JP2008078045A - Dial switch, electronic equipment, and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve miniaturization of electronic equipment by allowing a single dial to execute adjustment of a plurality of functions while quickly executing functional adjustment with one-step operation. <P>SOLUTION: A dial switch 1 is provided with a base 2, a dial 3 rotated with respect to the base 2, a rotation-amount detection means 4 for detecting a rotation amount of the dial 3, a contact sensor 5 arranged near the peripheral face 3a of the dial 3 so as to detect an operation position of the dial 3, and a switch control means that outputs an output signal according to the rotation amount of the dial 3 detected by the rotation-amount detection means 4 and switches an output systems of the output signal according to the operation position of the dial 3 detected by the contact sensor 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dial switch, an electronic device, and a camera.

Conventionally, as a dial switch provided in an electronic device such as a camera or a portable music player, for example, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known.
The dial switch of Patent Document 1 is a dial switch provided in a camera, and can be operated with an index finger or a middle finger without difficulty when holding the grip of the camera.
The dial switch disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also a dial switch provided in the camera, and is provided individually for adjusting the shutter speed and the aperture value.

The dial switch of Patent Document 3 is a combination of a dial that rotates around a rotation axis and a push button switch that can be switched by pressing the dial in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. The function of the dial can be switched by pressing the push button switch.
Patent Document 4 discloses a combination of a wheel pad and a push button switch arranged at the center thereof. The point that the function of the wheel pad can be switched by the push button type switch is the same as the dial switch of Patent Document 3.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-311357 Registered Utility Model No. 2538725 Specification Japanese Patent No. 3067006 US Pat. No. 7,062,230

  However, the dial switch of Patent Document 1 has a disadvantage that it can only have a single function. In order to realize switching of a plurality of functions using such a dial switch, it is necessary to provide a separate dial switch as in Patent Document 2, but in this case, the installation space for the dial switch increases, and the electronic switch There is a problem that it becomes an obstacle to reducing the size and weight of the device.

  Further, in the dial switch and wheel pad shown in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, in order to adjust different functions, it is necessary to operate the dial or wheel pad after pressing the push button type switch. Since the operation is required, there is a problem that the speed of the operation cannot be achieved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a plurality of functions can be adjusted with a single dial, and the electronic apparatus can be downsized. An object of the present invention is to provide a dial switch, an electronic device, and a camera capable of adjusting functions.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.
According to the present invention, a base, a dial rotated with respect to the base, a rotation amount detecting means for detecting the rotation amount of the dial, and a position near the peripheral surface of the dial, the operation position of the dial is detected. An output signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial detected by the contact sensor and the rotation amount detection means is output, and an output system of the output signal is set according to the operation position of the dial detected by the contact sensor. Provided is a dial switch comprising switch control means for switching.

  According to the present invention, when the dial is rotated with respect to the base, the rotation amount of the dial is detected by the rotation amount detection means, and the operation position of the dial is detected by the contact sensor. Then, an output signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial detected by the rotation amount detection means is output to the output system switched by the switch control means in accordance with the dial operation position detected by the contact sensor. Thereby, a plurality of functions can be assigned to a single dial for adjustment, and different functions can be quickly adjusted by a single step of changing the operation position of the dial.

  Here, examples of the rotation amount detection means include a sensor that detects a rotation angle and a movement amount of a potentiometer or the like, or a pulse track type detection means. As the switch control means, when the rotation amount detecting means is a potentiometer, a voltage measuring unit that measures a voltage change with respect to the reference voltage, and a known output system switching that switches the output system according to the contact position of the contact sensor. As long as it has a part.

  The present invention also includes a base, a dial that is rotated with respect to the base, a contact that is disposed between the dial and the base and that is switched according to a rotational position of the dial, and a peripheral surface of the dial. There is provided a dial switch including a contact sensor disposed in the vicinity and detecting an operation position of a dial.

  According to the present invention, the contact is switched according to the rotational position of the dial by rotating the dial with respect to the base. For example, by counting the number of times of switching from the contact point, the functions assigned to the dial, such as shutter speed, aperture value, volume and screen brightness, can be adjusted by rotating the dial.

  Further, since a contact sensor is provided in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the dial, when operating the dial, a finger operating the dial comes into contact with the contact sensor depending on the operation position. Therefore, even when the same dial is operated, the function assigned to the dial can be changed by changing the operation position of the dial depending on whether or not the touch sensor is touched. Thereby, a plurality of functions can be assigned to a single dial for adjustment, and different functions can be quickly adjusted by a single step of changing the operation position of the dial.

In the above invention, a plurality of the contact sensors may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the dial.
By doing in this way, the function allocated to a dial according to the output of a contact sensor can be changed.

