JP2005259448A - Rotary operation type switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary operation type switch structure reducing operational declination of a rotating operation knob, maintaining a good outward appearance on the surface of the rotating operation knob, and having simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A single circular projection part 12a for inserting a rotating operation shaft 20 extending from a switch element 18 side is formed on the inner surface of the rotating operation knob 12. An almost cylindrical guide part 14a reaching the vicinity of a base part as surrounding the single circular projection part 12a from an accepting part 24a of the rotating operation knob 12 formed in a housing 24 is formed. As a result, a rotational center of the operational declination of the rotating operation knob 12 becomes a center P very near from the surface of the rotating operation knob 12, and since an operational declining angle of the rotating operation knob 12 is regulated with a stop point Q where the tip of the single circular projection part 12a comes in contact with the guide part 14a, even if the insertion part of the rotating operation shaft 20 to a switch element 18 has large backlashes, declination generating on the surface side of the rotating operation knob 12 is made small. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary operation type switch structure, and more particularly to an improvement of a rotary operation type switch structure that can reduce an operation inclination of a rotary operation knob that performs a rotary operation of a switch element.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic devices have a plurality of switch elements incorporated therein for switching, selection, and adjustment of their operation states. The switch elements are broadly divided into a push operation type switch that switches on / off, a slide operation type switch that sequentially selects and adjusts the state by a slide bar that can be slid with respect to a mode arranged on a straight line, an arc shape There is a rotary operation type switch that sequentially selects and adjusts the state by a rotary operation knob that can be rotated with respect to the modes arranged in the above. In particular, a rotary operation type switch capable of performing a plurality of selection operations in a space-saving manner has been widely used in electronic devices in recent years when high functionality and simplification of design are important.

  In such a general structure of the rotary operation type switch, a housing includes a substrate on which the rotary operation type switch element is fixed by soldering or the like. The housing is formed with a receiving portion into which a rotation operation knob that is actually operated by a switch operator is fitted, and the rotation operation shaft of the switch element and the rotation operation knob can be connected via the reception portion.

  In this case, the rotation operation knob is connected to the rotation operation shaft of the switch element without contacting any other structure. As a result, the rotation operation knob can be operated smoothly by receiving only the rotation resistance of the switch element.

  However, the rotary operation shaft oscillates in a mortar shape around the root portion due to the play of the switch element. As a result, for example, when a force is applied in the radial direction of the rotary operation knob when the rotary operation knob is being touched or is being operated, the rotary operation knob is tilted. Such an inclination is not so noticeable at the root of the rotation operation shaft that is the center of oscillation, but at the position of the rotation operation knob attached to the tip of the rotation operation shaft away from the oscillation center, the inclination appears remarkably, It is not preferable in terms of operability or design.

  On the other hand, a rotation operation knob is formed on the back surface of the rotation operation knob by forming a fitting cylinder around the connecting portion connected to the rotation operation shaft of the switch element, and fitting the fitting cylinder to the inner wall surface of the housing. There is one that attempts to suppress the inclination of (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-294043

  However, in the case of the configuration of Patent Document 1, as described above, a cylindrical coupling portion connected to the rotation operation shaft is formed on the back surface of the rotation operation knob, and a cylindrical fitting cylinder is also formed around the connection portion. Generally, the rotary operation knob is formed by resin molding. However, when forming a double cylinder, it is difficult to increase the height of both cylinders because of the mold structure, and either one is reduced. There is a need. Therefore, if it is going to ensure the connection with a rotation operation shaft, the fitting cylinder side must be made low.

  As a result, there is a problem that a contact portion between the inner wall surface of the housing and the fitting cylinder cannot be sufficiently secured, and a sufficient operation tilt suppressing effect cannot be obtained. In addition, when the diameter of the rotary operation knob is small, it is difficult to form a double cylinder. Furthermore, when a cylinder is formed on the rear surface of the rotary operation knob, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the cylinder base side compared to the cylinder tip. In this case, sink marks are likely to occur on the surface side of the rotary operation knob corresponding to the cylinder forming portion. As a result, a double annular recess is formed on the surface, which is the design surface of the rotary operation knob, and there is a problem that the appearance is deteriorated.

  In addition, the rotary knob itself may be illuminated from the back, but the double cylinder hinders illumination, and the shadow of the double cylinder is projected on the front side of the rotary knob, making it look good in lighting. There is a problem of causing a decrease in

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can rotate the rotation knob with a simple configuration that can sufficiently reduce the operation tilt of the rotation knob and does not deteriorate the appearance of the surface of the rotation knob. An object is to provide an operation type switch structure.

