JP2007234482A - Dialing operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dialing operation device of compact configuration with less constraint on design. <P>SOLUTION: The dialing operation device comprises a dial operation 10, a displacement conversion means 100 which converts the rotational angle displacement of the dial operation 10 in both positive/negative directions that occurs at rotational operation of the dial operation 10 into a linear reciprocating displacement on a linear track in the plane orthogonal to the rotational axis of the dial operation 10, and a displacement detection outputting means 70 which detects the converted linear reciprocating displacement and, based on the detection result, outputs rotational angle position information of the dial operation 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dial type operating device used for operating an electronic device provided in a vehicle (particularly an automobile).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-273506

  In a vehicle such as an automobile, an operation unit for operating an electronic device to be mounted, for example, an air conditioner, a car audio system, and a car navigation system is provided in the vehicle. The operation unit is provided with an operation unit for a vehicle occupant to operate as necessary. Of these, dial type operation devices are often used in air volume adjustment operation units, temperature adjustment operation units or outlet selection operation units of air conditioners, volume operation units of car audio systems, and the like (Patent Document 1).

  In the dial type operation device of Patent Document 1, a non-rotating auxiliary device such as a push switch or an LED display unit is incorporated in the central portion including the rotation axis of the dial operating portion, and avoids interference with the auxiliary device. For this reason, consideration is given to providing a rotational displacement detection portion of the dial operation portion at the dial outer peripheral position. In Patent Document 1, the angular position information of the dial operation unit is obtained by a variable resistance using a carbon resistance film printed on the substrate along the dial circumferential direction.

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to print and form a large arc-shaped carbon resistive film on a substrate corresponding to the operation panel, leading to an increase in substrate cost and a plane for arranging the carbon resistive film. There is a drawback that extra space is required, and space for other circuit elements is pressed, resulting in poor board mounting efficiency.

  The subject of this invention is providing the dial type operating device which can be comprised compactly and has few restrictions on a design.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The dial type operating device according to the present invention includes a dial operating unit, and a rotational angle displacement in both forward and reverse directions generated in the dial operating unit in accordance with a rotational operation of the dial operating unit, in an in-plane crossing the rotational axis of the dial operating unit. Displacement converting means for converting the linear reciprocating displacement on the linear trajectory, and displacement detecting output means for detecting the converted linear reciprocating displacement and outputting the rotational angle position information of the dial operation unit based on the detection result. It is characterized by that.

  In the dial type operating device of the present invention, the rotational angular displacement generated in the dial operating portion is converted into a linear reciprocating displacement in a plane intersecting the rotational axis, and the rotational angular position information of the dial operating portion is based on the linear reciprocating displacement. Was output. As a result, the displacement detection direction is limited to a linear trajectory that intersects the rotational axis of the dial operation unit, so that the space occupied by the plane of the mechanism necessary for displacement detection can be made smaller than before. That is, in the past, the arrangement of the displacement detection mechanism required an arc-shaped two-dimensional plane space along the outer periphery of the dial switch, whereas in the case of the dial type operation device, the two-dimensional plane space is required. Instead, one-dimensional linear narrow space is sufficient. For this reason, the dial type operation device can be configured in a compact manner, and it is possible to flexibly cope with small design and design restrictions.

  In the dial type operating device of the present invention, the displacement converting means is reciprocated along a linear track as the dial gear meshes with the dial gear that rotates in accordance with the rotation operation of the dial operating portion and rotates along with the dial gear. And a rack gear that is displaced. According to this configuration, the forward and reverse rotations of the dial operation unit can be converted into a linear reciprocating displacement with a simple structure.

  In the dial type operating device of the present invention, the displacement converting means may have a reduction gear mechanism that reduces the rotational displacement of the dial gear and transmits it to the rack gear. Specifically, the reduction gear mechanism includes a reduction gear having a first rotation gear and a second rotation gear having a smaller diameter than the first rotation gear, and the first gear meshes with the dial gear. The second gear can mesh with the rack gear. According to this configuration, the large outer peripheral rotational displacement of the dial gear that accompanies the dial operation can be reduced by deceleration and transmitted to the rack gear, the distance range of linear reciprocating displacement can be shortened, and the space occupied by the plane necessary for displacement detection Can be made smaller.

