JP3710668B2

JP3710668B2 - Multi-contact input device

Info

Publication number: JP3710668B2
Application number: JP2000034858A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 敏雄菊地; 龍夫神谷
Original assignee: Hosiden Corp
Current assignee: Hosiden Corp
Priority date: 2000-02-14
Filing date: 2000-02-14
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-14
Also published as: JP2001229786A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、多接点入力装置、特に操作杆を揺動させることによって複数のスイッチの開閉を切り換えることができるようになっている多接点入力装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
操作杆を揺動させることによって複数のスイッチの開閉を切り換えることができるようになっている多接点入力装置は、特開平１１−１１１１１９号公報、特開平１１−１４４５６７号公報などによって既に提案されている。この種の多接点入力装置は、近時の機器の小形化などに合わせて超小型化されている。一方、この種の多接点入力装置において、複数のスイッチの開閉の切り換えは、操作杆と一体の傾動部材の傾動動作を通じて行われるため、超小型の多接点入力装置では、スイッチの開閉を切り換えるときの操作杆の揺動角度が非常に小さい角度になり、そのために不用意に操作杆が揺動されてスイッチの開閉が不慮に切り換わってしまって機器の制御に不都合が生じるといった状況が生まれている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
この点を解消するためには、操作杆とスイッチの開閉を行わせるための傾動部材とを分割し、傾動部材に具備させた貫通孔に操作杆を貫挿させておくと共に、その操作杆と貫通孔の孔縁との間に隙間を形成して操作杆の一定幅の遊び揺動を可能にしておくといった対策を講じることが考えられ、そのようにしておくと、スイッチの開閉を切り換えるのに必要な傾動部材の傾き角度よりも操作杆の揺動角度が大きくなるので、不用意に操作杆が揺動されてスイッチの開閉が不慮に切り換わるという事態が起こりにくくなる。
【０００４】
ところで、上記種類の多接点入力装置では、操作杆を操作していないときに、傾動部材がどのスイッチにも作用していないモード（ノーマルモード）が設定されるようにするために、操作杆を常時中立姿勢に向けて弾発付勢する手段を備えている。
【０００５】
この手段の具体例として、特開平１１−１１１１１９号公報に記載されているものでは、傾動部材と一体の操作杆に嵌合した上拡がり形状の皿形ばね板の内周部で傾動部材の中央部を下方へ弾圧し、かつ、その皿形ばね板の外周部を、上記傾動部材を収容している筐体の上部に固定してある。また、特開平１１−１４４５６７号公報に記載されているものでは、操作杆とは別体の傾動部材の表側に円錐面を具備させ、かつ、筐体側にその円錐面に摺動自在に重なる座面を形成して求心作用が発揮されるようにしていると共に、傾動部材に形成した貫通孔に操作杆を貫挿させてその操作杆に具備させた円錐面と傾動部材の内側の円錐面とを重ね合わせ、さらに、ドーム状のばね板によって操作杆を常時弾性的に押し上げてその操作杆の円錐面と傾動部材側の円錐面とが隙間なく重なり合うようにしている。
【０００６】
しかしながら、操作杆を常時中立姿勢に向けて弾発付勢する手段として、上記した各公報の構成を採用すると、上記した対策、すなわち、操作杆とスイッチの開閉を行わせるための傾動部材とを分割し、傾動部材に具備させた貫通孔に操作杆を貫挿させておくと共に、その操作杆と貫通孔の孔縁との間に隙間を形成して操作杆の一定幅の遊び揺動を可能にしておくといった対策を講じた場合には、操作杆を中立姿勢に向けて弾発付勢する作用が発揮されなくなる。
【０００７】
本発明は以上の状況の下でなされたものであり、多接点入力装置を超小型化した場合に、スイッチの開閉を切り換える際の操作杆の揺動操作角度をある程度大きく確保することができるものでありながら、その操作杆が常時中立姿勢に向けて弾発付勢されるようにすることを目的とする。
また、本発明は、操作杆の揺動操作方向に応じて、スイッチの開閉を切り換える際に必要な操作杆の揺動操作角度を変化させることのできる多接点入力装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
図面を参照して本発明の多接点入力装置を説明する。なお、この欄で図中の符号を使用したのは、発明の内容の理解を助けるためであって、内容を図例に限定する意図ではない。
【０００９】
本発明に係る多接点入力装置は、中央部に貫通孔７３とこの貫通孔７３の周囲の環状の隆起部７４とを有しかつ裏面側で上記貫通孔７３の周囲の複数箇所に押圧部７２が形成された傾動部材７の上記貫通孔７３に操作杆８が貫挿され、上記傾動部材７が、ベース部１１とこのベース部１１の対向位置に配備された上板部１５とこの上板部１５に開設された開口１７とこの開口１７の周囲の環状の座部１８とを備える筐体１の上記ベース部１１と上記上板部１５との間の空間に収容されていると共に、その傾動部材７の上記隆起部７４が上記座部１８に臨まされている。
【００１０】
また、上記ベース部１１に、上記操作杆８の下端を受け止める受止め部（可動接片２２）と、この受止め部の周囲複数箇所に配備されて複数の上記押圧部７２に各別に対向した可動接片４２及びそれらの可動接片４２の相手方となる固定接片４１を有する周辺スイッチ４と、が配備されている。そして、揺動運動した操作杆８が上記貫通孔７３の孔縁７３ａに当たって上記傾動部材７を傾動させたときに、その傾動部材７の所定の押圧部７２がその押圧部７２に対向する上記周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を押し込んでその周辺スイッチ４の開閉を切り換えるようになっている。
【００１１】
さらに、上記傾動部材７の裏側に形成された傾動部材側ばね受け部７５と上記貫通孔７３に挿通されている上記操作杆８に設けられて上記傾動部材側ばね受け部７５に対向している操作杆側ばね受け部８１との間に、上記操作杆８の下端を下向きに付勢して上記受止め部に弾圧させかつ上記傾動部材７の隆起部７４を上向きに付勢して上記座部１８に弾圧させることによって、上記操作杆８が上記貫通孔７３内で傾かない中立姿勢に保持するばね体９が介在されていると共に、上記各押圧部７２が各周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を押し込まない中立姿勢に向けて上記傾動部材７を常時弾発付勢するばね部材（可動接片４２）を備え、中立姿勢の上記操作杆８と上記貫通孔７３の孔縁７３ａとの間に、操作杆８の遊び揺動を可能にする隙間１００が形成されている。
【００１２】
この発明によると、操作杆８と傾動部材７とが分割された構成になっている。また、操作杆８とその操作杆８が貫挿されている傾動部材７側の貫通孔７３の孔縁７３ａとの間に、操作杆８の遊び揺動を可能にする隙間１００が形成されているため、操作杆８を揺動操作したときに操作杆８が貫通孔７３の孔縁７３ａに当たるまでは傾動部材７が傾動することはなく、操作杆８が貫通孔の孔縁７３ａに当たった後の操作杆８の揺動によって傾動部材７がはじめて傾動する。したがって、周辺スイッチ４の開閉を切り換える際の操作杆８の揺動操作角度を、操作杆８の揺動に伴って傾動部材７が傾動するときの傾動角度よりも大きく確保することが可能になる。
【００１３】
また、傾動部材側ばね受け部７５と操作杆側ばね受け部８１との間に介在したばね体９の弾発付勢作用によって操作杆８が中立姿勢、すなわち傾動部材７側の貫通孔７３内で傾かない中立姿勢に保持され、しかも、傾動部材７がばね部材によって中立姿勢、すなわち傾動部材７の各押圧部７２が各周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を押し込まない位置に向けて上記弾発付勢されているので、上記のように操作杆８の周囲に操作杆８の遊び揺動を可能にする隙間１００が形成されているとしても、操作杆８を揺動操作していないときには、操作杆８と傾動部材７とが両方ともそれぞれの中立姿勢に復帰してノーマルモードが設定されるようになる。
【００１４】
本発明では、上記ベース部１１に、固定接片２１に離接されかつ常時固定接片２１からの離反方向に上向きに弾発付勢された可動接片２２を備える中心スイッチ２が配備され、この中心スイッチ２の上記可動接片２２が上記受止め部として形成されていると共に、この中心スイッチ２の上記可動接片２２を付勢している上向きの弾発力が、上記ばね体９が上記操作杆８を下向きに付勢している弾発力よりも大きく定められている、という構成を採用することが可能である。これによると、上記したノーマルモードが設定されているときには、上記受止め部を形成している可動接片２２が、その可動接片２２を付勢している上向きの弾発力によって操作杆８を押し上げた位置に保つ。
【００１５】
本発明では、上記周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２と上記中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２とがスナップ動作を行うスナップ板でなり、周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を形成しているスナップ板によって上記ばね部材が形成されていることが望ましい。これによると、中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２を形成しているスナップ板自体の弾性を、上記可動接片２２を上向きに付勢する弾発力として活用することができるので、可動接片２２を上向きに付勢するためのばね材を別途に用いる必要がなくなる。また、周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を形成しているスナップ板によって傾動部材７を中立姿勢に向けて常時弾発付勢するばね部材が形成されているので、傾動部材７を中立姿勢に向けて常時付勢するばね部材を別途に用いる必要がなくなる。これらのため、当該多接点入力装置の小形化を促進しやすい。ここで、スナップ動作とは、スナップ板の反転動作又は節度動作のことである。
【００１６】
本発明では、上記傾動部材側ばね受け部７５が環状に形成され、かつ、上記操作杆側ばね受け部８１が鍔形に形成されており、上記ばね体９が中心孔９１とその中心孔の周縁部に形成された環状の内側座部９２と外縁部に形成された外側座部９３とを有し、上記中心孔９１に上記操作杆８が挿通されていると共に、上記内側座部９２が上記操作杆側ばね受け部８１に重ね合わされ、上記外側座部９３が上記傾動部材側ばね受け部７５に重ね合わされていることが望ましい。これによると、ばね体９として背低の皿形ばね板を用いることが可能になるので、当該多接点入力装置の厚さ寸法が、ばね体を用いることによってそれほど増大しなくなる。
【００１７】
本発明においては、上記隙間１００が上記操作杆８の周囲全体に亘って一様な広さを有していても、上記隙間１００が上記操作杆８の周囲において広い部分と狭い部分とに分かれていてもよい。上記隙間１００が上記操作杆８の周囲全体に亘って一様な広さを有している場合には、操作杆８をどの方向に揺動させても操作杆８の遊び揺動の幅が同じになる。また、上記隙間１００が上記操作杆８の周囲において広い部分と狭い部分とに分かれている場合には、隙間１００の広い方向に操作杆８を揺動させたときには操作杆８の遊び揺動がの幅が広くなるので、傾動部材７の傾動角度に対する操作杆８の揺動角度の割合が大きくなり、隙間１００の狭い方向に操作杆８を揺動させたときには操作杆８の遊び揺動の幅が狭くなるので、傾動部材７の傾動角度に対する操作杆８の揺動角度の割合が小さくなる。
【００１８】
本発明において、上記操作杆８が放射方向に突き出た複数の凸部８３を有していると共に、上記傾動部材７の貫通孔７３が放射方向に張り出した複数の凹所７６を有し、上記貫通孔７３に貫挿された上記操作杆８の複数の上記凸部８３がその貫通孔７３の複数の上記凹所７６に各別に嵌合されている、という構成を採用することが可能である。この場合、上記操作杆８の凸部８３の外端面とその外端面が対向している上記貫通孔７３の凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成された上記隙間１００が、上記凸部８３と上記凹所７６との全部の嵌合箇所で一様な広さを有するものとすることができる。また、上記操作杆８の凸部８３の外端面とその外端面が対向している上記貫通孔７３の凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成されている上記隙間１００が、上記凸部８３と上記凹所７６との全部の嵌合箇所のうち、一部の嵌合箇所で広くなっており、残部の嵌合箇所で狭くなっているものであってもよい。
【００１９】
本発明において、上記操作杆８が放射方向に突き出た４つの凸部８３を等角度おきに有していると共に、上記傾動部材７の貫通孔７３が放射方向に張り出した４つの凹部７６を等角度おきに有し、上記貫通孔７３に貫挿された上記操作杆８の４つの上記凸部８３がその貫通孔７３の４つの上記凹所７６に各別に嵌合されている、という構成を採用することも可能である。この場合、上記操作杆８の凸部８３の外端面とその外端面が対向している上記貫通孔７３の凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成されている上記隙間１００が、上記操作杆８の軸線を挟んで反対側に位置する２つの嵌合箇所で広くなっており、残りの２つの嵌合箇所で狭くなっているものであってもよい。
【００２０】
本発明において、上記した隙間１００が広い部分と狭い部分とに分かれているものにおいて、隙間の狭い部分には隙間１００が零の部分、すなわち隙間１００の存在しない部分を含むものとする。
【００２１】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は本発明に係る多接点入力装置の実施形態を概略で示した分解斜視図、図２〜図５は動作を説明するための縦断面図、図６は上記多接点入力装置の概略平面図、図７は十字形の操作杆８の周囲の隙間１００の説明図、図８は十字形の操作杆８の周囲の変形例による隙間１００の説明図、図９はばね体９の平面図、図１０は変形例によるばね体９の平面図、図１１は円形の操作杆８の周囲の隙間１００の説明図、図１２は円形の操作杆８の周囲の変形例による隙間１００の説明図である。
【００２２】
図１のように、この多接点入力装置の筐体１は、多角形（具体的には八角形）のベース１１とそのベース１１の周囲に立ち上げられた側壁１２とを一体に具備する合成樹脂製のケース１３と、このケース１３に被せられる金属製のカバー１４とを備えており、カバー１４によって筐体１の上板部１５が形成される。このケース１のベース１１には、後述する単一の中心スイッチ２と４つの周辺スイッチ４とが配備される。
【００２３】
図１〜図５を参照して中心スイッチ２と４つの周辺スイッチ４とを説明する。
【００２４】
中心スイッチ２は、ベース１１の中央部に埋設されてその表面が露出された固定接片２１とその相手方である可動接片２２とでなり、可動接片２２には円形ドーム状のスナップ板が用いられている。可動接片２２の外周部に環状に常閉接点２３が形成されており、この常閉接点２３がベース１１に埋設されてその表面が固定接片２１の周囲で露出された常閉接点２４に常接するようにベース１１の中央部に載架される。この中心スイッチ２は、スナップ板でなる可動接片２２の頂部が押し下げられと、その可動接片２２がスナップ動作を伴って固定接片２１に接触し、固定接片２１と常閉接点２４とが可動接片２２を介して電気的に導通した閉状態となる。また、可動接片２２に対する押込力が解除されると、その可動接片２２がスナップ動作を伴って元のドーム形状に復帰して固定接片２１から離れ、固定接片２１と常閉接点２４とが電気的に遮断された開状態になる。そして、そのような開閉切換え時には、スナップ板のスナップ動作による音や感触が発生する。
【００２５】
