JP2003014452A - Inclination detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thin, lightweight and precise inclination detector by use of a rotary electric part. SOLUTION: By use of the rotary electric part R1 having a cylindrical rotator 6 having a hollow part 6c, a weight part 1 is connected to the support body 12 of a drive body C for driving the electric part R1, and shaft 13 formed integrally with the support body 12 vertically protrudingly from the support body 12 is inserted into the hollow part c of the rotator 6, so that the rotator 6 is rotated by the weight part 1 when the part R1 is inclined. According to such a structure, the shaft 13 is never largely protruded from the part R1, and a thin inclination detector can be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting a tilt of an electronic device or the like, and more particularly to a tilt detecting device using a rotary electric component.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional inclination detecting apparatus is a rotation in which a substrate 52 having a resistance pattern 54 formed thereon and a contact 57 slidable on the resistance pattern 54 are fixed. A body 56, a shaft 60 that is orthogonal to the rotor 56 and is integrally formed with the rotor 56, a case 58 that houses the rotor 56 and the substrate 52, and is attached to the case 58.
It has a rotary variable resistor R2 having a bearing portion 62 for rotatably holding the shaft 60, and the weight portion 51 has a main body portion 51a.
And the arm 5 extending from the main body 51a at a right angle.
The weight portion 51 is attached by inserting the through hole 51c at one end of the arm portion 51b through the shaft 60.

Such a rotary variable resistor R2 is housed and mounted in an electronic device (not shown), and when the electronic device is tilted, the shaft 60 weighted by the weight 51 rotates to make contact. The child 57 slides on the resistance pattern 54 to operate the rotary variable resistor R2, whereby the tilt of the electronic device is detected.

However, in the conventional tilt detecting device, the rotary variable resistor R2 has a structure in which the shaft portion 60 is held by the bearing portion 62 protruding from the case 58. The weight 51 has to be attached to the tip of the shaft 60 that is largely separated, which causes a problem of increasing the thickness. In addition, the arm portion 51b of the weight portion 51 is attached to the rotating body 56.
It is necessary to attach to the shaft portion 60 integrated with the weight portion 51, the attachment structure of the weight portion 51 becomes complicated, and the through hole 51c
Since there is a gap between the shaft portion 60 and the shaft portion 60, the arm portion 51b and the shaft portion 6
In order to attach 0 vertically, it is necessary for the shaft portion 60 to have a certain length, which causes a problem of increasing the thickness. It is an object of the present invention to provide an accurate tilt detection device that is thin, lightweight, and accurate by using a rotary electric component.

[0004]

An inclination detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a rotary electric component having a cylindrical rotary member having a hollow portion, a drive member for driving the rotary electric component, and the drive member. And a shaft part inserted into the hollow part of the rotating body and the shaft part that is integrally formed with the shaft part and extends in a direction perpendicular to the shaft part. When the rotary electric component is tilted by coupling the weight portion to the support body, the weight portion is
The rotating body was made to rotate.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is formed integrally with the support body.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion can be attached to and detached from the support body.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion has a main body portion and a columnar portion extending from the main body portion so as to be thinner than the main body portion, and the columnar portion is attached to the support body. Has been done.

The tilt detecting device of the present invention comprises:
A pair of elastic pieces are provided so as to face each other, and the columnar portion of the weight portion is mounted by being sandwiched between the elastic pieces.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, a holding member protruding from the support is provided, and a side surface of the columnar portion of the weight portion is in contact with the holding member.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is located on the opposite side of the rotary electric component with the support body interposed therebetween.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is coupled to the support body on the side of the support body on which the shaft portion is provided, and is located below the electric component.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the shaft portion is provided with a locking portion, and the shaft portion is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body so that the shaft portion is snapped to the rotating body. ing.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the rotary electric component is a variable resistor.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings for explaining the tilt detecting device of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the first part of the tilt detecting device of the present invention.
2 is an exploded perspective view according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the first embodiment of the tilt detection device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a first view of the tilt detection device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view according to the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a substrate according to the first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a rotating body according to the first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view according to the second embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a side view which concerns on the 3rd Example of this invention.

