JP5398435B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device that can respond to various operation inputs by capturing movement of an operation system from acceleration.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an electronic apparatus including an operation input device that can detect the movement of an operation member in four directions, up and down, left and right, and left and right rotation directions (for example, see Patent Document 1).
A specific example of such an operation input device will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13 (a), in this operation input device, the key top 2101 of the cross key, the center button 2102 formed of a separate member at the center of the key top, and the spacer arranged for rotational input around the key top. 2103.
Further, a ring plate 2106 on which a ring 2104, a washer 2105, and a magnet that rotates together with the ring (arranged on the back side) used for inputting the rotation direction are provided.
In addition, a circuit board 2107 on which an element for converting a key top push and ring rotation input into an electrical signal is placed, and a main body (not shown) to which the circuit board is fixed is provided below.
On the circuit board, there are mounted a SW for responding to the cross key input from the key top, a Hall IC for converting a rotating magnet signal into an electrical signal, and the like.
The SW arranged on the circuit board has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 13B including a connection destination circuit of the circuit board (not shown).
One side of the SW is connected to an arbitrary port of the CPU, and this terminal is pulled up by a power source of an arbitrary voltage. The terminal on the opposite side of SW is connected to GND.
The waveform when SW is pressed is as shown in FIG. When the SW is not pressed, the SW port viewed from the CPU is pulled up, so the High level is detected.
When the SW is pressed, the terminal connected to the SW becomes the GND level, the level viewed from the CPU also becomes the Low level, and it is detected that the SW has been turned on due to the change in this level.

Five such SWs are arranged in the same direction as the shape of the cross key, up, down, left, right, and center, and each is connected to an independent CPU port, and the five keys are individually detected.
The key is detected at regular intervals, and when the user presses the cross key, it is detected that the SW has been pressed for that period.
Further, the rotation detection mechanism arranged below the cross key has a configuration independent of SW.
The user performs an operation of rotating the ring arranged outside the cross key, and inputs the rotation.
When the ring rotates, a magnet disposed below and fixed to the ring rotates.
On the other hand, since the Hall IC placed on the substrate under the magnet is fixed separately from the magnet, the output of the Hall IC alternately repeats High and Low as a logic output by the change of the pole of the magnet.
A waveform when there are two Hall ICs is shown in FIG. While the ring is rotating, the output of the two ICs is a signal having a certain phase difference.
The connection destination of this signal is connected to a CPU on a separate board (not shown). A plurality of Hall ICs are arranged with an arbitrary phase difference with respect to the arrangement of the poles of the magnet, and the phase difference of the output signals is observed to determine the right / left rotation direction and the rotation amount of the ring, and the rotation input is detected.

JP-A-9-115392

The operation input device in the conventional example described above has the following problems.
That is, the configuration of the cross key of the operation input device in the above-described conventional example requires independent SWs in the top, bottom, left and right together with the key top, and it is difficult to cope with complicated operations such as rotational input only with this configuration. It was.
In addition to the method using a magnet or the like for the rotation detection mechanism, it is necessary to configure the rotation detection mechanism separately from the cross key, which increases the number of parts, arrangement of a large number of electric elements, and a plurality of detection means. Preparations were necessary.
In order to allow input to a complicated operation system, the size and thickness of the entire key are required, which is disadvantageous for downsizing the device.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an electronic device that can be reduced in size and improved in operability, and can detect the movement of the operation member in the four directions of up and down, left and right, and the left and right rotation direction with a simple configuration. It is intended to provide.

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus configured as follows.
An electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation member that can be pressed in two opposite directions;
A circuit board capable of moving together with the operation member by pressing the operation member;
A plurality of acceleration sensors mounted on substantially the same position as the pressing operation direction of the operation member on the circuit board and detecting acceleration acting on the circuit board when the operation member is pressed;
Detecting means for detecting a direction in which the operating member is pressed from each output of the plurality of acceleration sensors.
An electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation member that can be pressed in two opposite directions;
A circuit board capable of moving together with the operation member by pressing the operation member;
A plurality of acceleration sensors that can detect acceleration in three axis directions and are respectively mounted on the front and back of the circuit board;
Detecting means for detecting a direction in which the operating member is pressed from each output of the plurality of acceleration sensors.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size and improve the operability, and to realize an electronic device capable of detecting the movement of the operation member in the four directions of up and down, left and right and the left and right rotation direction with a simple configuration. Can do.

