JP2010050662A - Remote control transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control transmitter for improving dustproofness and waterproofness and enabling reliable operation for a remote control transmitter mainly used for operation of various kinds of pieces of electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A ball 15, where an upper end projects from an upper surface of a case 11 and a lower one abuts on a sphere 3 of a rotating operation type electronic component 4, is provided. Therefore, only the ball 15 may be changed while the rotating operation type electronic component 4 is left as it is even if the size of the ball 15 is changed by a change in design, or the like, thereby: obtaining a remote control transmitter that can be manufactured inexpensively; improving dustproofness and waterproofness in the rotating operation type electronic component 4 by the ball 15; and obtaining the remote control transmitter enabling reliable operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control transmitter mainly used for remote control of various electronic devices.

  In recent years, as various electronic devices such as televisions, videos, and air conditioners have been enhanced, remote control transmitters that remotely operate these electronic devices are required to be capable of various and reliable operations.

  Such a conventional remote control transmitter will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional remote control transmitter, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view. In FIG. 5, 1 is a substantially box-shaped case made of an insulating resin, 2 is an operating body such as rubber, and the operating body 2 A plurality of operation portions 2A having a substantially ring-shaped thin portion formed below are provided, and the operation portions 2A protrude from the through holes on the upper surface of the case 1 so as to be vertically movable.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a wiring board on which a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces. The operating body 2 is placed on the upper surface, and a plurality of fixed contacts 3A formed on the upper surface of the wiring board 3. The movable contacts 2B formed on the lower surface of the plurality of operation units 2A are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotary operation type electronic component mounted on the upper surface of the wiring board 3, and a magnetic or photodetecting element, a switch contact (not shown) or the like is accommodated in a box 6 having a sphere 5 mounted on the upper surface. Thus, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the sphere 5 are detected and the detection signal is output, and the sphere 5 protrudes from the opening hole on the upper surface of the case 1 to be rotatable.

  Furthermore, the upper and lower surfaces of the wiring board 3 are connected to the transmission means 7 for transmitting a remote control signal such as a light emitting diode, the transmission means 7, the plurality of fixed contacts 3 </ b> A, and the rotary operation type electronic component 4 through the wiring pattern. A control means 8 such as a microcomputer is formed, and a cover 9 made of an insulating resin covers the lower surface of the case 1 to constitute a remote control transmitter.

  In the above configuration, when the upper surface of the predetermined operation unit 2A is pressed with a finger toward an electronic device that operates the remote control transmitter, the substantially ring-shaped thin portion is elastically deformed and the operation unit 2A moves downward. The movable contact 2B on the lower surface comes into contact with the plurality of fixed contacts 3A, and the plurality of fixed contacts 3A are electrically connected / disconnected via the movable contact 2B, and the control means 8 responds to the electrical contact / disconnection. An infrared remote control signal is transmitted from the transmission means 7 to the electronic device, and for example, turning on / off the TV and increasing / decreasing the volume are performed by remote control.

  Further, as shown in the front view of FIG. 4, the sphere 5 protruding from the upper surface of the case 1 is moved back and forth with a menu such as a program guide or program guide displayed on the display screen 31 of the electronic device 30 that is remotely operated. When rotating in the left-right direction, this is detected by the magnetism or light detection element in the box 6, and the rotation direction and rotation amount of the sphere 5 are output to the control means 8 as detection signals.

  The control unit 8 transmits a remote control signal corresponding to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the sphere 5 from the transmission unit 7 to the device. For example, the cursor 32 and the pointer 33 displayed on the display screen 31 are displayed on the sphere 5. A menu such as a program guide or a program guide is selected by moving a distance corresponding to the amount of rotation in the up-down direction or the left-right direction.

  Further, when the sphere 5 is pressed downward while the cursor 32, the pointer 33, etc. are positioned on the desired program or menu, the switch contacts in the box 6 are electrically connected and separated, which is controlled by the control means. 8 detects and transmits a remote control signal from the transmission means 7, for example, reservation of a program, display of the next menu, etc. are performed.

