JP4699916B2 - Multi-directional input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device, for example, a multidirectional input device capable of multidirectional input by rotating and pressing a key.

As shown in FIG. 11, the conventional multidirectional input device 100 includes a circular key 170 that is press-fitted and attached to the push slide 150 inside the outer housing 180, and the push slide 150 has a rotating plate. 132 and the casing 121 are mounted and placed on a switch board 110 on which dome-shaped push switches 110b, 110c, 110d, 100e, and 110f are disposed.
Further, a rotary encoder is configured by a circuit pattern (not shown) as a fixed contact constituting the rotary encoder of the casing 121, a slider 131 as a contact material, and a rotating plate 132.

The first operation of the conventional multidirectional input device 100 is that when the key 170 is rotated, the push slide 150, the rotating plate 132, and the slider 131 as a contact member are moved together with the rotation of the key 170. Rotate.
At this time, the slider 131 is in sliding contact with a circuit pattern as a fixed contact constituting the rotary encoder on the bottom wall 121a of the casing 121, and a predetermined electric signal is output, so that the rotation angle of the key 170 is increased. Detected.
As a second operation, the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the key 170 is pressed in the direction of arrow A. By pressing the key 170 in the arrow A direction, the key 170 is tilted in the A direction.
By this tilting operation, the push slide 150, the rotating plate 132, and the casing 121 fitted to the cylindrical portion 150c of the push slide 150 are tilted together. When the casing 121 is tilted, the convex portion 121h of the casing 121 operates (presses) the push switch 110b of the switch board 110 with a predetermined operating force, and the push switch 110b is turned on by this operation. Is done.

  Next, when the pressing in the direction of the arrow A is released, the tilting of the push slide 150, the rotating plate 132, and the casing 121 and the tilting of the key 170 are returned to the original initial positions by the elastic force of the push switch 110b. The push switch 110b is turned off. And even if these tilting operations press the vicinity of the other outer peripheral part of the key 170, the key 170 is tilted in each direction, and each protrusion 121h of the housing | casing part 121 pushes each push by this tilting. The switches 110c, 110d, and 110e are operated to turn on.

Next, the third operation of the multidirectional input device 100 presses the center portion of the key 170 in the arrow B direction as shown in FIG. By pushing the key 170 in the direction of arrow B, the push slide 150 is lowered against the elastic force of the slide return spring 140.
As the push slide 150 is lowered, the protrusion 150d of the push slide 150 presses the push switch 110f of the switch board 110, and the push switch 110f is turned on.
When the pressure on the key 170 is released, the key 170 is automatically returned to the original raised position by the elastic return force of the push switch 110f and the elastic force of the slide return spring 140.

In the first and second operations as described above, the operation force of each push switch 110c, 110d, 110e, 110f and the operation force of the slide return spring 140 can be set to be uniform or non-uniform, respectively.
JP 2001-345031 A

However, since the conventional multi-directional input device 100 as described above performs multi-directional input by rotating, tilting, and pressing one key 170, there is variation in the pressing position of the key 170, and the central portion. There is a possibility that erroneous input in which the push switch 110f and the outer push switch 110b are simultaneously input may occur.
Further, since the slider 131 constituting the rotary encoder is formed at a position where the contact portion extends outward from the rotation center of the key 170 by a predetermined dimension, the slider 131 has a large sliding area and is multidirectional. There was a problem that it was difficult to reduce the size of the input device 100.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional input device that can prevent erroneous input and can be miniaturized.

As a first means for solving the above problems, the input of the present invention includes a first key that can be raised and lowered by a pressing operation, and an annular second that is disposed on the outer periphery of the first key and can be rotated. And a casing that supports the second key so that the second key can be rotated. The first and second keys are arranged on the casing with their respective operation surfaces exposed from the casing. Each of the first keys is supported and can be pressed independently, and the first key can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key, and the first key can be rotated. A rotation shaft is formed at the center so as to protrude in the opposite direction to the operation surface, and the rotation shaft is fitted and supported by a rotation angle detection means, and rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key. The rotation angle of one key can be detected .
As a second means for solving the above problem, wherein the rotational center of the second key, receiving holes are formed through the first key for housing the first key to be later Noboru , together with the spline engaged with a possible later elevated to the inner peripheral surface of the retract and holes of the outer circumferential side second key, it is enabled rotating in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key It is characterized by that .

