JP2007036508A - Input device and remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a remote controller is shifted from one hand to the other to push a cursor key unless a key for various functions and a cursor-key decision key are arranged adjacently, or the movement of a finger is increased and a workability is deteriorated, or the cursor key is pushed to cause misfunction while rotating a dial ring with strong depression when the cursor key and the dial ring for a jog are combined. <P>SOLUTION: An input device has a control key group 14 in which a plurality of control keys are arrayed annularly, and a dial key 22 disposed inside the control key group and using approximately the center of the torus of the control key group as the center of a rotation. The input device further has the cursor key 23 annularly disposed inside the dial key, and a decision key disposed at approximately the central place of the torus of the control key group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for using an input device capable of operating various AV devices and home appliances for a remote control device and an operation panel.

  As background art of this technical field, for example, there is Patent Literature 1. In this publication, the problem is described as “preventing an increase in the size of the apparatus and improving operability.” As a means for solving the problem, “the remote commander is rotated when performing DVD variable speed playback. The jog shuttle unit 21 and the cursor unit 22 operated when instructing the direction of moving the cursor are integrally provided. "

As another background art, for example, there is Non-Patent Document 1, and in the remote control described on page 12 of this instruction manual, a group of buttons such as a program table button and a function selection button arranged in an annular shape, A multi-jog key in which the up / down / left / right cursor keys and the jog dial ring are integrated is arranged inside the button group, and a decision key is arranged inside the multi-jog key. Also, on page 30 of this instruction manual, as an operation for scheduled recording, the program guide button of the outer button group is pressed, and the multi-jog key is rotated or the cursor key part is pressed according to the displayed menu display to display a desired program. It is stated that the reservation is completed when the selection key is pressed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-199124 Matsushita Electric Industrial DVD Recorder DMR-EH60 Instruction Manual pages 12 and 30

  Remote control devices (hereinafter referred to as remote controllers) for inputting information on AV equipment and home appliances are applied to DVD recording / playback devices and the like, and can perform various playback processing and recording processing utilizing the characteristics of DVDs. Yes. For example, it is possible to perform playback processing with increased convenience such as playback of a desired program using a cursor key and a determination key from a thumbnail image list of representative images of recorded programs. Further, a jog dial key for performing variable speed reproduction such as frame advancement is also required, and there is a tendency that operation buttons on the remote control increase with an increase in functions.

  On the other hand, keys for various functions such as program guide display and thumbnail display are installed and used together with the cursor key and the decision key to activate a desired function. It is desired from the viewpoint of operability to arrange such keys to be used simultaneously.

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, since the keys for various functions and the cursor keys / decision keys are not arranged nearby, the remote controller is first held so that the various function keys can be easily pressed. In some cases, it is necessary to press various function keys and then move the remote controller so that the cursor keys can be easily pressed, and then press the cursor keys or increase the amount of finger movement.

  In order to eliminate the need for holding and improve the operability, the conventional technology described in Non-Patent Document 1 arranges various function keys, dial rings, multi-jog keys also serving as cursor keys, and a determination key close to each other. However, when turning the dial ring during variable speed playback or menu selection, it is necessary to turn the dial ring while pressing the dial ring so that the finger does not slip. In the prior art described in Non-Patent Document 1, the cursor key and the dial ring for jog are used. As the dial is integrated, the cursor key may be pressed if the dial ring is turned while pressing it strongly.

  The subject of this invention is providing the input device which can improve a user's operativity.

  The above object can be achieved by the invention described in the claims.

  According to the present invention, user operability is improved.

  Embodiments of a remote controller for an HDD built-in DVD recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  A case where the present invention is applied to a remote controller for an HDD built-in DVD recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view of a remote controller for an HDD built-in DVD recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The remote controller 1 has a basic operation key group 11 for performing basic operations such as power on / off and input switching, a reception key group 12 for receiving a broadcast program, and a menu for calling various settings. The set key group 13 includes main function keys for activating various functions, rotatable dial keys for jog operation, up / down / left / right cursor keys for selection, and a determination key for determining a selection item. The function key group 14, the recording / playback key group 15 for performing DVD / HDD recording / playback operations, and the display unit 16 for displaying the broadcast type are separately arranged. This is to improve the operability by arranging keys relating to related operations close to each other.

  Next, the key arrangement of the input device in the remote controller according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the function key group 14 of the remote controller 1 according to the present invention.

  In the function key group 14 arranged on the surface of the remote controller 1, a main function key group 21 for a plurality of main functions is arranged in an annular shape, and the ring of the main function key group 21 is arranged inside the main function key group 21. A dial key 22 that can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise about the center of rotation is disposed, and a cursor key 23 that can select up / down / left / right directions is disposed inside the dial key 22. A determination key 24 is arranged at the approximate center of the ring of the key group 21. Further, the main function key group 21 includes a program guide key 21a, a milk cam key 21b, a return key 21c, an HDD key 21d, a DVD key 21e, a scroll key 21f, a continuous drag key 21g, and a disk navigation key 21h. In addition, a predetermined number of convex portions 22 a are formed on the upper surface of the dial key 22 to prevent slippage.

