JP2007323550A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of an input device having an operation knob. <P>SOLUTION: The input device receiving operation from a user is provided with a knob part 21, a cylinder part 22 coaxial with the knob part 21, a rod 52 attached in the center of the cylinder part 22, an operation knob 20 having a doughnut-shaped slide part 24 formed around the cylinder part 22, a casing body 200 for mounting the operation knob 20 on the upper face, and an element main body 51 housed in the casing body 200 and connected to the rod 52 to detect a vertical motion, an inclination, and rotation of the rod 52. A plurality of brushes 25 are arranged in the slide part 24. A guide part 222, which supports the operation knob freely rotationally while bringing a plurality of brushes 25 arranged in the slide part 24 into contact with the upper face of the casing body 200, is formed, and in the predetermined position of the guide part 211, an exhaust hole 227 connected to an exhaust pipe 226 passing through from the guide part 211 to the outside of the casing body 200 is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique of an input device for operating various devices such as an audio device, an air conditioner, and a navigation device.

  As a conventional input device, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 below. In the input device of Patent Document 1, the operation knob is in a neutral state in which the operation knob is upright with respect to the main body, a pressed state in which the operation knob is pushed into the main body from the neutral state, and the neutral state falls in a plurality of directions with respect to the main body It is configured to be displaceable in a tilted state. Furthermore, the operation knob is configured to be rotatable. And the input device of patent document 1 receives various operation from a user by detecting pressing of the operation knob, tilting of the operation knob in a predetermined direction, and rotation of the operation knob. That is, the input device of Patent Document 1 can reduce the size of the input device because one operation knob accepts a plurality of types of operation requests. Therefore, an input device like patent document 1 is utilized for the environment where size reduction is requested | required, for example, the input device of a vehicle-mounted apparatus.

JP 2005-165608 A

  However, the input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. Specifically, the operation knob of the input device of Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to operate in the pressing direction, tilting in a predetermined direction, and rotating direction. Therefore, a certain amount of clearance is required between the operation knob and the apparatus main body. And when dust, dust, etc. enter into the clearance gap between an operation knob and an apparatus main body, the problem that operativity will fall arises. For example, if dust or dirt gets into the contact portion between the operation knob and the apparatus main body, the operation knob may not rotate smoothly or the operation knob cannot be tilted. Note that if a large amount of dust or dust accumulates on the contact portion between the operation knob and the apparatus main body, the operation from the user may not be detected. In particular, when the input device is used in an environment in which dust or dust easily enters (for example, in a car), the operability of the input device often deteriorates.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and the objective of this invention is to improve the operativity of the input device provided with the operation knob.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is applied to an input device that receives an operation from a user.

  The input device includes a knob portion, a cylindrical portion coaxial with the knob portion, a rod attached to the center of the cylindrical portion, and an operation knob having a donut-shaped sliding portion formed around the cylindrical portion. A housing on which the operation knob is placed, and an input element that is connected to the rod and that detects the vertical movement, tilt, and rotation of the rod, and is housed in the housing. The donut-shaped sliding portion is provided with a plurality of brushes on the surface facing the housing, and the upper surface of the housing is provided on the sliding portion of the operation rod. A plurality of brushes are in contact with each other, and a guide portion that rotatably supports the operation knob in a state in which the brushes are in contact is formed. The guide portion penetrates from the guide portion to the outside of the housing. A discharge hole connected to the discharge pipe is formed That.

  Thus, in the present invention, a plurality of brushes are provided on the sliding portion of the operation knob that comes into contact with the housing. In addition, a discharge hole connected to a discharge pipe penetrating from the guide portion to the outside of the housing is formed in the guide portion of the housing that contacts the brush of the operation knob. When the user operates the operation knob of the input device, the brush sweeps out dust and dirt that has entered between the operation knob and the guide portion of the housing to the discharge hole and the discharge pipe. As a result, dust and dirt that have entered between the operation knob and the guide portion of the housing can be discharged to the outside of the input device. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in operability of the input device due to dust that has entered the input device.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated input device is used, for example, as an input unit of an information processing device such as a car navigation device installed in a vehicle, and is disposed between two front seats.

  Specifically, the input device has an input operation unit 10 for receiving various operations from the user, and the substrate 40 (which performs processing for receiving the operation from the user while arranging the input operation unit 10 on the upper surface. And a housing 200 for storing the housing 200 (not shown in FIG. 1). The input operation unit 10 includes an operation knob 20 and a switch unit 100 disposed outside the operation knob 20.

