JP3184250U - Pointing stick - Google Patents

Abstract

A pointing stick capable of increasing the amount of deflection and improving detection sensitivity is provided.
An operating body including a base, an operating portion projecting upward from the base, and an annular support portion extending so as to surround the base, and bending of the bending portion of the base. In a pointing stick 100 including sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 for detecting the amount, the upper surface 1 b of the base portion 1 has a skirt portion from the annular support portion 3 side so as to surround the skirt portion 2 a of the operation portion 2. 2a, the deepest portion 19 of the recess 1a is formed so as to be biased toward the skirt 2a side from the annular support portion 3 side, and the lower surface 1c of the base portion 1 has sensor elements 21, 22 , 23, 24 are arranged at positions corresponding to the deepest portion 19 in the bent portions 11, 12, 13, 14.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing stick used for input operation, and more particularly to a pointing stick capable of improving detection sensitivity.

  In a portable electronic device such as a notebook computer, a pointing stick that is operated by applying a tilting force is used for an input operation.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pointing stick structure. FIG. 10 is an external view showing a conventional pointing stick 210, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pointing stick 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pointing stick 210 has a solid integrated structure, which can be molded from a plastic or resin material. The pointing stick 210 includes a stick 222, a base 224 for supporting the stick 222, and a cavity 226 formed in the base 224. The cavity 226 allows the bottom side 228 of the base 224 to bend when pressure is applied to the stick 222. The film 230 can be adhesively bonded to the bottom side 228 of the base 224. A strain sensitive resistor 232 is deposited on the film 230.

  The finger pressure on the stick 222 causes the resistor 232 to be distorted when the base 224 is curved. This distortion changes the resistance of the resistor 232, and this change in resistance can be detected using a circuit (not shown).

JP-A-11-175249

  However, since the bottom surface 228 of the base 224 in which the cavity 226 is formed is entirely curved, there is a problem that the amount of bending is small and the change in resistance of the resistor 232 (detection sensitivity of the sensor element) is not sufficient. It was.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pointing stick that can improve the detection sensitivity by concentrating the deflection on the portion where the sensor element is arranged to increase the deflection amount. To do.

  The present invention includes an operating body having a base portion on which a plurality of bending portions are formed, an operating portion protruding upward from the base portion, and an annular support portion extending so as to surround the base portion, and the plurality of the operating bodies. A pointing stick including a plurality of sensor elements that detect the amount of bending of each of the bending portions, and the upper surface of the base portion is from the annular support portion side to the skirt portion side so as to surround the skirt portion of the operation portion. A concave portion that is recessed toward the bottom, and the deepest portion of the concave portion is formed so as to be biased to a position closer to the skirt portion side than the annular support portion side, and the plurality of sensor elements are bent to the bottom surface of the base portion. It is arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to the said deepest part in a part.

  According to this configuration, when an operation for applying a force for tilting the operation portion is performed, the bending portion formed in the base portion is displaced so as to be bent most at the deepest portion of the concave portion recessed toward the skirt portion side of the operation portion. . And since the sensor element is arrange | positioned in the position where the thickness is the thinnest corresponding to the deepest part in the bending part, the amount of bendings is large and it can aim at the improvement of detection sensitivity.

It is a perspective view which shows the pointing stick of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the pointing stick of 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the pointing stick of 1st Embodiment. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the opposite direction of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the operation body shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4. It is a bottom view of the operation body shown in FIG. (A) is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the AA line of FIG. 2, (b) is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the BB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the CC line | wire of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows arrangement | positioning with an operation body and a film board | substrate. It is an external view which shows the conventional pointing stick. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional pointing stick.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the pointing stick 100 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pointing stick 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the pointing stick 100 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the pointing stick 100 of the first embodiment. 4 is an exploded perspective view seen from the opposite direction of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation body 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 6 is a bottom view of the operation body 10 shown in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the pointing stick 100 of the first embodiment, FIG. 7 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 (b) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the -B line. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the operation body 10 and the film substrate 20. For easy understanding, here, the Z1 side shown in FIG. 1 is the upper side, and the Z2 side is the lower side.

  A pointing stick 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an input device in which an operating body 10 that is input by an operator is sandwiched between an upper fixing plate 40 and a lower fixing plate 50. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pointing stick 100 includes a film substrate 20 on which sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the operation body 10 is formed of resin, and extends so as to surround the base 1, the operation part 2 protruding upward (Z1 side) from the base 1, and the base 1. And an annular support portion 3 provided.

