JP2011141714A - Input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input apparatus that allows various operations by a simple constitution regarding an input apparatus mainly used for operations of various electronic devices. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of almost columnar or spherical magnets 13A-13D, each of which has the north (N) pole and the south (S) pole at prescribed angle intervals, are rotatably arrayed and mounted on in an almost ring shape while directing each rotary shaft 14 to the center of an upper case 11 and the lower case 12. A finger is rotated in an almost ring shape so as to rotate the plurality of magnets, thereby enabling clockwise and counter-clockwise operations. A finger is vertically or laterally moved so as to rotate each magnet, thereby enabling vertical or lateral moving operations. Therefore, a plurality of operations by a prescribed number of magnets become possible. Consequently, the input apparatus that enables various operations can be obtained by a simple constitution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device mainly used for operating various electronic devices.

  In recent years, as various electronic devices such as mobile phones and electronic cameras have become highly functional and miniaturized, input devices used for these operations are also required to be small and thin so that various operations can be performed. ing.

  Such a conventional input device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  7 is a sectional view of a conventional input device, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In FIG. 7, 1 is a substantially disk-shaped operating body made of an insulating resin, 2 is a substantially ring-shaped magnet, N poles and S poles having different magnetism are alternately formed adjacent to each other at predetermined angular intervals on the upper and lower surfaces, and the magnet 2 is fixed to the lower surface of the operating body 1.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a substantially disk-like case made of a steel plate or the like, and 4 denotes an insulating resin cover. The upper portion of the operating body 1 protrudes from the opening 4A of the cover 4 and a plurality of substantially arc-shaped through holes 3A are formed. The operating body 1 is rotatably mounted on the case 3.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a wiring board having a plurality of wiring patterns (not shown) formed on the upper and lower surfaces, and 6 denotes a magnetic detection element such as a Hall element. It is mounted and opposed to the magnet 2 with a predetermined gap.

  Furthermore, 7 is a film-like sheet, and this sheet 7 covers the upper surface of the wiring board 5 and the lower end of the case 3 is fixed to the wiring board 5 to constitute an input device.

  The input device configured as described above is mounted on an operation unit (not shown) of an electronic device such as a mobile phone or an electronic camera with the upper portion of the operation body 1 protruding, and a plurality of magnetic detection elements 6. Is electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a wiring pattern, a lead wire (not shown) or the like.

  In the above-described configuration, for example, a display unit (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display element of a device displays a plurality of menus such as names and song titles, a cursor (not shown), etc. When rotating with a finger, the magnet 2 fixed to the lower surface of the operating body 1 and having the north and south poles alternately formed adjacently rotates.

  Further, the magnetism of the magnet 2 in which the N pole and the S pole are alternately changed by this rotation is detected by a plurality of magnetism detection elements 6 arranged opposite to each other, and a predetermined voltage signal is output to the electronic circuit of the device. However, at this time, since the plurality of magnetic detection elements 6 are arranged at distant locations, the voltage signals output from each have a phase difference shifted by a predetermined time.

  Then, the electronic circuit of the device detects the rotation direction and rotation angle of the operating body 1 with the magnet 2 fixed to the lower surface from these voltage signals, and displays a cursor on the menu displayed on the display means of the device, for example, When the operation body 1 is rotated clockwise, the cursor is moved upward by the rotation angle, and when the operation body 1 is rotated counterclockwise, the cursor is moved downward by the rotation angle.

  In other words, it is configured such that a menu or the like can be easily selected by rotating the operating tool 1 in a predetermined direction while looking at the display means of the device, and moving a cursor or the like displayed on the display means in a predetermined direction. It was what has been.

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

JP 2009-76344 A

  However, in the above conventional input device, only the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation operation of the operating body 1 can be performed. For example, when the cursor is to be moved in the horizontal direction in addition to the vertical direction, Another switch or the like needs to be provided separately, and there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and expensive.

  The present invention solves such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device capable of various operations with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a substantially disc-shaped case having a plurality of substantially cylindrical or substantially spherical magnets having N and S poles formed at a predetermined angular interval, and a rotational axis about the case. The input device is configured by rotating and mounting in a substantially ring shape, and rotating a plurality of magnets by rotating a finger in a substantially ring shape to rotate the clock and counterclockwise In addition to moving the finger up and down or left and right to rotate individual magnets, you can also move up and down or left and right, so multiple operations can be performed with a predetermined number of magnets, and a simple configuration Thus, an input device capable of various operations can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an advantageous effect that an input device capable of various operations can be realized with a simple configuration.

