JP2006012695A - Multidirectional operation switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a miniaturizable multidirectional operation switch hardly causing malfunction and easy to operate, in relation to a multidirectional operation switch mainly used for operating various kinds of electronic apparatuses of an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: This multidirectional operation switch is so structured that a plurality of pressing parts 11D extending radially in a rocking direction and a shaft part 11C extended upward are formed on an operation body 11 rockingly held to a case 12; a turning body 19 is turnably mounted to the shaft part 11C; and electrical connection and disconnection of push switches 15A-15D as first switch contacts and second switch contacts comprising a moving contact piece 25 and a fixed contact 23 are carried out with rocking motion of the operation body 11 and with the rotation of the turning body 19, respectively; whereby a plurality of electronic apparatuses and setting modes can be operated with the single turning body 19 kept, so that the miniaturizable multidirectional operation switch hardly causing malfunction and easy to operate can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation switch used mainly for operation of various electronic devices installed in an automobile.

  In recent years, many in-vehicle electronic devices such as air conditioners and audio devices installed in automobiles are often operated by a switch device in which a plurality of operation units corresponding to each electronic device and setting mode are arranged on a front panel unit. Therefore, there is a demand for an operation that is easy to operate with few erroneous operations.

  In such a switch device, for example, a plurality of push buttons are arranged side by side on the panel near the driver's seat for setting the temperature of an air conditioner and the volume of an audio device, and on the lower surface of these push buttons, A push switch or the like that is electrically connected and separated by a pressing operation is provided.

  The switch device is configured such that an electrical contact / separation signal of the push switch is transmitted from the wiring board on which the push switch is mounted to an electronic circuit of the automobile connected via a connector or the like.

  In the switch device having such a configuration, for example, when raising the temperature of an air conditioner, when a push button for increasing temperature is selected from a plurality of push buttons and the push button is pressed, the lower surface push switch is electrically connected and separated. This electric contact / separation signal is transmitted to the electronic circuit of the automobile, and the set temperature of the air conditioner increases.

  When it is desired to lower the temperature of the air conditioner, by pressing a push button for a temperature DOWN different from the above, an electrical contact / separation signal corresponding to the push button is transmitted to the electronic circuit, and the set temperature of the air conditioner is set. Becomes lower.

  Furthermore, when changing the volume of the audio device, each setting mode can be adjusted by selecting a push button for volume up or volume down and pressing these buttons.

As a prior art document related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2001-266712 A

  However, in the above conventional switch device, push buttons and push switches are arranged according to the type of electronic equipment such as an air conditioner and audio, and each setting mode such as temperature and volume. When the number of modes increases, the switch device becomes larger, and it is necessary to visually recognize the push button to be operated each time it is operated and to operate each push button. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and erroneous operation is likely to occur. It was.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional operation switch that can be miniaturized and is easy to operate with few erroneous operations.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of pressing portions extending radially in the swing direction and a shaft portion extending upward on the operating body held swingably in a substantially box-shaped case. In addition, a rotating body is rotatably mounted on the shaft, and the first switch contact with the swinging of the operating body, and the second switch contact with the rotating body is electrically connected and separated. The multi-directional operation switch is configured in such a manner that the first switch contact is operated by the swinging operation of the rotating body mounted on the operating body, and the second switch contact is electrically connected / disconnected by the rotating operation. It is possible to operate multiple electronic devices and setting modes by swinging and rotating while holding a single rotating body. Has the effect of being able to obtain an easy multidirectional operation switch .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a moderation means is provided between the operation body and the case to generate a moderation feel as the operation body swings. Since the swing operation can be performed, the operation is sure and the operation feeling is good.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a push button is disposed substantially at the center of the rotating body, and a third switch contact is provided that is electrically connected and separated by pressing the push button. In addition to the swinging operation of the operating body and the rotating operation of the rotating body, the third switch contact can be electrically connected and separated by pressing the push button at the center of the rotating body, so that more electronic It has the effect that the operation of the device and the setting mode can be made possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a multidirectional operation switch that can be downsized and that can easily operate a plurality of electronic devices and setting modes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multidirectional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and 11 is an operation body made of an insulating resin having a substantially cylindrical shape. 11 is provided with an arm portion 11A extending radially in four directions orthogonal to each other, and a substantially spherical fulcrum portion 11B is formed at the base of the arm portion 11A.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a substantially dish-like case made of an insulating resin. A substantially cylindrical lower guide portion 12A protrudes from a substantially central bottom surface of the case 12, and a substantially bowl-shaped lower end portion of the lower guide portion 12A has an approximately bowl-like shape. A lower holding portion 12B is formed.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a cover made of insulating resin. A substantially cylindrical upper guide portion 13A protrudes from the upper and lower surfaces substantially at the center of the cover 13, and a substantially bowl-shaped upper holding portion is formed at the inner edge of the lower end of the upper guide portion 13A. 13B is formed.

