recess 56 Center Connecting rod 57 Peripheral connecting rod 6 Oscillating fulcrum member 61 Center plate 62 Support leg piece 63 Spherical fulcrum 7 Pusher 71 Through hole 72 Elastic contact piece driving part 721 Driving projection 73 Oscillating fulcrum 74 Oscillating member mounting groove 8 Common Fixed contact 9 Fixed contact group 91 Independent fixed contact

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of fixed contact groups each having a substrate, having a common fixed contact formed at the center of the substrate, and being arranged at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction apart from the common fixed contact in a radial direction. Digital signal output having a leaf spring movable contact positioned opposite to the fixed contact group, having a pusher for pressing the leaf spring movable contact, and having a disc-shaped housing for swingingly holding the pusher. In the multi-directional position indicating device, the leaf spring movable contact comprises a central portion that contacts the common fixed contact, and a plurality of elastic contact pieces that are integrally formed at equal angular intervals from the central portion and that are curved upward. A digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device, wherein the group includes a plurality of independent fixed contacts arranged discretely in a radial direction. 2. The digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the number of fixed contact groups is four, and the number of elastic contact pieces of the leaf spring movable contacts is four correspondingly. A digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device, characterized in that: 3. The digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is disposed below the pusher and supports the pusher via its swing fulcrum. A moving fulcrum member, wherein the disc-shaped housing and the oscillating fulcrum member are mounted and fixed with the pusher and the oscillating member in a state where the oscillating fulcrum member and the oscillating member are overlapped. Digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device. 4. The digital signal output multi-directional position pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the pusher has an elastic contact piece driving portion projecting from a lower surface thereof, and the elastic contact piece driving portion enters the disc-shaped housing. A digital signal output multi-directional position indicating device, wherein a driving unit entrance hole is formed to penetrate.