JP2010251022A - Manipulating apparatus and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation device and a portable terminal, the constitution of which can be simplified. <P>SOLUTION: The operation device (portable terminal) 1, provided with a casing 2 with an operation part (directional operation part) 5, includes a key body 61 having a plurality of key tops 611 exposed out of the casing 2 through an opening part 212A of the casing 2, and a base part 612, mutually connecting the plurality of key tops 611 within the casing 2; and a circuit board 7, having a plurality of detection parts (switches) 71 disposed in a position corresponding to each key top 611 to detect input to the key top 611. The base part 612 has a support point part 615, at a position surrounded by each key top 611, the support point part abutting on the circuit board 7 and acting as a support point for inclination of the key body 61, when the key top 611 is pressed. An energization member 8 is provided between the casing 2 and the key body 61 which energizes the key body 61 towards the circuit board 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device and a portable terminal including a casing provided with an operating unit for performing an input operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an electronic apparatus that includes direction keys that can be input vertically and horizontally. Examples of such an electronic device include a portable terminal such as a game machine, a controller connected to a stationary game machine, a PC (Personal Computer), and the like. As such a controller, there is a controller for a game machine provided with a key top body that is provided in a housing body constituted by an upper half and a lower half and presses a pair of contacts disposed on a circuit board in the housing body. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the game machine controller described in Patent Document 1, the key top body has a configuration in which a plurality of key tops exposed to the outside of the housing body are integrally formed. When the key top is pressed, the leg portion of the elastic body (contact rubber) interposed between the key top body and the circuit board is buckled. When the leg portion is buckled, a pressing portion provided inside the leg portion presses the movable contact portion. When the movable contact portion and the fixed contact portion on the circuit board are in electrical contact, the key input is detected by the circuit board. When such an elastic body is buckled, a click feeling is generated and the user can feel a key input. By providing such an elastic body, the operability of the controller is improved.

US Pat. No. 5,853,326

  Here, in the game machine controller described in Patent Document 1, the base of the key top body abuts on the edge of the opening of the upper half, and the recess of the key top body contacts the key top central support of the upper half. The elastic body biases the key top body in a direction away from the circuit board so that the key top body is maintained in the housing body. However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to provide elastic bodies whose legs are buckled when the key top is pressed, according to each contact portion, and there is a problem that the thickness dimension of the controller increases.

  The objective of this invention is providing the operating device and portable terminal which can achieve thickness reduction.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the operating device of the present invention is an operating device including a casing provided with an operating unit for performing an input operation, and the operating unit includes an opening provided in the casing. A plurality of key tops exposed to the outside of the casing, a key body having a base for connecting the plurality of key tops within the casing, and a position corresponding to the plurality of key tops, A circuit board having a plurality of detection units for detecting input from the key top, the base projecting in a direction close to the circuit board at a position surrounded by the plurality of key tops, and on the circuit board A fulcrum portion that abuts and serves as a fulcrum with respect to the inclination of the key body when the key top is pressed, and urges the key body toward the circuit board between the housing and the key body. Energizing part Wherein the is provided.

  According to the present invention, since the biasing member that biases the key body toward the circuit board and stabilizes the key body is provided between the casing and the key body, the key body is lifted from the circuit board. This can be prevented, and the key body can be appropriately arranged on the circuit board. At this time, since an elastic flat resin or the like can be used as the urging member, the above-described configuration in which an elastic body (contact rubber) is provided at a position corresponding to each key top, or a spring such as a coil spring Compared with the case where a member is used, the operation part can be made thinner. Therefore, the key body can be stably positioned on the circuit board, and the operating device can be made thinner.

In the present invention, the key body has a concave portion at a position corresponding to the fulcrum portion on a surface opposite to the surface on which the fulcrum portion is formed, and the housing is formed at a position corresponding to the concave portion. It is preferable to have a main body support portion that is housed in the recess and supports the key main body.
According to the present invention, the key body can be prevented from being displaced by engaging the body support portion of the housing with the recess formed at a position corresponding to the fulcrum portion in the key body. Therefore, even when the key top is pressed, the key body can be more stably positioned on the circuit board.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a gap corresponding to the amount of displacement of the key body is formed between the body support portion and the inner surface of the recess.
According to the present invention, since the gap is formed between the main body support portion and the inner surface of the recess, the key main body is not prevented from being inclined when the key top is pressed. Inclination can be performed easily. Further, since the gap is set according to the amount of displacement of the key body, i.e., the amount of inclination, the inclination of the key body more than necessary can be regulated by meshing the body support portion and the recess, In addition to improving the operability of the operation unit, it is possible to prevent the detection unit from being pressed more than necessary.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the urging member is provided between the housing and a position surrounded by the plurality of key tops in the key body. That is, when the casing includes the above-described main body support portion, the biasing member is preferably provided around the main body support portion. Specifically, it is preferable that the urging member is provided in a direction from the center of the main body support portion toward at least one of the plurality of key tops around the main body support portion.

As such an urging member, a substantially circular urging member in a plan view or a substantially annular urging member can be exemplified.
According to the present invention, when the key top is pushed down and the key body is tilted, the biasing force of the biasing member acting on the position opposite to the key top is surely based on the tilt of the key body. Can be returned. Further, if the housing includes the above-described main body support portion and the urging member is provided only in the direction from the center of the main body support portion to each key top, the urging member is all around the main body support portion. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the biasing member can be reduced. On the other hand, if a substantially annular urging member is employed, the urging member can be easily attached to the main body support portion.

Alternatively, in the present invention, the key body includes a flange portion that extends outside the key top and faces an edge of the opening in the housing, and the biasing member includes the housing and the flange. It is preferable that it is provided between these parts.
According to the present invention, when the key top located on the opposite side of the fulcrum part from the arrangement position of the urging member is pressed, and the key body tilts with the fulcrum part as a fulcrum, the urging force of the urging member Thus, the key body can be reliably returned to the state before tilting. At this time, since the urging member is provided between the flange portion of the key body and the housing, the urging force of the urging member is surely applied to the flange portion and, consequently, the key body as the key body is inclined. Can act on. Therefore, the urging force of the urging member can be reliably applied, and the key body can be reliably returned to the state before the inclination.

In this invention, it is preferable that the said base has a thick part around the said fulcrum part.
According to the present invention, since the thick portion is formed around the fulcrum portion, it is possible to ensure the strength against the load applied around the fulcrum portion when the key body is inclined by pressing the key top. Further, since it is not necessary to form the entire base portion thick in order to ensure the strength, it is possible to further promote the thinning of the base portion, and thus the key body. Therefore, the strength of the key body can be improved and the operating device can be made thinner. Note that it is more preferable that the thick portion is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the fulcrum portion, since any key top can be pressed.

In the present invention, a flat elastic body is provided integrally with the key body at a position opposite to the side exposed to the outside of the casing in the key body and corresponding to the key top. Is preferred.
According to the present invention, since the elastic body is provided integrally with the key body at a position corresponding to the key top in the key body, the elastic body is elastically displaced when the key top is pressed, so that the soft body is soft. A hit feeling can be obtained. Further, since the inclination of the key body is eliminated by eliminating the elastic displacement, the key body can be appropriately returned to the state before being pressed together with the above-described urging member.

