JP6204232B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device provided with a plurality of switch portions that are pressed by an operation member, and in particular, the switch portion operates erroneously when the operation member is pressed at a portion not facing the switch portion. The present invention relates to an input device having a structure that is easy to prevent.

  Patent Document 1 describes an invention related to a multidirectional input device in which a plurality of switch units are operated with one key top.

  This multidirectional input device is provided with a central switch and four peripheral switches arranged around it under the key top. Further, at an intermediate position between adjacent peripheral switches, legs are integrally formed downward from the key top.

  When the central part of the key top is pressed, the multi-directional input device operates by pressing the central switch, and when the peripheral part of the key top is pressed, one of the peripheral switches is pressed by the key top to operate. . When the peripheral part is pushed and the peripheral switch is operated, the leg part hits the board and the key top is prevented from being tilted more than necessary, thereby preventing the central switch from operating accidentally. Is.

JP 2003-45290 A

  The multidirectional input device described in Patent Document 1 is an intermediate portion between adjacent peripheral switches even when the pressing operation position is directly above the peripheral switch when the peripheral portion of the key top is pressed. However, the peripheral switch is pushed and operates. Further, the operation feeling when the key top is pressed right above the peripheral switch and the operation feeling when the key top is pressed right above the intermediate position of the adjacent peripheral switches are almost the same.

  Therefore, when an attempt is made to operate only the peripheral switch portion underneath by pressing the key top from directly above the peripheral switch, an erroneous input that erroneously operates another adjacent peripheral switch is likely to occur.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an operation feeling when the operation member is pressed from above the switch portion, and an operation feeling when the operation member is pressed between adjacent switch portions, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that makes it easy to prevent an erroneous input operation.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an input device that can prevent the switch unit from operating when an operation member is pressed between adjacent switch units, and is easy to configure. Yes.

The present invention provides an input device provided with a plurality of switch portions provided on a substrate and an operation member that presses the switch portion.
A plurality of operation lines that intersect with each other are set, and a pair of switch portions are provided on the operation lines with the intersection of the operation lines interposed therebetween, and a plurality of pairs of the switch portions according to the number of the operation lines. Provided,
A movable member supported so as to be able to move toward the substrate and to fall in a direction crossing the operation line is provided between the operation member and each of the switch portions, A pressing portion that presses the switch portion and a pair of receiving portions that are positioned on both sides of the operation line and receive a pressing force from the operation member are formed,
When the operation member is pressed on the switch unit, the movable member moves toward the substrate to operate the switch unit, and the operation member is pressed between the adjacent switch units. In this case, the movable member is inclined.

  In the input device of the present invention, when the operating member is pressed from above the switch portion, the pressing force is received by the pair of receiving portions, and the movable member is easily lowered while maintaining a substantially parallel posture. The switch part is easy to operate, and the operation feeling for operating the switch part is also improved. On the other hand, when the operating member is pressed between the switch unit and the switch unit, the movable member assumes an oblique posture, so that the switch unit is difficult to operate and the operation resistance is increased. This makes it easier to recognize that the input operation has been started.

  In the input device of the present invention, a stopper is provided between the substrate and the operation member to restrict the amount of inclination of the movable member. When the amount of inclination of the movable member is restricted, the switch It is preferable that the part does not operate.

  With the above structure, when the operation member is pressed between the switch unit and the switch unit, the switch unit does not operate, and an erroneous input in which the switch unit operates due to an unintended operation is less likely to occur.

  In the input device of the present invention, the two operation lines are arranged orthogonally, the switch part and the four movable members are provided, and all the switch parts are arranged equidistant from the intersection. Can be configured.

  Further, the input device of the present invention is provided with a fulcrum contact portion that is supported from the opposite side to the substrate at least on the operation line, and the operation member is inclined with the contact portion with the fulcrum contact portion as a fulcrum. It can be configured as operable.

  In the input device according to the present invention, an elastic urging force for contacting the fulcrum contact portion acts on the operation member. For example, the elastic urging force is given by the operation reaction force of each switch part.

  In the input device of the present invention, a support structure portion that supports the movable member is provided between the operation member and the substrate, and a support center in the support structure portion is located on the operation line. Yes.

For example, the support structure portion has a pair of support protrusions facing each other with the operation line interposed therebetween, and a fulcrum portion formed on the movable member is sandwiched between the pair of support protrusions.
In this case, it is preferable that the pair of supporting protrusions are formed of an elastic member.

  When the pair of support protrusions are formed of an elastic member, an appropriate operation reaction force is set by the support protrusion when the operation member is pushed at a portion between the switch part and the movable member is inclined. As a result, the operator can easily recognize that the input operation is incorrect.