周辺スイッチ４は、中心スイッチ２の周囲に配備されている。これらの周辺スイッチ４は、ベース１１に埋設されてその表面が露出された固定接片４１とその相手方である可動接片４２とでなる。図１に示したように、可動接片４２はばね板材に形成した平行な２条のスリット４３，４３の間に形成されていると共に、ばね板材のスリット４３，４３の外側部分は常閉接点４４，４５になっている。このばね板材は、常閉接点４４，４５が、ベース１１に埋設されて表面が露出された常閉接点４６及び上記常閉接点２４に各別に常接するように、ベース１１の周辺部に載架される。また、上記の可動接片４２と常閉接点４４，４５とは互いに反対向きに湾曲したスナップ板によって形成されている。これらの周辺スイッチ４は、可動接片４２の頂部が押し下げられると、スナップ板でなる可動接片４２がスナップ動作を伴って固定接片４１に接触し、固定接片４１が可動接片４２や常閉接点４４，４５を介して常閉接点４６，２４に電気的に導通した閉状態になる。また、可動接片４２に対する押込力が解除されると、可動接片４２がスナップ動作を伴って元の形状に復帰して固定接片４１から離れ、固定接片４１と常閉接点４６，２４とが電気的に遮断された開状態になる。そして、そのような開閉切換え時には、可動接片４２や常閉接点４４，４５のスナップ動作によるクリック音や感触が発生する。
【００２６】
図例の多接点入力装置において、周辺スイッチ４は、中心スイッチ２から等間隔を隔てた周囲複数箇所、具体的には、中心スイッチ２の周囲４箇所に９０度おきに配備されている。また、４つの周辺スイッチ４…の可動接片４２は、その長手方向が中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２の半径方向に直交する方向と一致するように配置されている。
【００２７】
図１に示したように、筐体１のベース１１には、９０度おきの４箇所に、そのベース１１の表面を中心スイッチ２の設置箇所の周囲で４区画する仕切り部１６がそのベース１１の表面から突出して形成されている。そして、これらの４つの仕切り部１６によって囲まれる中央側の空所Ｓ１が上記した中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２の配備箇所に割り当てられている。また、４つの仕切り部１６…の並び方向において隣合う２つの仕切り部１６，１６の相互間の各空所Ｓ２が周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を形成しているばね板材の配備箇所に割り当てられている。
【００２８】
６は合成樹脂製の絶縁シートであり、このシート６は図２〜図５のように上記した中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２、４つの周辺スイッチ４の各可動接片４２、仕切り部１６などの上面に粘着層を介して貼着されている。このようにシート６を貼着しておくと、各可動接片２２，４２や仕切り部１６などの位置関係が確実に保たれる。
【００２９】
図１〜図５のように、傾動部材７は等角度おきの４箇所で外方に突き出た各板状部７１のそれぞれの裏面側に球状の押圧部７２を有している。また、傾動部材７は、その中央部に貫通孔７３とこの貫通孔７３の周囲で上方に突き出た環状の隆起部７４とを有していると共に、その裏側には凹入した状態で環状の傾動部材側ばね受け部７５が形成されている。操作杆８は傾動部材７とは別体になっている。この操作杆８の下端部に操作杆側ばね受け部８１が鍔形に形成されていると共に、そのばね受け部の裏面側、すなわち操作杆８の下端に球状の突起８２が形成されている。この操作杆８は傾動部材７の貫通孔７３に貫挿されて、操作杆側ばね受け部８１と傾動部材側ばね受け部７５とが上下方向で対向される。そして、上記した各ばね受け部７５，８１の相互間に、操作杆８が挿通された中心孔９１を有する皿形のばね板でなるばね体９が介在されている。このばね体９は、中心孔９１の周縁部に形成された環状の内側座部９２と外縁部に形成された外側座部９３とを有していて、内側座部９２が操作杆側ばね受け部８１に重ね合わされ、外側座部９３が傾動部材側ばね受け部７５に重ね合わされている。
【００３０】
カバー１４によって形成されている筐体１の上板部１５には、開口１７とこの開口１７の周囲の環状の座部１８とが形成されている。そして、このカバー１４をケース１３に被せて筐体１を形成した状態では、図２〜図５のように、ベース部１１と上板部１５との間の空間に傾動部材７が収容されていると共に、その傾動部材７の隆起部７４が座部１８に臨む。しかも、上記ばね体９によって下向きに弾発付勢された操作杆８の下端が中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２に弾圧し、かつ、そのばね体９によって上向きに弾発付勢された傾動部材７の隆起部７４が上記座部１８に弾圧する。さらに、傾動部材７の４つの押圧部７２が４つの周辺スイッチ４の各可動接片４２によって支えられる。
【００３１】
ここで、中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２がそのスナップ動作によって元のドーム形状に復帰するときの上向きの弾発力は、ばね体９が操作杆８を下向きに付勢している弾発力よりも大きくなっている。また、傾動部材７の貫通孔７３とその貫通孔７３に貫挿されている操作杆８との間には、操作杆８の遊び揺動を可能にする隙間１００が形成されている（図１及び図３参照）。このため、操作杆８が操作されていないときには、操作杆８が、可動接片２２によって、ばね体９の付勢に抗して図２のように上方に持ち上げられ、かつ、ばね体９の付勢によって傾動部材７の隆起部７４が上板部１５の座部１８に弾接した状態になる。さらに、操作杆８が操作されていないときには、ばね体９の内側座部９２が操作杆側ばね受け部８１の中央部を下向きに付勢しているので、操作杆８が貫通孔７３の内部で傾かない姿勢、すなわち中立姿勢になる。また、操作杆８が操作されていないときには、傾動部材７の４つの押圧部７２が４つの周辺スイッチ４…によって支えられているので、図２のように、筐体１の内部で傾かない姿勢、すなわち中立姿勢になる。傾動部材７が中立姿勢になっているときには、４つの各周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２のどれもが、４つの各押圧部７２のいずれによっても押し込まれていない状態、すなわちノーマルモードに設定される。
【００３２】
図７のように、操作杆８は放射方向（具体的には９０度おきの４方向）に突き出た４つの凸部８３を有している。また、傾動部材７（図１〜図５参照）の貫通孔７３が放射方向（具体的には９０度おきの４方向）に張り出した４つの凹部７６を有している。そして、貫通孔７３に貫挿された操作杆８の４つの凸部８３がその貫通孔７３の４つの凹所７６に各別に嵌合されている。しかも、操作杆８の凸部８３の外端面とその外端面が対向している貫通孔７３の凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成された隙間１００が、凸部８３と凹所７６との全部の嵌合箇所で一様な広さを有している。
【００３３】
この実施形態の多接点入力装置において、傾動部材７と操作杆８とが共に中立姿勢になっている図２の状態から、操作杆８をその突起８２の付近を中心にしてたとえば右方向に揺動させると、操作杆８の右側の凸部８３が同図に仮想線で示したように貫通孔７３の右側の凹所７６の孔縁７３ａに当たるまでは傾動部材７が傾動しない。凸部８３が凹所７６の孔縁７３ａに当たったときの操作杆８の中立姿勢からの揺動角度をθ１とする。そして、操作杆８が貫通孔７３の凹所８３孔縁７３ａに当たった後の操作杆８の揺動によって傾動部材７が右側へ押されてはじめて傾動する。こうして傾動部材７が傾動すると、図３のように、傾動部材７の右側の押圧部７２が右側の周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を押し込むので、その可動接片４２が固定接片４１に接触してその周辺スイッチ４が開から閉に切り換わる。こうして周辺スイッチ４が切り換わったときの操作杆８の中立姿勢からの揺動角度をθ２とする。したがって、周辺スイッチ４の開閉を切り換える際の操作杆８の揺動操作角度θ２が、操作杆８の揺動に伴って傾動部材７が傾動するときの傾動角度よりも大きくなる。図３のように周辺スイッチ４が切り換えられた後、操作杆８に対する操作力が解除されると、右側の周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２がスナップ動作を伴って元の形状に復帰するときの力で傾動部材７が中立姿勢に復帰し、操作杆８もばね体９が元の形状に復帰するときの力で中立姿勢に復帰して、ノーマルモードに戻る。操作杆８が左側や前後に揺動操作されたときにも同様の作用が行われる。
【００３４】
また、この実施形態の多接点入力装置において、傾動部材７と操作杆８とが共に中立姿勢になっている図２の状態から、操作杆８が図４の矢印Ｄのように下方に押し下げられたときには、図４のように操作杆８の突起８２が中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２を押し下げて固定接片２１に接触させるので、中心スイッチ２が開から閉に切り換わる。この状態から操作杆８を突起８２の付近を中心にしてたとえば右方向に揺動させると、操作杆８の右側の凸部８３が図４に仮想線で示したように貫通孔７３の右側の凹所７６の孔縁７３ａに当たるまでは傾動部材７が傾動しない。凸部８３が凹所７６の孔縁７３ａに当たったときの操作杆８の中立姿勢からの揺動角度をθ３とする。そして、操作杆８が貫通孔７３の凹所８３孔縁７３ａに当たった後の操作杆８の揺動によって傾動部材７が右側へ押されてはじめて傾動する。こうして傾動部材７が傾動すると、図５のように、傾動部材７の右側の押圧部７２が右側の周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２を押し込むので、その可動接片４２が固定接片４１に接触してその周辺スイッチ４が開から閉に切り換わる。こうして周辺スイッチ４が切り換わったときの操作杆８の中立姿勢からの揺動角度をθ４とする。したがって、この場合にも、周辺スイッチ４の開閉を切り換える際の操作杆８の揺動操作角度θ４が、操作杆８の揺動に伴って傾動部材７が傾動するときの傾動角度よりも大きくなる。図５のように周辺スイッチ４が切り換えられた後、操作杆８に対する操作力が解除されると、右側の周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２がスナップ動作を伴って元の形状に復帰するときの力で傾動部材７が中立姿勢に復帰することと併せて、中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２の復帰によって操作杆８が押し上げられ、かつ、その操作杆８がばね体９が元の形状に復帰するときの力で中立姿勢に復帰して、図２に示したノーマルモードに戻る。操作杆８が押し下げられた後、左側や前後に揺動操作されたときにも同様の作用が行われる。
【００３５】
この実施形態では、図７で説明したように、操作杆８の４つの各凸部８３の外端面と貫通孔７３の４つの各凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成されている隙間１００が、凸部８３と凹所７６との全部の嵌合箇所で一様な広さを有している。そのため、操作杆８を左右及び前後のどの方向に揺動させても操作杆８の遊び揺動の幅（又は遊び揺動の角度θ１，θ３）が同じになる。この点に関し、図８に示したように、操作杆８の左右の各凸部８３の外端面と貫通孔７３の左右の各凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成されている隙間１００を、操作杆８の前後の各凸部８３の外端面と貫通孔７３の前後の各凹所７６の外側壁面との間に形成されている隙間よりも広くしておいてもよい。同図の場合は、前後の隙間を零にして前後の各凸部８３の外端面と貫通孔７３の前後の各凹所７６の外側壁面とを摺動可能としている。そのようにしておくと、操作杆８を左右方向に揺動させたときには操作杆８の遊び揺動が可能になり、操作杆８を前後方向に揺動させたときには、操作杆８の揺動に遊びが無くなって操作杆８の揺動角度と傾動部材７の傾動角度が同じになる。
【００３６】
また、操作杆８が放射方向に突き出た４つ以外の複数の凸部を有しており、かつ、傾動部材７の貫通孔７３が放射方向に張り出した４つ以外の複数の凹所を有していて、貫通孔７３に貫挿された操作杆８の複数の凸部がその貫通孔７３の複数の凹所に各別に嵌合されていてもよい。この場合にも、操作杆８の凸部の外端面とその外端面が対向している貫通孔７３の凹所の外側壁面との間に形成された隙間１００が、凸部と凹所との全部の嵌合箇所で一様な広さを有していても、全部の嵌合箇所のうち一部の嵌合箇所で広くなっており、残部の嵌合箇所で狭くなっていてもよい。
【００３７】
さらに、図１１のように円形の貫通孔７３に円形の操作杆８を貫挿させ、操作杆８の周囲の隙間１００が、操作杆８の周囲全体に亘って一様な広さを有するものであってもよい。また、図１２のように長円形の貫通孔７３に円形の操作杆８を貫挿させ、操作杆８の左右の隙間１００が、操作杆８の前後の隙間よりも広くなっているものであってもよい。
【００３８】
以上において、隙間１００が広くなっている方向に不用意に操作杆８が揺動されて周辺スイッチ２の開閉が不慮に切り換わるという事態が起こりにくくなる。隙間１００が狭くなっている方向に不用意に操作杆８が揺動されたときでも、その隙間の広さに見合って、周辺スイッチ２の開閉が不慮に切り換わるという事態が抑制される。
【００３９】
図１〜図５で説明したばね体９の代わりに、図９や図１０に示した平面形状のばね体９を用いることが可能である。なお、図９や図１０に示したばね体９において、図１〜図５で説明したばね体９に具備されている部分に相応する部分には同一符号を付してある。
【００４０】
図１〜図５で説明した実施形態において、中心スイッチ２の可動接片２２は、操作杆８の下端を受け止める受止め部の一例であって、中心スイッチ２を省略した場合には、この受止め部をベース部１１の上面やベース部１１の上面に配備した他の部材によって構成することができる。また、各周辺スイッチ４の可動接片４２は、傾動部材７を中立姿勢に向けて常時弾発付勢するばね部材の一例であり、これらの可動接片４２がスナップ動作を行わないものであったり、ばね性を持たない材料で形成されている場合には、傾動部材７を中立姿勢に向けて常時弾発付勢するばね部材を別途設ける必要がある。
【００４１】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、スイッチの開閉を切り換える際の操作杆の揺動操作角度をある程度大きく確保することができるものでありながら、その操作杆が常時中立姿勢に向けて弾発付勢されるようにすることが可能になる。そのため、多接点入力装置を超小型化した場合に有益である。また、上記した隙間に広い部分と狭い部分とを設けておくと、操作杆の揺動操作方向に応じて、スイッチの開閉を切り換える際に必要な操作杆の揺動操作角度を変化させることができるようになる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る多接点入力装置の実施形態を概略で示した分解斜視図である。
【図２】動作を説明するための縦断面図である。
【図３】動作を説明するための縦断面図である。
【図４】動作を説明するための縦断面図である。
【図５】動作を説明するための縦断面図である。
【図６】上記実施形態による多接点入力装置の概略平面図である。
【図７】十字形の操作杆の周囲の隙間の説明図である。
【図８】十字形の操作杆の周囲の変形例による隙間の説明図である。
【図９】ばね体の平面図である。
【図１０】変形例によるばね体の平面図である。
【図１１】円形の操作杆の周囲の隙間の説明図である。
【図１２】円形の操作杆の周囲の変形例による隙間の説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１筐体
２中心スイッチ
４周辺スイッチ
７傾動部材
８操作杆
９ばね体
１１ベース部
１５上板部
１７開口
１８座部
２１固定接片
２２可動接片（受止め部）
４１固定接片
４２可動接片（ばね部材）
７２押圧部
７３貫通孔
７４隆起部
７５傾動部材側ばね受け部
７６凹所
８１操作杆側ばね受け部
８３凸部
