JP2011141958A - Multidirectional operating member and electronic equipment equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional operating member in which an operation in multidirections and an operation with a click feeling can be used distinguishably, and an electronic equipment having the same. <P>SOLUTION: The multidirectional operating member 2 is provided with an operating plate 10 which has one or a plurality of conductors 12 on the rear face side of the operating surface, a first substrate 20 which is installed so as to be opposed to that rear face side and has conductor electrodes 21 installed at the position opposed to the conductors 12, and one or a plurality of click members 22 which are installed on the opposite direction to the face on which the conductor electrodes 21 of the first substrate 20 are installed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation member operable in a plurality of directions and an electronic apparatus including the multidirectional operation member.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, input devices that can be operated in multiple directions have been used in electronic devices such as in-vehicle devices, mobile phones, and acoustic devices. In addition, as an input device that can be operated in multiple directions, there is an input device that can be operated by a user simply touching an operation plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an input device, it is not necessary for the user to press the operation plate with a finger.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-08819

  However, the input device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. That is, when the user performs an operation, a click feeling does not occur, so that the user feels that the operation has been performed reliably.

  In addition, there is a demand to use differently when the operation is performed by simply touching the operation plate or when the operation is surely obtained by a click feeling.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a multidirectional operation member capable of selectively using multidirectional operation and an operation with a click feeling, and an electronic device including the same. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the multidirectional operation member of the present invention is provided so as to face an operation plate provided with one or a plurality of conductors on the back surface side of the operation surface. And a first substrate provided with a conductor electrode at a position facing the conductor, and one or a plurality of click members provided in a direction opposite to the surface of the first substrate provided with the conductor electrode; .

  Further, it may be preferable that the click member is provided on the back side of the surface of the first substrate on which the conductor electrode is provided so as to protrude in the direction opposite to the operation plate.

  Further, it may be preferable that the center of the click member overlaps with the conductor at least partially when viewed from the operation surface.

  Further, the click member has a dome-shaped member that buckles by elastic deformation upon receiving a predetermined pressure from the operation surface in a direction opposite to the surface on which the conductor electrode of the first substrate is provided, and the dome-shaped member May be preferably arranged at a central angle of 90 degrees on a circumference centered on a central axis that penetrates the center of the operation surface vertically.

  Moreover, one Embodiment of the electronic device of this invention is taken as the electronic device provided with the above-mentioned multidirectional operation member.

  The present invention can provide a multidirectional operation member capable of selectively using multidirectional operation and an operation with a click feeling, and an electronic apparatus including the multidirectional operation member.

It is a front view of an electronic device provided with the multidirectional operation member which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing at the time of cut | disconnecting the multidirectional operation member and pushbutton switch member of FIG. 1 by the AA line of FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view when the multidirectional operation member and the push button switch member of FIG. 1 are viewed from the surface opposite to the operation surface of the elastic sheet. It is a top view at the time of seeing the 1st board | substrate which a multidirectional operation member has from the operation surface side. It is a top view at the time of seeing the 1st board | substrate of a multidirectional operation member from the surface on the opposite side to an operation surface. It is a top view at the time of seeing the 2nd board | substrate of a multidirectional operation member from the operation surface side.

  Next, an embodiment of a multidirectional operation member according to the present invention and an electronic apparatus including the multidirectional operation member will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a mobile phone 1 will be described as an example of an electronic device. The electronic device may be a device other than a mobile phone, such as a mobile computer, a music playback terminal, a mobile TV, an in-vehicle audio device, or each of the above-described devices. A remote controller for operating the device may be used.

(Structure of multi-directional operation member)
FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile phone 1 including a multidirectional operation member 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1 as an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a multidirectional operation member 2 that can be operated in multiple directions. The cellular phone 1 has a control unit (not shown) that processes information input from the multidirectional operation member 2 and other push button switch members 3 and controls each unit.