As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a first substrate that can be moved up and down together with the first key is disposed under the first key, and the first substrate is wherein the rotation Kakuken detecting means is mounted supported on one side, a first input means capable of inputting by the other surface side first substrate to the lift is characterized in that it is attached.
Further, as a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a holder is disposed on the side facing the other surface side of the first substrate with a predetermined gap, and the first substrate is When lowered, the first input means abuts on the holder and is operated for input.
Further, as a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the holder has a concave substrate storage portion that can store the first substrate, and an outer periphery of the second key outside the substrate storage portion. A guide wall that guides the side wall is formed.

Further, as a sixth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a plurality of the guide walls are disposed on the same circumference at a position where the outer peripheral side wall of the second key can be guided, forming a hook-shaped support walls on the same circumference of the plurality of guide walls, wherein the second key, wherein the support wall is snap engageable with a ring-shaped groove is formed And
Further, as the seventh means for solving the above problem, the bottom wall of the base plate accommodating portion of the holder includes a contact portion to which the first input means is in contact, wherein the back side of the bottom wall A swing fulcrum is formed at a position facing the contact portion, and when a part of the operation surface of the second key is pressed, the holder can swing about the swing fulcrum. Features.
Further, as an eighth means for solving the above problems, rocking fulcrum of said holder, said that from the rear surface of the bottom wall is protruded at a predetermined height, the back of the projecting top portion of the swing support point is the bottom wall It comes into contact with the second substrate is disposed on the side surface opposite to wherein are enabled holder GaYura movement.

Further, as a ninth means for solving the above-described problem, a plurality of elements on the second substrate having a predetermined interval on a circumference having a predetermined diameter centered on the swing fulcrum are provided. second input means is arranged for, when pressed part of the operation surface of the second key, and wherein the holder on the side where the holder has the pressing operation swings drops To do.
Further, a tenth means for solving the above problem, between the second substrate and the holder, the elastic member is disposed, the elastic biasing force of the elastic member, the holder GaYura together are rotatably supported, said first substrate attached to the first input means is characterized in that it is supported to be descending temperature at a position of a predetermined height.
As an eleventh means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the elastic member is formed with a holder support portion capable of supporting the holder in a horizontal initial state, and the holder is provided with the holder support portion. A hook portion that can be snap-engaged is formed.

Further, a twelfth means for solving the above problem, the second key, the support projection which is protruded outward from the outer peripheral side surface is supported by being placed on the guide wall of the holder, the When a part of the operation surface of the second key is pressed, the support protrusion on the side of the pressing operation presses the guide wall, and the holder swings around the swing fulcrum. To do.
Further, as a 13 means for solving the above problem, wherein the upper case of the housing, the first, is open pores to leave exposed the operation surface of the second key at a predetermined height is formed, The second key is prevented from coming off the opening hole by the support protrusion, and the inner peripheral surface of the opening hole and the support protrusion do not interfere with each other when the second key swings. It has a shape.
As a fourteenth means for solving the above problem, the inner peripheral side surface of the open hole and the outer peripheral surface of the support protrusion are each formed in an arc shape centering on the swing fulcrum. It is characterized by.

The first and second keys according to the present invention are supported by the casing with their respective operation surfaces exposed from the casing, and each can be independently pressed. Since the second key can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key, a small multi-directional input device can be provided by attaching a small rotation angle detecting means to the rotation axis of the first key.
In addition, a storage hole is formed through the center of rotation of the second key so that the first key can be moved up and down, and the first key has an outer peripheral surface on the inner peripheral side surface of the second key storage hole. Since it can be moved up and down by being engaged with the spline, it can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key, so that the first and second keys can be reliably pressed independently of each other. Such erroneous input can be prevented.
In addition, a rotation axis is formed at the center of rotation of the first key so as to protrude in the opposite direction to the operation surface, and the rotation axis is fitted and supported by the rotation angle detecting means, and interlocked with the rotation operation of the second key top. Since the rotation angle of the rotating first key can be detected, a small rotation angle detecting means can be used, and a small multi-directional input device can be provided.

Further, the lower portion of the first key, the first substrate elevatable with the first key is disposed, the first substrate, together with means out rotation Kakuken on one side is mounted a support, other Since the first input means capable of inputting by moving the first substrate up and down on the surface side is attached, the detection of the rotation angle and the input of the first input means can be reliably performed.
A holder is disposed on the side facing the other surface of the first substrate with a predetermined gap. When the first substrate is lowered, the first input means comes into contact with the holder and inputs. Since it is operated, the first input means can be surely input by pressing the first key.
In addition, since the holder is formed with a concave substrate storage portion that can store the first substrate and a guide wall that guides the outer peripheral side wall of the second key outside the substrate storage portion. The first substrate can be reliably lowered by the pressing operation of the first key, and the second key can be reliably rotated by the guide wall.

