JP4544323B2 - Rotation operation type input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary operation type input device for performing a telephone directory search and various input operations.

  2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic rotary operation type input device is used for inputting characters of electronic devices and selecting / determining various items displayed on a screen.

  Such a conventional rotary operation type input device will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional magnetic rotary operation type input device, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a rotational operation feeling generating mechanism which is the main part. In FIG. 4, 1 is a flat plate located on the bottom surface. A box-shaped case portion 2 having a lower opening is coupled to the upper portion of the substrate portion 1.

  And in the center position of the board | substrate part 1, the hollow part 1A is provided, and the through-hole 2A is provided in the top | upper surface part of the case part 2 used as the opposing position.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a rotating member in which a disc portion 3C having a magnet (not shown) is fixed between a lower cylindrical shaft portion 3A and an upper cylindrical operation shaft 3B. The cylindrical shaft portion 3A is rotatably fitted in the hollow portion 1A of the substrate portion 1 so that 3C is located in the internal space constituted by the substrate portion 1 and the case portion 2, and the operation shaft 3B is connected to the case portion 2 It is incorporated in a state of protruding outward from the through hole 2A.

  Further, a detection element 4 such as an MR element capable of detecting a change in the strength of the magnetic field is disposed in the vicinity of the periphery of the disc portion 3C, and its terminal 4A protrudes outward through the substrate portion 1. .

  Reference numeral 5 denotes an elastic spring fixed to the upper surface of the disk portion 3C so as to rotate together with the rotating member 3, and the projecting contact portion 5A is a lower surface of the top surface portion of the case portion 2. It is elastically contacted with the irregular portion 6 provided regularly.

  The conventional magnetic rotary operation type input device is configured as described above, and its operation is mounted on the rotary member 3 when the rotary shaft 3B protruding outward is rotated to rotate the rotary member 3. The distributed state of the magnetic field is changed by the rotation of the magnets, and the fluctuation of the magnetic field is read by the detection element 4, and the detection element 4 sends a predetermined signal from the terminal 4A.

  Further, during this rotation operation, the elastic spring 5 elastically slides on the concavo-convex portion 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 to generate a click feeling.

  This click feeling is transmitted to the user as a rotation operation feeling during the rotation operation.

  The elastic spring 5 also functions as an anti-rotation function that prevents the rotating member 3 from inadvertently rotating and generating an error signal in a normal state where no rotation operation is performed. 5A is locked so as to press the side surface portion of the concave portion of the concave-convex portion 6 with a predetermined elastic contact force.

  However, in the conventional rotational operation type input device described above, the elastic spring 5 formed by bending and the concavo-convex portion 6 of the case portion 2 are combined to generate a touch during the rotational operation, while being attached to the rotating member 3. Since the change in the strength of the magnetic field accompanying the movement of the magnet is detected by the detecting element 4 to obtain the amount of rotation of the rotating member 3, there is a problem that it is difficult to synchronize the rotation feeling and the signal output.

  In addition, by repeating the rotation operation, the uneven portion 6 of the case portion 2 is also worn, and there is a problem that the rotation feeling is easily deteriorated.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and provides a magnetic rotary operation type input device that makes it easy to synchronize the rotation feel and signal output and that does not deteriorate the rotation feel even if the operation is repeated. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an operating body for rotational operation that rotates horizontally by rotating an upper surface serving as an operation place on a plane, and a lower surface of the operating body are concentrically aligned with a rotation center. A ring magnet magnetized with a plurality of poles, a magnetic plate provided between the operating body and the ring magnet, and arranged to face the ring magnet in the vertical direction, A detection element that magnetically detects the rotation of the ring-shaped magnet accompanying the rotation operation of the operating body in a non-contact manner, and a part other than a part that detects the strength of the magnetic field of the ring-shaped magnet on the same side as the detection element. A magnetic body or magnet that is arranged in a portion and generates a magnetic change force with the ring-shaped magnet to generate an operation feeling; and a relief hole of a predetermined size in which the detection element is arranged on the inside. The above operating body can be rotated. It is obtained by that a base for lifting rotary operation type input device.

  In the present invention, rotation information can be detected by a detection element for a ring-shaped magnet mounted on the lower surface of an operating body for signal generation, and a magnetic body or a magnet is arranged at a position facing the ring-shaped magnet. The magnetic change force generated between the ring magnet and the feel during rotation operation makes it easy to synchronize the rotation feel and signal output, and the rotation feel does not deteriorate even if the operation is repeated. This has the effect of being able to be a rotary operation type input device.