  An annular operation plate 10 is exposed on the operation surface side of the multidirectional operation member 2. Further, in the present embodiment, the push button switch member 3 different from the multidirectional operation member 2 of the present invention is disposed in a region surrounded by the inner periphery of the annular operation plate 10. Hereinafter, the operation surface side is referred to as the front surface side, and the surface side opposite to the operation surface is referred to as the back surface side. 1 and 3 to 6, the upper side is called “north”, the right side is called “east”, the lower side is called “south”, and the left side is called “west”.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multidirectional operation member 2 cut along a plane perpendicular to the operation surface along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 2, the thickness ratio of each member is changed for ease of viewing.

  The multidirectional operation member 2 mainly includes an operation plate 10, an elastic sheet 11, a first substrate 20, and a second substrate 30 from the surface side. Further, the multidirectional operation member 2 has an annular operation surface, and another push button switch member 3 is disposed on the inner periphery thereof.

  The operation plate 10 is a portion that is touched or pressed by the user. The operation plate 10 can be mainly formed from resin, metal, or a composite thereof. As the operation plate 10, for example, an annular member having an operation surface having an outer circumference diameter of 10 to 30 mm, an inner circumference diameter of 4 to 15 mm, and a thickness of about 1 mm can be used. The operation plate 10 is fixed on the thin elastic sheet 11. In this specification, when viewed from the front side, the center of the outer circumferential circle of the operation plate 10 is referred to as “center P”, and when referred to as “direction”, the operation surface is viewed unless otherwise specified. The direction with respect to the center P of the.

  The elastic sheet 11 is a member that supports the operation plate 10 and the key top 50 of the push button switch member 3. The elastic sheet 11 is composed of a flexible elastic layer so that when the operation plate 10 is pressed from the surface side, the conductor 12 and the like provided therebelow can be pushed. preferable. Examples of the material of the elastic sheet 11 include a sheet made of urethane resin, thermoplastic elastomer, silicone rubber, natural rubber, or the like. Among these materials, it is preferable to use a sheet mainly composed of urethane elastomer or silicone rubber having high durability. The elastic sheet 11 is provided with a conductor 12 protruding from the elastic sheet 11 toward the back side.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the multidirectional operation member 2 and the push button switch member 3 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the surface opposite to the operation surface of the elastic sheet 11.

  The conductor 12 is a substantially hemispherical conductive elastic body having a diameter of 2 to 10 mm protruding from the elastic sheet 11 toward the first substrate 20. Specifically, the conductor 12 is provided at a position overlapping with the operation plate 10 in the operation direction so that the spherical portion protrudes on a concentric circle with the center P as the center. For example, the conductor 12 has a total of eight conductors 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h (hereinafter, one at a 45 degree interval along the circumferential direction with the center P as a reference). Are collectively referred to as “conductor 12”).

  The conductor 12 is made of a highly flexible material so that it can be elastically deformed in accordance with the pressing force after contacting the first substrate 20. For example, the Shore hardness A of the conductor 12 is preferably 50 to 90 degrees. Further, a conductive material is dispersed in the conductor 12 in order to impart conductivity. As the conductive material dispersed in the conductor 12, for example, carbon or metal can be used, but in particular, those having a small particle size (for example, nano-sized particles), particularly carbon black that is easy to handle. Is preferably used. Moreover, as a base material which comprises the conductor 12, a silicone rubber, a urethane resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, or natural rubber can be used, and among these, a silicone rubber is preferable. The mixing amount of the conductive material is preferably 5 to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the silicone rubber material and the conductive material, from the viewpoint of enhancing the conductivity and maintaining the elasticity of the silicone rubber. Is more preferably 15 to 35% by weight.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first substrate 20 included in the multidirectional operation member 2 when viewed from the operation surface side.

  The first substrate 20 is disposed to face the elastic sheet 11. As the first substrate 20, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) can be used. Further, on the front surface side of the first substrate 20, the conductor electrodes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, respectively, face the conductors 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, and 12h. 21f, 21g, 21h (collectively referred to as “conductor electrode 21”) are arranged.

