JP5379657B2 - Multi-directional input switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional input switch device, capable of carrying out precise switch operation, by facilitating switching an operable direction of an operation knob. <P>SOLUTION: The multidirectional input switch device 1 includes: a case 6; the operation knob 2 of which one end side is protruded from the case 6 and which can be tiltingly operated in numerous directions; and a signal sending means of sending an electrical signal when the operation knob 2 is tiltingly operated. The device is provided with a control member 13 arranged movably along an axial direction of the operation knob 2 between a control position to control a tilting direction of the operation knob 2 by being engaged with the other end side of the operation knob 2 and a control release position in which engagement is not carried out with the other end side of the operation knob 2, and a selecting knob (control member operating means) 3 to move the control member 13 to the control position or the control release position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional input switch device for operating various devices by sending an electrical signal corresponding to a tilting operation of an operation knob in multiple directions.

  With the recent increase in the number of functions of vehicles, the number of switch devices arranged around the driver's seat has increased, and the switch devices have been arranged on the steering wheel so that the driver can operate even while driving. In this case, since it is necessary to arrange the switch device in a limited space of the steering handle, a multi-directional input switch device capable of various operations corresponding to the multi-functionalization is often employed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  The multi-directional input switch device performs a switch operation by tilting an operation knob in, for example, 4 directions or 8 directions, and has an advantage that various devices can be multi-operated.

JP-A-5-276579

  However, in the conventional multidirectional input switch device, the operation knob can be operated in multiple directions. Therefore, when the driver operates the steering handle simultaneously while operating the steering handle, the operation knob is intended. There was a problem that the switch could not be operated accurately. For example, if audio and heater control operations are possible in 4 directions and navigation system operation is possible in 8 directions, the operation knob does not need to move in 8 directions for audio and heater control operations. It is possible to perform the switch operation more accurately by making it move only.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional input switch device capable of performing accurate switch operation by simply switching the operable direction of the operation knob. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1
Case and
An operation knob with one end projecting from the case and capable of tilting in multiple directions;
In a multidirectional input switch device comprising a signal sending means for sending an electric signal in response to a tilting operation of the operation knob,
The axial direction of the operation knob is between the restriction position that engages the other end side of the operation knob and restricts the tilt direction of the operation knob and the restriction release position that does not engage the other end side of the operation knob. A restricting member arranged to be movable along,
Restriction member operating means for moving the restriction member to the restriction position or the restriction release position ,
The regulating member operating means includes a cam member that moves the regulating member by rotating while engaging the regulating member .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the selection knob includes a selection knob that is swingably supported by the case, and a gear mechanism that converts the swing of the selection knob into the rotation of the cam member. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a moving position detecting means for detecting a moving position of the restricting member is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the direction in which the operation knob can be operated can be switched by a simple operation by simply moving the restriction member to the restriction position or the restriction release position by the restriction member operating means. Therefore, the direction in which the operation knob can be tilted (input mode) can be switched according to the application, and the direction in which the operation knob can be tilted can be limited by moving the restricting member to the restricting position. Switch operation can be performed. For this reason, for example, when the multidirectional input switch device is installed on the steering handle of a vehicle, the driver can accurately perform a desired switch operation even during driving.

Further , since the regulating member can be moved to the regulating position or the regulation releasing position in the axial direction of the operation knob simply by rotating the cam member, the structure of the multidirectional input switch device can be simplified and miniaturized. Can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the selection knob is swung, the swing is converted into the rotation of the cam member by the gear mechanism, so that the restriction member is moved to the restriction position or the restriction release position by the rotation of the cam member. The direction in which the operation knob can be tilted and moved (input mode) can be switched reliably.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the movement position detecting means can detect whether the restriction member is in the restriction position or the restriction release position (input mode), the detected position (inclination of the operation knob) The operation target device by the operation knob can be changed in accordance with the operable direction.