１００隙間[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-contact input device, and more particularly to a multi-contact input device configured to be able to switch between opening and closing of a plurality of switches by swinging an operating rod.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A multi-contact input device capable of switching the opening and closing of a plurality of switches by swinging the operating rod has already been proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 11-11119, 11-144567, and the like. Yes. This type of multi-contact input device is miniaturized to meet the recent miniaturization of equipment. On the other hand, in this type of multi-contact input device, switching of the opening and closing of the plurality of switches is performed through a tilting operation of a tilting member integrated with the operation rod. The swinging angle of the control rod is very small, which causes a situation where the control rod is inadvertently swung and the switch is inadvertently switched, causing inconvenience in controlling the equipment. Yes.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to eliminate this point, the operating rod and the tilting member for opening and closing the switch are divided, and the operating rod is inserted into the through hole provided in the tilting member. It is conceivable to take measures such as forming a gap between the hole edge of the through hole and allowing the play rod to swing with a certain width. Since the swing angle of the operating rod is larger than the tilting angle of the tilting member required for this, it is difficult to cause a situation where the operating rod is inadvertently swung and the switch is inadvertently switched.
[0004]
By the way, in the multi-contact input device of the above type, when the operation rod is not operated, the operation rod is set to set a mode (normal mode) in which the tilting member does not act on any switch. Means for urging and urging the ball toward a neutral posture is provided.
[0005]
As a specific example of this means, in the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-11111, the center of the tilting member is formed at the inner peripheral portion of the upwardly spreading plate-shaped spring plate fitted to the operating rod integral with the tilting member. And the outer peripheral part of the disc-shaped spring plate is fixed to the upper part of the housing that houses the tilting member. Further, in the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-144567, a seat having a conical surface on the front side of a tilting member separate from the operating rod and slidably overlapping the conical surface on the housing side. A conical surface formed by inserting an operating rod into a through hole formed in the tilting member, and a conical surface on the inner side of the tilting member. Further, the operating rod is always elastically pushed up by a dome-shaped spring plate so that the conical surface of the operating rod overlaps the conical surface on the tilting member side without any gap.
[0006]
However, when the configuration of each of the above publications is adopted as means for elastically urging the operating rod toward the neutral position, the above measures, i.e., the tilting member for opening and closing the switch are provided. The operation rod is inserted into the through hole provided in the tilting member, and a gap is formed between the operation rod and the hole edge of the through hole, so that the operation rod is free to swing with a certain width. In the case where measures such as making it possible are taken, the action of urging the operating rod toward the neutral posture will not be exhibited.
[0007]
The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and when the multi-contact input device is miniaturized, the swinging operation angle of the operating rod when switching the opening and closing of the switch can be secured to a certain extent. However, an object of the present invention is to make the operating rod always be bullet-biased toward a neutral posture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-contact input device that can change the swinging operation angle of the operating rod required for switching the opening / closing of the switch according to the swinging operation direction of the operating rod. To do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The multi-contact input device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the use of the reference numerals in the figure in this column is for the purpose of helping understanding of the contents of the invention, and is not intended to limit the contents to the illustrated examples.
[0009]
The multi-contact input device according to the present invention has a through-hole 73 and an annular raised portion 74 around the through-hole 73 at the center, and pressing portions 72 at a plurality of locations around the through-hole 73 on the back side. The operating rod 8 is inserted into the through-hole 73 of the tilting member 7 formed with the base member 11, and the tilting member 7 is disposed at a position opposite to the base portion 11 and the base portion 11. And is accommodated in a space between the base portion 11 and the upper plate portion 15 of the housing 1 having an opening 17 established in the portion 15 and an annular seat portion 18 around the opening 17. The raised portion 74 of the tilting member 7 faces the seat portion 18.
[0010]
In addition, a receiving portion (movable contact piece 22) for receiving the lower end of the operating rod 8 on the base portion 11, and a plurality of places around the receiving portion are arranged to face the plurality of pressing portions 72, respectively. A peripheral switch 4 having a movable contact piece 42 and a fixed contact piece 41 that is a counterpart of the movable contact piece 42 is provided. Then, when the swinging operating rod 8 hits the hole edge 73a of the through hole 73 and tilts the tilting member 7, the predetermined pressing portion 72 of the tilting member 7 faces the pressing portion 72. The movable contact piece 42 of the switch 4 is pushed in and the opening / closing of the peripheral switch 4 is switched.
[0011]
Further, the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75 formed on the back side of the tilting member 7 and the operating rod 8 inserted through the through hole 73 are opposed to the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75. Between the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81, the lower end of the operating rod 8 is urged downward to repress the receiving portion, and the raised portion 74 of the tilting member 7 is urged upward to urge the seat. A spring body 9 is interposed to hold the operation rod 8 in a neutral posture in which the operation rod 8 is not inclined in the through hole 73 by being elastically pressed by the portion 18, and the pressing portions 72 are movable contact pieces of the peripheral switches 4. A spring member (movable contact piece 42) that constantly urges and biases the tilting member 7 toward a neutral posture in which the 42 is not pushed in, between the operation rod 8 in the neutral posture and the hole edge 73a of the through hole 73. In addition, a clearance 1 that allows the control rod 8 to swing freely. 0 is formed.
[0012]
According to the present invention, the operating rod 8 and the tilting member 7 are divided. Further, a gap 100 is formed between the operating rod 8 and the hole edge 73a of the through hole 73 on the tilting member 7 side through which the operating rod 8 is inserted to allow the operating rod 8 to swing freely. Therefore, when the operating rod 8 is swung, the tilting member 7 does not tilt until the operating rod 8 hits the hole edge 73a of the through hole 73, and the operating rod 8 hits the hole edge 73a of the through hole. The tilting member 7 tilts for the first time by the subsequent swinging of the operating rod 8. Therefore, the swinging operation angle of the operating rod 8 when switching the opening / closing of the peripheral switch 4 can be ensured to be larger than the tilting angle when the tilting member 7 tilts as the operating rod 8 swings. .
