JP5488417B2 - Rotary operation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary operation device provided on a panel or the like in a vehicle interior.

  2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a rotational operation device provided in a passenger compartment of an automobile includes a rotational operation member that receives a rotational operation while being held by a finger or the like, and a detection device that outputs a detection signal according to the direction and amount of the rotational operation. . Although a rotary encoder can be used for the detection device, since the rotary encoder is generally expensive, it has been studied to detect the rotation operation with an inexpensive switch instead.

  Conventionally, what is shown in FIG. 12 is known as a rotation operation device using such a switch (FIG. 6 of patent document 1). This apparatus includes a dial (not shown) that receives a rotation operation, an operation body 2, and a rotation detection switch 3.

  The operation body 2 is connected to the dial so as to rotate integrally with the dial. The outer peripheral surface of the operating body 2 has a shape for intermittently operating the rotation detection switch 3 as the operating body 2 rotates. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface includes a plurality of protruding portions 5 protruding outward in the radial direction, and these protruding portions 5 are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction.

  The rotation detection switch 3 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), has a detector 4 and a plurality of terminals 6A, 6B, 6C, and these terminals 6A to 6C are connected to the circuit board. Has been. The detector 4 is attached to the main body of the rotation detection switch 3 so as to be swingable about an axis 8 parallel to the rotation center axis of the operating body 2, and protrudes as the operating body 2 rotates. It arrange | positions so that it may contact to the part 5 intermittently, and may rotate in the same direction as the moving direction (rotation circumferential direction) of the protrusion part 5 with the contact.

  The rotation detection switch 3 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotation direction of the detector 4. Specifically, as the dial and the operating body 2 are rotated in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 12B, the detection is performed in a direction corresponding to the rotation circumferential direction (left direction in the figure). Each time the child 4 falls down intermittently, an electrical signal is output from the terminals 6A and 6B toward the circuit board. Conversely, as the dial and the operating body 2 are rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 12C, the detection is performed in a direction corresponding to the rotational circumferential direction (right direction in the figure). Each time the child 4 falls down intermittently, an electrical signal is output from the terminals 6A and 6C toward the circuit board.

  Therefore, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the dial can be grasped based on the determination of the terminal from which the electrical signal is output from the rotation detection switch 3 and the number of outputs.

JP-A-2005-32450

  In the rotational operation device, in order for the rotation detection switch 3 to accurately detect the rotational position of the operating body 2, it is desirable to determine the relative position between the two with high accuracy, but positioning is difficult. Specifically, since the operation body 2 needs to be rotatably held on the panel side, it is necessary to secure a minute gap between a portion where the operation body 2 is held by the panel and the panel, A so-called rattling occurs between the operation body 2 and the panel by the gap. This rattling changes the relative position of the operating body 2 with respect to the rotation detection switch 3 and reduces the rotation detection accuracy of the rotation detection switch 3 correspondingly.

  An object of the present invention is to accurately detect the rotation state of a rotation operation member with a simple structure in a rotation operation device including a rotation operation member to be rotated and a rotation detection switch for detecting the rotation state. The purpose is to provide what is possible.

  In order to achieve this object, the present inventors have conceived of using a mechanism for giving a feeling of rotational operation to the operator. In the rotational operation device, in order to give the operator a feeling of rotational operation when the rotation of the dial is detected, a mechanism (operation feeling imparting mechanism; for example, a click) is provided separately from the rotation detection switch. It is often requested to attach a mechanism). The present invention is characterized in that the detection accuracy of the rotational state of the rotational operation member is enhanced by using the force applied to the rotational operation member by the operational feeling imparting mechanism.

  Specifically, the rotation operation device provided by the present invention is provided on a circuit board and is rotated about a predetermined central axis in a direction substantially parallel to the normal direction of the circuit board. An operation member, a rotation holding member fixed on the circuit board and supporting the rotation operation member from the outside so as to allow rotation of the rotation operation member around the central axis; and provided on the circuit board. A rotation detection switch for detecting rotation of the rotation operation member; and an operation feeling imparting mechanism for giving an operation feeling to the operator by operating intermittently as the rotation operation member rotates.