First, a first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the rotary variable resistor R1 will be described. Rotary variable resistor R1
The case 8 includes a cover 8c including a first bottom plate 8e and a side wall 8f vertically protruding from the entire outer circumference of the first bottom plate 8e.
And a second bottom plate 8b having the same shape as the first bottom plate 8e, and the opening of the cover 8c is closed by the second bottom plate 8b. In the case 8, the first and second bottom plates 8e and 8b are opposed to each other in parallel, and the first and second bottom plates 8e and 8b face each other.
A through hole 8d that penetrates the bottom plates 8e and 8b is provided.

The substrate 2 accommodated in the case 8 is made of an insulating material and has a circular through hole 2a as shown in FIG. 4, and the first through hole 2a of the first through hole 2a is formed on the substrate 2. An annular current collecting pattern 3 made of a conductive material is formed on the outer circumference, and an arc-shaped resistance pattern 4 is formed on the outer circumference of the current collecting pattern 3. The substrate 2 is fixed to the case 8 and is parallel to the first and second bottom plates 8e and 8b, and the through hole 2a faces the through hole 8d of the case 8.

First, second and third terminals 9, 10 and 11 are attached to the substrate 2, and the first and second terminal portions 9 and 10 are provided at both ends of the resistor pattern 4. The third terminal 11 is electrically connected to the portion and is electrically connected to the current collecting pattern 3.

The rotating body 6 is made of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, and as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
a, and a circular collar portion 6b that vertically projects from the side surface of the tubular portion 6a on the outer periphery of the tubular portion 6a.
The hollow portion 6c has a non-circular shape in which the flat portion 6d of the inner wall surface is formed in the lengthwise direction of the tubular portion 6a. Further, the cylindrical portion 6a of the rotating body 6 is formed with a convex portion 6f vertically protruding from the outer edge of the hollow portion 6c on one end surface thereof, and the convex portion 6f is formed.
A stepped portion 6g is provided on the opposite side of the flange portion 6b so that the outer diameter of the tubular portion 6a is reduced.

A slider 7 made of metal is fixed to the flange 6b of the rotating body 6, and the slider 7 has first and second contacts 7a, 7b from the side of the cylinder 6a. Are arranged in order.

The rotating body 6 is housed in a case 8 and has a convex portion 6f formed on one end side of the tubular portion 6a and the other end of the cylindrical portion 6a.
The rotating body 6 is inserted into the through hole 8d of FIG. At this time, the tubular portion 6a
Since one end side of the above contacts the first bottom plate 8e of the case 8 from the inside, the tubular portion 6a does not come out of the through hole 8d of the case 8.

Further, in the cylindrical portion 6a, the stepped portion 6g abuts on the substrate 2, so that the rotating body 6 is held against the case 8 without rattling.

In the case 8, the cylindrical portion 6a of the rotating body 6 penetrates the through hole 2a of the substrate 2 and the collar portion 6b of the rotating body 6 is provided.
The substrate 2 and the substrate 2 face each other in parallel, and when the rotating body 6 rotates, the first and second contacts 7a and 7b slide on the current collecting pattern 3 and the resistance pattern 4, respectively. ing.

The driving member C is made of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, and has a flat plate-like support 12 and one surface 1 of the support 12.
2a has a shaft portion 13 protruding vertically, and the shaft portion 13 is
It has a substantially columnar shape and has a non-circular shape in which a flat portion 13a is formed in the axial direction.

A hook-shaped engaging portion 13c protruding in the radial direction is formed at the tip of the shaft portion 13, and the engaging portion 13c is formed.
A slit portion 13d is provided in the axial direction in order to give the flexure to the locking portion 1d.
3c is elastically movable in the radial direction of the shaft portion 13.