Moreover, the portable terminal of this invention is provided with the above-mentioned operating device, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the aforementioned operating device. Moreover, by providing such an operating device, the configuration of the mobile terminal can be simplified, and the manufacturing process of the mobile terminal can be simplified.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the operating device, and hence the portable terminal.

The perspective view which shows the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the direction operation part in the said embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the direction operation part in the said embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cross key in the above-mentioned embodiment from the upper part. The perspective view which looked at the cross key in the above-mentioned embodiment from the lower part. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the switch in the said embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the direction operation part in the said embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the cross key in the above-mentioned embodiment from the upper part. The perspective view which looked at the cross key in the above-mentioned embodiment from the lower part. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal in the said embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal which is a deformation | transformation of the said embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal which is a deformation | transformation of the said embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the direction operation part of the portable terminal which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the biasing member in the said embodiment.

[1. First Embodiment]
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall configuration of mobile terminal]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile terminal 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side.
The mobile terminal 1 reads a program and data recorded on a disk and a memory in accordance with a user's input operation, and executes a game or reproduces video and audio. It corresponds to a mobile terminal.
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable terminal 1 is a flat horizontally long rectangular shape having a case 2 in which both ends are formed in an arc shape, and a liquid crystal panel 31 and a cross key which are housed in the case 2. 6 and a terminal body including a circuit board 7 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and the like.

[Case structure]
The housing 2 includes a front case 21 located on the front side (side facing the user) and a rear case 22 screwed to the back side of the front case 21 when the user holds the mobile terminal 1. And.
Among these, a horizontally-long rectangular liquid crystal panel 31 that is observed through a light-transmitting region 211 of the front case 21 is disposed at a substantially central portion on the front side of the front case 21. In addition, a plurality of openings 212 for exposing various keys are formed on both the left and right sides of the front case 21 across the liquid crystal panel 31 and on the lower side of the liquid crystal panel 31. Among these, on the left side of the front case 21, four openings formed according to the shapes and dimensions of the four key tops 611 constituting the direction operation unit 5 described later at positions corresponding to the vertices of a virtual substantially square. A portion 212A is formed. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a main body support portion 213 that supports the key main body 61 having the key top 611 on the inner surface side in the region surrounded by the four openings 212A (FIGS. 2 and 3). Reference) is formed.

  A direction operation unit 5 is provided on the left side of the liquid crystal panel 31 (left side in FIG. 1). As will be described in detail later, the cross key 6 constituting the direction operation unit 5 has a key top 611 at a position corresponding to a virtual substantially square vertex, and the key top 611 has the opening 212A described above. Through the housing 2. The configuration of the direction operation unit 5 will be described in detail later.

In addition, a direction key 32 that is slidable along the front case 21 is disposed on the lower side (the same lower side) of the cross key 6, and on the right side (the same right side) of the liquid crystal panel 31, Four determination keys 33 and a power key (not shown) are provided.
On the lower side of the liquid crystal panel 31, keys 34 to 39 for causing the terminal body to execute predetermined functions are arranged. Further, the four corners of the housing 2 are notched inward, and determination keys 40 (the left determination key is 40L and the right determination key is 40R) are provided on the upper left and right corners.

A connection terminal 41 capable of inserting / removing a miniB terminal conforming to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard is provided at the approximate center of the upper surface of the housing 2, and an electrode is provided through the opening so as to sandwich the connection terminal 41. An exposed power supply terminal 42 is provided.
In addition, a light receiving window 43 that performs infrared communication with other external devices is provided on the left side of the upper surface, and a lock slider 44 that restricts the opening of the lid member 23 provided on the back side of the rear case 22 is provided on the right side. Is provided. When the lock slider 44 is slid, the opening restriction of the lid member 23 is released, and the lid member 23 can be opened to store a disc (not shown) in the housing 2.

[Configuration of direction operation unit]
2 and 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating the configuration of the direction operation unit 5. 2 and 3, the illustration of the switch 71 positioned in the depth direction with respect to the cross section of each figure is omitted.
The direction operation unit 5 corresponds to the operation unit of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross key 6 having a plurality of key tops 611 and a plurality of keys arranged in accordance with each key top 611. And a circuit board 7 having a switch 71. Then, from the state shown in FIG. 2, the user presses the key top 611 (the left key top 611 in FIG. 2), and the switch 71 provided according to the position of the key top 611 as shown in FIG. When is pressed, the circuit board 7 outputs a control signal indicating that the switch 71 has been input to the terminal body.

[Configuration of cross key]
4 and 5 are perspective views of the cross key 6 as viewed from above and below, respectively.
The cross key 6 is a key that can be input in eight directions of up, down, left, right, and diagonal directions.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross key 6 has a substantially cross shape as a whole, and has a line-symmetric structure centered on a straight line passing through the center of the cross key 6 when viewed in plan. Yes. Such a cross key 6 has four key tops 611 corresponding to the respective directions of up, down, left and right, a key body 61 having a base portion 612 that connects and integrates the key tops 611, and each key top 611. Accordingly, the elastic portion 62 provided on the bottom surface side of the key body 61 is integrally formed by two-color molding.

The key body 61 is formed of a transparent resin (for example, acrylic resin), and the base 612 has a substantially cross shape in plan view.
As shown in FIG. 4, key tops 611 are formed on the front side of the four ends of the base 612 (the side facing the front case 21) so as to protrude in the out-of-plane direction. Each of the key tops 611 has a polygonal shape (specifically, a pentagonal shape) when viewed in plan.

  More specifically, the key top 611 has a combination of a substantially square shape and a substantially triangular shape. That is, the key top 611 includes two substantially parallel sides that form a substantially rectangular edge, and two substantially triangular sides that are provided so as to connect one end of the two substantially parallel sides. And an outer shape in which an edge is formed by one side of a substantially arc shape that connects between the other ends of the two substantially parallel sides. For this reason, between the key tops 611 and in the center of the key body 61, a substantially cross-shaped groove in plan view is formed. A concave portion 613 having a substantially circular shape in plan view is formed in the approximate center of the groove.

On the periphery of the base portion 612, flange portions 6121 are formed extending toward the outside of each key top 611 and positioned outside the four openings 212A. The flange portion 6121 allows the cross key 6 to be Jumping out of the body 2 is restricted. The surface of the flange portion 6121 that faces the front case 21 is an inclined surface 6122 that decreases in thickness as it goes toward the periphery of the base portion 612. Similarly, the surface of the flange portion 6121 has an inclined surface 6122 at the edge of the opening 212A. An inclined portion 212 </ b> B (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that is inclined along the inclined surface 6122 is formed at the opposing portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when any key top 611 of the cross key 6 is pressed, the inclined surface 6122 and the inclined portion 212B come into contact with each other, and the inclination of the cross key 6 is prevented. Since the tilting is performed smoothly, the operability of the cross key 6 is improved.
Note that the flange portion 6121 may not be formed on the entire periphery of the base portion 612, and may be formed at least at the periphery of each key top 611 and in the region farthest from the center of the base portion 612.