  On the film substrate 20, sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are mounted and arranged, and wiring (not shown) is provided. Moreover, the cover film which protects sensor element 21,22,23,24 and wiring is affixed. This cover film is not shown in order to show the arrangement of the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, 24 more easily.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the annular support portion 3 extends downward (Z2 side) so as to surround the base portion 1 and becomes a portion that is supported by being in contact with the lower fixing plate 50. The annular support 3 extends outward from the outer periphery 31a of the main body 31 along the lower fixing plate 50 and the main body 31 surrounding the base 1 other than the Y1 side from which the film substrate 20 is taken out. And a fixing portion 34 formed thinner than the thickness in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5).

  The upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50 are formed by processing a thin metal plate, and are fixed by a fastening member 60 so as to sandwich the operation body 10 and the film substrate 20. Further, the upper fixing plate 40 is fixed to a portable electronic device or the like via an attachment member (not shown).

  Next, the operation principle of the pointing stick 100 of this embodiment will be described.

  In the pointing stick 100 of the present embodiment, the operating body 10 is provided on the side opposite to the side from which the operating unit 2 protrudes (Z2 side) in the base 1, as shown in FIG. 13 and 14 and bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17 and 18. When an operation to apply a force that tilts the operation unit 2 is performed, bending that elastically deforms the bending units 11, 12, 13, and 14 occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 are extended in four directions (X1 direction, X2 direction, Y1 direction, and Y2 direction) in the front, rear, left, and right directions, respectively, with the operation unit 2 as the center in plan view. The Sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 that detect the respective bending amounts are arranged so as to correspond to the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 (see FIG. 4).

  The sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are a type of strain gauge, and are connected to wiring (not shown) provided on the film substrate 20. This wiring is connected to a circuit unit (not shown), and a current is constantly passed through the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24. When an operation for applying a force for tilting the operation unit 2 is performed, the resistance values of the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 change. Since current flows through the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24, it is possible to detect a change in voltage due to a change in resistance value. By calculating the change in voltage in the circuit unit, the direction in which the operation unit 2 is tilted and the magnitude of the pressing force (tilt amount) can be detected.

  Next, features of each member will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operating body 10 has bending portions 11, 12, 13, 14 and bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17, 18 on the lower surface 1 c of the base 1. As shown in FIG. 6, when viewed from the center of the base portion 1, the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 are disposed in the X1 direction, the Y1 direction, the X2 direction, and the Y2 direction, respectively, and the bottomed concave portions 15, 16, and 17 are arranged. , 18 are formed in directions shifted by 45 degrees from the X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 directions, respectively. That is, the base 1 has bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17, and 18 between the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 in a plan view from the Z <b> 2 side.

In the film substrate 20, the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 correspond to the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 on the side (Z2 side) having the bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the base 1. Are attached with an adhesive 70. The film substrate 20 is bonded with an adhesive 70 so as to be in close contact with the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14. As shown in FIG. 8, the excess amount of the adhesive 70 can flow so that the nearby bottomed recesses 15 and 17 serve as escape areas. Note that the adhesive 70 is omitted in drawings other than FIG. The same applies to the bottomed recesses 16 and 18. Thus, the film substrate 20 can be brought into close contact with the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 via the adhesive 70, so that the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are connected to the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14. Deflection can be detected stably.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 8, the upper surface 1b of the base portion 1 has a recess 1a that is recessed from the annular support portion 3 side toward the skirt portion 2a so as to surround the skirt portion 2a of the operation portion 2. And the deepest part 19 of the recessed part 1a is biased and formed in the position of the skirt part 2a side from the annular support part 3 side. As shown in FIG. 8, on the lower surface 1 c of the base portion 1, the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are disposed at positions corresponding to the deepest portion 19.

  The annular support portion 3 is extended to the Z2 side so as to surround the base portion 1, and has a main body portion 31 surrounding the base portion 1, and a fixing portion 34 extended outward from the outer periphery 31a of the main body portion 31. ing. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing portion 34 is formed thinner than the thickness of the main body portion 31 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, it has the protruding pieces 35, 36, 37, 38 protruding outward from the outer periphery 31a of the main body 31, and the protruding pieces 35, 36, 37, 38 have fastening member insertion holes 35a, 36a, 37a, 38a. Is formed. The protruding pieces 35, 36, 37, and 38 are formed in directions that are deviated by 45 degrees from the X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 directions, respectively. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the bending portions 11, 12, 13, 14 are extended in four directions, front, rear, left, and right, respectively, around the operation portion 2 in a plan view, and the fastening member insertion holes 35 a, 36 a, 37 a, 38a is located in four directions between adjacent ones of the plurality of flexures 11, 12, 13, 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower fixing plate 50 includes lower fixing holes 55, 56, 57, and 58. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower fixing plate 50 is formed to extend outward from the annular support portion 3 in a plan view. In addition, FIG. 9 is a bottom view through which the lower fixing plate 50 is seen so that the overlapping position can be seen.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the upper fixing plate 40 is formed so as to spread outward from the annular support portion 3 in a plan view. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper fixing plate 40 includes upper fixing holes 45, 46, 47 and 48 and a circular opening 41 into which the main body 31 can be inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the outer periphery 31 a of the main body 31 is formed in a circular shape that is substantially equal to the circular opening 41 of the upper fixing plate 40 and has protruding portions 32 and 33 that protrude outward. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, notches 42 and 43 into which the protrusions 32 and 33 are inserted are formed on the edge 41 a of the circular opening 41. The notches 42 and 43 can position and stop rotation of the member when the operating body 10 is assembled to the pointing stick 100.