  The input device of the present invention is easy to operate the switch part when the operation member is pressed from above the switch part, and the pressing operation feeling at that time is also good. On the other hand, since the operation feeling when the operating member is pressed between the switch unit and the switch unit is deteriorated, it is easy for the operator to recognize that the input operation is incorrect. Further, even when the tilt angle of the operation member is small, it is possible to improve the feel of operating the switch unit.

  Furthermore, it is easy to configure so that the switch portion does not operate when the operating member is pressed between the switch portions.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the state by which the input device of embodiment of this invention was assembled by the II-II line | wire shown in FIG. The same sectional view as FIG. 2 which shows operation | movement when an operation member is pushed from the switch part, The same sectional view as FIG. 2 showing the operation when the operation member is pushed between the switch part and the switch part,

  The input device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used by being mounted on an in-vehicle electrical equipment or various electronic devices.

  The input device 1 has an operation member 10 made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation member 10 is mounted inside the opening 2 a formed in the panel 2. A support substrate 3 is opposed to the inside of the apparatus (lower side in FIG. 2) than the panel 2, and an intermediate support member 4 is provided between the panel 2 and the support substrate 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 1 is set with a first operation line L1 and a second operation line L2. The operation lines L1 and L2 are virtual lines. A line extending vertically through the intersection of the first operation line L1 and the second operation line L2 is the center line O. The center line O passes through the center (center of gravity) of the operation member 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation member 10 has a disk-shaped operation main body 11 and a plurality of raised portions 11a are formed on the surface of the operation main body 11b. In the operation main body 11, the pressing operation portions 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10c are set in a portion having the raised portion 11b.

  A first pressing operation unit 10a and a second pressing operation unit 10b are set on the first operation line L1. The first pressing operation unit 10a and the second pressing operation unit 10b are located at an equal distance across the center line O where the intersection of the operation lines L1 and L2 is located. A third pressing operation unit 10c and a fourth pressing operation unit 10d are set on the second operation line L2. The third pressing operation unit 10c and the fourth pressing operation unit 10d are located at equal distances with the center line O interposed therebetween.

  The operation member 10 is formed with a flange portion 12 protruding from the periphery of the operation main body portion 11. Further, on the first operation line L1, a fulcrum latching portion 13a is formed to protrude on the side opposite to the first pressing operation portion 10a, and a fulcrum latching portion 13b is formed on the side opposite to the second pressing operation portion 10b. Has been. On the second operation line L2, a fulcrum latching portion 13c is formed to protrude on the side opposite to the third pressing operation portion 10c, and a fulcrum latching portion 13d is formed on the side opposite to the fourth pressing operation portion 10d. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation member 10 is attached to the opening 2 a from the inside of the panel 2 (the lower side of FIG. 2). The operation main body 11 of the operation member 10 is inserted into the opening 2 a and slightly protrudes from the surface 2 b of the panel 2, and the flange 12 and the fulcrum latching portions 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d are on the back surface of the panel 2. On the side, it is supported in contact with a fulcrum contact portion 2c formed around the opening 2a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a central operation hole 14 is opened at the center of the operation member 10. A central push button is disposed in the central operation hole 14, and a central switch portion that is pressed by the central push button is provided on the support substrate 3, but the illustration of the central push button and the central switch portion is omitted. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the support substrate 3, the 1st switch part 30a, the 2nd switch part 30b, the 3rd switch part 30c, and the 4th switch part 30d are arrange | positioned. The first switch unit 30a and the second switch unit 30b are arranged on the first operation line L1 with the center line O sandwiched therebetween, and the third switch unit 30c and the fourth switch unit 30d are the second switch unit 30d. Are arranged with the center line O interposed therebetween.

  2 to 4 show the cross-sectional structure of the first switch unit 30a, but the cross-sectional structure is the same in the second switch unit 30b, the third switch unit 30c, and the fourth switch unit 30d. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an elastic sheet 32 is installed on the upper surface of the support substrate 3. The elastic sheet 32 is an elastic body made of synthetic rubber. In the switch portions 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d, an operation space 32a is formed between the elastic sheet 32 and the support substrate 3, and the switch mechanism 31 is accommodated in the operation space 32a. The switch mechanism 31 has a push button (actuator) 31b protruding upward from the case 31a. The case 31a has a contact mechanism that can be switched by the pressing operation of the push button 31b. The contact mechanism has an elastic contact, and an urging force that causes the push button 31b to protrude upward acts on the elastic contact. The switch mechanism 31 may be provided with a return spring mechanism for projecting the push button 31b upward, separately from the contact mechanism.