  In addition, a magnetic plate is provided between the operating body and the ring-shaped magnet. By providing this magnetic plate, the magnetic field leaking from the operating body to the outside can be blocked, and a magnetic plate is provided. Because the strength of the magnetic field below the ring magnet is increased, simply detecting elements and magnetic bodies (magnets) are placed below the ring magnet to obtain more accurate rotation information detection and good rotation feel. It has the effect that it can be made.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary operation type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, and 11 is a resin-made operating body configured in a substantially circular ring shape. A magnetic plate 12 made of a silicon steel plate or magnetic stainless steel, which is similarly processed and formed into a ring shape, and a ring-shaped magnet 13 are arranged concentrically on the lower surface thereof.

The magnetic plate 12 and the ring-shaped magnet 13 are integrally fixed to the operation body 11 with high accuracy by insert molding.

  The ring-shaped magnet 13 is configured such that N poles and S poles are alternately or at the same angle magnetized at a predetermined angle.

  In FIG. 2, the magnetized portion of the ring-shaped magnet 13 is indicated by a hatched portion for easy understanding.

  Further, the ring-shaped magnet 13 may be formed in a ring shape by connecting individual magnets with a resin or the like, or may be a C-shaped in a top view with a part opened.

  The operation body 11 is rotatably supported on a ring-shaped wall portion 14A provided on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the base 14 to which the operation feel generating magnet 15 is fixed.

  The magnet 15 and the lower surface of the ring-shaped magnet 13 are arranged in an opposing state maintaining a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.

  Note that the operational feel generating magnet 15 may be a simple magnetic material.

  And this base 14 is also formed in the ring shape which has the through-hole 14B in the center, and escape hole 14D is provided in the predetermined angle range between the inner cylinder part 14C and said ring-shaped wall part 14A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral wall of the inner cylindrical portion 14 </ b> C of the base 14 is rotatably engaged with the inner periphery of a circular ring-shaped regulating wall portion 11 </ b> A provided on the lower surface of the operating body 11. .

  On the other hand, reference numeral 20 denotes a substrate portion, on which one or a plurality of detection elements 21 such as MR elements that can detect a change in magnetic field strength are mounted and mounted at predetermined angular positions. An insulating sheet 22 having flexibility is covered so as to cover the top.

  And the mechanism part comprised including the operation body 11, the magnetic board 12, the ring-shaped magnet 13, and the base 14 from this insulating sheet 22 is combined.

  That is, the detection element 21 is positioned in the escape hole 14D of the base 14 via the insulating sheet 22 so as to face the ring-shaped magnet 13 in the vertical direction, and on the lower surface of the ring-shaped magnet 13 and the detection element 21. The upper surface of the insulating sheet 22 is combined so as to be arranged with a slight gap in the vertical direction.

  Thus, the ring-shaped magnet 13 is in a state of facing the detection element 21 mounted on the substrate unit 20 via the magnet 15 disposed on the base 14 and the insulating sheet 22.

  A push-type switch 23 is disposed at the position of the substrate portion 20 corresponding to the through hole 14B provided in the center of the base 14 in the vertical direction.

  The switch 23 may have any configuration, but the switch according to the present embodiment is formed of an elastic metal thin plate on the outer fixed contact 24 disposed on the substrate part 20 and processed into a convex dome shape. The lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact 25 is placed, and the lower surface of the central portion of the movable contact 25 faces the central fixed contact 26 disposed on the substrate portion 20 at a predetermined interval.

  This switch 23 is preferable because the switch contact portion can be made thin.

  The movable contact 25 is attached and fixed to the upper surface of the substrate portion 20 with a flexible insulating tape 25A.

  An operation button 30 is placed on the insulating tape 25A of the switch contact portion via an insulating sheet 22, and the operation button 30 is disposed in the through hole 14B of the base 14 and has a collar portion. The circumferential surface of 30A is regulated by the inner circumferential wall of the inner cylindrical portion 14C of the base 14 so as to be movable up and down, and the upper surface of the flange portion 30A abuts on the lower surface portion around the circular central hole 11B of the operating body 11. Thus, the upper position is restricted.

  Since the insulating sheet 22 is placed on the switch contact portion of the switch 23 and the detection element 21, the switch contact portion of the board 20 and the mounting portion of the detection element 21 can be protected, and dust and drip proof The property is also excellent.

  Further, when the insulating sheet 22 covers various parts mounted on other parts of the board part 20, the dust and drip-proof property of the whole board part 20 is excellent.

  Radial small protrusions 11 </ b> C are provided on the upper surface of the operation body 11 so as to be equidistant on a circumference concentric with the rotation center of the operation body 11.

