JP2002203461A - Multidirectional operating switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional operating switch driven by the pressing and tilting operation of an operating part, capable of operating plural switches not only by the single operation but also by the sequential operation. SOLUTION: A first push switch 2 is mounted on a lower part of an opposite side 7 of a supporting part of a frame body rotatably supported by a case 1, and a second push switch 3 and a third push switch 4 having the operational stroke larger than that of the first push switch 2 are mounted at lower parts of left and right plate parts 11, 12 of an operation body 10 oscillatably supported on the opposite side 7, whereby three push switches 2-4 can be independently and sequentially operated by the pushing and tilting operation of the operating part 13 on an upper part of the operating body 10.

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 used for various electronic devices such as information terminal equipment and communication terminal equipment and operated by pressing and tilting an operation unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic devices such as information terminal equipment and communication terminal equipment have been diversified in operation functions as well as in size.

In order to operate these diversified functions, many switches are used in electronic devices, and it is necessary to reduce the number of operation units on an operation surface in order to downsize the devices. In some cases, a method has been adopted in which an operation mechanism for operating a plurality of switches collectively is incorporated as a component of an electronic device.

[0004]

However, in the above-described method of incorporating an operating mechanism as a component of an electronic device, the number of switches that can be operated by a single operation unit is limited, and the operation incorporated in the electronic device is limited. There has been a problem that engagement between the mechanism and the switch is difficult, and the cost of the electronic device is increased.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and a plurality of switches can be operated independently by pressing or tilting one operation unit, and can be operated in conjunction with each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-directional operation switch as a pre-integrated electronic component, which can be operated and the order of interlock can be changed.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following arrangement.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, both ends of one side are rotatably supported by a first support provided on a case, and a second support is provided on an upper surface of the opposite side and a first support is provided on a lower surface. A rectangular frame body having a pressing portion, and an operating portion above a swing axis of the plate portion swingably supported by the second support portion, and a left and right across the swing axis of the plate portion An operating body in which the lower surface of the symmetric position is a pair of second and third pressing portions, and a first push switch corresponding to the first pressing portion,
The multi-directional operation switch includes a second and a third push switch corresponding to the second and third pressing portions and having a larger pressing operation stroke than the first push switch. When the first push switch is tilted left or right when operated, the second or third push switch can be operated independently, and when the tilting operation is performed with the operation unit pressed, the first push switch is pressed. The second or third push switch can be operated in conjunction with the switch, and each push switch is operated in a reverse order to the above when the operation unit is pressed in a state of being tilted left or right. And a multi-directional operation switch as an electronic component integrated in advance can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, particularly, the second and third pressing portions of the operating body and the tips of the operating knobs of the second and third push switches are provided. , At the same height as the swing axis of the operating body,
The operating part of the operating body is tilted and operated, that is, the operating body is swung to lower the second or third pressing part, and the operating knob of the second or third push switch is turned. When pressing, the second or third pressing part pushes down the tip of the operation knob almost vertically, so that the displacement of the contact position at the time of pushing down is small, the operation knob can be pushed down smoothly, and each push switch Can be operated stably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, particularly, the operating knobs of the second and third push switches have spherical tips, and an operating body is provided at the center apex of the operating knob. The second and third pressing portions are in contact with each other, and the operating portion of the operating body is tilted, that is, the operating body is rocked to lower the second or third pressing portion, and the second or third pressing portion is moved. When pressing the operation knob of the three push switch,
Since the second or third pressing portion presses down the central apex of the operation knob, the operation and effect that each push switch can be operated stably can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the operating knobs of the second and third push switches are formed of an elastic insulating material, and the operating portion of the operating body is tilted. When the operation knob of the second or third push switch is pressed by the second or third pressing portion, the pressed operation knob starts elastic deformation with a pressing force smaller than the operating force of the movable contact of each push switch. Then, in a pressing stroke larger than the pressing operation stroke of the first push switch, the movable contact of each push switch is set to operate, and the first push switch is pressed at the time of pressing the operation unit of the operation body. ,
When the tilting operation is performed, the second and third push switches can be operated stably, and the operation effect can be obtained if the multi-directional operation switch can have a smooth operation feeling.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation knobs of the second and third push switches are formed by being integrally connected with a rubber material. Elastically deformable, and the number of components of the multi-directional operation switch as a whole is small and easy to assemble, so that it can be inexpensive and the operation of the second and third push switches is stable. The effect is obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first, second and third push switches are particularly provided on fixed contacts which are insert-molded and fixed in the case. It is formed by placing a circular dome-shaped movable contact made of a thin metal plate, and arranging an operation knob on the upper part thereof. Each push switch, that is, a multidirectional operation switch as a whole is formed compactly and inexpensively. Has an effect of being able to have a sense of moderation during operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, in particular, the top view of the rotation axis of the frame supported by the first support provided on the case is perpendicular to the top. On the branch line, the second and third push switches are arranged with the first push switch interposed therebetween, and the shape of the multidirectional operation switch as a whole becomes elongated when viewed from the top, and the projection area can be reduced. Since the dimension from the swing axis of the operating body to the second and third pressing portions on the lower surface of the plate-like portion can be increased, the tilting operation of the operating body, that is, the operating force at the time of operating the operating portion without changing, can be changed. The operation and effect of the second and third push switches can be reduced, and the pressing operation force when operating the first push switch by pressing the operation unit can be obtained.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-directional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention without a cover, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view. is there.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the same multi-directional operation switch with the cover attached, taken along each cutting line in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a PP line, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in a line.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a box-shaped case made of an insulating resin. A first push switch 2, a second push switch 3, and a third push switch 4 are disposed at predetermined positions on a bottom surface of the case. A pair of U
A first support portion 1A having a character shape is provided.