  The present invention relates to a rotation operation having a rotation operation type switch element and a bag-shaped knob having a single annular protrusion into which a rotation operation shaft extending from the switch element side is inserted at a substantially central portion inside the bag shape. A housing including a knob and the switch element and having a receiving portion for receiving the rotating operation knob; and the single annular protrusion extending from the receiving portion of the housing and inserted into a bag shape of the rotating operation knob. And a substantially cylindrical guide member that reaches the vicinity of the base portion of the single annular projecting portion.

  According to this configuration, the single annular protrusion of the rotation operation knob is guided in the inclusion state by the guide member from the outer peripheral surface side. Therefore, even if there is play in the rotation operation shaft, play of the rotation operation knob is suppressed by the guide member fixed to the housing. The rotary operation knob needs to rotate with respect to the guide member, so that a predetermined clearance is required between them. However, since the guide member has reached the vicinity of the base of the single annular projection, When tilting with respect to the guide member, the center of rotation is near the base of the single annular projection. As a result, the amount of tilt on the surface side of the rotary operation knob can be reduced.

  In the above configuration, the present invention is characterized in that the guide member is formed of a lens member that is fixedly connected to the housing and guides light to the rotary operation knob.

  According to this structure, the illumination light can be favorably guided to the rotary operation knob. For example, if the guide member is exposed around the rotary operation knob, illumination around the rotary operation knob can be performed. Moreover, the illumination from the back surface side of a rotation operation knob is also attained by including a single annular projection part with a lens member. In this case, since the annular protrusion is single, it does not hinder illumination.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration described above, the surface member constituting the design surface of the rotary operation knob is processed to be thin, and the tip end portion of the guide member reaches a position close to the design surface.

  According to this configuration, the rotation center when the rotation operation knob is inclined with respect to the guide member can be easily set near the surface of the rotation operation knob, and the amount of operation inclination can be further reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a rotary operation type switch structure 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of the rotary operation type switch structure 10, and FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of a). In this embodiment, a temperature setting switch of an automobile air conditioner (air conditioner) is shown as an example of a rotary operation type switch structure. As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the rotary operation type switch structure 10 has only the rotary operation knob 12 protruding from an operation panel of an apparatus (air conditioner) on which the switch structure is mounted. . In this embodiment, a lens member 14 that guides light for night illumination is arranged around the rotary operation knob 12. FIG. 1A also shows a left / right push-down switch 16 for adjusting the blowout amount of the blower.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the rotation operation type switch structure 10 of the present embodiment includes a rotation operation knob 12, a lens member 14, a rotation operation type switch element 18 which is a main body of the rotation operation type switch, and the switch. A rotary operation shaft 20 that is connected to the element 18 and transmits the rotational operation force of the rotary operation knob 12, a lighting element not shown, a substrate 22 on which various electronic elements, circuit patterns, etc. are mounted in addition to the switch element 18, and these The housing 24 has a receiving portion 24a that can receive all and can receive the rotary operation knob 12.

  The rotation operation knob 12 is a substantially bag-shaped knob, and has a single annular protrusion 12a into which a rotation operation shaft 20 extending from the switch element 18 side is inserted at a substantially central portion inside the bag shape. It is desirable that the inner peripheral diameter of the single annular protrusion 12a is formed substantially equal to the diameter of the rotary operation shaft 20, and the rotation operation shaft 20 is press-fitted into the inner diameter side of the single annular protrusion 12a. By press-fitting connection, the rotation operation of the rotation operation knob 12 can be accurately transmitted to the rotation operation shaft 20 without slipping between the rotation operation knob 12 and the rotation operation shaft 20, and the switch element 18 can be adjusted. Of course, it is also suitable to prevent rotation using a known key structure or the like.

  In consideration of assembly, as shown in FIG. 1B, the inner diameter of the single annular projection 12a is slightly increased, and the elastic member 20b is attached to the tip 20a of the rotary operation shaft 20, so that the elastic member You may make it press-fit both using the elastic force of 20b. As the elastic member 20b, an arbitrary material such as a ring-shaped rubber material amount or a leaf spring can be used. However, the height of the elastic member 20b protruding from the surface of the rotary operation shaft 20 is desirably as low as possible. When the rotary operation shaft 20 is press-fitted into the single annular protrusion 12a, the rotary operation shaft 20 is almost completely crushed. It is preferable to ensure as much as possible a contact portion between the outer peripheral surface of the first annular protrusion 12a and the inner peripheral surface of the single annular protrusion 12a. This is because when the elastic member 20b is greatly raised from the rotation operation shaft 20 after elastic deformation, the rotation operation knob 12 may swing around the elastic member 20b. Note that a plurality of elastic members 20b may be arranged along the axial direction of the distal end portion 20a, or the length of one elastic member 20b in the axial direction may be increased to suppress the oscillation.

