JP5231715B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly, to an input device capable of performing operation input without causing a directional input shift.

  Since an operation device for operating an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation system may be operated while the vehicle is driving, the driver who is an operator can operate it without paying attention to the operation device and its button arrangement. It is necessary to.

Therefore, the input device is a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) formed so as to be easily held with one hand, and the position of the thumb when held with one hand is provided with the execution key as a center. Function buttons that are designed so that the direction indication key (hereinafter referred to as “cursor key”) is the position of an integrated button that is integrally arranged around the direction key, and that is frequently operated around the integrated button. There is known a remote control in which is arranged (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, the operator can perform main operations with one thumb without gazing at the operation device.
JP 2003-204583 A

  However, when the remote control described in Patent Document 1 performs an operation input in the left-right direction using the cursor key, the operation input may be slightly shifted from the left-right direction depending on the force applied to the thumb. For example, when a pointer is displayed on the display screen and the position of the pointer is moved to a predetermined position by a cursor key, there is a problem that the operation input cannot be performed in the direction as expected by the operator.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can perform an operation input without causing a direction shift.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an input device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a direction operation part that can be operated in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a housing part that supports the direction operation part so that it can be operated in the front-rear and left-right directions. In the input device, the direction operation unit is a protrusion that extends in the front-rear direction, and each of the side surfaces includes a protrusion that receives an operation force in each of the left and right directions.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first aspect, the direction operation portion is disposed on at least one of the left and right sides of the protruding portion extending in the front-rear direction, and the friction is applied. And a friction part for receiving an operating force in the extending direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the direction operation portion is an operation capable of inputting in the extending direction of the protruding portion and the direction perpendicular to the extending direction. It is characterized by restricting the direction.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the housing portion has a convex spherical surface, and the direction operation portion extends along the convex spherical surface. The direction operation unit is supported so that the switch can be moved, and a switch input unit is provided on the convex spherical surface.

  By the means described above, the present invention can provide an input device that can perform an operation input without causing a directional input shift.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in several embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an input device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an operator's left hand is placed on the input device according to the present invention.

  The input device 100 includes a housing 1, a joystick knob 2, and operation switches 3 to 6, communicates with a control unit (not shown) by wire or wirelessly, and performs car navigation via a display unit connected to the control unit. Operate functions such as system, audio or air conditioner. Further, the input device 100 is fixed at a place where an operator including a driver can easily operate, such as a center console (not shown), but may be movable so that the installation place can be changed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 1 is formed so that the surface thereof has a convex spherical shape so that a hand can be easily placed. In addition, a groove along the shape of the finger is formed on the surface so that the position of the operator's finger is determined almost uniquely, and the operator can easily touch without observing the predetermined position where the finger should be placed. A protrusion serving as an index may be arranged on the surface so as to be able to.

  The joystick knob 2 is a direction operation unit for moving the cursor displayed on the display unit or scrolling the display screen, and can be sandwiched between the left index finger and the middle finger as shown in FIG. It has the ridge part 20 and the recessed parts 21 and 22 for accommodating an index finger and a middle finger.

  3A is a right side perspective view of the joystick knob 2, and FIG. 3B is a left side perspective view.

  The protruding portion 20 extends in the longitudinal direction of the finger, the width direction between the index finger and the middle finger corresponds to the left-right direction of the input device 100, and the longitudinal direction of the finger perpendicular to the width direction is the front-back direction of the input device 100. Correspond. Here, the “front-rear direction” is an operation direction of the input device 100 for moving a pointer or cursor displayed on the screen up and down on the screen, and “left-right direction” is a pointer displayed on the screen. And the operation direction of the input device 100 for moving the cursor left and right on the screen.

  The width of the protruding portion 20 is, for example, 5 mm to 20 mm, and is a width that allows two fingers to be sandwiched without forcibly opening them. The front and rear lengths of the ridge portion 20 are, for example, 20 mm to 50 mm, and both side surfaces 23 and 24 and the concave portions 21 and 22 of the ridge portion 20 extend in the longitudinal direction of the finger and are 2 over a predetermined length. It will be in the state which is easy to contact each of the side part and bottom part (finger part of a finger) of a book finger.

  Here, the “predetermined length” means, for example, a length equal to or longer than the first joint of the finger. The operator operates the joystick knob 2 in a state in which the finger is extended by bringing a part having a length equal to or longer than the first joint of the finger into contact with the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the ridge portion 20, and moves the finger. The range that can be done is naturally limited.

  As a result, the operation direction of the joystick knob 2 is limited to approximately four directions (front, rear, left and right). For example, when the operator puts his left hand on the joystick knob 2, if the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the ridge portion 20 do not have to be in contact with the side of the finger over a predetermined length, the operation A person can bend the joint of the finger to ensure the freedom of movement of the finger and move the joystick knob 2 in an oblique direction.