  Thus, in the annular support portion 3, the fixing portion 34 abuts against the edge portion 41 a of the circular opening 41 and the lower fixing plate 50 in a state where the protruding portions 32 and 33 are inserted into the cutout portions 42 and 43. ing. At the positions of the protruding pieces 35, 36, 37, 38, from the lower fixing holes 55, 56, 57, 58, the fastening member insertion holes 35a, 36a, 37a, 38a and the upper fixing holes 45, 46, 47, 48 The upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50 are fastened through the fastening member 60. In the present embodiment, a screw is used as the fastening member 60, and the upper fixing holes 45, 46, 47, and 48 are female screws. Therefore, the fixing portion 34 of the annular support portion 3 is fastened by screws at the positions of the projecting pieces 35, 36, 37, 38 and is sandwiched between the edge portion 41 a of the circular opening 41 and the lower fixing plate 50. become. Since the edge 41a of the circular opening 41 sandwiches the point having the same distance from the operation part 2 in the fixed part 34 over a substantially entire circumference with a uniform force, the edge 41a is uneven on the outer periphery 31a of the main body 31. No distortion occurs.

  The pointing stick 100 of this embodiment is mounted on an electronic device (not shown), and the upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50 are fixed. By using a highly rigid fixing member as the upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50, the pointing stick 100 is fixed to the electronic device, and the operation unit 2 can be stably operated. The operation unit 2 is preferably housed inside the electronic device and protrudes to the outside of the electronic device. A cushioning material is disposed around the operation unit 2 so as to close the gap. It is preferable to prevent water and dust from entering the water. In order to change the operation feeling, it is preferable to cover the operation portion 2 with a rubber operation cap.

  In the present embodiment, the upper surface 1b of the base portion 1 has a concave portion 1a that is recessed from the annular support portion 3 side toward the skirt portion 2a so as to surround the skirt portion 2a of the operation portion 2, and the deepest portion 19 of the concave portion 1a. Is formed so as to be biased to the position of the skirt 2a side from the annular support part 3 side, and on the lower surface 1c of the base part 1, the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, 24 are arranged at positions corresponding to the deepest part 19. When an operation to apply a force for tilting the operating portion 2 is performed, the deepest portion 19 of the concave portion 1a is formed so as to be biased to a position closer to the skirt portion 2a than the annular support portion 3 side. In the vicinity of 19, the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 are most bent, and the displacement concentrates in this vicinity. Since the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are disposed at positions corresponding to the deepest portion 19 in plan view, the resistance values of the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 change. Conventionally, the depth of the cavity 226 is constant as in the pointing stick 210 shown in FIG. Compared with such a conventional structure, the pointing stick 100 of this embodiment has a large amount of deflection, and the resistance values of the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 change more greatly. Therefore, the pointing stick 100 of the present embodiment can improve the detection sensitivity as compared with the conventional case.

  In the present embodiment, the base 1 has bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17, 18 between the bent portions 11, 12, 13, 14 in a plan view on the side opposite to the side from which the operation unit 2 protrudes. Since the base 1 between the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 is easily deformed by the bottomed concave portions 15, 16, 17, and 18 formed between the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14. Compared to the case where there are no bottom recesses 15, 16, 17, and 18, the stress concentrates on the bent portions 11, 12, 13, and 14, so that accurate detection can be performed. In addition, when using a pointing stick provided with a through hole at this position instead of the bottomed recesses 15, 16, 17, and 18, when the liquid object is spilled, the liquid object enters from the through hole. There was a problem that. The pointing stick 100 according to the present embodiment can prevent the intrusion of a liquid object as compared with a case where there is a through hole.

  On the other hand, the fastening member insertion holes 35 a, 36 a, 37 a, 38 a provided in the protruding pieces 35, 36, 37, 38 are between adjacent ones of the bending portions 11, 12, 13, 14 with the operation unit 2 as the center. Located in 4 directions. The distance between the fastening member insertion holes 35 a, 36 a, 37 a, and 38 a and the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 can be further increased as compared with the case where the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 are positioned. In general, fixing with a fastening member tends to cause a large distortion in the vicinity thereof. In this embodiment, since it is fastened by the fastening member 60 at a position away from the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14, distortion due to the fastening member 60 is not easily transmitted to the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14.