  Further, the fulcrum part 11B of the operating body 11 is swingably held at the lower part thereof by the lower holding part 12B of the case 12 and at the upper part thereof by the upper holding part 13B of the cover 13, respectively. On both sides, a substantially wall-shaped restricting portion (not shown) formed inside the cover 13 is disposed, and the operation body 11 is restricted from rotating about its axis.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a first wiring board in which a plurality of conductive patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces. Push switches 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D as first switch contacts are provided on the upper surface. It faces the pressing portion 11D formed on the lower surface of the distal end of the arm portion 11A, and is mounted in a substantially annular shape around a central circular hole.

  In addition, an uneven moderation portion 12C is formed concentrically on the inner bottom surface of the lower guide portion 12A of the case 12, and the storage hole 11E below the operation body 11 has a substantially columnar shape and a substantially spherical tip. The pin 16 is housed together with a coiled spring 17 that urges the pin 16 downward in a slightly bent state, and the tip of the pin 16 is elastically contacted with the moderation portion 12C to constitute a moderation means.

  Further, the case 12 and the cover 13 are fixed by screws 18, and the wiring board 14 including the operating body 11 and the push switches 15 </ b> A to 15 </ b> D, moderation means, and the like are accommodated therebetween, and the shaft portion 11 </ b> C of the operating body 11 is raised. The guide portion 13A is inserted and protrudes upward.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a rotating body made of a substantially cylindrical and insulating resin having an opening 19A in the center. Reference numeral 21 denotes a substantially disk-shaped connecting body fixed to the tip of the shaft portion 11C with a screw 20. The rotating body 19 is a connecting body 21. Is mounted so as to be rotatable.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a substantially cylindrical drive body made of an insulating resin having an opening 22A in the center, and is housed in the rotating body 19 so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the rotating body 19, and an elastic metal thin plate on the lower surface. The base of the substantially tongue-shaped movable contact piece 25 is fixed.

  Further, reference numeral 23 denotes a second wiring board fixed to the upper surface of the connection body 21, and a fixed contact 23 </ b> A having a plurality of conductive patterns is formed on the upper surface in a substantially arc shape, and the movable contact piece 25 is formed on the fixed contact 23 </ b> A or the substrate. A plurality of separated contact portions are elastically contacted to form a second switch contact, and a push switch 24 as a third switch contact is mounted on the upper surface of the second wiring board 23.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a substantially cylindrical cap from which the cylindrical portion 26A protrudes downward in the center. The cap 26 covers the vicinity of the outer periphery of the upper end of the rotating body 19, and the cylindrical portion 26A passes through the opening 22A of the drive body 22 so that the tip of the cylindrical portion 26A The engaging portion 26 </ b> B protruding to the center passes through the through hole 23 </ b> B of the wiring board 23 and is locked to the locking hole 21 </ b> A at the center of the connection body 21.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a substantially cylindrical push button made of an insulating resin, which is accommodated in the opening 26C of the cylindrical portion 26A so as to be movable up and down, and the pressing portion 27A on the lower surface of the push button 27 contacts the operation portion above the push switch 24. It touches.