  In other words, the remote control of each function of the device such as the power source and the volume is performed by pressing the plurality of operation units 2A, and the program table is displayed on the display screen 31 by rotating the sphere 5 of the rotary operation type electronic component 4. The selected menu is selected, and further, by pressing the sphere 5, confirmation of the menu, display of the next menu, and the like can be performed by remote operation.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP 2006-33680 A

  However, in the above-described conventional remote control transmitter, the sphere 5 of the rotary operation type electronic component 4 is protruded from the upper surface of the case 1 and is used as it is to perform remote operation of a menu or the like. In the case of changing the size of 5, it is necessary to remanufacture the entire rotary operation type electronic component 4, which becomes expensive, and between the sphere 5 and the box 6 or the upper surface of the case 1, Since there is a slight gap, there is a problem that it is difficult to completely prevent dust and water droplets from entering the rotary operation type electronic component 4.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control transmitter capable of various operations while improving dustproofness and waterproofness.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the remote control transmitter is configured by providing a ball whose upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the case and whose lower end is in contact with the sphere of the rotary operation type electronic component. Even when changing the size of the ball, it is only necessary to change the ball without changing the rotation-operated electronic components, so that the ball can be manufactured at a low cost, and the dust-proof and waterproof properties of the rotation-operated electronic components are enhanced by the balls. The remote control transmitter capable of reliable operation can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an elastic body elastically contacting these is provided between the ball lower surface and the case, and an elastic body that is elastically deformable is applied to the ball lower surface and the case. By making contact, it is possible to almost completely prevent the entry of dust, water droplets, and the like into the rotary operation type electronic component below, so that the sphere can be stably rotated and the operation can be reliably performed. Has an effect.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to realize a remote control transmitter capable of improving dustproofness and waterproofness and capable of reliable operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  These drawings are partially enlarged in size for easy understanding of the configuration.

  Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the background art section, and the detailed description will be simplified.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a remote control transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, in which 11 is a substantially box-like case made of an insulating resin such as polystyrene or ABS, Is an operation body such as rubber or elastomer, and the operation body 12 is provided with a plurality of operation portions 12A formed with a substantially ring-shaped thin portion below, and the operation portion 12A is vertically moved from a through hole on the upper surface of the case 11. Protrusively protruding.

  And 3 is a wiring board such as paper phenol or glass epoxy, and a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) are formed on the upper and lower surfaces by copper foil or the like, and the operation body 12 is placed on this upper surface, A plurality of fixed contacts 3A formed on the upper surface of the wiring board 3 and a movable contact 12B formed on the lower surface of the plurality of operation portions 12A face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotary operation type electronic component mounted on the upper surface of the wiring board 3, and a magnetic or photodetecting element, a switch contact (not shown) or the like is provided in a box 6 in which a sphere 5 is rotatably mounted on the upper surface. Are formed so as to detect the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the sphere 5 and output a detection signal, and the cylindrical portion 12C of the operating body 12 covers the outer periphery of the rotating operation type electronic component 4. .

  Furthermore, the upper and lower surfaces of the wiring board 3 are connected to the transmission means 7 for transmitting a remote control signal such as a light emitting diode, the transmission means 7, the plurality of fixed contacts 3 </ b> A, and the rotary operation type electronic component 4 through the wiring pattern. A control means 8 such as a microcomputer is formed, and the lower surface of the case 11 is covered with a cover 9 made of insulating resin.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an insulating resin or metal ball, and 16 denotes a cylindrical roller. The ball 15 is rotatably accommodated in the opening hole 11A on the upper surface of the case 11 via the plurality of rollers 16, and the ball The lower end of 15 is in contact with the upper end of the sphere 5 of the rotary operation type electronic component 4.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes an insulating resin cap. The cap 17 is screwed into the opening hole 11A and is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the case 11, and the upper end of the ball 15 protrudes from the upper surface of the cap 17 so as to be rotatable.

  Further, reference numeral 18 denotes an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional view. As shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 3, the outer periphery of the lower surface of the ball 15 is in close contact with the central hollow portion 18A. A remote control transmitter is configured by elastically contacting the lower surface of the ball 15 and the upper surface of the opening hole 11A in a state where the entire 18 is slightly bent.

  In the configuration described above, when the upper surface of the predetermined operation portion 12A is pressed with a finger toward the electronic device that operates the remote control transmitter, the substantially ring-shaped thin portion is elastically deformed and the operation portion 12A moves downward. The movable contact 12B on the lower surface comes into contact with the plurality of fixed contacts 3A, and the plurality of fixed contacts 3A are electrically connected / disconnected via the movable contact 12B, and the control means 8 responds to the electrical contact / disconnection. An infrared remote control signal is transmitted from the transmission means 7 to the electronic device, and for example, turning on / off the TV and increasing / decreasing the volume are performed by remote control.

  Further, as shown in the front view of FIG. 4, the ball 15 protruding from the upper surface of the case 11 is indicated with a menu such as a program guide or program guide displayed on the display screen 31 of the electronic device 30 to be remotely operated. When the sphere 5 is rotated in the front / rear / right / left direction, the sphere 5 in contact with the lower end rotates in the direction opposite to the ball 15, and this is detected by the magnetism or light detection element in the box 6, and the sphere 5 rotates. The direction and the rotation amount are output to the control means 8 as detection signals.

