JP2006108516A - Control key with variable resistance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control key with variable resistance which can be small-sized, with which a smooth operational touch can be felt, and which can reduce the number of components. <P>SOLUTION: The control key with variable resistance uses a bamboo shoot spring 6 that is a conductive contact disposed while facing a variable resistance pattern 3, on an upper surface of an insulated substrate 2 between the insulated substrate 2 including a circuit pattern arranging variable resistance and an operating member 5. Thus, the control key of the present invention can be small-sized in comparison with a conventional control key with variable resistance, and a smooth operational touch can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation key having a variable resistance, and more particularly to an operation key having a variable resistance suitable for use in an imaging apparatus or the like.

A conventional operation key having a variable resistor includes a swing operation type variable resistor incorporated in a video game machine or the like. The swinging variable resistor will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. An insulating substrate 22 is accommodated in an exterior cover 21 made of a synthetic resin molded product. On the upper surface of the insulating substrate 22, as shown in FIG. 4, there are four resistor patterns 23 that are spaced so as to have an interval of approximately 90 degrees in the circumferential direction and that the two are opposed to each other across the center C1. Is formed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of deformable conductive contacts 24 a that are convex with respect to the insulating substrate 22 and have a curved surface and are arranged to face the resistor patterns 23, respectively. A holding member 25 and an operating member 26 for operating the holding member 25, and by swinging the operating member 26 constantly biased upward by a biasing member 27 such as a coil spring, a conductive contact is provided. There is a structure in which the resistor 24 is deformed so as to change the contact area with respect to the resistor pattern 23 to change the resistance value (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-353605 A (Page 9, FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5)

  However, in the above conventional example, in order to raise and lower the operation member 26 urged upward by the urging member 27 such as a coil spring, a plurality of conductive contacts 24a are convex and have a curved surface. Therefore, it is necessary to press and deform the rubber material, and the operator needs to press the rubber material in addition to the urging force of the urging member 27. Therefore, the operation feeling must be raised and lowered in the order of urging force to pressing force, and there is a problem that a smooth operation feeling cannot be obtained. Further, since the structure of the swing mechanism is complicated and the number of parts is large, there is a limit to downsizing. Furthermore, since there are many parts, there existed a problem that assembly property was bad.

  The present invention provides an operation key having a variable resistor that can solve the above-described problems, can be miniaturized, can feel a smooth operation feeling, and can reduce the number of components. It is intended.

  As a first means for solving the above problems, an operation key having a variable resistor according to the present invention has an insulating substrate having a circuit pattern in which a variable resistor is arranged, and is opposed to the variable resistor pattern on the insulating substrate. The bamboo contact spring, which is a conductive contact, and an operation member are disposed, and by pushing the operation member, the bamboo spring, which is the conductive contact, sinks, and the conductive contact contacts the variable resistance pattern. The area is changed and the resistance value is variable.

  As a second solution for solving the above-mentioned problem, the bamboo spring as the conductive contact serves as a conductive contact and also serves as a biasing member that enables the operation member to move up and down. It was set as the structure used also.

  Further, as a third solving means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a configuration in which an operation member is arranged on the large diameter side of the bamboo shoot spring as the conductive contact and the variable resistance pattern is arranged on the small diameter side It was.

  Further, as a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the variable resistance pattern is configured to be concentrically arranged with respect to the bamboo spring that is the conductive contact.

  Further, as a fifth solving means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the bamboo spring as the conductive contact is made of a metal or an elastically deformable member containing carbon.

  The operation key having a variable resistor according to the present invention is a conductive material disposed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 2 so as to face the variable resistor pattern 3 between the insulating substrate 2 having a circuit pattern in which the variable resistor is arranged and the operation member 5. Since the bamboo spring 6 that is a contact is used, it is possible to provide an operation key that can achieve a reduction in size and a smooth operation feeling as compared with a conventional operation key having a variable resistance. Further, since the number of parts is small and the structure is simple, assembly is easy and an inexpensive operation key can be provided.

