JP2009301861A - Multidirectional operation switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional operation switch device capable of preventing direction determination different from operation intention of a user. <P>SOLUTION: This multidirectional operation switch device is equipped with an operating knob 10 supported by a first substrate 20 displaceably in a plane direction orthogonal to an axis Z, direction detecting switches 2a to 2d arranged so as to switch on, off corresponding to a displacement direction of the knob 10, and a control circuit 100 to determine the operation direction of the operating knob 10 based on ON, OFF state of the direction detecting switches 2a to 2d. As for the control circuit 100, if switching of one piece of the direction detecting switches 2a to 2d is detected, the control circuit 100 counts a delay timer, and carries out delay processing to delay direction determination if there is switching of a second piece of the direction detecting switches 2a to 2d during counting of the delay timer, or until the time of time-up when a count value of the delay timer reaches a preset value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-directional operation switch device that is used, for example, to perform a scroll operation of screen display contents in a car navigation device, and in which an operation knob can be displaced in a plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

  Conventionally, in order to perform a scroll operation of the screen display contents of a car navigation device, the operation direction of the operation knob is detected based on the ON / OFF state of four direction detection switches arranged in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the operation knob, A multidirectional operation switch device in which the screen display is scrolled in accordance with the operation direction is known from, for example, Patent Document 1.

  In this conventional multidirectional operation switch device, direction detection switches are provided at four positions every 90 degrees (for example, up, down, left, and right) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft-shaped operation knob.

If the direction detection switch is turned on alone based on the direction detection switch being turned on, the straight direction corresponding to the direction detection switch is determined as the operation direction, and the two direction detection switches When it is ON, the intermediate position between these two direction detection switches is determined as the operation direction.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-216815 Specification

However, in the conventional multi-directional operation switch device, when the operation knob is tilted toward the intermediate position between the two direction detection switches, the following problems have occurred.
That is, there are variations in the installation position of the direction detection switch, and the operation direction of the user's operation knob is rarely operated accurately to the intermediate position between the two detection switches from the initial operation. For this reason, when two direction detection switches are turned on, it is rare that they are turned on simultaneously. First, one of the two direction detection switches is turned on, and the other direction detection switch is delayed. Is turned on.

In such a case, the operation direction determination device first determines that the operation is performed in the straight direction indicated by the ON of one direction detection switch, and then operates to an intermediate position indicated by the ON of the two direction detection switches. judge.
Therefore, when scrolling is executed based on the determination of the operation direction, the user feels that scrolling has been performed in a direction different from the operation intention, and the user may feel uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the conventional problems as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a multidirectional operation switch device capable of preventing a direction determination different from a user's operation intention. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention includes an operation knob that extends along an axis orthogonal to the substrate and is supported on the substrate so as to be displaceable in a plane direction orthogonal to the axis, and a plurality of knobs surrounding the axis. A direction detection switch installed at a location and arranged to be switched ON / OFF according to the displacement direction of the operation knob, and determining the operation direction of the operation knob based on the ON / OFF state of the direction detection switch A direction determination device, and when the direction determination device detects one switching of the direction detection switch, the direction determination device starts counting a delay timer, and executes the direction determination during counting of the delay timer. A delay process is executed for delaying until the second direction detection switch is switched or until the time when the count value of the delay timer becomes a set value is reached. It was a multi-directional operation switch device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first aspect, the count time of the delay timer is determined by a user operating the operation knob operating the operation knob. The multi-directional operation switch device is set to a time that does not give a sense of incongruity to the delay until the direction determination is started.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first or second aspect, an outer diameter direction in which the operation knob is displaced from a neutral position in the planar direction as the delay timer. An outer diameter direction operation delay timer that starts counting at the time of operation is provided, and the count time until the time of the outer diameter direction operation delay timer expires is adjacent to the circumferential direction when the operation knob is operated in the outer diameter direction. The time is set to be longer than the shift amount of the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed when the two direction detection switches are displaced in the middle position direction. A direction operation switch device was obtained.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the multi-directional operation switch device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the operation knob is moved from the outer radial direction operation position to the neutral position as the delay timer. A delay timer at the time of return operation that starts counting at the time of return operation displaced to a position, and the count time until the time-out of the delay timer at the time of return operation is reached, the operation knob is moved from the intermediate position to the neutral position. The multi-directional operation switch device is characterized in that it is set to a time longer than the deviation amount of the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed when the two direction detection switches are displaced.
The invention according to claim 5 is the multi-directional operation switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the count time of the delay timer is in the range of several tens of milliseconds to several hundreds of milliseconds. The multi-directional operation switch device is characterized in that it is set inside.
It was.

In the multidirectional operation switch device of the present invention, when the operation knob is operated, first, when one of the plurality of direction detection switches is switched ON / OFF, the direction determination device executes a delay process to perform a delay. Start timer counting.
With this delay processing, the start of the direction determination is delayed until the second direction detection switch is switched during the count of the delay timer or until the count value of the delay timer expires.

  Therefore, when the operation direction of the operation knob is the direct direction in which the direction detection switch overlaps with the direction detection switch in the outer diameter direction of the shaft and only one direction detection switch is switched, when the count value of the delay timer is up. A direction determination is performed. In this case, the operation direction is determined based on switching of one direction detection switch.