In addition, the present invention provides an electronic device including the dial switch and a control unit that changes a type of a signal switched by the contact according to an output from a contact sensor of the dial switch.
By operating the dial switch, the function assigned to the dial switch can be adjusted according to the rotation angle of the dial. When the output from the contact sensor is input to the control unit, the function assigned to the dial by the control unit is changed according to the output from the contact sensor. Accordingly, a plurality of functions can be adjusted by a single dial switch, an installation space required for the dial switch can be reduced, and a small and lightweight electronic device can be provided. Also, different functions can be adjusted simply by changing the operation position and operating the dial switch, thereby enabling quick operation.

  Further, the present invention includes a camera body and the dial switch provided on the camera body, the dial of the dial switch exposes a peripheral surface on a different side surface of the camera body, and the contact sensor includes the touch sensor A camera disposed on at least one side of a camera body is provided.

  According to the present invention, the output of the contact sensor is different between when operating the peripheral surface of the dial exposed on one side of the camera body and when operating the peripheral surface of the same dial exposed on the other side. be able to. Accordingly, a plurality of functions can be adjusted by a single dial, the installation space of the dial switch can be reduced, and the camera body can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, for example, when the shutter speed adjustment and the aperture value adjustment are assigned to the same dial switch, the shutter speed and the aperture value adjustment can be quickly switched only by changing the operation position of the dial switch. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that misses a photo opportunity by taking time for function adjustment.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of functions can be adjusted with a single dial, the electronic device can be reduced in size, and a plurality of functions can be adjusted quickly by a single step operation. There is an effect.

A dial switch 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the dial switch 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed between a base 2, a dial 3 rotated with respect to the base 2, and between the dial 3 and the base 2. Are provided in the vicinity of the peripheral surface 3 a of the dial 3 and a contact sensor 5 for detecting the operation position of the dial 3. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a support post fixed to the base 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a sliding bearing that rotatably supports the dial 3 with respect to the support post 6, and reference numeral 8 denotes a cover fixed to the support post 6.

The contact (rotation amount detecting means) 4 includes, for example, a plurality of contacts 4a, 4b, 4c fixed on the base 2 side and a dial substrate 9 fixed on the dial 3 side.
The dial substrate 9 includes a ground track 9a provided over the entire circumference, and two pulse tracks 9b and 9c arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The pulse tracks 9b and 9c are provided with their phases shifted in the circumferential direction. The ground track 9a and the pulse tracks 9b and 9c are connected to each other.
The contacts 4a, 4b, 4c are made of leaf springs that generate an urging force so as to come into contact with the dial substrate 9 with a predetermined contact pressure. The contact 4a always contacts the ground track 9a, and each pulse track 9b, Two pulse track contacts 4b and 4c arranged to face 9c.

  As a result, when the dial 3 is rotated with respect to the base 2, the dial substrate 9 is rotated with respect to the contacts 4a, 4b, 4c, and the pulse track is pulsed in accordance with the pattern of the pulse tracks 9b, 9c. The contacts 9b and 9c, the ground contact 9a, and conduction and interruption are repeated. Therefore, the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the dial 3 can be detected by counting the generated pulses.

  The contact sensor 5 is disposed at a position adjacent to the peripheral surface 3 a of the dial 3 in the axial direction. Thereby, when the dial 3 is operated at the position of the contact sensor 5, it is possible to detect that a finger operating the dial 3 contacts the contact sensor 5.

  Further, the contact sensor 5 has a detection surface 5 a disposed at a position slightly recessed inward in the radial direction from the peripheral surface 3 a of the dial 3. Accordingly, when a force is applied to the fingertip that is in contact with the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 to rotate the dial 3, the skin is deformed and reaches the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5, and a contact signal is output. It is like that. On the other hand, when the fingertip simply touches the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 without the intention to rotate the dial 3, the skin of the fingertip does not reach the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5 so that no contact signal is output. It has become.

  According to the dial switch 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the pulse train signals P1 and P2 generated by rotating the dial 3 and the finger operating the dial 3 are simply operated by rotating the dial 3. Contact signals T1 and T2 generated by contacting the contact sensor 5 can be output. Therefore, the rotational position of the dial 3 can be extracted from the pulse train signals P1 and P2 and used to adjust the function, and the function adjusted by the dial 3 can be switched according to the contact signals T1 and T2. The symbol G indicates that it is grounded.

  In particular, when the dial switch 1 includes a single contact sensor 5, the function to be adjusted by the dial 3 can be switched depending on whether or not there is an output from the contact sensor 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when a plurality of contact sensors 5 are provided in the circumferential direction of the dial 3, which contact sensor 5 outputs the contact signals T <b> 1 and T <b> 2, Alternatively, the function assigned to the dial 3 can be changed depending on the combination of the output contact signals T1 and T2.