Sectional drawing of the input device by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Side view of the same part Plan view Plan view Plan view according to another embodiment Sectional view of a conventional input device Exploded perspective view

  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.

(Embodiment)
1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, in which 11 is a substantially disk-shaped upper case made of an insulating resin such as ABS, and 12 is the same. A lower case made of an insulating resin such as polyacetal. The lower case 12 has a through-hole 12A in the center, a plurality of, for example, four elliptical openings 12B on the outer periphery, and a pair of semi-cylindrical shapes connected to this. The upper case 11 is provided with a through hole 11A at the center and four elliptical openings 11B slightly smaller than the opening 12B on the outer periphery.

  Further, 13A to 13D are magnets such as ferrite and Nd—Fe—B alloy having a substantially elliptical spherical shape and a diameter of about 2 to 3 mm. As shown in the partial side view of FIG. A pair of rotating shafts 14 that are formed adjacent to each other at an angular interval of 60 degrees, for example, at an interval of 60 degrees and project in a cylindrical shape are provided at the center.

  The plurality of, for example, four magnets 13A to 13D are inserted into the holding portion 12C of the lower case 12 and the rotating shaft 14 is inserted into the opening 12B, for example, as shown in the plan view of FIG. The magnet 13C facing this is in the up-down direction, the magnets 13B and 13D are in the left-right direction orthogonal to the magnets 13A and 13C, and the rotation shaft 14 is radially directed at the center of the upper case 11 and the lower case 12 in a substantially ring shape. , Each of which is rotatably arranged at a position of about 10 to 20 mm in diameter.

  Further, 15 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 on the upper surface of the wiring board 15 below the magnets 13A to 13D. Are mounted with four magnetic detection elements 16 such as a Hall element for detecting magnetism in the vertical direction and a GMR element for detecting magnetism in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic detecting element 16 includes a magnetic element 16A for detecting magnetism in the vertical direction and a magnetic element 16B for detecting magnetism in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the magnetic element 16A. Is formed.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a film-like base sheet such as polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate, which has a plurality of through-holes through which the magnetic detection element 16 is inserted. A fixed contact 18 formed from the contact 18A and a substantially horseshoe-shaped or ring-shaped outer fixed contact 18B surrounding the contact 18A is provided.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a movable contact made of a conductive metal thin plate such as a copper alloy or steel. The outer periphery of the movable contact 19 is placed on the outer fixed contact 18B, and the center of the lower surface is centered with the central fixed contact 18A. It is stuck on the upper surface of the base sheet 17 with a film-like tape 20 so as to face each other with a gap.

  Furthermore, 21 is a film-like cover sheet such as polyethylene terephthalate. The cover sheet 21 covers the upper surface of the base sheet 17 and the wiring board 15, and a convex portion 21A formed by printing or the like at the center of the lower surface of the cover sheet 21 is a tape. 20 is in contact with the center of the movable contact 19.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a push button such as ABS, which is mounted in the through-holes 11A and 12A of the upper case 11 and the lower case 12 so as to be movable up and down. The device is configured.

  The input device configured as described above is mounted on an operation unit (not shown) of an electronic device such as a mobile phone or an electronic camera with the magnets 13A to 13D and the upper part of the push button 22 protruding, and a fixed contact. 18 and a plurality of magnetic detection elements 16 are electrically connected to an electronic circuit (not shown) of the device via a wiring pattern, a lead wire (not shown) or the like.

  In the above configuration, for example, a plurality of menus such as names and song titles, a cursor (not shown), and the like are displayed on a display means (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display element of the device. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, when a finger is placed on the upper surface of the upper case 11 and rotated in a substantially ring shape in the clockwise direction from the magnet 13 </ b> A to the magnet 13 </ b> B, first, the rotating shaft 14 is vertically moved around the upper case 11. The magnet 13 </ b> A facing is rotated.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetism detecting element 16 below the magnet 13 </ b> A is configured such that the N pole and the S pole are adjacently formed at a predetermined angular interval, and the N pole and the S pole are alternately changed by rotation. At this time, the magnetic element 16A detects the magnetism in the vertical direction, and the pair of magnetic elements 16B detect the magnetism in the horizontal direction.