On the other hand, when the operation direction of the operation knob is an intermediate position direction between two direction detection switches adjacent in the circumferential direction in the outer diameter direction of the shaft, the direction is determined when the two direction detection switches are switched. Judgment is performed. In this case, the operation direction is determined based on the switching of the two direction detection switches.
Therefore, when the operation direction of the operation knob is an intermediate position direction between the two direction detection switches, processing corresponding to the case where only one of the two direction detection switches is turned on as in the conventional case is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the direction determination different from the operation intention of the user from being made.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 2, the count time of the delay timer is a time that does not give a sense of incongruity to the delay from when the user operating the operation knob operates the operation knob until the direction determination is started. Therefore, even if the direction determination device performs the delay process, the user can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.
According to the third aspect of the invention, at the time of executing the delay process when the operation knob is operated in the outer diameter direction from the neutral position, the count of the outer diameter direction operation delay timer is started.
The count time of the outer diameter operation delay timer is set to a time longer than the shift amount of the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed when the operation knob is displaced toward the intermediate position. For this reason, when the operation knob is displaced in the intermediate position direction, the direction determination is executed after the two direction detection switches are reliably switched.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination due to switching of the second direction detection switch after the count of the outer diameter direction operation delay timer.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the delay process is executed when the operation knob is returned from the intermediate position to the neutral position, the return operation delay timer starts counting.
The count time of the return operation delay timer is set to a time longer than the deviation amount of the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed when the operation knob is returned from the intermediate position to the neutral position. ing. For this reason, when the operation knob is returned from the intermediate position to the neutral position, the direction determination is performed after the two direction detection switches are reliably switched.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination due to switching of the second direction detection switch after the return operation delay timer is counted.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the count time of the delay timer is set within the range of several tens of msec to several hundreds of msec, there is no sense of incongruity in the delay of the direction determination process by the delay process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The multi-directional operation switch device of this embodiment extends along an axis (Z) orthogonal to the substrate (20), and is displaceable in the plane direction orthogonal to the axis (Z) on the substrate (20). A supported operation knob (10) and a direction detection switch (2a) installed at a plurality of locations surrounding the shaft (Z) and arranged to be switched ON and OFF according to the displacement direction of the operation knob (10). 2d) and a direction determining device (100) for determining the operation direction of the operation knob (10) based on the ON / OFF states of the direction detection switches (2a to 2d), and the direction determining device ( 100), when one of the direction detection switches (2a to 2d) is detected, starts counting of a delay timer, and executes the direction determination to execute the second determination in the delay timer counting. Direction detection Or when the switching of the switch (2 a to 2 d), a multidirectional switch and wherein the count value of the delay timer to perform a delay process for delaying until the time is up as a setting value.

  Below, based on FIGS. 1-11, the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1 of the best embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. This multidirectional operation switch device is used for an input operation of a car navigation device.
The multi-directional operation switch device includes a switch body 1 having an operation knob 10 and a control device (direction determination device) 100 that performs processing according to the operation of the operation knob 10 based on a signal sent from the switch body 1. And.

  The operation knob 10 is configured to be capable of rotating around the axis Z, pressing in the axis Z direction, and sliding in the XY plane direction orthogonal to the axis Z. In the case of the first embodiment, the slide in the XY plane direction, as shown in FIG. 4, is an upward direction a, a downward direction b, a left direction c, a right direction d, an upper right direction e, an upper left direction f, and a lower right direction. It is possible to slide in a total of 8 directions, g and lower left direction h.

Hereinafter, a structure for supporting the operation knob 10 so as to be displaceable in eight directions on the XY plane will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 5, the switch body 1 includes a first substrate 20, a mechanism unit 30, and an operation knob 10.

First, the first substrate 20 will be described.
The first substrate 20 is formed in a substantially octagonal plate shape with a resin or the like, and a support hole 21 is provided in the central portion. The first substrate 20 is formed on the upper surface of the first substrate 20 in the circumferential direction about the axis Z. Two direction detection switches 2a to 2d are provided.
As shown in FIG. 4, these four direction detection switches 2a to 2d are arranged at equal intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction around the axis Z. In the figure, the upper direction a, the lower direction b, and the left It is arranged at four locations in the direction c and the right direction d.
As for these direction detection switches 2a-2d, as shown in FIG. 1, the contact 2p is protruded toward the internal diameter direction which is an axis Z direction. And each direction detection switch 2a-2d is OFF in the state in which the contact 2p protrudes, On the other hand, if the contact 2p is pushed in, it will have a structure switched to ON.

Next, the mechanism unit 30 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the mechanism unit 30 includes a base 31, a slide member 32, a moderation feeling imparting mechanism 330, a pad 35, a damper 36, a base cover 37, and a second substrate 38. .

  The base 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the first substrate 20 with a plurality of screws 22. The base 31 is formed in a cap shape having an outer diameter capable of covering the outer circumference in the radial direction of the four direction detection switches 2a to 2d. The base 31 is provided on the outer circumference of the disc-shaped support plate 313 and the support plate 313. And a cylindrical flange 314 having a cylindrical shape.

Further, the support plate 313 is provided with a cylindrical portion 311 penetrating through the central portion thereof, and four elongated holes 312 are opened on the same circumference in the circumferential direction. Each elongated hole 312 is a position overlapping each direction detection switch 2a to 2d in the axis Z direction, and the contact 2p of each direction detection switch 2a to 2d is opened to a position exposed in the axis Z direction. (See FIG. 1).
Furthermore, two slide grooves are formed on the end surface of the support plate 313 in the axis Z direction (hereinafter referred to as the front in the axis Z direction, and the upper surface in FIG. 5 is referred to as the front surface, and the end surface in the opposite direction is referred to as the rear surface). Reference numeral 315 denotes a direction orthogonal to the axis Z. In the first embodiment, the reference numeral 315 extends in the c and d directions (this is referred to as the Y direction), and is arranged symmetrically about the axis Z.

Next, the slide member 32 will be described.
The slide member 32 is formed in a substantially cross-shaped thin plate shape. An insertion hole 321 is provided in the central portion of the slide member 32, and two slide grooves 322 are formed on the front surface of the slide member 32. The two slide grooves 322 are formed in a concave groove shape, and extend in the a and b directions (this is the X direction) with the axis Z as the center.