Reference numeral 5 accommodated in the case 1 is a rectangular frame made of resin. Both ends 6A of one side 6 are rotatably supported by the first support portion 1A, and face the one side 6. A pair of second support portions 7 </ b> A are provided at both ends of the upper surface of the opposite side 7 to cover the upper surface of the case 1.
A first pressing portion 8 for driving the first push switch 2 is provided at a position protruding upward from A and slightly displaced from the center of the lower surface of the opposite side 7.

Reference numeral 10 mounted on the upper end denotes an operating body made of resin, and projections 10 at both ends of the center of the left and right plate-like portions 11, 12 are provided.
A is swingably supported by the second support portion 7A of the frame 5, and an operation portion 13 protrudes above a swing axis at the center of the plate-like portions 11, 12.

The lower surfaces of the plate portions 11 and 12 and the pivot axis are set to be at the same height.

Here, the first push switch 2,
Second push switch 3 and third push switch 4
3 to 5 and R in FIG. 1 with the cover attached.
As shown in FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line -R, the outer peripheral contact 14A and the central contact 14B are insert-molded and fixed in three recesses provided at predetermined positions on the bottom surface of the case 1.
The fixed contact 14 and the outer contact 1 and the outer contact 15A (see FIG. 3) and the fixed contact 15 and the outer contact 1
6A (see FIG. 3) and fixed contact 1 consisting of central contact 16B
6, the respective outer peripheral contacts 14A, 15A and 1
6A, a circular dome-shaped movable contact 2 made of an elastic metal thin plate
A, 3A, and 4A (hereinafter, referred to as movable contacts 2A, 3A, and 4A) are mounted on the outer periphery of the lower surface, and the center of the lower surface is formed to face the center contacts 14B, 15B, and 16B, respectively. It has become.

The movable contacts 3A and 4A of the second push switch 3 and the third push switch 4 have the same shape and dimensions, and have substantially the same reversing operation force.

The first pusher 8 in the case 1 is so positioned that the first pressing portion 8 projecting from the center of the lower surface of the opposite side 7 of the frame 5 slightly abuts on the central vertex of the movable contact 2A. The arrangement position of the switch 2 is set.

On the other hand, operation knobs 17 and 18 made of an elastic insulating material such as a rubber material are mounted on the movable contacts 3A and 4A of the second push switch 3 and the third push switch 4.

The operation knobs 17 and 18 have the same shape and shape.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the small-diameter portions at the lower ends of the intermediate large-diameter portions 17A and 18A serve as a second driving portion 17B and a third driving portion 18B, respectively, as shown in FIGS. The push switch 4 abuts on the central apex of the movable contacts 3A and 4A, and the upper cylindrical portions 17C and 18C protrude upward through the round hole 9B of the cover 9, and the spherical tip portions 17D and 18D The lower surface of the left and right plate-like portions 11 and 12 of the operating body 10 as the second pressing portion 19 and the third pressing portion 20 is in contact with the lower surface of the swinging axis of the operating body 10 at the same height position.

