JP2008171679A - Complex operation type input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a complex operation type input device capable of performing highly reliable detection at rotation operation. <P>SOLUTION: Retaining cases 6, 7 retaining an operating body 1 in free sliding and a rotor part 12 of a rotary encoder 3 are kept in concavo-convex engagement with each other, with an engagement protrusion 7f fitted into a concave slit 14a. Further, a rotation transmission member 8 getting engaged with a non-cylindrical part of a rotary shaft part 1a of the operating body 1 is engaged with a guide wall 7d of the retaining case 7 in free sliding, so that, when the rotary shaft part 1a rotates, the rotation transmission member 8 drives the retaining case 7 to rotate through the guide wall 7d. Therefore, the operating body 1 and the retaining cases 6, 7 integrally rotate at the rotation operation, and rotation movement of the operating body 1 is detected by the rotary encoder 3. However, the rotation transmission member 8 does not move or only move along the guide wall 7d, at the sliding operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite operation type input device capable of rotating operation and sliding operation in multiple directions.

  As a conventional example of a combined operation type input device capable of rotating operation and sliding operation in multiple directions, the rotor portion of the rotary encoder is rotationally driven via a coil spring during rotating operation, and is arranged around the rotary encoder during sliding operation. A configuration has been proposed in which a plurality of push switches are pressed and driven from the side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a conventional example, the operation member that performs the rotation operation and the slide operation is disposed so as to cover the rotor portion of the rotary encoder, and a coil spring is interposed between the rotor portion and the ceiling portion of the operation member. . Further, an annular slider is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the operation member so as not to hinder the rotational operation, and when the operation member is slid, the annular slider is slid integrally. Furthermore, on the printed circuit board on which the rotary encoder is mounted, four push switches are mounted at equal intervals around the stator portion of the rotary encoder (positional relationship shifted by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction). ing. Each of these push switches is provided with an operating portion that protrudes upward and can be pressed down, and there is a required clearance on the radially outer side of the lower end portion of the annular slider that has a larger diameter than the rotary encoder. The operation part of each push switch is located. Then, by providing an inclined portion facing each operating portion at the lower end portion of the annular slider, when the annular slider slides, the operating portion of the push switch located in the moving direction is pressed against the inclined portion. It has become so.

In the conventional composite operation type input device schematically configured in this way, when the operating member is rotated, a tensile force or a compressive force acts on the coil spring, so the rotor portion of the rotary encoder rotates in conjunction with the operating member. To do. Therefore, it is possible to detect the rotational motion of the operation member based on the change in the rotational position of the rotor portion with respect to the stator portion. Further, when the operating member is slid, the annular slider slides integrally with the operating member, so that the operating portion of the push switch located in the moving direction is pressed and driven by the inclined portion of the annular slider. It operates, and it is possible to detect the slide movement direction of the operation member. When the operation member is slid, the coil spring interposed between the rotor portion of the rotary encoder and the ceiling portion of the operation member extends so as to be laterally displaced, so that the slide operation force is removed. Then, the operating member automatically returns to the initial position by the elastic return force of the coil spring.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-317377 (page 4-7, FIG. 5)

  In the conventional composite operation type input device described above, a coil spring is interposed between the operation member and the rotor portion so that the operation member can slide relative to the rotor portion of the rotary encoder. During operation, the rotor is interlocked with the operation member by utilizing the elastic deformation of the coil spring. That is, the structure is such that the rotor member is caused to follow the operating member by the elastic return force of the coil spring that is elastically deformed in accordance with the rotation operation of the operating member. However, the composite operation type input device having such a structure is not easy to use because it is difficult to instantaneously detect the rotation of the operation member during the rotation operation, and the rotation amount of the operation member and the rotation amount of the rotor portion There is a problem that it is difficult to obtain high reliability because the values do not necessarily match.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite operation type input device capable of performing highly reliable detection during a rotation operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the composite operation type input device of the present invention, an operation body that is rotatable and slidable in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the rotation axis, and the operation body is slidably held and the operation body is operated. Rotation of the operating body having a holding case rotatable integrally with the body, a slide detection mechanism for detecting a sliding motion of the operating body, a rotor portion and a stator portion for rotatably supporting the rotor portion A rotation detecting mechanism for detecting an operation, and the holding case is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the rotor portion on the radially outer side of a portion that holds the operating body, and the rotation of the operating body With the operation, the holding case and the rotor portion are configured to rotate integrally through the engaging portion.

  In this way, the holding case that holds the operating body so as to be slidable and the rotor portion of the rotation detecting mechanism are engaged with each other so that the operating body, the holding case, and the rotor portion rotate integrally during the rotating operation. If it exists, since the rotation operation of the operating body can be instantaneously detected by the rotation detection mechanism, the usability is improved. In addition, since there is no possibility that the rotation amount of the operating body and the rotor portion is deviated, the reliability of rotation detection is increased.