  Although detailed illustration is omitted, a protrusion is formed on the rear surface of the slide member 32, and this protrusion is slidably inserted into a slide groove 315 formed in the base 31. Thus, the slide member 32 is supported so as to be slidable in the Y direction (a and b directions) with respect to the base 31.

Next, the pad 35 will be described.
The pad 35 is formed in a substantially disk shape. Further, a pin receiving portion 351 is provided at the center portion of the pad 35. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin receiving portion 351 has a center portion of the pad 35 protruding forward in a substantially V-shaped cross section so that a mortar-shaped concave portion 351 a is formed on the rear surface of the pad 35. ing.

  Further, an inner cylinder part 352 for fitting is formed on the outer periphery of the pin receiving part 351, and the inner cylinder part 352 for fitting is fitted tightly to the inner circumference of the damper 36 coupled to the rear surface of the second substrate 38. Has been. As a result, the pad 35 is integrally coupled to the second substrate 38. The damper 36 prevents vibration from being transmitted to the pad 35 via the second substrate 38 in accordance with each operation of the operation knob 10.

  Furthermore, a slide rail (not shown) having a convex cross section is formed on the lower surface of the pad 35 so as to be slidable in the Y direction along the slide groove 322 of the slide member 32 shown in FIG. Thus, the pad 35 is coupled to the slide member 32 so as to be slidable in the Y direction.

  That is, the pad 35 is supported so as to be slidable in the Y direction with respect to the slide member 32, and is supported so as to be slidable in the X direction together with the slide member 32 with respect to the base 31. The substrate 20 and the base 31 are supported so as to be slidable in the X and Y directions on the XY plane.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a square or circular cylindrical switch pressing cylinder 354 is formed on the rear surface of the pad 35. The switch pressing cylinder 354 is disposed close to the inner diameter direction of the contact 2p of each direction detection switch 2a to 2d.

  Further, an outer peripheral flange 355 projects rearward from the outer periphery of the pad 35. The outer peripheral flange 355 is opposed to the inner periphery of the cylindrical flange 314 of the base 31 via a gap in the outer diameter direction.

Next, the moderation feeling imparting mechanism 330 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the moderation imparting mechanism 330 includes a spring 33, a center pin 34, and a pin receiving portion 351.
The spring 33 is a coil spring that can be expanded and contracted in the axis Z direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the center pin 34 is supported so as to be slidable in the axis Z direction with respect to the cylindrical portion 311 of the base 31 with its rear end portion being fitted inside the spring 33. The front end portion is in pressure contact with the concave portion 351 a of the pin receiving portion 351.
Therefore, when the pad 35 is slid in the XY plane direction, the recess 351a with respect to the center pin 34 is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the axis Z, and the center pin 34 is retracted while shortening the spring 33. Therefore, the greater the amount of displacement of the pad 35 in the direction perpendicular to the axis Z, the greater the pressing force of the center pin 34 against the recess 351a, and a sense of moderation with respect to the displacement of the operation knob 10 is obtained.

Next, the base cover 37 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the base cover 37 is formed in a circular cap shape and covers the front surface of the pad 35 and is coupled to the base 31. In addition, an opening 371 is provided in the center portion of the base cover 37, and a damper 36 coupled to the second substrate 38 is inserted therethrough.

Next, the second substrate 38 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the second substrate 38 includes a substrate body 381, a dial switch 382, and a pressing switch 383.
As described above, the substrate body 381 is coupled to the pad 35 and is connected to the circuit portion of the first substrate 20 by the cable 384.

The dial switch 382 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an inner cylinder part 382a fixed to the board body 381 with screws 380, and a dial supported on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder part 382a so as to be rotatable around an axis Z. And a guide portion 422.
The pressing switch 383 is disposed inside the inner cylinder portion 382 a of the dial switch 382 and is supported by the substrate body 381.

Next, the operation knob 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation knob 10 includes a pressing operation unit 41 and a dial 42.
The pressing operation unit 41 includes a push button 411 and a button guide unit 412. The button guide portion 412 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is supported on the inner side of the inner cylinder portion 382a of the dial switch 382 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. Inside the button guide portion 412, a pressing portion 412 a that is in contact with the upper surface of the pressing switch 383 and can press the pressing switch 383 in the axis Z direction is integrally formed.
The push button 411 is attached to the button guide portion 412 so as to close the opening on the front surface of the button guide portion 412.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the dial 42 includes a grip portion 421 and a dial guide portion 422. The dial guide part 422 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is mounted on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder part 382a of the dial switch 382 so as to be relatively rotatable as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the grip portion 421 is formed in a ring shape and is coupled to the front end portion of the dial guide portion 422. The pressing operation unit 41 described above is provided on the inner periphery of the grip portion 421 so as to be relatively movable in the axis Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the direction detection switches 2 a to 2 d, the dial switch 382, and the pressing switch 383 described above are connected to the control circuit 100 provided on the first substrate 20. The control circuit 100 and a car navigation device (not shown) are connected via the communication means 200. The first substrate 20 is provided with a buzzer 201 that emits a sound according to an operation and an indicator 202 for illumination.

A case will be described in which the multidirectional operation switch device configured as described above is used for an input operation of a car navigation device (not shown).
When selecting an arbitrary menu from a plurality of menus displayed on the operation screen of the car navigation device (not shown), the occupant rotates the grip portion 421 in the left or right direction around the axis Z. Do. As a result, the dial switch 382 is rotated and a signal corresponding to the rotation operation amount is output from the dial switch 382. The control circuit 100 outputs a signal indicating the rotational operation amount to the car navigation device, and the cursor is moved in accordance with the rotational operation amount on the screen.

  Therefore, the occupant can stop the rotation operation and place the cursor at an arbitrary menu position on the screen when the cursor reaches the desired arbitrary menu position on the screen.