  In the dial type operating device of the present invention, the end surface on the operated side in the rotational axis direction of the dial operating portion is the first end surface, the opposite end surface is the second end surface, and the dial operating portion has a cylindrical main body portion. A non-rotating auxiliary device can be incorporated in the main body portion so as to be exposed on the first end surface side of the dial operation portion. According to this configuration, another device can be provided inside the dial operation unit body, and the operation function can be increased. Specifically, the auxiliary device has a disk-shaped button body and a forward / backward cylinder that protrudes from the back surface of the button body and can be advanced and retracted in the direction of the rotation axis. It can be a push button switch to be made, and can be an operating device that realizes both a rotating operation and a push operation.

  In the dial type operation device of the present invention, the displacement detection output means is formed in the reciprocating direction of the sliding electrical contact portion reciprocating on the linear track, and the sliding electrical contact portion is resistant to the sliding electrical contact portion. A variable resistor having a resistance conductor to be divided can be provided. According to this configuration, the longitudinal direction of the resistance conductor of the variable resistor can be made to coincide with the linear track direction, and the plane occupation space of the variable resistor can be greatly reduced. Also, by adopting a variable resistor, the rotation angle position information of the dial operation part can be easily taken out as a voltage output, and the absolute angle position of the dial operation part can be directly read from the voltage value, so that the counter Extra circuit elements such as are also unnecessary.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the front appearance of an in-vehicle operation unit U to which the present invention is applied. This in-vehicle operation unit U is for operating an automobile (vehicle) air conditioner as an in-vehicle electronic device, and has a resin casing 200 (operation panel). Dial-type operating devices 1A, 1B, 1C (hereinafter collectively referred to as “1” when collectively referred to) are respectively provided on the front surface of the housing 200 (which forms the front surface of the in-vehicle operation unit U). To be represented). The dial type operation devices 1A, 1B, and 1C are mounted on the housing 200 so as to be capable of rotating operation, adjacent to each other in a horizontal row.

  The dial type operation devices 1A, 1B, and 1C are all for operating the air conditioning function. The dial type operation device 1A is used as an air conditioning temperature setting unit, and the dial type operation device 1B is used as an air conditioning outlet switching setting unit. The type operation device 1 </ b> C functions as a blowing air volume switching setting unit. On the front surface of the housing 200, function display areas 201A, 201B, and 201C are formed along the circumferential direction of the dial operation unit 10 of each dial type operation device 1A, 1B, and 1C. In any case, by rotating the dial operation unit 10 and aligning the function instruction mark 2I with a predetermined angular position on the function display areas 201A, 201B, 201C, a desired function selection state (or function setting) Status).

  The dial operation unit 10 of the dial type operation device 1A is subdivided in angular positions that can be held more than the other two dial type operation devices 1B and 1C so that the temperature setting can be changed semi-continuously. . On the other hand, the dial type operating devices 1B and 1C each have five angle holding positions arranged at equal angular intervals. In the dial type operation device 1B for setting the air outlet, five of them are “face speech, face + foot speech, foot speech, foot + def speech, differential speech”, and in the dial operation device 1C for air volume setting, “Off (stop blowing), low (air volume stage I: may be auto), air volume stage II, air volume stage III, high (air volume stage IV)”.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each dial type operation unit 1 has a dial operation unit 10 and a rotational angle displacement in both forward and reverse directions generated in the dial operation unit 10 in accordance with the rotation operation of the dial operation unit 10. A displacement conversion transmission mechanism (displacement conversion means) 100 that converts the linear reciprocating displacement on a linear trajectory in a plane that intersects the rotation axis of the operation unit 10, that is, a plane that is orthogonal in the present embodiment, and the converted linear reciprocating displacement. A linear variable resistance unit 70 serving as a displacement detection output unit that detects and outputs rotation angle position information of the dial operation unit 10 based on the detection result. In the present embodiment, in FIG. 4, in the rotational axis direction of the dial operation unit 10, it is the operated side (that is, the side on which the user reaches for operation on the front side of the housing 200: FIG. The upper end surface is defined as the first end surface, and the opposite end surface is defined as the second end surface.