[0013]
In addition, the operating rod 8 is in a neutral position, that is, in the through hole 73 on the tilting member 7 side, by the elastic biasing action of the spring body 9 interposed between the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75 and the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81. The tilting member 7 is held in the neutral posture by the spring member, that is, each of the pressing portions 72 of the tilting member 7 is moved toward the position where the movable contact piece 42 of each peripheral switch 4 is not pushed. Since it is biased, even if the gap 100 is formed around the operation rod 8 to allow the operation rod 8 to swing freely, when the operation rod 8 is not rocked, Both the operating rod 8 and the tilting member 7 return to their neutral positions and the normal mode is set.
[0014]
In the present invention, the central switch 2 including the movable contact 22 that is separated from the fixed contact piece 21 and is always elastically biased upward in the direction away from the fixed contact piece 21 is provided on the base portion 11. The movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 is formed as the receiving portion, and the upward elastic force that urges the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 is applied to the spring body 9. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which it is determined to be larger than the resilient force that urges the operation rod 8 downward. According to this, when the above-described normal mode is set, the movable contact piece 22 forming the receiving portion is operated by the upward elastic force that urges the movable contact piece 22 to operate the operation rod 8. Hold in the up position.
[0015]
In the present invention, the movable contact piece 42 of the peripheral switch 4 and the movable contact piece 22 of the central switch 2 are formed as snap plates, and the snap plate forming the movable contact piece 42 of the peripheral switch 4 is used. It is desirable that the spring member is formed. According to this, since the elasticity of the snap plate itself forming the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 can be utilized as a resilient force for urging the movable contact piece 22 upward, the movable contact piece 22 There is no need to separately use a spring material for biasing the. In addition, since the spring member that constantly urges and biases the tilting member 7 toward the neutral posture is formed by the snap plate forming the movable contact piece 42 of the peripheral switch 4, the tilting member 7 is directed to the neutral posture. Thus, there is no need to separately use a spring member that constantly biases. For these reasons, it is easy to promote downsizing of the multi-contact input device. Here, the snap operation is a reversal operation or a moderation operation of the snap plate.
[0016]
In the present invention, the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75 is formed in an annular shape, and the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81 is formed in a bowl shape, and the spring body 9 includes a center hole 91 and a center hole thereof. It has an annular inner seat portion 92 formed at the peripheral edge portion and an outer seat portion 93 formed at the outer edge portion. The operation rod 8 is inserted through the center hole 91, and the inner seat portion 92 is It is desirable to overlap the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81 and the outer seat portion 93 to overlap the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75. According to this, since it becomes possible to use a low-profile plate-shaped spring plate as the spring body 9, the thickness dimension of the multi-contact input device does not increase so much by using the spring body.
[0017]
In the present invention, even if the gap 100 has a uniform width over the entire periphery of the operation rod 8, the gap 100 is divided into a wide portion and a narrow portion around the operation rod 8. It may be. When the gap 100 has a uniform width over the entire periphery of the operation rod 8, the play rocking width of the operation rod 8 is the same regardless of which direction the operation rod 8 is swung. Be the same. In addition, when the gap 100 is divided into a wide portion and a narrow portion around the operation rod 8, when the operation rod 8 is swung in the wide direction of the gap 100, the play variation of the operation rod 8 is caused. Therefore, the ratio of the swinging angle of the operating rod 8 to the tilting angle of the tilting member 7 increases, and when the operating rod 8 is swung in a narrow direction of the gap 100, Since the width is narrowed, the ratio of the swing angle of the operating rod 8 to the tilt angle of the tilt member 7 is reduced.
[0018]
In the present invention, the operating rod 8 has a plurality of convex portions 83 projecting in the radial direction, and the through hole 73 of the tilting member 7 has a plurality of recesses 76 projecting in the radial direction, It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the plurality of convex portions 83 of the operation rod 8 inserted into the through hole 73 are individually fitted into the plurality of recesses 76 of the through hole 73. . In this case, the gap 100 formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion 83 of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of the recess 76 of the through hole 73 facing the outer end surface is the convex portion 83. It is possible to have a uniform area at all the fitting locations of the recess 76. In addition, the gap 100 formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion 83 of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of the recess 76 of the through hole 73 facing the outer end surface is the convex portion 83. Among all the fitting locations with the recess 76, the width may be wide at some fitting locations and narrow at the remaining fitting locations.
[0019]
In the present invention, the operating rod 8 has four convex portions 83 protruding in the radial direction at equal angles, and the four concave portions 76 in which the through holes 73 of the tilting member 7 protrude in the radial direction are the same. The four protrusions 83 of the operating rod 8 inserted at an angle and inserted into the through hole 73 are respectively fitted into the four recesses 76 of the through hole 73. It is also possible to adopt. In this case, the gap 100 formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion 83 of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of the recess 76 of the through hole 73 facing the outer end surface is the operating rod. It may be widened at the two fitting locations located on the opposite side across the axis 8 and narrowed at the remaining two fitting locations.
[0020]