Next, the occupant presses the push button 411 backward in the axis Z direction when selecting the menu where the cursor is arranged. As a result, the button guide portion 412 is pushed in, the push portion 412a pushes the push switch 383, and an ON signal is output. Therefore, based on the output from the control circuit 100, the car navigation device executes a process for determining the menu at the cursor position.
When the occupant releases the push button 411, the push button 411 returns to the original position.

  When the map is displayed on the screen of the car navigation device, the occupant can scroll the screen by operating the operation knob 10 in any of the eight directions (arrow a to arrow h) shown in FIG. It is possible to perform a slide operation in a direction and scroll in the operation direction.

Hereinafter, an operation when the operation knob 10 is slid in each direction will be described.
First, when the operation knob 10 is disposed at the neutral position shown in FIG. 1, the operation knob 10 and the pad 35 are disposed on the axis Z.
At this time, the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 is separated from the contact 2p of each direction detection switch 2a to 2d, and each direction detection switch 2a to 2d is in an OFF state.

Next, a case where the operation knob 10 is slid in the upward direction a from the neutral position will be described. In this case, the pad 35 that slides integrally with the operation knob 10 slides along the slide groove 322 of the slide member 32 and slides in the upward direction a with respect to the first substrate 20 and the base 31.
Along with this, the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 comes into contact with the direction detection switch 2a installed in the upward direction a and pushes in 2p.
Accordingly, in this case, only the direction detection switch 2a in the upward direction a of the four direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on.

When the slide amount of the operation knob 10 reaches the maximum stroke amount, the outer peripheral flange 355 of the pad 35 abuts against the cylindrical flange 314 of the base 31 and the slide of the operation knob 10 is restricted.
When the operation knob 10 is slid, the center pin 34 is pushed against the inclined surface of the recess 351a by the sliding of the pad 35 in the XY plane direction, and the spring 33 is shortened and displaced backward.

  Along with the shortening of the spring 33, the pressing force of the center pin 34 against the pad 35 increases, and the feeling of moderation increases as the sliding amount of the operation knob 10 increases. Finally, the outer peripheral flange 355 of the pad 35 is attached to the base 31. In a state where it hits the cylindrical flange 314, the slide is restricted and the feeling of moderation is maximized.

  Thereafter, when the sliding operation force on the operation knob 10 is removed, the spring 33 is restored, and the center pin 34 presses the pad 35 in the axis Z direction, whereby the pad 35 and the operation knob 10 are returned to the neutral position.

  On the other hand, when the operation knob 10 is slid in an intermediate position direction (directions e, f, g, h) of the four direction detection switches 2a to 2d adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, the operation knob 10 is moved to the upper right direction e. A description will be given by taking the case of sliding as an example. In this case, the pad 35 that slides integrally with the operation knob 10 slides in the upward direction a along the slide groove 322 of the slide member 32, and at the same time, the slide member 32 moves to the right along the slide groove 315 of the base 31. Slide in direction d.

  Accordingly, the operation knob 10 and the pad 35 slide in the upper right direction e, and the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 includes the direction detection switch 2a installed in the upper direction a and the direction detection switch installed in the right direction d. When the contact 2p with 2d is pushed in, both switches 2a and 2d are turned on.

  Also in this case, when the slide amount of the operation knob 10 reaches the maximum stroke amount, the outer peripheral flange 355 of the pad 35 abuts against the cylindrical flange 314 of the base 31 and the slide of the operation knob 10 is restricted.

  In the first embodiment, when the operation knob 10 is slid in eight directions a to h, only one or two direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned on simultaneously according to the sliding direction. The relationship between this sliding direction and ON / OFF of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is the relationship shown in the direction characteristic diagram of FIG. When all the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are OFF, it is determined that the position is a neutral position and “no direction”.

As described above, the control circuit 100 executes the operation direction determination process for determining the operation direction of the operation knob 10 based on the ON / OFF states of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d.
Further, in executing the operation direction determination process, in the first embodiment, when any one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on during the sliding operation of the operation knob 10 in the outer diameter direction. Without performing the operation direction determination immediately, the ON-time delay processing is performed in which the operation direction determination is performed after waiting for a preset count time of the ON-time delay timer (outer diameter direction operation delay timer) T0. Similarly, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the outer diameter direction and returned to the neutral position, the operation direction determination is performed after waiting for the count time of the OFF delay timer (delay timer for return operation) T1. Executes OFF delay processing.

  Therefore, in executing such delay processing, in the first embodiment, the timer setting processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the operation direction determination processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 are executed. This will be described in detail.

First, the timer setting process will be described with reference to FIG.
In this timer setting process, in the first step S1, the “current state” is updated to the latest state with reference to the ON / OFF state of the direction detection switch.
In the next step S2, the “current determination direction” which is the latest determination result in the operation direction determination process described later is acquired.
In the next step S3, it is determined whether or not the “current state” that is the current ON / OFF state of the direction detection switch obtained in step S1 matches the “previous state”. In step S4, the process advances to step S5.

In step S4, the “previous state” indicating the previous ON / OFF state of the direction detection switch is rewritten to the “current state”.
In step S5, it is determined whether or not only one of the direction detection switches is ON in the “current state”. If only one of the direction detection switches is ON, the process proceeds to step S6. Finish.

In the next step S6, it is determined whether or not the “current determination direction” acquired in step S2 is “no direction”. If “no direction”, the process proceeds to step S7. Proceed to step S8.
In step S7, an ON timer T0 is set and a timer count is started. On the other hand, an OFF timer T1 is stopped and the count is cleared.
In step S8, it is determined whether or not only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is ON in the “previous state”. If only one is ON, the process proceeds to step S7. Advances to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined whether or not the direction detection switches 2a to 2d that are currently turned on are different from the two that are turned on in the “previous state”. Proceed to S7, and if not different, proceed to Step S10.
In step S10, an OFF timer T1 is set and a timer count is started, while an ON timer T0 is stopped and the count is cleared.