  The rotation operation member has an inner peripheral surface surrounding the space on the inner side and an outer peripheral surface on the opposite side, and the operation feeling imparting mechanism is disposed in the inner space, and the rotation operation member is disposed outside the rotation operation member. A rotation detection switch is arranged.

  The rotation detection switch includes a rotation detector that can perform a undulation operation, and a switch body that outputs a detection signal each time the rotation detection device performs the undulation operation. A switch operation portion having a shape that causes the rotation detector of the rotation detection switch to undulate intermittently as the rotation operation member rotates is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotation operation member.

  An operation feeling generating unit having a shape that activates the operation feeling imparting mechanism as the rotation operation member rotates is provided on the inner surface of the rotation operation member. The operation feeling imparting mechanism can be moved relative to the operation feeling generating section in the rotational radial direction and can move relative to the operation feeling generating section and the rotation circumferential direction while being in contact with the operation feeling generating section. A possible contact portion, and an urging portion that urges the contact portion toward the operation feeling generating portion so as to maintain contact between the contact portion and the operation feeling generating portion. Then, as seen from the direction along the rotation center axis of the rotation operation member, a straight line connecting the rotation center axis and a position where the contact portion contacts the operation feeling generating portion, the rotation center axis and the rotation detection switch The contact portion and the rotation detector are arranged so that the angle formed by a straight line connecting the rotation detector and the rotation detector is within a range of 30 ° or less.

  In this rotational operation device, even if there is slight backlash between the rotational operation member and the rotational holding member that holds the rotational operation member, the force that the contact portion of the operational feeling imparting mechanism is pressed against the rotational operation member is used. Thus, the relative position between the rotation operation member and the rotation detector of the rotation detection switch can be stabilized, and thereby the accuracy of rotation detection by the rotation detection switch can be increased. Specifically, it is as follows.

  The rotation detection switch outputs a repetitive signal, that is, a rotation detection signal in response to the rotation detector undulating as the rotation operation member rotates. Therefore, if fluctuation occurs in the relative position between the rotation operation member and the rotation detector due to the backlash between the rotation operation member and the rotation holding member, the rotation detection signal generated by the rotation detection switch is correspondingly changed. Blur occurs, and the detection accuracy decreases.

  However, when the contact portion of the operation feeling imparting mechanism is close to the straight line connecting the rotation detector and the rotation center axis of the rotation operation member (in the present invention, the rotation feel A straight line connecting the rotation center axis and a position where the contact portion comes into contact with the operation feeling generating portion, as viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis of the operation member, and a rotation detector of the rotation center axis and the rotation detection switch The contact portion and the rotation detector are arranged so that the angle formed by the straight line connecting the two and the straight line is within a range of 30 ° or less (more preferably 10 ° or less), and the rotation detector At the detection position, the urging portion of the operation feeling imparting mechanism supports the rotation operation member and the rotation operation member from the outside by a force pressing the contact portion against the rotation operation member (a urging force radially outward of the rotation operation member). Rotating holding part The backlash between the members is effectively reduced, and the relative position between the rotation operation member and the rotation detector is stabilized. As a result, the rotation detection accuracy of the rotation operation member by the rotation detection switch having the rotation detector is increased.

  In other words, the urging unit of the operation feeling imparting mechanism in the rotary operation device has a function of maintaining the contact between the contact part of the operation feeling imparting mechanism and the operation feeling generation unit of the rotation operation member, and via the contact part. By applying a radially outward pressing force to the rotation operation member, the relative position between the rotation detector of the rotation detection switch and the rotation operation member is stabilized, and rotation detection of the rotation operation member by the rotation detection switch is performed. The function to improve the accuracy of the.

  In this rotary operation device, the switch body is mounted on the circuit board so that a signal output from the switch body of the rotation detection switch is input to the circuit board, while the rotation holding member provides the operational feeling. The operation feeling imparting mechanism holds the mechanism at a position further away from the circuit board than the rotation detection switch, and the operation feeling generating part of the rotation operation member is further away from the circuit board than the switch operation part of the rotation operation member. Those arranged at different positions are preferred. This arrangement makes it possible to directly mount the rotation detection switch on the circuit board, while increasing the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the operation feeling imparting mechanism to be disposed opposite to the circuit board, and the operation feeling imparting mechanism. Can be held with a simple structure using the rotation holding member. That is, the rotation holding member can hold both the rotation operation member and the operation feeling imparting mechanism on the circuit board side at suitable positions with a simple structure.