In the present invention, in the case where the gap 100 is divided into a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow gap portion includes a portion where the gap 100 is zero, that is, a portion where the gap 100 does not exist.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of a multi-contact input device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 5 are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the operation, and FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the multi-contact input device. 7 is an explanatory view of the gap 100 around the cruciform operating rod 8, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the gap 100 according to a modification around the cruciform operating rod 8, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the spring body 9. 10 is a plan view of the spring body 9 according to a modified example, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the gap 100 around the circular operating rod 8, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the gap 100 according to the modified example around the circular operating rod 8. It is.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 1 of this multi-contact input device is a composite that integrally includes a polygonal (specifically octagonal) base 11 and a side wall 12 raised around the base 11. A resin case 13 and a metal cover 14 covering the case 13 are provided, and the upper plate portion 15 of the housing 1 is formed by the cover 14. The base 11 of the case 1 is provided with a single central switch 2 and four peripheral switches 4 described later.
[0023]
The center switch 2 and the four peripheral switches 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
The center switch 2 is composed of a fixed contact piece 21 embedded in the center of the base 11 and the surface of which is exposed, and a movable contact piece 22 which is the counterpart thereof. The movable contact piece 22 has a circular dome-shaped snap plate. It is used. A normally closed contact 23 is formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral portion of the movable contact piece 22, and the normally closed contact 23 is embedded in the base 11, and the surface of the normally closed contact 24 is exposed around the fixed contact piece 21. It is mounted on the central part of the base 11 so as to always contact. In the center switch 2, when the top of the movable contact piece 22 made of a snap plate is pushed down, the movable contact piece 22 comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 21 with a snap action, and the fixed contact piece 21 and the normally closed contact 24 are Is in a closed state in which it is electrically connected through the movable contact piece 22. Further, when the pushing force on the movable contact piece 22 is released, the movable contact piece 22 returns to the original dome shape with a snap action and is separated from the fixed contact piece 21, and the fixed contact piece 21 and the normally closed contact 24 are removed. And is opened electrically. At the time of such opening / closing switching, a sound and a touch are generated by the snap operation of the snap plate.
[0025]
The peripheral switch 4 is arranged around the center switch 2. These peripheral switches 4 are composed of a fixed contact piece 41 which is embedded in the base 11 and whose surface is exposed, and a movable contact piece 42 which is the counterpart. As shown in FIG. 1, the movable contact piece 42 is formed between two parallel slits 43, 43 formed in the spring plate material, and the outer portions of the spring plate material slits 43, 43 are normally closed contacts. 44, 45. This spring plate material is mounted on the periphery of the base 11 so that the normally closed contacts 44 and 45 are normally contacted with the normally closed contact 46 embedded in the base 11 and the surface exposed, and the normally closed contact 24 separately. Is done. The movable contact piece 42 and the normally closed contacts 44 and 45 are formed by snap plates that are curved in opposite directions. In these peripheral switches 4, when the top of the movable contact piece 42 is pushed down, the movable contact piece 42 formed of a snap plate comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 41 with a snap operation, and the fixed contact piece 41 is moved to the movable contact piece 42 or A closed state is established in which the normally closed contacts 46 and 24 are electrically connected via the normally closed contacts 44 and 45. Further, when the pushing force on the movable contact piece 42 is released, the movable contact piece 42 returns to its original shape with a snap operation and is separated from the fixed contact piece 41, and the fixed contact piece 41 and the normally closed contacts 46, 24. And is opened electrically. At the time of such opening / closing switching, a click sound and a touch are generated due to a snap operation of the movable contact piece 42 and the normally closed contacts 44 and 45.
[0026]
In the multi-contact input device shown in the figure, the peripheral switches 4 are arranged at a plurality of positions around the center switch 2 at equal intervals, specifically, at four positions around the center switch 2 every 90 degrees. Further, the movable contact pieces 42 of the four peripheral switches 4 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 1, the base 11 of the housing 1 has partition portions 16 that divide the surface of the base 11 into four locations around the installation location of the central switch 2 at four locations every 90 degrees. It protrudes from the surface of the. The central space S1 surrounded by the four partitions 16 is assigned to the location where the movable contact piece 22 of the central switch 2 is provided. In addition, each space S2 between two adjacent partition portions 16 and 16 in the direction in which the four partition portions 16 are arranged is assigned to a location where the spring plate material forming the movable contact piece 42 of the peripheral switch 4 is provided. It has been.
[0028]
6 is an insulating sheet made of synthetic resin, and this sheet 6 is composed of the movable contact piece 22 of the central switch 2 and the movable contact pieces 42 of the four peripheral switches 4 as shown in FIGS. It is affixed on the upper surface of through an adhesive layer. By sticking the sheet 6 in this way, the positional relationship between the movable contact pieces 22 and 42 and the partition portion 16 is reliably maintained.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the tilting member 7 has a spherical pressing portion 72 on each back surface side of each plate-like portion 71 protruding outward at four places at equal angular intervals. The tilting member 7 has a through-hole 73 and an annular ridge 74 projecting upward around the through-hole 73 at the center thereof, and the annular member 7 is recessed in the back side. A tilting member side spring receiving portion 75 is formed. The operating rod 8 is separate from the tilting member 7. An operating rod side spring receiving portion 81 is formed in a bowl shape at the lower end portion of the operating rod 8, and a spherical protrusion 82 is formed on the back side of the spring receiving portion, that is, at the lower end of the operating rod 8. The operating rod 8 is inserted into the through hole 73 of the tilting member 7, and the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81 and the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction. And between each spring receiving part 75 and 81 mentioned above, the spring body 9 which consists of a plate-shaped spring board which has the center hole 91 in which the operating rod 8 was penetrated is interposed. The spring body 9 has an annular inner seat portion 92 formed at the peripheral edge portion of the center hole 91 and an outer seat portion 93 formed at the outer edge portion, and the inner seat portion 92 is an operating rod side spring receiver. The outer seat portion 93 is overlapped with the tilting member side spring receiving portion 75.