The exploded view for demonstrating the structure of the operation input apparatus of the electronic device in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the acceleration sensor output waveform with respect to key depression in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the internal structure of the acceleration sensor in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the connection for every output of the acceleration sensor in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the output waveform of the acceleration sensor with respect to the gravity in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the output applicable element of an acceleration sensor when the upper side of the cross key in Example 1 of this invention is pushed. 6 (a) shows the state when the upper side is pressed, FIG. 6 (b) shows the case where the lower side is pressed, FIG. 6 (c) shows the case where the left side is pressed, and FIG. FIG. 6E is a diagram showing each when a rotation operation is performed. The figure which shows the output waveform of an acceleration sensor when rotating operation is carried out to the cross key in Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the operation system in the first embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the movement of the flexible substrate of the operation system. The figure which shows the flow of the detection sequence in Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of an operation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an acceleration sensor. The figure which shows the output waveform of the acceleration sensor with respect to the gravity in Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a cross section of the configuration when the right side of the cross key in the second embodiment of the present invention is pressed. FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating an acceleration sensor output waveform when the left side of the cross key is pressed according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12C is a diagram showing a cross-section of the configuration when the left side of the cross key in the second embodiment of the present invention is pressed. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation system in a conventional example. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a SW detection circuit in the conventional example. FIG. 13D is a diagram showing an output waveform of the Hall IC during the rotation operation in the conventional example. FIG.13 (c) is a figure which shows the operation waveform in a prior art example. FIG. 13D is a diagram showing an output waveform of the Hall IC during the rotation operation in the conventional example.

  An upper operation input device according to an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples.

[Example 1]
An operation input device for an electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
The operation input device for an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to detect the movement of the operation member in four directions, up and down, left and right, and left and right rotation directions.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a ring 201 for rotation operation is provided.
In addition, a key top (cross key) 202 is provided as an operation member with pushers for inputting up, down, left, and right. The key top 202 functions as an operation member that can be pressed in two opposite directions.
Moreover, the ring plate 203 for closing the clearance gap between a ring and an exterior is provided. In addition, a circuit board (hereinafter referred to as an FPC) 204 that is fixed to the key top 202 side and can be moved in accordance with the key top is provided.
That is, the FPC 204 functions as a circuit board that can move together with the key top 202 when the key top 202 is pressed.
Further, a buffer ring 205 for absorbing force when the key is pressed, and a key base (base) 206 for restricting the movement of the key top and holding the key top and the circuit board are provided.
As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit including the connection destination of the FPC 204 includes an acceleration sensor IC having a plurality of acceleration sensors therein, and an LPF (low-pass filter) including RC for removing high-frequency components from the output of the acceleration sensor IC. ).
In addition, a plurality of operational amplifiers for calculating the output after LPF, peripheral capacitors and resistors for IC / opamp operation (not shown) are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the acceleration sensor IC according to the present embodiment has four acceleration sensors mounted on a circuit board in one IC, and the movement of a region in which the IC is divided into four can be seen. It is like that. In other words, each is mounted at substantially the same position as the pressing operation direction of the key top 202 on the FPC 204, and functions as a plurality of acceleration sensors that detect acceleration acting on the FPC 204 when the key top 202 is pressed.
The acceleration in the triaxial direction is output independently for each region. The acceleration is 12 analog signals in total in the form of analog signals here, and as shown in the figure, after removing unnecessary band signals through the analog filter by RC, any signal is input to the operational amplifier, Arithmetic processing is added.
Thereafter, the analog signal is input to a CPU (not shown) via the FPC, and after performing arbitrary signal processing, key input determination is performed.
Each of the four acceleration sensors outputs three accelerations in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction.
This is referred to here as 1x, 1y, 1z, 2x, 2y. . . As

FIG. 5 shows an output waveform of the acceleration sensor.
The output voltage range of the signal is from zero to the power supply voltage, and the acceleration is half level of the power supply voltage applied to the IC is set to the zero level. Become.
Sensors arranged in the vertical direction of the cross key with respect to the four acceleration sensors (here, 1 and 3) and sensors arranged in the horizontal direction (here, 2 and 4) are input to the operational amplifier as a pair for each XYZ axis. Is done.
That is, 1x and 3x are input to the operational amplifier, and the differential signal is 13x here. Similarly, 13y, 13z, 24x, 24y, and 24z are generated, and the number of signals to be handled becomes six after the operational amplifier calculation.
In a state where no key input is performed, gravity is detected in the acceleration sensor. However, after taking a difference by the operational amplifier, gravity is canceled and zero output is in a default state.
Further, in a state where the device main body including the operation system is moved without the key being pressed, the four acceleration sensors move substantially in the same manner, so that in-phase acceleration signals are output.
This is canceled by taking the difference in the operational amplifier at the next stage, and the zero level continues to be output as the subsequent stage input signal.
Thus, the movement of the entire main body other than the key input is not detected, and the input as a key is not performed.