It is a partial front view of a steering handle provided with a multidirectional input switch according to the present invention. (A) is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. 1, (b) is a figure of the arrow B direction of (a). 1 is a plan view of a multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. (A) is a sectional side view of the swing plate of the multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention, and (b) is a bottom view of the swing plate. (A) is a top view of the control member of the multidirectional input switch apparatus which concerns on this invention, (b) is the DD sectional view taken on the line of (a). (A) is a front view of the cam member of the multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention, (b) is a side view of the cam member (a view in the direction of arrow E in (a)), and (c) is (a). It is the FF sectional view taken on the line. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the multidirectional input switch apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a partial front view of a steering handle provided with a multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the swing plate, FIG. 6A is a plan view of the regulating member, FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7A is a front view of the cam member, FIG. 7B is a side view of the cam member (a view in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 7A), and FIG. 7C is the view in FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line FF, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the multidirectional input switch device according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the multidirectional input switch device 1 according to the present invention is installed, for example, on the upper surface of a fork 21 of a steering handle 20 provided in a driver's seat of a vehicle. In addition to the operation knob 2 capable of tilting operation and the selection knob 3 serving as a regulating member operating means arranged on the side, various devices such as audio, heater control, navigation system, etc. according to the tilting operation of the operation knob 2 And a signal sending means (not shown) for sending an electrical signal. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a determination switch 4 and a cancel switch 5 are arranged up and down on the back surface of the fork 21 of the steering handle 20. Here, when the decision switch 4 is operated after the operation target is selected by the multidirectional input switch device 1, the function of the selected operation target is executed, and when the cancel switch 5 is operated after selecting the operation target, the selection is performed. Will be cancelled.

  Next, details of the configuration of the multidirectional input switch device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multidirectional input switch device 1 includes a rectangular box-like case 6, and the operation knob 2 and the selection knob 3 are incorporated in the case 6. The lower surface opening is closed by the lid 7.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation knob 2 has a lower half portion of the shaft portion 2A inserted through the opening 6a of the case 6 and is located at an intermediate height position on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 2A. An operation bush 8 serving as a spherical bearing is fitted, and a swing plate 9 is disposed below the operation bush 8. The operation knob 2 is supported so as to be tiltable in all directions when the operation bush 8 fitted to the shaft portion 2A is received by a spherical seat 6A formed around the opening hole 6a of the case 6. Has been. The upper half of the shaft portion 2A of the operation knob 2 protrudes above the case 6, and the operation portion 2B is integrally formed at the upper end of the shaft portion 2A.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a holding frame 10 is accommodated in the lower part of the case 6, and a printed circuit board 11 is provided on the holding frame 10 and around the shaft portion 2 </ b> A of the operation knob 2. A rubber switch 12 that is elastically deformable is interposed between the printed board 11 and the swing plate 9.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the rocking plate 9 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a total of eight ring-shaped pressing protrusions 9a are provided on the lower surface thereof, two on each side. Has been. Although not shown, the same number (eight) of movable contacts as the pressing protrusions 9a provided on the swinging plate 9 are formed at the same position at the contact portion where the swinging plate 9 of the rubber switch 12 contacts. By tilting the operation knob 2 in eight directions corresponding to these, the two movable contacts of the rubber switch 12 are turned to the opposed fixed contacts of a total of eight installed on the printed circuit board 11. Conduction is performed, and a predetermined electric signal is sent out by a signal sending means (not shown). The swing plate 9, the operation bushing 8 and the operation knob 2 are always urged upward by the rubber switch 12. When the operation bush 8 is pressed against the spherical seat 6A of the case 6, the operation knob 2 is moved to the case. 6 is supported in a tiltable manner.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a regulating member 13 for regulating the direction in which the operation knob 2 can be tilted into four directions is movable in the vertical direction (the axial direction of the operation knob 2). The cam member 14 is rotatably supported by the holding frame 10 below the regulating member 13.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the restriction member 13 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a cross groove 13a is formed at the center thereof.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the cam member 14 has a cam portion 14A integrally formed on a round bar-like rotary shaft 14a rotatably supported by the holding frame 10, and a fan-like shape at the end of the rotary shaft 14a. The gear portion 14B is integrally formed, and a switch operation portion 14b protruding radially outward is integrally formed between the cam portion 14A and the gear portion 14B of the rotating shaft 14a. .