  More specifically, the end portion of the rotation operation member closer to the circuit board forms a large diameter portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than those of the other portions, and the rotation holding member has the large diameter portion as its diameter. A holding portion for holding and holding from the outside of the direction and the side opposite to the circuit board, and the switch operation portion is formed in the large diameter portion, and the operation is performed in a portion having a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion. What has the feeling generation | occurrence | production part formed is suitable. The large diameter portion expands the inner diameter of the switch operation portion formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, so that the rotation detection switch and the switch operation portion move relative to each other when the rotation operation member rotates per unit angle. It is possible to increase the amount and increase the detection accuracy by the rotation detection switch, and at the same time, it is possible to hold the rotation operation member rotatably with a simple structure by utilizing the outer shape of the large diameter portion. To do.

  As described above, in the rotary operation device according to the present invention, an operational feeling is imparted to a straight line connecting the rotation detector of the rotation detection switch and the rotation center axis when viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis of the rotation operation member. Since the rotation detection switch and the operation feeling imparting mechanism are arranged so that the contact position between the contact portion of the mechanism and the operation feeling generation portion is close, the contact portion is pressed against the operation feeling generation portion of the rotation operation member. By using force to stabilize the relative position between the rotation detector and the rotation operation member facing each other, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detection of the rotation state of the rotation operation member by the rotation detection switch with a simple structure. There is an effect that can be done.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the panel unit which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the panel unit. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the rotational operation apparatus contained in the said panel unit. It is the front view which overlapped and drew the dial ring of the device on the circuit board of the rotation operation device. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the rotary operation apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the principal part shown in FIG. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relative positional relationship of the rotation center axis | shaft of a dial holder, the front-end | tip position of a rotation detector, and the contact position of the contact part of the operation feeling provision mechanism with respect to an operation feeling generation | occurrence | production part. It is a graph which shows the relationship between relative angle (alpha) of the said front-end | tip position and the said contact position, and the clearance gap between the dial holder and the holding member in the said front-end | tip position. (A)-(c) is a front view which shows the example of the conventional rotary operation apparatus.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 3 show a panel unit including a rotary operation device according to the present invention. The panel unit includes a panel 10 provided in a passenger compartment of an automobile, a rear cover 11 disposed on the back side of the panel 10, a circuit board 12 stored between the panel 10 and the rear cover 11, Various components provided on the circuit board 12. These parts include rubber sheets 13 and 14, a holding member 16, a rotation operation member 18, a rotation detection switch 20, an operation feeling imparting mechanism 22, and a pair of push buttons 23A and 23B which are pressing operation members. A button ring 24.

  The rubber sheets 13 and 14 are laid on the front side surface (the upper side surface in FIG. 3) of the circuit board 12. These rubber sheets 13 and 14 perform a light shielding and waterproofing function by being in close contact with the back side portion of the panel 10 as appropriate, and a part of the rubber sheets 13 and 14 constitutes a plurality of rubber switch portions 26. Specifically, the rubber sheet 14 has a circular through hole 28 in the center, and the rubber switch portions 26 are formed at a plurality of locations arranged around the through hole 28. These rubber switch portions 26 are formed at positions on the back side of the push buttons 23A and 23B and the button ring 24, and together with switch contacts 27 provided on the circuit board 12 so as to show the load on the medulla, switch elements Configure. The rubber sheet 13 has a substantially square shape with a size that can be disposed in a region in the through hole 28 of the rubber sheet 13, and the rubber switch portions 26 are formed at the corners thereof. These rubber switch portions 26 are formed at positions on the back side of the push buttons 23.

  Note that these rubber sheets 13 and 14 are not essential in the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram in which (rubber sheets 13 and 14) are omitted on the circuit board 12 and a dial ring 40 described later is superimposed on the circuit board 12 in a simulated manner.

  In this embodiment, among the components, the holding member 16, the rotation operation member 18, the rotation detection switch 20, and the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 constitute a rotation operation device according to the present invention.

  The holding member 16 is fixed on the circuit board 12 and holds the rotation operation member 18 so as to be rotatable about an axis (rotation center axis) substantially parallel to the normal direction of the circuit board 12. Furthermore, the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is held, and the pair of push buttons 23A and 23B is held.