[0030]
An opening 17 and an annular seat 18 around the opening 17 are formed in the upper plate portion 15 of the housing 1 formed by the cover 14. And in the state which covered this case 14 on the case 13 and formed the housing | casing 1, the tilting member 7 is accommodated in the space between the base part 11 and the upper board part 15, as shown in FIGS. The raised portion 74 of the tilting member 7 faces the seat portion 18. In addition, the lower end of the operating rod 8 that is elastically biased downward by the spring body 9 elastically presses against the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2, and the tilting member is elastically biased upward by the spring body 9. 7 raised portions 74 are pressed against the seat portion 18. Further, the four pressing portions 72 of the tilting member 7 are supported by the movable contact pieces 42 of the four peripheral switches 4.
[0031]
Here, the upward elastic force when the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 returns to the original dome shape by the snap operation is the elastic force in which the spring body 9 urges the operating rod 8 downward. Is bigger than. Further, a gap 100 is formed between the through-hole 73 of the tilting member 7 and the operation rod 8 inserted through the through-hole 73 to allow the operation rod 8 to swing freely (FIG. 1). And FIG. 3). Therefore, when the operating rod 8 is not operated, the operating rod 8 is lifted upward by the movable contact piece 22 against the bias of the spring body 9 as shown in FIG. The raised portion 74 of the tilting member 7 is in elastic contact with the seat portion 18 of the upper plate portion 15 by the biasing. Further, when the operating rod 8 is not operated, the inner seat portion 92 of the spring body 9 biases the central portion of the operating rod side spring receiving portion 81 downward, so that the operating rod 8 is inside the through hole 73. The posture is not tilted, that is, a neutral posture. Further, when the operating rod 8 is not operated, the four pressing portions 72 of the tilting member 7 are supported by the four peripheral switches 4..., So that the posture does not tilt inside the housing 1 as shown in FIG. That is, it becomes a neutral posture. When the tilting member 7 is in the neutral posture, none of the movable contact pieces 42 of the four peripheral switches 4 is pushed by any of the four pressing portions 72, that is, the normal mode is set. The
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 7, the operation rod 8 has four convex portions 83 protruding in the radial direction (specifically, four directions every 90 degrees). Further, the through-hole 73 of the tilting member 7 (see FIGS. 1 to 5) has four concave portions 76 projecting in the radial direction (specifically, four directions every 90 degrees). Then, the four convex portions 83 of the operating rod 8 inserted into the through hole 73 are respectively fitted into the four recesses 76 of the through hole 73. Moreover, a gap 100 formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion 83 of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of the concave portion 76 of the through hole 73 facing the outer end surface is formed between the convex portion 83 and the concave portion 76. It has a uniform area at all the fitting locations.
[0033]
In the multi-contact input device of this embodiment, from the state of FIG. 2 in which both the tilting member 7 and the operating rod 8 are in the neutral position, the operating rod 8 is swung to the right, for example, in the vicinity of the projection 82. When it is moved, the tilting member 7 does not tilt until the convex portion 83 on the right side of the operating rod 8 hits the hole edge 73a of the concave portion 76 on the right side of the through hole 73 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The swing angle from the neutral posture of the operating rod 8 when the convex portion 83 hits the hole edge 73a of the recess 76 is defined as θ1. The tilting member 7 is tilted only when the tilting member 7 is pushed rightward by the swinging of the operating rod 8 after the operating rod 8 hits the recess 83 hole edge 73a of the through hole 73. When the tilting member 7 is tilted in this way, the right pressing portion 72 of the tilting member 7 pushes the movable contact piece 42 of the right peripheral switch 4 as shown in FIG. 3, so that the movable contact piece 42 contacts the fixed contact piece 41. Then, the peripheral switch 4 is switched from open to closed. The swing angle from the neutral position of the operating rod 8 when the peripheral switch 4 is thus switched is defined as θ2. Therefore, the swinging operation angle θ2 of the operating rod 8 when switching the opening / closing of the peripheral switch 4 is larger than the tilting angle when the tilting member 7 tilts as the operating rod 8 swings. When the operating force on the operating rod 8 is released after the peripheral switch 4 is switched as shown in FIG. 3, the movable contact piece 42 of the right peripheral switch 4 is restored to its original shape with a snap action. The tilting member 7 returns to the neutral posture by the force, and the operating rod 8 also returns to the neutral posture by the force when the spring body 9 returns to the original shape, and returns to the normal mode. The same action is performed when the operating rod 8 is swung to the left or back and forth.
[0034]
Further, in the multi-contact input device of this embodiment, the operating rod 8 is pushed down as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 4 from the state of FIG. 2 in which both the tilting member 7 and the operating rod 8 are in the neutral posture. 4, the projection 82 of the operating rod 8 pushes down the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 to contact the fixed contact piece 21, so that the center switch 2 is switched from open to closed. From this state, when the operating rod 8 is swung to the right, for example, around the vicinity of the protrusion 82, the right convex portion 83 of the operating rod 8 is located on the right side of the through hole 73 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The tilting member 7 does not tilt until it hits the hole edge 73a of the recess 76. The swing angle from the neutral posture of the operating rod 8 when the convex portion 83 hits the hole edge 73a of the recess 76 is defined as θ3. The tilting member 7 is tilted only when the tilting member 7 is pushed rightward by the swinging of the operating rod 8 after the operating rod 8 hits the recess 83 hole edge 73a of the through hole 73. When the tilting member 7 is tilted in this way, the right pressing portion 72 of the tilting member 7 pushes the movable contact piece 42 of the right peripheral switch 4 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the movable contact piece 42 contacts the fixed contact piece 41. Then, the peripheral switch 4 is switched from open to closed. The swing angle from the neutral position of the operating rod 8 when the peripheral switch 4 is switched in this way is defined as θ4. Therefore, also in this case, the swinging operation angle θ4 of the operating rod 8 when switching the opening / closing of the peripheral switch 4 is larger than the tilting angle when the tilting member 7 tilts as the operating rod 8 swings. . When the operating force on the operating rod 8 is released after the peripheral switch 4 is switched as shown in FIG. 5, the movable contact piece 42 of the right peripheral switch 4 is restored to its original shape with a snap action. Along with the return of the tilting member 7 to the neutral position by force, the return of the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 pushes up the operating rod 8, and the operating rod 8 returns the spring body 9 to its original shape. Return to the neutral posture with the force of the operation to return to the normal mode shown in FIG. The same action is performed when the operating rod 8 is pushed down and then swung to the left or back and forth.
