JP3701861B2 - Encoder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an encoder as an input device capable of inputting numerical information or moving a cursor position on a screen in an electronic device.
In particular, the present invention relates to an encoder that is convenient for selecting a plurality of parameters (including numerical data) displayed on a display screen of an electronic measuring instrument and changing the parameters.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, refer to Japanese Patent No. 2668212. The reference document has a plurality of switches, but here, it is assumed that there is only one switch.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional encoder provided with the switch. A base 31 and a switch 41 are attached to the printed board 30. The rotating part 1 is attached to the base 31 so that it can rotate together with the knob 32 via the bearing 14.
[0003]
The base 31 includes two sets of light emitting elements 2a and light receiving elements 2b facing each other. In addition, the rotating unit 1 is provided with a plurality of identical slits at equal intervals. Since the slit of the rotating part 1 is sandwiched between the light emitting element 2a and the light receiving element 2b, the light from the light emitting element 2a is alternately blocked and received by the light receiving element 2b as the rotating part 1 rotates. repeat. The signal generating means 2 has such a structure. Therefore, by rotating the knob 32, an electric signal corresponding to the amount of rotation can be generated.
[0004]
The base 31 is provided with a hole 31a, and the coil spring 9a is accommodated in the hole 31a. The coil spring 9a is provided on the base 31 at one end of the coil spring 9a, and a sphere 9b is provided at the other end. The spherical body 9b is in contact with the slit of the rotating portion 1, and is further biased in the slit direction by the coil spring 9a. The click means 9 has such a structure, and gives a feeling of clicking when the operator rotates the knob 32.
[0005]
When the knob 32 is rotated from the above structure, an electric signal is generated for each click because the same slit is used.
[0006]
Further, the base 31 is provided with a center lid 34 so that it can slide through a spring 33. When the center lid 34 is pressed, the center lid 34 slides in the knob 32 using the base 31 as a guide. At this time, the switch 41 is pushed by the center lid 34.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, when considering how to use an encoder used in an electronic measuring instrument, when a desired parameter is selected from among a plurality of parameters displayed mainly on its display screen, It is often used as means for moving the cursor, switching the encoder function mode to the parameter change mode, and further changing the parameter value.
[0008]
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, the above-described conventional encoder 35 moves the cursor (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) only in the horizontal direction (or vertical direction) on the displayed parameters. Yes, moving to the end moves to the next row (or column). Therefore, even if the desired parameter is immediately above and below (or right and left), the cursor must continue to move until it moves to that row (or column). That is, the knob of the encoder 35 must be continuously turned.
[0009]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, there is a method of moving the cursor to a desired parameter by a four-way key switch 36. With this method, the cursor can move up, down, right, and left (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), but in order to move the cursor to the desired parameters (four types) The key switch 36 must be continuously pressed.
[0010]
Further, in order to change the value of the selected parameter, it is necessary to change the cursor movement mode to the parameter setting mode by pressing the input key switch 37 slightly away from the four-way key switch 36. When operating with the hand movement of the hand must reciprocate between these key switches many times.
[0011]
From the above, in order to move the cursor to the desired position even if the parameter to be selected is far away from the current cursor position, it is necessary to continue rotating the encoder, or several times. It took a long time to press the key switch.
[0012]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a convenient encoder even if it is used as described above. For example, when selecting a plurality of parameters displayed on the display screen of an electronic device, it is possible to select a parameter with the shortest movement amount by moving the cursor in two vertical and horizontal directions, and further includes a switch. An object of the present invention is to provide an encoder capable of changing a parameter by switching to a parameter changing mode by pressing a slidable encoder.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a configuration is adopted in which two encoders that can be used for cursor movement and parameter setting and an encoder mode change switch are integrally accommodated.
That is, the printed board, the cylindrical first rotating part whose rotation center axis is perpendicular to the surface of the printed board and held rotatably , and the rotation of the first rotating part. A first encoder having first signal generating means for detecting and outputting a first electrical signal corresponding to the rotation;
A second rotating section held rotatably, and a second signal generating means for detecting the rotation of the second rotating section and outputting a second electric signal corresponding to the rotation. With an encoder,
The second rotating portion has its rotation axis, it said held on the first of the so as to intersect the axis of rotation of the rotating part within a first circumference of the rotating portion, and the cylindrical first A part of the rotating portion protrudes outside so as to be operable from the surface of the rotating portion.