The operating knobs 17 and 18 made of the elastic insulating material have a pressing force applied to the distal end portion 17D or 18D when the movable contact 3A of the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4 is pressed. Movable contact 4A
When the operation force is smaller than the reversing operation force of
7 or 18 itself is set to absorb the pressing stroke by being elastically deformed and contracted.
The stroke for absorbing this pressing force is set to be larger than the operation stroke of the first push switch 2.

Also, the spherical tip portions 17D and 18D of the operation knobs 17 and 18 and the lower surfaces of the left and right plate-like portions 11 and 12 of the operation body 10 as the second pressing portion 19 and the third pressing portion 20, respectively. The operation knobs 17 and 18 are connected at a predetermined interval by a thin portion 21A so that the contact position between the operation knobs 17 and 18 is symmetrical with respect to the swing axis and the operation knobs 17 and 18 can be elastically deformed independently. The second push switch 3 and the third push switch 4 are integrally formed as the elastic driving body 21 and positioned in the case 1, and the corresponding positions are set to the first push switch 3 and the third push switch 4. The position is slightly shifted from the push switch 2.

With this configuration, the number of constituent members of the multi-directional operation switch as a whole is small, the assembling is easy, and the positions of the constituent members are compact and stable. .

The multi-directional operation switch according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation will be described next.

First, as a first operation, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a normal state of the multi-directional operation switch.
When a downward pressing force is applied to the operation unit 13 of the operation body 10,
As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the frame body 5 supporting the operating body 10 rotates about both ends 6A of one side 6 supported by the first support portion 1A of the case 1, and the opposite side 7 is downward. As a result, the first pressing portion 8 on the lower surface pushes down the central vertex of the movable contact 2A placed on the outer peripheral contact 14A of the first push switch 2 to elastically deform.

When the amount of depression of the first pressing portion 8 exceeds the reversing stroke of the movable contact 2A, the movable contact 2A performs a reversing operation with a sense of moderation, as shown in FIG. 14B is in contact with outer peripheral contact 14A
By short-circuiting between the contact (not shown in FIG. 7) and the center contact 14B, the first push switch 2 operates, and its signal is transmitted via a lead-out terminal (not shown) connected to each contact. The signal is transmitted to a circuit of an electronic device using the multidirectional operation switch.

Thereafter, when the pressing force applied to the operation unit 13 is removed, the movable contact 2A pushes the operation body 10 and the frame 5 back to the original position in an attempt to return to the original shape by its own elastic restoring force. This returns to the normal state of FIG.

When the operating portion 13 of the operating body 10 is pressed, the left and right plate-like portions 11, 12 of the operating body 10 are pressed.
Is the second push switch 3 that is in contact with each lower surface
Of the operating knob 17 of the third push switch 4 and the distal end 18D of the operating knob 18 of the third push switch 4 are pressed almost uniformly downward. As described above, the pressing stroke is made of the operating knobs 17 and 18 made of an elastic insulating material. Are absorbed by being elastically deformed and contracted.
The movable contact 3A or 4A pushed by the second drive unit 17B and the third drive unit 18B at the lower end performs an inversion operation, and the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4 does not operate.

Next, as a second operation, in FIG. 5, which is another cross-sectional view showing the normal state of the multi-directional operation switch, when the operation section 13 of the operation body 10 is pushed rightward, the cross section shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the operating body 10 swings about the projections 10A at both ends at the center supported by the second support portion 7A of the frame 5, and is tilted rightward.

Along with this, the right plate-shaped portion 11 of the operating body 10 is lowered, and the lower surface thereof serves as the second pressing portion 19, and the spherical tip portion 17 D of the operating knob 17 of the second push switch 3 is used. By pushing down, the entire operation knob 17 made of an elastic insulating material is elastically deformed and contracted.
The tilt angle of 0 becomes large, and the pressing force on the lower surface of the plate-shaped portion 11 as the second pressing portion 19, that is, the force of the second driving portion 17B at the lower end of the operation knob 17 pressing the central vertex of the movable contact 3A is increased. When the reversing operation force is exceeded, as shown in FIG. 8, the movable contact 3A performs a reversing operation with a sense of moderation, and the lower surface center contacts the central contact 15B, and the outer peripheral contact 15A.
A (not shown in FIG. 8) and the central contact 15B are shortened to operate the second push switch 3, and the signal is transmitted via a lead terminal (not shown) connected to each contact. The signal is transmitted to a circuit of an electronic device using the multidirectional operation switch.