  The holding member 16 includes a bottom wall 30 placed on the rubber sheet 13 and a peripheral wall 32 that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 30 to the front side (lower side in FIG. 3) of the circuit board 12. The peripheral wall 32 according to this embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inner peripheral portion thereof has button holding portions 34A and 34B that hold the push buttons 23A and 23B in a slidable manner. A plurality of locked projections (not shown) protrude from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 30 on the back side, and through holes are formed in the circuit board 12 to fit the locked projections. The locking projection is locked into the circuit board by being pushed into the corresponding through hole. That is, the holding member 16 is fixed on the circuit board 12.

  A specific structure for the holding member 16 to hold the rotating operation member 18 and the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 will be described in detail later.

  In this embodiment, the rotation operation member 18 is composed of a dial ring 40 and a dial 42 held by the dial ring 40. These are all substantially cylindrical, and enclose a space for accommodating the push buttons 23A and 23B inside thereof.

  The dial ring 40 is supported from the outside by the holding member 16 so as to be rotatable around the central axis (cylindrical central axis) of the dial ring 40. Specifically, the rear end portion (the end portion on the side close to the circuit board 12) of the dial ring 40 forms a large diameter portion 44 having a larger diameter than other portions, and the large diameter portion 44 is the holding member 16. Retained.

  The holding member 16 has a plurality of portions 46 for embedding the large-diameter portion 44 from outside in the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the holding portions 46 penetrates the circuit board 12 from the bottom wall 30 of the holding member 16 and protrudes to the back side (the upper side in FIG. 3), and is held from the base portion 46a. An intermediate portion 46b extending radially outward of the member 16 and an engaging portion 46c extending from the radially outer end of the intermediate portion 46b to the front side (upper side in FIG. 3) are integrally formed. A locking projection 46d protrudes inward from the tip. The locking projections 46d come into contact with the large diameter portion 44 from the front side (that is, the side opposite to the circuit board 12), thereby allowing the dial ring 40 and the dial 42 to rotate while allowing the large diameter portion 44 to rotate. The separation of the diameter portion 44 (displacement toward the side away from the circuit board 12) is prevented. That is, the dial ring 40 is rotatably held so as to be held from the outside in the radial direction and the side opposite to the circuit board 12.

  The dial 42 is held by a main body portion of the dial ring 40 (a portion having a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion 44 and on the front side) so as to rotate integrally therewith. Specifically, the dial 42 has a double structure having an outer peripheral wall 48 and an inner peripheral wall 50, while a rear end of the inner peripheral wall 50 of the dial 42 can abut on an intermediate portion of the dial ring 40. A step portion 51 is formed. Of the main body portion of the dial ring 40, the front portion of the step portion 51 has a smaller diameter than the rear portion, the inner peripheral wall 50 of the dial 42 is fitted to the outside of the small diameter portion, and The rear end is abutted against the step portion 51. Furthermore, a locked projection 52 that protrudes inward is formed at a plurality of positions at the rear end of the inner peripheral wall 50, and a locking hole 54 into which the locked projection 52 is fitted is formed in the dial ring 40. ing.

  The rotation detection switch 20 is provided on the circuit board 12 to detect the rotation of the rotation operation member 18, and includes a rotation detector 56 capable of raising and lowering in both the left and right directions, and the raising and lowering of the rotation detector 56. And a switch body 58 that outputs a detection signal every time the operation is performed. In this embodiment, the switch body 58 is mounted on the circuit board 12 at a position radially outside the dial ring 40. Specifically, the rotation detector 56 faces the radially inner side of the dial ring 40 and performs a undulation operation on a plane along the circuit board 12 (that is, the central axis of rotation related to the undulation is a circuit). The mounting posture of the switch body 58 is set so as to coincide with the normal direction of the substrate 12.