  In the above configuration, the rotation transmission member provided with the long hole through which the non-cylindrical portion provided in the rotation shaft portion of the operation body is inserted and engaged is provided, and the direction of the sliding movement of the operation body is the long hole. The driving force is not transmitted to the rotation transmitting member when the direction of the sliding movement is along, and the sliding driving force is transmitted to the rotation transmitting member when the direction of the slide movement is other than that. A guide wall extending along the short direction of the long hole is provided, and when the slide driving force of the operating body is transmitted to the rotation transmission member, the rotation transmission member moves along the guide wall. In addition, when the operating body is rotated, a rotational driving force is transmitted to the guide wall via the rotation transmitting member so that the rotation transmitting member and the holding case rotate integrally with the operating body. If configured, the rotation transmission member that functions as a link member that integrally rotates the operating body and the holding case does not move during the sliding operation of the operating body, or only moves along the guide wall of the holding case. Therefore, there is no possibility that the slide operation is hindered by the holding case. Therefore, it is possible to realize a simple and reliable structure that can smoothly perform the rotation operation and the slide operation.

  Further, in the above configuration, the operating body is provided with a flange portion that protrudes radially outward around the rotation shaft portion, and the holding case has a first protrusion that projects one end side of the rotation shaft portion outward. 1 opening and the 2nd opening which protrudes the other end side in the opposite direction are provided, The said collar part is slid and moved between the peripheral part of the said 1st opening, and the peripheral part of the said 2nd opening The guide wall is provided on a wall surface of the peripheral portion of the second opening facing the flange portion through the second opening, and the rotation is transmitted to the space. If the member is arranged, the collar portion of the operating body can be guided by the peripheral portions of the first and second openings during the slide operation, and interference between the collar portion and the rotation transmitting member is also caused by the second opening. Since it can avoid by the peripheral part, it becomes easy to improve operativity. In this case, the holding case has a first holding case provided with a first opening and a second holding case provided with a second opening, and the first and When the second holding case is opposed to the annular space and the collar portion of the operating body is disposed in the annular space, the first holding case and the second holding case are separated. By combining them, a holding case having a desired shape can be obtained, so that the assembling property of the holding case becomes good and can be formed at low cost.

  Further, in the above configuration, the slide detection mechanism is engaged with the operating body so that a plurality of switch elements that perform contact switching as the operating body slides and the slide driving force of the operating body are transmitted. And a support member that supports the slide transmission member so as to be slidable. The contact point of the switch element is switched by the slide transmission member that is driven by the operation body to slide integrally. When the slide is operated, the operating body switches the contact of the switch element via the slide transmission member, and the transmission path of the slide drive force can be simplified, improving reliability. It becomes easy to let you. In this case, the rotary shaft portion of the operating body is rotatably inserted into the opening provided in the center portion of the slide transmission member so that the rotary shaft portion drives the peripheral portion of the opening when the operating body slides. If it does in this way, the engagement relationship of transmitting a slide drive force reliably to the slide transmission member which does not inhibit the rotation operation of this rotating shaft part is realizable with a very simple structure.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the fixing member that is a component of the slide detection mechanism is engaged with a slit-shaped or groove-shaped guide portion provided on the slide transmission member to regulate the slide movement direction of the slide transmission member. If the restricting protrusion is provided, there is no possibility that the slide transmitting member slides in an undesired direction when the operating body is slid.

  Further, in the above configuration, an elastic member interposed between the holding case and the stator portion of the rotation detection mechanism and holding the holding case so as to be movable up and down, and a rotation shaft of the operation body attached to the slide detection mechanism And a push switch that opposes the front end of the unit, and the holding case is pressed together by pressing the operating body against the elastic repulsive force of the elastic member, and the push switch is rotated Multi-function combined operation that can be pressed in addition to rotating and sliding operations while avoiding the increase in size and complexity of the entire device if it is configured to be driven to the tip of the shaft. A mold input device is obtained. In this case, the elastic member is a compression coil spring, and the holding case is provided with an annular spring receiving portion that holds one end of the compression coil spring on the outer peripheral portion in a state of being connected to the engagement portion. In this case, the operating body and the holding case can be surely pushed up to the initial position by the compression coil spring after the pressing operation, and the compression coil spring can be easily assembled and can be prevented from falling off after the assembly. In addition, since the annular spring receiving portion is connected to the engaging portion and provided on the outer peripheral portion of the holding case, the engaging portion can serve as a member for connecting the holding case and the spring receiving portion, The spring receiving portion can be accurately provided on the holding case with a simple configuration.

  Further, in the above configuration, the rotor portion of the rotation detection mechanism is formed in a cylindrical shape, and if the slide detection mechanism is arranged in the hollow portion inside the rotor portion, the entire apparatus has a compact configuration. This makes it easier to reduce the size.

  In the composite operation type input device of the present invention, the holding case that holds the operating body so as to be slidable and the rotor portion of the rotation detecting mechanism are engaged with each other so that the operating body, the holding case, and the rotor portion are integrated during the rotation operation. Therefore, the rotation operation of the operating body can be instantaneously detected by the rotation detection mechanism, and the usability is improved. In addition, since there is no possibility that the rotation amount of the operating body and the rotor portion is deviated, the reliability of rotation detection is increased.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a composite operation type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the input device, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the input device, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the input device viewed from the back side, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the input device, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit used in the input device, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit viewed from the back side, and FIG. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the switch unit used in the input device, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the switch unit as viewed from the back side, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which a switch group is attached to the base of the switch unit. FIG. 13 is an exploded oblique view of the rotary encoder used in the input device. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary encoder as viewed from the back side, FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure when the input device is in a non-operating state, and FIG. 16 is a state in which the input device is slid. It is internal structure explanatory drawing shown.