  Further, the second wiring board 23 and the first wiring board 14 are electrically connected via the connector cable 28 to constitute a multidirectional operation switch.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-directional operation switch configured in this way has a mounting portion on the outer periphery of the cover 22 fixed to the lower surface of the front panel portion 29 in the vehicle interior, and the rotating body 19 above the shaft portion 11C. The push button 27 and the like protrude upward from the opening 29A of the front panel portion 29 and are attached to the vehicle, and the wiring board 14 is connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the vehicle by the connector cable 30 and the like.

  Next, the operation of the multidirectional operation switch having such a configuration will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, in the neutral position where the operating body 11 stands upright, the tip of the pin 16 biased by the spring 17 comes into elastic contact with the central recess of the moderation portion 12C, and the operating body 11 is held in the neutral position. Has been.

  When the upper push button 27 is pressed in this state, the push switch 24 whose operation portion is pressed by the pressing portion 27A is electrically connected and disconnected, and this electrical contact / separation signal is transmitted to the wiring board 14 and the connector cable 30. Etc., and the display showing the operating state of each electronic device is turned on and displayed, for example.

  Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, when the operating body 11 is operated to swing rightward from the state where the operating body 11 is in the neutral position, the operating body 11 via the connecting body 21 supports the fulcrum portion 11B. Swings in the right direction.

  The pin 16 moves from the central recess of the moderation portion 12C to the left recess while being elastically contacted with the protrusion, thereby obtaining an operation feeling with a click feeling associated with the swinging operation of the rotating body 19. The operating body 11 is held in a state tilted to the right.

  At this time, as the operating body 11 swings, the right arm portion 11A is inclined downward, the pressing portion 11D presses the operating portion of the push switch 15A, and the push switch 15A is electrically connected and separated. The electrical contact / separation signal is transmitted to the electronic circuit of the automobile via the connector cable 30 connected to the wiring board 14, and for example, the temperature of the air conditioner can be adjusted.

  Further, when the rotating body 19 is rotated clockwise in this state, the driving body 22 similarly rotates clockwise along with the rotation of the rotating body 19, and the contact portion of the movable contact piece 25 on the lower surface of the driving body 22. Slidably slides on the fixed contact 23A, and a plurality of fixed contacts 23A are electrically connected / disconnected via the movable contact piece 25, and this electrical contact / separation signal is transmitted to the electronic circuit of the automobile, For example, the air conditioner is controlled to increase the air temperature.

  On the contrary, if the rotating body 19 is rotated counterclockwise while the operating body 11 is tilted to the right, the air blowing temperature of the air conditioner is lowered by this electrical contact / separation signal.

  When the rotating body 19 tilted to the right is swung in the central direction, the operation body 11 is swung leftward while obtaining the moderation feel, that is, the operation opposite to the operation described above, to the neutral position. At the same time, the pressing portion 11D on the right side of the operating body 11 moves upward, and the push switch 15A is in the original OFF state.

  Further, if the swinging operation is performed while holding the rotating body 19, the arm portion 11A on the left side of the operating body 11 swings and the push switch 15C is electrically connected / disconnected, for example, the audio can be adjusted. In this state, the volume is increased when the rotating body 19 is rotated clockwise, and the volume is decreased when the rotating body 19 is rotated counterclockwise.

  Similarly, when the rotating body 19 is swung back and forth, the push switch 15B or 15D is electrically connected / disconnected, for example, a device such as a radio tuner or a CD can be adjusted and moved forward or backward. When the rotating body 19 is rotated while being tilted, tuning adjustment of the radio tuner, selection of music for the CD, and the like are performed.