  The operation knob 20 is configured to be pressed in the vertical direction (arrow Z direction shown in the figure). The operation knob 20 is configured to be displaceable from a neutral state (the state shown in FIG. 1) to a tilted state that falls in a plurality of directions. The operation knob 20 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow B. The user makes various operation requests to the input device by pressing the operation knob 20 in the vertical direction, tilting the operation knob 20, or rotating the operation knob 20. In addition, the user makes various operation requests by pressing a switch provided in the switch unit 100.

  The input device according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to press the operation knob 20 in the vertical direction, tilt the operation knob 20 in a plurality of directions, or operate freely. Therefore, a certain amount of gap is required at the portion where the operation knob 20 and the housing 200 come into contact. If dust, dust or the like (hereinafter, dust or dust is simply referred to as “dust”) accumulates at the contact portion between the operation knob 20 and the housing 200, the operability is degraded. In particular, if the input device is used in a dusty environment such as in a vehicle, the operability of the input device is often reduced.

  In the present embodiment, in order to prevent a decrease in operability due to dust, a brush 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) for removing dust is provided on a portion of the operation knob 20 that comes into contact with the housing 200, and the housing Discharge passages (226 and 227 in FIGS. 2 and 4) for discharging dust to the outside of the input device are provided on the surface in contact with the operation knob 20 of 200.

  Hereinafter, a mechanism (cleaning mechanism) for removing dust from the input device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The configuration of the switch unit 100 is not directly related to the cleaning mechanism that is a feature of the present embodiment. Therefore, description of the switch unit 100 is omitted below.

  2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the input device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the shape of the operation knob 20 of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a top view of the housing 200 of the input device according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device includes an operation knob 20 that receives an operation instruction from a user, a housing 200 that has the operation knob 20 disposed on an upper surface, a substrate 40 that is housed in the housing 200, and an operation device. An elastic member 30 is provided between the knob 20 and the housing 200 and functions as a cushioning material when accepting an operation in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the operation knob 20 (the switch unit 100 is omitted in FIG. 2). is doing). In addition, although it does not specifically limit about the material of the elastic member 30, For example, the thing of a urethane foam can be used.

  The housing 200 includes a first member 210 on which the substrate 40 is placed and a second member 220 on which the operation knob 20 is placed. Then, the substrate 40 is sandwiched between the substrate fixing portion 2100 formed on the first member 210 and the substrate fixing portion 2200 formed on the second member 220 and screwed with the screw 70, It is fixed inside the housing 200. In addition, the input element 50 which detects operation from a user is mounted in the board | substrate 40. FIG.

  The input element 50 includes an element body 51 and a rod-shaped operation rod 52 that protrudes from the element body 51. The element body 50 detects the vertical movement (Z direction in the drawing), tilt, and rotation of the operation rod 52. As will be described later, the operation rod 52 is connected to the operation knob 20.

  Here, the operation knob 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  3A is a perspective view of the operation knob 20 as viewed from below, and FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the operation knob.

  The operation knob 20 includes a knob portion 21 for the user to operate. Further, on the bottom surface of the operation knob 20, the cylindrical portion 22 coaxial with the knob portion 21, the groove portion 23 into which the elastic member 30 is inserted, and the guide portion 222 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) on the upper surface of the housing 200 are opposed. And a sliding portion 24 that slides freely on the guide portion 222 in accordance with the rotation of the knob portion 21.

  A hole 26 for inserting the operation rod 52 is formed at the approximate center of the cylindrical portion 22. By inserting the operation rod 52 into the hole 26, the operation rod 52 and the operation knob 20 are fixed. When the user presses the knob portion 21, the operation rod 52 is also pressed according to the user's pressing. When the user tilts the knob portion 21, the operation rod 52 also tilts in the direction in which the user tilts. When the user rotates the knob part 21, the operation rod 52 rotates according to the rotation of the knob part 21. That is, when the user presses the knob portion 21, the element body 51 detects the user's pressing operation via the operation rod 52. When the user tilts the knob portion 21, the element body 51 detects an operation tilted by the user via the operation rod 52. When the user rotates the knob portion 21, the element body 51 detects the user's rotation operation via the operation rod 52.

  The elastic member 30 has one end inserted into a groove 23 formed on the bottom surface of the operation knob 20, and the other end connected to a guide portion 223 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) on the upper surface of the housing 200. Abutted.