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the restricting member 13 is always urged downward by a conical coil spring 15 that is mounted between the upper surface of the restricting member 13 and the lower surface of the operation bush 8, and the cam portion of the cam member 14. 14A is engaged with the outer peripheral surface (cam surface).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a changeover switch 16 is provided on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 11 as a moving position detecting means that is turned on / off by the switch operating portion 14 b of the cam member 14.

  On the other hand, the selection knob 3 is supported by the case 6 so as to be swingable. As shown in FIG. 8A, the upper end protruding upward from the case 6 constitutes a V-shaped operation part 3A. The lower end of the portion accommodated in the case 6 constitutes an arcuate gear portion 3B. The gear portion 3B of the selection knob 3 meshes with the gear portion 14B formed on the cam member 14, and both of them have a gear mechanism that converts the swing of the selection knob 3 into the rotation of the cam member 14. It is composed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a ball 17 and a spring 18 that urges the ball 17 outward are accommodated in a circular hole 3a formed at an intermediate height position of the selection knob 3. By selectively engaging with two engaging holes 6b (only one is shown in FIG. 4) formed in the inner wall of 6, the click knob is given to the swing of the selection knob 3, and the selection knob 3 is shown in FIG. The state of either switching SW / ON or switching SW / OFF shown in (a) is held.

  Next, the operation of the multidirectional input switch device 1 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the switching SW / ON state, the screen of the navigation system or the like is switched to the operation screen, and the navigation system can be operated. At this time, the selection knob 3 is in the state shown in FIG. 8A, and the switch operating portion 14b of the cam member 14 presses the changeover switch 16 to turn on the changeover switch 16 as shown in FIG. 8B. To do. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the cam portion 14A of the cam member 14 is moved downward by the urging force of the conical coil spring 15 because the top portion having a high height is tilted horizontally. It is in the release position. In this restriction release position, the restriction member 13 is positioned below and below the shaft portion 2A of the operation knob 2, so that the operation knob 2 is not restricted by the restriction member 13, and the eight directions shown in FIG. It is possible to tilt freely. In this state, when the operation knob 2 is tilted as shown in FIG. 8E, for example, the operation bush 8 and the swing plate 9 tilt in the same direction, and the rubber switch 12 is crushed in the tilt direction. The movable contact in the crushed direction of the rubber switch 12 is electrically connected to the fixed contact of the printed circuit board 11, and a required electrical signal is output.

Next, it is swung to the state shown in FIG. 8 (f) the selection knob 3 from the state shown in FIG. 8 (a), a gear portion 3B and the cam member 14 swinging of the selection knob 3 constitute a gear mechanism The rotation of the cam member 14 is converted by the gear portion 14B. As a result, the cam member 14 rotates in the arrow direction (clockwise) in FIG. 8F, and the switch operation portion 14b formed integrally with the cam member 14 also rotates in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the switch operation unit 14b is separated from the changeover switch 16 to turn it off. When the changeover switch 10 is turned off in this way, the screen is switched to a screen such as audio, and operations such as audio can be performed.

