JP2008198501A - Control mode switch of portable apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a concrete structure of a control mode switch. <P>SOLUTION: The switch comprises a switch unit 50 equipped with two switch elements 71 and 72, and a slide type push button unit 10. A space 73 is added to the switch unit 50. The slide type push button unit 10 comprises: a slide member 20; a deflectable spring member 30 whose both ends are attached to the slide member 20; a push button 40 which is integrally molded with resin at the central part in length direction of the spring member 30 for coming in/out of an opening 21 of the slide member 20; and a pressurizing member 41 integrally molded with the push button. By sliding of the slide member 20, the pressurizing member 41 selectively faces each of two positions corresponding to one of the two switch elements 71 and 72, or the position corresponding to the space 73. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control mode switching device for portable equipment, and more particularly to a control mode switching device including a switch unit having a switch element and a slide-type push button unit for operating the switch unit.

  Conventionally, a push button is provided on a rotary operation type mode selection dial, the mode selection dial is rotated to select a desired mode, and then the selected mode is executed by pushing the rotated push button together with the mode selection dial. There is known a control mode switching method for performing the operation procedure (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, an operation button is provided on the grip part, and after the grip part is slid sideways without a finger to select a certain mode, the selected mode is executed by pressing the operation button slid with the grip part. A control mode switching method for performing an operation procedure is also known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

In addition, an operation member device (see, for example, Patent Document 3) configured to switch an operation mode by sliding an operation button along a key-shaped slide groove, a left button switch operated by a left hand, An apparatus having a function of enabling only one of the right button switch operated by the right hand and the switching operation of the slide switch is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
JP 2004-120265 A JP 2003-295285 A JP 2002-196407 A JP 2004-53700 A

  However, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above only describe the control mode switching method, and do not disclose a specific structure of the control mode switching device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a specific structure of a control mode switching device that can be applied to various portable devices.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a control mode switching device for a portable device that can be configured at a low cost with as few parts as possible.

  A control mode switching device for a portable device according to the present invention includes a switch unit in which first and second switch elements are arranged side by side, and a slide-type push button unit for operating the switch unit. . The slide-type pushbutton unit can be moved in and out of the slide member slidably attached to the portable device casing, the elastic spring member provided in the slide member, and the opening provided in the slide member. And a push button that is always elastically biased in the protruding direction by the spring member, and a pressing portion provided on the push button, and the pressing portion is first moved by the sliding of the slide member. And is configured to be selectively opposed to any one of the two positions corresponding to the second switch element, and by pushing the push button against the bias by the spring member, The selected switch element is configured to operate.

  According to the control mode switching device of the present invention, by sliding the slide member, the pressing portion of the slide-type pushbutton unit is selectively set to one of the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements. The control mode can be selected by such a slide operation. The selected mode is executed when the selected switch element is operated by pushing the push button against the biasing force of the spring member.

  In the present invention, it is also possible to add a space arranged side by side with respect to the first and second two switch elements to the switch unit. In this case, the slide type push button unit slides. The member is slidable within a range in which the pressing portion can be selectively opposed to the position corresponding to the space in addition to the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements. It is desirable that the pressing portion is pushed into the space by pushing the push button against the biasing force of the spring member when facing the space. According to the present invention, the space can be used to execute the hold mode, that is, the mode in which the switch does not operate even when the push button is pressed.

  In the present invention, the spring member is a horizontally long member having a spring property, and the spring member is attached to the horizontally long plate-shaped slide member at both ends in the longitudinal direction so that the spring member can be flexibly deformed. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the push button including the pressing portion at the center in the longitudinal direction is integrally formed of resin. By adopting this configuration, a single resin part in which the push button and the spring member are integrally formed is obtained, so that the number of necessary parts is reduced as compared with the case where the push button and the spring member are separately manufactured.

  In the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which the magnitude of the elastic urging force acting on the push button is adjusted by adjusting the mutual distance between the attachment portions of both ends of the spring member with respect to the slide member. It is possible. With this configuration, it is possible to moderately and easily adjust the bullet urging force with respect to the push button only by adjusting the mutual interval between the mounting locations.

  A control mode switching device for a portable device according to the present invention includes a switch unit in which first and second switch elements are arranged and a slide-type pushbutton unit for operating the switch unit. A horizontally long plate in which a space arranged side by side with respect to the first and second switch elements is added to the switch unit, and the slide-type push button unit is slidably attached to the portable device housing And a spring member which is composed of a horizontally long member having spring properties and whose both ends in the longitudinal direction are attached to the slide member so as to be able to be bent and deformed. It is integrally molded and deployed in the opening provided in the slide member so that it can be withdrawn / retracted, and the spring member always urges the spring in the protruding direction. Each of the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements by sliding of the slide member, and a push portion integrally formed with the push button. It is comprised so that it may selectively oppose with the position corresponding to the said space, and the said press part selectively opposes either of the 2 positions corresponding to the said 1st and 2nd said switch element. Sometimes, when the push button is pushed against the spring force of the spring member, the selected switch element is operated, and the push button is pressed when the slide member faces the space. When the button is pushed against the spring bias of the spring member, the pressing portion is inserted into the space, and the spring member with respect to the slide member By adjusting the spacing between the attachment points of the ends, are adjusting the magnitude of the elastic urging force acting on the push button is further embodied by adopting the structure that.