  Therefore, the pulsed voltage signal output from the magnetic element 16A and the pulsed voltage signal output from the magnetic element 16B have a phase difference shifted by a predetermined time. It is output to the electronic circuit of the device, and the electronic circuit detects that the rotating operation of the magnet 13A, that is, the clockwise operation has been performed by this phase difference.

  In addition, when the finger is rotated to the position of the magnet 13B while keeping a part of the finger in contact with the magnet 13A, the magnet 13B having the rotation shaft 14 directed in the left-right direction about the upper case 11 also rotates. The magnetism detecting element 16 detects the magnetism of the magnet 13B and outputs a voltage signal having a phase difference in the same manner as described above, thereby confirming that the electronic circuit has been rotated clockwise by 90 degrees. To detect.

  Hereinafter, similarly, when the rotation of the magnet 13C is detected while the finger is continuously rotated in a substantially ring shape in the clockwise direction and touching the magnet 13B, the rotation operation is performed up to 180 degrees. When the rotation of the magnet 13D is detected while touching the magnet 13C, the electronic circuit detects that the rotation operation has been performed up to 270 degrees, and the cursor on the menu displayed on the display means of the device is moved up, for example, Move in the direction by the rotation angle.

  Even when the finger is rotated in a substantially ring shape in the counterclockwise direction opposite to the above, the electronic circuit detects the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the finger by the rotation of the magnets 13A to 13D. For example, the cursor is moved downward by the rotation angle.

  That is, the four magnets arranged and mounted in a substantially ring shape with the rotation shaft 14 facing the center of the upper case 11 by turning the finger on the upper surface of the upper case 11 while looking at the display means of the device. By rotating 13A to 13D and the magnetic detection element 16 detecting this change in magnetism, the cursor displayed on the display means is moved in a predetermined direction so that the menu can be easily selected. ing.

  Further, magnets 13A to 13D having a diameter of about 2 to 3 mm are arranged and mounted in a range of about 10 to 20 mm in diameter on the upper surface of the upper case 11, and the finger is always in contact with two adjacent magnets 13A and 13B. Since the rotation operation is performed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction as described above, the rotation direction and rotation angle of the finger can be reliably detected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the finger is moved in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the upper case 11, only the magnet 13A rotates in this case, and the magnetic detection element 16 below this detects the magnetism of the magnet 13A. Then, a voltage signal having a phase difference is output to the electronic circuit, whereby the electronic circuit detects the rotation direction and rotation angle of the magnet 13A, and moves the cursor on the displayed menu to the left or right direction, for example. Let

  Even when only the magnet 13C is rotated by the finger, the electronic circuit similarly detects this and the cursor moves to the left or right.

  Further, when the finger is moved up and down and the magnets 13B and 13D are rotated, the operation of the finger in the up and down direction is electronically performed by a voltage signal having a phase difference from the magnetic detection element 16 below. In this case, for example, the cursor is moved up and down at a speed different from that of the rotation operation.

  That is, in addition to the above-described clock and counterclockwise rotation operations, a plurality of magnets 13A to 13D can be rotated by moving a finger up and down or left and right, thereby allowing up and down or left and right movement operations. Various operations can be performed.

  In the case of such a finger movement operation, the finger as described above always comes into contact with two adjacent magnets 13A, 13B, etc., and outputs a plurality of voltage signals in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Unlike the rotation operation, a voltage signal is output from only one of the magnets 13A to 13D, so that it is possible to easily determine the rotation operation and the movement operation in the electronic circuit.

  That is, the four magnets 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> D are arrayed so as to be rotatable in a substantially ring shape with the rotation shaft 14 facing the center of the upper case 11, so that a predetermined number of magnets rotate the fingers in a substantially ring shape. A plurality of operations including a clockwise and counterclockwise rotating operation and a moving operation of moving a finger up and down or left and right are configured.

  Further, when the push button 22 at the center of the upper case 11 is pressed downward with the cursor positioned on the desired menu in this way, the cover sheet 21 is bent and the convex portion 21A on the lower surface is movable via the tape 20. When a substantially dome-shaped central portion of the contact 19 is pressed and a predetermined pressing force is applied, the movable contact 19 is elastically reversed downward with a click feeling, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 19 contacts the central fixed contact 18A. By doing so, the center fixed contact 18A and the outer fixed contact 18B are electrically connected via the movable contact 19.