[0014]
The encoder according to claim 2 of the present invention is
The encoder of claim 1.
The second rotating part is slidably held in the cylindrical length direction of the first rotating part, and can be turned on and off by pressing a part protruding so as to be operable. With arranged switch.
[0015]
An encoder according to claim 3 of the present invention is
The encoder according to claim 1 or 2,
A click means for temporarily stopping the rotation is provided at one end of each of the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit for each predetermined rotation angle of each rotating unit.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the encoder of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of FIG.
A base 12 that supports the first rotating unit 1 and a holding unit 13 that supports the second rotating unit 4 are attached to the printed board 11. A first rotating part 1 is attached to the base 12 so as to be able to rotate via a bearing 14. Further, the knob 16 is attached so that the operator can rotate the first rotating unit 1.
[0017]
The first signal generating means 2 has the following structure, for example.
The base 12 includes two sets of light emitting elements 2a and light receiving elements 2b facing each other. The rotating unit 1 is provided with a plurality of identical slits 15 at equal intervals. Since the slit 15 of the rotating unit 1 is sandwiched between the light emitting element 2a and the light receiving element 2b, the light from the light emitting element 2a is alternately blocked and received by the light receiving element 2b as the rotating unit 1 rotates. Repeat. Accordingly, by rotating the knob 16, an electric signal corresponding to the rotation angle can be generated.
[0018]
Further, the first click means 9 has, for example, the following structure, and gives the operator a click feeling when the operator rotates the knob 16.
The base 12 is provided with a hole 12a, and a coil spring 9a is accommodated in the hole 12a. The coil spring 9a is provided at the base 12 at one end, and a sphere 9b is provided at the other end. The spherical body 9b is in contact with the slit 15 of the rotating unit 1, and is further biased toward the slit 15 by the coil spring 9a.
[0019]
The structure of the first encoder 3 is as described above. Since the common slit 15 is used, when the knob 16 is rotated, a first electric signal is generated every one click rotation.
[0020]
The second rotating portion 4 is attached to a shaft portion 18 slidably attached to the holding portion 13 so as to be rotatable via a bearing 21.
[0021]
The second signal generating means 5 has the following structure, for example.
The element mounting portion 23 and the switch 8 are fixedly attached to the printed board 22 to which the holding portion 13 is attached. The element mounting portion 23 includes two sets of light emitting elements 5a and light receiving elements 5b facing each other. The second rotating unit 4 is provided with a plurality of identical slits 24 at equal intervals. Since the slit 24 of the second rotating unit 4 is sandwiched between the light emitting element 5a and the light receiving element 5b, the light from the light emitting element 5a is blocked and received by the rotation of the second rotating unit 4. The light reception at 5b is repeated alternately. Therefore, by rotating the second rotating unit 4, an electrical signal corresponding to the rotation angle can be generated.
[0022]
On the other hand, facing the slit 24, the second rotating portion 4 is also provided with slits 25 (shown in FIG. 4) having substantially the same width and the same interval, which contribute to the occurrence of clicks.
The second click means 10 has, for example, the following structure, and gives a click feeling to the operator when the operator rotates the second rotating unit 4.
A click holding portion 26 is fixedly attached to the shaft portion 18. The click holding portion 26 is provided with a hole 26a, and the coil spring 10a is accommodated in the hole. One end of the coil spring 10a is provided in the click holding portion 26, and the other end is provided with a sphere 10b. The spherical body 10b is in contact with the slit 25 of the second rotating portion 4 and is biased by the spring 10a.
[0023]
The above is the structure of the second encoder 6. The slit 24 and the slit 25 are opposed to each other, and have the same width and the same interval. Therefore, when the second rotating unit 4 is rotated, the second encoder 6 is rotated every click. The electrical signal is generated.
[0024]
The holding part 13 where the second rotating part 4 is rotatably held and the click holding part is fixed and attached is provided with a shaft part 18 via a coil spring 17 so as to be slidable. At this time, the groove 19 provided in the holding portion 13 serves as a guide for sliding and can slide smoothly. That is, the second encoder 6 is slidable.
The switch 8 is attached to the printed board 22 so that when the second encoder 6 is pressed, the encoder 6 slides and is turned on and off.