  The composite operation type input device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is a multifunctional input device that can selectively perform a rotation operation, a four-direction slide operation, and a pressing operation with respect to the operation body 1. Used by mounting on a board. This composite operation type input device is mainly composed of a drive unit 2, a rotary encoder 3, a switch unit 4, and a compression coil spring 5, and an operation body 1 is incorporated in the drive unit 2. The external appearance of the composite operation type input device is substantially cylindrical, and the operation body 1 protrudes upward from the center of the upper surface.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, the drive unit 2 includes an operating body 1 having a rotating shaft portion 1 a and a flange portion 1 b, a first holding case 6 that holds the operating body 1 slidably, and a first holding case 6. Two holding cases 7, a rotation transmission member 8 provided with a long hole 8a, a bottom plate 9 that slidably supports the rotation transmission member 8, and an annular return spring 10 disposed around the flange 1b. It is constituted by.

  The operating body 1 is made of synthetic resin, and the upper and lower portions of the rotating shaft portion 1a are non-cylindrical portions having outer surfaces parallel to each other such as an oval cross section, and the rotating shaft portion 1a extends in the axial direction. A flange portion 1b is projected in a disk shape from the substantially central cylindrical portion in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) to the outside in the radial direction. The operating body 1 is rotatable with the axis of the rotation shaft 1a as a rotation axis (rotation center line), is slidable along a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis, and is moved up and down along the rotation axis. Is possible. Here, the operating body 1 can be rotated and moved up and down as the entire drive unit 2 including the first and second holding cases 6 and 7. An operation knob (not shown) can be attached to the non-cylindrical portion on the upper end side of the rotating shaft portion 1a by press fitting or the like, and the non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotating shaft portion 1a is a long hole 8a of the rotation transmitting member 8. It is slidably inserted in. The flange 1b is held between the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 so as to be slidable relative to the holding cases 6 and 7.

  The first holding case 6 and the second holding case 7 are made of synthetic resin, and the holding cases 6 and 7 are integrated with the bottom plate 9. The first holding case 6 includes a central opening 6a for projecting the non-columnar portion on the upper end side of the rotating shaft portion 1a upward, an annular jetty portion 6b positioned on the peripheral edge of the central opening 6a on the back side, and a cylindrical shape. An outer wall portion 6c, a retaining hook 6d projecting from a plurality of locations on the outer surface of the outer wall portion 6c, and a caulking projection 6e suspended from a plurality of locations on the bottom surface of the outer wall portion 6c are formed. Each caulking projection 6 e passes through the second holding case 7 and the bottom plate 9 and is caulked and fixed to the bottom plate 9. The second holding case 7 having a diameter larger than that of the first holding case 6 includes a central opening 7a for projecting the non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotating shaft 1a downward, and a central opening 7a on the upper surface side. An annular jetty portion 7b positioned at the peripheral edge, a square recess 7c exposing the central opening 7a on the back surface side, a plurality of insertion holes 7e through which the caulking projections 6e are inserted, and diameters of the respective insertion holes 7e Engagement protrusions 7f erected outward in the direction and cylindrical outer wall parts 7g surrounding the engagement protrusions 7f are formed. The second holding case 7 has a pair of parallel inner walls facing each other in the recess 7c as a guide wall 7d for guiding the one-way sliding movement of the rotation transmitting member 8 and each engagement. A space defined between the projecting portion 7f and the outer wall portion 7g serves as a spring receiving portion 7h that holds the upper end portion of the compression coil spring 5. That is, the annular spring receiving portion 7h is provided integrally with the outer peripheral portion of the second holding case 7 in a state where the annular spring receiving portion 7h is connected to the plurality of engaging protrusions 7f serving as engaging portions. These holding cases 6 and 7 are combined so that an annular space S is defined between the top plate portion of the first holding case 6 and the bottom plate portion of the second holding case 7. In the space S, a flange 1b of the operating body 1 and a return spring 10 including an annular coil spring are disposed (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The flange portion 1b of the operating body 1 is slidably held by the annular jetty portion 6b and the annular jetty portion 7b, and the return spring 10 is restricted from moving inward by the annular jetty portions 6b and 7b. In this state, it can be elastically contacted with the outer peripheral surface of the flange 1b. Therefore, when the flange portion 1b slides between the holding cases 6 and 7, the flange portion 1b pushes the return spring 10 in the moving direction, so that an elastic repulsive force is generated in the return spring 10.