  Therefore, when the operation knob 10 is in the neutral state (no direction) and only one direction detection switch 2a to 2d is turned on, the flow goes from step S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, and S7. On the basis of this, counting of the timer T0 at the time of ON is started and the count is increased.

  On the other hand, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the outer diameter direction and two direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned on, only one of them is turned on, step S1 → Based on the flow of S2-> S3-> S5-> S6-> S8-> S9-> S10, the timer T1 at the OFF time starts to count up.

  In the first embodiment, the time-up times Tup0 and Tup1 of the on-time timer T0 and the off-time timer T1 are set to a time within the range of several tens of milliseconds to several hundreds of milliseconds. That is, in the first embodiment, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the directions e, f, g, and h, which are intermediate positions of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are 1 The deviation times Tz0 and Tz1 (see FIG. 10) from the ON state to the ON state are sampled and set to the largest value in the sampling time. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the operation knob 10 is slid in the upper right direction e. Both the direction detection switches 2a and 2d are not turned on at the same time, and the upper direction detection switch 2a is turned on. The right direction detection switch 2d is turned on at the time t2 when the deviation time Tz1 elapses from the time t1. Similarly, when the operation knob 10 is operated in the upper right direction e and returned to the neutral position, the time tz1 after the deviation time Tz1 has elapsed from the time t3 when the right direction detection switch 2d is turned OFF. The direction detection switch 2a in the upward direction a is OFF.

  Therefore, a large number of these deviation times Tz0 and Tz1 are sampled, and the time-up times Tup0 and Tup1 are set based on the largest value. In the case of the first embodiment, Tup0 == Tup1 = 130 msec. These time-up times Tup0 and Tup1 are appropriately set independently according to the stroke amount of the operation knob 10, the moderation feeling (slide resistance) provided by the moderation feeling imparting mechanism 330, and the like.

Next, the operation direction determination process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described.
First, in step S101, the “current state” and “previous state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are acquired.
In the next step S102, it is determined whether or not two of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are ON. If the two are ON, the process proceeds to step S103, and otherwise (all OFF or only one is ON) The process proceeds to step S105.

In step S103, the operation direction is determined according to the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d based on the operation direction determination characteristic of FIG.
In step S104, both the on-time timer T0 and the off-time timer T1 are stopped and the count is cleared.

  In step S105, it is determined whether the on-time timer T0 is counting. If it is counting, the process proceeds to step S106. If not counting, the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S106, it is determined whether or not the timer T0 has been timed up. If the time has expired, the process proceeds to step S107, where the direction is determined from the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d. In subsequent step S108, the timer T0 is stopped at the ON time and the count is cleared.

  On the other hand, if the on-time timer T0 has not expired in step S106, the process proceeds to step S109, where it is determined whether or not the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is all OFF. In the case of, the process proceeds to step S110, and in the case other than all OFF, the one operation direction determination process is ended.

    In step S110, the operation direction is determined based on the “previous state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d. In the subsequent step S111, the on-time timer T0 is stopped and the count is cleared.

  Further, in step S112, the process proceeds to step S105, during which the on-time timer T0 is not operating. In step S112, it is determined whether the off-time timer T1 is operating. Advances to step S119.

  Further, in step S113, it is determined whether or not the timer T1 at the time of OFF has expired. If the time has expired, the process proceeds to step S114 to perform direction determination from the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, Further, in the subsequent step S115, the timer T1 when OFF is stopped and the count is cleared.

  On the other hand, if the off-time timer T1 has not expired in step S113, the process proceeds to step S116, where it is determined whether or not the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is all OFF. In the case of, the process proceeds to step S117, and in the case other than all OFF, one operation direction determination process is terminated.

  In step S117, the operation direction is determined based on the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, and in the subsequent step S118, the OFF timer T1 is stopped and the count is cleared.

  In step S <b> 112, the operation direction is determined based on the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2 a to 2 d in step S <b> 119, which proceeds when the OFF timer T <b> 1 is not operating.

  When the operation direction of the operation knob 10 is determined by the above processing, the car navigation device (not shown) scrolls the map on the screen based on the obtained operation direction determination.

  Hereinafter, the operation when the operation knob 10 is slid in the directions a to h will be described based on the time chart of FIG. 10 and the state transition diagram of FIG. Although not shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9 described above, in the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, when switching between ON and OFF is executed for a very short time less than the set time, chattering is prevented. For the sake of invalidity. This set time is several tens of milliseconds, for example, 20 milliseconds. This switching regarded as invalid is hereinafter referred to as invalid switching.

(When the control knob 10 is neutral)
First, when the operation knob 10 is disposed at the neutral position shown in FIG. 1, the operation knob 10 and the pad 35 are disposed on the axis Z.
At this time, the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 is separated from the contact 2p of each direction detection switch 2a to 2d, and the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are all OFF.

In this case, in the timer determination process, the processes are performed in the order of S1 → S2 → S3, and both timers T0 and T1 are stopped.
In the operation direction determination process, the process is performed in the order of steps S101 → S102 → S105 → S112 → S119. Therefore, it is determined that there is no direction because the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2d are turned off by the process in step S119.
Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, it is in a state where A is determined as “no direction”.

(When the operation knob 10 is slid in any direction of a, b, c, d which is a direct direction overlapping the direction detection switches 2a to 2d)
The operation when the operation knob 10 is slid in any direction of a, b, c, d, which is a straight direction overlapping the direction detection switches 2a to 2d in the radial direction from the neutral position, is slid in the upward direction a. An example will be described.

