JP2006120576A - Changeover switch and display device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a changeover switch with excellent operability more than that of a prior art, and a display device using it. <P>SOLUTION: In this changeover switch, a knob 51 on a pillar at which a pressing part 51b is installed, a mounting member 5 on which the knob 51 is mounted rotatably and movably in the axial direction, and first and second switch elements 52, 53 which are arranged around the knob 51 and which have first and second contact parts 52a, 53b pressed at the pressing part 51b when the knob 51 is operated in the axial direction are provided, and after a rotating position of the knob 51 is selected, either of the first switch element 52 or the second switch element 53 is selectively actuated by press-operating the knob 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a changeover switch capable of selectively operating any one of two or more switch elements by operating one knob, and a display device using the changeover switch.

As this kind of changeover switch, by rotating the knob extending on the pillar in the right or left direction, the user can press the flange part linked to this knob against the contact part using the rotational force that rotates the knob. A configuration for operating the first or second switch element and a configuration for operating the third switch element by pushing the knob in the axial direction are disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-194588 A

  However, in this changeover switch, a rotational force that rotates the knob is used to operate the first or second switch element, and in order to generate this rotational force, a skillful operation of the user is required. The operability is not very good.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a change-over switch having better operability than the conventional one and a display device using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the technical means according to claims 1 to 9 are employed.

According to invention of Claim 1, while being arrange | positioned around the knob with the knob on a pillar provided with the press part, the attachment member which attaches a knob so that rotation is possible, and it can move to an axial direction And first and second switch elements having first and second contact portions that are pressed by the pressing portion when the knob is operated in the axial direction, and the knob is pushed after selecting the rotation position of the knob. One of the first and second switch elements is selectively activated by operation.
Thereby, in the changeover switch of the present invention, the switch is operated by using the turning force of the knob by the user as in the prior art, but it is possible to improve the operability by pushing the knob.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting member is formed of a circuit board, and the first and second contact portions are arranged on the same circumference centering on the knob on the circuit board. The same level of pressing force can be stably applied to each contact portion.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first and second contact portions have circuit boards arranged on the same circumference centered on the knob, and the mounting member includes the first and second knobs. Because it is composed of a part of the case member that is set in a positional relationship opposite to the contact parts of the circuit board, it is not necessary to attach the knob to the circuit board, and therefore, the same contact with each contact part without reducing the mounting density of the circuit board. It becomes possible to give a level pressing force stably.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the knob is provided with an elastic member for returning the pressing portion to the normal position, so that the pressing portion is surely separated from the contact portion when the knob is not operated or not pressed. The on / off signal can be stably generated from the first or second switch element.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotation position indicating section indicating the rotation position of the knob is provided on the tip end side of the knob, so that the rotation position of the knob can be seen and understood. It becomes easy.

According to the invention described in claim 6, there is provided a display device using the changeover switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A display element for displaying predetermined information is provided, the first or second switch element is operated in conjunction with the operation of the knob, and the display information of the display element is displayed according to the selection operation of the first or second switch element. It is characterized by switching.

Thereby, the display information switching instruction can be easily performed by a simple operation of rotating and pushing the knob.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device using the changeover switch according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A display element for switching and displaying a plurality of information, and a display element that operates the first or second switch element in conjunction with the operation of the knob and receives an ON signal or an OFF signal of the first or second switch element. And a control means for switching the display information.

  Accordingly, each switch element can be turned on and off by a simple operation of rotating and pushing the knob, and display information on the display element can be switched using this on / off signal.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the control means determines the on time or the length of the off time of the on / off signal of the selected first or second switch element, and switches the display information of the display element. As a result, it is possible to give more switching instructions than that with a small number of switch elements.

  According to the invention described in claim 9, the control means is displaying the first switching control means for switching the display information of the display element every time the first switch element is operated, and displaying the specific display information on the display element. And a second switching control means for operating the second switch element to correct the display content of the specific display information, the role of each switch element is clarified, the display information switching instruction, and the specific The instruction for correcting the display content of the displayed information is less likely to be confused, and the operation can be performed more reliably.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a vehicle but also to a display device for other purposes. Here, an example in which the changeover switch of the present invention is applied to a display device in an automobile combination meter will be described.