  The rotation transmitting member 8 is made of a rectangular metal plate. A long hole 8a is formed in the longitudinal direction of the rotation transmitting member 8, and a pair of protrusions 8b extending in the short direction across the long hole 8a are formed. The rotation transmitting member 8 is disposed in the recess 7 c on the back surface side of the second holding case 7, and is supported on the bottom plate 9 with the ridges 8 b being in sliding contact with the bottom plate 9. The long side of the rotation transmitting member 8 is substantially the same as the length of one side of the square recess 7c, and the short side is in sliding contact with the guide wall 7d. Thereby, the rotation transmission member 8 on the bottom plate 9 can be stably slid along the guide wall 7d in the recess 7c. Further, a non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotation shaft portion 1a is inserted into the long hole 8a of the rotation transmitting member 8 so as not to rotate and to be slidable along the longitudinal direction.

  The bottom plate 9 is made of a substantially circular metal plate having an opening 9a, and caulking holes 9b are formed at a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral edge thereof. A non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotary shaft portion 1a is loosely inserted into the opening 9a. The caulking projections 6e of the first holding case 6 are inserted into the caulking holes 9b, and the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 are fixed by caulking and fixing the caulking projections 6e on the rear surface side of the bottom plate 9. And the bottom plate 9 are integrated in a positioned state.

  The drive unit 2 configured as described above is held by the rotary encoder 3 via the compression coil spring 5 and the annular spring receiving member 11. As shown in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14, the rotary encoder 3 includes a rotor portion 12 having a slider 15 attached to the back side of the cylindrical body 14, a conductive pattern 16, and terminals 17. The stator portion 13 that rotatably supports the portion 12, an annular click spring 18, and a fixing bracket 19 that fixes the click spring 18 to the stator portion 13, the first and first The two holding cases 6 and 7 are connected to the rotor portion 12 so as to be movable up and down and non-rotatable.

  The cylindrical body 14 of the rotor portion 12 is made of synthetic resin, and has concave cuts 14a and vertically long slits 14b at a plurality of locations. Here, the concave cut 14a and the vertically long slit 14b are configured by a groove or a long hole cut out along the direction of the rotation axis of the rotor 12 so that the drive unit 2 can be moved up and down. At the lower end portion of the cylindrical body 14, a flange portion 14 c is formed. A click protrusion 12a is provided on the upper surface side of the hook-shaped portion 14c over the entire circumference, and an annular slider 15 is fixed to the rear surface side of the hook-shaped portion 14c. The stator portion 13 is an insert-molded product, and an inner cylindrical portion 13a that makes sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 14 of the rotor portion 12, an outer cylindrical portion 13b that protrudes terminals 17 outward, and both cylinders. The conductive pattern 16 exposed between the portions 13a and 13b and the terminal 17 derived from the conductive pattern 16 are provided. The inner cylindrical portion 13a functions as a bearing portion that rotatably guides the cylindrical body 14 that is a hollow rotating shaft. A flange-like portion 14c of the rotor portion 12 is inserted between the cylindrical portions 13a and 13b of the stator portion 13 so that the slider 15 is in elastic contact with the conductive pattern 16. On the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 13a of the stator portion 13, holding projections 13c for attaching the switch unit 4 are formed at a plurality of locations. In addition, engagement step portions 13d for caulking the leg pieces 19a of the fixing bracket 19 are formed at a plurality of locations from the outer peripheral surface to the bottom surface of the outer cylindrical portion 13b.

  The click spring 18 is extrapolated to the cylindrical body 14 of the rotor portion 12 and is disposed on the flange portion 14c. The fixing bracket 19 is disposed on the click spring 18 and fixed to the stator portion 13 by aligning and crimping a plurality of leg pieces 19a to the engaging step portion 13d. By fixing the fixing bracket 19 to the stator portion 13 in this manner, the pair of ear portions 18a of the click spring 18 is fixed on the outer cylindrical portion 13b, and the contact portion 18b is elastically detachable from the click projection 12a. It comes to touch.

  On the fixing bracket 19 of the rotary encoder 3 configured in this manner, a spring receiving member 11 that is extrapolated to the cylindrical body 14 of the rotor portion 12 is mounted, and the cylindrical body 14 is externally mounted on the spring receiving member 11. The inserted compression coil spring 5 is mounted. The drive unit 2 is attached so that the space surrounded by the cylindrical body 14 is closed, and the upper end portion of the compression coil spring 5 is held by the spring receiving portion 7 h of the second holding case 7. . The mounting structure of the drive unit 2 to the rotary encoder 3 is such that each engagement protrusion 7f of the second holding case 7 is fitted into each concave cut 14a of the cylindrical body 14, and each retaining prevention of the first holding case 6 is performed. The hook 6d is locked to the upper end of each longitudinal slit 14b of the cylindrical body 14. As a result, the engaging projection 7f is guided by the concave cut 14a and the retaining hook 6d is guided by the longitudinal slit 14b, and the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 rotate the rotor 12 with respect to the rotor 12. It can be moved up and down along the axial direction. Further, since the engaging protrusion 7f and the concave cut 14a, which are engaging portions that are engaged with the concave and convex portions, are formed to have substantially the same width, the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 are integrated with the rotor portion 12. Can be rotated. When the drive unit 2 is attached to the rotary encoder 3, the engaging projections 7f are inserted into the concave notches 14a from above while pushing and bending the compression coil spring 5, and the retaining hooks 6d are connected. What is necessary is just to make it snap into each longitudinally long slit 14b. Accordingly, the retaining hook 6d is locked to the upper end portion of the corresponding longitudinal slit 14b by the elastic repulsive force of the compression coil spring 5, so that the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 are in a tubular shape in a retaining state. It will be attached to the body 14.