  Further, the main body 31 is not distorted by being separated from the fixing portion 34 fixed to the upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the main body part 31 of the annular support part 3 thickly. That is, the annular support part 3 can be thinned. Further, even if a highly rigid fixing member is used as the upper fixing plate 40 and the lower fixing plate 50, the annular support portion 3 has the main body portion 31 interposed between the fixing portion 34 and the base portion 1. Even if distortion occurs, the distortion is not transmitted to the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 by the main body portion 31.

  In manufacturing, burrs generated at the time of cutting may remain on the outer edge of the lower fixing plate 50. If the operation body 10 is fixed on the burr, the operation body 10 may be deformed, the burr bites into the operation body 10 or the burr is deformed when the operation body 10 is operated. , Detection characteristics deteriorate. In the pointing stick 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower fixing plate 50 is formed so as to spread outward from the annular support portion 3 in a plan view, and the operating body 10 is always located inside the outer edge. As a result, the detection characteristics are not deteriorated by burrs.

  Similarly, burrs generated during cutting may remain on the outer edge of the upper fixing plate 40. If the operation body 10 is fixed under the burr, when the operation body 10 is operated, due to the influence of the burr, the operation body 10 is deformed, the burr bites into the operation body 10, and the burr is deformed. , Detection characteristics deteriorate. In the pointing stick 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper fixing plate 40 is formed so as to spread outward from the annular support portion 3 in a plan view, and the operating body 10 is always located inside the outer edge. As a result, the detection characteristics are not deteriorated by burrs.

  Hereinafter, the effect by having set it as this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the pointing stick 100 of the present embodiment, the upper surface 1b of the base portion 1 has a recess 1a that is recessed from the annular support portion 3 side toward the skirt portion 2a so as to surround the skirt portion 2a of the operation portion 2. The deepest portion 19 is formed so as to be biased to a position closer to the skirt portion 2a than the annular support portion 3 side. On the lower surface 1c of the base portion 1, sensor elements 21, 22, 23, 24 are bent portions 11, 12, 13, 14 Is disposed at a position corresponding to the deepest portion 19. According to the present embodiment, when an operation to apply a force for tilting the operation unit 2 is performed, the bending portions 11, 12, 13, and 14 formed on the base 1 are directed toward the skirt 2 a side of the operation unit 2. It moves so that it may bend most in the deepest part 19 of the recessed part 1a. Since the sensor elements 21, 22, 23, and 24 are disposed at the thinnest position corresponding to the deepest portion 19 in the bent portion, the amount of deflection is large, and the detection sensitivity is improved. Can do.

  As described above, the pointing stick 100 of this embodiment has been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is. For example, the present invention can be modified as follows, and these embodiments also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In this embodiment, although the screw is used as the fastening member 60, it may be changed to a fastening member such as caulking. The screw is troublesome to mount, but has an advantage that the fastening force can be easily adjusted. On the other hand, for example, when caulking is used, not only is the automation of the manufacturing process easy, but there is no need to worry about loosening over a long period of time.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the film substrate 20 is attached to the base 1 with the adhesive 70, but may be attached with a double-sided tape. When the double-sided tape is used, there is no fear that the adhesive will flow, and thus the production is easy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Pointing stick 1 Base 1a Recessed part 1b Upper surface 1c Lower surface 2 Operation part 2a Bottom part 3 Ring support part 10 Operation body 11, 12, 13, 14 Deflection part 15, 16, 17, 18 Bottomed recessed part 19 Deepest part 20 Film substrate 21 , 22, 23, 24 Sensor element 31 Main body 31a Outer periphery 32, 33 Protruding part 34 Fixing part 35, 36, 37, 38 Protruding piece 35a, 36a, 37a, 38a Fastening member insertion hole 40 Upper fixing plate 41 Circular opening 41a Edge portion 42, 43 Notch portion 45, 46, 47, 48 Upper fixing hole 50 Lower fixing plate 55, 56, 57, 58 Lower fixing hole 60 Fastening member 70 Adhesive

Claims (1)

An operating body having a base formed with a plurality of flexures, an operating part projecting upward from the base, and an annular support part extending so as to surround the base;
A plurality of sensor elements for detecting the amount of bending of each of the plurality of bending portions;
In a pointing stick with
The upper surface of the base has a recess recessed from the annular support portion side toward the skirt portion so as to surround the skirt portion of the operation portion, and the deepest portion of the recess is closer to the hem than the annular support portion side. It is formed biased to the position
The pointing stick, wherein the plurality of sensor elements are arranged on the lower surface of the base portion at positions corresponding to the deepest portions of the plurality of flexure portions.

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