  1 is a front view of a combination meter 1 to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 corresponds to a Y portion in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the assembled state of the changeover switch 50 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of the changeover switch 50 taken along the line ZZ, and FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a combination meter 1 is arranged in the instrument panel in front of or at the center of the driver's seat of an automobile, and displays various vehicle information and the like. A moving pointer instrument 10, a fuel gauge 20 that displays the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank, a warning indicator 30 that displays various warning information in the vehicle with pictograms, an odometer display, first and second trip meter displays, and time A liquid crystal display 40 that constitutes an electronic display element that switches and displays the display according to a user's selection instruction. The user manually selects the display content of the liquid crystal display 40 or displays the display content. For example, a changeover switch 50 having a knob 51 made of resin for performing an adjustment operation or the like is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the case of the meter 1 is configured by sequentially assembling first, second, and third case members 2, 3, 4 made of resin and a front panel 7 made of a transparent material, for example. Yes. In this case, a rigid printed circuit board 5 which is a circuit board is assembled so as to be sandwiched between the first and second case members 2 and 3, and a display board 6 on which symbols, characters, etc. are printed is second. The third case members 3 and 4 are assembled in a sandwiched manner.

  The second case member 3 is integrally formed with a protruding portion 3 a that partially extends to the surface side of the printed circuit board 5 and contacts the surface of the printed circuit board 5. A cylindrical guide portion 3b is formed in a part of the protruding portion 3a, and the knob 51 can be moved in the axial direction by guiding the flange portion 51c formed integrally with the knob 51 into the cylinder. ing.

  At the lower end portion of the knob 51, a retaining portion 51 d that can be elastically deformed to prevent the knob 51 from coming off from the printed board 5 is formed integrally with the knob 51 and inserted into the mounting hole 5 a of the printed board 5. A coil spring 54 that extends and contracts along the axial direction of the knob 51 is inserted as an elastic member on the outer periphery of the knob 51 below the flange 51c.

  On the printed circuit board 5, a pointer instrument 10 and a control device 60 that controls each device 20, 30, 40 and the like are mounted. The pointer instrument 10 includes a movement 10c that drives the pointer 10a via a shaft 10b, and the control device 60 receives the selection switch signal from the changeover switch 50 and controls the display content of the liquid crystal display 40.

(Structure of changeover switch 50)
Next, the structure of the changeover switch 50 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Each figure shows the mounting state of the changeover switch 50 on the printed circuit board 5, and the knob 51 that is manually operated by the user is formed in a columnar shape with, for example, resin. As shown in FIG. It is arranged so that the tip of the knob 51 protrudes to the outside, so that the user can operate it. A semicircular portion 51a is integrally formed at the tip of the knob 51 as a rotation position instruction section so that the rotation position of the knob 51 can be seen from the user. As the rotation position instructing unit, any shape, or printing or sticker display or the like may be used as long as it can indicate the rotation position such as an arrow-shaped convex portion or a mark.

  Further, an eaves-like pressing portion 51b extending from the flange portion 51c is formed integrally with the knob 51 below the knob 51, and the knob 51 moves in the axial direction as shown in FIGS. It rotates around the axis of. Here, by pressing in the direction of the printed circuit board 5, the pressing portion 51 b presses the contact portion 52 a of the switch element 52. At that time, the pressing part 51b moves along the shape of the notch part 3c opened in the outer peripheral part of the guide part 3b.

  The retaining portion 51d at the lower end of the knob 51 has a lower end divided into a plurality of portions, and can be penetrated by elastic deformation when inserted into the mounting hole 5a, and then restored to its original shape and detached from the printed board 5. It is the structure which performs prevention.

  A flange portion 51c is disposed in the guide portion 3b to guide the knob 51 in the axial direction and suppress radial deflection. A coil spring 54 that extends and contracts along the axial direction of the knob 51 is inserted as an elastic member on the outer periphery of the knob 51 below the flange 51c, and the upper end of the coil spring 54 abuts against the flange 51c. The shape to be inserted is inserted between the flange 51c and the upper surface of the printed circuit board 5. Accordingly, when the pressing force of the user is released, the knob 51 is moved upward by the restoring force of the coil spring 54, and the pressing portion 51b and the contact portion 52a of the first switch element 52 are reliably separated from each other. Thus, the on / off signal can be stably generated from the first switch element 52.

