JP2019200904A - Operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operating device capable of further enhancing a sense of unity of an operation surface where pressing operation is performed.SOLUTION: An operating device includes an operation unit having an operation surface composed of one sheet member, and the sheet member has a plurality of cuts of a predetermined shape that are formed through the sheet member in a circumferential shape, and has a cut region that can be moved by pressing operation, and a region surrounded by the cut region in the sheet member moves when the cut region is moved by the pressing operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an operating device.

  A technique related to an operation device having an operation surface composed of a sheet-like sheet member has been developed. “A rubber-like elastic sheet is provided on the back side of an operation sheet (corresponding to the sheet member) having a plurality of operation key areas, and cuts for independently operating the plurality of operation keys are formed in the operation sheet. As a technique related to the “operation panel”, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is cited.

JP 2007-87764 A

  In an operating device that can be pressed by the user (for example, an operating device having a push button switch that can be operated by the user), the operation surface on which the pressing operation is performed depends on the pressing operation. Need to move. For this reason, in an existing operating device that can be pressed, the movable portion and the bezel portion are provided separately to enable the pressing operation.

  However, when the movable part and the bezel part are provided separately, a boundary line is generated between the movable part and the bezel part, and the movable part moves due to the pressing operation. It is necessary to provide a gap (clearance) of at least about 0.3 [mm] between them. For this reason, in the existing operation device as described above, even if a design that gives a sense of unity to the movable part and the bezel part is given, a sufficient sense of unity may not be obtained.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved operating device capable of further enhancing the sense of unity of an operating surface on which a pressing operation is performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an operation unit having an operation surface constituted by one sheet member is provided, and the sheet member is formed through the sheet member. An operation in which a plurality of incisions of a predetermined shape are formed in a circumferential shape and has a cut area that can be moved by a pressing operation, and an area surrounded by the cut area in the sheet member moves by moving the cut area by the pressing operation. An apparatus is provided.

  In such a configuration, when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface configured by one sheet member, the cutting area moves by the pressing operation, and as a result, the area surrounded by the cutting area moves. When the pressing operation is not performed, the cut area returns to the state before the pressing operation is performed. As a result, the area surrounded by the cutting area moves to a position before moving by the pressing operation. Therefore, with this configuration, an operation device that can further enhance the sense of unity of the operation surface on which the pressing operation is performed is realized.

  The sheet member may be an elastic member.

  Further, the predetermined cut may be an S-shaped cut.

  The operation unit may have a configuration in which a plurality of the sheet members including the sheet member configuring the operation surface are arranged side by side in a direction in which a pressing operation is performed.

  In addition, at least some of the predetermined cuts formed in each of the plurality of sheet members may have different shapes.

  In addition, when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface, a gap may be generated in the cut of the predetermined shape.

  In addition, when a light source is provided and a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface, the light from the light source may be visible through the gap.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the sense of unity of the operation surface where the pressing operation is performed.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the shape of the cut formed in the cut area which the sheet | seat member which concerns on embodiment of this invention has. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the operating device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation surface which the operating device which concerns on embodiment of this invention has. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation surface which the operating device which concerns on embodiment of this invention has. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the operating device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[1] Overview of the operation device according to the embodiment of the present invention The operation device according to the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “operation device”) has an operation surface that can be pressed. It is.

  Examples of the operation surface according to the embodiment of the present invention include an arbitrary surface that can be pressed, such as a flat surface or an arbitrary curved surface such as a part of a spherical surface. Hereinafter, a case where the operation surface of the operation device is a plane will be described as an example.

  As described above, even if a design that gives a sense of unity to an existing operating device is given, it is not always possible to obtain a sufficient unity.

  In view of this, the operating device is configured by a single sheet member as an operation surface on which the pressing operation is performed.

  By configuring the operation surface with a single sheet member, it is possible to enhance the sense of unity of the operation surface as compared with an existing operation device in which the movable portion and the bezel portion are provided separately.

  However, when the operation surface is simply constituted by one sheet member, for example, “when a pressing operation is performed, a part of the sheet member moves in the direction in which the pressing operation is performed, and then the pressing operation is performed. It is difficult to realize that “the sheet member returns to the state before the movement” when it is lost. In particular, when the sheet member is formed of a material having a certain degree of hardness, the above-described realization becomes more difficult. For this reason, an operating device having an operating surface that is simply constituted by one sheet member may not function sufficiently as an operating device that can be pressed. Therefore, it is not desirable to improve the operability of the user with an operating device having an operating surface composed of only one sheet member.