  That is, the device to be adjusted is selected by swinging back and forth and right and left while holding the rotating body 19, and the setting mode such as temperature and volume is set by rotating the rotating body 19 while being tilted to any one. It is configured to make adjustments.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operating body 11 that is swingably held by the case 12 is provided with the plurality of pressing portions 11D that extend radially in the swing direction and the shaft portion 11C that extends upward. The rotary body 19 is rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 11C, and the push switches 15A to 15D as the first switch contacts as the operating body 11 swings, and the movable body 19 moves as the rotary body 19 rotates. By configuring the second switch contact made of the contact piece 25 and the fixed contact 23A to be electrically connected and separated, the swinging operation and the rotation operation can be performed while holding the single rotation body 19. Thus, since it is possible to operate a plurality of electronic devices and setting modes, it is possible to reduce the size and to obtain a multidirectional operation switch that is easy to operate with few erroneous operations.

  In the above description, the multi-directional operation switch capable of swinging in four directions, front, rear, left, and right has been described. However, the present invention can be implemented according to various applications such as two directions or five directions.

  Further, by providing a moderation means including a pin 16 and a spring 17 for biasing the pin 16 and a moderation portion 12C with which the tip of the pin 16 is elastically contacted between the operation body 11 and the case 12, the operation body 11 is swung. Since the moderation feel can be obtained, the operation feeling is good and the operation can be ensured.

  Even if the height of the concave and convex portion of the moderation portion 12C is appropriately set and the operating body 11 is swung and then released from the rotating body 19, it is urged to the neutral position and automatically restored. Is possible.

  In addition, the push button 27 is arranged at a substantially center of the drive body 22 so as to be movable up and down, and a push switch 24 is provided as a third switch contact that is electrically connected and separated by pressing the push button 27. In addition to the swinging operation and the rotating operation of the rotating body 19, the operation by the pressing operation of the push button 27 can be performed, so that more electronic devices and setting mode switching operations can be performed.

  Further, the movable contact piece 25 and the plurality of fixed contacts 23A are electrically connected and separated as the second switch contact. However, instead of this, a resistance pattern is formed on the wiring board, and a brush-like shape is formed on the upper surface thereof. The present invention can also be implemented using a variable resistor with which the contact piece is elastically contacted.

  The multi-directional operation switch according to the present invention can be downsized, can be operated easily with few erroneous operations, and is useful mainly for operation of various electronic devices installed in automobiles.

Sectional drawing of the multidirectional operation switch by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Cross section during the same operation

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation body 11A Arm part 11B Support point part 11C Shaft part 11D Press part 11E Storage hole 12 Case 12A Lower guide part 12B Lower holding part 12C Moderation part 13 Cover 13A Upper guide part 13B Upper holding part 14 1st wiring board 15A, 15B , 15C, 15D, 24 Push switch 16 pin 17 Spring 18, 20 Screw 19 Rotating body 19A, 22A, 26C, 29A Opening 21 Connection body 22 Drive body 23 Second wiring board 23A Fixed contact 25 Movable contact piece 26 Cap 26A Cylindrical part 26B Engagement part 27 Push button 28, 30 Connector cable 29 Front panel part

Claims (3)

A substantially box-shaped case, an operating body that is swingably held in the case, and in which a plurality of pressing portions extend radially in the swinging direction and a shaft portion extends upward, and the swinging of the operating body A plurality of first switch contacts that are pressed and pressed apart by the pressing portion as they move, a rotating body that is rotatably attached to the shaft portion, and as the rotating body rotates Multi-directional operation switch consisting of a second switch contact for electrical contact and separation. The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1, further comprising a moderation means for generating a moderation feel accompanying the swinging of the operation body between the operation body and the case. The multi-directional operation switch according to claim 1, wherein a push button is arranged at substantially the center of the rotating body, and a third switch contact is provided to perform electrical contact / separation by pressing the push button.

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