JP2007048480A - Multidirectional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out parallel displacement operation, rotational operation and pushing operation without changing hands. <P>SOLUTION: This multidirectional input device is provided with a knob 9 provided in a case 3 to be capable of parallel displacement operation, rotational operation and pushing operation in and was provided operational, a first rotor 5 rotatably provided in the case 3, a second rotor 7 adjacently facing the first rotor 5 in a direction of a knob rotary shaft, provided rotatably and movably in a turning-radius direction in the case 3 and in which the knob 9 can be pushed in the direction of the knob rotary shaft and rotatingly engaged, a positioning engaging part provided between the first and second rotors 5, 7, disengaged resisting to elastic force, allowing the second rotor 7 to move in the knob turning-radius direction against the first rotor 5 and performing rotation propagation between the first and second rotors 5, 7. A corresponding detection part is operated by either of parallel displacement operation, rotational operation or pushing operation of the knob 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-directional input device for an automobile that enables a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation.

  FIG. 9 is a main cross-sectional view showing a conventional multidirectional input device. As shown in FIG. 9, in the conventional multi-directional input device, a tilt / push operation knob 203 is attached to the case 201 so as to be tiltable and pushable, and a rotary knob 204 is attached so as to be rotatable. The operation of the corresponding contact or the like is performed by the operation.

  By the tilting operation of the tilting / pushing operation knob 203, the tilting member 205 tilts and the contact operates. By the rotation operation of the rotation knob 204, the rotating body 207 rotates in conjunction with the rotation detection. By the pushing operation of the tilting and pushing knob 203, the pushing member 209 is pushed in the axial direction and the contact is operated.

  However, in the conventional structure, when the tilt operation knob 203 is moved from the tilt operation or push operation to the rotation operation of the rotation knob 204, the knobs 203 and 204 have to be changed.

JP 2005-122294 A JP 2005-122289 A JP 2005-122290 A

  The problem to be solved is that it is necessary to change the knob when moving from the tilting operation and the pushing operation to the rotating operation.

  The present invention enables a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation to be performed without changing, so that a knob provided for a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation with respect to the case and the case can be rotated. A first rotor provided on the first rotor and adjacent to the first rotor in the knob rotation axis direction so as to be rotatable to the case and movable in the rotation radius direction, and the knob can be pushed in the knob rotation axis direction. And a second rotor that is rotationally engaged with the first rotor and the second rotor, and is engaged with and disengaged against an elastic force with respect to the first rotor. And a positioning engagement portion that allows movement and transmits rotation between the first and second rotors, and is configured to operate the detection unit corresponding to any of the parallel movement operation, the rotation operation, and the push-in operation. Major And butterflies.

  The multi-directional input device according to the present invention includes a knob provided so as to be able to perform a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation with respect to the case, a first rotor provided rotatably in the case, and the first rotor. A second rotor which is adjacent to the knob rotation axis direction and is rotatable to the case and movable in the rotation radius direction, the knob being able to be pushed in the knob rotation axis direction and being rotationally engaged; Provided between the two rotors and disengaged against the elastic force to allow the first rotor to move in the radial direction of the knob and to transmit the rotation between the first and second rotors. A positioning engagement portion that performs a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation without changing the knob in order to operate the detection unit corresponding to any of the parallel movement operation, the rotation operation, and the push-in operation. It can be.

  The object of enabling the parallel movement operation, the rotation operation, and the push-in operation to be performed without changing the position is realized by the two rotors and the detachable positioning engagement portion.

[Multi-directional switch structure]
1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multidirectional switch, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a parallel movement operation, and FIG. 6 is a positioning engagement portion. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the rotational mode engagement portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multidirectional switch 1 that is the multidirectional input device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a case 3 including a first rotor 5, a second rotor 7, a knob 9, and the like. Can be operated in parallel movement, rotation, and push-in, and the corresponding detection unit is operated by any of the operations. In the following description, the knob rotation axis direction of the knob 9 is the knob rotation axis direction, the rotation radius direction is the knob rotation radius direction, and the rotation circumferential direction is the knob circumferential direction.

  The case 3 includes a lower case 11 and an upper case 13, and is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The lower part of the upper case 13 is fitted to the upper part of the lower case 11, and is detachably coupled and fixed by snap fit or the like. The lower case 11 is provided with a step portion 15 for positioning the substrate. The top plate 17 of the lower case 11 is provided with a rotor support hole 18, and four rod support portions 19 are provided on the outer periphery of the rotor support hole 18 in the knob circumferential direction. A push rod 20 is supported on the rod support portion 19. The push rod 20 is provided with a flange 21 and engages with the rod support portion 19. The tip 22 of the push rod 20 is smoothly formed in a hemispherical shape. The upper case 13 is provided with a cylindrical portion 23.

