JP2002373050A - Manipulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manipulator, with which a plurality of operations can be processed by a single manipulating part. SOLUTION: By inclining a dial part 26, a pressing part 23 corresponding to a desired switch 42 in a plurality of switches 42 is moved. Namely, since a plurality of operation can be processed by a single multijog dial 14, operability is improved and convenience is improved. Further, since a plurality of conventional operate keys are not required, a space occupied therefor is not required similarly and a degree of freedom in design is improved. Further, by rotating the dial part 26 without separating fingers or the like from the dial part 26, processing such as volume control, for example, corresponding to a count value (information) measured by a photointerrupter or the like is performed. Therefore, since rotating operation can be performed continuously to pressing operation without separating the fingers or the like from the dial part 26, operability of the multijog dial 14 is further improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device arranged on a front panel of an electronic device such as an audio device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A front panel of an audio apparatus (for example, a compact disc player) has a plurality of operation keys such as a play key and a stop key, and a so-called multi-jog dial. The multi-jog dial is used to adjust the volume, select music, or select a function menu by rotating the dial unit.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a play key 54, a stop key 56, a skip key 5 for fast forward are provided on a front panel 52 of a compact disc player 50.
8, a skip key 60 for rewinding, a multi-jog dial 62, and a display unit 64 are arranged. The display unit 64 displays the processing state of the compact disc player 50 and the like.

After a disc (not shown) is mounted on a mounting section (not shown) of the compact disc player 50, a play mode is set by operating the play key 54. When the stop key 56 is operated during the play mode, the reproduction processing stops. When the skip key 58 is operated, a skip mode is set, the reproduction process is fast-forwarded, and the song number is increased. On the other hand, when the skip key 60 is operated, a skip mode is set, the reproduction process is quickly returned, and the song number is lowered.

[0005]

By the way, in the prior art shown in FIG. 7, one operation key (play key 54 or the like) normally selects one function (play mode or the like) corresponding to the operation key. Was something. That is, in the conventional technique shown in FIG. 7, every time the user performs a desired operation,
It was necessary to find the corresponding operation key, which was inconvenient.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since a plurality of operation keys are arranged on the front panel 52, an occupied space for the keys is required. That is, in the prior art shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned occupied space is required, so that the degree of freedom in design such as the inability to reduce the size of the device is low.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an operating device capable of processing a plurality of operation processes with a single operation unit.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an operating device, comprising: a plurality of pressing portions arranged to correspond to a plurality of switching devices; an operating portion for moving the pressing portions; Tilting means for tilting the operation unit.

When the portion of the operation section corresponding to the desired switching means is pressed, the operation section is tilted via the tilting means, and the pressing section corresponding to the desired switching means moves. Therefore, the pressing portion presses the corresponding switching means. That is, in the present invention, a plurality of operation processes can be processed by a single operation unit.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the pressing portion corresponding to the desired switching device among the plurality of switching devices is moved by tilting the operation portion. The user can save time and effort in searching for a desired operation key, improving operability and improving usability. Similarly, according to the present invention, a plurality of operation keys in the related art become unnecessary, so that an occupied space for the operation keys becomes unnecessary, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

In the invention according to claim 2, when the operation section is rotatably arranged and a measuring means for measuring a rotation amount of the operation section is provided, the measuring section is rotated by rotating the operation section. The amount of rotation of the operation unit is measured. That is, in this case, a process corresponding to the amount of measurement (information) measured by the weighing unit, such as volume adjustment, is performed without releasing a finger or the like from the operation unit. Therefore, claim 2
According to the invention, the operation can be performed without releasing the finger or the like from the operation unit, so that the operability of the operation unit is further improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS.
An operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The operating device of the present embodiment is a dial type having a multi-jog function, and is an example applied to a compact disc player. FIG. 1 is a front view of a front panel provided with the operating device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the operating device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, on a front panel 12 of the compact disc player 10, a multi-jog dial 14 and a display section 16 as operation means are arranged. The front panel 12 has a triangular arrow 13
A to 13D are displayed so as to correspond to the outer peripheral surface of the dial unit 26. The arrows 13A to 13D are arranged at 90-degree angular intervals, that is, in a cross shape in the horizontal and vertical directions.

