JP2004258448A - Slide sw device with push button sw function, and camera equipped with the slide sw device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slide SW device with a push button SW function capable of quickly shifting from a sliding operation to a push button operation. <P>SOLUTION: By depressing the projection 9b of a zoom button 9 so as to release a rocked state, then, sliding the zoom button to the left, a zoom button base 10 is also moved to the left against a spring 10c, and the contacts of contact bars 15 to 18 come in contact with a left pattern on an operation switch substrate, and then, zooming to a wide angle side is started. When the zoom button 9 is released, the zoom button 9 returns to the original position, and the switching function of a release button 5 becomes effective, then, a releasing operation can be carried out while moving a finger onto the release button 5. By sliding the zoom button to the right side, zooming to a telephoto side is performed. After releasing the zoom button 9, the same operation as that at zooming to the wide angle side is obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slide SW device having a push button SW function, and more particularly, to a zoom button device having a release SW function that can be used as a release and zoom button of a digital camera or the like, and a camera equipped with the zoom button device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in many cases, the zoom button is arranged on the upper portion of the back of the camera, and the release button is arranged on the upper surface of the camera. In such a camera, the zoom button is operated with the thumb.
When the zoom button is operated, if the forefinger is on the release, shooting can be started immediately after framing. However, in an actual operation, it is easier to perform a zoom operation when the index finger is attached to the front of the camera, and thus many users attach the index finger to the front of the camera. Therefore, when looking through the viewfinder, the release button is groped for.
[0003]
FIG. 8 shows a conventional example (Patent Document 1) in which a release button and an electric zoom button are provided on the same operation member.
In this example, a release button and a zoom button are provided close to each other and provided on the upper surface of the camera. Zoom buttons 31 and 32 are provided at both ends of the bottom of a virtual triangular portion (operation member 30), and a release button 33 is provided near a vertex. Each button is pressed with the central portion of the virtual triangular portion as a fulcrum.
In the case of zooming, the part pressed by one operation member 30 is replaced to perform the operation to the most focal point side and the short focal point side, and in the case of further shutter release, the operation is further replaced to the vertex side.
[0004]
In this conventional example, the operability of continuously turning on the release button after operating the release button is improved, but since the arrangement relationship of each button due to the shape of the operation switch is near the top of the triangle, the operation is not performed. The problem of lack of sex remains. In other words, each time the user moves between the most focal point side and the short focal point side in the zoom operation, the finger position must be moved. After the is moved, the zooming switch is turned on only when the direction in which the finger is pressed is changed to a right angle direction (downward). Therefore, the direction in which the finger is moved must be changed halfway before reaching the focal position on one side and starting zooming.
In addition, when moving from the most focal position to the release button and when moving from the short focal length to the release button, the direction in which the finger is moved is different. After the zooming is completed, the release button direction is determined based on the focal position information.
[Patent Document 1]
1988 Patent Application No. 285491 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above, there is room for improvement in an operation member that performs a release operation from zooming, and there is a demand for an operation button device having a zoom button and a release button function that enables quick operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a slide switch device having an easy-to-use push-button switch function that can smoothly and quickly shift from a slide operation to a push-button operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which the slide SW device is applied as a release switch and a zoom switch.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a slide button slidable left and right, a push button mounted on the slide button, and movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a slide direction of the slide button, A button engagement member, a slide button base member that is driven by the left and right movement of the slide button, a push button switch means mounted on the slide button base, and a switch operation of an electric contact by pressing down the push button; An operation switch substrate on which a pattern is formed, a contact bar means attached to the slide button base member, and sliding on the operation switch substrate to electrically connect the patterns, and moving the slide button base member to a predetermined position. Hold and when the slide button slides left and right, Biasing means for applying a biasing force to return to the home position, when the slide button is slid left or right, the contact bar means electrically connects between the plurality of patterns of the operation switch board, respectively. When the slide button is released and returns to the predetermined position, the contact bar means moves on a pattern corresponding to the predetermined position to enable the switch operation of the push button switch.