A plurality of guide walls are disposed on the same circumference at a position where the outer peripheral side wall of the second key can be guided, and the holder has a hook-shaped support wall on the same circumference between the plurality of guide walls. Since the ring-shaped groove in which the support wall can be snap-engaged is formed in the second key, the first key is formed by snap-engaging the hook-shaped support wall with the ring-shaped groove. The second key and the holder, which are engaged with each other by spline engagement, can be temporarily fixed to form a key group unit, and assemblability can be improved.
The bottom wall of the substrate storage portion of the holder is formed with a contact portion with which the first input means abuts and a swing fulcrum at a position facing the contact portion on the back surface side of the bottom wall. When a part of the operation surface of the key is pressed, the holder can swing about the swing fulcrum, so that the first input means can be input more reliably, and the second input can be performed by swinging the holder. The input means can be input reliably.
Further, the swing fulcrum of the holder is formed to protrude from the back surface of the bottom wall at a predetermined height, and the protruding top of the swing fulcrum is in contact with the second substrate disposed on the side facing the back surface of the bottom wall, Since the holder can be swung, the holder can be swung reliably.

On the second substrate, a plurality of second input means are arranged at a predetermined interval on a circumference having a predetermined diameter with the swing fulcrum as the center, and a second key is provided. When a part of the operation surface is pressed, the holder swings and a part of the holder on the pressed side descends, so that the second input means on the pressed side can be more reliably input. .
An elastic member is disposed between the holder and the second substrate. The holder is swingably supported by the elastic biasing force of the elastic member, and the first input means is attached. Since the first substrate is supported at a predetermined height so as to be movable up and down, the first substrate can be pushed down against the urging force of the elastic member by the pressing operation of the first key. When the key is released, the first substrate can be reliably pushed up by the biasing force of the elastic member. Therefore, the first input means can be reliably turned on / off.
Further, the elastic member is formed with a holder support portion that can support the holder in a horizontal initial state, and the holder is formed with a hook portion that can be snap-engaged with the holder support portion. By snap-engaging with the holder support portion, it is possible to prevent the holder from being detached from the elastic member when swinging.

In addition, the second key is supported by a support protrusion formed so as to protrude outward from the outer peripheral side surface and placed on the guide wall of the holder, and when a part of the operation surface of the second key is pressed, Since the support protrusion on the side pressed the guide wall and the holder swings with the swing fulcrum as a fulcrum, the second input means Can be entered.
In addition, an opening hole that exposes the operation surfaces of the first and second keys at a predetermined height is formed in the upper case of the housing, and the second key is prevented from being removed from the opening hole by the support protrusion, Since the inner peripheral surface of the open hole and the support protrusion are shaped so as not to interfere with each other when the second key is swung, the second key can be easily swung by pressing the second key. It is possible to provide the multi-directional input means that can move and input the second input means and is excellent in operability.
Also, since the inner peripheral side surface of the open hole and the outer peripheral surface of the support protrusion are each formed in an arc shape centering on the swinging fulcrum, they do not interfere with each other and are multi-directional with excellent operability An input means can be provided.

  Below, the multidirectional input device 1 of this invention is demonstrated based on drawing. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the multidirectional input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multidirectional input device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper case according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first key according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second key, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rotation angle detecting means according to the present invention and a first substrate to which the rotation angle detecting means is attached, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a holder according to the present invention. 10 is a perspective view of an elastic member according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a multidirectional input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a casing 2, and the casing 2 has an upper case 3 and a lower case. 4 and the inside is hollow, the upper case 3 is formed with an open hole 3a of a predetermined size, and an elastic member 12 (to be described later) is formed in the second substrate 13 inside. A plurality of pressing protrusions 3b that are pressed to restrict movement are formed.
In addition, a plurality of support protrusions 4 a that support a second substrate 13 described later at a predetermined height position are formed inside the lower case 4.
Further, the operation surfaces 5a and 6a of the first and second keys 5 and 6 are exposed from the open hole 3a of the upper case 3. The first key 5 can be moved up and down in the directions of arrows C and D by pressing the operation surface 5 a, and the second key 6 is arranged on the outer periphery of the first key 5. It is formed in an annular shape so as to surround and is rotatable.