  Next, the configuration of the switch unit 4 will be described. As shown in detail in FIGS. 10 to 12, the switch unit 4 includes a base 20 made of synthetic resin, and a push switch 21 having a rectangular shape in plan view, which is assembled on the base 20 in a cross-like arrangement. A push switch 22 having a square shape in plan view assembled at the center of the base 20, a spacer 23 placed on the push switch 22, and an upper flat surface 20a of the base 20. A support member 24 made of a metal plate, a synthetic resin slide transmission member 25 slidably mounted on the support member 24, and attached to the base 20 so as to cover the outer periphery of the slide transmission member 25. And a mounting plate 26 made of a metal plate. Since the switch unit 4 is disposed in the hollow portion inside the rotary encoder 3, and the base 20 is held and fixed to the stator portion 13, the drive unit 2 is disposed directly above the switch unit 4. Become.

  The base 20 that is a fixing member is formed with a cross-shaped groove 20b in which the slide detection push switches 21 and the push detection push switches 22 are arranged. On the upper flat surface 20a divided by the groove portion 20b, restriction pins 20c serving as restriction protrusions are projected at two positions sandwiching the central portion of the base 20. Further, a fitting recess 20d for fitting the holding projection 13c of the stator portion 13 into a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral surface of the base 20, and a locking projection 20e for locking the leg piece 26a of the mounting plate 26, Is formed. The actuating portions 21a of the push switches 21 disposed on the base 20 are inserted into the housing 21b and perform contact switching when receiving a lateral force from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction of the base 20. The terminal portion 21c of each push switch 21 penetrates the base 20 and protrudes downward. In addition, the operation part 22a of the push switch 22 disposed in the center part of the base 20 is configured to perform contact switching by being pressed through the spacer 23 from above. The part 22b also penetrates the base 20 and protrudes downward.

  The support member 24 is opposed to the central opening 24a through which the spacer 23 is exposed, the pin insertion hole 24b that is formed in the vicinity of the central opening 24a and through which the restriction pin 20c is inserted, and the operating portion 21a of each push switch 21. A notch portion 24c is formed by notching the four peripheral edge portions to expose the operating portion 21a. A non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotary shaft portion 1 a of the operating body 1 is loosely inserted into the central opening 24 a of the support member 24, and the lower end portion of the rotary shaft portion 1 a is connected to the push switch 22 via the spacer 23. The actuating portion 22a can be pressed and driven.

  The slide transmission member 25 is a disc-shaped synthetic resin molded product having a diameter smaller than that of the support member 24, and is formed in a central opening 25a having a smaller diameter than the central opening 24a of the support member 24 and on both radial sides of the central opening 25a. A guide hole 25b formed of a cross-shaped slit and sliding protrusions 25c projecting at a plurality of locations on the peripheral portions of both the front and back surfaces are formed. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a non-cylindrical portion on the lower end side of the rotation shaft portion 1 a of the operating body 1 is rotatably fitted in the central opening 25 a of the slide transmission member 25, and serves as a guide portion. The restriction pin 20c of the base 20 is inserted through the hole 25b. For this reason, the slide transmission member 25 is slidable by the rotating shaft 1a, and its moving direction is regulated by the regulation pin 20c. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the slide transmission member 25 is opposed to the operating portions 21a of the four push switches 21 so as to be able to come into contact with and away from each other. The actuating portion 21a of the push switch 21 located at the position is pushed into the outer peripheral surface of the slide transmission member 25 so that the push switch 21 is turned on. However, the slide movement amount of the slide transmission member 25 is set within a range in which the central opening 25a does not deviate from a later-described central opening 26c of the mounting plate 26. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the slide transmission member 25 has the sliding projections 25c on both the front and back surfaces in sliding contact with the mounting plate 26 and the support member 24, so that there is no backlash in the vertical direction. Smooth sliding movement is possible.

  The mounting plate 26 is formed with a plurality of leg pieces 26a each having a locking hole 26b and a central opening 26c that always exposes the central opening 25a of the slide transmission member 25. The non-cylindrical part on the lower end side of the rotating shaft part 1a of the body 1 is loosely inserted. The mounting plate 26 has the base 20 in a state where the height position of the slide transmission member 25 is defined by inserting and locking the locking projections 20e of the base 20 into the locking holes 26b of the leg pieces 26a. Is attached.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the composite operation type input device configured as described above will be described. First, the operation when the operating body 1 is rotated will be described. Since the rotating shaft 1a is inserted through the elongated hole 8a of the rotation transmitting member 8 so as not to rotate, the operating body 1 to which a rotational operating force is applied. The rotation transmission member 8 rotates integrally with the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 via the guide wall 7d. In addition, since the second holding case 7 (engagement protrusion 7f) is engaged with the rotor portion 12 (concave notch 14a) of the rotary encoder 3 so as not to rotate, the rotor portion 12 and the operation body 1 are eventually joined. The rotation of the operating body 1 is detected based on the change in the position of the slider 15 relative to the conductive pattern 16. Since the contact portion 18b of the click spring 18 is disengaged from the click projection 12a group when the rotor portion 12 is rotated, a click feeling is felt on the fingers of the operator who rotates the operation body 1.