As shown in FIG. 5, a thick portion 614 that protrudes in a substantially circular shape when viewed from the bottom surface side, and a thickness of the base portion 612 at the substantially center on the bottom surface side (side facing a circuit board 7 described later). A fulcrum part 615 bulging out in a substantially hemispherical shape is formed from a substantially central position of the part 614.
Among these, the fulcrum part 615 is a part that contacts the circuit board 7 described later and tilts the cross key 6 as a fulcrum when the key top 611 is pressed. By this fulcrum portion 615, the tilt of the cross key 6 is smoothly performed.
Here, when two adjacent key tops 611 are pressed simultaneously, the cross key 6 is inclined so that the pressed position is close to the circuit board 7. However, when two key tops 611 opposite to each other (key tops 611 located on the top and bottom or the left and right) are pressed simultaneously, the cross key 6 does not tilt. As a result, it is possible to prevent keys in opposite directions from being input at the same time and improve operability.

The thick part 614 is a part that reinforces the periphery of the fulcrum part 615 against the load applied when the key top 611 is pressed. Since such a thick portion 614 is formed around the fulcrum portion 615, it is not necessary to thicken the entire base portion 612 for reinforcement, so that the base portion 612 is thinned, and thus the cross key 6 is thinned. Can be achieved.
In addition, a recess 616 corresponding to the shape of each key top 611 is formed at a position corresponding to each key top 611 on the bottom surface side of the base portion 612. Within these recesses 616, elastic portions 62 are located.

  The elastic part 62 corresponds to the elastic body of the present invention, and is formed in a substantially flat plate shape by an elastic material (for example, elastomer or silicon rubber). On the front side of these elastic portions 62, symbols indicating the respective directions of up, down, left, and right as shown in FIG. 1 are written by the laser irradiated through the key body 61 (specifically, the key top 611). The user is made aware of the key type to improve operability. Further, since the symbol is written by laser irradiation, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the design can be improved as compared with the case where a sticker or the like on which a pattern is drawn is pasted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of such elastic portions 62 has a shape and size corresponding to the key top 611 and is formed in a position corresponding to the key top 611, that is, in the recess 616. For this reason, the range which can form a pattern etc. by laser irradiation can be enlarged. Further, since a part of each elastic part 62 occupies a part of the above-described thick part 614, the inside of the front case 21 is prevented from being observed through the key body 61 formed of a transparent resin. It is possible to prevent the appearance of the mobile terminal 1 from being damaged.

The bottom surface of the elastic portion 62 (the surface facing the circuit board 7) is formed to be flush with the bottom surface of the flange portion 6121 described above. Further, the bottom surface 6141 of the thick part 614 and the bottom surface of the elastic part 62 occupying a part of the thick part 614 are flush with each other.
As shown in FIG. 5, a substantially cylindrical protruding portion 621 that protrudes from the bottom surface in the out-of-plane direction is formed at approximately the center of each elastic portion 62 on the bottom surface side. When the key top 611 is pressed down and the cross key 6 is tilted with the fulcrum 615 as a fulcrum, the protrusions 621 press the switch 71 located below the key top 611.

  By forming the protruding portion 621 on the elastic portion 62, the protruding portion 621 can press the switch 71 with a point. Thereby, compared with the case where the whole elastic part 62 with a large cross-sectional area presses the switch 71, pressing of the key top 611 can be reliably detected by the switch 71. Further, by adjusting the protruding dimension of the protruding portion 621, the stroke amount of the cross key 6 can be adjusted while reducing the thickness of the cross key 6. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the operational feeling of the direction operation unit 5 and, consequently, the mobile terminal 1 and the reliability of detection for the input operation.

In addition, as shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the front-end | tip part of these protrusion parts 621, ie, the planar position (height position from the circuit board 7) of the front-end | tip part contact | abutted with the switch 71 in the said protrusion part 621, is shown in FIG. It is set higher than the fulcrum portion 615 that contacts the circuit board 7 and higher than the planar position of the portion (bottom surface 6141) facing the circuit board 7 in the thick portion 614. In other words, the tip portion is located closer to the key top 611 than the portion of the thick portion 614. More specifically, the gap between the circuit board 7 and the tip of the protruding portion 621 is set larger than the gap between the circuit board 7 and the thick portion 614.
Among these, the gap between the circuit board 7 and the thick part 614 has such a dimension that the thick part 614 does not contact the circuit board 7 even when the key top 611 is pressed and the protrusion 621 presses the switch 71. Is set.

According to such a configuration, even when the cross key 6 is tilted by pressing the key top 611, the elastic portion 62 does not prevent the cross key 6 from tilting. Further, by adjusting the position of the tip of the protrusion 621 (the dimension of the gap between the circuit board 7 and the tip of the protrusion 621), the thickness of the cross key 6 is not changed, that is, the cross While reducing the thickness of the key 6, the stroke amount of the cross key 6 (the amount of inclination of the cross key 6 from the state in which the protruding portion 621 does not press the switch 71 to the state in which the switch 71 is pressed) can be adjusted. .
In addition, when the key top 611 is pressed, the feel (for example, click feeling) when the protrusion 621 inputs the switch 71 appropriately changes the properties such as the protrusion size, cross-sectional area, rigidity, and flexibility of the protrusion 621. You can also adjust it.

  Furthermore, since such an elastic part 62 is integrally formed with the key body 61 by two-color molding, compared to a case where an elastic member is attached to the key body 61 with an adhesive or the like to form an elastic part. The manufacturing process of the cross key 6 and by extension the portable terminal 1 can be simplified.

  Here, the fulcrum part 615 does not include an elastic material forming the elastic part 62, and the fulcrum part 615 is formed of a resin constituting the key body 61. In other words, on the bottom surface of the cross key 6, only the region corresponding to the key top 611 is formed of an elastic material, and the fulcrum portion 615 is not formed of the elastic material. This is because if the fulcrum part 615 to which a load is applied when the key top 611 is pressed is formed of an elastic material, the strength of the fulcrum part 615 cannot be secured, and the cross key 6 is attached to the front case 21 and a circuit board 7 described later. This is because it may swing in the direction of approaching and separating, and the operational feeling may be reduced. On the other hand, since the fulcrum part 615 is formed of a rigid transparent material, the strength of the fulcrum part 615 can be ensured, and a reduction in operational feeling can be prevented.

[Switch configuration]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the switch 71. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the switch 71 before being displaced, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the switch 71 displaced by the pressing force from the protruding portion 621. It is.
The switch 71 corresponds to the detection unit of the present invention, and is provided at a position corresponding to the key top 611 as described above, and four switches 71 are arranged on the circuit board 7 as a whole. As shown in FIG. 6, these switches 71 cover the first contact portion 72 and the second contact portion 73 formed on the circuit board 7 respectively, and a part of the first contact portion 72 and the second contact portion 73. A dome portion 75 and a third contact portion 74 formed inside the dome portion 75 are provided.