The arrow 1 on the front panel 12
In the vicinity of 3A, there is a play symbol 18A with a black triangle.
Is displayed. In the vicinity of the arrow 13B, a stop symbol 18B in which the inside of the square is painted black is displayed. Arrow 1
In the vicinity of 3C, two skipped triangles 18C for fast-forwarding are arranged in parallel with two black-painted triangles from left to right.
Is displayed. In the vicinity of the arrow 13D, two fast-returning skip symbols 18D are displayed in which two black triangles are arranged in parallel from right to left.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operating device 20 has a substantially disk-shaped dial portion 26 as an operating portion, and four pressing portions 23.
The ring member 22 is formed integrally. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a rotary shaft 27 is arranged on the bottom of a dial portion 26 that forms a part of the multi-jog dial 14.

At the end of the rotating shaft 27, a counter 30 as a measuring means is arranged. As shown in FIG. 4, the counter 30 has a rectangular case 32 and a disk 34 fixed near the tip of the rotating shaft 27. On the disk 34,
A plurality of slits 34A are formed radially around the rotation shaft 27 at predetermined intervals.

The case 32 is, as shown in FIG.
Printed circuit board 28 in compact disk player 10
Is placed on top. The tip of the rotating shaft 27 is supported by a bearing (not shown) arranged on the bottom plate of the case 32, so that the dial 26 rotates about the rotating shaft 27. On the other hand, the dial portion 26 is held in a state where its cylindrical body portion 26A is inserted into the hole 12A of the front panel 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, a photo interrupter 36 is arranged in the case 32 so as to correspond to the slit 34A. The photo interrupter 36 is connected to a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as “CPU”) 38.
When the dial 26, that is, the rotation shaft 27 rotates, the photo interrupter 36 generates a pulse signal corresponding to the passage through the slit 34A and outputs the pulse signal to the CPU 38. C
The arithmetic unit (not shown) of the PU 38 is a photo interrupter 36
The rotation amount of the dial unit 26, that is, the count value is counted on the basis of the pulse signal output from.

That is, by rotating the dial section 26, adjustment of volume, selection of music, selection of a function menu, and the like are performed. The compact disk player 10 is preset so that the volume can be adjusted by rotating the dial unit 26 in the play mode.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A bent portion 27A, which is a tilting means, is disposed on the tip end side (on the printed circuit board 28 side). The bent portion 27A is formed of an elastic body such as synthetic rubber and is constricted. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The bent portion 27A is elastically deformed and bent. In the present embodiment, the tilting means is an example formed of an elastic body, but the tilting means according to the present invention can be arbitrarily changed, such as a bellows member formed in a bellows shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ring member 22 has an L-shaped support portion 4 protruding from the lower surface of the front panel 12.
It is hooked on zero. That is, the ring member 22 is connected to the front panel 12 and the printed circuit board 28 via the support portion 40.
It is supported in a state of floating between. The support part 40
Since it is formed of an elastic body such as synthetic rubber, it returns from the deformed state shown in FIG. 6 to the initial state shown in FIG.

In the initial state shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the dial 26 is horizontal with the surface of the front panel 12, and the ring member 22 and the dial 26 are parallel. Further, the pressing portion 23 is orthogonal to the surface of the front panel 12.

On the printed circuit board 28, four pressing portions 2
Four tact switches 42, which are switching means, are arranged at a position corresponding to the tip of No. 3. An operation element 42A protrudes from the tact switch 42. When the operation element 42A is pressed by the pressing portion 23 (see FIG. 6), an operation signal is output to the CPU 38. Then, the CPU 38
The operation mode is the operation mode corresponding to the tact switch 42 pressed by the pressing portion 23 (for example, the play mode when the operator 42A of the tact switch 42 corresponding to the arrow 13A is pressed).

Next, the operation of the operation device 20 will be described. First, after a disc (not shown) is mounted on a mounting section (not shown) of the compact disc player 10,
A portion of the dial portion 26 corresponding to the arrow 13A shown in FIG. 1 (a portion corresponding to the play symbol 18A) is pressed (FIG. 2).
Imaginary line).

That is, as shown in FIG.
When the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion is pressed, the bent portion 27 of the rotating shaft 27 is pressed.
A elastically deforms, and the rotary shaft 27 on the dial portion 26 tilts. Therefore, the portion of the body portion 26A corresponding to the pressed portion of the dial portion 26 is the corresponding ring member 2
The second part is moved toward the printed circuit board 28 against the urging force of the support part 40. Therefore, the pressed ring member 2
2 pressing part 23 is an operation element 42A of the tact switch 42.
Is pressed, so that the play mode is set.