[0025]
Further, a knob cover 20 is attached to the holding portion 13 so as to push the shaft portion 18 so that the shaft portion 18 does not come off the groove 19.
At this time, the knob cover 20 is attached so that a part 7 of the second encoder 6 protrudes from the knob cover 20 so that the second encoder 6 can be rotated and pressed.
[0026]
FIG. 5 shows the movement of the cursor when a desired parameter is selected from a plurality of parameters displayed on the display screen 27 of the electronic device by the encoder of the present invention.
The control unit 28 receives the first electric signal generated for each click by the rotation of the first encoder 3 and moves the cursor to the right or left on the display screen 27 by one parameter. Further, the control unit 28 receives the second electric signal generated every one click by the rotation of the second encoder 6, and moves the cursor up or down on the display screen 27 by one parameter. When the cursor reaches the end of each parameter and continues to rotate each encoder, the control unit 28 scrolls the display screen 27 to move the cursor to the next row or column. (At this time, if the first encoder 3 is rotated by the initial setting, the cursor can be moved up or down, and if the second encoder 6 is rotated, the cursor can be moved right or left. is there.)
The control unit 28 includes a CPU and a memory, and the memory stores a program for moving the cursor, and is activated by the CPU.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, first and second encoder is configured as an integral structure, the further one of the encoder can Rukoto also serves as a switch of the key top, making it possible to generate two electrical signals In addition, the function mode of the encoder can be easily changed. For example, when used as an input device, when a desired parameter is selected from among a plurality of parameters displayed on the display screen of the electronic measuring instrument, the cursor can be easily moved in two vertical directions. From this, it is possible to select from the current cursor position to the desired position with the shortest movement amount.
Further, by pressing any one of the encoders that also serve as the key tops of the switches, it is possible to switch to the parameter change mode or change the parameters, so that the operability is improved and the operation time can be shortened.
Further, when the operator rotates the first and second encoders, the parameter is moved by one parameter for each click, so that the mistake in selecting the parameter can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembled cross-sectional view of an encoder of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the encoder of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the encoder of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the movement of the cursor by the encoder of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the conventional encoder. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the movement of the cursor by the conventional encoder. Diagram showing cursor movement by switch [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st rotation part 2 1st signal generation means 2a Light emitting element 2b Light receiving element 3 1st encoder 4 2nd rotation part 5 2nd signal generation means 5a Light emitting element 5b Light receiving element 6 2nd encoder 7 Operation Part of the second encoder protruding so as to be possible 8 Switch 9 First click means 9a Coil spring 9b Sphere 10 Second click means 10a Coil spring 10b Sphere 11 Printed board 12 Base 12a Hole 13 Holding part 14 Bearing 15 Slit 16 Knob 17 Coil spring 18 Shaft part 19 Groove 20 Knob lid 21 Bearing 22 Print board 23 Element mounting part 24 Slit 25 Slit 26 Click holding part 26a Hole 27 Display screen 28 Control part 30 Print board 31 Base 32 Knob 33 Coil spring 34 Center cover 35 Conventional encoder 36 4-way key switch 3 Input key switch

Claims (3)

A printed board (11);
The rotation center axis is perpendicular to the surface of the printed board and is rotatably held , and the rotation of the first rotation unit is detected. A first encoder (3) having first signal generating means (2) for outputting a first electric signal corresponding to the rotation;
A second rotating part (4) held rotatably, and a second signal generating means (5) for detecting the rotation of the second rotating part and outputting a second electric signal corresponding to the rotation. A second encoder (6) having
The second rotating portion has its rotation axis, it said held on the first of the so as to intersect the axis of rotation of the rotating part within a first circumference of the rotating portion, and the cylindrical first An encoder characterized in that a part (7) of the rotating part protrudes outside so as to be operable from the surface of the rotating part. The encoder of claim 1.
The second rotating part is slidably held in the cylindrical length direction of the first rotating part, and a part (7) protruding so as to be operable is pressed to turn on, An encoder comprising a switch (8) arranged to be able to be turned off. The encoder according to claim 1 or 2,
An encoder characterized in that click means (9, 10) for temporarily stopping rotation is provided at one end of each of the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit for each predetermined rotation angle of each rotating unit.

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