  On the other hand, the lens member 14 formed of a transparent or translucent resin or the like forms a substantially cylindrical guide portion 14 a along the inner surface of the bag-shaped rotation operation knob 12. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical guide portion 14a guides the single annular protrusion 12a so as to surround it. Since the rotary operation knob 12 needs to be disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the lens member 14, the cylindrical guide portion 14a and the single annular protrusion 12a are connected in a loosely fitted state having a predetermined gap. ing. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the guide portion 14a contacts the front surface of the inner surface of the rotary operation knob 12 other than the single annular projection 12a in a loosely fitted state, but at least the single annular projection 12a and the loosely fitted state are shown. Just touch. Thus, in the present embodiment, the lens member 14 functions as a guide member that holds the single annular protrusion 12a in a loosely fitted state. Therefore, the entire lens member 14 does not necessarily have a lens function. For example, when illumination is necessary only around the rotary operation knob 12, only the optical path portion from the bulb disposed on the substrate 22 or the like to the illumination portion 14b has a lens function, and the other portion, that is, the single annular projection 12a. The loose fitting portion may not have a lens function. On the other hand, when the lens function is provided up to the portion that enters the inner surface of the rotary operation knob 12, the light from the bulb can be guided to the inner surface of the rotary operation knob 12. For example, the illumination of the entire rotary operation knob 12 (light emission of the entire knob), and the illumination of the design and window formed on the design surface of the rotary operation knob 12 so as to transmit light are also possible.

  In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the tip of the guide portion 14a of the lens member 14 reaches the vicinity of the base B of the single annular projection 12a on the back surface side of the rotary operation knob 12, as shown in FIG. It is shown as reaching almost completely to the base. However, in reality, since both are resin molded products, there are burrs, distortions, etc., and therefore it is not necessary to completely reach the base B. The lens member 14 is fixed to the housing 24 at an arbitrary position. The fixing method is performed at an arbitrary position using an arbitrary method such as a method using an engaging claw or a method using a fastening member such as a screw.

  In the present embodiment, the rotary operation type switch element 18 is a thin volume switch that has a D-shaped hole and is used by inserting a rotation shaft into the D-shaped hole, and is disposed on the back side of the substrate 22. . By using a thin volume switch, it is possible to contribute to miniaturization of the switch structure.

  The operation tilt reducing action of the rotary operation type switch structure 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which an operation tilt is generated by applying pressure (a pressing force from the upper side in the drawing) to a part of the rotary operation knob 12 with respect to the non-operation state of FIG. As described above, although the lens member 14 that is a guide member guides and holds the single annular protrusion 12a formed on the rotary operation knob 12, gaps are required at various places in order to hold it in a loosely fitted state. . That is, gaps are necessary in the portions S1, S2, S3, etc. in FIG. As a result, if a pressure as shown in the drawing is applied to a part of the rotary operation knob 12, an operation tilt is generated. However, as is clear from FIG. 2, since the guide portion 14 a extends to the vicinity of the base portion of the single annular protrusion 12 a, the rotation center of the operation tilt of the rotation operation knob 12 is very large from the surface of the rotation operation knob 12. Near the center, that is, the center P. Further, the operation inclination angle of the rotary operation knob 12 is limited at the stop point Q at which the tip of the single annular protrusion 12a comes into contact with the guide portion 14a. At this time, since the rotation center P is set near the surface of the rotary operation knob 12, even when the play of the rotary operation shaft 20 with respect to the switch element 18 is large, the inclination appearing on the surface side of the rotary operation knob 12 is Get smaller. In this case, the rotation operation knob 12 can similarly perform an excellent operation inclination reduction regardless of the direction from which the pressure is applied.

