JP2004212082A - Inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inputting device that is easily operatable in compact electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: M pieces of switches arranged below a rotary bezel are divided into n sets of switches whose phases are shifted by an angle of θ each. Irregularities are provided at the rear side of the rotary bezel. When two sets of switch groups are set, the projection of the rear of the rotary bezel corresponds to the first group of switches, and the recess of the rear of the rotary bezel corresponds to the second group of switches. When the position of the rotary bezel corresponding to each switch is pressed, the first group of switches can be selected but the second group of switches cannot be selected. When the rotary bezel is to be rotated by an angle of θ, the recess of the rear of the rotary bezel corresponds to the first group of switches, and the projection of the rear of the bezel corresponds to the second group of switches, so that the first group of switches cannot be selected, but the second group of switches can be selected. Since each group of switches has a structure that cannot be selected simultaneously, adjacent switches cannot be selected simultaneously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switch structure provided in an input device of a portable device, for example, an electronic wristwatch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, input switches in an electronic wristwatch generally have three or four push-type switches arranged on a side surface of a wristwatch exterior. However, as wristwatches are used as information device terminals, the number of input switches has increased. It has been required to input characters and numbers.
However, as described above, in order to input a large number of characters or numbers with at most three or four switches, it is necessary to determine the characters or numbers by combining the switches. Was complicated.
In order to solve such input complexity, a method of selecting a character by rotating the bezel and pressing a decision switch to input a predetermined character or number (for example, see Patent Document 1) A method of arranging several push switches and inputting corresponding characters or numbers by pressing the switches (for example, Patent Document 2) has been proposed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-207096 A (Page 3, FIG. 2)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-10-90442 (page 3-5, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method of selecting a character or a number by rotating the bezel described above is a method of inputting a plurality of characters or numbers by rotating the bezel and selecting a predetermined character and pressing a determination switch to input one character. In order to perform this operation, the bezel must be turned many times, and the method of arranging dozens of push switches on the bezel is very difficult for small devices such as watches. Therefore, there has been a lack of convenience such that erroneous input such that the next switch is pressed even when a desired switch is selected and pressed is increased.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and a character can be input by directly pressing one end of a bezel instructing the character, and since a structure for preventing simultaneous pressing with an adjacent switch, a switch is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device of a portable device which is convenient for input by minimizing switching of a selection switch due to rotation without having to worry about erroneous input even in an input device with a short interval. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
An annular rotating bezel,
A support for rotatably supporting the rotating bezel on the upper side of the outer periphery thereof,
A switch group consisting of a plurality of switches arranged at positions divided into m (m is a positive integer) for each angle θ in a ring formed by the rotating bezel and the support;
An input device in which the predetermined switch is selected by pressing a position of the rotating bezel corresponding to a predetermined switch of the switch group,
The switch groups are divided into n sets (n is a positive integer), and each switch in each of the n sets of switch groups is arranged at an angle of (θ × n), and the n sets of switch groups are phase-shifted by an angle θ. Are arranged so as to be different from each other, and switches other than a switch group of a predetermined switch selected by pressing the rotary bezel are not selected.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wristwatch-type electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a rotating bezel, which is rotatably supported by a support 102.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a top view of the inside of the rotating bezel 101 of the wristwatch-type electronic device 100. Between the rotating bezel 101 and the support 102, two sets of six switch groups 201 and 202 represented by dotted lines, that is, a total of twelve switches are arranged. The switches belonging to the switch group 201 are arranged at equal intervals for each angle (2 × θ), and the switches belonging to the switch group 202 are also arranged at equal intervals for each angle (2 × θ). The group 201 and the switch group 202 are arranged so that the phases differ by an angle θ. In this embodiment, since 12 switches are arranged in a ring shape at equal intervals, θ is 30 degrees.
[0009]
In FIG. 1, a concave portion 103 provided in the rotating bezel 101 is provided so that a predetermined switch selected is easily pressed when the rotating bezel 101 is pressed. Are provided to prevent simultaneous selection of a plurality of switches belonging to.
Reference numeral 105 denotes an LCD for displaying time, information, and the like.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the switch group 201 and the switch group 202 shown in FIG. 2 arranged on a straight line to facilitate understanding. Each switch is denoted by 201a, 202b, 201c, 202d, 201e, and 202f with a serial symbol added thereto for the sake of explanation in the future. In the figure, the cross section of the rotating bezel 101 is shown by oblique lines. The rotating bezel 101 is provided with irregularities on the back side, the convex portion 400 is disposed above the switch group 201, and the concave portion 401 is disposed above the switch group 202.