  Further, the sliding portion 24 formed on the bottom surface of the operation knob 20 is provided with a plurality of brushes 25a to 25h to prevent dust from accumulating at a portion where the operation knob 20 and the guide portion 222 of the housing 200 are connected. It has been. In the illustrated example, eight brushes 25a to 25h are arranged at equal intervals on the donut-shaped sliding portion 24 (arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the donut shape). In the present embodiment, the width W1 of the brushes 25a to 25h is substantially the same as the width W2 (see FIG. 4) of the guide portion 222 of the housing 200. The height H1 of the brushes 25a to 25h is not particularly limited, but for example, a brush having a height of about 5 mm may be used. The depth D1 of the brush is not particularly limited, but it may be about 1.5 mm. Moreover, it does not specifically limit about the material of brush 25a-h. For example, you may make it use the thing made from nylon for brush 25a-h. Further, the number of brushes shown is merely an example.

  Next, the shape of the housing 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an opening 225 for connecting the operation rod 52 of the input element 50 to the operation knob 20 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 200 (the surface viewed from the Z1 direction shown in FIG. 2). Is formed. Further, around the opening 225 on the top surface of the housing 200, a substantially circular concave guide portion 223 on which the elastic member 30 is placed and a sliding portion 24 formed on the bottom surface of the operation knob 20 are placed. A substantially circular concave guide portion 222 to be placed and a substantially circular concave guide portion 221 on which the switch portion 100 (see FIG. 1) is placed are provided. It is assumed that the surface of the guide portion 222 on which the sliding portion 24 is placed has substantially the same shape as the sliding portion 24. That is, the surface of the guide portion 222 on which the sliding portion 24 is placed is formed in a substantially donut shape that is the same as the sliding portion 24.

  Then, the elastic member 30 is placed on the guide part 223. Further, the sliding portion 24 of the operation knob 20 is placed on the guide portion 222. As a result, the surface (upper surface) of the guide portion 222 facing the sliding portion 24 comes into contact with the brushes 25 a to 25 h provided on the sliding portion 24 of the operation knob 20. The guide portion 222 rotatably supports the operation knob 20 with the brushes 25a to 25h being in contact with each other. That is, when the user rotates the operation knob 20, the brush 25 is provided in the sliding portion 24 of the operation knob 20 and rotates in a state of being in contact with the guide portion 222. Note that the movement of the operation knob 20 in the planar direction is limited by the outer peripheral surface (2220) of the guide portion 222.

  The guide portion 222 formed on the upper surface of the housing 200 is provided with a plurality of discharge holes 227a to 227d (see FIG. 4), and the discharge holes 227a to 227d are formed from the upper surface to the lower surface (FIG. 2). Are substantially cylindrical discharge pipes 226a to 226d extending in the direction (see FIG. 2).

  Specifically, four discharge holes 227a to 227d are formed at substantially equal intervals on the surface of the second member 220 constituting the housing 200 facing the sliding portion 24 of the guide portion 222. A substantially cylindrical discharge pipe 226 connected to the discharge holes 227a to 227d is formed on the side of the guide portion 222 opposite to the surface facing the operation knob 20. Further, the substrate 40 is formed with holes 41 through which the respective discharge pipes 226 pass. Further, the first member 210 of the housing 200 is provided with a substantially cylindrical fitting portion 216 that fits with the outer periphery of each discharge pipe 226. Then, the exhaust pipe 226 is penetrated through the hole 41 of the substrate, and the exhaust pipe 226 is fitted into the fitting portion 226 of the first member 210 to penetrate the guide portion 222 from the top surface to the bottom surface of the housing 200. A discharge channel is formed.

  When the user rotates the operation knob 200, the brushes 25a to 25h that are in contact with the guide portion 222 are also rotated with the rotation. As a result, the dust that has entered the guide portion 222 falls to the discharge pipe 226 by the brushes 25a to 25h and is swept out of the input device.

  Note that the discharge hole 227 formed in the guide portion 222 needs a certain size in order to fulfill the function of discharging dust to the outside of the input device. And in this embodiment, the radial direction (b direction of FIG. 4) of the surface facing the sliding part 24 of the guide part 222 in relation to other structures (opening part 225, guide part 223, 221 etc.). Dimensions are limited. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the discharge hole 227 has a long diameter in the circumferential direction (a direction shown in FIG. 4) of the surface of the guide portion 222 facing the sliding portion 24, and the guide portion 222. It is good also as an ellipse shape which takes a minor axis in the radial direction (b direction shown in FIG. 4) of the surface facing the sliding part 24. By doing so, the size of the discharge hole 227 can be secured.

  Moreover, you may make it show in FIG. 2 about the shape of the discharge path comprised by the discharge hole 227 and the discharge pipe 226, for example. That is, the inner diameter may be shortened from the discharge hole 227 downward to a predetermined length, and the lower portion may be formed as a discharge passage having the same inner diameter.