Next, a specific key input determination method in this embodiment will be described.
The determination when the up / down / left / right key is pressed is as follows.
First, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the upper key of the key top 202 is pressed, the acceleration sensor IC shows a signal struck in the Z direction here as shown in FIG.
The difference signal 13z in the vertical direction of this signal is a signal having a positive peak here during the time when the key is moved.
With respect to this signal, after A / D conversion, the output level (output value) exceeds or exceeds an arbitrarily set threshold (predetermined threshold), and if it exceeds, the rise time to the threshold is set separately. It is detected whether it is within the range of any rise time.
When the two determinations are cleared, it is determined that the up key has been pressed.
Further, for a period during which the key is pressed, it is determined whether or not the key is released using another threshold value.

As shown in FIG. 6B, when the downward key of the key top 202 is pressed, the output in the Z direction from the acceleration sensor IC is reversed in sign, and the difference signal 13z is also zero bias. The signal of interest is output for the point.
Similarly, the CPU performs two detections, ie, an output level threshold value for the downward direction and a threshold value for the rise time, and determines that the down key has been pressed for an input in which both are cleared.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, when the left and right keys of the key top 202 are pressed, the left and right key input determination is performed by observing the 24z output instead of the 13z output described above. The same can be done.

Next, detection of the rotation direction will be described.
In the key configuration in the present embodiment, the rotation is input by pushing the ring 201 arranged around the key top 202. At this time, the key top 202 (cross key) itself does not rotate.
As shown in FIG. 6 (e), by pushing the ring, the cross key arranged under the ring is sequentially pushed according to an arbitrary rotation direction.
In other words, when the key is rotated to the right, the cross key changes sequentially at any speed in the order of up → right → down → left. → Change in order of left → bottom → right.
The output waveform (in the Z-axis direction) from the acceleration sensor IC in this case is as shown in FIG. The CPU determines the interval between the time at which the 13z threshold value for rotation detection is exceeded and the time at which the 24z threshold value is exceeded, together with the above-described determination when the up / down / left / right key is pressed.
Then, it is determined that the rotation operation has been performed within a predetermined time during which the key input is considered to have been performed continuously, and the left / right rotation is determined according to the order of the input keys and handled as an input signal.

In the detection of the above two operations, detection using a signal in the Z direction, which is the key pressing direction, has been described.
In order to prevent erroneous detection with respect to such an input, it is also possible to simultaneously use detection signals in the X and Y axis directions as detection determination.

FIG. 8A shows the structure of the operation input device according to this embodiment using the components shown in the exploded view of FIG.
From the structure of the key top and the main body (FIG. 8 (a)), the movement of the acceleration sensor IC is a rotational movement with respect to the fulcrum at the center of the key as shown in FIG. 8 (b). In addition to the Z-axis direction, signals appear on other axes as well.
By using the difference signal between the signals 13 and 24, more accurate key input determination can be performed.
For example, if the up / down direction of the up key coincides with the sensor X-axis direction, an acceleration signal also appears for the 13x signal by pressing the key.
It is also possible to perform detection using a plurality of axes by determining an arbitrary output level and rise time using this signal in the same manner as in the Z-axis direction.
If a large acceleration input that cannot be input to the X-axis or Y-axis during key input is detected, it is determined that there was a disturbance such as a hand slipping or strong shaking during operation of the device. To do.
For all the inputs during that period (for example, when a key input signal is detected that the shaking is correct in the X-axis direction and in the Z-axis direction) It is also possible to take safety measures such as temporarily stopping input.
As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous input such as accidental clearing of settings due to disturbance during operation.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a key detection sequence including the two operations of depressing and rotating.
After initialization, the CPU periodically monitors the acceleration values in the form of three axes.
In addition, the CPU sets a flag indicating that the cross key is being pressed and rotated during each direction, and changes the determination for the continuous operation.
First, processing is started when a change in acceleration is observed, but the following processing is performed when the flag is not set.
If the acceleration change value is greater than or equal to the ON threshold and the slew rate obtained by subtracting the current detection value from the acceleration value stored at the previous detection is greater than or equal to an arbitrary value, the CPU turns on the key. Set the flag and consider the key pressed.
If the slew rate is less than or equal to the threshold, it is determined that the key has been pressed slowly and that it is not the intended operation, and the process returns to detection again without reacting.