  On the other hand, a switch operating portion is formed in the large diameter portion 44 of the dial ring 40. The switch operation unit has a shape that causes the rotation detector 56 of the rotation detection switch 20 to undulate intermittently as the dial ring 40 and the dial 42 rotate. In this embodiment, a plurality of operation protrusions 60 are provided. including. These operation protrusions 60 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the large diameter portion 44 and protrude from the back surface of the large diameter portion 44. These operation protrusions 60 sequentially (intermittently) contact with the rotation detector 56 as the dial ring 40 rotates, thereby causing the rotation detector 56 to repeatedly move up and down. That is, the operation in which each operation protrusion 60 tilts the rotation detector 56 and the operation in which the rotation detector 56 returns to the standing posture by itself after the operation protrusion 60 leaves the rotation detector 56 are repeated. . The switch body 58 outputs a signal corresponding to the lying direction (that is, the rotation direction) each time the raising / lowering operation is performed. The circuit formed on the circuit board 12 is connected to the switch body 58 so that this signal is input to the circuit board 12.

  The operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is for intermittently operating with the rotation of the dial ring 40 and the dial 42 to give the operator a feeling of operation, and is a space inside the dial ring 40 in the radial direction. It is held by the holding member 16 so as to be located inside.

  The main body portion of the dial ring 40 (a portion that deviates from the large diameter portion 44 in a direction parallel to the rotational axis direction of the dial ring 40 and has an outer diameter and an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter and inner diameter of the large diameter portion 44. The operation feeling generating portion 62 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the portion having the same. The operation feeling generating unit 62 is for intermittently operating the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 as the dial ring 40 and the dial 42 rotate, and is constituted by a cam surface in this embodiment. The cam surface is a curved surface that smoothly undulates in the radial direction of the dial ring 40 as it travels in the circumferential direction of the dial ring 40.

  The operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 includes a plunger 64 and a compression coil spring 66 in this embodiment.

  The plunger 64 has a main body 64a and a contact portion 64b. The main body 64a has a cylindrical peripheral wall and an end wall that closes one of the openings, and has a shape that opens in only one direction. The contact portion 64b has a hemispherical shape and protrudes outward from the end wall. . Then, the plunger 64 b is brought into contact with the operational feeling generator 62 from the radially inner side, and the plunger 64 is movable in the axial direction (that is, the radial direction of the holding member 16). 64 is held by the holding member 16.

  The compression coil spring 66 corresponds to an urging portion according to the present invention, and the contact portion 64b is placed on the contact portion 64b so as to maintain contact between the contact portion 64b and the operation feeling generating portion 62 (that is, the cam surface). It biases toward the operational feeling generating part 62 (that is, radially outward). Specifically, the compression coil spring 66 is interposed between the plunger 64 and a support wall 68 (FIG. 3) standing upright at a substantially intermediate portion of the bottom wall 30 in a compressed deformation state. More specifically, one end of the compression coil spring 66 is inserted inside the main body 64 a of the plunger 64, and the other end is fitted to the outside of a support protrusion 68 a that protrudes outward from the support wall 68. Further, the bottom wall 30 of the holding member 16 is provided with a mounting through hole 70 for setting the plunger 64 and the compression coil spring 66 at regular positions from the bottom wall 30 side.

  As a further feature of this rotation operation device, the relative position between the rotation detection switch 20 and the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis O of the dial ring 40 as shown in FIG. The contact portion 64a of the plunger 64 in the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 on the straight line (VI-VI line in FIG. 5) connecting the rotation center axis O and the rotation detector 58 at the standing position is the operation feeling generating portion 62. Is set to touch. In other words, in this embodiment, as seen from the direction along the rotation center axis, a straight line connecting the rotation center axis O and the rotation detector 58 at the standing position, and the rotation center axis O and the operational feeling are generated. The rotation detection switch 20 and the rotation sensor 20 are arranged so that the straight line connecting the contact position of the contact portion 64a with the portion 62 matches (that is, the contact portion 64a of the plunger 64 and the rotation detector 58 are aligned on a straight line). The position of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is set.

  Each of the push buttons 23A and 23B includes a pressed plate 72 that receives pressure by a finger or the like, and a held portion 74 that extends from the pressed plate 72 to the back side. These held parts 74 have shapes that can be fitted into the button holding parts 34A and 34B of the holding member 16, respectively, and by the fitting, the pressing operation direction of the push buttons 23A and 23B (the circuit board 12) It is slidably held in a direction parallel to the normal direction.