  However, if the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the protrusion 20 are in contact with the side of the finger over a predetermined length and the operator's finger is extended, the range in which the operator can move the finger is It is limited to a narrow range in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and even if the finger is moved in the narrow range, it becomes difficult for the operator to move the joystick knob 2 in an oblique direction. The operator is not forced to restrict the movement of the finger, but if the operator places his / her finger along the housing 1, the arrangement of the finger naturally restricts the movement of the finger as it is.

  Note that the “predetermined length” of the ridge portion 20 can be appropriately limited by the shape of the housing 1 or the joystick knob 2 so that the direction of operation input can be appropriately limited to the longitudinal direction of the finger and the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The length may be shorter than the length of the first joint or more of the finger. Further, the side portion of the finger that contacts the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the ridge portion 20 is not limited to the portion including the first joint, and the second joint and the third joint can be connected without the first joint contacting. The aspect which only the part to include may contact may be sufficient.

  Thus, unlike the conventional joystick that allows an operation in an oblique direction without restricting the range of movement of the finger, the input device 100 deviates from the longitudinal direction of the finger or the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Since it is difficult to operate the joystick knob 2 in the direction (diagonal direction), the joystick knob 2 is reliably operated in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the finger or in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) while suppressing such a direction shift. Can be made.

  In addition, the height of the protrusion part 20 is 10 mm thru | or 30 mm, for example, and is a height which can be made to contact easily, without sliding two fingers.

  Further, since the input device 100 increases the contact area between the joystick knob 2 and the finger, it is easy to apply a force to the joystick knob 2 and the operability can be improved compared to a conventional joystick.

  The concave portions 21 and 22 are friction portions that receive an operating force by friction with two fingers, and members such as rubber having a large friction coefficient are arranged on the surface or surface roughness so that the index finger or the middle finger does not slip. The surface is processed to increase the size. Here, the “operation force” is a force for operating the joystick knob 2 forward, backward, left and right. Note that both side surfaces 23 and 24 of the ridge portion 20 may be provided with a member such as rubber having a large friction coefficient, or may be subjected to surface processing so as to increase the surface roughness.

  Thereby, the input device 100 can accept a force in the front-rear direction without sliding the index finger and the middle finger due to friction between the index finger and the middle finger and the joystick knob 2.

  The left side surface 23 of the ridge portion 20 contacts, for example, the right side portion of the middle finger and receives the operation force generated by moving the middle finger to the right in the entire area where the right side portion of the middle finger contacts, and performs an input operation in the right direction. accept. Since the protruding portion 20 receives the operating force in the entire region where the right side portion of the middle finger contacts, it is difficult to cause a direction shift.

  Similarly, the right side surface 24 of the ridge portion 20 contacts, for example, the left side portion of the index finger, and receives the operating force by moving the index finger to the left in the entire region where the left side portion of the index finger contacts, Accept input operations. Since the protruding portion 20 receives an operating force in the entire region where the left side portion of the index finger contacts, it is difficult to cause a direction shift.

  The operation switch 3 is, for example, a push button type switch to which a predetermined function is assigned, and is arranged at the position of the thumb when the operator places the left hand on the input device 100. Since the operator can uniquely recognize the position of the thumb from the position of the joystick knob 2 and the groove formed in the housing 1 by tactile sensation, the operator does not need to confirm the position of the operation switch 3 with his / her eyes. Can be operated. Similarly, the operation switch 4 is disposed at the position of the little finger of the operator's left hand.

  Thus, since the operator can operate the operation switches 3 and 4 without moving the position of the hand, the operation switches 3 and 4 include the frequency of use such as the “decision” switch and the “return” switch. High function is assigned.

  Here, the “decision” switch is a switch for confirming the selection of an item or software button selected by moving the cursor via the direction operation input by the joystick knob 2, and the “return” switch is This is a switch for canceling the selection of items and buttons erroneously determined by the “decision” switch so that the selection can be made again. Other functions may be assigned to the operation switch 3 or 4.

  The operation switches 5 and 6 are, for example, push button switches to which a predetermined function is assigned, like the operation switches 3 and 4 described above, and are arranged in front of the joystick knob 2 (upward in the drawing). Is a switch operated by slightly extending the index finger and middle finger placed on the joystick knob 2 forward (upward in the drawing).

  Since the operator can uniquely recognize the positions of the operation switches 5 and 6 from the position of the joystick knob 2, the operator can operate the operation switches 5 and 6 without having to visually confirm the positions of the operation switches 5 and 6. . In this way, the operator can operate without visually confirming the positions of the operation switches 5 and 6, so that the operation switches 5 and 6 include “menu” switch, “current location” switch, and the like. High function is assigned.

  Here, the “menu” switch is a switch for calling a screen for selecting a menu such as a destination setting function in the car navigation system, and the “current location” switch displays map information centered on the vehicle position. It is a switch for. Note that other functions may be assigned to the operation switch 5 or 6.