  Further, the contact part 52a of the first switch element 52 and the contact part 53a of the second switch element 53 are arranged on the same circumference centering on the knob 51, and in this case, they are separated by 90 degrees. . Thus, by arranging the contact portions 52a and 53a on the same circumference, it becomes possible to stably apply the same level of pressing force to the contact portions 52a and 53a.

  Therefore, the user turns the knob 51 to a selected position (symbols A and B) where the contact portions 52a and 53a are located, and then pushes (presses) the knob 51 to select the selected switch. Element 52 or 53 can be activated. Note that the number of switch elements including the contact portion is not limited to two, and three or more switch elements may be arranged on the same circumference with the knob 51 as the center.

  Further, a rotation braking means for braking the rotation of the knob 51 is provided on the outer periphery of the knob 51 so that the rotation position of the knob 51 is stabilized when the user selects the rotation position and after the selection. Good.

  Note that the contact portions 52a and 53a of the first and second switch elements 52 and 53 are not limited to the movable pieces constituting the mechanical switch, but may be configured to flow an electric signal by contact with the pressing portion 51b, It may be constituted by a pressure-sensitive switch pressing portion in which the conduction state changes due to or a magnetic sensing portion of the magnetic switch in which the conduction state changes due to magnetism.

  Thus, the operation method of the changeover switch 50 will be described. The user picks the knob 51 and first turns it to a position (symbols A and B) indicating a desired function. Thereafter, by pushing (pushing) the knob 51, the switch element 52 or 53 can be operated, and the functions A and B selected via the control device 60 can be operated. In particular, when it is necessary to generate a time width signal (0.8 s, 3 s, etc.) corresponding to the length of the push (push) time of the knob 51, it is only necessary to focus on a simple push (push) operation. The operability is better than when switching by rotating power.

  In addition, a plurality of types of time width signals can be generated by one switch element 52, 53. As a result, more instruction signals can be generated by a small number of switch elements.

(Modification of the structure of the changeover switch 50)
In the above embodiment, the lower end portion of the knob 51 is attached to the printed circuit board 5. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the knob 51 is attached to the bottom portion of the bottomed cylindrical guide portion 3 b 1 that is a part of the case member of the meter 1. You may do it. The bottomed cylindrical guide portion 3b1 is formed integrally with the protruding portion 3a of the second case member 3 made of resin, for example, and a mounting hole 5a1 is provided at the bottom portion of the guide portion 3b1. The integrally formed retaining portion 51d is elastically deformed and inserted.

  In the above embodiment, the coil spring 54 is used as an elastic member for returning the pressing portion 51b to the normal position. However, the coil spring 54 is abolished and elastically deformed integrally with the knob 51. A plate-like protruding portion may be provided, and the restoring force in the axial direction of the plate-like protruding portion may be used. That is, at the time of the pressing operation of the pressing portion 51b, the lower end portion of the plate-like protruding portion is brought into contact with the upper surface of the printed circuit board 5 in an elastically deformed state, and the plate-like protruding portion is restored at the end of the pressing operation. By the force, the knob 51 can be moved away from the printed circuit board 5, and the pressing portion 51b and the contact portion 52a can be reliably separated.

(Application example of changeover switch)
Next, an application example in which the liquid crystal display 40 of an electronic display element is operated using the above-described changeover switch 50 will be described. In particular, this example shows an application example in which display content is controlled according to a time width signal of an ON signal or an OFF signal having a predetermined time width that can be easily generated by the changeover switch 50.

  FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control device 60 using the changeover switch 50, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a switching order of four display functions displayed on the liquid crystal display 40 by the control circuit 100. 10 is a flowchart showing a time adjustment flow when the clock display is selected on the liquid crystal display 40.

  8, the control circuit 100 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, receives the changeover switch 50 and various detection information, and receives the pointer instrument 10, the fuel gauge 20, the warning indicator 30, and the like shown in FIG. And the operation of the liquid crystal display 40 is controlled. The control circuit 100 is always supplied with the battery voltage VB from the battery 101 without passing through the ignition switch 102 in order to maintain the function of operating even when the ignition switch 102 is off, and the battery voltage through the ignition switch 102. There is a path through which VB is supplied.