  That is, according to the dial switch 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment of a plurality of functions can be assigned to the rotation of the single dial 3 only by the original operation of the dial switch 1 that rotates the dial 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of dial switches 1 for adjusting a plurality of functions, and it is possible to reduce the installation space of the dial switch 1 in the electronic device and to reduce the size and weight of the electronic device.

Further, since the function to be adjusted is changed only by changing the operation position of the dial 3, there is no operation different from the rotation of the dial 3, for example, a conventional push button switch is not pressed. Therefore, there is an advantage that adjustment of a plurality of different functions can be performed by quickly switching.
In addition, it is not necessary to recognize the number of times of pressing compared to a conventional push button switch that switches a plurality of functions according to the number of pressing operations, so that it is possible to reduce the occurrence of erroneous operations.

Next, a camera (electronic device) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the camera 10 according to the present embodiment has a camera body 11, the dial switch 1 provided on the camera body 11, and a dial corresponding to the output from the dial switch 1. And a control unit (not shown) for adjusting the function assigned to the switch 1. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a liquid crystal display, and reference numeral 13 denotes a lens unit.

The dial 3 of the dial switch 1 partially exposes the peripheral surface 3 a on different side surfaces 11 a, 11 b, 11 c of the camera body 11.
That is, the dial switch 1 is provided in the vicinity of the release button 14 provided on the right shoulder when the camera body 11 is viewed from the back surface 11a side, and the side surface 11c (front surface) on the side where the lens unit 13 of the camera body 11 is attached, The peripheral surface 3a is exposed on the right side surface 11b and the back surface 11a.

  The contact sensor 5 of the dial switch 1 is disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 exposed from the side surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c of the camera body 11. That is, the photographer operates the dial 3 that is exposed from the side surfaces 11a, 11b, and 11c of the camera body 11. In this case, if the dial 3 is exposed to a different exposed portion, the contact sensor 5 may be changed. A contact signal will be generated and a different contact signal will be generated.

  The control unit detects the rotation angle of the dial 3 by receiving the pulse train signals P1 and P2 appearing on the contacts 4b and 4c when the dial 3 is rotated, and counting the pulse train signals P1 and P2. The function is adjusted with an adjustment amount based on the rotation angle. Examples of the function include adjusting the shutter speed and adjusting the aperture value.

  Further, the control unit receives an output from the contact sensor 5 provided in the dial switch 1 and changes the function assigned to the dial switch 1 in accordance with the contact signals T1 and T2 from each contact sensor 5. ing. For example, when a contact signal T1 is input from the contact sensor 5 provided in the exposed portion on the front surface 11c side, a function for adjusting the shutter speed is assigned to the dial switch 1 and provided in the exposed portion on the back surface 11a side. When the contact signal T <b> 2 from the contact sensor 5 is input, a function for adjusting the aperture value is assigned to the dial switch 1. Further, when a contact signal from the contact sensor 5 exposed on the right side surface 11 b is input, another function is assigned to the dial switch 1.

  According to the camera 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, when the photographer touches the release button 14 with the index finger of the right hand holding the camera body 11, the same right thumb is exposed on the back surface 11a side. The dial switch 1 is disposed at a position where it can be operated. At this time, the middle finger of the same right hand is disposed at a position where the dial switch 1 exposed on the front surface 11c side can be operated. The dial switch 1 exposed on the right side surface 11b of the camera body 11 is also arranged at a position where it can be operated with the same thumb of the right hand.

  In this state, when the photographer operates the dial switch 1 with the thumb of the right hand, the thumb comes into contact with the contact sensor 5 disposed in the vicinity of the operation position, and contact signals T1 and T2 are output from the contact sensor 5. . Since the control unit can recognize that the dial 3 portion exposed on the back surface 11a side is operated by the contact signal T2 from the contact sensor 5 on the back surface 11a side, for example, a function assigned when the position is operated, for example, An aperture value adjustment function is assigned to the dial switch 1 and the function is adjusted by an adjustment amount corresponding to the rotation angle of the dial 3.

  Further, when the photographer operates the dial switch 1 with the middle finger of the right hand, the middle finger comes into contact with the contact sensor 5 disposed in the vicinity of the operation position, and a contact signal T1 is output from the contact sensor 5. Since the control unit can recognize that the dial 3 portion exposed on the front surface 11c side is operated by the contact signal T1 from the contact sensor 5 on the front surface 11c side, a function assigned when the position is operated, for example, The shutter speed adjustment function is assigned to the dial switch 1, and the function is adjusted by an adjustment amount corresponding to the rotation angle of the dial 3.

  In this case, the photographer can keep the index finger of the right hand touching the release button 14, and immediately presses the release button 14 immediately after the aperture value adjusting operation or the shutter speed adjusting operation. be able to.