Although the detailed illustration of the first contact portion 72 is omitted, the first contact portion 72 is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view, and the second contact portion 73 is formed at the approximate center of the first contact portion 72 with the first contact portion 72. It is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view with a predetermined interval.
The third contact portion 74 is formed by applying a conductive material to the inside of the dome portion 75. As shown in FIG. 6A, the end of the third contact portion 74 is electrically connected to the first contact portion 72, but is connected to the second contact portion 73 via a predetermined gap G. It is separated. For this reason, the third contact portion 74 and the second contact portion 73 are not in electrical contact during normal times (when not pressed by the protruding portion 621).

  The dome portion 75 is provided so as to cover the first contact portion 72 and the second contact portion 73 and is formed of a flexible metal material. The center position of the dome portion 75 when viewed in plan is substantially coincident with the center of the second contact portion 73. When such a dome portion 75 is pressed by the above-described protruding portion 621 when the key top 611 is pressed, the central portion of the dome portion 75 becomes the second contact portion 73 as shown in FIG. The third contact part 74 formed inside the dome 75 is brought into contact with the second contact part 73 by being recessed and inverted in the approaching direction. As a result, the second contact portion 73 and the first contact portion 72 are electrically connected via the third contact portion 74, and current is conducted between the contact portions 72 and 73. Based on this current, the circuit board 7 detects that the switch 71 has been input.

  Such deformation of the dome portion 75 occurs when the pressing force by the protruding portion 621, that is, the pressing force of the key top 611 by the user exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A feeling arises. For this reason, the click feeling similar to the time of buckling of the conventional elastic body can be produced, and the operativity of the direction operation part 5 can be improved. The feel at the time of key input can also be adjusted by adjusting the strength (elastic force) of the dome 75 and the size of the gap G.

  2 and 3, the area surrounded by the openings 212 </ b> A in the front case 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape in the out-of-plane direction from the inner surface of the front case 21 (the surface facing the cross key 6). A main body support portion 213 that protrudes and has a substantially T-shape as a whole is formed. When the front case 21 and the cross key 6 are combined, the main body support portion 213 has a predetermined gap between the peripheral edge of the main body support portion 213 and the inner surface of the concave portion 613. Stored inside.

  The engagement between the main body support portion 213 and the recess 613 can prevent the positional shift of the cross key 6 in the housing 2, and even when the key top 611 is pressed and the cross key 6 is inclined, The cross key 6 can be positioned on the circuit board 7 so as not to be greatly displaced. Furthermore, since the main body support portion 213 engages with a recess 613 formed in the approximate center of the cross key 6, it is possible to prevent the operability of the cross key 6 from being impaired.

  This gap is set to such a size that the peripheral edge and lower surface of the main body support portion 213 and the inner surface of the concave portion 613 abut when the cross key 6 is inclined and the projection 621 presses the switch 71. ing. That is, the gap is set according to the amount of displacement (inclination amount) of the cross key 6, so that the inclination of the cross key 6 when the key top 611 is pressed is not hindered. According to this, the operability of the cross key 6 is not impaired, and when the cross key 6 is inclined and the protrusion 621 presses the switch 71, the main body support portion 213 and the recess 613 are engaged with each other. The inclination of the cross key 6 more than necessary can be restricted. Therefore, the operability of the direction operation unit 5 can be improved, and the switch 71 can be prevented from being pressed more than necessary.

[Configuration of biasing member]
Around the protruding portion toward the cross key 6 in the main body support portion 213, a substantially annular shape is provided between the cross key 6 and the front case 21 to urge the cross key 6 in the direction approaching the circuit board 7. A biasing member 8 is provided. The urging member 8 is formed of an elastic resin, and examples of the resin include Poron (registered trademark).
The thickness dimension of the urging member 8 (the dimension between the inner surface of the front case 21 and the cross key 6) is the amount of inclination of the cross key 6 (the switch 71 is pressed from the state where the protrusion 621 is not pressing). The amount of movement of the cross key 6 when the cross key 6 is tilted to the state). The position of the urging member 8 corresponds to the fulcrum portion 615 of the cross key 6, and the urging member 8 urges the approximate center of the cross key 6 toward the circuit board 7.

  By such an urging member 8, the cross key 6 can be prevented from floating from the circuit board 7, and the cross key 6 can be stably disposed on the circuit board 7. Further, when the cross key 6 is tilted by pressing the key top 611, the tilt of the cross key 6 can be returned to the original by the biasing force of the biasing member 8. Further, since the urging member 8 is formed of resin, the direction operation portion 5 and, by extension, the mobile terminal 1 can be made thinner than when a spring member such as a coil spring is used as the urging member 8. be able to.

  Further, since the biasing member 8 is arranged so as to cover the peripheral edge of the protruding portion of the main body support portion 213, when any key top 611 is pressed, it is in a position opposite to the key top 611. The urging force that resists the inclination of the cross key 6 can be made to act reliably, and the cross key 6 can be reliably returned to the state before being pressed. Further, since the urging member 8 is formed in a substantially annular shape, the urging member 8 can be easily attached to the main body support portion 213.

  In the present embodiment, the urging member 8 is made of resin, but is not limited thereto, and may be made of a spring member such as a coil spring or a leaf spring. Further, without adopting the substantially annular urging member 8, the urging member is provided only between the front case 21 and the cross key 6 and in the direction from the center of the main body support portion 213 toward each key top 611. It is good also as a structure which provides each. In such a case, since it is not necessary to arrange the urging member over the entire periphery of the main body support portion 213, the manufacturing cost of the urging member can be reduced.

[Operation of direction control unit]
Hereinafter, the operation of the direction operation unit 5 will be described.
In a state where none of the four key tops 611 exposed to the outside of the housing 2 is pressed through the opening 212A, as shown in FIG. 2, the fulcrum 615 that contacts the circuit board 7 and the cross key 6 The cross key 6 is self-supporting on the circuit board 7 by the biasing member 8 arranged between the front case 21 and the peripheral edge of the main body support portion 213.

In this state, when at least one of the four key tops 611 is pressed (for example, when the left key top 611 in FIG. 3 is pressed), as shown in FIG. Using the fulcrum as a fulcrum, the cross key 6 tilts against the urging force of the urging member 8. At this time, the fulcrum portion 615 slightly moves to the end portion side opposite to the end portion of the cross key 6 that is close to the circuit board 7.
When the cross key 6 is tilted in this way, the protrusion 621 corresponding to the pressed key top 611 presses the dome 75 of the switch 71 corresponding to the protrusion 621. The dome portion 75 is reversed when the pressing force exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and makes the third contact portion 74 electrically contact the second contact portion 73. Accordingly, the second contact portion 73 and the first contact portion 72 are brought into conduction, and the circuit board 7 outputs a control signal indicating that the switch 71 at the pressed position is input to the terminal body.

  When the pressing of the key top 611 is released (the finger is released from the key top 611), the cross is pressed down by the urging force of the urging member 8 and the restoring force of the elastic portion 62 and the dome portion 75. The inclination of the key 6 is restored to the original state shown in FIG.