In this case, the pad 35 slides integrally with the operation knob 10 in the upward direction a along with the sliding operation in the upward direction a of the operation knob 10.
Accordingly, the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 pushes the contact 2p of the direction detection switch 2a installed in the upward direction a, and only one direction detection switch 2a out of the four direction detection switches 2a to 2d. That is, the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are all turned off, and only the direction detection switch 2a in the upward direction a is turned on. At this time, the operation direction is determined to be “no direction” because the operation direction determined in the previous process is the current operation direction.

  In this case, in the timer setting process shown in FIG. 8, the process is performed in the order of steps S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, and S7, and the counting of the on-time timer T0 is started.

In the operation direction determination process shown in FIG. 9, the process flow is S101 → S102 → S105 → S106 → S109 → END, and at this time, the operation direction determination is not executed and the ON-time delay process is performed.
Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state of B, that is, the “ON waiting (ON delay processing)” state. If only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d described above is invalid switching, the state A is repeated without shifting to the state B.

The on-time delay processing in the above state B is executed until the on-time timer T0 expires or all the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned off.
When the ON timer T0 expires, the processing of S101 → S102 → S105 → S106 → S107 → S108 is performed in order. Therefore, the operation direction determination is executed from the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d by the process of step S107. In the case of this example, since only the direction detection switch 2a in the upward direction a is ON, the operation direction is determined as the upward direction a. Based on the processing in step S108, the on-time timer T0 is stopped and the count value is cleared.
Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state from B to C, that is, the operation direction is determined to be one of the “straight direction” of the upward direction a, the downward direction b, the left direction c, and the right direction d. Transition to state.

In the state B, when the operation knob 10 is returned to the neutral position before the timer T0 is turned on and all the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned off, S101 → S102 → The process of S105 → S106 → S109 → S110 → S111 is sequentially performed, and the operation direction determination based on the “previous state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d (in this example, only the direction detection switch 2a is ON) is executed. Is done.
Therefore, also in this case, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state of B is shifted to the state of C.

  When the operation knob 10 is slid in the outer diameter direction, the center pin 34 is pushed by the inclined surface of the recess 351a by the sliding of the pad 35 in the XY plane direction, and the spring 33 is shortened and displaced backward. .

  As the spring 33 is shortened, the pressing force of the center pin 34 against the pad 35 increases, and the feeling of moderation increases as the sliding amount of the operation knob 10 increases.

(When the operation knob 10 is returned from the straight direction (direction of a, b, c, d) to the neutral position)
When the slide operation force is removed from the state in which the operation knob 10 is slid in the upward direction a as described above, the spring 33 is restored, and the center pin 34 presses the pad 35 in the axis Z direction. 10 is returned to the neutral position.
Due to the movement of the operation knob 10, the upper direction detection switches 2a to 2d change from the state in which only the direction detection switch 2a in the upper direction a is turned on to the state in which all are turned off.

  In this case, in the timer setting process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, steps S1, S2, S3, S5, and END are established, and both timers T0 and T1 are not set.

On the other hand, in the operation direction determination process shown in FIG. 9, the process flow is S101 → S102 → S105 → S112 → S119, and the direction determination is performed from the current state. In this example, all the direction detection switches 2a to 2d. Are all OFF, it is determined that there is no direction.
Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state transitions from the C state to the A state.

(When operating the control knob 10 to the intermediate position)
When the operation knob 10 is slid from the neutral position to an intermediate position of the four direction detection switches 2a to 2d, that is, any direction of e, f, g, and h, and slid in the upper right direction e. Is described as an example.

  In this case, the pad 35 that slides integrally with the operation knob 10 slides in the upward direction a along the slide groove 322 of the slide member 32, and at the same time, the slide member 32 moves to the right along the slide groove 315 of the base 31. Slide in direction d.

Accordingly, the operation knob 10 and the pad 35 slide in the upper right direction e, and the switch pressing cylinder 354 of the pad 35 includes the direction detection switch 2a installed in the upper direction a and the direction detection switch installed in the right direction d. When the contact 2p with 2d is pushed in, both switches 2a and 2d are turned on.
In this case, the bidirectional detection switches 2a and 2d are rarely turned on at the same time, and there is a time difference when both are turned on.
Therefore, in the following description, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 10, from the state where all the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are OFF, first, the direction detection switch 2a in the upward direction a is turned ON at the time point t1. Then, a case where the direction detection switch 2d in the right direction d is switched ON at time t2 will be described as an example.

  In this case, in the timer setting process shown in FIG. 8, the processes of steps S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, and S7 are sequentially performed at time t1. Therefore, counting of the on-time timer T0 is started based on the processing in step S7.

Therefore, in the operation direction determination process shown in FIG. 9, the process flow is S101 → S102 → S105 → S106 → S109 → END, and even if the direction detection switch 2a is switched ON, the operation direction determination is not made and Delay processing is executed.
Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state A is shifted to the state B.

  The ON delay processing in this case is performed until the other direction detection switch 2d is turned ON. That is, the time-up value of the on-time timer T0 is set to be longer than the deviation time Tz0 shown in FIG. 10, and the direction detection switch 2d is turned on at a time before the time-up of the on-time timer T0.

Therefore, when the direction detection switch 2d is turned ON at the time t2 in the example shown in FIG. 10, the operation direction determination processing sequentially performs the processing of S101 → S102 → S103 → S104, and in step S103, the operation direction Judgment is performed. In this case, based on the “current state” in which the two direction detection switches 2a and 2d are ON, the operation direction is determined to be the upper right direction e, and then the ON-time timer T0 is determined by the process of step S104. Is stopped and the count is cleared.
Therefore, in this case, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state from B to D, that is, the operation direction is any one of “upper right direction e, upper left direction f, lower right direction g, and lower left direction h” It shifts to the state determined as “position”.