Thereafter, when the rightward pressing force applied to the operating portion 13 is removed, the movable contact 3A and the operating knob 17 try to return to their original shapes by their respective elastic restoring forces, and the plate-like shape of the operating body 10 is restored. By pushing up the part 11, the state returns to the normal state of FIG.

Similarly, when the operating knob 13 is pushed to the left, the operating body 10 is tilted to the left, and the lower surface of the left plate-like portion 12 pushes the operating knob 18 as the third pushing portion 20,
The third push switch 4 can be operated.

When the operating unit 13 is pushed rightward or leftward to tilt the operating body 10, the first push switch 2 does not operate unless a downward pressing force is applied to the operating body 10. .

As described above, the position where the lower surfaces of the plate-like portions 11 and 12 of the operating body 10 abut on the tips 17D and 18D of the operating knobs 17 and 18 is at the same height as the swing axis of the operating body 10. And the tips 17D and 1
8D is spherical, so that when the lower surface of the plate-like portion 11 or 12 as the second pressing portion 19 and the third pressing portion 20 pushes down the distal end portion 17D or 18D of the operation knob 17 or 18, it is always spherical. Since the center apex of the shape is pushed almost vertically, the displacement of the contact position at the time of pushing down is small and the pushing can be done smoothly and the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4 can be operated stably.

Further, as a third operation, in the state of FIG. 7 in which the operation portion 13 of the operation body 10 is pressed downward as in the above-described first operation, the operation portion 13 is further moved rightward or leftward. By pressing the button, the operating body 10 is tilted, or as a fourth operation, the operating body 1 is moved as in the second operation.
In the state of FIG. 8 in which the operating unit 13 of 0 is pushed rightward or leftward to tilt the operating body 10, the operating unit 13 can be further pressed downward.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation unit is further operated to perform an interlocked operation from the state shown in FIG. 7 or 8 in the case of the third operation. The first push switch 2 is followed by the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4 (not shown in FIG. 9).
Can be operated in conjunction with each other. In the case of the fourth operation, the first push switch 2 can be operated in conjunction with the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4.

In any case, the operating tool 1
With the exception of the pressing force applied to the operation unit 13 of the “0”, each of the push switches 2 to 4 has the movable contacts 2A to 4A and the operation knob 17.
4 or 5 by the elastic restoring force of FIG.
It returns to the normal state shown in.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first push switch 2 is pressed when the operation section 13 of the operation body 10 is pressed, and the second push switch 3 or the third push switch 3 is pressed when the operation section 13 is tilted left or right. The switches 4 can be operated independently of each other, and if the tilting operation is performed with the operation unit 13 being pressed, the first push switch 2
The second push switch 3 or the third push switch 4 can be operated in conjunction with
When the button is pressed in a state where it is tilted left or right, each push switch can be operated in the reverse order to the above, and a multidirectional operation switch as a pre-integrated electronic component can be realized.

In the above-described multidirectional operation switch according to the present embodiment, the positions of the second push switch 3 and the third push switch 4 are slightly shifted with respect to the first push switch 2. A first pressing portion 8 for driving the first push switch 2 is provided at a position slightly deviated from the center of the opposite side 7 of the frame 5 rotatably supported by the first supporting portion 1A. The entire directional operation switch can have a shape close to a square as viewed from above.

This is shown in the plan view of FIG. 10 in which the cover of the multidirectional operation switch in which the arrangement of the push switch portions is changed is removed, and in the front sectional view of the same multidirectional operation switch with the cover shown in FIG. As described above, the first push switch 24 (not shown in FIG. 10) is provided on the vertical bisector of the rotation axis of the frame 23 supported by the pair of first support portions 22 </ b> A provided in the case 22. By arranging the second push switch 25 and the third push switch 26 in a row with the interposed therebetween, the shape of the entire multi-directional operation switch becomes elongated when viewed from the top, and the projection area can be reduced, and the operation area can be reduced. Since the dimension from the swing axis of the body 27 to the second and third pressing portions 31 and 32 on the lower surfaces of the plate-like portions 29 and 30 can be increased, the operating force when swinging the operating portion 28 is operated. The operating force of the second push switch 25 and the third push switch 26 can be reduced without changing, and the pressing operation force when operating the first push switch 24 by pressing the operation unit 28 can be reduced. Can be.