  The conductor electrode 21 is for detecting, via the conductor 12, a change in pressing force that occurs when the user's finger touches the operation plate 10 and moves toward the back side. Each conductor electrode 21 has a pair of comb-like electrodes having a large number of teeth arranged so as not to contact each other. When the conductor 12 is brought into contact with each other from above each comb-like electrode 21 for a conductor, the electrodes are first energized from the point of contact with both the pair of comb-teeth electrodes. Furthermore, the electrical resistance value decreases as the contact area between each conductor electrode 21 and the conductor 12 increases. Therefore, when the conductor 12 is pressed by the user's finger, the electrical resistance value between the pair of electrodes of the conductor electrode 21 decreases according to the pressing force.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view when the first substrate 20 is viewed from the back side.

  On the back side of the first substrate 20, click members 22 are provided in four directions of north, east, south, and west with the center P as a reference. Specifically, the four click members 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d (collectively referred to as “click member 22”) are positions where the centers overlap with the conductors 12a, 12c, 12e, and 12g in the pressing direction. Are provided respectively. That is, in the multidirectional operation member 2, the click member 22 is provided so that it can be pressed in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, and the conductor 12 has eight directions (the four directions of east, west, south, and north Including a certain intermediate direction).

  The click member 22 is a member that is pressed, and is a member that switches a switch to ON or OFF when pressed with a predetermined pressing force or more. In the present embodiment, the click member 22 mainly has a fixed contact 23, a fixed contact 24, and a dome-shaped member 25. The fixed contact 23 and the fixed contact 24 are conductive portions formed on the back surface of the first substrate 20. The fixed contact 23 is electrically connected to the outer peripheral edge of the dome-shaped member 25. The dome-shaped member 25 is a conductive reverse saddle-shaped member and is disposed on the first substrate 20 so as to cover the fixed contact 24. The dome-shaped member 25 is a member that buckles when a predetermined load or more is applied from the operation surface side. As the dome-shaped member 25, for example, a metal dome made of metal can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view when the second substrate 30 is viewed from the operation surface side.

  On the operation surface side of the second substrate 30, pressers 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and 31 d (in a generic name, “presser 31”) are positioned so as to overlap the click members 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, and 22 d in the pressing direction. Respectively). The pressing element 31 is a convex portion that protrudes from the second substrate 30 toward the click member 22. In the pressing element 31, the second substrate 30 may have the shape of the pressing element 31 integrally, or the pressing element 31 formed as a separate body is bonded or fused to the second substrate 30. Form may be sufficient.

  With such a multidirectional operation member 2, it is possible to selectively use multidirectional operations and operations with a click feeling. For example, when the user lightly touches part of the operation panel 10 with a finger, one or more conductors 12 at positions close to the touched position are pushed down. The pressed conductor 12 is in contact with the pair of conductor electrodes 21 and the pair of conductor electrodes 21 is short-circuited. Further, the pressed conductor 12 comes into contact with the conductor electrode 21 while being elastically deformed according to the pressing force. When the plurality of conductors 12 are pressed down, the conductor electrode 21 closest to the finger contact portion contacts the conductor electrode 21 in a larger area than the other conductors 12, so that the resistance value is minimized. On the other hand, since the contact area between the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21 is small, the conductor electrode 21 away from the finger contact portion shows a relatively high resistance value. By detecting such a difference in resistance value, the direction to the position touched by the finger can be specified.

  In addition, the multidirectional operation member 2 can detect a pressing force for pushing the operation plate 10 in multiple directions. As described above, since the pressed conductor 12 has a different contact area between the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21 according to the pressing force, the resistance value detected according to the pressing force is different. Therefore, by detecting the difference in resistance value, it is possible to specify the pressing force for pressing the operation plate 10.

  On the other hand, in the multidirectional operation member 2 as described above, when the user strongly presses each direction of the operation panel 10 in the east, west, north, and south directions, the user can obtain a click feeling. This is because the dome-shaped member 25 is buckled through the conductor 12 when the user presses the operation plate 10 at a predetermined load or more at each of the east, west, south, and north positions. When pressed with a predetermined load or more, the dome-shaped member 25 is buckled by the pressing element 31, and the apex portion of the dome-shaped member 25 comes into contact with the fixed contact 24. As a result, the fixed contact 23 and the fixed contact 24 are electrically connected, and the switch is turned on. Further, when the pressing of the operation plate 10 is released, the dome-shaped member 25 is separated from the fixed contact 24 and restored to the inverted saddle shape, so the switch is turned off.