  Further, by the rotation of the cam member 14, the high top portion of the cam portion 14 </ b> A of the cam member 14 rises vertically as shown in FIG. 8 (h) to resist the urging force of the conical coil spring 15. In order to push it up to the restriction position, the shaft portion 2A of the operation knob 2 is fitted into the cross groove 13a (see FIG. 6A) of the restriction member 13, and the direction in which the operation knob 2 can tilt is shown in FIG. The four directions shown in FIG. The operation of the operation knob 2 in the four directions is sufficient for the operation of equipment such as audio and heater control, and the operation of the operation knob 2 in this way is not necessary in the eight directions such as the navigation system operation. By restricting the tiltable directions to four directions, the multi-directional input switch device 1 can be accurately operated, and the driver can easily and easily operate the multi-directional input switch device 1 even during operation. It can be operated accurately.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the selection knob 3 that is the restriction member operation means can be operated to move the restriction member 13 to the restriction position or the restriction release position, and thus the operation knob 2 can be operated. The direction can be switched to 8 directions or 4 directions. Accordingly, the direction (input mode) in which the operation knob 2 can be tilted can be switched according to the application, and the direction in which the operation knob 2 can be tilted is limited to four directions by moving the restriction member 13 to the restriction position. And accurate switch operation can be performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the regulating member 13 can be moved to the regulating position or the regulation releasing position along the axial direction of the operation knob 2 simply by operating the selection knob 3 and rotating the cam member 14. The multidirectional input switch device 1 can be simplified in structure and size. When the selection knob 3 is swung, the swing is converted into rotation of the cam member 14 by the gear portion 3B of the selection knob 3 and the gear portion 14B of the cam member 14 constituting the gear mechanism. The direction of the tilting operation of the operation knob 2 (input mode) is surely switched to 8 directions or 4 directions by the restriction member 13 being moved to the restriction position or the restriction release position by the rotation of 14.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to detect whether the restriction member 13 is in the restriction position or the restriction release position (input mode) by the changeover switch 16 that is the movement position detection means (the changeover switch 16 is ON). If it is OFF, the restriction release position is detected, and if it is OFF, the restriction position is detected.) Therefore, the device to be operated by the operation knob 2 is changed according to the detected position (direction in which the operation knob 2 can be tilted). The effect that it can be also obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the tiltable direction of the operation knob 2 is switched between the eight directions and the four directions. However, the number of tilt directions of the operation knob 2 to be switched can be arbitrarily set. Of course. Further, in the present embodiment, the moving position of the restricting member 13 is indirectly detected by detecting the rotational position of the cam member 14 by the changeover switch 16 which is the moving position detecting means. Alternatively, the moving position of the regulating member 13 may be directly detected by the moving position detecting means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multidirectional input switch apparatus 2 Operation knob 2A Shaft part of operation knob 2B Operation part of operation knob 3 Selection knob 3A Operation part of selection knob 3B Gear part (gear mechanism) of selection knob
3a Circular hole of selection knob 4 Determination switch 5 Cancel switch 6 Case 6A Case spherical seat 6a Case opening 6b Case engagement hole 7 Lid 8 Operation bush 9 Oscillating plate 9a Oscillating plate pressing projection 10 Holding frame 11 Printed circuit board 12 Rubber switch 13 Restricting member 13a Cross groove of restricting member 14 Cam member 14A Cam member cam portion 14B Cam member gear portion (gear mechanism)
14a Rotating shaft of cam member 14b Switch operating portion of cam member 15 Conical coil spring 16 Changeover switch (moving position detecting means)
17 Ball 18 Spring 20 Steering handle 21 Steering handle fork

Claims (3)

Case and
An operation knob with one end projecting from the case and capable of tilting in multiple directions;
In a multidirectional input switch device comprising a signal sending means for sending an electric signal in response to a tilting operation of the operation knob,
The axial direction of the operation knob is between the restriction position that engages the other end side of the operation knob and restricts the tilt direction of the operation knob and the restriction release position that does not engage the other end side of the operation knob. A restricting member arranged to be movable along,
Restriction member operating means for moving the restriction member to the restriction position or the restriction release position ,
The multi-directional input switch device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member operating means includes a cam member that moves while engaging the restricting member to move the restricting member . A selection knob swingably supported on the case, multi-directional input switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a gear mechanism for converting the swinging of the selection knob to the rotation of the cam member. Multidirectional input switching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a moving position detecting means for detecting a moving position of the regulating member.

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