  Next, the operation when the operating tool 1 is slid will be described. FIG. 15 shows the positional relationship between the rotating shaft portion 1a and the switch unit 4 when not being operated, and a long hole 8a of the rotation transmitting member 8 (not shown) extends in the vertical direction in the figure. Therefore, when the operating body 1 is slid along the longitudinal direction of the long hole 8a, the rotary shaft 1a moves along the long hole 8a, so that the sliding force is not transmitted to the rotation transmitting member 8. Since the peripheral edge of the central opening 25a of the slide transmission member 25 is driven by the rotary shaft 1a, the slide transmission member 25 slides in the same direction as the operating body 1 (upward or downward in FIG. 15). As a result, the operating portion 21a of the push switch 21 positioned in the slide movement direction is pressed and driven by the slide transmission member 25, and the push switch 21 is turned on, so which direction the operating body 1 is slid. Detected. Further, when the operating body 1 is slid along the short direction of the long hole 8a, the rotation transmitting member 8 is driven by the rotating shaft 1a, so that the second holding case 7 does not obstruct the guide. Therefore, the slide transmission member 25 is driven by the rotary shaft 1a and slides in the same direction as the operation body 1 (right or left in FIG. 15). As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the operating portion 21 a of the push switch 21 positioned in the slide movement direction is pressed by the slide transmission member 25 and the push switch 21 is turned on. It is detected whether the slide operation is performed in the direction. Further, since the flange portion 1b of the operating body 1 extends the annular return spring 10 during the slide operation, the operating body 1 is automatically returned to the original position by the elastic return force of the return spring 10 when the slide operating force is removed. Return. When the slide transmission member 25 is slid, the restriction pin 20c is relatively moved along the guide hole 25b to restrict the movement direction, so that the operating body 1 and the slide transmission member 25 are moved in an undesired direction during the slide operation. There is no risk of sliding. In order to restrict the slide movement direction of the slide transmission member 25, a bottomed guide groove having the same shape in plan view is provided in place of the slit-shaped guide hole 25b, and a fixing member such as the base 20 is provided in this guide groove. You may make it engage the regulation pin of the suitable shape protrudingly provided in this.

  Next, an operation when the operating tool 1 is pressed is described. As apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, the operating body 1 that has been pushed down is lowered integrally with the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 while pressing and bending the compression coil spring 5. The lower end portion of 1a presses and drives the operating portion 22a of the central push switch 22 via the spacer 23. As a result, since the push switch 22 is turned on, a pressing operation on the operating tool 1 is detected. When the pressing operation force is removed, the operating body 1 and the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 are pushed up to the original height position by the elastic return force of the compression coil spring 5.

  As described above, in the composite operation type input device according to this embodiment, the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 that hold the operating body 1 slidably and the rotor portion 12 of the rotary encoder 3 are engaged. Since the protrusion 7f is engaged with the concave cut 14a so as to engage with the concave and convex portions, the operating body 1, both the holding cases 6 and 7, and the rotor portion 12 are rotated together during the rotation operation. The rotary motion of the body 1 can be detected instantaneously by the rotary encoder 3, and therefore the usability is improved. Moreover, since there is no possibility that the rotation amount of the operating body 1 and the rotor portion 12 is shifted, the reliability of rotation detection is increased. The engagement structure between the holding cases 6 and 7 and the rotor portion 12 can be selected as appropriate. For example, the protrusions are provided on the rotor portion 12 side and the recesses are provided on the holding cases 6 and 7 side. The relationship may be opposite to that in the present embodiment.

  Further, the drive unit 2 of this composite operation type input device is engaged with the rotary shaft 1a and the guide wall 7d so as to be integrated with the operating body 1 and the first and second holding cases 6 and 7 during the rotation operation. A rotation transmission member 8 that rotates is incorporated. Since the rotation transmitting member 8 does not move during the sliding operation of the operating body 1 or only moves along the guide wall 7d, the sliding operation is not hindered by the holding cases 6 and 7. As described above, since the rotation transmitting member 8 is used as a link member for integrally rotating the operating body 1 and the holding cases 6 and 7, a simple and reliable structure capable of smoothly performing a rotating operation and a sliding operation. Is realized.

  Further, in this composite operation type input device, the flange portion 1b of the operation body 1 is slidably held by the annular jetty portions 6b and 7b, and the rotation transmitting member is provided in the recess 7c on the back surface side of the annular jetty portion 7b. Since 8 is disposed to reliably avoid interference with the flange 1b, the operating body 1 can be smoothly slid. Note that, as in the present embodiment, the first holding case 6 and the second holding case 7 are combined separately, and the collar 1b of the operating body 1 is placed in the annular space S between the holding cases 6 and 7. And the annular return spring 10 are arranged at a low cost, it is possible to form a desired holding case that can hold the operating body 1 in a slidable manner and can easily incorporate the return spring 10 at a low cost.