As described above, according to the camera 10 according to the present embodiment, only the operation position for rotating the dial 3 is changed, and different functions are assigned to the dial switch 1 and at the same time, the function is adjusted by the rotation. Can do.
That is, a plurality of functions can be assigned to the dial switch 1 without arranging a plurality of dial switches as in the prior art. Therefore, the installation space of the dial switch 1 can be saved and the camera body 11 can be reduced in size and weight. Can be achieved. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, compared to the case where a plurality of dial switches 1 are installed in the same installation space, a large diameter dimension of the dial 3 can be secured. Therefore, there is an advantage that a large amount of circumferential movement of the peripheral surface can be secured even at the same rotation angle, and the function adjustment can be performed precisely.

  Furthermore, unlike a dial switch combined with a conventional push button switch, there is no need to press a push button switch to switch the function of the dial switch, and the adjustment of different functions can be performed quickly in one step without the hassle. Can do. As a result, there is an advantage that shooting can be performed without missing a photo opportunity by quickly setting appropriate shooting conditions.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5 is arranged at a position recessed inward in the radial direction from the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3, the contact sensor is not conscious of the photographer's finger. It is possible to prevent an error in function selection caused by touching 5. Only finger contact with force applied to the fingertip in order to rotate the dial 3 can be detected, and contact of a finger touching carelessly is not detected, so that appropriate function adjustment can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 is exposed from the side surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c of the camera body 11 at three places. It may be exposed in places. In addition, the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 is partially exposed, but instead, the entire surface may be exposed.

Further, the number of contact sensors 5 may be reduced by one with respect to the number of functions to be switched.
In this case, when the contact sensor 5 does not output the contact signals T1 and T2, one function may be assigned to the dial switch 1.
By doing in this way, the number of the contact sensors 5 can be reduced, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, instead of preventing the erroneous contact by denting the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5, priority may be given when there are a plurality of outputs from the contact sensor 5. For example, when the contact signals T1 and T2 are output from the contact sensors 5 on both the front surface 11c side and the back surface 11a side, priority is given to the contact signal T1 of the contact sensor 5 on the back surface 11c side. Moreover, you may decide to change the function allocated to the dial switch 1 with the combination of several contact signal T1, T2.

  In the present invention, the camera 10 has been described as an example of the electronic device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any electronic device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal computer, or a music player. Can do. In particular, it is effective in the case of an electronic device that is determined to be held by the operator.

  In the above embodiment, for example, in an electronic device that is operated in a specific manner, such as an electronic device that is held by pressing the release button 14 with the right hand, such as the camera 10 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The function assigned to the dial switch 1 is switched by changing the finger that operates the dial switch 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electronic device that changes the position of the finger on the dial switch 1 by changing how to hold the electronic device itself, for example, a display is provided on a plurality of side surfaces. Therefore, the present invention may be applied to the case where the screen displayed on the display on each side is switched by the same dial switch 1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5 is disposed at a position recessed inward in the radial direction from the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3 to prevent an inadvertent function selection mistake by the photographer. However, instead of this, the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5 may protrude outward in the radial direction from the peripheral surface 3a of the dial 3. Thereby, when the operator operates the dial 3, the operator can surely contact the detection surface 5a of the contact sensor 5, and function selection can be performed more consciously.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pulse track type is exemplified as the rotation amount detection means, but instead of this, a sensor for detecting the rotation angle and the movement amount such as a potentiometer may be adopted. In this case, a switch control unit including a voltage measuring unit that measures a voltage change with respect to the reference voltage and a known output system switching unit that switches the output system according to the contact position of the contact sensor may be provided.

It is a longitudinal section showing a dial switch concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the dial switch of FIG. It is a top view explaining the terminal pattern of the dial board with which the dial switch of FIG. 1 is equipped. It is the perspective view seen from the back side which shows the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front side which shows the camera of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dial switch 2 Base 3 Dial 3a Peripheral surface 4 Contact 5 Contact sensor 5a Detection surface 10 Camera (electronic device)
11 Camera body 11a, 11b, 11c Side

Claims (5)

Base and
A dial rotated relative to the base;
A rotation amount detecting means for detecting the rotation amount of the dial;
A contact sensor disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the dial and detecting an operation position of the dial;
Switch control means for outputting an output signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial detected by the rotation amount detection means, and for switching an output system of the output signal according to the operation position of the dial detected by the contact sensor A dial switch with Base and
A dial rotated relative to the base;
A contact disposed between the dial and the base and switched according to a rotational position of the dial;
A dial switch provided with a contact sensor that is disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the dial and detects an operation position of the dial.   The dial switch according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the contact sensors are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the dial. The dial switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An electronic apparatus comprising: a control unit that changes a type of a signal switched by the contact according to an output from a contact sensor of the dial switch. The camera body,
A dial switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3 provided on the camera body,
The dial of the dial switch exposes a peripheral surface on a different side surface of the camera body,
A camera in which the contact sensor is disposed on at least one side of the camera body.

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