If the ON threshold is not exceeded, the data at this time is held for detecting the slew rate, and the process returns to the detection.
When the ON flag is set, the following processing is performed. In the case of an input in the same direction as when the ON flag is stored, a determination is made for the OFF threshold.
If the acceleration is equal to or less than the OFF threshold, it is determined that the operation on the key has ended, the ON flag is canceled, and the process returns to detection. If the acceleration is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process returns to detection as the ON operation is continuing.
In addition, when the detection is in a direction different from the ON flag, the determination is made with respect to the ON threshold value in the different direction. When the detection value is equal to or more than the ON threshold value, it is determined that the rotation operation is established, and the ON direction is newly set. Reset to the correct direction and return to detection. If the threshold value in the other direction has not yet been reached, the flag is not updated as the rotation operation is being performed, and the process returns to the detection.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation input device that can detect the movement of the operation member in the four directions of up / down / left / right and the left / right rotation direction and convert it into input signals such as key operation and rotation operation. Can be realized with a simple configuration.
That is, it can be realized with a simple configuration by using an acceleration sensor IC including a plurality of elements without using a plurality of SWs and detection mechanisms.
In addition, an operation system corresponding to complicated input such as operation input using the cross key and rotation detection of the cross key can be realized with a simple configuration, and the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced by reducing the number of members.

[Example 2]
With reference to FIG. 10A, an operation input device for an electronic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, two acceleration sensor ICs used in the first embodiment are used in which only one set of three-axis sensors is included in one acceleration sensor IC.
FIG. 10A shows the structure of the operation input device capable of detecting the vertical and horizontal directions and the horizontal rotation.
The operation input device according to the present embodiment includes a ring 1501 for rotating operation, a key top 1502 with a pusher for up / down / left / right input, fixed to the key top side, and performs the same movement following the key top. A circuit board (FPC) 1504 is provided.
Further, an acceleration sensor 1505 placed on the circuit board, and a holding member 1506 disposed between the key top and the circuit board for preventing the key top and the cradle from hitting an element on the circuit board are provided.
Further, a buffer ring 1507 for absorbing force when the key is pressed, a cradle 1508 for restricting and supporting the movement of the key top, and a main body 1509 on which the cradle is placed are provided.

On the circuit FPC, as shown in FIG. 10B, two acceleration sensor ICs are arranged facing each other so as to sandwich the front and back of the substrate, and the centers of the two acceleration sensor ICs coincide with the center of the key top. Are arranged as follows.
Further, peripheral capacitors and resistors (not shown) for operating the acceleration sensor IC are also arranged on the circuit. Here, the outputs of the two acceleration sensors are in the form of analog signals, and a total of six analog signals are output.
After passing through a filter assembled by RC as an output stage, it is input to a CPU (not shown) via an FPC.
In the CPU, the acceleration signal is A / D converted and then subjected to key input determination as digital data. The acceleration sensors arranged in an opposed manner are arranged so that the respective axes of the upper, lower, left and right sides are opposite to each other.
The sign for the acceleration at the time of calculation is determined in the CPU.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the two acceleration sensor ICs are IC-A and IC-B, and the triaxial acceleration signals output by the respective ICs are described as Ax, Ay, Az, Bx, By, and Bz. . The output voltage range of the signal is from zero to the power supply voltage as in the case of the first embodiment, and the acceleration is a half level of the power supply voltage applied to the IC to the zero level, and any direction of the XYZ axes is on the positive side. The output is both positive and negative.
When no key input is performed, gravity is detected in the acceleration sensor.
As processing for gravity, the direction and magnitude of the detection signal for gravity output from the two acceleration sensors when an arbitrary posture is taken as the device is stored in ROM data (not shown).
The CPU reads this data when the device is activated, detects the current two acceleration sensor outputs, and detects the current posture of the device during a period when it is determined that there is no key input described later.
Assuming that gravity is acting in the direction shown in FIG. 10B, the outputs from the two sensor ICs are as shown in FIG. 11, and this signal state and the reference output on the ROM And the CPU recognizes that the current Ay direction is located below.