Further, the present invention according to the first aspect of the present invention has a lock spring means, wherein the slide button is given a movement behavior in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction by the lock spring means, and the slide button is pressed. In the absence state, the slide button or a part of the lock spring means is engaged with a part of the housing in which the slide SW device is installed, and when the slide button is pressed, the engagement is released. It is characterized by being configured to be slidable left and right.
Further, in the present invention according to claim 1, the slide button has a protrusion, and the protrusion is pivotally mounted on the slide button base so that the protrusion can swing about the protrusion and a lock spring means. The lock spring means provides one end of the slide button in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction, and when the one end of the slide button is not pressed, a part of the slide button or the lock spring means is provided. Is engaged with a part of a housing in which the slide SW device is installed, and when one end of the slide button is pressed, the engagement is released and the slide switch is slidable left and right. It is characterized by.
Further, according to the present invention, the push button is a release switch, and the slide button is a zoom button. In order to achieve another object of the present invention, the camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the slide SW device having the push button SW function is mounted as the zoom button device having the release SW function.
[0007]
[Action]
According to the above configuration, when moving to any zooming side, the finger slides in the zooming direction without moving the zoom button position, and the smooth and quick operation of moving the release button after zooming only in a fixed direction is realized. It becomes possible.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a digital camera in which a slide SW device having a push button SW function according to the present invention is applied to a zoom button having a release SW function.
A zoom button device 2 is arranged at the right end of the upper surface of the digital camera 1 (when viewed from a user holding the camera). The zoom button device 2 has a release button 5 mounted on the zoom button 9, and can perform zooming to the wide side and the tele side by placing an index finger on the zoom button 9 and sliding left and right. By releasing the restriction of the zoom button upon completion of zooming, the zoom button 9 returns to the position where the release button can be turned on, and the index finger can be moved over the release button 5 to perform the release operation.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the zoom button device in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the zoom button device, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are upper and lower perspective views for explaining an assembled state of the zoom button and the zoom button base.
The zoom button 9 which is a land button has a flat hill shape with a flat bottom surface, and has a hole 9c for accommodating the release button 5 on the left side from the center. Further, it has three streaky projections 9b on the surface on the right side from the center to prevent slippage when the index finger is placed and slid left and right. The zoom button and the release button can be recognized by the feel of the finger placed on the projection 9b. A ridge-shaped zoom button fulcrum 9a is formed on the bottom surface of the zoom button 9.
[0010]
The zoom button base 10 is plate-shaped, has a zoom button fulcrum receiver 10a for supporting a zoom button fulcrum 9a on the bottom surface of the zoom button 9, and has left and right slide button springs 11a and 11b for fitting. Spring support portions 10b and 10c are provided.
The lock spring 14 is a bent leaf spring, and engagement portions 14a and 14b for engaging with engagement holes of the camera case 13 are formed on the left and right ends of an upper spring portion 14c.
A zoom button housing groove 13d for housing the zoom button 9 is formed in the camera case 13, and the left and right dimensions of the zoom button housing groove 13d are larger than the longitudinal direction of the zoom button 9 because the zoom button 9 is slid left and right. I have. Further, a zoom button base receiving hole 13c slightly smaller than the zoom button receiving groove 13d is provided continuously.
[0011]
When the zoom button 9 is incorporated into the zoom button base 10, a lock spring 14 is mounted on the zoom button base 10, and the zoom button 9 is mounted thereon, and the zoom button fulcrum 9a is pivotally mounted on the zoom button fulcrum receiver 10a. The upper spring portion 14c is in contact with the bottom surface of the zoom button 9, and the lower spring portion 14d is in contact with the upper surface of the zoom button base 10. When the index finger is placed on the projection 9b of the zoom button 9 and pressed, the zoom button fulcrum 9a is pressed. , The right side of the zoom button 9 sinks against the upper spring portion 14c, and rises when released.
A release switch board 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the zoom button base 10, and a release switch 7 is arranged on the release switch board 8.
A coil-shaped release spring 6 is inserted into the hole 9c of the zoom button 9, and the release button 5 is mounted. The release button 5 is urged upward by a release spring 6 and can be pressed down against the urging force. The tip 5a of the release button 5 faces the release switch 7, and the release switch 7 is operated by pressing the release button 5 down.
[0012]
The zoom button base 10 has contact bars 15 to 18 that slide on the pattern of the operation switch board 12 on the bottom surface.