  The control unit 8 transmits a remote control signal corresponding to the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the sphere 5 from the transmission unit 7 to the device. For example, the cursor 32 and the pointer 33 displayed on the display screen 31 are A menu such as a program guide or a program guide is selected by moving a distance corresponding to the amount of rotation in the up-down direction or the left-right direction.

  Further, when the ball 15 is pressed downward while the cursor 32, the pointer 33, etc. are positioned on a desired program or menu, the elastic body 18 is further bent, and the sphere 5 pressed by the lower end of the ball 15 is moved downward. The switch contacts in the box 6 are electrically connected and disconnected, and the control means 8 detects this and transmits a remote control signal from the transmission means 7, for example, reservation of a program or display of the next menu Etc. are performed.

  That is, the remote control of each function of the device such as the power source and the volume is performed by pressing the plurality of operation units 12A, and the sphere 5 of the rotational operation type electronic component 4 is rotated by the rotation operation of the ball 15, thereby The menu displayed on the display screen 31 is selected, and by pressing the ball 15, the menu can be confirmed, the next menu can be displayed, and the like can be remotely controlled.

  As described above, since the ball 15 used for the remote operation of the menu or the like is mounted in the opening hole 11A on the upper surface of the case 11, for example, the size of the ball 15 needs to be changed due to a design change or the like. In addition, it is only necessary to change several components such as the ball 15 and the cap 17 while keeping the rotary operation type electronic component 4 as it is, so that it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

  When the force for rotating the sphere 5 is constant, the ball 15 has a rotating operation force that is lighter if the diameter of the ball 15 is made larger than that of the sphere 5, and the ball 15 becomes heavier if the diameter of the ball 15 is made smaller. By combining the balls 15 according to the rotational force and diameter, various operations with various rotational operation forces can be realized.

  Further, the ball 5 of the rotary operation type electronic component 4 is not directly rotated with a finger, but the ball 15 is rotated and the ball 5 in contact with the lower end is rotated, so that it is stored in the opening hole 11A. The ball 15 covered with the cap 17 increases the dustproofness and waterproofness of the rotary operation type electronic component 4 and enables a reliable operation.

  Further, an elastic body 18 that elastically deforms and elastically contacts these is provided between the lower surface of the ball 15 and the case 11, and the lower surface outer periphery of the ball 15 is brought into close contact with the elastic body 18. Intrusion of dust, water droplets, and the like into the water can be almost completely prevented.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the ball 15 whose upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the case 11 and whose lower end contacts the sphere 3 of the rotary operation type electronic component 4, the size of the ball 15 is changed by, for example, a design change or the like. Even if the rotation operation type electronic component 4 is changed, it is only necessary to change the ball 15 without changing the rotation operation type electronic component 4, so that the ball 15 can be manufactured at a low cost, and the ball 15 improves the dustproofness and waterproofness of the rotation operation type electronic component 4. A remote control transmitter capable of reliable operation can be obtained.

  Further, by providing an elastic body 18 that elastically contacts these between the lower surface of the ball 15 and the case 11, it is possible to almost completely prevent dust and water droplets from entering the rotary operation electronic component 4 below. The sphere 5 can be rotated stably, and a more reliable operation can be performed.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the elastic body 18 having the substantially U-shaped cross-sectional view between the lower surface of the ball 15 and the case 11 and having the hollow portion 18A formed in the center is mounted has been described. The present invention can be implemented even with a configuration using various shapes of the elastic body 18 as long as it has a shape that can be elastically deformed and is in close contact with the outer periphery of the lower surface of the ball 15, such as a so-called hollow O-ring. is there.

  The remote control transmitter according to the present invention has improved dustproofness and waterproofness and is capable of reliable operation, and is useful mainly for operation of various electronic devices.

Sectional drawing of the remote control transmitter by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Partial perspective view Front view of electronic equipment A perspective view of a conventional remote control transmitter Exploded perspective view

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Wiring board 3A Fixed contact 4 Rotation operation type electronic component 5 Sphere 6 Box 7 Transmission means 8 Control means 9 Cover 11 Case 11A Open hole 12 Operation body 12A Operation part 12B Movable contact 12C Cylindrical part 15 Ball 16 Roller 17 Cap 18 Elasticity Body 18A Hollow part 30 Electronic device 31 Display screen 32 Cursor 33 Pointer

Claims (2)

A rotation operation type electronic component that is housed in a case and detects the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the sphere, and a control unit that transmits a remote control signal from the transmission unit according to the rotation of the sphere, the upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the case, A remote control transmitter provided with a ball whose lower end is in contact with the sphere. The remote control transmitter according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body elastically contacting these is provided between the lower surface of the ball and the case.

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