  As described above, the control mode switching device for a portable device according to the present invention is useful as a control mode switching device for various portable devices in which it is essential to provide a control mode switching mechanism such as a voice recorder, a music player, and an imaging device. is there. In particular, in the case where the switch unit is added with a space arranged side by side with respect to the first and second switch elements, the portable device can be placed in a pocket or a bag by keeping the pressing portion facing the space. There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent a situation in which the power is accidentally turned on and the power is wasted when it is carried around. In addition, since the first and second switch elements are used in different modes, the two control modes can be selectively executed by one push button.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of a portable voice recorder which is an example of a portable device in which a control mode switching device A according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled. In addition to the above-described control mode switching device A being mounted, this portable device is equipped with a display window 1 for selection mode and execution mode, a speaker 2, an adjustment button 3, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the slide-type pushbutton unit 10 of the control mode switching device A. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the control mode switching device A installed in the portable device casing 100, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are longitudinal front views of the control mode switching device A installed in the portable device casing 100. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device A in which the main part of FIG. 5 is enlarged, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device A showing a state when a predetermined control mode is executed. .

  The control mold switching device A is configured by combining the slide type push button unit 10 shown in FIG. 2 and the switch unit 50 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slide-type pushbutton unit 10 includes a slide member 20 formed by a horizontally long rectangular plate piece, a spring member 30 formed by a horizontally long member formed in a frame shape, and the spring member. A push button 40 integrally formed of resin at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of 30 and a rod-shaped press portion 41 integrally formed with the push button 40 and projecting downward from the push button 40 are provided. A push button 40 is provided in the opening 21 formed in the longitudinal center of the slide member 20 so that the push button 40 can be withdrawn and retracted, and the spring member 30 is attached to the back side of the slide member 20 at both longitudinal ends. And can be bent and deformed. Resin bosses 22 projecting downward from the slide member 20 are loosely fitted into the holes 31 provided at both ends of the spring member 30 at the attachment locations at both ends of the spring member 30 with respect to the slide member 20. In addition, the spring member 30 is slidably held between the hook-shaped portion 23 formed at the end of the boss 22 and the slide member 20 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 to 6, the switch unit 50 is mounted at two locations with a gap between the wiring boards 60 built in the portable device housing 100. The first and second switch elements 71 and 72, and a space 73 arranged side by side with respect to the two switch elements 71 and 72, specifically, a space between the two switch elements 71 and 72 are provided. is doing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the portable device casing 100 is provided with guide portions 110 that are a pair of concave grooves facing each other, and these guide portions 110 are provided with the slide member 20 of the slide-type pushbutton unit 10 described above. Is pushed and slidable in the lateral direction, and the push button 40 protrudes upward through a laterally long opening 120 provided in the portable device casing 100. The slide type pushbutton unit 10 is slid in the lateral direction of the slide member 20 regulated by the guide portion 110, so that the pressing portion 41 is in two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements 71 and 72. It is configured to selectively face each other and a position corresponding to the space 73. Although not shown in the drawing, when the pressing portion 41 faces the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements 71 and 72 and the position corresponding to the space 73, this is indicated to the operator. A touch mechanism is attached to inform the user of a click. This touch mechanism can be easily realized by providing, for example, a convex portion and a concave portion that can be distributed over the guide groove 110 and the slide member 20 and can be overcome.

  In the control mode switching device A configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the push button 40 is pushed sideways with the finger of the hand, and the longitudinally central portion (neutral) of the horizontally long opening 120 of the portable device casing 100. When it is positioned at (position), the pressing portion 41 faces the space 73. In this state, even if the push button 40 is pushed against the urging force of the spring member 30, the first and second switch elements 71 and 72 are not operated simply by the pressing portion 41 entering the space 73. . This state is a hold state. Therefore, for the user, if the portable device is carried in the pocket or bag of clothes in the hold state, even if the push button 40 is accidentally pushed, the power is turned on and power is wasted. Can be avoided in advance.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7, the push button 40 is pushed sideways with the finger of the hand as shown by the arrow S1 in FIG. 5 from the neutral position shown in FIG. When positioned at one longitudinal end portion of 120, the pressing portion 41 faces the first switch element 71. In this state, when the push button 40 is pushed in as shown by an arrow P in FIG. 8 against the bias of the spring member 30, the spring member 30 is bent downward and deformed as shown in FIG. 71 is operated. As a result, the operation mode corresponding to the first switch element 71 is executed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the push button 40 is pushed from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1 or 4 sideways with the finger of the hand as shown by the arrow S2 in FIG. When positioned at the end, the pressing portion 41 faces the second switch element 72. When the push button 40 is pushed against the bias of the spring member 30 from this state, the spring member 30 bends and deforms downward, and the pressing portion 41 operates the second switch element 72. As a result, the operation mode corresponding to the second switch element 72 is executed.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, the power-on mode and the power-off mode are alternately executed through the repeated operation of the first switch element 71, and the recording start mode and the recording stop mode are performed by the repeated operation of the second switch element 72. Can be executed alternately.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the spring member 30 is constituted by a horizontally long member formed in a frame shape, but this spring member 30 is formed by a metal leaf spring in which a push button 40 is insert-molded. It is also possible to do. Further, in the embodiment, when the mutual distance between the attachment portions at both ends of the spring member 30 with respect to the slide member 20 is increased, the elastic biasing force against the push button 40 is weakened, and conversely, when the mutual interval between the attachment points is shortened. The bullet urging force against the push button 40 becomes stronger. Therefore, when this is utilized, it is possible to appropriately adjust the magnitude of the bullet urging force acting on the push button only by increasing or decreasing the mutual interval.