When the zoom button base 10 is incorporated in the zoom button base accommodating portion 13c of the camera case 13, the zoom button springs 11a and 11b are fitted to the spring support portions 10b and 10c, and the other ends of the zoom button springs 11a and 11b are connected to the camera case 13. Hit the wall. The zoom button bases 10 are biased from both sides by the zoom button springs 11a and 11b, and are held at an intermediate position. When the release button 5 is slid left or right and the release button 5 is released (the index finger is released), the zoom button springs 11a and 11b return the zoom button base 10 to the original center position.
[0013]
When the contacts of the contact bars 15 to 18 of the zoom button base 10 are in contact with the pattern surface of the operation switch board 12 previously mounted on the board mounting portions 13a and 13b of the camera case 13, and the release button 5 is slid. , Slide the pattern surface of the operation switch board 12 right and left.
[0014]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the function of the lock spring.
FIG. 5A shows the lock spring 14 viewed from the zoom button base receiving hole 13 c of the camera case 13. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a pair of engaging grooves 13a and 13b are formed on the side wall of the zoom button base receiving hole 13c, and the engaging portions 14a and 14b of the lock spring 14 are fitted into these portions. ing.
When the zoom button 9 is pressed, the lock spring 14 is pressed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5D, and the engaging portions 14a and 14b are disengaged from the engaging grooves 13a and 13b as shown in FIG. The button 9 is slidable left and right.
[0015]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a contact bar and a release switch, as viewed from above.
An insulating mold member 19 in which four contact bars 15 to 18 are embedded is attached to the bottom surface of the zoom button base 10, and the tips of the contact bars 15 to 18 have contact portions 15a to 18a.
The bases of the contact bars 15 and 16 are connected to GND of the release switch 7. The base of the contact bars 17 and 18 are respectively connected to the S ₂ terminal and S ₁ pin of the release switch 7. By pressing the release switch 7, S ₁ terminal and S ₂ terminals are connected to the other terminal of the release switch 7.
[0016]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pattern example of the operation switch board.
There are four pattern paths corresponding to the four contact bars 15 to 18. The first pattern path is GND, and the pattern 21 is continuously formed at all of the wide position, the center position, and the tele position. The second pattern path includes a wide operation pattern and a tele operation pattern. A wide pattern 22 is formed at a wide position, and a tele pattern 23 is formed at a tele position.
Wide-side zooming starts with the contact bars 15a and 16a in contact with the patterns 21 and 22. Tele-side zooming starts with the contact bars 15a and 16a in contact with the patterns 21 and 23. Third and fourth pattern path is a pattern which is connected to the S ₁ terminal and S ₂ terminal of the release switch 7, the release pattern 24 and 25 is formed in the center position. When the contact portions 17a and 18a of the contact bar is in contact with the top of the release pattern 24 and 25, _{S 1} terminal and _{S 2} terminal side of the release switch 7 is connected to the GND pattern 21, the release switch 7 is operable State.
[0017]
FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining a switch connection state when the zoom button is operated to the wide side and the tele side.
FIG. 8A (a) shows a state in which the zoom button 9 is slid to the wide position, the GND pattern 21 and the wide pattern 22 are connected, the wide signal changes from the H level to the L level, and zooming starts in the wide direction.
FIG. 8A (b) shows a state in which the zoom button 9 is slid to the tele position, the GND pattern 21 and the tele pattern 23 are connected, the tele signal changes from the H level to the L level, and zooming starts in the tele direction.
[0018]
FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining a connection state of the switch when the release button is operated.
Figure 8B (a) is a state in which the zoom button 9 has returned to the center position, GND pattern 21 and the release pattern 24 and 25 are connected, S ₁ signal of the release switch by the release is pressed halfway turned from H level to L level Release half-press signal.
Figure 8B (b) is a state in which the zoom button 9 has returned to the center position, GND pattern 21 and the release pattern 24 and 25 are connected, S ₂ signal of the release switch by the release full press is turned from H level to L level Release full-press signal is generated.
[0019]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the zoom button.