In addition, when the operation knob 10 is operated to the intermediate position as described above, only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on, and only another one different from this is turned on. When the timer is changed, the timer setting process follows the flow of S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S8, and S7, and the ON timer T0 is set and the timer count is started again. Is done.
Therefore, the state B is repeated in the state transition diagram of FIG.

(When returning the operation knob 10 from the intermediate position to the neutral position)
When the slide operation force is removed from the state in which the operation knob 10 is slid in the upper right direction e as described above, the spring 33 is restored, and the pad 35 and the operation knob 10 are returned to the neutral position. Due to the movement of the operation knob 10, the bidirectional detection switches 2a and 2d are both turned OFF, and the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2d are turned OFF. At this time, as shown in FIG. A case will be described in which the switch 2d is switched off and then the direction detection switch 2a is switched off at time t4.

In this case, at the time before the operation knob 10 is returned to the neutral position, the operation direction determination is “upper right direction”, and the two direction detection switches 2a and 2d are ON. Also, in the state transition diagram of FIG.
From this state, when the direction detection switch 2d is turned off, the timer setting process is performed in the order of steps S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S8, S9, and S10. Thus, the OFF timer T1 is set and the timer count is started.

Therefore, in the operation direction determination process shown in FIG. 9, the process proceeds to S101 → S102 → S105 → S112 → S113 → S116 → END, and the delay process at OFF time for delaying the operation direction determination is executed. Therefore, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the state shifts to the state E, that is, the “OFF waiting (OFF delay processing)” state.
The delay processing at OFF is effective whether the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2d are turned OFF, the timer T1 at OFF is timed up, or one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned ON. It is executed until two are turned ON.

  First, the case where the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2d are turned off, that is, the case where the operation knob 10 is returned from the intermediate position to the neutral position will be described. In this case, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 10, at the time t4 when the direction detection switch 2a switches to OFF, the timer T1 at the time of OFF is counting, so S101 → S102 → S105 → S112 → The processes of S113 → S116 → S117 → S118 are performed in order. Therefore, based on the operation direction determination in step S117, “current state” = “no direction” is determined based on the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2dOFF, and the OFF-time timer T1 is determined based on the processing in step S118. Stopped and the count is cleared.

  Next, a case where the OFF timer T1 is timed up will be described. In this case, the operation knob 10 is operated from the intermediate position in the straight direction adjacent to the intermediate position. In this case, the processes of S101 → S102 → S105 → S112 → S113 → S114 → S115 are sequentially performed. The operation direction determination is made based on the “current state” of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, that is, only one of them is ON.

  In addition, when one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d different from the current one is turned on or two valid ones are turned on, the operation knob 10 is moved from a certain intermediate position to the intermediate position. This is the case when there is no operation in the straight direction or another intermediate position.

  If one of the former direction detection switches 2a to 2d, which is different from the current one, is turned on, the state transition diagram of FIG. Is executed. That is, in the timer setting process, the on-time timer T0 is started based on the processes of S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S8, and S7. Accordingly, in the operation direction determination process, the process of S101 → S102 → S105 → S106 → S109 → END is performed, and the operation direction determination is not performed.

  On the other hand, when the latter two effective ones are turned on, the state transition diagram of FIG. 11 shifts from the E state to the D state. That is, in the timer setting process, both timers T0 and T1 are not started by S1, S2, S3, S5, and END. In the operation direction determination process, the process of S101 → S102 → S103 is performed, and the operation direction determination is performed based on the ON / OFF states of the current direction detection switches 2a to 2d.

As described above, in the first embodiment, in the control circuit 100, when the operation knob 10 is slid from the neutral position toward the intermediate position, only one of the plurality of direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on. At this point, the timer T0 starts counting when ON, and the direction determination process is delayed. Then, when the second one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on, the operation direction is determined.
Therefore, unlike the conventional case, when the operation knob 10 is slid to the intermediate position, processing corresponding to the fact that only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on is not performed. It can be prevented that a direction determination different from the operation intention is made.

That is, as shown in the time chart shown in FIG. 10, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the upper right direction e, conventionally, the operation direction is changed to the upward direction a at the time t1 when the direction detection switch 2a is turned ON. After that, at the time t2 when the second direction detection switch 2d is turned on, it is determined that the upper right direction e.
On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the operation direction determination is not performed at the time t1 when the direction detection switch 2a is turned on, and the operation direction determination is performed at the time t2 when the second direction detection switch 2d is turned on. Thus, the operation direction determination contrary to the user's intention can be avoided.

In addition, when only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on by sliding the operation knob 10 in the direct direction, the above-described delay process at the end ends when the timer T0 at the ON time expires. Since the operation direction determination is executed, accurate operation direction determination is possible even when the second direction detection switches 2a to 2d are operated in the straight direction, and the operation direction is contrary to the user's intention. Judgment does not occur.
In addition, the count time of the on-time timer T0 is set based on a large number of samples and is set to a short time of several tens to several hundreds of msec. However, it does not give the user a sense of incongruity.

  Similarly, in the first embodiment, when the operation knob 10 is returned from the intermediate position where the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned on to the neutral position, only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned off. The timer T1 at the time of OFF is counted, so that it is possible to prevent execution of the operation direction determination against the user's intention corresponding to the fact that one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is switched off. I made it.

  Moreover, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the direct direction and returned to the neutral position, the above-described delay process at OFF is not executed, and only one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is switched from ON to OFF. At the time, the operation direction determination is performed, and the operation direction determination contrary to the user's intention does not occur.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the direction determination prevention against the user's intention as described above is performed by the control in the control circuit 100, so that the same switch body 1 can be used as the conventional switch body, and the cost is low. The above-mentioned effect can be obtained.