  The button ring 24 has an annular shape arranged around the dial 42. The button ring 24 has a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) button portions 76 arranged in the circumferential direction and a hinge portion (not shown) that connects these button portions 76 to each other. They are interconnected so that they can be independently subjected to a pressing operation (that is, can be relatively displaced in the pressing operation direction).

  The panel 10 has an opening 78 for projecting the button ring 24, the dial 48, and the push buttons 23A, 23B to the front side.

  The rotary operation device according to the present invention is not limited to the one that constitutes a composite operation type panel unit in which a pressing operation is performed together as in this embodiment. That is, the rotary operation device according to the present invention may be provided alone.

  Next, the operation of the rotary operation device according to this embodiment will be described.

  When the dial 42 of the rotation operation member 18 is gripped with a finger or the like and is rotated in either direction, the dial ring 40 rotates integrally therewith. Along with this rotation, the operation protrusions 60 of the switch operation portion formed on the large diameter portion 44 of the dial ring 40 come in contact with the rotation detector 56 of the rotation detection switch 20 one after another, so that the rotation detector 56 Are undulated repeatedly in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation. As a result, the switch body 58 of the rotation detection switch 20 outputs a detection signal of a type corresponding to the direction in which the rotation detector 56 is tilted, and inputs the detection signal to the circuit board 12. The direction and amount of rotation of the dial 42 are grasped based on the type and number of times of the detection signal.

  On the other hand, with the rotation of the dial ring 40, the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 operates intermittently to give the operator a feeling of rotation operation. Specifically, the plunger 64 of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is elastically pressed by the compression coil spring 66 so that the contact portion 64b is always in contact with the cam surface constituting the operation feeling generating portion 62 on the dial ring 40 side. Since it is pressed against the operation feeling generating part 62 by force, it is repeatedly pushed radially inward against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 66 as the dial ring 40 including the operation feeling generating part 62 rotates. returned. Vibration generated by the operation of the plunger 64 is transmitted to the operator through the dial 42.

  By the way, in this rotary operation device, since the dial ring 40 needs to be held rotatably, the dial ring 40 is likely to rattle in the radial direction, and this rattling is caused by the dial ring 40 and the rotation detection switch 20. In the rotational operation device according to this embodiment, the rotation center axis O of the dial ring 40 as viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis O can be a factor that changes the relative position of the rotation detector 56 to the rotation center 56. Since the contact portion 64b of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is pressed against the operation feeling generating portion 62 on a straight line connecting the rotation detector 56 in the standing position, the dial ring 40 and the dial ring 40 are utilized using the pressing force. The relative position with respect to the rotation detector 56 can be stabilized, so that the rotation of the dial ring 40 by the rotation detection switch 20 can be stabilized. It is possible to improve the detection accuracy.

  In other words, even if there is a clearance between the large-diameter portion 44 of the dial ring 40 and the holding member 16 that holds the dial ring 40, the force with which the contact portion 64b is pressed against the operation feeling generating portion 62 on the straight line. However, the relative position of the dial ring 40 with respect to the holding member 16 on the straight line is stabilized, and thereby the relative position between the operation protrusion 60 provided on the dial ring 40 and the rotation detector 56 is stabilized. . As a result, the detection accuracy by the rotation detection switch 20 is improved.

  That is, the compression coil spring 66 that is the urging portion of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 in the rotation operation device has not only a function of maintaining contact between the contact portion 64b and the operation feeling generating portion 62 but also the rotation detection switch 20. The function of increasing the rotation detection accuracy of the rotation detection switch 20 by stabilizing the relative position between the rotation detector 56 and the dial ring 40 is exhibited.

  In the rotation operation device according to this embodiment, the switch body 58 is mounted on the circuit board 12 so that a signal output from the switch body 58 of the rotation detection switch 20 is input to the circuit board 12. On the other hand, the holding member 16 moves the operational feeling imparting mechanism 22 at a position where the operational feeling imparting mechanism 22 is farther from the circuit board 12 than the rotation detection switch 20 (in FIG. 6, a position above the rotation detection switch 20). ), And the operation feeling generating portion 62 of the dial ring 40 is disposed at a position farther from the circuit board 12 than the operation protrusion 60, so that the rotation detection switch 20 is directly mounted on the circuit board 12. Nevertheless, a high degree of freedom is ensured in the position where the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 disposed close to the rotation detection switch 20 is provided. Operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 can be held by a simple structure using the holding member 16.