Here, the rigidity of the elastic part 62 (particularly the protruding part 621), the biasing member 8 and the switch 71 (particularly the dome part 75) is appropriately set for the purpose of improving the operability of the direction operation part 5.
Specifically, in this embodiment, the elastic portion 62 is set to have the highest rigidity and the biasing member 8 has the lowest rigidity. According to this, since the rigidity of the elastic part 62 (protruding part 621) is the highest, the dome part 75 of the switch 71 can be surely pressed when the key top 611 is pressed, and the switch 71 causes the key top 611 to be pressed. Pressing can be reliably detected. At this time, a click feeling can be generated by deformation of the dome portion 75. Furthermore, since the rigidity of the urging member 8 is the lowest, the urging force of the urging member 8 can prevent the tilt of the cross key 6 when the key top 611 is pressed. Therefore, the operability of the direction operation unit 5 and thus the mobile terminal 1 can be further improved.

The portable terminal 1 according to the present embodiment described above has the following effects.
The urging member 8 that urges the cross key 6 in the direction approaching the circuit board 7 corresponds to the fulcrum portion 615, that is, the position of the cross key 6 surrounded by each key top 611 (the cross key 6 is viewed in plan view). Therefore, the cross key 6 can be appropriately arranged on the circuit board 7 by efficiently applying an urging force to the cross key 6. Compared to the configuration in which contact rubber is provided at a position corresponding to each key top 611 and the cross key 6 is urged toward the side close to the inner surface of the front case 21, the number of parts can be reduced and the direction can be reduced. The configuration of the operation unit 5 and thus the portable terminal 1 can be simplified. Furthermore, since the urging member 8 is formed of an elastic resin, the direction operation unit 5 and thus the mobile terminal 1 can be made thinner than when a coil spring or the like is used.

[2. Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The mobile terminal according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the mobile terminal 1 described above. However, in the portable terminal 1, the elastic portion 62 of the cross key 6 has a shape corresponding to the key top 611, whereas the shape of the elastic portion is mainly changed. It is different from the terminal 1. In the following description, parts that are the same as or substantially the same as those already described are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

7 and 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating the configuration of the direction operation unit 5A included in the mobile terminal 1A according to the present embodiment. Among these, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the cross key 9A constituting the direction operation unit 5A is not pressed, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the cross key 9A is pressed.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mobile terminal 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described mobile terminal 1 except that it includes a direction operation unit 5 </ b> A instead of the direction operation unit 5. The direction operation unit 5A corresponds to the operation unit of the present invention, and has the same configuration as the direction operation unit 5 except that it includes a cross key 9A instead of the cross key 6.

9 and 10 are perspective views of the cross key 9A as viewed from above and below.
Like the cross key 6, the cross key 9A is housed in the housing 2 except for the plurality of key tops 911 exposed to the outside of the housing 2 through the opening 212A, and in response to pressing of the key top 911. Inclined and presses the switch 71 on the circuit board 7. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cross key 9A includes a substantially cross-shaped key body 91 (FIGS. 9 and 10) and an elastic portion 92 (FIG. 10).

The key body 91 includes a plurality of (four in this embodiment) key tops 911 having substantially the same shape as the key top 611 described above, and a base portion 912 that connects the key tops 911, which are integrally formed. Has been. In the present embodiment, the key body 91 is formed by integrally molding the key top 911 and the base portion 912 with colored resin. However, the key top 911 is bonded to the base portion 912. May be integrated.
The key tops 911 are arranged at positions corresponding to the vertices of the base portion 912 having a substantially cross shape in plan view. In addition, a tapered flange portion 9121 is formed on the outer edge of the base portion 912, like the above-described base portion 612, extending outside the key top 911 and having a thickness dimension that decreases toward the outside of the base portion 912. Has been. The upper surface of the flange portion 9121 is an inclined surface 9122, and the inclined surface 9122 is inclined so as to approach downward as it goes outward.

Furthermore, the base 912 includes a concave portion 913 (FIG. 9), a thick portion 914, a fulcrum portion 915, and a concave portion 916 (each of FIG. 10).
As shown in FIG. 9, the recess 913 is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view at the approximate center of the base 912 surrounded by the key tops 911. The main body support portion 213 is inserted into the recess 913.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the thick portion 914 is formed at the approximate center of the bottom surface side of the base portion 912 (the side opposite to the side where the key top 911 is located). In other words, the thick portion 914 is formed according to the region surrounded by each key top 911. The thick portion 914 is formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed from the bottom surface 9141 side, and the surface facing the circuit board 7 is formed substantially flat. Further, the thick portion 914 extends along four directions (directions from the center of the base portion 912 to the adjacent key tops 911) which are oblique directions among the eight directions of the cross key 9. Four bridging portions 9142 that connect the bottom surface 9141 and the bottom surface of the base portion 912 are formed. Such a thick portion 914 reinforces the periphery of the fulcrum portion 915.

The fulcrum part 915 is formed in a substantially conical shape that bulges downward (side facing the circuit board 7) at a position corresponding to the concave part 913 on the substantially center of the thick part 914, that is, on the bottom side of the base part 912. Then, the tip portion of the fulcrum part 915 abuts on the circuit board 7. Such a fulcrum portion 915 has a plurality of bridging portions 9151 formed along a direction from the fulcrum portion 915 toward each key top 911 and a direction between these directions. The extending direction of these bridging portions 9151 corresponds to the eight directions described above that can be operated by the cross key 9A.
The recesses 916 are respectively formed at positions corresponding to the key tops 911 on the bottom surface side of the base portion 912. More specifically, each recess 916 is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view having a center at a position slightly shifted outward from the approximate center of the key top 911. These recesses 916 are attached to the elastic portion 92 by adhesion or the like.

  Each elastic portion 92 corresponds to the elastic body of the present invention, and is formed of an elastic material (for example, silicon rubber). As shown in FIG. 8, these elastic portions 92 have dimensions corresponding to the recesses 916 and are formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view. That is, the elastic part 62 described above is formed according to the size and shape of the key top 911, whereas the elastic part 92 is formed smaller than the dimension of the polygonal key top 911. And these elastic parts 92 are attached to the key top 911 side from the plane position of the site | part (bottom face 9141) which opposes the circuit board 7 in the above-mentioned thick part 914. FIG.

  Each of the elastic portions 92 has a substantially cylindrical protruding portion 921 that protrudes from the approximate center of the surface facing the circuit board 7. These protrusions 921 are located outside the center of each key top 911, and are arranged at positions that press the approximate center of the dome 75 when the cross key 9A is pressed. The positions of the protrusions 921 in the protruding direction, that is, the positions of the tips that press the switch 71 are closer to the key top 911 than the planar position of the portion (bottom surface 9141) facing the circuit board 7 in the thick part 914. positioned.