A plurality of convex engaging portions 5 b are formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the first key 5. Further, the rotational center of the second key 6, housing holes 6b for vertically movably receiving the first key 5 is formed through the inner peripheral side surface of the receiving hole 6b is the first key 5 A concave engaging portion 6c that can engage with the engaging portion 5b is formed.
The first and second keys 5 and 6 have the engaging portions 5b and 6c engaged with each other by spline engagement so that the first key can be moved up and down with respect to the second key 6. The first key 5 can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key 6.
The operation surface 6a of the second key 6 is formed with a plurality of convex portions 6d for preventing slippage when the second key 6 is rotated.

Further, the annular second key 6 is formed with a substantially triangular support protrusion 6e protruding outward from the outer peripheral side surface, and the second key 6 opens the upper case 3 by the support protrusion 6e. It is prevented from coming off from the hole 3a.
Inclined outer peripheral surface of the supporting protrusion 6e is formed in an arc shape around the swing fulcrum 11k of holders 11 to be described later. Further, the inner peripheral side surface of the opening hole 3a of the upper case 3 to face the outer peripheral surface arcuate support projections 6e, similarly to the support projection 6e, around the swing fulcrum 11k of holders 11 to be described later It is formed in an arc shape.

Therefore, when the second key 6 is swung with a swing fulcrum 11k of the holder 11 described later as a fulcrum, the support protrusion 6e and the inner peripheral side surface of the opening hole 3a do not interfere with each other, and the one of the operation surfaces 6a. When the part is pressed, the second key 6 can be swung smoothly without difficulty.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a ring groove 6f capable of snap-engaging a support wall 11j of the holder 11 described later has a predetermined width dimension and depth dimension in the circumferential direction at the lower part of the support protrusion 6e. Is formed.
A rotation shaft 7 protruding in the opposite direction (downward in the figure) to the operation surface 5a is integrally formed with the first key 5 by press-fitting or adhesive or the like at the rotation center of the first key 5. Alternatively, the rotary shaft 7 may be formed by integrally forming the first key 5 at the same time as the molding process. A small rotation angle detection means 8 made of a commercially available encoder or the like is attached to the rotation shaft 7. The rotating shaft 7 is fitted and supported in the support hole 8a of the rotation angle detecting means 8 by press fitting or the like.

The support hole 8a is formed in a hexagonal shape, for example, and by forming the rotary shaft 7 fitted into the support hole 8a into a hexagonal column shape, the rotary shaft 7 is press-fitted into the support hole 8a. The rotation shaft 7 does not slip with respect to the rotation angle detection means 8, and the rotation angle of the first key 5 can be detected with high accuracy by the rotation angle detection means 8.
The rotation angle detection means 8 is attached to one surface, which is the upper surface in the figure, of the first substrate 9 by an adhesive or the like, and the rotation shaft 7 and the rotation angle detection means 8 are moved by pressing the first key 5. Thus, the first substrate 9 is pressed.

The first substrate 9 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 8, a substantially rectangular square hole 9a is formed in the central portion. The recesses 9b having the width dimension and the depth dimension are formed so that the outer shape is substantially H-shaped.
Further, at the four corners of the first substrate 9, grooves 9 c that can be moved up and down by being fitted to a rotation projection 11 e of the holder 11 described later are formed.
Further, on the other surface side of the first substrate 9 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which is the lower surface of the first substrate 9, the first input means 10 including a tact switch or the like is attached on the extension line of the axis of the rotating shaft 7. It has been. The first input means 10 is attached to the other surface side of the first substrate 9 with the operation element 10a positioned downward.

For this purpose, as the first key 5 moves up and down in the directions of arrows C and D by the pressing operation, the first substrate 9 also moves up and down, and the operator 10a of the first input means 10 moves the holder 11 described later. The first input means 10 is operated to be input in contact with the SW contact portion 11f.
A holder 11 made of a synthetic resin or the like is disposed on the side (the lower side in the figure) facing the other surface side of the first substrate 9 with a predetermined gap. The holder 11 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9, a concave substrate storage capable of storing a first substrate 9 that moves up and down together with the first key 5 at the center. A portion 11a is formed, and the bottom of the substrate storage portion 11a is shielded by the bottom wall 11b.