  The upper end of the operation button 30 is exposed upward from the circular central hole 11B of the operation body 11, and the height position thereof is equal to or slightly higher than the height position of the small protrusion 11C of the operation body 11. Is set to

  Reference numeral 40 denotes a fixing member constituted by a housing of the device, and the insulating sheet 22 is pressed down onto the board portion 20 without slack at the tip of the leg portion 40A that protrudes downward. The base 14 is positioned and fixed by the provided inner step 40B.

  The fixing member 40 is not shown in FIG.

  Further, a protruding upper surface wall portion 40C is provided further inside the inner stepped portion 40B so as to cover the upper peripheral portion of the operating body 11 where the small protrusions 11C are not provided with a predetermined interval. The operation body 11 is prevented from coming off upward by the upper surface wall portion 40C.

  That is, the predetermined range in the center of the upper surface of the operation body 11 and the operation buttons 30 of the switch 23 arranged inside the operation body 11 are configured to be exposed from the fixing member 40.

  The rotary operation type input device according to the present embodiment is a magnetic type configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, the case where the upper surface of the ring-shaped operation body 11 is rotated on a horizontal plane with a finger or the like will be described. The operation body 11 rotates horizontally while being restricted by the outer peripheral wall of the inner cylindrical portion 14C of the base 14. The ring-shaped magnet 13 fixed to this also rotates together.

  At this time, since the small protrusion 11C is provided on the operation body 11, since the finger can be operated by hooking the small protrusion 11C, the finger is difficult to slide, and it is easy to operate with a simple configuration, and the rotation operation is performed. This can be done continuously without removing your finger.

As the ring magnet 13 rotates, the distribution state of the magnetic field fluctuates, and the change in the strength of the magnetic field is detected by the detection element 21, and output of predetermined rotation information is obtained from the detection element 21.

  Since two or more detection elements 21 are provided, if they are arranged so that their outputs can be obtained as pulse outputs having a phase difference, they function as a so-called rotary encoder that can detect the amount of rotation and the direction of rotation. Can be.

  Further, since the magnetic plate 12 is interposed between the operating body 11 and the ring-shaped magnet 13, the magnetic field leaking from the upper surface of the operating body 11 to the outside can be blocked, and the magnetic plate 12 is provided. Since the strength of the magnetic field below the ring-shaped magnet 13 can be increased and, as a result, the strength of the magnetic field can be greatly varied with the rotation of the operating body 11, the detection accuracy can be easily increased.

  On the other hand, at the time of the rotation operation to the operation body 11, the operation feeling generating magnet 15 arranged on the base 14 repeatedly performs attraction and repulsion with the ring-shaped magnet 13, and this attraction repulsive force is the operation feeling. As obtained.

  Also at this time, since the strength of the magnetic field from the ring-shaped magnet 13 is large as described above, a good operation feeling can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a predetermined output is obtained from the detection element 21 with respect to fluctuations in the magnetic field strength accompanying the rotation of one ring-shaped magnet 13, and attraction and repulsion with the magnet 15. Since the force is obtained as a rotation feeling, it is easy to synchronize the signal output and the rotation feeling.

  In addition, in the above, when it is desired to configure at a lower cost, the magnetic poles magnetized on the ring-shaped magnet 13 may be a single pole and the magnet 15 may be replaced with a simple magnetic material.

  Moreover, the same effect is acquired even if the rotation operation method of the operation body 11 is other than what was demonstrated above.

  And in the normal state which is not performing the said rotation operation, the operation body 11 has stopped in the position where the magnetic field of the magnet 15 and the ring-shaped magnet 13 balances, and it does not rotate carelessly.

  Subsequently, when the operation button 30 exposed from the circular central hole 11B of the operation body 11 is pressed, that is, the operation at the time of pressing the switch 23 will be described. As shown by the arrow in FIG. When the upper end is pushed down with a finger or the like, the operation button 30 moves downward while the peripheral surface of the collar portion 30 </ b> A is regulated by the inner peripheral wall of the inner cylindrical portion 14 </ b> C of the base 14. The center of the movable contact 25 is pressed at the lower end.

  When a predetermined pressing force is applied, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable contact 25 is reversed with moderation, the lower surface of the central portion comes into contact with the central fixed contact 26, and the lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact 25 is placed. The outer fixed contact 24 and the central fixed contact 26 are electrically connected to each other, and the lead-out portions (not shown) derived from the fixed contacts 24 and 26 are electrically connected.