[Operation of direction control unit]
Hereinafter, the operation of the direction operation unit 5A will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the key top 911 is not pressed, as shown in FIG. 7, the fulcrum portion 915 is moved to the circuit board 7 by the urging force of the urging member 8 provided at the periphery of the main body support portion 213 inserted into the recess 913. The cross key 9 </ b> A is self-supporting on the circuit board 7 in a state of being in contact with the circuit board 7.
In this state, when at least one of the key tops 911 (for example, the left key top 911 in FIGS. 7 and 8) is pressed, the cross key 9A uses the fulcrum portion 915 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. Then, it rotates in the pressing direction while resisting the urging force by the urging member 8.

Along with the rotation of the cross key 9A, the protruding portion 921 corresponding to the pressed key top 911 presses the dome portion 75 located below. As a result, the circuit board 7 outputs a control signal indicating that the switch 71 at the pressed position has been input.
On the other hand, when the pressing on the key top 911 is released, the cross key 6 returns to the state shown in FIG. 7 by the urging force of the urging member 8 and the restoring force of the elastic portion 92 and the dome portion 75.

Here, the rigidity of the elastic portion 92, the biasing member 8, and the dome portion 75 is appropriately set for the purpose of improving the operability of the direction operation portion 5 </ b> A, similar to the direction operation portion 5 described above.
Specifically, the elastic portion 92 is set to have the highest rigidity and the urging member 8 has the lowest rigidity. Thus, the dome portion 75 can be reliably pressed by the elastic portion 92 (particularly the protruding portion 921) having the highest rigidity, and a click feeling can be generated by the deformation of the dome portion 75. Further, since the rigidity of the biasing member 8 is the lowest, it is possible to prevent the tilt of the cross key 9A from being hindered by the biasing force of the biasing member 8, and the cross key 9A from the tilted state before being pressed. It is possible to reliably return to the state. Accordingly, it is possible to further improve the operability of the direction operation unit 5 </ b> A and eventually the mobile terminal 1.
According to 1 A of portable terminals which concern on this embodiment demonstrated above, there can exist an effect similar to the above-mentioned portable terminal 1. FIG.

[3. Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The mobile terminal according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described mobile terminal 1A. However, the portable terminal 1A has a configuration in which the cross key 9A is urged by the urging member 8 disposed on the periphery of the main body support portion 213. On the other hand, in the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment, the cross key is urged by the urging member arranged according to the outer edge of the cross key. In this respect, the portable terminal is different from the portable terminal 1A. In the following description, parts that are the same as or substantially the same as those already described are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

FIG.11 and FIG.12 is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the direction operation part 5B with which the portable terminal 1B which concerns on this embodiment is provided. Among these, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cross key 9B is not pressed, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cross key 9B is pressed.
The mobile terminal 1B according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the mobile terminal 1A except that it includes a direction operation unit 5B instead of the direction operation unit 5A. The direction operation unit 5B corresponds to the operation unit of the present invention, and includes a cross key 9B, a circuit board 7, and an urging member 8B, as shown in FIGS.
Among these, the cross key 9B has the same configuration as the cross key 9A except that the cross key 9B includes a flange portion 9123 extending further outward than the flange portion 9121.

The urging member 8 </ b> B is formed of the same material as the urging member 8 and urges the cross key 9 </ b> B toward the circuit board 7. The urging members 8B are attached to the end edges of the opening 212A so as to face the flange portion 9123, respectively.
Specifically, the urging member 8B is provided for each point object centered on the center of the cross key 9B according to the position where the cross key 9B can be pressed. That is, the urging member 8B includes a flange portion 9123 located on a straight line from the center of the cross key 9B toward each key top 911, and a flange located on a straight line passing through the middle of each key top 911 from the center. It arrange | positions so that the area | region of the part 9123 may be opposed.

  For this reason, the biasing member 8B has four directions from the center of the key body 91 toward the key top 911 when each key top 911 is pressed alone, and two adjacent key tops 911 are simultaneously pressed. In this case, the key body 91 is positioned in a total of eight directions, ie, four directions from the center of the key body 91 toward the pressed position. The urging member 8B may be provided in accordance with the entire region where the flange portion 9123 is formed, or may be provided on any of the four directions.

When none of the key tops 911 is pressed in such a direction operation portion 5B, the fulcrum portion 915 is in contact with the circuit board 7 as shown in FIG. The cross key 9B is self-supporting on the circuit board 7 by the urging force of the urging member 8B in contact therewith.
In this state, when at least one of the key tops 911 (for example, the key top 911 on the left side in FIGS. 11 and 12) is pressed, the cross key 9B is opposite to the pressed position as shown in FIG. The urging member 8B rotates against the urging force of the urging member 8B in the pressing direction using the fulcrum portion 915 as a fulcrum. At this time, the protrusion 921 corresponding to the pressed key top 911 presses the switch 71, and the circuit board 7 detects the pressing of the key top 911.

Thereafter, when the pressing on the key top 911 is released, the cross key 9B is caused by the restoring force of the switch 71 (dome portion 75) and the elastic portion 92 and the urging force of the urging member 8B on the opposite side to the depressed position. It returns to the state before pressing (the state shown in FIG. 11).
According to the portable terminal 1B according to the present embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the portable terminals 1 and 1A described above can be obtained.

  In the portable terminal 1B, the opening 212A that exposes the key top 911 is formed in the front case 21 according to each of the key tops 911. However, each key top 911 is exposed through one opening. It is good also as a structure.

13 and 14 are diagrams showing mobile terminals 1C and 1D, respectively, which are modifications of the mobile terminal 1B according to the present embodiment.
Hereinafter, mobile terminals 1C and 1D, which are modifications of the mobile terminal 1B, will be described.
As shown in FIG. 13, the mobile terminal 1C has the same configuration as that of the mobile terminal 1B except that the front case 21C and the direction operation unit 5C are provided instead of the front case 21 and the direction operation unit 5B. In addition, the direction operation unit 5C has the same configuration as the direction operation unit 5B, except that it includes a cross key 9C instead of the cross key 9B.

Like the front case 21, the front case 21C has four openings 212A that expose the four key tops 911, respectively. However, the main body support portion 213 is not provided at a portion surrounded by each exposed key top 911.
The cross key 9C has the same configuration as that of the cross key 9B, but the concave portion 913 formed in the approximate center of the cross key 9B is not formed.

As shown in FIG. 14, the mobile terminal 1 </ b> D has the same configuration as the mobile terminal 1 </ b> C except that it includes a front case 21 </ b> D instead of the front case 21.
The front case 21 </ b> D has the same configuration as the front case 21. However, the front case 21D has one opening 212D that exposes all the key tops 911 of the cross key 9C instead of each opening 212A, and accordingly, the front case 21D has each key top. The part surrounded by 911 and the main body support part 213 provided in the part are not provided.

  Each key top 911 is located in such an opening 212D, and the edge of the opening 212D is formed in a substantially cross shape. That is, each key top 911 and the central portion of the base 912 surrounded by each key top 911 are exposed to the outside of the housing 2 through the opening 212D. The aforementioned urging member 8B that abuts against the opposed flange portion 9123 is provided on the edge of the opening 212D and on the inner surface of the front case 21D.