  Further, by providing the click member 22 below the conductor electrode 21, the contact between the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21 can be stabilized in any direction, and operations in multiple directions can be detected more accurately. . This is because the click member 22 does not exist between the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21, so that a contact area between the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21 corresponding to the pressing force can be obtained.

  The embodiment of the multidirectional operation member 2 of the present invention and the mobile phone 1 as an electronic apparatus using the same has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. It can be implemented.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, eight conductors 12 are provided. However, seven or less conductors may be provided, or nine or more conductors may be provided. Similarly, the click member 22 is provided in the east, west, south, and north directions, but is not limited to such a form. For example, the click member 22 may be provided in 1 to 3 directions, or may be provided in 5 or more directions. Further, the click member 22 may be provided at a predetermined angle other than 90 degrees instead of 90 degrees when viewed from the operation center P.

  Further, the control unit (not shown) may specify the direction to the position touched by the finger by vector calculation. For example, first, the magnitude of the resistance value is measured almost simultaneously from each conductor electrode 21, and each vector is generated based on the voltage. Specifically, the control unit generates a vector whose absolute value increases as the voltage detected at each conductor electrode 21 decreases. Next, the obtained vectors are added to obtain a combined vector. The control unit determines the direction and the magnitude of the obtained combined vector as the direction and the pressing force to the position touched by the finger, respectively. By combining each vector in this way, even when a finger touches any direction that does not match the direction in which the conductor electrode 21 is arranged (eight directions in the above embodiment), that direction And its strength can be specified. Moreover, when performing vector calculation, you may convert a voltage value into a point. Further, the control unit may specify only the direction touched by the finger, or may specify both the direction touched by the finger and the magnitude of the pressing force.

  In the above-described embodiment, the click members 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d overlap with the centers of the conductors 12a, 12c, 12e, and 12g, respectively, when viewed from the operation surface side. It is not limited to form. For example, the click member 22 and the conductor 12 may be arranged so as not to overlap in the pressing direction. Alternatively, a part of the click member 22 may overlap the pressing direction only in the circumferential direction or only in the radial direction on a circle based on the center P formed by the conductor 12. In that case, it is preferable that the click member 22 is provided on a circle that is the same as or slightly larger than the circle based on the center P formed by the eight conductors 12. This is because humans tend to press the outer portion relatively strongly. However, when the conductor 12 and the click member 22 are arranged so that their centers overlap in the pressing direction, there is an effect that the load applied to the operation plate 10 is easily transmitted to the click member 22. Because, in the invention according to the above-described embodiment, the click member 22 is pressed by the application of a further continuous load after the conductor 12 and the conductor electrode 21 are in contact with each other. This is because the closer the position of the center of 22 is, the easier it is to apply a load to the click member 22 via the conductor 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the multidirectional operation member 2 has a substantially annular operation surface and can be pressed in eight directions, but is not limited to such a form. For example, the operation plate 10 may have a circular shape, a polygonal shape, a circular shape, or a shape using a part thereof. However, since the operation surface is annular, the multidirectional operation member 2 can be continuously operated along the circumferential direction. Further, the push button switch member 3 is disposed on the inner periphery of the operation plate 10, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, nothing may be arranged on the inner peripheral inner portion of the multidirectional operation member 2.