  In addition, in the first embodiment, when the operation knob 10 is operated to the intermediate position, the operation direction determination is performed after two of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are turned on. Even if the positional accuracy in the radial direction of the switches 2a to 2d with respect to the axis Z is lowered, no erroneous determination occurs, the assemblability can be improved, and the positions of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d are set to the axis Z. It is also possible to reduce the full stroke amount and increase the operation responsiveness while approaching.

(Other examples)
Other embodiments will be described below.
In the description of these other embodiments, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In addition, with regard to the function and effect, the same description as in Example 1 is omitted.

Next, a multidirectional operation switch device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The multidirectional operation switch device according to the second embodiment is an example in which the control circuit 100 executes dial cancel processing. That is, when the operation knob 10 is slid in the XY plane direction, the gripping part 421 may be rotated against the user's intention by the force of pressing in the sliding direction. In this dial canceling process, even if a signal is output from the dial switch 382 due to the rotation of the gripping part 421 contrary to the user's intention, the dial canceling process is canceled so that the process corresponding to the signal is not performed. It is processing.

  The flowchart of FIG. 12 shows the flow of the dial cancel processing. In step S301, it is determined whether or not the current state is “no direction”. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 303. Dial cancel processing for canceling the signal of the dial switch 382 is executed.

  In step S302, it is determined whether either the on-time timer T0 or the off-time timer T1 is counting, and if it is counting, the process proceeds to step S303 and dial cancel processing is performed.

Therefore, when the operation knob 10 is slid and any one of the direction detection switches 2a to 2d is turned on, the signal of the dial switch 382 is canceled from that point. This cancellation is performed until the omnidirectional detection switches 2a to 2d are turned off or both timers T0 and T1 are stopped. That is, in the time chart of FIG. 10, the signal of the dial switch 382 is canceled from the time point t1 to the time point t5.
Thereby, in the state transition diagram of FIG. 11, the signal of the dial switch 382 is canceled in the states of B, C, D, and E.

  Therefore, when the operation knob 10 is slid and the map is scrolled, even if the dial 42 is rotated against the user's intention, the response to the output of the dial switch 382 is canceled and the passenger feels uncomfortable. It can prevent giving.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention and Examples 1 and 2 have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and Examples 1 and 2, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Design changes that do not depart from the gist are included in the present invention.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments, the multi-directional operation switch includes the dial switch 382 and the pressing switch 383 in addition to the direction detection switches 2a to 2d, but is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that at least a plurality of direction detection switches are provided.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the operation knob 10 supported to be slidable in the YX plane direction with respect to the first substrate 20 is shown as the operation knob displaceable in the direction orthogonal to the axis Z. The displacement in the orthogonal direction is not limited to the one that slides in the XY plane direction, and one that is tiltably supported around the support point on the first substrate 20 may be used.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the direction detection switch is provided at four locations around the axis Z, but is not limited thereto, and a plurality of three or more around the axis Z are arranged in the circumferential direction. It only needs to be installed at equal intervals. For example, in the case of three installations, six directions can be determined, and in the case of five installations, ten directions can be determined.

It is sectional drawing which shows the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1 of this invention best mode. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which made the operation knob 10 of the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1 slide to the orthogonal | vertical direction of the axis | shaft Z. It is a perspective view which shows the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the direction detection switches 2a-2d of the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit explanatory diagram illustrating a control circuit 100 of the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a direction determination characteristic diagram of the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of timer setting processing in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of direction determination processing in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a time chart illustrating an operation example when the operation knob 10 is slid in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the first embodiment. It is a state transition diagram which shows the state transition of the multidirectional operation switch apparatus of Example 1 and Example 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of dial cancellation processing in the multidirectional operation switch device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2a Direction detection switch 2b Direction detection switch 2a Direction detection switch 2c Direction detection switch 2d Direction detection switch 10 Operation knob 20 First board 100 Control circuit (direction determination device)
382 Timer when dial switch T0 is ON (delay timer when operating in outer diameter direction)
T1 OFF timer (delay timer for return operation)
Tup0 Time-up time Tup1 Time-up time Tz0 Deviation time Tz1 Deviation time Z-axis

Claims (5)

An operation knob extending along an axis perpendicular to the substrate and supported by the substrate so as to be displaceable in a plane direction perpendicular to the axis;
A direction detection switch installed at a plurality of locations surrounding the shaft, and arranged to be switched ON and OFF according to the displacement direction of the operation knob;
A direction determination device that determines an operation direction of the operation knob based on ON and OFF states of the direction detection switch;
With
When the direction determination device detects one switching of the direction detection switch, the direction determination device starts counting of a delay timer, and executes the direction determination by executing the second direction detection switch during the count of the delay timer. A multi-directional operation switch device that executes a delay process for delaying until the time of switching or until the time when the count value of the delay timer reaches a set value is reached.   The count time of the delay timer is set to a time that does not give a sense of incongruity to the delay from when the user operating the operation knob operates the operation knob until the direction determination is started. The multidirectional operation switch device according to claim 1, wherein As the delay timer, comprising an outer diameter direction operation delay timer that starts counting when the operation knob is displaced from the neutral position in the planar direction when operated in the outer diameter direction,
The count time until the time of the delay timer at the time of operation in the outer diameter direction is up is displaced toward the intermediate position of the two direction detection switches adjacent in the circumferential direction when the operation knob is operated in the outer diameter direction. The multidirectional operation switch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multidirectional operation switch device is set to a time longer than a shift amount of the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed at the time. The delay timer includes a return operation delay timer that starts counting at the time of return operation in which the operation knob is displaced from the outer diameter direction operation position to the neutral position,
The count time until the delay timer at the time of the return operation is timed up is the switching timing of the two direction detection switches assumed when the operation knob is displaced from the intermediate position to the neutral position. The multidirectional operation switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time is set to be longer than a deviation amount.   The multidirectional operation switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a count time of the delay timer is set within a range of several tens of milliseconds to several hundreds of milliseconds.

Images