  More specifically, in the first embodiment, the end of the dial ring 40 on the side close to the circuit board 12 (the lower end in FIG. 6) has a larger diameter than the other parts. Portion 44, and the holding portion 46 of the holding member 16 holds and holds the large diameter portion 44 from the outside in the radial direction and the side opposite to the circuit board 12, so that the inside of the large diameter portion 44 By forming the operation protrusion 60 on the peripheral surface, the inner diameter thereof can be enlarged, whereby the relative movement amount between the rotation detection switch 20 and each operation protrusion 60 accompanying the rotation of the dial ring 40 per unit angle. The detection accuracy by the rotation detection switch 20 can be increased. At the same time, the holding member 16 can rotatably hold the dial ring 40 with a simple structure by utilizing the outer shape of the large-diameter portion 22.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the arrangement of the rotation detection switch 20 and the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22. For example, the rotation detection switch 20 and the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 may be disposed at the same height with respect to the circuit board 12. Examples thereof are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 as a second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a dial holder 80 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is used in place of the dial ring 40 according to the first embodiment. The dial holder 80 is also substantially cylindrical like the dial ring 40, and is the same as the circuit board 12 according to the first embodiment by a holding member equivalent to the holding member 16 according to the first embodiment. Although held on the side of the circuit board 12 (FIG. 9), an operation feeling generating portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end (the upper end in FIG. 9) 82 of the dial holder 80 on the side close to the circuit board. A cam surface constituting 62 is formed, and a plurality of operation ribs 84 constituting a switch operation portion are arranged around the end portion 82 along the circumferential direction of the rotation.

  The apparatus according to this embodiment also includes a rotation detection switch 20 and an operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 as in the first embodiment. Among these, the rotation detection switch 20 is disposed outside the dial holder 80 so that the rotation detector 56 can be intermittently operated by the operation ribs 84, while the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is provided on the plunger 64. The contact portion 64b is disposed inside the end portion 82 so as to contact the cam surface from the inside. Therefore, the rotation detection switch 20 and the operational feeling imparting mechanism 22 are disposed at substantially the same height with respect to the circuit board 12.

  Also in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 9, on the straight line connecting the rotation center axis O of the dial holder 80 and the rotation detector 56 in the standing position in the rotation detection switch 20. The contact position between the operation feeling generating unit 62 and the contact part 64b of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 is set, so that the contact part 64b is applied to the operation feeling generating unit 62 by using the force applied to the operation feeling generating unit 62. The relative position of the rotation detection switch 20 with respect to the operation rib 84 can be stabilized.

(Relative positional relationship between the rotation detector 56 and the operational feeling imparting mechanism 22)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, as a particularly preferred embodiment, a straight line connecting the rotation center axis O and the rotation detector 56 when viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis O of the dial ring 40. These are arranged so that there is a contact position between the operation feeling generating section 62 and the contact section 64b of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22, but the contact position may not be strictly on the straight line. If the two are close to each other, the detection accuracy of the rotation detection switch 20 can be improved. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the dial ring 40 is viewed from the direction along the rotation center axis O, (1) the rotation center axis O and the rotation detector 56 (more precisely, the rotation at the standing position). A straight line L1 connecting the tip of the detector 56), and (2) the rotation center axis O and the contact position (position where the contact portion 64b of the operation feeling imparting mechanism 22 contacts the operation feeling generating portion 62). (3) The contact position may be close to the straight line L1 until the angle (relative angle) α between the straight lines L1 and L2 is 30 ° or less.

  FIG. 11 shows that the average inner diameter of the dial ring 40 (the average diameter of the cam surface constituting the operation feeling generating unit 62) is 40 mm, and the distance from the rotation center axis O of the dial ring 40 to the tip position D of the rotation detector 56. Is 0.2 mm, and the clearance between the dial ring 40 and the holding member 16 at the relative angle α and the tip position D when the maximum clearance between the dial ring 40 and the holding member 16 is 0.1 mm. It shows the relationship. Referring to FIG. 11, it is understood that the size of the gap increases at an increasing rate as the relative angle α increases, and that the size of the gap can be significantly reduced if the relative angle α is suppressed to 30 ° or less. it can. In particular, if the relative angle α is 10 ° or less, it is possible to set the gap to a level that can be regarded as substantially zero.