  As described above, the input device 100 includes the protrusion 20 on the joystick knob 2 and guides the operation input direction in the longitudinal direction of the finger and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction while preventing the direction deviation. A person can recognize the direction in which an operation can be input sensuously by touching the joystick knob 2 without visually checking the joystick knob 2, and can perform an accurate operation input.

  Further, the input device 100 can easily recognize the positions of the joystick knob 2 and the operation switches 3 to 6 without the operator visually confirming the positions of the input device 100 due to the shape thereof.

  Further, the input device 100 includes the friction portions 21 and 22 in the joystick knob 2 and can receive an operation force in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the finger via friction, thereby preventing a direction shift and The joystick knob 2 can be operated quickly and reliably while guiding the operation input direction in the longitudinal direction of the finger.

  Further, the input device 100 has the operation switches 3 and 4 arranged at or near the position where the finger is placed, so that the operator can perform the operation input by the joystick knob 2 without moving the position of the hand. 3 and 4 can be operated and input.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the input device according to the second embodiment. Here, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The input device 200 includes a housing 1, a joystick knob 2, operation switches 3 to 6, and a dial switch 7. The difference from the first embodiment is that a dial switch 7 is provided.

  The dial switch 7 is a switch arranged on the ridge portion 20 of the joystick knob 2, and for example, an item having a plurality of setting levels such as enlargement / reduction of map information displayed on the display unit and audio volume adjustment. Used to set the level, the map information is enlarged by rotating the dial switch 7 forward (upward in the drawing), and the map information is reduced by rotating backward (downward in the drawing).

  The operator operates the dial switch 7 by slightly extending the index finger located in the recess 21 or the middle finger located in the recess 22 forward (upward in the drawing).

  In this way, even if the joystick knob 2 is moved back and forth, left and right, the relative position between the dial switch 7 and the index finger or middle finger does not change, so the operator can dial without having to visually confirm the position of the dial switch 7. The position of the switch 7 can be easily recognized, and the dial switch 7 can be operated with almost no movement of the hand position.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the input device according to the third embodiment. Here, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The input device 300 includes a housing 1, a joystick knob 2, operation switches 3 to 6, and a dial switch 7 '. The arrangement of the dial switch 7 'is different from that of the second embodiment.

  In the input device 300, the dial switch 7 ′ is disposed on the housing 1 between the operation switch 5 and the operation switch 6, and the operator operates the dial switch 7 ′ with the index finger or the middle finger.

  In the input device 300, the dial switch 7 'is arranged on the housing 1 and separated from the joystick knob 2, so that the operator mistakenly moves the joystick knob 2 forward (upward in the drawing) or backward (upward in the drawing) during operation of the dial switch 7'. It is possible to prevent an operation input downward).

  Thus, since the dial switch 7 ′ is in a predetermined position on the housing 1, the operator can easily recognize the position of the dial switch 7 ′ without visually checking the position of the dial switch 7 ′. The dial switch 7 'can be operated almost without moving the position of the hand.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, although the above-described embodiment suppresses the operation input in the oblique direction of the joystick knob 2, it does not prevent the direction operation input in the oblique direction, but the cross guide groove in the housing 1. Etc. may be provided so that operation input in an oblique direction cannot be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the joystick knob 2 is operated with the index finger and the middle finger sandwiched between them, but it may be operated with two other adjacent fingers such as the thumb and the index finger.

It is FIG. (1) which shows the structural example of the input device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which mounted the left hand of the operator on the input device which concerns on this invention. It is a side perspective view of a joystick knob. It is FIG. (2) which shows the structural example of the input device which concerns on this invention. It is FIG. (3) which shows the structural example of the input device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Joystick knob 3, 4, 5, 6 Operation switch 7, 7 'Dial switch 20 Projection part 21,22 Concave part 23,24 Projection part side surface 100,200,300 Input device

Claims (4)

Di ® Lee stick knob, movably supports the joystick knob in the longitudinal and lateral directions, an input device having a housing portion which the operator is fixed to the operation easy location,
The joystick knob, said a ridge portion extending in the longitudinal direction so as to be sandwiched between the two fingers adjacent the該手when the operator's hand is placed on the housing part, in a state in which stretched the Two ridges that receive an operating force for movement in the left and right directions, respectively, of the two side surfaces arranged to contact each of the opposing side portions of the part including the first joint of two adjacent fingers With
The joystick knob moves back and forth and right and left along the surface of the housing part.
An input device characterized by that. The joystick knob is a friction part disposed on at least one of the left and right sides of the ridge part, and each of the front and rear sides through friction caused by contact with at least one belly part of the two adjacent fingers. A friction part arranged to receive an operating force for movement in the direction of
The input device according to claim 1. The two side surfaces of the ridge portion have a length equal to or longer than a portion ahead of the first joint of the operator's finger, and the side portions of the two adjacent fingers facing each other over the length. Configured to contact each,
The input device according to claim 1, wherein: The housing portion has a convex spherical surface, supports the joystick knob so that the joystick knob can move along the convex spherical surface, and has a switch input portion on the convex spherical surface. Prepare
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is an input device.

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