Next, signals detected when the entire device is moved will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an output waveform when the entire device is rotated by 90 degrees.
When the entire apparatus is moved, the accelerations applied to the two acceleration sensors are only those having different signs, so that the sum of the outputs of the two acceleration sensors always becomes zero (Vcc / 2).
Therefore, when the output waveform is added to the two acceleration sensors and becomes zero, the CPU determines that the entire device has operated, and does not perform processing as key input.
It is determined that the direction facing downward has changed, and only this processing is performed.
Next, processing when the cross key is pressed will be described.
Assume that the right side of the cross key is pressed as shown in FIG.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 12A, the flex on which the acceleration sensor is mounted rotates around the point in the XZ plane. Since rotation is performed, centripetal force acts on the center of rotation.
In this case, the centripetal force is observed somewhere on the plane including the Z direction when any of the up / down / left / right keys is pressed. Since the magnitude of the centripetal force depends on the acceleration applied in the Z direction, it is detected whether there is such an acceleration in the XY direction.
This is performed with respect to two sensors, and when acceleration with respect to the center of rotation is detected from both sensors, it is determined that the key is pressed, and which key is pressed based on the direction of acceleration.

Now, when the left key is pressed, a waveform as shown in FIG. 12B is output to the acceleration sensor.
In this motion, since the acceleration sensor outputs an acceleration accompanying rotation in the ZX plane, a force acting in the direction from the two sensors toward the center of rotation is observed.
The CPU captures the three-axis output from one acceleration sensor as a vector, separates the vector into the direction of rotation and its centripetal force component, then compares the outputs of the two acceleration sensors, and detects the acceleration toward the center of rotation After confirming that the key has been pressed, it is determined which key has been pressed.
When the left side of the cross key is pressed as shown in FIG. 12 (c), the two sensors rotate in opposite directions to those in FIG. 12 (a). It is determined that The same applies when the up / down key is pressed.
When the rotation operation is performed, as in the first embodiment, the CPU calculates the rotation speed from the time interval from the initially pressed key to the input of the next key, and when the predetermined threshold is exceeded, the CPU Is determined to be a rotation operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using a plurality of acceleration sensor ICs, an operation system corresponding to complicated input such as operation input with the cross key and rotation detection of the cross key can be made with a simple configuration. This can be realized and the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced by reducing the number of members.

201: Ring 202: Key top 203: Ring plate 204: Circuit board (FPC)
205: Buffer ring 206: Key base 1501: Ring 1502: Key top 1503: Exterior 1504: Circuit board (FPC)
1505: Acceleration sensor 1506: Holding member 1507: Buffer ring 1508: Receiving base 1509: Main body

Claims (7)

An operation member capable of being pressed in two opposite directions;
A circuit board capable of moving together with the operation member by pressing the operation member;
A plurality of acceleration sensors mounted on substantially the same position as the pressing operation direction of the operation member on the circuit board and detecting acceleration acting on the circuit board when the operation member is pressed;
Detecting means for detecting a direction in which the operation member is pressed from the outputs of the plurality of acceleration sensors;
An electronic device comprising: The operation member can be pressed in four directions,
When the operation member is pressed in either direction, the detection means
The acceleration sensor mounted at substantially the same position as the pressing operation direction of the operation member, and the acceleration sensor mounted at approximately the same position as the pressing operation direction of the operation member opposite to the direction in which the operation member is pressed. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the operation member is pressed is detected from an output of the electronic device. When the output value of the acceleration sensor output in response to the pressing operation of the operation member exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the rising time of the output value is within a predetermined rising time range, the detecting means The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a pressing operation of the operation member is detected.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects a rotation operation of the operation member when a pressing operation direction of the operation member sequentially changes in a predetermined direction. An operation member capable of being pressed in two opposite directions;
A circuit board capable of moving together with the operation member by pressing the operation member;
A plurality of acceleration sensors that can detect acceleration in three axis directions and are respectively mounted on the front and back of the circuit board;
Detecting means for detecting a direction in which the operation member is pressed from the outputs of the plurality of acceleration sensors;
An electronic device comprising:   The detection unit detects a direction in which the operation member is pressed down when a change in acceleration toward the rotation center of the operation member in the acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The electronic device described. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acceleration sensors are included in one acceleration sensor IC.

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