[0035]
In this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the gap 100 formed between the outer end surfaces of the four convex portions 83 of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surfaces of the four concave portions 76 of the through hole 73. However, it has a uniform width at all the fitting portions of the convex portion 83 and the concave portion 76. Therefore, the width of play rocking (or play rocking angles θ 1, θ 3) of the operating rod 8 is the same regardless of which direction the control rod 8 is swung in the left / right and front / rear directions. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 8, gaps 100 formed between the outer end surfaces of the left and right convex portions 83 of the operation rod 8 and the outer wall surfaces of the left and right concave portions 76 of the through hole 73 are formed. The clearance gap formed between the outer end surface of each convex portion 83 before and after the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of each recess 76 before and after the through hole 73 may be wider. In the case of the figure, the front and rear gaps are made zero, and the outer end surfaces of the front and rear projections 83 and the outer wall surfaces of the recesses 76 before and after the through-hole 73 can slide. By doing so, when the operating rod 8 is swung left and right, the operating rod 8 can be freely swung, and when the operating rod 8 is swung back and forth, the operating rod 8 is swung. Thus, there is no play, and the swing angle of the operating rod 8 and the tilt angle of the tilt member 7 are the same.
[0036]
Further, the operating rod 8 has a plurality of protrusions other than the four protruding in the radial direction, and the through hole 73 of the tilting member 7 has a plurality of recesses other than the four protruding in the radial direction. And the some convex part of the operating rod 8 penetrated by the through-hole 73 may be each fitted by the some recessed part of the through-hole 73 separately. Also in this case, the gap 100 formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion of the operating rod 8 and the outer wall surface of the concave portion of the through hole 73 facing the outer end surface is a gap between the convex portion and the concave portion. Even if it has a uniform area at all the fitting locations, it may be wide at some of the fitting locations and narrow at the remaining fitting locations.
[0037]
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a circular operating rod 8 is inserted into the circular through hole 73, and the gap 100 around the operating rod 8 has a uniform width over the entire periphery of the operating rod 8. It may be. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the circular operation rod 8 is inserted into the oval through-hole 73 so that the left and right clearances 100 of the operation rod 8 are wider than the front and rear clearances of the operation rod 8. May be.
[0038]
As described above, it is difficult to cause a situation in which the operating rod 8 is inadvertently swung in the direction in which the gap 100 is widened and the opening and closing of the peripheral switch 2 is inadvertently switched. Even when the operating rod 8 is inadvertently swung in the direction in which the gap 100 is narrowed, the situation in which the opening and closing of the peripheral switch 2 is unexpectedly switched in accordance with the size of the gap is suppressed.
[0039]
Instead of the spring body 9 described in FIGS. 1 to 5, the planar spring body 9 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be used. In addition, in the spring body 9 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to the part with which the spring body 9 demonstrated in FIGS.
[0040]
In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the movable contact piece 22 of the center switch 2 is an example of a receiving portion that receives the lower end of the operation rod 8. The stop portion can be constituted by another member provided on the upper surface of the base portion 11 or the upper surface of the base portion 11. The movable contact piece 42 of each peripheral switch 4 is an example of a spring member that constantly urges and biases the tilting member 7 toward the neutral posture, and the movable contact piece 42 does not perform a snap operation. In the case where it is made of a material having no spring property, it is necessary to separately provide a spring member that constantly urges and biases the tilting member 7 toward the neutral posture.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the swinging operation angle of the operating rod when switching between opening and closing of the switch can be secured to a certain extent, but the operating rod is constantly urged toward the neutral posture. It becomes possible to. Therefore, it is useful when the multi-contact input device is miniaturized. In addition, if a wide portion and a narrow portion are provided in the gap, the swinging operation angle of the operating rod required for switching the opening / closing of the switch can be changed according to the swinging operation direction of the operating rod. become able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of a multi-contact input device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining an operation.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operation.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operation.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operation.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the multi-contact input device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a gap around a cruciform operation rod.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a gap according to a modified example around a cruciform operation rod.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a spring body.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a spring body according to a modification.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a gap around a circular operating rod.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a gap according to a modified example around a circular operation rod.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 housing
2 Center switch
4 Peripheral switch
7 Tilt member
8 Operation
9 Spring body
11 Base part
15 Upper plate
17 Opening
18 Seat
21 Fixed piece
22 Movable contact piece (receiving part)
41 Fixed contact
42 Movable contact piece (spring member)
72 Pressing part
73 Through hole
74 Uplift
75 Tilt member side spring bearing
76 recess
81 Operating rod side spring support
83 Convex
100 gap