  In addition, by raising and lowering the bamboo spring 6 that is a conductive contact, the conductive contact is deformed so as to change the contact area with respect to the variable resistance pattern 3 so that the resistance value is variable. Compared to an operation key having a variable resistance that requires a force and a pressing force, the operator can obtain an operation feeling of only the urging force of the spring, and can obtain a smooth operation feeling without a sense of incongruity.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an operation key having a variable resistor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part relating to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation key of the present invention is provided with a bamboo child spring 6 disposed inside an exterior cover 1 made of a synthetic resin molded article or the like, and a rectangular insulation is provided on the small diameter side of the bamboo child spring 6. The substrate 2 is attached by appropriate means, and the operation member 5 is disposed on the larger diameter side of the bamboo child spring 6, and the operation member 5 is always urged upward by the bamboo child spring 6. Bamboo spring 6 is made of a metal or an elastically deformable member containing carbon. A circuit pattern as shown in FIG. 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the rectangular insulating substrate 2. This circuit pattern is formed by the resistor pattern 3 (thick line portion) and the conductor pattern 4 and is arranged substantially concentrically so as to face the bamboo shoot spring 6. A rectangular insulating substrate 2 has a hole 2a at the center. The operation member 5 slides on the inner wall surface 1 a of the exterior cover 1, and the shaft projection 5 a of the operation member 5 is inserted through a hole 2 a provided in the central portion of the rectangular insulating substrate 2.

  When the operation member 5 is pushed downward in the state of being arranged as described above, the bamboo shoot spring 6 as a conductive contact is elastically deformed in a spiral shape, and the resistor pattern 3 on the upper surface of the rectangular insulating substrate 2 is deformed. As a result, the contact area gradually increases, and the resistance values at both ends of the resistor pattern 3 decrease sequentially. That is, the bamboo spring 6 which is a conductive contact is deformed in a variable direction so as to increase or decrease the contact area of the resistor pattern 3. Therefore, the operator can change the resistance value by changing the contact area of the conductive contact by moving the operating member 5 up and down.

  In the above-described embodiment, the circuit pattern has been described as being substantially concentrically arranged so as to face the bamboo child spring 6. However, the circuit pattern may be arranged radially with respect to the bamboo child spring 6 (not shown). .

Sectional drawing of the principal part concerning the operation key which has the variable resistance of this invention The top view of the insulated substrate which concerns on the operation key which has a variable resistance of this invention Sectional view of the main part of a conventional operation key with variable resistance A plan view of an insulating substrate of an operation key having a conventional variable resistor A bottom view of a conventional holding member for an operation key having a variable resistance Relationship diagram between conductive contacts and resistor pattern of conventional operation key with variable resistance

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 Exterior cover 1a Inner wall surface 2,22 Insulating substrate 2a Hole 3,23 Resistor pattern 4 Conductor pattern 5 Operation member 5a Protrusion 6 Bamboo spring 24a Conductive contact 24b Conductor pattern 25 Holding member 26 Operation member 27 Energizing Element

Claims (5)

  An insulating substrate having a circuit pattern in which a variable resistor is arranged, a bamboo shoot spring that is a conductive contact disposed on the insulating substrate so as to face the variable resistor pattern, and an operating member, and pressing the operating member The operation key having a variable resistance is characterized in that the bamboo pupa spring as the conductive contact sinks, the contact area of the conductive contact changes with respect to the variable resistance pattern, and the resistance value is variable.   2. The operation key having a variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the bamboo spring as the conductive contact is a conductive contact and also serves as an urging member that enables the operation member to move up and down.   2. The operation key having a variable resistance according to claim 1, wherein an operation member is arranged on a large diameter side of the bamboo shoot spring as the conductive contact, and the variable resistance pattern is arranged on a small diameter side.   2. The operation key having a variable resistance according to claim 1, wherein the variable resistance pattern is arranged concentrically with respect to the bamboo shoot spring which is the conductive contact.   2. The operation key having a variable resistance according to claim 1, wherein the bamboo spring as the conductive contact is made of a metal or an elastically deformable member containing carbon.

Images