  Further, in this embodiment, the switch unit 50 has been described as having the first and second switch elements 71 and 72 and the space 73 between them. The unit 50 may include only the first and second switch elements 71 and 72 and may not include the space 73.

1 is a schematic external perspective view showing an example of a portable device in which a control mode switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled. It is a disassembled perspective view of the slide type pushbutton unit of a control mode switching device. It is a vertical side view of the control mode switching device with which the portable equipment case is equipped. It is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device in a state where the pressing portion faces the space. It is a vertical front view of the control mode switching device in a state where the pressing portion faces the first switch element. It is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device in a state where the pressing portion faces the second switch element. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device in which the main part of FIG. 5 is enlarged. It is a longitudinal front view of the control mode switching device showing a state when a predetermined control mode is executed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Slide type push button unit 20 Slide member 21 Opening 30 Spring member 40 Push button 41 Press part 50 Switch unit 71 1st switch element 72 2nd switch element 73 Space 100 Mobile device housing

Claims (5)

A switch unit in which the first and second switch elements are arranged and arranged, and a slide-type pushbutton unit for operating the switch unit,
A space arranged side by side with respect to the first and second two switch elements is added to the switch unit,
The slide-type pushbutton unit is composed of a horizontally long plate-like slide member that is slidably attached to a portable device casing, and a horizontally long member having a spring property, and both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof are attached to the slide member. And a spring member that can be bent and deformed, and is integrally formed of resin at the center in the longitudinal direction of the spring member so that the spring member can be withdrawn / retracted from the opening, and the spring member is always elastic in the protruding direction. 2 positions corresponding to the 1st and 2nd above-mentioned switch element which have a push button energized and a press part integrally formed with this push button, and the above-mentioned press part by slide of the above-mentioned slide member Are configured to selectively face each other and a position corresponding to the space,
When the pressing portion is selectively opposed to one of the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements, the push button is pressed against the spring bias of the spring member. Thus, when the selected switch element is operated and the slide member is opposed to the space, the push button is pushed against the spring bias of the spring member, thereby The pressing portion is configured to be inserted into the space, and by adjusting the mutual distance between the attachment portions at both ends of the spring member with respect to the slide member, the elastic biasing force acting on the push button is adjusted. A control mode switching device for a portable device, the size of which is adjusted. A switch unit in which the first and second switch elements are arranged and arranged, and a slide-type pushbutton unit for operating the switch unit,
A slide-type pushbutton unit is slidably attached to a portable device housing, a spring member having elasticity mounted on the slide member, and an opening provided in the slide member so as to be retractable. And a push button that is always elastically biased in the protruding direction by the spring member, and a pressing portion provided on the push button, and the pressing portion is moved to the first and first by the slide of the slide member. 2 is configured to be selectively opposed to one of two positions corresponding to the two switch elements, and is selected by pushing the push button against the bias by the spring member. A control mode switching device for a portable device configured to operate the switch element. A space arranged side by side with respect to the first and second two switch elements is added to the switch unit,
The slide member of the slide-type pushbutton unit is capable of selectively confronting the pressing portion with the position corresponding to the space in addition to the two positions corresponding to the first and second switch elements. It is configured to be slidable, and when the pressing portion is opposed to the space, the pressing portion is pushed into the space by pushing the push button against urging by the spring member. The control mode switching device for a portable device according to claim 1.   The spring member is a horizontally long member having a spring property, and both ends of the spring member are attached to the slide member having a horizontally long plate shape so that the spring member can be bent and deformed. The control mode switching device for a portable device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the push button including the pressing portion in the portion is integrally formed of resin.   The control of the portable device according to claim 4, wherein the magnitude of the resilient urging force acting on the push button is adjusted by adjusting the mutual distance between the attachment portions of both ends of the spring member with respect to the slide member. Mode switching device.

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