  When the pressing operation force on the operation button 30 is removed, the movable contact 25 is restored to its original shape by its own elastic restoring force so that the lower surface of the central portion is separated from the central fixed contact 26 and the outer fixed contact 24 and the central fixed are fixed. The contact button 26 returns to the electrically independent state, and the operation button 30 is pushed up to the original position by the restoring force.

  Even when a finger or the like touches the operating body 11 positioned around the operation button 30 during the pressing operation, the operating body 11 is stopped at a position where the magnetic fields of the magnet 15 and the ring-shaped magnet 13 are balanced. No false signal is generated.

  And since said rotation operation and press operation can be performed within the circular area where an outer diameter becomes the outer periphery of the operation body 11, there is little movement amount of a finger | toe and it can operate continuously.

  Moreover, since the rotation feeling generating mechanism that also serves as a rotation preventing function of the operating body 11 is configured in a non-contact manner using the attractive repulsion force between the magnet 15 and the ring-shaped magnet 13, the rotation feeling is extremely deteriorated. There are few and always a favorable rotation operation feeling is obtained.

  As described above, the rotation operation type input device according to the present invention can easily realize the rotation feeling and the signal output in synchronism with each other, and can realize the rotation feeling that does not deteriorate even if the rotation operation to the operation body 11 is repeated.

  Furthermore, when the switch 23 is disposed inside the operation body 11 described in the present embodiment is mounted on various electronic devices, for example, the first signal from the detection element 21 obtained by the rotation operation of the operation body 11. Then, a telephone number which is a desired item is selected from data such as a telephone number book displayed in a predetermined arrangement state in a display unit (not shown) of the device, and a switch contact is made by pressing the switch 23. With the second signal obtained when the unit is in the conductive state, the selected telephone number can be determined, confirmed, transmitted, and the like.

  Note that the above usage is one example, and the first signal and the second signal may be appropriately assigned to necessary functions to operate various functions.

  At this time, since the rotation operation and the pressing operation can be easily performed continuously with few finger movements as described above, an electronic device with excellent operability can be realized.

  If the switch 23 is provided, two individual signals can be obtained, so that it can easily follow the multi-functionality of the device. However, even if the switch 23 is not mounted, the operation feeling is deteriorated. Since there are very few, a thing with good operativity is obtained.

  In addition, the rotational operation type input device can be configured compactly with a small thickness and a small projection area corresponding to the operation range, including the case where the switch 23 is arranged. It can easily cope with thinning and miniaturization.

  Note that the operation of the operation body 11 can be made thinner if it is mounted on the apparatus so that its upper surface is rotated on a horizontal plane. However, as with the normal operation knob rotation operation, You may hold it and rotate it.

  Note that the configuration of the switch 23 may be other than the above, for example, a slide type may be arranged, a so-called multi-directional operation type having a plurality of switch contact portions, A combination thereof may also be used.

  As described above, the rotary operation type input device according to the present invention has an advantageous effect that it is easy to synchronize the rotation feeling and the signal output, and can be realized in a thin magnetic configuration that does not deteriorate the rotation feeling even if the operation is repeated. This is useful when configuring input operation units of various electronic devices, and an electronic device equipped with this rotary operation type input device also has good operability.

Sectional drawing of the rotational operation type input device by one embodiment of this invention Exploded perspective view Sectional drawing explaining the state at the time of pressing operation of the switch Sectional view of a conventional magnetic rotary input device Schematic diagram of the rotating operation feel generating mechanism that is the main part

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation body 11A Restriction wall part 11B Circular center hole 11C Small protrusion 12 Magnetic board 13 Ring-shaped magnet 14 Base 14A Ring-shaped wall part 14B Through-hole 14C Inner cylinder part 14D Escape hole 15 Magnet 20 Substrate part 21 Detection element 22 Insulation sheet 23 switch 24 outer fixed contact 25 movable contact 25A insulating tape 26 center fixed contact 30 operation button 30A collar 40 fixing member 40A leg 40B inner step 40C upper surface wall

Claims (1)

An operation body for rotational operation that rotates horizontally by rotating the upper surface as an operation place on a plane, and a ring shape that is concentrically attached to the lower surface of this operation body with the center of rotation aligned and magnetized with multiple poles A magnet, a magnetic plate provided between the operating body and the ring-shaped magnet, and the ring-shaped magnet which is disposed so as to face the ring-shaped magnet in the vertical direction. Between the detection element for detecting the rotation magnetically without contact and the part on the same side as the detection element and other than the part for detecting the strength of the magnetic field of the ring magnet. And a magnetic body or magnet that generates a magnetic change force to generate an operation feeling, and a release hole of a predetermined size in which the detection element is disposed inside, and rotatably supports the operation body. Rotating operation type with base Power equipment.

Images