On the other surface of the support 12, a pair of elastic pieces 15 projecting from the support 12 are provided so as to face each other, and the elastic pieces 15 have elasticity in the directions toward each other. This elastic piece 15 moves from the shaft portion 13 to the shaft portion 13
Are provided at distant positions in the radial direction.

On the other surface of the support 12, the support 12
Is provided with a plate-shaped holding member 14 that vertically projects from the end of the. The holding member 14 is provided with a semicircular cutout portion 14a having the support 12 side as a top portion. The holding member 14 is formed at a position farther from the shaft portion 13 than the elastic piece 15 in the radial direction of the shaft portion 13. The pair of elastic pieces 15 and the holding member 14 are arranged on the support body 12 so that the central axes of the shaft portions 13 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction coincide with each other.

The driving body C is attached to the rotary variable resistor R1 with the shaft portion 13 inserted into the hollow portion 6c of the rotary body 6 of the rotary variable resistor R1 with almost no gap. The locking portion 13c of the shaft portion 13 is snap-connected to the end portion of the tubular portion 6a of the rotating body 6 so that the shaft portion 13 does not come off from the tubular portion 6a, and the tubular portion 6a is a through hole of the case 8. There is no escape from 8d.

In the shaft portion 13, the flat portion 13a has the rotating body 6
The rotating body 6 rotates together with the shaft portion 13 when the shaft portion 13 rotates by contacting the flat portion 6d of the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 6a.

The engaging portion 13c of the shaft portion 13 is provided during the insertion of the shaft portion 13 into the hollow portion 6c of the tubular portion 6a of the rotating body 6.
It is pressed by the inner wall surface of the rotating body 16 and is bent toward the slit portion 13d. Then, when the locking portion 13c comes out of the hollow portion 6c of the tubular portion 6a, the locking portion 13c projects from the end of the tubular portion 6a and is snap-connected to the tubular portion 6a. Also,
The drive body C is attached to the rotary variable resistor R1 without rattling, with one surface 12a of the support body 12 abutting against the other end of the tubular portion 6a.

The weight portion 1 made of metal such as iron is a columnar main body portion 1a, and extends vertically from the central portion of one end surface of the main body portion 1a, and has a columnar shape thinner than the main body portion 1a. It is composed of a columnar portion 1b, and a thinner groove portion 1c is formed in the middle of the columnar portion 1b. The center of gravity of the weight portion 1 is located in the main body portion 1a.

The weight portion 1 is a groove portion 1 provided in the columnar portion 1b.
c is sandwiched between the pair of elastic pieces 15 of the support 12, and the base portion of the columnar portion 1b close to the main body portion 1a is
The holding member 14 is fitted into the cutout portion 14 a and is coupled to the driving body C. At this time, the weight portion 1 has the columnar portion 1
By contacting the side surface of b with the holding member 14, the elastic piece 15 can securely clamp the columnar portion 1b without rattling with respect to the support 12. Further, the weight portion 1 is
The width of the groove portion 1c is substantially equal to the width of the elastic piece 15, and is held by the support body 12 in the vertical direction without rattling.

In this way, the weight portion 1 is coupled to the driving body C and can vertically load the shaft portion 13 which vertically projects from the support body 12.

When the driving body C is attached to the rotary variable resistor R1, the weight portion 1 is located on the opposite side of the rotary variable resistor R1 with the support body 12 of the driving body C interposed therebetween. The weight 1 can be easily attached to and detached from the support 12.

Such a rotary variable resistor R1 is attached to an electronic device (not shown) or the like by an appropriate means so that the columnar portion 1b of the weight portion 1 extends in the direction of gravity. When the electronic device is tilted, the rotary variable resistor R1 is tilted together with the electronic device, and the driving body C is not tilted by the weight portion 1,
The flat portion 6d provided on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 6a of the rotating body 6 is
The rotary body 6 is rotated by being pressed by the flat portion 13a provided on the side surface of the shaft portion 13.