  The first rotor 5 is rotatably provided on the case 3. That is, the first rotor 5 is formed in a donut shape and is rotatably supported by the rotor support hole 18 of the lower case 11. The first rotor 5 is provided with a flange 25 around one side and a comb-like portion 27 for detecting rotation around the other side. The flange 25 is engaged with the top plate 17 of the lower case 11. A through hole 29 is provided in the center of the first rotor 5, and a push plate support hole 31 is provided adjacent to the through hole 29.

  A push plate 33 is movably supported in the push plate support hole 31. The push plate 33 is provided with a through hole 35, and the push plate 33 is formed in a donut shape. A rubber contact 37 corresponding to the pushing operation is in contact with the push plate 33 as a detection unit. The rubber contact 37 is elastically bent when the pressing force is received from the push plate 33 to operate the contact. The rubber contact 37 is provided on the substrate 39 at three positions in the circumferential direction of the knob at 120 °.

  The substrate 39 is fitted into the step portion 15 of the lower case 11 and is positioned by a stopper 40 attached to the lower case 11.

  The substrate 39 is provided with an LED 41 as an illumination tool so as to face the through hole 35. A rubber contact 43 corresponding to a parallel movement operation is provided on the outer peripheral side of the rubber contact 37 on the substrate 39 as a detection unit. The rubber contacts 43 are arranged at four positions in the knob circumferential direction and are in contact with the flange 21 side of the push rod 20. The substrate 39 is further provided with a photo sensor 45 corresponding to the rotation operation as a detection unit. The photo sensor 45 can be replaced with another rotation detection sensor.

  Accordingly, a single substrate 39 provided with a detection unit that operates separately by the parallel movement operation, rotation operation, and push-in operation of the knob 9 is provided.

  The second rotor 7 is adjacent to the first rotor 5 in the knob rotation axis direction so as to be rotatable in the case 3 and movable in the knob rotation radius direction. The positioning engagement portion described later allows the first rotor 5 to move the second rotor 7 in the radial direction of the knob rotation and transmits the rotation between the first and second rotors 5 and 7. Do.

  The second rotor 7 is provided with a tapered surface 47 around one side, and the tip 22 of the push rod 20 is in contact with the second rotor 7. A support cylinder 49 is provided on the other side surface of the second rotor 7. A through hole 51 is provided at the center of the second rotor 7, and a coupling hole 53 is provided adjacent to the through hole 51 and extending along the inner periphery of the support cylinder 49.

  Between the second rotor 7 and the upper case 13, first and second sliders 55, 57 and a rotation mode engagement portion described later are provided, and the second rotor 7 is attached to the upper case 13 of the case 3. On the other hand, the knob is movable and rotatable in the radial direction of the knob. The first slider 55 is movable in one direction with respect to the upper case 13 of the case 3 and the second slider 57 is provided on the first slider 55 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first slider 55 includes a pair of slide arms 59 and a ring portion 61. The slide arms 59 and the ring portion 61 are coupled by a bridge portion 63, and are formed in an H shape in plan view. ing. The slide arm 59 is guided by the inner surface of the side wall 65 of the upper case 13 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and can move in one direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the first slider 55 is provided with a slide groove 67 from the bridge portion 63 to the slide arm 59.

The second slider 57 is formed in a ring shape with a fitting hole 69 provided at the center. The second slider 57 is fitted to the support cylinder 49 of the second rotor 7 in the fitting hole 69 so as to be relatively rotatable. The second slider 57 is provided with a protrusion 71 that is slidably fitted into the slide groove 67 of the first slider 55. A space for fitting a grease reservoir or an oil-containing plastic can be provided between the slide groove 67 and the protrusion 71. Instead of the tapered surface 47 of the second rotor 7, an inclined surface having the same function may be provided on the second slider 57.

  The knob 9 is attached to the second rotor 7 so that the knob 9 can be pushed in and rotated in the direction of the knob rotation axis. The knob 9 is formed in a size such that the grip portion 73 can be gripped by a palm, for example. The knob 9 includes a conical part 75, a body part 77, and a tip part 79, and a hollow part 81 having a circular cross section is formed penetrating in the knob rotation axis direction. A name plate 83 made of a translucent material is attached to the end of the conical portion 75 to constitute a display portion. The hollow portion 81 of the knob 9 and the through hole 35 of the push plate 33 constitute an optical path that penetrates from the LED 41 to the name plate 83. The bright display of the nameplate 83 is performed by the illumination of the LED 41.