  Thus, a plurality of cuts having a predetermined shape are formed in the circumferential shape in the sheet member according to the embodiment of the present invention. The predetermined-shaped cut is formed through the sheet member. Hereinafter, a region where a cut is formed in the sheet member is referred to as a “cut region”.

  Examples of the cut region include a region having an arbitrary shape such as a circle, a triangle, a quadrangle, or a pentagon. Further, the shape of the circumference according to the embodiment of the present invention corresponds to the shape of the cut region. In the cut region, the cut is formed, for example, on the entire circumference corresponding to the shape of the cut region or a part of the circumference corresponding to the shape of the cut region. Hereinafter, a case where a plurality of cuts are formed in a circumferential shape in the sheet member will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a shape of a cut formed in a cut region included in a sheet member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Examples of the shape of the cut include a linear shape shown in A of FIG. 1, an S shape shown in B of FIG. 1, or a perforation shape shown in C of FIG. Needless to say, the example of the notch of the predetermined shape is not limited to the example shown in FIG. In the following, a case where the predetermined shape of the cut is a linear shape shown in FIG. 1A and a case where the predetermined shape of the cut is an S-shape shown in FIG.

  When a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface, a gap is generated in each cut by the pressing operation, and as a result, the cutting area moves. The area surrounded by the cut area in the sheet member is moved by moving the cut area by the pressing operation. Hereinafter, a region of the sheet member that moves as the cut region moves, such as a region surrounded by the cut region, is referred to as a “movable region”. In the following, the region of the sheet member that does not move due to the movement of the cut region is referred to as a “non-movable region”.

  In addition, when the pressing operation is not performed, the cuts are returned to their original states, and no gaps in the cuts generated by the pressing operation are generated. As a result, the movable region moves to a position before moving by the pressing operation.

  As described above, in the operation device, the operation surface is configured by one sheet member, and the sheet member has a cut region that can be moved by a pressing operation.

  Therefore, the operating device can enhance the sense of unity of the operating surface as compared with the existing operating device. Further, the operating device can improve the operability as compared with an operating device having an operating surface that is configured by only one sheet member.

[2] Example of Configuration of Operating Device According to Embodiment of Present Invention Next, an example of the operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[2-1] Example of Hardware Configuration of Operating Device FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the operating device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Needless to say, the appearance of the operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  In the operation device 100, for example, the operation surface OS is provided in the housing H.

  Inside the housing H, for example, a push button switch mechanism (not shown) capable of detecting a pressing operation performed on the operation surface OS is provided. For example, as a push button switch mechanism, for example, “a configuration having a movable contact and one or more fixed contacts and detecting a pressing operation by electrical connection between the movable contact and the fixed contact” is provided. . In the push button switch mechanism shown in the above example, for example, a detection signal (electric signal) corresponding to the electrical connection between the movable contact and the fixed contact is output as the detection result. Needless to say, the configuration of the push button switch mechanism is not limited to the example shown above. In the operating device 100, the push button switch mechanism serves as, for example, a detection unit described later. Note that the push button switch mechanism may be a part of an operation unit described later.

  Further, for example, a substrate B may be provided inside the housing H. The substrate B includes, for example, a processor (not shown), a ROM (Read Only Memory, not shown), a RAM (Random Access Memory, not shown), a communication device (not shown), and a light source LS. And some or all of them are provided. The above-described components provided on the substrate B are connected by, for example, a bus (not shown) as a data transmission path. Needless to say, the configuration is not limited to “a configuration in which each of the above-described components is provided on one substrate B”.

  The operating device 100 is, for example, by power supplied from an internal power source (not shown) such as a battery provided in the operating device 100 or power supplied from an external power source of the operating device 100 such as a commercial power source. To drive.

  The processor (not shown) is electrically connected to, for example, a push button switch mechanism (not shown), and serves as a processing unit (described later) that performs processing corresponding to the detected pressing operation. Further, the processor may serve as a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire operation device 100. Examples of the processor include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit).