  The dial operation unit 10 has a cylindrical main body 21, and the non-rotating auxiliary device 3 is incorporated inside the main body 21 so as to be exposed on the first end surface side of the dial operation unit 10. . As shown in FIG. 1, each auxiliary device 3 is a push button switch, and is provided with an indicator 4 (in this case, composed of a light emitting device such as an LED) indicating an on / off state. The auxiliary device 3 has a disk-shaped button body and a forward / backward cylinder that protrudes from the back surface of the button body and can be advanced / retracted in the direction of the rotation axis. . In order to secure the operation mechanism of the auxiliary device 3 inside the main body 21, the linear variable resistance unit 70 is provided outside the auxiliary device 3 in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis.

  The main body 21 is mounted on the housing 200 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis and the position of the first end surface in the rotation axis is unchanged. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the displacement conversion transmission mechanism 100 meshes with the dial gear 152 that rotates in accordance with the rotation operation of the dial operation unit 10 and the rotation of the dial gear 152. And a rack gear 153 that linearly reciprocates along a predetermined linear trajectory. The dial gear 152 is provided along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface on the lower end 23 side (second end surface side) of the main body 21, and the rack gear 153 is provided at the upper center of the linear variable resistance unit 70. A cylindrical movable part 71 is integrally connected. The teeth 152a of the dial gear 152 and the teeth 153a of the rack gear 153 mesh with each other. The movable portion 71 can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the linear variable resistance unit 70 based on the rotation of the dial gear 152, and will be described later provided at the lower end of the movable portion 71 based on this reciprocal operation. The sliding electrical contact portion 76 that slides slides on a resistance conductor 75 (described later) provided in the linear variable resistance unit 70. In this embodiment, the support base 61 is a wiring board for mounting the linear variable resistance unit 70 and a tact switch 62 (switch body) energized by a push button switch (hereinafter also referred to as a board 61).

  The displacement conversion transmission mechanism 100 converts the rotational displacement of the dial gear 152 into a linear reciprocating displacement on a linear track by the rack gear 153, and the converted linear reciprocating displacement reciprocates integrally with the rack gear 152 by the movable portion 71. And the rotation angle position information of the dial operation unit 1 is output based on the detection result. That is, the linear variable resistance unit 70 in this embodiment is a displacement detection output unit that functions as a displacement detection unit and also functions as a displacement output unit. In the present embodiment, a movable portion 71 (which slides integrally with a sliding electrical contact portion 76 described later) protruding from the upper surface of the linear variable resistance unit 70 is inserted into an engagement hole 153 c formed in the rack gear 152. -The two are connected by engaging.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the linear variable resistance unit 70 is formed in the reciprocating direction of the sliding electrical contact portion 76 that reciprocates on a linear track, and the sliding electrical contact portion 76. A variable resistor 77 having a resistance conductor 75 that is resistance-divided by a dynamic electrical contact portion 76 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the variable resistor 77 is mounted on the substrate 61 or more. As shown in FIG. 2, one end (terminal 72A: # 1) of the resistance conductor 75 is connected to a signal power source (here, + 5V), and the other end (terminal 72B: # 2) is grounded. The sliding electrical contact portion 76 functions as an output point (terminal 72C: # 3) of the divided voltage of the resistance half bridge generated by dividing the resistance conductor 75 by the sliding electrical contact portion 76.