  The knob 9 is inserted into the support cylinder 49 of the second rotor 7 and is rotationally engaged with the second rotor 7 so that it can be pushed. This engagement can be performed, for example, by engaging a protrusion formed on the body 77 of the knob 9 with a slit in the knob rotation axis direction formed on the support tube 49. The engagement of the protrusion with the slit is a snap fit or the like, and the knob 9 is prevented from coming off from the second rotor 7. The positioning engagement portion between the first rotor 5 and the second rotor 7 is as shown in FIGS. The positioning engagement portion 85 can be engaged and disengaged against the elastic force and is provided on the first rotor 5 which is one of the first and second rotors 5 and 7 and is urged by the coil spring 87. The ball 89 and the second rotor 7 which is the other side are provided with a moderation mountain 91 with which the ball 89 is engaged. The coil spring 87 and the ball 89 may be provided on the second rotor 7, and the moderation peak 91 may be provided on the first rotor 5.

  The coil spring 87 and the ball 89 are respectively accommodated in accommodation holes 93 formed in a plurality of locations in the knob circumferential direction in the first rotor 5, and each ball 89 is in a moderation mountain 91 formed in the second rotor 7. It is in elastic contact.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the moderation mountain 91 is formed in a two-stage shape having a central positioning mountain 95 and a return mountain 97 around the positioning mountain 95.

The rotational mode engagement portion is provided between the second rotor 7 and the second slider 57 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and provides rotational speed to the second rotor 7 with respect to the second slider 57. Give. The rotation mode engagement portion 99 is provided on the second rotor 7 which is one of the second rotor 7 and the second slider 57, and the ball 103 urged by the coil spring 101 and the second which is the other. A moderation mountain 105 provided on the slider 57 and engaged with the ball 103 is constituted. The coil spring 101 and the ball 103 can be provided on the second slider 57, and the moderation peak 105 can be provided on the second rotor 7.
The coil spring 101 and the ball 103 are respectively received in receiving holes 107 formed in a plurality of locations in the knob circumferential direction in the second rotor 7, and each ball 103 is formed continuously in the knob circumferential direction on the second slider 57. It is elastically touching the moderate mountain 105.

[Translation operation]
The grip portion 73 of the knob 9 can be grasped with a palm and operated to translate in any of the eight directions A to H in FIG. By this operation, the operating force is transmitted to the second rotor 7 through the coupling hole 53. This operating force is sequentially transmitted from the second rotor 7 to the second slider 57 and the first slider 55, and the first slider 55 is guided by the side wall 65 of the upper case 13 and slides. The slider 57 slides with respect to the first slider 55 by the slide groove 67 and the protrusion 71. By these two sliding operations, rotation is restricted when the second rotor 7 moves in the knob rotation radial direction with respect to the upper case 13, and the knob 9 includes the directions A to H by this rotation restriction. Only a translation operation can be performed in the rotational radius direction. Moreover, the rotation mode engagement part 99 between the 2nd rotor 7 and the 2nd slider 57 can be functioned effectively.

  By the parallel movement operation, the second rotor 7 moves from the state of FIG. 4 to the state of FIG. 5, for example. By this movement, the tapered surface 47 of the second rotor 7 pushes down the push rod 20, and the rubber contact 43 can be crushed and the contact can be operated. Since the tapered surface 47 is provided on the entire circumference of the second rotor 7, the same operation can be performed even when the knob 9 rotates.

  Since the push rods 20 are provided at a pitch of 90 °, when the knob 9 is operated in the direction of the push rods 20, the contact of the rubber contact 43 in that direction is turned ON. When the knob 9 is operated in the middle direction between the two push rods 20, the two push rods 20 are simultaneously turned ON. Accordingly, the operation in eight directions can be detected by the four rubber contacts 43.

  When the second rotor 7 moves as shown in FIG. 5, the ball 89 urged by the coil spring 87 moves away from the positioning mountain 95 and returns to the return mountain 97 in the same manner as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Move to. When the ball 89 moves away from the positioning peak 95 and moves to the return peak 97, a reaction force can be applied to the knob 9 to give an operational feeling.

  The movement of the ball 89 causes the ball 89 to be pushed inward of the receiving hole 93 against the urging force of the coil spring 87. Accordingly, when the operation force of the knob 9 is lost, the ball 97 protrudes from the accommodation hole 93 by the urging force of the coil spring 87 and returns to the positioning peak 95 from the return peak 97 and is positioned. At the same time, the rubber contact 43 crushed by the push rod 20 is also elastically restored, and a restoring force is applied to the tapered surface 47 via the push rod 20. Therefore, the second rotor 7 reliably moves to the neutral position before the parallel movement operation, and the knob 9 automatically returns to the original position before the operation.

[Rotation operation]
When the grip portion 73 of the knob 9 is gripped and rotated, a rotational force is transmitted from the body portion 77 to the support cylinder 49 of the second rotor 7, and the second rotor 7 rotates about the axis. The rotation is transmitted from the second rotor 7 to the first rotor 5 through the engagement of the positioning engagement portion 85. Due to the rotation of the first rotor 5, the comb teeth portion 27 rotates and moves relative to the photo sensor 45. This rotational movement is detected by the photo sensor 45.