  As shown in FIG. 9, it operates when the ignition switch 102 is turned on, and the first switch element 52 of the changeover switch 50 is selected by the turning operation of the knob 51, and the pushing (pushing) operation of the knob 51 is performed. Every time an ON signal (in this case, an L level signal) having a predetermined time width (for example, 0.04 seconds or more and less than 0.8 seconds) is input to the control circuit 100, the control circuit 100 displays the odometer display A1 → The display function is switched in the order of 1 trip meter display A2 → second trip meter display A3 → clock display A4 → odometer display A1. Incidentally, in the control circuit 100, the switching function of the display function constitutes a first switching control means described in claim 9.

  Moreover, in the state of the first trip meter display A2 or the second trip meter display A3, an ON signal that turns on the first switch element 52 for the predetermined time width (for example, 0.8 seconds) or more is input to the control circuit 100. Then, the currently selected trip meter display A2 or A3 is reset.

  In the state of the first trip meter display A2 or the second trip meter display A3, there is an ON signal that turns on the second switch element 53 of the changeover switch 50 for the predetermined time width (for example, 0.8 seconds) or more. When input to the control circuit 100, the currently selected trip meter display A2 or A3 may be reset.

(Time adjustment processing)
Next, FIG. 10 shows a time adjustment flow when the clock display A4 is selected in the control circuit 100.

  In order to select the clock display A4, as described with reference to FIG. 9, the user selects the first switch element 52 (hereinafter referred to as SW1) of the changeover switch 50 by rotating the knob 51, and the knob The clock display is selected by repeating the pushing (pushing) operation 51. When this clock display is selected, the time adjustment flow shown in FIG. 10 starts. This time adjustment flow constitutes the second switching control means described in claim 9.

  Therefore, the time adjustment process will be described.

  First, a clock display including at least a time display and a minute display is performed (step 201). At this time, if an ON signal (L level signal) in which the second switch element 53 (hereinafter referred to as SW2) of the changeover switch 50 is turned on for a predetermined time width t1 (for example, 40 ms <t <800 ms) is input. Time adjustment is performed (steps 202 and 203). On the other hand, the clock display is continued even when an OFF signal (H level signal) of SW2 or an ON signal that is turned on for an extremely short time t2 (eg, t ≦ 40 ms) is input. . On the other hand, when the first turn-on signal in which SW2 is turned on for a predetermined time width t3 (for example, 800 ms ≦ t) is input, the mode proceeds to the minute digit correction mode and the preparation is started (steps 202 and 204).

  Subsequently, when the second ON signal by SW2 is input and the time width t of the ON signal is a predetermined time width t1 (for example, 40 ms <t <800 ms), the fractional number is stepped (steps 205 and 206). When the time width t of the ON signal is a predetermined time width t4 (for example, 800 ms <t <3 s), the fractional number is continuously fed by 2 Hz (step 207), and the time width t of the ON signal is the predetermined time width. When t5 (for example, 3s ≦ t), the fractional digit is continuously fed at 5 Hz (step 208). On the other hand, the minute digit correction mode is continued even when an ON signal that is turned on for an extremely short time t2 (for example, t ≦ 40 ms) is input. On the other hand, when the off signal of SW2 is inputted, the process proceeds to step 209, and when the off time of the off signal becomes 5 seconds or more, the process proceeds to the time digit correction mode and the preparation is started (steps 209, 210).

  Subsequently, when the third ON signal by SW2 is inputted and the time width t of the ON signal is a predetermined time width t1 (for example, 40 ms <t <800 ms), the time digits are stepped (steps 211 and 212). When the time width t of the ON signal is a predetermined time width t3 (for example, 800 ms ≦ t), the time digits are set to 2 Hz continuous feed (step 213). On the other hand, the time digit correction mode is continued even when an ON signal that is turned on for an extremely short time t2 (for example, t ≦ 40 ms) is input. On the other hand, when the off signal of SW2 is input, the process proceeds to step 214, and when the off time of the off signal reaches 5 seconds or more, the time adjustment process is terminated and the process returns to the beginning (step 214).