  Here, an operation when a desired program is selected and reproduced from programs recorded on a DVD disk mounted on a HDD recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown) will be described. First, the DVD key 21e of the main function key 21 arranged on the outermost periphery and the disk navigation key 21h are pressed, and the program recorded on the DVD disk mounted in the HDD built-in DVD recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown) is represented. A list of thumbnail images is displayed on a display device (not shown). While viewing the thumbnail list, the user can select the desired program by pressing the up / down / left / right triangles of the cursor key 23 or rotating the dial key 22 and press the enter key 24 to play the desired program. . Furthermore, the dial key 22 can be used when performing variable speed reproduction such as frame advance during reproduction.

  In this manner, by centrally arranging the main function key 21, the dial key 22, the cursor key 23, and the decision key 24 that can be operated independently, it is possible to avoid erroneous operations and to reduce the amount of finger movement during user switching and operation. Operability can be improved. Further, the remote controller can be reduced in size by concentrically arranging a large number of keys as in the present embodiment.

  The internal configuration of the input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the A-A ′ portion of FIG. 2 of the function key group 14 of the remote controller 1 according to the present invention.

  A determination key 24 is attached to the tip of the shaft 31a at the center of the shuttle unit 31 for detecting rotation of the jog dial, up / down / left / right for the cursor key, and pressing of the determination key, and a cursor key 23 below the key 31a. The dial key 22 is attached to the rotating part 31b. Further, the shuttle unit 31 is mounted on the shuttle board 32. Here, when the axis 31a is pushed in the vertical direction, it becomes a decision key input, and when the upper, lower, left and right triangular portions of the dial key 22 are pushed, if it is tilted obliquely, the cursor key is inputted in the tilted direction. Moreover, the rotation part 31b can detect rotation.

  On the main board 35 on which the switch portion of the basic operation key group 11 and the like is mounted, a tact switch 34 for the main function key group 21 for the milk camo key 21b and the sliding key 21f is mounted. The milk cam key 21b and the sliding key 21f are arranged to be exposed to the outside through the section. Further, a rubber sheet 37 for a power key or the like is arranged on the main board 35, and a contact formed on the main board 35 is inputted by pressing the rubber sheet 37. A transparent acrylic panel 38 is fixed on the upper surface of the upper case 33 to protect the liquid crystal panel surface of the display unit 16. The shuttle board 32 and the main board 35 are fixed to the lower case 36.

  The height positional relationship of each key of the input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the input device according to the present invention.

  In the dial key 22 and the cursor key 23, the dial key 22 is higher by a dimension L1 (for example, 0.65 mm). Further, the dial key 22 is higher by the dimension L2 (for example, 0.5 mm) between the dial key 22 and the milk cam key 21b of the main function key 21. That is, since the dial key 22 is disposed so as to protrude higher than the adjacent key, the dial key 22 can be operated without the adjacent key interfering with each other.

  Here, since the main function key 21 is formed of a hard material, the milk cam key 21b is not deformed, so that the gap between the adjacent dial key 22, upper case 33, and acrylic panel 38 can be reduced. . Thereby, a remote control can be reduced in size.

  The shape of the dial key 22 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dial key 22 according to the present invention, taken along the line B-B 'of FIG.

  A predetermined number of convex portions 22 a are formed on the upper surface of the dial key 22. Since the convex portion 22a protrudes by a dimension L3 (for example, 0.5 mm), when the user rotates the dial key 22, a finger is caught on the convex portion 22a, so that the operability is further improved.

In the present embodiment, the case where the predetermined number of protrusions 22a are provided as a process for preventing the dial key 22 from slipping has been described. However, the anti-slip process is not limited to this, and other anti-slip processes are provided. Processing is also acceptable. For example, the surface may be uneven, a sheet with a large friction coefficient may be applied, or a paint may be applied.
It is also effective to use the function key group shown in FIG. 2 for operation panels of various AV devices and home appliances.

Front view of a remote control according to the present invention The enlarged view of the function key group 14 of the remote control 1 by this invention. Sectional view of the A-A 'portion of the function key group 14 of FIG. The cross-sectional enlarged view of the input device by this invention Sectional view of a dial key according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote control, 11 ... Basic operation key group, 12 ... Reception key group, 13 ... Setting key group,
14 ... Function key group, 15 ... Recording / playback key group, 16 ... Display section, 21 ... Main function key group,
22 ... Dial key, 23 ... Cursor key, 24 ... Enter key, 21a ... Program guide key,
21b ... mil camo key, 21c ... return key, 21d ... HDD key, 21e ... DVD key,
21f ... Ben key, 21g ... Continuous drag key, 22a ... Convex part, 31 ... Shuttle unit,
31a ... shaft, 31b ... rotating part, 32 ... shuttle board, 33 ... upper case,
34 ... tact switch, 35 ... main board, 36 ... lower case, 38 ... acrylic panel

Claims (4)

  An operation key group in which a plurality of operation keys are arranged in an annular shape, a dial key disposed inside the operation key group and having an approximate center of a ring of the operation key group as a rotation center, and an inner side of the dial key An input device, comprising: a cursor key disposed on the keypad; and a determination key disposed at a substantially central position of a ring of the operation key group.   2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the dial key is at a position higher than an upper surface of the operation key group and / or an upper surface of the cursor key.   3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the dial key is processed to prevent slipping. A remote control device comprising the input device according to claim 1 and a transmission means using infrared rays.

Images