  A ROM (not shown) stores programs used by a processor (not shown), control data such as calculation parameters, and the like. The RAM (not shown) temporarily stores, for example, a program executed by the processor.

  A communication device (not shown) serves to communicate with an external device. Examples of the communication device include a communication antenna and an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit (wireless communication), an IEEE 802.15.1 port and a transmission / reception circuit (wireless communication), an IEEE 802.11 port and a transmission / reception circuit (wireless communication), or a LAN. A communication device that supports any communication method, such as a (Local Area Network) terminal and a transmission / reception circuit (wired communication). Further, the communication device may be a communication device corresponding to an in-vehicle network such as CAN (Controller Area Network), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), FlexRay, and MOST (Media Oriented System Transport). Communication in the communication device is controlled by, for example, a processor (not shown).

  The light source LS serves to illuminate at least a part of the operation surface OS with emitted light. By illuminating the operation surface OS with light emitted from the light source LS, for example, “when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface OS, light appears through a gap generated in each cut” is realized. That is, when the pressing operation is performed, the light of the light source LS can be visually recognized through the gap generated in each cut. Examples of the light source LS include one type of LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits one color, or a plurality of types of LEDs that emit two or more colors. The light emission of the light source LS is controlled by, for example, a processor (not shown). Even when the light source LS is a light source external to the operation device 100, “when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface OS, light appears through a gap generated in each of the cuts” can be realized. is there.

  The operation surface OS is composed of one sheet member. The sheet member constituting the operation surface OS is formed of an arbitrary elastic member such as silicon resin, for example. In addition, the sheet | seat member which concerns on embodiment of this invention is not restricted to being formed with an elastic member. Even when the sheet member is formed of a material other than the elastic member, it is possible to realize the movement by the pressing operation by the structure having the cut region. Note that the size and thickness of the sheet member are not particularly limited. For example, the size of the sheet member is determined in consideration of the size of the operation device, and the thickness of the sheet member is determined in consideration of the material of the sheet member, the operational feeling, and the like.

  The sheet member constituting the operation surface OS has a cut region R1, a movable region R2, and a non-movable region R3.

  As described above, the cut region is a region where a plurality of cuts of a predetermined shape are formed in a circumferential shape, and in the cut region R1 shown in FIG. 2, the cut of a linear shape (an example of the predetermined shape) is a circumferential shape A plurality of (circumferential examples) are formed. The number of cuts formed in the cut region is not particularly limited. For example, the number of cuts formed in the cut region is determined in consideration of some or all of the circumference of the cut region, the shape of the cut, and the amount of movement of the movable region.

  The movable region R2 is a region that moves when the cut region R1 moves, and the non-movable region R3 is a region that does not move when the cut region R1 moves.

  3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of the operation surface OS included in the operation device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the operation surface OS in a state where the pressing operation is not performed, and FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the operation surface OS in a state where the pressing operation is performed.

  When the pressing operation is not performed on the operation surface OS, as shown in FIG. 3, there is no gap in the linear cut formed in the cut region R1. In this case, the operation surface OS is in a planar state.

  When the pressing operation is performed on the operation surface OS, as shown in FIG. 4, a gap is generated in the linear cut formed in the cut region R1, and as a result, the cut region R1 moves. The movable region R2 moves in the direction in which the pressing operation is performed (the depth direction in the example illustrated in FIG. 4) by moving the cut region R1 by the pressing operation.

  Further, when the pressing operation is no longer performed on the operation surface OS, each of the linear cuts returns to the original state (that is, the state of FIG. 3). As a result, the movable region R2 is moved to a position before being moved by the pressing operation, and the operation surface OS is in the state shown in FIG.

  In addition, as shown with reference to FIG. 1, the shape of the cut formed in the cut region is not limited to a linear shape.

  For example, when the cut formed in the cut region is an S-shaped cut as shown in FIG. 1B, a gap is generated in the S-shaped cut so that the cut region rotates while twisting. Move. Even when the cut formed in the cut region is an S-shaped cut, the movable region moves in the direction in which the push operation is performed by moving the cut region by the push operation.