  Therefore, as long as this condition is satisfied, the contact position P may be on the side opposite to the rotation detector 56. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, even if the contact position P is set at a position A that is 180 ° apart from the tip position D or a position B that is within a range of a relative angle of 30 ° or less from the position A, the contact position It is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the rotation detection switch 20 by using the force with which the contact portion 64b is pressed against the operation feeling generating portion 62 at P.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Panel 12 Circuit board 16 Holding member 18 Rotation operation member 20 Rotation detection switch 22 Operation feeling provision mechanism 40, 80 Dial holder 42 Dial 44 Large diameter part 46 Holding part 56 Rotation detector 58 Switch main body 60 Operation protrusion (switch operation part) Configured)
62 Operation feeling generating part 64 Plunger 64b Contact part 66 Compression coil spring (biasing part)
84 Operation rib (constitutes switch operation section)
O The rotation center axis of the dial holder P The contact position of the contact portion of the operation feeling imparting mechanism with respect to the operation feeling generating portion L1 The straight line connecting the rotation center axis O and the rotation detector L2 The straight line connecting the rotation center axis O and the contact position P

Claims (4)

A rotary operation device provided on a circuit board,
A rotation operation member that is rotated around a predetermined central axis in a direction substantially parallel to the normal direction of the circuit board;
A rotation holding member fixed on the circuit board and supporting the rotation operation member from outside so as to allow rotation of the rotation operation member around the central axis;
A rotation detection switch provided on the circuit board for detecting rotation of the rotation operation member;
An operation feeling imparting mechanism for giving an operator a feeling of operation by operating intermittently with the rotation of the rotation operation member,
The rotation operation member has an inner peripheral surface surrounding the space on the inner side and an outer peripheral surface on the opposite side, and the operation feeling imparting mechanism is disposed in the inner space, and the rotation operation member is disposed outside the rotation operation member. A rotation detection switch is arranged,
The rotation detection switch includes a rotation detector that can perform an up-and-down operation, and a switch body that outputs a detection signal each time the up-and-down operation of the rotation detector is performed. A switch operation unit having a shape that intermittently undulates the rotation detector of the rotation detection switch as the operation member rotates is provided,
An operation feeling generating unit having a shape that activates the operation feeling imparting mechanism according to the rotation of the rotation operation member is provided on an inner surface of the rotation operation member, and the operation feeling imparting mechanism includes the operation feeling generating unit. A contact portion that is relatively movable in the rotational radial direction and is capable of relative movement in the rotational circumferential direction while being in contact with the operation feeling generating portion, and the contact portion and the operation A biasing portion that biases the contact portion toward the operation feeling generating portion so as to maintain contact with the feeling generating portion;
As seen from the direction along the rotation center axis of the rotation operation member, a straight line connecting the rotation center axis and the position where the contact portion contacts the operation feeling generating portion, and rotation of the rotation center axis and the rotation detection switch A rotation operation device in which an angle formed by a straight line connecting the detector is 30 ° or less.   The rotation operation device according to claim 1, wherein a straight line connecting the rotation center axis and a position where the contact portion comes into contact with the operation feeling generating portion as seen from a direction along the rotation center axis of the rotation operation member, A rotation operation device, wherein an angle formed by a straight line connecting a rotation center axis and a rotation detector of the rotation detection switch is 10 ° or less.   3. The rotation operation device according to claim 1, wherein the switch body is mounted on the circuit board so that a signal output from the switch body of the rotation detection switch is input to the circuit board, while the rotation holding is performed. A member holds the operation feeling imparting mechanism at a position farther from the circuit board than the rotation detection switch, and the operation feeling generating portion of the rotation operation member is from the switch operation portion of the rotation operation member. And a rotary operation device disposed at a position away from the circuit board.   The rotation operation device according to claim 3, wherein an end of the rotation operation member on the side close to the circuit board constitutes a large diameter portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than those of other portions, and the rotation holding member has the large diameter. A holding portion that holds and holds the portion from the outside in the radial direction and from the side opposite to the circuit board, and the switch operating portion is formed in the large diameter portion, and the diameter is smaller than the large diameter portion. A rotary operation device in which the operation feeling generating portion is formed in a portion.

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