Since the multi-directional operation switch according to the present embodiment is capable of performing the first to fourth types of operations, for example, a portable terminal as an information terminal device (communication terminal device) In a telephone or the like, a menu is selected by moving a cursor by a tilt operation of the operation unit 13 (or 27, the same applies hereinafter) as a second operation,
By pressing the operation unit 13 (27) as the first operation, the selected menu can be confirmed and executed. Further, the user tilts down while pressing the operation unit 13 (27) as the third operation. By operating the cursor, the cursor is moved in a high-speed mode, or by pressing the operation unit 13 (27), which is the fourth operation, in a tilted state, the cursor is determined in conjunction with the movement of the cursor.・ Operations such as execution can be performed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to operate a plurality of switches independently by pressing or tilting one operation unit, and also to operate them in conjunction with each other. At the same time, there is an advantageous effect that a multi-directional operation switch as an electronic component integrated in advance, which can change the order of interlocking, can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-directional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover removed.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line PP of FIG. 1 with the cover attached.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line QQ of FIG. 1 with the cover attached.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line RR of FIG. 1 with the cover attached.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view when the operating body is pressed from the state shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when the operating body is tilted from the state of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a state where the operating body is further operated in conjunction with the state of FIG. 8 or 9;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where a cover of the multidirectional operation switch in which the arrangement of the push switch unit is changed is removed.

11 is a front sectional view showing a state where a cover of the multi-directional operation switch shown in FIG. 10 is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 22 Case 1A, 22A First support 2, 24 First push switch 2A, 3A, 4A Circular dome-shaped movable contact 3, 25 Second push switch 4, 26 Third push switch 5, 23 Frame 6 One side 6A Both end portions 7 Opposite side 7A Second support portion 8 First pressing portion 9 Cover 9A Long hole 9B Round hole 10,27 Operation body 10A Projection 11,12,29,30 Plate portion 13,28 Operation portion 14,15,16 Fixed contacts 14A, 15A, 16A Outer peripheral contacts 14B, 15B, 16B Central contacts 17, 18 Operating knobs 17A, 18A Intermediate large diameter portion 17B Second driving portion 17C, 18C Column portion 17D, 18D Tip portion 18B Third driving portion 19, 31 second pressing part 20, 32 third pressing part 21 elastic driving body 21A thin part

Claims (7)

[Claims] An end of one side is rotatably supported by a pair of first support portions provided on a case, and a second support portion is provided on an upper surface of the opposite side facing the one side, and a first pressing portion is provided on a lower surface. A rectangular frame body having an operating portion above the swing axis of the plate-like portion swingably supported by the second support portion, and a left and right side sandwiching the swing axis of the plate-like portion. An operating body in which the lower surface of the symmetrical position is a pair of second and third pressing portions, a self-returning-type first push switch disposed in the case corresponding to the first pressing portion, The frame body includes self-recovery type second and third push switches which are disposed in the case corresponding to the second and third pressing portions, respectively, and have a pressing operation stroke larger than the first push switch. Rotation of the first push switch However, when the second or third push switch is operated independently by the swing of the operating body, and the frame and the operating body are rotated and swung in conjunction with each other, the first push switch And a multi-directional operation switch in which the second or third push switch operates in conjunction. 2. The second and third pressing portions of the operation body and the tips of the operation knobs of the second and third push switches are in contact with each other at the same height position as the swing axis of the operation body. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1. 3. The multidirectional operation according to claim 2, wherein the tip of the operation knob of each of the second and third push switches has a spherical shape, and the second and third pressing portions of the operation body are in contact with the central apex. switch. 4. The operation knobs of the second and third push switches are formed of an elastic insulating material, and the operation portion of the operation body is tilted to lower the second or third pressing portion to thereby lower the second or third pressing portion. When the operation knob of the push switch is pressed, the pressed operation knob starts elastic deformation with a pressing force smaller than the operating force of the movable contact of each push switch, and the pressing force is larger than the pressing operation stroke of the first push switch. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable contact of each of the second and third push switches is set to operate during a stroke. 5. The multi-directional operation switch according to claim 4, wherein the operation knobs of the second and third push switches are integrally formed of a rubber material, and are independently elastically deformable. 6. A first, second, and third push switch places a circular dome-shaped movable contact made of an elastic metal thin plate on a fixed contact inserted and fixed in a case, and disposes an operation knob on an upper portion thereof. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein the multidirectional operation switch is formed as follows. 7. A second push switch and a third push switch sandwiching a first push switch on a vertical bisector of a rotation axis of a frame body supported by a pair of first support portions provided in a case when viewed from above. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, further comprising a switch.