  Further, in the composite operation type input device according to the present embodiment, the switch unit 4 is arranged in the hollow portion inside the rotor portion 12 that rotates integrally with the first and second holding cases 6, 7, A structure in which the base 20 is held and fixed by the stator portion 13 is adopted. When the switch unit 4 that detects the slide operation and the pressing operation is incorporated in the internal space of the rotary encoder 3 that holds the drive unit 2 in this way, a compact configuration can be realized, and thus the composite operation type input device can be downsized. Is easier to plan. Further, since the entire apparatus can be mounted on a printed circuit board as a module product, handling before mounting and workability during mounting are improved.

  Further, in this composite operation type input device, the rotary shaft portion 1a of the operation body 1 is rotatably fitted in the central opening 25a of the slide transmission member 25 of the switch unit 4, and is integrated with the operation body 1 during the slide operation. The contacts of the push switch 21 are switched by the slide transmission member 25 that slides. Therefore, the transmission path of the slide driving force can be simplified and the reliability of slide detection can be easily improved.

  Further, as in this embodiment, the mechanism for detecting the sliding operation and the pressing operation is unitized, and when the unit product (switch unit 4) can be incorporated in the internal space of the rotary encoder 3, It becomes easy to increase the variety of unit products. For example, if a slide transmission member 30 as shown in FIG. 17 is incorporated in the switch unit 4 in place of the slide transmission member 25, the resolution can be improved by increasing the slide detection direction of the operating body 1. That is, when the rotary shaft portion 1a of the operating body 1 is slid to any one of up, down, left and right in FIG. 17, the push switch 21 positioned in the slide movement direction is the slide transmission member 30 as in the above-described operation during the slide operation. However, when the rotary shaft 1a is slid and moved obliquely upward and obliquely downward in FIG. 17, two pieces located in the vicinity of the sliding movement direction are shown as an example in FIG. The push switches 21 are both turned on via the slide transmission member 30. Therefore, based on which one or two of the four push switches 21 are turned on, it is possible to detect the eight-direction sliding operation of the operating body 1. In FIGS. 17 and 18, reference numeral 30a denotes a central opening of the slide transmission member 30, and 30b denotes annular slide projections protruding from the peripheral edges of both the front and back surfaces of the slide transmission member 30. Portions corresponding to those in FIG. 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the present embodiment, the compression coil spring 5 is interposed between the drive unit 2 and the rotary encoder 3, and the base 20 of the switch unit 4 can be pressed and driven by the rotating shaft 1a. Since the push switch 22 is provided, a multifunctional composite operation type input device that can perform a pressing operation in addition to a rotating operation and a sliding operation while avoiding an increase in the size of the entire device and a complicated structure is realized. ing. In addition, since the compression coil spring 5 that functions as a return spring at the time of the pressing operation is incorporated between the spring receiving portion 7h of the second holding case 7 and the spring receiving member 11 on the stator portion 13, the assembly is easy. It is easy to prevent falling off after assembly. Further, since the annular spring receiving portion 7h is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the holding case 7 in a state of being connected by the plurality of engaging protrusions 7f, a member for connecting the spring receiving portion 7h to the holding case 7 is provided. Since the engaging projection 7f can serve as both, and both are the same members, the spring receiving portion 7h can be provided in the holding case 7 with a simple configuration and high accuracy. Further, there is no possibility that the push switch 22 adversely affects the mounting position of each push switch 21 for slide detection.

  However, the present invention may be applied to a composite operation type input device that does not require a pressing operation of the operating body. In this case, the holding case that holds the operating body in a slidable manner cannot be moved up and down on the rotor portion of the rotary encoder. What is necessary is just to make it the structure which made it engage with uneven | corrugated and abbreviate | omitted the compression coil spring, the push switch for pressing detection, etc. At that time, the engagement relationship between the operating body 1 and the slide transmission member 25 may be reversed. That is, a non-cylindrical protrusion is protruded from the center of the upper surface of the slide transmission member 25, and a circular recess into which the protrusion is inserted is provided at the center of the flange 1b of the operation body 1. It is also possible to transmit the slide movement to the slide transmission member 25.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the switch unit 4 including a plurality of switch elements (push switches 21) is used as the slide detection mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the switch unit, a pair of variable resistors that can be moved independently in the orthogonal direction may be used to detect the slide movement of the operating body, and furthermore, a magnetic or optical slide detection mechanism It is also possible.