  Concentric grooves may be formed on the operation surface of the operation plate 10 for the purpose of facilitating tracing with the finger along the operation plate 10. In addition, a so-called annular edge is formed so that the outer peripheral portion of the operation plate 10 is thicker than the outer peripheral portion so that the user can feel the outer peripheral portion of the operation plate 10 with a finger. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the click member 22 includes the dome-shaped member 25. Instead, other types of mechanical switches such as a resin emboss switch (for example, a PET dome) and a tact switch are used. It may be used. Further, the click member 22 does not necessarily have a switch function. For example, only the dome-shaped member 25 may be provided on the first substrate 20 or the second substrate 30 as the click member 22. In that case, the fixed contact 23 and the fixed contact 24 may not be provided. When the click member 22 does not have a switch function, when a predetermined resistance value is detected by the conductor electrode 21, a pressure large enough to cause the click member 22 to produce a click feeling is applied. The control unit may recognize that the switch has been operated, that is, as if the switch was operated. Furthermore, the pressing element 31 is not an essential configuration, and the pressing element 31 is not necessary if the dome-shaped member 25 can be buckled or the switch of the click member 22 can be input by pressing the first substrate 20 down. . Further, as the second substrate 30, for example, the casing of the mobile phone 1 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, from the operation surface side, the conductor 12 is on the back surface side of the elastic sheet 11, the conductor electrode 21 is on the front surface side of the first substrate 20, and the click member 22 is on the first substrate 20. Although the presser 31 is provided on the second substrate 30 on the back surface side of this, it is not limited to such a shape. For example, the click member 22 may be provided on the second substrate 30, and the presser 31 may be provided on the back side of the first substrate 20. Alternatively, the pressing element 31 is provided on the back surface side of the operation plate 10, the click member 22 is provided on the front surface side of the first substrate 20, the conductor 12 is provided on the back surface side of the first substrate 20, and the conductor electrode 21. May be provided on the second substrate 30. However, by providing the click member 22 on the back surface side of the first substrate 20, a slight difference in the pressing force to the conductor 12 can be accurately acquired.

  In the above-described embodiment, the eight individual conductors 12 are provided on the back side of the elastic sheet 11, but the invention is not limited to such a form. For example, the conductor 12 is not independent for each direction, and may be one or a plurality of conductors 12 common to two or more directions.

  In the above-described embodiment, the conductor 12 is formed from a rubber-like elastic body, but is not limited to such a form. For example, it may be a molded body made of conductive resin or metal (preferably relatively soft).

  In the above-described embodiment, the conductor electrode 21 is a pair of comb-shaped electrodes. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. The conductor electrode 21 may be a semicircular electrode obtained by dividing a circle into approximately half or a fan-shaped electrode obtained by dividing a circle into approximately a quarter instead of a comb-shaped electrode. However, when a comb-shaped electrode is used, the detection sensitivity is excellent even when the amount of pressing the operation plate 10 is small. This is because in the case of a comb-shaped electrode, the conductor 12 can easily contact both of the pair of electrodes, but in the case of a fan-shaped electrode, the conductor 12 may touch only one of the electrodes. It is.

  The present invention can be used, for example, for input devices of various electronic devices.

1 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
2 Multi-directional operation member 10 Operation plate 12 Conductor 21 Conductor electrode 20 First substrate 22 Click member 25 Domed member P Center

Claims (5)

An operation plate having one or more conductors on the back side of the operation surface;
A first substrate provided so as to face the back surface side and provided with a conductor electrode at a position facing the conductor;
One or more click members provided in a direction opposite to the surface of the first substrate on which the conductor electrode is provided;
A multidirectional operation member comprising: The multidirectional operation member according to claim 1,
The multi-directional operation member, wherein the click member is provided on the back side of the surface of the first substrate on which the conductor electrode is provided so as to protrude in a direction opposite to the operation plate. The multidirectional operation member according to claim 1 or 2,
The multi-directional operation member, wherein the center of the click member overlaps with the conductor at least partially when viewed from the operation surface. The multidirectional operation member according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The click member has a dome-shaped member that buckles by elastic deformation upon receiving a predetermined pressure from the operation surface in a direction opposite to the surface on which the conductor electrode of the first substrate is provided, and the dome-shaped member The multi-directional operation member is characterized in that the members are arranged at central angles of 90 degrees on a circumference centered on a central axis passing through the center of the operation surface vertically. An electronic apparatus comprising the multidirectional operation member according to claim 1.

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