  The advantage of making the cut shape S-shaped is that “the distance between the start point and the end point of the S-shape (that is, the point touching each of the movable region and the non-movable region in the cut) and the angle between the start point and the end point of the S-shape. It is possible to adjust the amount of movement of the movable region in accordance with the pressing operation by changing one or both of the above. As an example, if the distance between the start point and the end point of the S-shape is increased and the angle between the start point and the end point is set so that the S-shape approaches the horizontal, the amount of movement of the movable region can be increased. it can.

  In addition, when the pressing operation is no longer performed on the operation surface OS, the S-shaped cuts return to their original states, and as a result, the movable region moves to a position before being moved by the pressing operation.

  The operating device 100 has a hardware configuration as described with reference to FIGS.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example.

  For example, the operating device may have a configuration in which a plurality of sheet members including a sheet member configuring the operation surface OS are arranged side by side in the direction in which the pressing operation is performed.

  Taking the operation device 100 shown in FIG. 1 as an example, among the plurality of sheet members, sheet members other than the sheet member constituting the operation surface OS are arranged side by side in the vertical direction with respect to the operation surface OS, for example. Is done. Some or all of the plurality of sheet members may be arranged so as to overlap each other or may be arranged so as to have a gap. Needless to say, the example of the arrangement of the plurality of sheet members is not limited to the example shown above.

  When the operating device has the plurality of sheet members, all of the cut shapes formed in the plurality of sheet members may be the same, or at least some of the shapes may be different. Moreover, when the operating device has the plurality of sheet members, the colors of the plurality of sheet members may all be the same, or at least some of the colors may be different.

  A more complicated design of the operating device is realized by “one or both of the shape of the cuts of at least some of the plurality of sheet members and the color of at least some of the plurality of sheet members”. be able to. In addition, when one or both of the shape of the cut of at least a part of the plurality of sheet members and the color of at least a part of the plurality of sheet members are different, the operation surface OS is generated by light emitted from the light source LS. By illuminating ", the appearance of the operating device can be changed, for example, colors and shadows appear on the operating surface OS.

[2-2] Functional Configuration of Operating Device Next, the operating device 100 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 will be described using functional blocks. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the operation device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation device 100 includes, for example, an operation unit 102, a detection unit 104, and a processing unit 106.

  Moreover, the operating device 100 may include a part or all of a communication unit (not shown), a storage unit (not shown), a display unit (not shown), and the like.

  A communication unit (not shown) performs wireless communication or wired communication with an external device. As a communication part, the communication device (not shown) mentioned above is mentioned, for example. Communication in a communication device constituting the communication unit is controlled by the processing unit 106, for example.

  The storage unit (not shown) is a storage unit included in the operation device 100. For example, various data such as application software is stored in the storage unit. Examples of the storage unit include an arbitrary recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk and a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit may be detachable from the operation device 100. Data recording and data reading in a recording medium constituting the storage unit are controlled by the processing unit 106, for example.

  The display unit (not shown) is a display unit included in the operation device 100 and displays various screens on the display screen. As a display part, arbitrary display devices, such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display, are mentioned, for example. Moreover, the display device which comprises a display part may be a device which can be displayed and operated, such as a touch panel, for example. The display on the display device constituting the display unit is controlled by the processing unit 106, for example.

  The operation unit 102 has an operation surface OS. As described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, for example, the operation surface OS configuring the operation unit 102 is configured by one sheet member having a cut region R1, a movable region R2, and a non-movable region R3. The

  The detection unit 104 detects a pressing operation performed on the operation surface OS, and transmits the detection result to the processing unit 106. The detection unit 104 is configured by, for example, a push button switch mechanism (not shown). For example, when a pressing operation is detected, the detection unit 104 transmits a detection signal to a processor (not shown) constituting the processing unit 106. As described above, the push button switch mechanism may be a part of the operation unit 102. When the push button switch mechanism is part of the operation unit 102, the operation unit 102 serves as the detection unit 104.

  The processing unit 106 is configured by a processor (not shown), for example. For example, the processing unit 106 performs processing corresponding to the pressing operation based on a detection signal transmitted from a push button switch mechanism (not shown) constituting the detection unit 104. Further, the processing unit 106 may serve as a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire operation device 100.