  Then, when the pressing force on the push button 22 is released, the movable contact 19 is elastically reversed upward by the elastic restoring force, and the center of the lower surface of the movable contact 19 is separated from the central fixed contact 18A, and the central fixed contact 18A and the outer fixed contact 18B. Is electrically disconnected, and the electronic circuit detects the electrical contact / separation of the fixed contact 18, and for example, confirmation of the menu, display of the next menu, and the like are performed.

  In the above description, for ease of understanding, the configuration in which the four magnets 13A to 13D are arranged and mounted in a substantially ring shape has been described. However, as shown in the plan view of FIG. Even if a plurality of magnets 13 are arranged and mounted in a slightly larger diameter range on the upper surface of the upper case 11 by arranging the rotating shafts 14 radially in the center and rotating in a substantially ring shape, the finger The operation direction and the operation amount of the substantially ring-shaped rotation operation and the movement operation in the vertical and horizontal directions can be detected with high accuracy.

  In the above description, the configuration using the magnets 13A, etc., in which the N pole and the S pole are formed adjacent to each other at predetermined angular intervals, for example, at intervals of 60 degrees, has been described, but the detection accuracy is slightly inferior. However, a configuration in which the detection accuracy is further improved by using one in which each of the N pole and the S pole is formed at intervals of 180 degrees or four pieces at intervals of 45 degrees may be used.

  Further, in the above description, a configuration in which the magnetic detection element 16 which is a pair of the magnetic element 16A for detecting the magnetism in the vertical direction and the magnetic element 16B for detecting the magnetism in the horizontal direction is disposed below the magnets 13A to 13D. However, the magnetic elements that detect magnetism in the same direction use magnetic detection elements arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and obtain a voltage signal having a phase difference from the time lag due to the difference in these positions. Thus, the present invention can be implemented even if the rotation direction and rotation angle of the magnets 13A to 13D are detected.

  The magnets 13A to 13D can be implemented in various shapes as long as the magnets 13A to 13D have a certain degree of roundness, such as a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially spherical shape, and can be easily rotated. Is possible.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the substantially cylindrical or substantially spherical magnets 13 </ b> A to 13 </ b> D in which the N pole and the S pole are formed at predetermined angular intervals are rotated around the upper case 11 and the lower case 12. By rotating and mounting a plurality of magnets by rotating the fingers in a substantially ring shape by rotating and mounting in a substantially ring shape with the shaft 14 facing, a clockwise and counterclockwise rotation operation can be performed, By moving your finger up and down or left and right and rotating individual magnets, you can also move up and down or left and right, so you can perform multiple operations with a predetermined number of magnets, with a simple configuration and various operations An input device that can be operated can be obtained.

  In the above description, the fixed contact 18 is provided on the upper surface of the base sheet 17, and the switch contact is formed by placing the movable contact 19 thereon. However, the fixed contact 18 is provided on the upper surface of the wiring board 15. A structure in which the movable contact 19 is mounted on the movable contact 19, or a push switch made of rubber or the like having a movable contact formed on the lower surface above the fixed contact 18 instead of the movable contact 19, or a single push switch The present invention can also be implemented by using various switch contacts such as those mounted on the upper surface of the wiring board 15.

  The input device according to the present invention has an advantageous effect of being able to realize a variety of operations with a simple configuration, and is useful mainly for operating various electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Upper case 11A Through-hole 11B Opening part 12 Lower case 12A Through-hole 12B Opening part 12C Holding part 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D Magnet 14 Rotating shaft 15 Wiring board 16 Magnetic detection element 16A, 16B Magnetic element 17 Base sheet 18 Fixed contact 18A Center fixed contact 18B Outer fixed contact 19 Movable contact 20 Tape 21 Cover sheet 21A Convex portion 22 Push button

Claims (1)

A substantially disc-shaped case, a plurality of substantially cylindrical or spherical magnets having N and S poles formed at a predetermined angular interval, and a plurality of magnetic detectors arranged opposite to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween An input device comprising an element, wherein the plurality of magnets are arranged and mounted on the case so as to be rotatable in a substantially ring shape with the rotation axis directed to the center of the case.

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