The bottom wall 11b is formed with insertion holes 11c through which push-up protrusions 12b of an elastic member 12 (described later) can be inserted at equal intervals in four directions.
In addition, a pair of substrate locking claws 11d are formed on the bottom wall 11b so as to protrude from each other at positions facing each other. By fitting the concave portion 9b of the first substrate 9 into the substrate locking claw 11d, Positioning in the height direction of the first substrate 9 to which the rotation detecting means 8 is attached is performed.
Further, the concave substrate storage portion 11a near the insertion hole 11c is formed with an anti-rotation projection 11e having a predetermined thickness inwardly projecting, and the anti-rotation projection 11e includes the first substrate accommodated in the substrate storage portion 11a. The groove 9c of the substrate 9 is fitted so as to be movable up and down so that the first substrate 9 is prevented from rotating.
Further, an SW contact portion 11f with which the operator 10a of the first input means 10 contacts is formed at the center of the bottom wall 11b.

Further, a flange portion 11g having a substantially circular outer shape is formed on the outer side of the substrate storage portion 11a, and an arc shape is formed on the flange portion 11g so as to face the support protrusion 6e of the second key 6. predetermined height dimension guide wall 11h is formed projecting in four directions.
By this guide wall 11h, the outer peripheral side wall below the support protrusion 6e of the second key 6 is rotatably guided. Further, a hook-like engaging wall 11j is formed between the guide walls 11h at the same height as the guide wall 11h.
And the support protrusion part 6e of the 2nd key 6 is mounted in the top part of the guide wall 11h and the supporting wall 11j, and the height direction of the 2nd key 6 is positioned.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the hook-like engaging wall 11 j can be snap-engaged with the ring groove 6 f of the second key 6 to temporarily fix the second key 6 to the holder 11. For this purpose, the first key 5 having the first substrate 9 attached to the rotating shaft 7 via the rotation angle detecting means 8 and the second key 6 spline-engaged with the first key 5 are attached to the holder 11. of the guide wall 11 h snaps Kakari支with key group unit, prior to assembly of the multi-directional input apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to be prepared as a key group unit in a separate process in advance. Therefore, it is excellent in assemblability.
Further, the holder 11 is formed with a swing fulcrum 11k that protrudes downward in the figure in a circular arc shape at a position facing the SW contact portion 11f on the back surface side of the bottom wall 11b, and this swing fulcrum 11k will be described later. By abutting against the second substrate 13, the holder 11 can swing in any direction with the swinging fulcrum 11k as a fulcrum.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, SW operation portions 11 m are formed on the holder 11 at a plurality of locations on the lower surface side of the flange portion 11 g so as to protrude downward in the drawing at a predetermined height. The SW operation unit 11m is formed, for example, at four locations at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the holder 11 is formed with an anti-rotation arm portion 11 n that protrudes from the outer peripheral side surface of the flange portion 11 g in four directions with a predetermined length, and the anti-rotation arm portion 11 n is a case. 2 A holder 11 that is supported by a support portion (not shown) inside and swings around a swing fulcrum 11k is prevented.
Further, the four positions between the detent arms 11 n adjacent to each other, the hook portion 11p is formed, the hook portion 11p, as shown in FIG. 4, snap the holder supporting portion 12d of the elastic member 12 to be described later By engaging, the holder 11 can be supported in a horizontal initial state at a predetermined height position.

In addition, an elastic member 12 made of a plate such as rubber is disposed below the holder 11. As shown in FIG. 10, the elastic member 12 has a substantially octagonal outer shape, and a clearance hole 12a having a predetermined diameter for escaping the swing fulcrum 11k of the holder 11 is formed at the center. .
Further, on the surface of the elastic member 12 around the escape hole 12 a, cylindrical push-up protrusions 12 b are formed to protrude at a predetermined height at four equally spaced positions. The first substrate 9 is horizontally supported at a predetermined height by being inserted through the insertion hole 11c.
Further, the elastic member 12 has dome-shaped contact support portions 12c bulging and formed at four locations at intervals of 90 degrees at four locations outside the push-up protrusion 12b, and the SW of the holder 11 is placed on the contact support portion 12c. The operation unit 11m is positioned.
Then, when the second key 6 is pressed, the holder 11 is moved down so that the contact support portion 12c is pressed by the SW operation portion 11m in the vicinity of the pressed portion and the movable contact 14 described later is reversed. It is like that.