  In the present embodiment, the height (H2 in FIG. 2) of the fitting portion 216 of the first member 210 is long enough to reach the bottom surface of the substrate 40 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the input element 50 is placed). I am doing it. Further, the size of the discharge pipe 226 fitted to the fitting portion 216 is set to a length that reaches the bottom surface of the first member 210. The reason for this is to prevent dust or the like discharged from the discharge pipe 226 from entering the bottom surface (the surface opposite to the surface on which the input element 50 is placed) of the substrate 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the operation knob 20 of the input device is operated, the dust or dust that the brush 25 enters in the joint portion between the operation knob 20 and the guide portion 222 of the housing 200 is accordingly accompanied. Then, it discharges to the outside of the input device via a discharge path formed by the discharge hole 227 and the discharge pipe 226. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in operability of the input device due to dust that has entered the input device. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operativity of the input device provided with the operation knob can be improved. Further, if the operation knob 20 is operated, dust is discharged accordingly, so that it is not necessary to periodically perform maintenance for removing dust from the input device, and the user's labor can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the dust can be discharged to the outside of the input device by the discharge pipe 216, the possibility that dust accumulated between the operation knob 20 and the guide portion 222 enters the inside of the input device is reduced. it can. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a failure caused by dust (for example, dust accumulates on the substrate 40 and contact between components deteriorates).

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the discharge path penetrating from the guide portion 222 which is a joint portion between the operation knob 0 and the housing 200 to the bottom surface of the housing 200 is provided, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. It suffices to ensure a path through which dust can be discharged from the guide portion 222 that contacts the operation knob to the outside of the housing 200. For example, the dust may be discharged to the outside of the input device by providing a discharge path penetrating from the upper surface of the guide portion 222 to the side surface of the input device.

  In the above description, the case where four discharge paths are formed in the input device 200 is shown, but this is merely an example. There may be at least one discharge path.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the discharge pipe 226 was integrally formed in the 2nd member 220 of the housing | casing 200 was taken as an example, this is only an illustration. A discharge pipe formed as a separate member may be connected to the discharge hole 227 formed in the guide portion 222.

  In the above embodiment, the housing 200 is configured by combining the first member 210 and the second member 220, but the housing 200 may be integrally formed.

  In the above description, the case where the input device is used as a device for operating the in-vehicle information processing device is illustrated, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. As long as the apparatus has a configuration corresponding to the operation knob 20 described above, the configuration of the cleaning mechanism of the present invention can be applied.

It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the input device of embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the input device shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of the operation knob 20 of this embodiment. It is a top view of the housing | casing 200 of the input device of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Input operation part, 20 ... Operation knob, 21 ... Knob part, 22 ... Cylindrical part, 23 ... Groove part, 24 ... Sliding part, 25 ... Brush, 30 ... Elastic member, 40 ... Substrate, 41 ... Hole, 50 ... Input element 51... Element body 52. Operation rod 100. Switch part 200. Case 210. First member 216 Fitting part 220. Second member 221 Guide part 222. 223 ... guide portion, 226 ... discharge pipe, 227 ... discharge hole,

Claims (4)

An input device that accepts an operation from a user,
An operation knob having a knob part, a cylindrical part coaxial with the knob part, a rod attached to the center of the cylindrical part, and a donut-shaped sliding part formed around the cylindrical part;
A housing on which the operation knob is placed on the upper surface;
An input element that is connected to the rod and that detects the vertical movement, tilt, and rotation of the rod and is housed in the housing;
The donut-shaped sliding portion is provided with a plurality of brushes on the surface facing the housing,
A plurality of brushes provided on the sliding portion of the operation rod are in contact with the upper surface of the housing, and a guide portion that rotatably supports the operation knob in a state in which the brush is in contact is formed. And
An input device, wherein a discharge hole connected to a discharge pipe penetrating from the guide portion to the outside of the housing is formed at a predetermined position of the guide portion. The input device according to claim 1,
The plurality of brushes are provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the donut-shaped sliding portion,
The input device, wherein the discharge pipe passes through a bottom surface of the casing from a guide portion on an upper surface of the casing. The input device according to claim 1 or 2,
The surface of the guide portion on which the brush comes into contact is formed in substantially the same donut shape as the sliding portion,
The discharge hole formed in the guide part is formed in a substantially elliptical shape,
The input device characterized in that the elliptical shape has a major axis in the circumferential direction and a minor axis in the radial direction of the donut shape. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of discharge holes connected to the discharge pipe are formed in the guide portion.

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