In the state of FIG. 9 (a), as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the index finger 26 is placed on the zoom button 9 and can be moved left and right with a slight press, and zooming to the wide side only starts by sliding to the left. Then, simply slide to the right to start zooming to the tele side. When the index finger 26 is moved to the position of the release button 5 as shown in FIG. 9C at the end of the zooming, the index finger 26 is separated from the zoom button 9, so that the zoom button returns to the center position. Then, the user can press the release button 5 to release.
[0020]
Although the above embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera as a zoom button device having a release SW function, it can be used as a slide SW device having the same function as other devices.
Further, in the embodiment, the case where the engagement portion of the lock spring is fitted into the engagement groove of the camera case is shown, but a projection is provided on the side surface of the zoom button, and this portion is engaged with the engagement groove of the camera case. May be combined.
Further, in the present invention, the zoom button is configured to swing with respect to the zoom button base, and an example is shown in which one side sinks against the urging force about the fulcrum. The lock spring may be configured to sink, and the engagement portion of the lock spring may be released. In such a case, the zoom button base and the zoom button are integrated.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a slide SW device having a convenient push button SW function that can smoothly and quickly shift from a slide operation to a push button operation. When this device is used for a zoom button with a release button function of a camera, operability from zooming to release can be improved.
Further, the slide SW device having the push button SW function according to the present invention can be applied to other devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a digital camera in which a slide SW device having a push button SW function according to the present invention is applied to a zoom button having a release SW function.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the zoom button device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the zoom button device.
FIG. 4A is a top perspective view for explaining an assembled state of a zoom button and a zoom button base.
FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view for explaining an assembled state of the zoom button and the zoom button base.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a function of a lock spring.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contact bar and a release switch.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pattern example of an operation switch board.
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a switch connection state when a zoom button is operated to a wide side and a tele side.
FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining a connection state of a switch when a release button is operated.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining operation of a zoom button.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a camera showing a conventional example in which a release button and an electric zoom button are provided on the same operation member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Zoom button device 5 Release button 6 Release spring 7 Release switch 8 Release switch board 9 Zoom button (slide button)
10. Zoom button base (slide button base)
11a, 11b Zoom button spring 12 Operation switch board 14 Lock spring 15-18 Contact bar 21-25 Pattern 26 Pointing finger

Claims (5)

A slide button that can slide left and right,
A push button mounted on the slide button and movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the slide direction of the slide button;
A slide button base member that engages with the slide button and is driven by left and right movements of the slide button;
Push button switch means mounted on the slide button base and switching an electrical contact by pressing down the push button;
An operation switch substrate on which a plurality of patterns are formed;
A contact bar means attached to the slide button base member to slide on the operation switch board and electrically connect the patterns;
The slide button base member is held at a predetermined position, and when the slide button is slid left and right, an urging means for applying an urging force for returning the slide button base member to the predetermined position is provided.
When the slide button is slid left or right, the contact bar means electrically connects the plurality of patterns on the operation switch board, and when the slide button is released and returned to the predetermined position, A slide SW device having a push button SW function, wherein the contact bar means moves on a pattern corresponding to the predetermined position to enable a switch operation of the push button switch. Having lock spring means,
The slide button has a movement behavior in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction by the lock spring means,
In a state where the slide button is not pressed, a part of the slide button or the lock spring means is engaged with a part of a housing in which the slide SW device is installed,
2. The slide SW device having a push button SW function according to claim 1, wherein, when the slide button is pressed, the engagement is released and the slide button is slidable in the left-right direction. The slide button has a projecting portion, and the projecting portion is pivotally attached to the slide button base so that the projecting portion can swing about a fulcrum and a lock spring means is provided.
The lock spring means gives one end of the slide button a movement behavior in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction,
In a state where one end of the slide button is not pressed, a part of the slide button or the lock spring means is engaged with a part of a housing in which the slide SW device is installed,
2. The slide SW device having a push button SW function according to claim 1, wherein when one end of the slide button is pressed, the engagement is released and the slide button is slidable in the left-right direction. 4. The slide SW device having a push button SW function according to claim 1, wherein the push button is a release switch, and the slide button is a zoom button. A camera, wherein the slide SW device having the push button SW function is mounted as a zoom button device having the release SW function.

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