A holder support portion 12d having a substantially cubic shape and a hollow shape is formed on the outside of the contact support portion 12c so as to protrude at a predetermined height. A slit groove 12e in which the hook portion 11p of the holder 11 can be snap-engaged is formed on the upper wall of the holder support portion 12d.
Then, when the hook portion 11p of the holder 11 is snap-engaged with the slit groove 12e, the holder 11 is supported in the horizontal initial state with the lower surface of the flange portion 11g abutting against the upper wall of the holder support portion 12d. It has become.
Such an elastic member 12 is placed on the second substrate 13 supported on the support protrusion 4 a of the lower case 4.

Further, on the second substrate 13 inside the dome shape of the contact support portion 12c of the elastic member 12, movable contacts 14 constituting second input means in which a leaf spring is formed in a dome shape are respectively disposed. . Each movable contact 14 is bonded and integrated with a thin film sheet (not shown).
Then, a fixed contact (not shown) insulated from the movable contact 14 is formed on the second substrate 13 on the side facing the movable contact 14, and the movable contact 14 is inverted to be electrically connected to the fixed contact. By doing so, the second input means is input.

In the assembly of the multidirectional input device 1 of the present invention, the second substrate 13 is mounted on the support protrusion 4a of the lower case 4, and the four movable contacts 14 are bonded on the second substrate 13. A film sheet (not shown) is placed.
Then, on the four movable contacts 14, the elastic member 12 is placed in alignment with the contact support portion 12c, on the elastic member 12, the first and the first key 5 splined 2 The key group unit in a state where the engaging wall 11j of the holder 11 is snap-engaged and temporarily fixed in the ring groove 6f of the key 6 is placed.
Then, the upper case 3 is put on the key group unit, and the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are integrated by screwing or the like. Then, the operation surfaces 5a and 6a of the first and second keys 5 and 6 are exposed at a predetermined height from the opening hole 3a of the upper case 3, and the elastic member 12 is secondly pressed by the pressing protrusion 3b of the upper case 3. The assembly is completed by being pressed by the substrate 13 and the movement is restricted.

In the operation of the multi-directional input device 1 of the present invention assembled as described above, when the operation surface 5a of the first key 5 is pressed, the first substrate 9 is pressed and lowered via the rotating shaft 7, The operating element 10a of the first input means 10 such as a tact switch is brought into contact with the SW contact portion 11f of the holder 11, and the first input means 10 is inputted. An input signal generated at this time is inputted to a control section (not shown). Output).
When the operation surface 6a of the second key 6 is rotated, the first key 5 that is spline-engaged with the second key 6 is rotated and a pulse signal is output from the rotation angle detecting means 8 comprising an encoder or the like. The rotation angle of the first key 5 corresponding to the pulse signal can be detected by the control unit.

When a part of the operation surface 6a of the second key 6 is pressed, the pressed support projection 6e pushes down the guide wall 11h or the engaging wall 11j, and the holder 11 supports the swinging fulcrum 11k. Swing as.
Then, SW operating portion 11m of the holder 11, presses the movable contact 14 of the pressed side, second input means is input, the input signal at this time is generated is output to the control unit.
In such a multidirectional input device 1 of the present invention, the first and second keys 5 and 6 can be pressed independently, so either one of the keys can be pressed. The other key never drops. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous input as in the conventional example in which the first and second input means 10 and 14 are simultaneously input.

  Further, since the first key 5 is spline-engaged with the second key 6, for example, a rotation angle detecting means 8 made of a commercially available small encoder can be used, and sliding as in the conventional example is possible. A large sliding area of the child 131 is not necessary, and downsizing is possible. In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the first input means 10 has been described as a tact switch, but a dome-shaped movable contact 14 used for the second input means may be used. Although the second input means has been described as using the movable contact 14, a tact switch such as that used in the first input means 10 may be used.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the multidirectional input device of this invention. It is a perspective view of the multidirectional input device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. It is a perspective view of the upper case concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view of the 1st key concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view of the 2nd key concerning this invention. It is a perspective view of the rotation angle detection means concerning this invention, and the 1st board | substrate which mounts this. It is a perspective view of the holder concerning this invention. It is a perspective view of the elastic member concerning this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the conventional multidirectional input device .