[0011]
A case where the position of the rotating bezel 101 corresponding to a predetermined switch is pressed will be described with reference to FIGS. When the position 303 of the rotating bezel 101 corresponding to the switch 201c belonging to the switch group 201 is pressed, the rotating bezel 101 is lowered, and the switch group 201 below the convex portion 400 is selected, but the switch below the concave portion 401 is selected. Group 202 is not selected.
In a small electronic device such as a wristwatch, since the switch interval is very small, the switch next to the desired switch may be erroneously pressed, but in this embodiment, the switches on both sides of the desired switch are There is no such push mistake because you can not select.
[0012]
FIG. 4 shows the sink amount when the position 303 of the rotating bezel 101 is pressed. The switch 201c and the switch 201e (see FIG. 3) have an angle of (2 × θ), that is, an angle of 60 degrees in the present embodiment, and when the sink amount of the selected position 303 of the rotating bezel 101 is t, the rotating bezel 101 At the position 305 is (t × ３０５). This is a margin sufficient to keep the switch 201e in the non-selected state when the position 303 of the rotating bezel 101 is pressed, so that the switch 201e can be selected by pressing the position 303 of the rotating bezel 101. Absent.
[0013]
Further, when the position 302 of the rotating bezel 101 which is not desired is pressed, two switches 201a and 201c adjacent to each other at an angle of 60 degrees of the switch group 201 may be selected at the same time. The projection 104 of the rotating bezel 101 shown in FIG. 1 mechanically hits a part of the support 102, thereby preventing simultaneous selection.
[0014]
As described above, when the rotating bezel 101 is at the position shown in FIG. 2 and a predetermined position 303 of the rotating bezel 101 is pressed, the selected switch is limited to only one switch 201 c of the switch group 201. .
[0015]
Next, a case in which the rotating bezel 101 is rotated by an angle θ (either left rotation or right rotation) will be described. FIG. 5 is a top view of the inside of the rotating bezel 101 when the rotating bezel 101 in FIG. 2 is rotated by an angle θ, and FIG. 6 assists in understanding the switch group 201 and the switch group 202 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a linear arrangement. By rotating the rotating bezel 101 by the angle θ, the irregularities on the rear side also move by 30 degrees, so that the convex portion 400 is arranged above the switch group 202 and the concave portion 401 is arranged above the switch group 201. Become. Therefore, when the predetermined position 304 of the rotating bezel 101 is pressed, the switch group 202 becomes selectable, and the switch group 201 is not selected. When the switch 202d is selected as described above, the switch 202b or the switch 202f is not selected at the same time as the switch 202d.
In this embodiment, the switches are divided into 12 and the switch groups are divided into two sets. However, the switches need not be divided into 12, and the switch groups are not limited to two sets.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a switch other than the switch group of the predetermined switch selected by pressing the rotating bezel is configured not to be selected, thereby pressing a predetermined position of the rotating bezel. Sometimes, there is an effect of preventing a switch other than a switch corresponding to a predetermined position from being accidentally turned on. In addition, since multiple switches can be selected while the rotating bezel is kept at a fixed position, there is no trouble such as rotating the rotating bezel for each character in continuous input of numbers and the like, especially when input is repeated frequently. It is valid.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wristwatch-type electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the inside of a rotating bezel of the wristwatch-type electronic device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a rotating bezel and a switch group of the wristwatch-type electronic device on a straight line.
FIG. 4 shows a sinking amount of the rotating bezel when a predetermined rotating bezel position of the wristwatch-type electronic device is pressed.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the wristwatch-type electronic device inside the rotating bezel when the rotating bezel is rotated by an angle θ.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the wristwatch-type electronic device when the rotating bezel is rotated by an angle θ and a rotating bezel and a switch group are represented on a straight line.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 rotating bezel 102 support 104 convex part of rotating bezel 105 LCD
201, 202 Switch group 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306 Predetermined rotating bezel position 400 Convex part on the back side of rotating bezel 401 Concave part on the back side of rotating bezel

Claims (3)

An annular rotating bezel,
A support for rotatably supporting the rotating bezel on the upper side of the outer periphery thereof,
A switch group consisting of a plurality of switches arranged at positions divided into m (m is a positive integer) for each angle θ in a ring formed by the rotating bezel and the support;
An input device in which the predetermined switch is selected by pressing a position of the rotating bezel corresponding to a predetermined switch of the switch group,
The switch groups are divided into n sets (n is a positive integer), and each switch in each of the n sets of switch groups is arranged at an angle of (θ × n), and the n sets of switch groups are phase-shifted by an angle θ. Are arranged so as to be different from each other, and switches other than a switch group of a predetermined switch selected by pressing the rotating bezel are not selected. The input device according to claim 1, wherein m is 12. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein n is 2.

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