At this time, in the rotary variable resistor R1, the slider 7 slides on the substrate 2 by the rotation of the rotating body 6, and the second contact 7b is placed on the resistance pattern 4 on the substrate 2. Move between terminals 9 and 11 (or between terminals 10 and 11)
The inclination of the electronic device can be detected from the change in the electric resistance of the electronic device.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the shaft portion 13, the holding member 14, and the elastic piece 15 of the driving body C are the one surface 12a of the support body 12. The weight 1, the holding member 14 of the driving body C, and the elastic piece 15 are located below the rotary variable resistor R1, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same members, and the description thereof will be omitted here.

In the second embodiment as described above, at least a part of the weight portion 1, the holding member 14 of the driving body C, and the pair of elastic pieces 15 can be accommodated below the rotary variable resistor R1. Therefore, a thinner tilt detecting device can be obtained.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the support member 12 of the first and second embodiments is provided with a holding member 14 and an elastic piece 15. The weight portion 1 and the support body 12 are integrally formed without being provided, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals. Then, the description is omitted.

In the third embodiment as described above, the weight portion 1
Is integrated with the support body 12, it is easy to assemble the weight portion 1 into the direct rotation type variable resistor R1. Further, in the third embodiment, the weight 1 and the support 12 may be made of the same material, or the weight 1 made of metal may be used as the support 12 made of synthetic resin.
It may also be formed by embedding in.

FIG. 2 shows an example of use of the tilt detecting apparatus of the present invention, in which pedestals S1 and S2 provided in an electronic device (not shown) are orthogonal to each other, respectively, and a rotary variable resistor R1 is provided.
Is attached so that the columnar portion 1b of the weight portion 1 extends in the direction of gravity.

In such a usage example, when the electronic device is tilted in the X direction, the tilt of the electronic device in the X direction can be detected by the rotary variable resistor R1 attached to the pedestal S1. Also, when the electronic device is tilted in the Y direction,
The tilt of the electronic device in the Y direction can be detected by the rotary variable resistor R1 attached to the pedestal S2.
Further, when the electronic device is tilted in both the X direction and the Y direction, the rotary variable resistor R1 attached to the pedestal S1.
By detecting the tilt of the electronic device in the X direction,
The tilt of the electronic device in the Y direction can be detected by the rotary variable resistor R1 attached to the pedestal S2, and by which, the tilt in which direction can be detected. In addition, the sensitivity of detecting the inclination depends on the weight of the weight portion 1 and the columnar portion 1.
The rotation moment applied to the shaft portion can be changed by the length of b, and can be easily changed.

In the first, second and third embodiments, the slider 7 is attached to the rotary body 6 of the rotary variable resistor R1 to form the resistance pattern 7 and the current collecting pattern 8. The substrate 2 is fixed to the case 8, but the slider 7 is fixed to the case 8.
Alternatively, the resistance pattern 7 and the current collecting pattern 8 may be formed on the rotator 6 by fixing the same.

In the first, second and third modes,
Although the rotary variable resistor R is used, other rotary electrical components such as a rotary encoder may be used.

[0044]

According to the tilt detecting apparatus of the present invention, a rotary electric component having a cylindrical rotary member having a hollow portion, a drive member for driving the rotary electric component, and a drive member coupled to the drive member. A supporting member that includes a weight portion, the driving body is formed integrally with the shaft portion that is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body, and that extends in a direction perpendicular to the shaft portion. Has a body and
The weight is coupled to the support, and when the rotary electric component is tilted, the weight causes the rotor to rotate. In such an inclination detecting device, the shaft portion is not inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body of the rotary electric component, and the shaft portion does not significantly protrude from the rotary electric component, so that it is thin and the weight portion is small. Is connected to a support vertical to the shaft, and the shaft is reliably weighted in the vertical direction from the weight, and the weight of the weight is reliably transmitted to the rotating body. The rotation shaft can be rotated, and a lightweight and accurate tilt detection device can be obtained.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is formed integrally with the support body. In such an inclination detection device, since it is not necessary to attach the weight portion to the support,
Easy to assemble.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion can be attached to and detached from the support body. In such an inclination detecting device, it is easy to replace the weight portion if necessary.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion has a main body portion and a columnar portion extending from the main body portion so as to be thinner than the main body portion, and the columnar portion is attached to the support body. Has been done. In such an inclination detection device, the support body and the weight portion can be coupled easily and reliably.