  Since the rotation angle position of the dial operation unit 10 is reflected in the divided voltage, for example, the divided voltage can be input to the controller 150C configured by an ECU or the like. The controller 150C grasps the device setting instruction content corresponding to the operation angle position of the dial operation unit 10 from the input value of the divided voltage, and issues a driving instruction to the driving device, here, the motor 150M (the driver 150D thereof). The motor 150M drives a cold / warm air mix damper in the dial type operating device 1A for setting the air conditioning temperature. In the dial type operating device 1B for setting the air conditioning outlet switching, the outlet switching damper is used. Is to drive. Further, in the dial type operating device 1C for setting the blowing air volume, the motor 150M is a fan motor.

  The movable portion 71 of the linear variable resistance unit 70 moves forward and backward in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 together with the rack gear 153 by rotating the dial operation portion 10, and is uniquely located at the position of the movable portion 71 as shown in FIG. 6. The sliding electrical contact portion 76 divides the resistance conductor 75 at a corresponding division ratio. As a result, the divided voltage appearing on the pad 72C changes linearly with respect to the movement amount (linear reciprocal displacement) H of the movable portion 71 of the linear variable resistance unit 70, as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the nominal resistance value of the resistance conductor 75 is set to 10 kΩ. Since the movement amount H corresponds linearly to the rotational angular displacement of the dial operation unit 10, a divided voltage value corresponding to the number of function selection states to be selected (or function setting states to be set) is preset in the controller 150C. In addition, the controller 150C performs output control for realizing a function corresponding to the set divided voltage value, thereby selecting a function (or function setting) according to the rotational angle position of the dial operation unit 10. Is possible.

  For example, the dial operation unit 10 functions as a switching setting unit for setting the air volume, and the blowing air volume is set in five stages (off (stops blowing), low (air volume stage I), air volume stage II, air volume stage III, high (air volume stage IV). )) Will be described. Since the movement amount H of the movable part 71 in FIG. 7 corresponds linearly to the rotational angular displacement of the dial operation part 10, as shown in FIG. 8, from the detection range (0V to 5V) of the detected divided voltage, etc. Five divided voltage values are determined at intervals, and each value corresponds to the rotational angle position of the dial operation unit 10. Then, in the controller 150C, the determined five divided voltage values are respectively made to correspond to the five-stage blown air volume control. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the divided voltage is 5V, it is off (stops blowing), when 3.75V is low (air volume stage I), and when 2.5V, the air volume stage II is stepped. It is determined so that the air volume stage III is 1.75V and the air volume stage III is high (air volume stage IV). As a result, five-stage blown air volume control according to the rotational angular displacement of the dial operation unit 10 is possible. Note that the same is true even if the dial operation unit 10 functions as a switching setting unit for setting an outlet, and also functions as a switching setting unit for setting an air conditioning temperature.

  Next, the cylindrical main body portion 21 of the dial operation unit 10 is concentrically extrapolated with respect to the rotation support convex portion 50 having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface protruding from the front surface of the housing 200. Further, at the base end position of the rotation support convex portion 50, the case portion 300 where the operation panel 200 is disposed as a lid has a groove portion 53 surrounding the rotation support convex portion 50 so as to leave the outer periphery of the case 300. Is formed. The linear variable resistance unit 70 is disposed in the groove 53, and the bottom 54 forms an installation surface of the linear variable resistance unit 70. The linear variable resistance unit 70 disposed on the bottom 54 is concealed when the operation panel 200 is mounted on the case 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the movable portion 71 protrudes from the bottom portion 54 of the groove portion 53 through the through hole 55.