On the other hand, when the pressing of the dial portion 26 is released, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring member 22 returns to the initial state shown in FIG.
The dial portion 26 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. 5 by the restoring force of the bent portion 27A of the rotating shaft 27.

Similarly, when the portion of the dial portion 26 corresponding to the arrow 13C or 13D shown in FIG. 1 (the portion corresponding to the skip symbol 18C or 18D) is pressed, the skip mode is set, and the reproduction process is fast-forward or It is returned quickly. Further, in the play mode, when the portion of the dial unit 26 corresponding to the arrow 13B shown in FIG. 1 (the portion corresponding to the stop symbol 18B) is pressed, the reproduction process is stopped. The display unit 16 displays the processing state (mode display, volume level) of the compact disc player 10 and the like.

In the present embodiment, as described above,
Since the pressing part 23 corresponding to the desired tact switch 42 among the four tact switches 42 is moved by tilting the dial part 26, the operation key desired by the user is selected from a plurality of conventional operation keys. The trouble of searching for can be saved.

That is, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of operation processes can be processed by a single multi-jog dial 14, operability is improved and usability is improved. Similarly, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of operation keys in the related art are not required, so that the occupied space is not required, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

By the way, when releasing the pressing of the dial 26, a finger (not shown) is not released from the dial 26. Then, in the play mode, the dial unit 26
Is rotated, the rotation shaft 27 rotates, so that the photo interrupter 36 outputs a pulse signal to the CPU 38.

For this reason, an arithmetic unit (not shown) of the CPU 38 counts the amount of rotation of the dial unit 26, that is, the count value, based on the pulse signal output from the photo interrupter 36. Therefore, the volume is adjusted based on the control signal of the CPU 38.

That is, in the present embodiment, by rotating the dial unit 26 while keeping the finger or the like from the dial unit 26, a process corresponding to the count value (information) measured by the photointerrupter 36 or the like is performed. Volume adjustment and the like are performed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the rotation operation can be performed following the pressing operation without releasing the finger or the like from the dial section 26, the operability of the multi jog dial 14 is further improved.

In the above embodiment, four tact switches 42 as switching means are arranged and four pressing parts 23 are provided. However, in the present invention, the number of switching means and the like can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the support mechanism of the ring member 22 or the configuration of the bent portion 27A can be arbitrarily changed. Further, in the above embodiment, the multi jog dial 14 and the ring member 22 are configured as separate components, but the switching means according to the present invention may be formed as an integral structure.

In the above embodiment, the disk 34 as the measuring means is provided on the rotating shaft 27. However, in claim 1 of the present invention, the operating part is not rotated and the measuring means is not provided. It may be what you have. In the above embodiment, the operation device 20 is applied to the compact disk player 10, but the operation device of the present invention can be applied to a television, a personal computer, a cassette tape recorder with a radio, and the like.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By tilting the operation unit, the pressing unit corresponding to the desired switching unit among the plurality of switching units is configured to be moved, so that the trouble of searching for the desired operation key from the plurality of operation keys in the related art by the user is omitted. The operability is improved, and the usability is improved. Similarly, according to the present invention, a plurality of operation keys in the related art become unnecessary, so that an occupied space for the operation keys becomes unnecessary, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a front panel including an operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the operating device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the multi-jog dial shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the measuring means shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the dial unit shown in FIG. 5 is pressed.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a front panel including a conventional operation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 compact disc player 14 multi-jog dial (operation unit) 20 operation device (operation unit) 22 ring member 23 pressing unit 26 dial unit (operation unit) 27 rotation shaft (operation unit) 27A bending unit (tilting unit) 30 counter (weighing unit) ) 34 Disc (measuring means) 36 Photointerrupter (measuring means) 42 Tact switch (switching means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An operating unit including a plurality of pressing units arranged to correspond to the plurality of switching units; an operating unit for moving the pressing unit; a tilting unit configured to tilt the operating unit; An operating device comprising: 2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is rotatably arranged, and a weighing unit for measuring a rotation amount of the operating unit is provided.