1 is an external view of a composite operation type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the input device. It is the external view which looked at this input device from the back side. It is a disassembled perspective view of this input device. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at this input device from the back side. It is sectional drawing of this input device. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the input device taken along a position different from that in FIG. 6. It is a disassembled perspective view of the drive unit used for this input device. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at this drive unit from the back side. It is a disassembled perspective view of the switch unit used for this input device. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at this switch unit from the back side. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the switch group to the base of this switch unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of the rotary encoder used for this input device. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at this rotary encoder from the back side. It is explanatory drawing of an internal structure when this input device is in a non-operation state. It is internal structure explanatory drawing which shows the state by which this input device was slid. It is internal structure explanatory drawing of the non-operation state which shows the modification of a switch unit. It is internal structure explanatory drawing of the slide operation state which shows operation | movement of the switch unit shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation body 1a Rotating shaft part 1b ridge part 2 Drive unit 3 Rotary encoder 4 Switch unit 5 Compression coil spring 6 1st holding case 6a Center opening (1st opening)
6b Annular jetty 6d Retaining hook 7 Second holding case 7a Center opening (second opening)
7b Annular jetty 7c Recess (space)
7d guide wall 7f engagement protrusion (engagement portion)
7h Spring receiving part 8 Rotation transmitting member 8a Long hole 9 Bottom plate 10 Return spring 11 Spring receiving member 12 Rotor part 13 Stator part 14 Cylindrical body 14a Concave cut 14b Long slit 15 Slider 18 Click spring 19 Fixing bracket 20 Base ( Fixed member)
20c Restriction pin (regulation protrusion)
21 (for slide detection) push switch 22 (for pressing detection) push switch 24 support member 25, 30 slide transmission member 25a central opening 25b guide hole (guide portion)
26 Mounting plate S Annular space

Claims (11)

An operating body that is rotatable and slidable in multiple directions orthogonal to the rotational axis, a holding case that holds the operating body so as to be slidable and can rotate integrally with the operating body, and a sliding operation of the operating body A slide detection mechanism for detecting the rotation, and a rotation detection mechanism that has a rotor portion and a stator portion that rotatably supports the rotor portion, and detects a rotation operation of the operating body,
The holding case is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the rotor portion on the outer side in the radial direction of the portion that holds the operating body, and the holding case and the rotor portion are rotated along with the rotation of the operating body. And a multi-operation type input device that is configured to rotate integrally with the engaging portion.   The rotation transmission member provided with the long hole which inserts and engages the non-columnar part provided in the rotating shaft part of the said operation body in Claim 1 is provided, The direction of the slide movement of the said operation body Is not transmitted to the rotation transmission member when the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole is along the longitudinal direction of the long hole, and the slide driving force is transmitted to the rotation transmission member when the direction of the slide movement is otherwise, The holding case is provided with a guide wall extending along the short direction of the long hole, and when the slide driving force of the operating body is transmitted to the rotation transmission member, the rotation transmission member extends along the guide wall. When the operating body rotates, the rotational transmission force is transmitted to the guide wall via the rotational transmission member, so that the rotational transmission member and the holding case are moved forward. Compound operation input device characterized by being configured to rotate the operation member and integrally.   3. The operating body according to claim 2, wherein the operating body is provided with a flange portion protruding radially outward around the rotating shaft portion, and one end side of the rotating shaft portion faces outward in the holding case. A first opening for projecting and a second opening for projecting the other end side in the opposite direction are provided, and the flange portion is provided between a peripheral portion of the first opening and a peripheral portion of the second opening. The guide wall is provided on a wall surface of the peripheral portion of the second opening facing the flange portion through the second opening, and the guide wall is provided in the space. A compound operation type input device in which the rotation transmitting member is arranged.   4. The holding case according to claim 3, wherein the holding case includes a first holding case provided with the first opening and a second holding case provided with the second opening, and the both openings. A multi-operation type input device characterized in that the first and second holding cases are opposed to each other with an annular space around and the collar portion is disposed in the annular space.   5. The slide detection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the slide detection mechanism transmits a plurality of switch elements that perform contact switching as the operating body slides and a slide driving force of the operating body. The slide transmission member that engages with the operation body and a support member that supports the slide transmission member so as to be slidable, and the slide transmission that is slid integrally with the operation body is driven. A composite operation type input device, wherein the switching of the contact point of the switch element is performed by a member.   6. The rotary shaft portion according to claim 5, wherein the rotary shaft portion of the operating body is rotatably inserted into an opening provided in a central portion of the slide transmission member so that the rotary shaft portion is opened when the operating body slides. A multi-operation type input device characterized in that the peripheral edge portion of the head is driven.   7. The sliding movement of the slide transmission member according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a fixed member that is a component of the slide detection mechanism is engaged with a slit-shaped or groove-shaped guide portion provided on the slide transmission member. A compound operation type input device, characterized in that a regulating projection for regulating the direction is provided.   8. The elastic member according to claim 1, which is interposed between the holding case and the stator portion and holds the holding case so as to be movable up and down, and is attached to the slide detection mechanism. A push switch that opposes the tip of the rotating shaft of the operating body, and the holding case is pressed down integrally by pressing the operating body against an elastic repulsion force of the elastic member. In addition, the push switch is configured to be pressed and driven by the tip end portion of the rotating shaft portion.   9. The elastic member according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a compression coil spring, and an annular spring receiving portion that holds one end portion of the compression coil spring is connected to the engagement portion on the outer peripheral portion of the holding case. A composite operation type input device, characterized in that the input device is provided in a state of being attached.   The rotor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rotor portion is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the slide detection mechanism is disposed in an inner hollow portion of the rotor portion. Compound operation type input device.   11. The rotor according to claim 1, wherein one of the rotor portion and the stator portion has a slider, and the other has a conductive pattern in sliding contact with the slider. A composite operation type input device.

Images