Claims

An operating rod penetrates the through hole of the tilting member having a through hole in the center and an annular raised portion around the through hole, and having pressing portions formed at a plurality of locations around the through hole on the back side. The tilting member is inserted into a housing having a base portion, an upper plate portion disposed at a position facing the base portion, an opening formed in the upper plate portion, and an annular seat portion around the opening. While being accommodated in the space between the base portion and the upper plate portion, the raised portion of the tilting member is exposed to the seat portion,
A receiving portion for receiving the lower end of the operating rod on the base portion, a movable contact piece disposed at a plurality of locations around the receiving portion and respectively opposed to the plurality of pressing portions, and a counterpart of the movable contact pieces A peripheral switch having a fixed contact piece to be
When the swinging operating rod hits the edge of the through hole and tilts the tilting member, the predetermined pressing portion of the tilting member pushes in the movable contact piece of the peripheral switch facing the pressing portion. It is designed to switch the opening and closing of the peripheral switch,
A tilting member side spring receiving portion formed on the back side of the tilting member, an operating rod side spring receiving portion provided on the operating rod inserted through the through hole and facing the tilting member side spring receiving portion; During this time, the lower end of the operating rod is urged downward to repress the receiving portion, and the raised portion of the tilting member is urged upward to repress the seat. A spring body that holds in a neutral posture that does not tilt in the through hole is interposed, and each of the pressing portions constantly urges the tilting member toward a neutral posture in which the movable contact piece of each peripheral switch is not pushed in. A multi-contact input device, characterized in that a clearance is formed between the operating rod in a neutral position and the hole edge of the through hole so that the operating rod can freely swing.

A central switch having a movable contact piece that is separated from the fixed contact piece and is always elastically biased upward in a direction away from the fixed contact piece is provided on the base portion. The upward elastic force that is formed as the receiving portion and urges the movable contact piece of the center switch is the elastic force that the spring body urges the operating rod downward. The multi-contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-contact input device is defined to be larger.

The movable contact piece of the peripheral switch and the movable contact piece of the central switch are formed by a snap plate that performs a snap operation, and the spring member is formed by a snap plate that forms the movable contact piece of the peripheral switch. 2. The multi-contact input device described in 2.

The tilting member side spring receiving portion is formed in an annular shape, the operating rod side spring receiving portion is formed in a hook shape, and the spring body is formed in an annular shape formed in a central hole and a peripheral portion of the central hole. An inner seat portion and an outer seat portion formed on an outer edge portion, the operating rod is inserted through the center hole, and the inner seat portion is overlapped with the operating rod-side spring receiving portion. The multi-contact input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a seat portion is superimposed on the tilting member side spring receiving portion.

The multi-contact input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gap has a uniform width over the entire periphery of the operating rod.

The multi-contact input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gap is divided into a wide portion and a narrow portion around the operation rod.

The operation rod has a plurality of protrusions protruding in the radial direction, and the through hole of the tilting member has a plurality of recesses protruding in the radial direction, and is inserted into the through hole. The multi-contact input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of protrusions of the collar are respectively fitted into the plurality of recesses of the through hole.

The operating rod has four convex portions protruding in the radial direction at equal angles, and the through holes of the tilting member have four concave portions protruding in the radial direction at equal angles, and the through holes The multi-contact input according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the four convex portions of the operation rod inserted into the through hole are respectively fitted into the four concave portions of the through hole. apparatus.

The gap formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion of the operating rod and the outer wall surface of the concave portion of the through hole facing the outer end surface is the entire fit between the convex portion and the concave portion. The multi-contact input device according to claim 7, wherein the multi-contact input device has a uniform area at a joint point.

The gap formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion of the operating rod and the outer wall surface of the concave portion of the through hole facing the outer end surface is the entire gap between the convex portion and the concave portion. 9. The multi-contact input device according to claim 7, wherein the multi-contact input device is widened at some of the fitting locations and narrowed at the remaining fitting locations.

The gap formed between the outer end surface of the convex portion of the operating rod and the outer wall surface of the recess of the through hole facing the outer end surface is on the opposite side across the axis of the operating rod. The multi-contact input device according to claim 8, wherein the multi-contact input device is widened at two positioned fitting positions and narrowed at the remaining two fitting locations.