Such portable terminals 1C and 1D have the same effects as the portable terminal 1B.
Although the opening 212D and the cross key 9C are formed in a substantially cross shape in plan view, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the opening and the cross key may be formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view. In this case, it is good also as a structure which provides a biasing member in the edge of an opening part so as to oppose the flange part formed in a substantially circular shape along the edge of the said cross key. Even in this case, the urging member is not limited to a substantially circular shape, and is preferably suitable for the cross key as long as it is disposed in at least one of the positions in the eight directions described above (preferably at least in the four directions described above). A biasing force can be applied.

[4. Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The mobile terminal according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described mobile terminal 1A. This portable terminal 1A is arranged between the front case 21 and the cross key 9A and includes a biasing member 8 that biases the cross key 9A toward the circuit board 7. On the other hand, the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment includes a biasing member that is disposed between the cross key and the circuit board and biases the cross key toward the front case. In this respect, the portable terminal is different from the portable terminal 1A. In the following description, parts that are the same as or substantially the same as those already described are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a direction operation unit 5E included in the mobile terminal 1E according to the present embodiment. In other words, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the cross key 9A constituting the direction operation unit 5E is not pressed.
As shown in FIG. 15, the mobile terminal 1E according to the present embodiment is the same as the mobile terminal 1A described above except that the front case 21E and the direction operation unit 5E are provided instead of the front case 21 and the direction operation unit 5A. Has configuration and function.

The front case 21E has the same configuration as that of the front case 21 except that a main body support portion 213E is provided instead of the main body support portion 213.
Similarly to the main body support portion 213, the main body support portion 213E is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that protrudes toward the circuit board 7 in a region 21E1 surrounded by the four openings 212A in the front case 21E. The front end portion of the main body support portion 213E is substantially at the same position as the lower surface 21E2 (the lower surface 21E2 excluding the region 21E1) of the front case 21E. For this reason, the said front-end | tip part and lower surface 21E2 become substantially flush. Such a main body support portion 213E is inserted into the recess 913 of the cross key 9A.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the urging member 8 </ b> E disposed on the circuit board 7.
The direction operation unit 5E corresponds to the operation unit of the present invention, and includes a circuit board 7, a biasing member 8E, and a cross key 9A.
Among these members, the urging member 8E is formed in an annular shape from the same material as the urging member 8 and is mounted on the circuit board 7, as shown in FIG. More specifically, the urging member 8E is attached to the area surrounded by the four switches 71 on the circuit board 7 so that the center of the area coincides with the center of the urging member 8E. The center of the urging member 8E substantially coincides with the position of the fulcrum portion 915 that is the center of the cross key 9A disposed on the urging member 8E. Such an urging member 8E abuts on the bridging portions 9142 and 9151 to urge the cross key 9A toward the front case 21E.

  Specifically, when the cross key 9A is not pressed (non-pressed state), as shown in FIG. 15, the cross key 9A is urged toward the front case 21E by the urging member 8E. At this time, the main body support portion 213E is inserted into the recess 913, and the lower surface of the region 21E1 excluding the main body support portion 213E and the edge of the recess 913 abut. In this state, the inclined surface 9122 (see FIG. 7) of the flange portion 9121 and the inclined portion 212B are in contact with each other, but the fulcrum portion 915 and the circuit board 7 are separated from each other.

  Here, when any one of the four key tops 911 is pressed, the cross key 9A moves in the direction approaching the circuit board 7 against the urging force of the urging member 8E, and the fulcrum 915 moves the circuit. Contact the substrate 7. Then, the cross key 9A is inclined to the side pressed with the fulcrum portion 915 as a fulcrum, and the protruding portion 921 presses the dome portion 75. Thereby, the input of the cross key 9A is detected.

When the finger is released from the key top 911, the key top 911 side of the cross key 9A is urged toward the front case 21E by the restoring force of the area corresponding to the key top 911 in the urging member 8E. As a result, the cross key 9A returns to the non-pressed state shown in FIG. The same applies when two adjacent key tops 911 are pressed.
According to the mobile terminal 1E of the present embodiment described above, the same effect as that of the mobile terminal 1A described above can be obtained, and a larger biasing member 8E than the biasing member 8 is employed. The urging force for returning the key 9A to the non-depressed state can be reliably applied to the cross key 9A.

[5. Modification of Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
In each said embodiment, although the portable terminal 1, 1A-1E comprised as a game machine was mentioned as an operating device provided with the housing | casing 2 and direction operation part 5, 5A-5C, 5E, this invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, it can be configured as another portable terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a notebook PC (Personal Computer). Further, the present invention can also be applied to a controller that is connected to an electronic device such as a computer by wire or wirelessly and outputs an operation signal.

  In the first embodiment, the key body 61 in which the four key tops 611 are integrated by the base portion 612 and the cross key 6 in which the elastic portion 62 is integrally formed are cited. In the second to fourth embodiments, Although the cross key 9A in which the elastic portion 92 is attached to the base portion 912 is given, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a cross key provided integrally with the key body 61 by sticking a member corresponding to the elastic portion 62 may be adopted, or the base portion 912 and the elastic portion 92 are integrally formed. A cross key may be adopted. Furthermore, a cross key without the elastic portions 62 and 92 may be adopted.

  In each of the embodiments, the number of key tops 611 and 911 is four. However, the number is not limited to this, and may be two or more. In such a case, the opening formed in the casing and exposing the key top may be formed according to the position and number of each key top, and each key top as in the above-described portable terminal 1D. It is good also as one opening part which exposes.

  In each of the embodiments, the elastic portions 62 and 92 are provided with the protruding portions 621 and 921 that protrude toward the circuit board 7 and press the switch 71 disposed on the circuit board 7. However, the protrusions 621 and 921 are not limited thereto. Moreover, the shape of the protrusions 621 and 921 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape, and may be any shape that presses the dome 75 of the switch 71 with a point.

  In each said embodiment, although the fulcrum part 615,915 was formed in the approximate center in the base parts 612 and 912, this invention is not restricted to this, You may shift | deviate from the position of the said center. For example, when a pair of key tops (a pair of key tops for performing up / down or left / right input operations) are arranged according to a pair of vertices facing each other across the center in a substantially rectangular base, There may be a plurality of fulcrum portions on a straight line orthogonal to a straight line connecting a pair of vertices.

  In each of the above embodiments, the thick portions 614 and 914 are formed around the fulcrum portions 615 and 915. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cross keys 6 and 9 (particularly, the base portions 612 and 912). As long as it is possible to ensure sufficient strength, the thick portions 614 and 914 may be omitted. Moreover, the shape of the thick portions 614 and 914 is not limited to a substantially circular shape in plan view, but may be other shapes such as a rectangular shape in plan view. Further, the fulcrum part 915 may not have the bridging part 9151.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the position of the tip portion pressing the switch 71 in the projecting portions 621 and 921 is located on the key top 611 and 911 side from the portion facing the circuit board 7 in the thick portions 614 and 914. The present invention is not limited to this. That is, it may be set as appropriate in consideration of the stroke amount and operational feeling of the cross keys 6, 9A to 9C.