  The auxiliary device 3 configured as a push button switch is a resin molded body having a disk-shaped button body 3 and an advancing / retracting cylinder 32 protruding from the back surface of the button body 3 (the material is a dial operation). The ABS resin is the same as the resin injection molded product 2 constituting the part). The advance / retreat cylinder 32 is inserted into the cylindrical rotation support convex portion 50 in the axial direction, and can advance and retreat within the rotation support projection 50 with a constant stroke. At the time of advance, the tact switch 62 mounted on the substrate (support base) 61 is urged by its second end surface (always, the switch is moved by a spring (not shown) incorporated in the tact switch 62). Back biased to a non-operating position). As shown in FIG. 3, guide ribs 33 in the axial direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the advance / retreat cylinder 32, and guide grooves (a pair of groove forming ribs 52 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical rotation support convex portion 50 are formed. , 52) to guide the button pressing operation in the forward / backward direction. The set of the guide rib 33 and the guide groove 51 also serves to prevent relative rotation of the advance / retreat cylinder 32 with respect to the rotation support convex portion 50. In the present embodiment, a plurality of sets of guide ribs 33 and guide grooves 51 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the advance / retreat cylinder 32.

  Hereinafter, various modified examples of the dial type operation device will be described (the same parts as those already described will be given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. First, the displacement detection output means will be described above). Various types other than the linear variable resistance unit can be used.

  For example, the configuration shown in FIG. 9 is an example in which the resistive conductor 75a is directly patterned on the substrate 61 on which the switch body 62 of the push button switch is mounted. According to this, further space saving can be achieved compared with the case where a separate linear variable resistance unit including a resistance conductor is used. Specifically, along the resistance conductor 75a printed on the substrate 61 with carbon, the slide portion 70 'for resistance-dividing the conductor reciprocates. Also, a plurality of resistance conductors 75a that conducts from the terminal 72A (# 1) connected to the signal power source toward the terminal 72B (# 2) on the ground side along a straight track along which the slide portion 70 ′ slides, The output side conductor 78 connected to the terminal 72C (# 3) which is formed along the resistance conductor 75a and forms the output point of the divided voltage is formed as a Cu wiring pattern. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the slide portion 70 ′, a sliding electrical contact portion 76 that contacts the resistance conductor 75 a and the output side conductor 78 is formed. As a result, the divided voltage is output from the terminal 72C (# 3) in accordance with the contact position between the sliding electrical contact portion 76 of the slide portion 70 ′ that can slide and the resistance conductor 75a and the output-side conductor 78. The In other words, since the divided voltage corresponding to the linear reciprocating displacement of the slide portion 70 ′ is output from the terminal 72 </ b> C (# 3), the divided voltage can be output as in the above embodiment.

  In addition, the displacement conversion transmission mechanism may be configured such that a reduction gear mechanism that decelerates the rotational displacement of the dial gear 152 and transmits it to the rack gear 153 between the dial gear 152 and the rack gear 153 without being meshed directly. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a reduction gear 160 having a first rotation gear 161 and a second rotation gear 162 smaller in diameter than the first rotation gear on the same axis is provided, and the first gear 161 is a dial. A reduction gear mechanism that meshes with the gear 152 and meshes with the rack gear 153 can be used as the second rotation gear 162. According to this configuration, the sliding distance of the rack gear 153 can be shortened, and the space required for the mechanism required for displacement detection can be saved. Reference numerals 161 a and 162 a indicate teeth of the first rotating gear 161 and the second rotating gear 162.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the displacement conversion transmission mechanism includes a dial gear 152 that rotates in accordance with the rotation operation of the dial operation unit 10, a rotation gear 154a that meshes with the dial gear 152, and a bevel gear 154b. The first intermediate gear unit 154 connected to the first intermediate gear unit 154 and the bevel gear 155a that meshes with the bevel gear 154b of the first intermediate gear unit 154 and converts the rotation of the first intermediate gear unit 154 into rotation around the rotation axis perpendicular thereto. And a second intermediate gear unit 155 having a screw shaft 155b that forms the rotation axis of the bevel gear. The screw shaft 155 b of the second intermediate gear unit 155 is screwed with a nut block 71 a that can slide integrally with the sliding electrical contact portion of the linear variable resistance unit 70. The rotational operation displacement of the dial operation unit 10 is transmitted while being decelerated to the linear slide displacement of the nut block 71a and then the sliding electrical contact portion via the screw shaft mechanism.