  On the other hand, when the clock display A is selected and the SW2 is left off without being operated, the steps 201, 201, 204, 205, 209, 210, 211, 214 are advanced to the beginning, and the time is not adjusted. The clock display will continue.

  As described above, the first switch element 52 (SW1) is actuated by rotating and pushing the knob 51 to select the clock display, and then the second switch element is again rotated by the knob 51. 53 (SW2) is selected. Thereafter, only by pushing the knob 51, the second switch element 53 (SW2) is operated in conjunction with the knob 51, and the ON signal of the required predetermined time intervals t1, t2, t3, t4, t5 or An off signal is formed relatively easily, and time adjustment with good operability becomes possible.

  In addition, by controlling the display contents according to the time width signal of the on signal or the off signal that can be easily generated by the changeover switch 50, it is possible to give more than the number of switching instructions with a small number of switch elements. .

  In the application example, a plurality of display information is switched by the first switch element 52 (SW1), and the display content of the selected display information is corrected by the second switch element 53 (SW2). As a result, the roles of the switch elements 52 (SW1) and 53 (SW2) are clarified, and it becomes difficult to confuse the display information switching instruction with the display content correction instruction of the specified display information. It is the structure which raises. In addition to this configuration, both the selection of specific display information from a plurality of display information and correction of the display content of the selected display information for each switch element 52 (SW1) and 53 (SW2). It may be configured to do.

1 is a front view of a combination meter 1 to which the present invention is applied. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a main part corresponding to a Y portion in FIG. 1 and illustrating a mounting state of the changeover switch 50 on the printed circuit board 3. It is a typical principal part perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment state of the changeover switch 50 shown in FIG. It is a typical principal part sectional drawing of the changeover switch 50 along the ZZ line | wire in FIG. It is a typical principal part perspective view of the guide part 3b. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modification of the changeover switch 50. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device 60 using a changeover switch 50. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the switching order of four display functions displayed on the liquid crystal display 40 by the control circuit. It is a flowchart which shows the time adjustment flow when the clock display is selected with the liquid crystal display.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Combination meter 2, 3, 4 1st, 2nd, 3rd case member 3b Guide part 5 Printed circuit board (circuit board)
6 Display panel 40 Liquid crystal display (display element)
50 changeover switch 51 knob 51a semicircular part (rotation position instruction part)
51b pressing part 51c collar part 52, 53 1st, 2nd switch element 52a, 53a contact part (1st, 2nd contact part)
54 Coil spring (elastic member)
60 Control device (control means)
100 Control circuit (control means)

Claims (9)

A knob on the pillar provided with a pressing part;
An attachment member for attaching the knob so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction;
The first and second switch elements are arranged around the knob and have first and second contact portions that are pressed by the pressing portion when the knob is operated in the axial direction.
A selector switch having a configuration in which either the first switch element or the second switch element is selectively operated by pushing the knob after selecting the pivot position of the knob. The mounting member is composed of a circuit board,
2. The changeover switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second contact portions are arranged on the same circumference centering on the knob on the circuit board. The first and second contact portions have circuit boards disposed on the same circumference centered on the knob;
2. The changeover switch according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member is configured by a part of a case member that sets the knob in a positional relationship facing the first and second contact portions.   The changeover switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an elastic member for returning the pressing portion to a normal position is provided on the knob.   The changeover switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a rotation position indicating portion indicating a rotation position of the knob is provided on a tip end side of the knob. A display device using the changeover switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A display element for displaying predetermined information;
The first or second switch element is operated in conjunction with the operation of the knob, and the display information of the display element is switched according to the selection operation of the first or second switch element. Display device. A display device using the changeover switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A display element for switching and displaying a plurality of pieces of information;
Control for switching the display information of the display element by operating the first or second switch element in conjunction with the operation of the knob and receiving an ON signal or an OFF signal of the first or second switch element And a display device.   The control means determines the ON time or the length of the OFF time of the ON / OFF signal of the selected first or second switch element, and switches display information of the display element. Item 8. The display device according to Item 7.   The control means includes first switching control means for switching display information of the display element each time the first switch element is operated, and the second switch while displaying specific display information on the display element. The display device according to claim 7, further comprising: a second switching control unit that operates an element to correct a display content of the specific display information.

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