  In the case of FIG. 2, the inclination of the rotary operation knob 12 and the rotary operation shaft 20 is exaggerated for the sake of explanation. However, in the size of the switch structure actually used, the inclination α of the rotary operation shaft 20 is For example, it is about 0.7 °, and the displacement near the surface of the rotary operation knob 12 due to the inclination at that time is about 0.1 mm.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rotary operation knob 12 is formed with the single annular protrusion 12a and surrounded by the guide portion 14a to the vicinity of the base of the single annular protrusion 12a. The operation inclination can be easily reduced. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the structure formed on the back side of the rotary operation knob 12 is only the single annular protrusion 12a. Therefore, a sufficiently high single annular protrusion 12a can be easily formed even by resin molding. can do. As a result, a stable guide by the guide portion 14a becomes possible, and a sufficient operation inclination can be reduced. Further, the “sink” on the surface side generated by forming the single annular protrusion 12a is also a single ring shape, and the unevenness on the surface side is not so conspicuous. Furthermore, since the structure formed on the back surface side of the rotary operation knob 12 is only the single annular protrusion 12a, as described above, it is easy to ensure the illumination range and the optical path even when illumination is performed from the back surface side. In addition, it is possible to form an excellent illumination structure without light emission unevenness, and it is possible to contribute to improvement in design freedom and quality of the rotary operation type switch structure 10.

  FIG. 3 shows a modification of the rotary operation type switch structure 10. FIG. 3A shows a case where the length of the single annular projection 12a and the guide portion 14a of the lens member 14 is increased to widen the loose fitting range between them. In this case, the distance between the rotation center P and the stop point Q shown in FIG. As a result, the tilt angle on the surface side of the rotary operation knob 12 can be further reduced. Other configurations are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  3B is substantially the same as FIG. 1B, but a guide portion 14a formed by the lens member 14 is formed by extending the housing 24. FIG. That is, the guide portion 24 b is formed by the housing 24. In this case, illumination around the rotary operation knob 12 cannot be performed, but it can contribute to the reduction of the number of parts and the improvement of assemblability.

  Further, in FIG. 3C, the guide portion 24b is formed using the housing 24 in the same manner as in FIG. 3B. However, the switch element mounted on the substrate 22 has a known volume switch 26 with a shaft 26a. I use it. In the case of the thin switch element 18 as in another example, the height of the rotary operation type switch structure 10 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the length of the rotary operation shaft 20, but as shown in FIG. When the volume switch 26 with a shaft is used, the size of the rotary operation type switch structure 10 depends on the size of the volume switch 26. However, by using general-purpose parts, it is possible to reduce costs and standardize the design of the switch structure. Of course, in the example shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the same effect can be obtained with respect to the basic function of the rotary operation type switch structure 10 described in FIGS.

  In addition, the structure in each example mentioned above is an example, and the rotation operation knob is formed with a single annular protrusion, and is configured to surround the vicinity of the base of the single annular protrusion with a guide part substantially extending from the housing side. If so, other structures are arbitrary and can be appropriately changed, and the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained. Further, in this embodiment, an air conditioner is shown as an example of application of the rotary operation type switch structure 10. However, the application target is arbitrary as long as the rotary operation type switch structure is used, and the same as in this embodiment. An effect can be obtained.

It is the front view and sectional drawing explaining the rotary operation type switch structure concerning this embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure which reduces operation inclination in the rotary operation type switch structure which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the other rotary operation type switch structure which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Rotation operation type switch structure, 12 Rotation operation knob, 12a Single annular projection,
14 Lens member, 14a Guide part, 14b Illumination part, 16 Left / right push-down switch, 18 Switch element, 20 Rotary operation shaft, 20a Tip part, 20b Elastic member, 22 Substrate, 24 Housing, 24b Guide part, 26 Volume switch, 26a shaft.

Claims (3)

A rotary operation type switch element;
A rotary knob having a single annular protrusion into which a rotary operation shaft extending from the switch element side is inserted at a substantially central portion inside the bag shape;
A housing including the switch element and having a receiving portion for receiving the rotary operation knob;
A substantially cylindrical guide member extending from a receiving portion of the housing, inserted into the bag shape of the rotary operation knob, and reaching the vicinity of the base portion of the single annular protrusion while surrounding the single annular protrusion;
A rotary operation type switch structure comprising: The structure of claim 1, wherein
The rotation operation type switch structure, wherein the guide member is formed of a lens member fixedly connected to the housing and guiding light to the rotation operation knob. In the structure of claim 1 or claim 2,
A rotation operation type switch structure characterized in that a surface member constituting a design surface of the rotation operation knob is thinned, and a tip portion of the guide member reaches a position close to the design surface.

Images