  Note that the rotational axis of the screw shaft 155b is tilted from the direction orthogonal to the rotational axis of the dial gear 152 by changing the tooth surface angle of the bevel gears 154b and 154b or by providing a universal joint on the rotational shaft 154c. Is also possible. As a result, the linear variable resistance unit is in a direction inclined from a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the dial gear 152 (however, it is in an intersecting direction (including a case of being in a twisted position as a concept)). A configuration in which 70 sliding electrical contact portions are reciprocated is possible.

The front view which shows an example of the vehicle operation unit which is one of the application objects of this invention. The circuit diagram which shows an example of the electrical structure of the dial type rotary operation apparatus of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the dial type rotary operation apparatus of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. Action | operation explanatory drawing of a displacement conversion transmission mechanism. The equivalent circuit diagram of a linear variable resistance unit. The graph which shows an example of the operation characteristic of a linear variable resistance unit. The graph which shows the relationship between the output voltage of a linear variable resistance unit, and the rotation position of an air volume dial. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a linear variable resistance unit. Explanatory drawing which shows the 1st modification which provided the reduction gear mechanism in the displacement conversion transmission mechanism. Explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd modification which provided the reduction gear mechanism in the displacement conversion transmission mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

3 Auxiliary device 10 Dial operation part 21 Body part 50 Rotation support convex part 53 Groove part 61 Substrate (support base)
70 Linear variable resistance unit (displacement detection output means)
71 Movable part 75 Resistance conductor 76 Sliding electrical contact part 100 Displacement conversion transmission mechanism (displacement conversion means)
152 Dial gear 153 Rack gear 160 Reduction gear mechanism 200 Case (operation panel)

Claims (7)

  The rotational angle displacement in both the forward and reverse directions that occurs in the dial operation unit as a result of the rotation operation of the dial operation unit is changed to a linear reciprocation displacement on a straight track in a plane that intersects the rotation axis of the dial operation unit. A dial comprising: a displacement conversion means for converting; and a displacement detection output means for detecting the converted linear reciprocating displacement and outputting rotational angle position information of the dial operation unit based on the detection result. Type operation device.   The displacement conversion means includes a dial gear that rotates as the dial operation unit rotates, and a rack gear that meshes with the dial gear and reciprocates along the linear track as the dial gear rotates. The dial type operating device according to claim 1 configured.   3. The dial type operating device according to claim 2, wherein the displacement converting means includes a reduction gear mechanism that reduces the rotational displacement of the dial gear and transmits the reduction to the rack gear.   The reduction gear mechanism includes a reduction gear coaxially having a first rotation gear and a second rotation gear having a smaller diameter than the first rotation gear, and the first gear meshes with the dial gear; The dial type operating device according to claim 3, wherein the second gear meshes with the rack gear.   The dial operation portion has a cylindrical main body portion with the end surface on the operated side in the rotation axis direction of the dial operation portion as a first end surface and the end surface opposite to the second end surface as a second end surface. A non-rotating auxiliary device is incorporated on the inner side of the dial operation unit so as to be exposed on the first end surface side of the dial operation unit, and the auxiliary device is provided on a disk-shaped button body and a back surface of the button body. 5. The push button switch according to claim 1, wherein the push button switch includes a forward and backward cylinder that protrudes and can be advanced and retracted in the direction of the rotation axis, and the switch operation is performed by the advancement of the forward and backward cylinder. Dial operation device.   The displacement detection output means has a sliding electrical contact portion that reciprocates on the linear track, and a resistance conductor that is formed in the reciprocating direction of the sliding electrical contact portion and is resistance-divided by the sliding electrical contact portion. The dial type operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a variable resistor.   7. The dial type operation device according to claim 6, wherein the resistance conductor is directly patterned on a substrate on which the switch body of the push button switch is mounted, while having the requirements of claim 5.

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