  When the knob 9 is rotated, the second rotor 7 rotates relative to the second slider 57, so that the ball 103 urged by the coil spring 101 gets over the moderation mountain 105 and feels moderation. Obtainable.

[Push-in operation]
When the knob 9 is pushed in, the body 77 is pushed into the support tube 49 and moves in the axial direction. The pushing force of the knob 9 is transmitted from the distal end 79 to the push plate 33, and the rubber contact 37 is crushed. As a result, the rubber contact 37 operates and the contact is turned on, and the pushing operation can be detected.

When the operator releases his / her hand from the knob 9, the pressing force of the rubber contact 37 is removed, and the knob 9 is pushed up via the push plate 33 by the elastic return force of the rubber contact 37 to return. Note that another spring for returning the knob 9 may be provided.
[illumination]
When the LED 41 emits light, light passes through the through hole 35 of the push plate 33 and the hollow portion 81 of the knob 9 and reaches the nameplate 83 directly. The nameplate 83 can be brightly displayed by this light.
[Effect of Example]
A parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation can be performed without changing the knob 9.

  The knob 9 can be rotated and pushed, and can be translated without being tilted. For this reason, it is not necessary to have a structure in which the tilting operation approximates to parallel movement, and the overall size can be further reduced.

  Since the rubber contacts 37 and 43 and the photo sensor 45 are provided on the single substrate 39 as detection units that are individually operated by the parallel movement operation, rotation operation, and push-in operation of the knob 9, the number of parts is small, and assembly parts management is performed. And can be made more compact overall.

(Example 1) which is a top view of a multidirectional switch. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 (Example 1). (Example 1) which is the perspective view of the state which removed the knob and the upper case. (Example 1) which is the IV-IV arrow directional cross-sectional view of FIG. (Example 1) which is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 4 which shows parallel movement operation. (Example 1) which is principal part sectional drawing of a positioning engagement part. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 1 (Example 1). (Example 1) which is principal part sectional drawing of a rotation mode engagement part. It is principal sectional drawing of a multidirectional switch (conventional example).

Explanation of symbols

1 Multidirectional switch (Multidirectional input device)
3 Case 5 First rotor 7 Second rotor 9 Knob 20 Push rod 37, 43 Rubber contact (detector)
39 Substrate 41 Lighting 35 Through-hole (optical path)
45 Photo sensor (detector)
47 Tapered surface 55 First slider 57 Second slider 81 Hollow part (optical path)
83 Nameplate (Display)
85 Positioning engagement portion 87,101 Coil spring 89,103 Ball 91,105 Moderation mountain 99 Rotation moderation engagement portion

Claims (8)

A knob provided for parallel movement operation, rotation operation, push-in operation with respect to the case,
A first rotor rotatably provided in the case;
A second rotor which is adjacent to the first rotor in the direction of the knob rotation axis and is rotatably provided to the case and movable in the direction of the rotation radius; ,
The first rotor is provided between the first and second rotors, engages and disengages against an elastic force, and allows the first rotor to move in the radial direction of the knob rotation. A positioning engagement portion for transmitting rotation between the rotors,
A multi-directional input device characterized by operating a detection unit corresponding to any of the parallel movement operation, the rotation operation, and the push-in operation. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1,
The positioning engaging portion is a ball provided on one of the first and second rotors and biased by a coil spring and a moderation mountain provided on the other and engaged with the ball. Multi-directional input device. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1 or 2,
A tapered surface is provided on the second rotor side,
The case is provided with a plurality of push rods in the circumferential direction of the knob that move in the axial direction by abutting against the tapered surface when the second rotor moves in the knob rotating radial direction, and operate the corresponding detecting section. Multidirectional input device. The multidirectional input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The second rotor is movable and rotatable in the knob rotation radial direction with respect to the case via the first and second sliders,
The first slider is provided on the case so as to be movable in one direction, and the second slider is provided on the first slider so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. Multidirectional input device. The multidirectional input device according to claim 4,
A multi-directional input device, characterized in that a rotation mode engagement portion that provides rotation mode to the second rotor with respect to the second slider is provided between the second rotor and the second slider. The multi-directional input device according to claim 5,
The rotational mode engagement portion is a ball provided on one of the second rotor and the second slider and biased by a coil spring and a moderation mountain provided on the other and engaged with the ball. A featured multi-directional input device. The multidirectional input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A multi-directional input device comprising a single substrate provided with a detector that operates separately by a parallel movement operation, a rotation operation, and a push-in operation of the knob. The multi-directional input device according to claim 7,
A lighting device is provided on the substrate,
Provide a display on the top of the knob,
Providing an optical path that penetrates from the illuminator to the display;
The multidirectional input device characterized in that the display unit performs bright light display by illumination of the illumination tool.

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