The tilt detecting device of the present invention comprises:
A pair of elastic pieces are provided so as to face each other, and the columnar portion of the weight portion is mounted by being sandwiched between the elastic pieces.
In such an inclination detection device, the support body and the weight portion are securely connected to each other, and the weight portion is easily attached to and detached from the support body.

The inclination detecting device of the present invention is provided with a pair of wall portions that vertically project from the support and face each other, and the weight portion has the columnar portion held between the wall portions. In such an inclination detecting device, the support and the weight can be reliably coupled to each other without rattling.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is located on the opposite side of the rotary electric component with the support body interposed therebetween. Such an inclination detection device can easily attach and detach the weight portion.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the weight portion is connected to the support body on the side of the support body on which the shaft portion is provided, and is positioned below the electric component. In such an inclination detection device, since at least a part of the weight portion can be accommodated below the rotary variable resistor, the inclination detection device can be made thinner.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the shaft portion is provided with a locking portion, and the shaft portion is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body so that the shaft portion is snap-fastened to the rotating body. ing. In such an inclination detecting device, the shaft portion does not come off from the rotating body, and the reliability is high.

In the tilt detecting device of the present invention, the rotary electric component is a variable resistor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a tilt detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 relates to a first embodiment of a tilt detecting device of the present invention,
The perspective view which shows the use condition.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view according to the first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the substrate according to the first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rotating body according to the first embodiment of the tilt detecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view according to a second embodiment of the tilt detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional tilt detection device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a rotary variable resistor used in a conventional tilt detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

R1 rotary variable resistor C drive 1 Weight part 1a main body 1b Column 1c clamping part 6 rotating body 6a tube 6c hollow part 12 Support 13 Shaft 13c Locking part 13d slit part 14 Holding member 15 Elastic piece

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A drive unit, comprising: a rotary electric component having a cylindrical rotary member provided with a hollow portion; a drive unit for driving the rotary electric component; and a weight unit connected to the drive unit. The body has a shaft portion that is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body, and a support body that is integrally formed with the shaft portion and that extends in a direction perpendicular to the shaft portion. An inclination detecting device, wherein the weight portion is coupled to the body, and when the rotary electric component tilts, the weight portion causes the rotating body to rotate. 2. The tilt detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the weight portion is formed integrally with the support body. 3. The tilt detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the weight portion is attachable to and detachable from the support body. 4. The weight portion has a main body portion and a columnar portion extending from the main body portion so as to be thinner than the main body portion, and the columnar portion is mounted on the support body. The tilt detecting device according to claim 3. 5. A pair of elastic pieces are provided on the support body so as to face each other, and the columnar portion of the weight portion is mounted by being sandwiched between the elastic pieces. 4. The tilt detection device according to 4. 6. The tilt detecting device according to claim 5, wherein a holding member protruding from the support is provided, and a side surface of the columnar portion of the weight portion is in contact with the holding member. . 7. The tilt detecting device according to claim 5, wherein the weight portion is located on the opposite side of the rotary electric component with the support body sandwiched therebetween. 8. The weight portion is coupled to the support body on a side of the support body where the shaft portion is provided, and is positioned below the electric component. 6. The tilt detection device according to 6. 9. A locking portion is provided on the shaft portion, and the shaft portion is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotating body so that the shaft portion is snap-fastened to the rotating body. The tilt detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 10. The tilt detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary electric component is a variable resistor.