  In the first and second embodiments, the urging member 8 is provided between the inner surface of the front case 21 and a position corresponding to the fulcrum 615 of the key body 61, and in the third embodiment, The biasing member 8B is provided between the inner surfaces of the front cases 21 and 21C and the flange portion 9123. Further, in the fourth embodiment, the biasing is performed between the cross key 9A and the circuit board 7. Although the member 8E is provided, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as long as the cross keys 6 and 9A to 9C can return from the inclined state to the non-pressed state, the urging member 8 may be omitted. Further, the position of the urging member may not be between the front case and the center of the cross key, for example, between the front case and the periphery of the cross key as in the urging members 8B and 8E. Also good.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the key bodies 61, 91 have the concave portions 613, 913 at positions corresponding to the fulcrum portions 615, 915 on the surface side facing the front case 21. Is provided with main body support portions 213 and 213E that engage with the inner surfaces of the recesses 613 and 913, thereby supporting the cross keys 6, 9A, and 9B. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the main body support portion and the recess may be omitted as in the mobile terminal 1C. At this time, if the urging member disposed between the front case and the cross key is configured to be adhered to these, the shift of the planar position of the cross key is suppressed.

  In the first and second embodiments, the urging member 8 is formed in an annular shape surrounding the main body support portion 213. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the urging member may have other shapes. Good. For example, a plurality of urging members may be arranged around the main body support portion 213. In this case, the urging members may be arranged around the main body support portion 213 according to the positions (for example, positions close to the key tops 611, 911) and the numbers of the key tops 611, 911. Good. For example, if the cross keys 6 and 9A are used, four or eight urging members may be arranged.

When the main body support portion 213 is not provided, the center of the cross key 6 surrounded by the key tops 611 is urged toward the circuit board 7 on the inner surface of the front case 21 surrounded by the opening 212A. The biasing member may be provided. Further, a protrusion that protrudes in the direction of approaching the inner surface is provided on the cross key 6 side, and a recess that engages with the protrusion is formed on the front case 21 side, between the cross key 6 and the inner surface of the front case 21. It is good also as a structure which provides a biasing member around the said protrusion part so that it may be interposed in.
Further, the position and shape of the urging member 8B can be set as appropriate as described above. In addition, the urging members 8, 8B, 8E may be combined and provided in the mobile terminals 1, 1A to 1E.
Similarly, the biasing member 8E is formed in an annular shape surrounding the fulcrum portion 915. However, the shape, the number, and the arrangement position are not limited to this, and may be set as appropriate. For example, the bridging portions 9142 and 9151 It is good also as a structure which provides a biasing member in the position according to.

  In each of the above embodiments, the elastic portions 62 and 92 have the highest rigidity among the elastic portions 62 and 92 (particularly the protruding portions 621 and 921), the biasing members 8, 8B and 8E, and the switch 71 (particularly the dome portion 75). Although the respective rigidity is set so that the rigidity of the urging members 8, 8B, 8E is the lowest, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, these stiffnesses can be set as appropriate in consideration of the operability of the direction operation units 5, 5A to 5C, 5E.

  In the first embodiment, the elastic portion 62 is formed in accordance with the shape and dimensions of the key top 611. In the second to fourth embodiments, the elastic portion 92 is formed in a substantially circular shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the elastic portion is formed according to the position of the key tops 611, 911, and is interposed between the key top 611, 911 and the switch 71 disposed according to the key top 611, 911. It only has to be. For example, an elastic member having the same material and shape as the protruding portions 621 and 921 may be attached to the key body 61 at a position corresponding to the switch 71 instead of the elastic portions 62 and 92.

  In the first embodiment, the key body 61 is formed of a transparent resin such as an acrylic resin. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a colored resin such as the key body 91. , May be formed of other materials. In this case, printing on the upper surface of the key top 611 (the surface facing the user's finger), processing (engraving) the upper surface, or a key top formed by two-color molding using different resins. A pattern or the like may be displayed on the upper surface by exposing one of the resins. That is, the color and material of the cross key can be set as appropriate. For example, when a triangle symbol indicating a direction is written on the key top, a cross key is formed by two-color molding by embedding a substantially triangular prism-like resin (for example, high sliding ABS) inside. The symbol can be viewed from above. Moreover, by forming in this way, it is possible to prevent the symbol from disappearing due to an input operation, aging, or the like.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the switch 71 as the detection unit has the third contact part 74 formed on the inner surface, and is deformed in response to the pressing by the projecting parts 621 and 921, and the first contact part 72 and the second contact part 73. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the dome portion 75 may not be provided. Moreover, it is not limited to metal, and may be a resin dome formed by embossing or the like. In addition, although the first contact portion 72 and the second contact portion 73 are formed on the circuit board 7, the first contact portion and the second contact portion that are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval are provided. It may be a switch provided. That is, the configuration of the detection unit may be another configuration such as a touch switch.

  The present invention can be used not only for an operation device such as a controller but also for a portable terminal.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A-1E ... Portable terminal (operating device), 2 ... Housing | casing, 5,5A-5C, 5E ... Direction operation part (operation part), 7 ... Circuit board, 8, 8B, 8E ... Biasing member, 61 , 91 ... Key body, 62, 92 ... Elastic part (elastic body), 71 ... Switch (detection part), 212A, 212D ... Opening part, 213, 213E ... Body support part, 611, 911 ... Key top, 613, 913 ... concave part, 614, 914 ... thick part, 615, 915 ... fulcrum part, 9123 ... flange part

Claims (8)

An operation device including a housing provided with an operation unit for performing an input operation,
The operation unit is
A plurality of key tops exposed to the outside of the casing through the opening of the casing, and a key body having a base for connecting the plurality of key tops in the casing;
A circuit board provided with a plurality of detection units respectively disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of key tops and detecting input of the key tops;
The base portion protrudes in a direction close to the circuit board at a position surrounded by the plurality of key tops, and comes into contact with the circuit board to serve as a fulcrum with respect to the inclination of the key body when the key top is pressed. Having a fulcrum,
An operation device, wherein a biasing member that biases the key body toward the circuit board is provided between the housing and the key body. The operating device according to claim 1,
The key body has a recess at a position corresponding to the fulcrum portion on the surface opposite to the surface on which the fulcrum portion is formed,
The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a main body support portion that is formed at a position corresponding to the concave portion and is housed in the concave portion to support the key main body. The operating device according to claim 2,
A gap according to the amount of displacement of the key body is formed between the body support portion and the inner surface of the recess. In the operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The urging member is provided between the housing and a position surrounded by the plurality of key tops in the key body. In the operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The key body includes a flange portion that extends to the outside of the key top and faces an edge of the opening in the housing.
The urging member is provided between the casing and the flange portion. In the operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has a thick portion around the fulcrum portion. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A flat elastic body is provided integrally with the key body at a position opposite to the side exposed to the outside of the casing in the key body and corresponding to the key top. Operating device.   A portable terminal comprising the operation device according to claim 1.

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