  As processing corresponding to the pressing operation, for example, “processing for controlling light emission of the light source LS”, “processing for transmitting a signal indicating that the pressing operation has been performed to an external device via a communication device (not shown). Any process that can be performed in response to acquisition of a detection signal, such as “

  For example, when performing the “process for controlling the light emission of the light source LS” based on the detection signal, the processing unit 106 emits the light source LS when the detection signal is transmitted, and the light source until the detection signal is not transmitted. Continue to emit LS. Note that the processing unit 106 can also control a light source outside the controller device 100. When a plurality of types of detection signals are selectively transmitted from the detection unit 104 in response to a pressing operation, such as when a push button switch mechanism (not shown) has two or more fixed contacts, the processing unit 106 The light source LS may emit light in accordance with the type of detection signal acquired. Needless to say, the example of the “process for controlling the light emission of the light source LS” is not limited to the example described above.

  The operation device 100 can achieve an effect of further enhancing the sense of unity of the operation surface OS on which the pressing operation is performed, for example, with the functional configuration illustrated in FIG. Further, the operating device 100 can sufficiently function as an operating device that can be pressed by the functional configuration shown in FIG. 5, for example, and can improve operability.

  Note that the functional configuration of the controller device 100 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  For example, when “processing corresponding to the pressing operation” based on the detection result of the pressing operation performed on the operation surface OS is performed in the external device, the operating device 100 includes the processing unit 106 illustrated in FIG. 5. It does not have to be.

  Moreover, the operating device 100 can have an arbitrary functional configuration according to, for example, how the operating device 100 has functions.

[3] An example of the effect exhibited by the operation device according to the embodiment of the present invention By using the operation device according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the following effects are exhibited. Needless to say, the effects produced by the operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the effects shown below.
-For example, when the sheet member constituting the operation surface is a flat sheet, the operation surface is flat when the pressing operation is not performed, and when the pressing operation is performed, a part of the operation surface is downward (the pressing operation is performed Move to one example). Therefore, an operating device having “a design in which a portion moved by a pressing operation (a portion corresponding to the cut region R1 and the movable region R2) and a peripheral portion of the portion (a portion corresponding to the non-movable region R3) are integrated”. Can be realized. Note that the same effect can be obtained when the operation surface is an arbitrary curved surface, such as when the operation surface is a part of a spherical surface.
A complex design can be realized by having a configuration in which a plurality of sheet members having different colors and cut shapes or both are arranged in the direction in which the pressing operation is performed.
When the configuration having the plurality of sheet members and illumination by light emission of the light source LS are combined, the light of the light source LS passes through the plurality of sheet members through the gaps formed in the cuts of the plurality of sheet members, Color and light appear on the operation surface. Therefore, the appearance of the operating device can be changed according to the pressing operation by combining the configuration having the plurality of sheet members and the illumination by the light emission of the light source LS.

[4] Application Example of Operating Device According to Embodiment of the Present Invention Although the operating device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this mode. Embodiments of the present invention include, for example, “a system provided in an arbitrary vehicle such as an automobile, an airplane, a ship, a train”, “a system provided in a control room that controls a traffic system”, “control of an electric power system, etc. The present invention can be applied to various systems having a switch that can be pressed, such as a “system provided in a control room for performing the operation” and a “home network system”. The embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various devices having switches that can be pressed, such as “computers such as PCs (Personal Computers) and servers” and “tablet devices”. it can.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

100 operation device, 102 operation unit, 104 detection unit, 106 processing unit, B substrate, H housing, LS light source, OS operation surface, R1 cut region, R2 movable region, R3 non-movable region

Claims (7)

An operation unit having an operation surface composed of one sheet member;
The sheet member has a plurality of incisions of a predetermined shape formed through the sheet member in a circumferential shape, and has a notch region movable by a pressing operation,
An operation device, wherein an area surrounded by the cut area in the sheet member is moved by moving the cut area by a pressing operation.   The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet member is an elastic member.   The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined-shaped cut is an S-shaped cut.   The said operation part has a structure by which the said several sheet member containing the said sheet member which comprises the said operation surface is arrange | positioned along with the direction where pressing operation is performed. The operating device described.   The operating device according to claim 4, wherein at least some of the predetermined-shaped cuts formed in each of the plurality of sheet members have different shapes.   The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface, a gap is generated in the cut of the predetermined shape. The operating device according to claim 6, further comprising a light source, wherein the light of the light source can be visually recognized through the gap when a pressing operation is performed on the operation surface.

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