One multidirectional input device 2 housing 3 upper case 3a opening hole 3b pressing projections 4 lower case 4a supporting projections 5 first key 5a operation surface 5b engaging portion 6 and the second key 6a operation surface 6b accommodating hole 6c of the invention Engagement portion 6e Support protrusion 6f Ring groove 7 Rotating shaft 8 Rotation angle detection means 8a Support hole 9 First substrate 10 First input means 10a Operator 11 Holder 11a Substrate storage portion 11b Bottom wall 11c Insertion hole 11d Substrate engagement Stopper 11e Anti-rotation projection 11f SW contact portion 11g Hook 12 Elastic member 13 Second substrate 14 Movable contact (second input means)

Claims (14)

A first key that can lift a pressing operation, the second key of the rotational operable annular disposed on the outer periphery of the first key, housing for supporting the second key rotation operably The first and second keys are supported by the casing in a state where the respective operation surfaces are exposed from the casing, and each of the first and second keys can be pressed independently. The first key is rotatable in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key, and a rotation axis is formed at the center of rotation of the first key so as to protrude in a direction opposite to the operation surface. The rotation shaft is fitted and supported by a rotation angle detecting means so that the rotation angle of the first key rotating in conjunction with the rotation operation of the second key can be detected. Multi-directional input device. Wherein the rotation center of the second key, housing hole for accommodating the first key to be descending temperature is formed through the first key, the outer peripheral side surface of the yield Osameana of the second key with spline engaged to be descending temperature on the inner circumferential side, multi-directional input apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it becomes possible rotation with the rotation operation of the second key. Wherein the lower portion of the first key, the first of the first substrate elevatable with a key is disposed, wherein the first substrate, together with the rotation Kakuken detecting means on one side is mounted supported 3. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein a first input means capable of inputting by moving the first substrate up and down is attached to the other surface side. A holder is disposed on the side facing the other surface of the first substrate with a predetermined gap. When the first substrate is lowered, the first input means comes into contact with the holder. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, wherein the input operation is performed. The holder is formed with a concave substrate storage portion that can store the first substrate, and a guide wall that guides an outer peripheral side wall of the second key outside the substrate storage portion. The multidirectional input device according to claim 4 . The guide wall is more disposed peripheral side wall of said second key on the same circumference of the guide possible positions, the holder, the hook shape on the same circumference of the plurality of guide walls 6. The other-direction input device according to claim 5 , wherein a ring-shaped groove in which the support wall can be snap-engaged is formed in the second key. The bottom wall of the base plate accommodating part of said holder, said abutting portion where the first input means is in contact, fulcrum at a position opposed to the contact portion at the rear surface side of the bottom wall is formed, The multi-directional input device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein when a part of the operation surface of the second key is pressed, the holder can swing about the swing fulcrum. Rocking fulcrum of said holder, said that from the rear surface of the bottom wall is protruded at a predetermined height, the second substrate projecting top of said rocking fulcrum is disposed on the side facing the back surface of the bottom wall those contact with, multi-directional input device according to claim 7, characterized in that said are enabled holder GaYura movement. A plurality of second input means are disposed on the second substrate with a predetermined interval on a circumference having a predetermined diameter centered on the swing fulcrum. When pressing the portion of the operation surface of the key, multi-directional input device according to claim 8, wherein said holder side where the holder has the pressing operation swings drops. Between the second substrate and the holder, the elastic member is disposed, the elastic biasing force of the elastic member, with being supported the holder GaYura rotatably on said first input means the first substrate is multi-directional input device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein in that it is supported to be descending temperature at a position of a predetermined height is attached.   The elastic member is formed with a holder support portion that can support the holder in a horizontal initial state, and the holder is formed with a hook portion that can be snap-engaged with the holder support portion. The multidirectional input device according to claim 10. The second key, the support protrusions that protrude outward from the outer peripheral side surface is supported by being placed on the guide wall of the holder, when pressed part of the operating surface of the second key, 12. The multiple according to claim 7 , wherein the support projecting portion on the pressed side presses the guide wall, and the holder swings around the swing fulcrum. Direction input device. Wherein the upper case of the housing, the first open hole to leave exposed the operation surface of the second key at a predetermined height is formed, the second key, the open hole by the support protrusions from missing the stopper, the inner circumferential surface of the open hole and the supporting projection is, of claim 12, wherein said second key is characterized in that it is shaped so as not to interfere with each other when swung Multi-directional input device. The multidirectional input device according to claim 13, wherein an inner peripheral side surface of the open hole and an outer peripheral surface of the support protrusion are each formed in an arc shape centering on the swing fulcrum.

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