  On the operating space 32a, a part of the elastic sheet 32 is a deformed portion 32b. A downward contact protrusion 32c is formed integrally with the deformable portion 32b, and the contact protrusion 32c is in contact with the push button 31b. The abutting convex portion 32c is also urged upward by a force that urges the push button 31b upward.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in each of the switch portions 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, a support structure portion 33 is provided on the deformation portion 32 b of the elastic sheet 32. The support structure 33 has a pair of support protrusions 33a and 33a. The support protrusions 33a and 33a constituting one support structure portion 33 are opposed to each other with the operation line L1 or L2 in a direction orthogonal to the operation line L1 or L2. The support protrusions 33 a and 33 a are formed integrally with the elastic sheet 32.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate support member 4 is formed with storage recesses 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. The storage recess 5a is positioned above the first switch portion 30a, and the storage recess 5b is positioned above the second switch portion 30b. The storage recess 5c is positioned above the third switch portion 30c, and the storage recess 5d is positioned above the fourth switch portion 30d.

  The storage recess 5a and the storage recess 5b have guide grooves 6 and 6 located on both sides of the first operation line L1, and a stopper 7 formed by a step portion is formed in each guide groove 6. ing. The storage recess 5c and the storage recess 5d have guide grooves 6 and 6 located on both sides of the second operation line L2, and a stopper 7 formed by a step portion is formed in each guide groove 6. ing.

  A movable member 20 made of synthetic resin is housed in each of the housing recesses 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each movable member 20 has a main body 21. Both end portions 21a and 21a of the main body portion 21 are located inside the guide grooves 6 and 6, and the movable member 20 is movably held inside the housing recesses 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. As shown in FIG. 2, both end portions 21 a, 21 a of the main body portion 21 face directly above the stoppers 7, 7 formed inside the guide grooves 6, 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pressing portion 22 is formed to protrude from the lower end portion of the main body portion 21. As shown in FIG. 1, a fulcrum part (fulcrum protrusion) 23 that protrudes toward the center line O is integrally formed on the main body 21. Furthermore, receiving portions 24 and 24 are formed so as to protrude integrally on both end portions 21a and 21a.

  In the movable member 20, the pressing portion 22 and the fulcrum portion 23 are formed at the center portions of the receiving portions 24, 24 on both sides. As shown in FIG. 1, the movable member 20 accommodated in the accommodating recess 5 a and the accommodating portion 5 b has the pressing portion 22 and the fulcrum portion 23 located on the first operation line L <b> 1. The formed receiving portions 24, 24 are located on both sides of the first operation line L1. The movable member 20 accommodated in the accommodating recess 5c and the accommodating portion 5d has the pressing portion 22 and the fulcrum portion 23 located on the second operation line L2, and the receiving portions 24 formed on the respective movable members 20, 24 are located on both sides of the second operation line L2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fulcrum portion 23 formed on each movable member 20 is sandwiched between a pair of support protrusions 33 a and 33 a of a support structure portion 33 formed integrally with the elastic sheet 32. The pressing portion 22 formed on the lower surface of the movable member 20 is in contact with the contact protrusion 32 c formed on the deformation portion 32 b of the resin sheet 32. Further, the pair of receiving portions 24, 24 are in contact with the lower surface of the operation member 10 in the peripheral portion of the operation member 10.

Next, the operation of the input device 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, when no pressing force is applied to the operating member 10, the switch mechanism 31 provided at four locations causes the push button 31b to protrude upward by the restoring force of the internal contact mechanism, and the push button 31b urges the pressing portion 22 of the movable member 20 upward with the contact protrusion 32c interposed therebetween. Due to this urging force, the pair of receiving portions 24, 24 of the movable member 20 pushes the operating member 10 upward, so that the flange portion 12 and the support latching portions 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d of the movable member 20 It is pressed against the fulcrum contact part 2c.

  In this state, in all the switch parts 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d, the contact mechanism in the switch mechanism 31 is a non-contact state.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation when the first pressing operation portion 10a of the operating member 10 is pressed with a human finger. The 1st press operation part 10a means the area | region which has a certain breadth centering on the 1st operation line L1. As shown in FIG. 3, the first pressing operation portion 10 a is formed between a contact portion between each of the pair of receiving portions 24, 24 formed on the movable member 20 positioned below the operation member 10. The range in the direction along the first operation line L <b> 1 is a region from the outer peripheral edge of the operation main body 11 to the edge of the central operation hole 14. This is the same in the other pressing operation units 10b, 10c, and 10d.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the first pressing operation portion 10 a is pushed downward by the pressing force Fa, the operation member 10 moves the contact portion between the fulcrum latching portion 13 a and the fulcrum contact portion 2 c of the panel 2. Tilt as a fulcrum, the pressing force Fa acts on the pair of receiving portions 24, 24 of the movable member 20 stored in the storage recess 5a on the lower side. At this time, the difference between the operating force F1 acting on one receiving portion 24 and the operating force F2 acting on the other receiving portion 24 is small. In particular, when the finger is placed on the first operation line L1 and the pressing force Fa is applied, the operation forces F1 and F2 are substantially the same.

  Therefore, the movable member 20 positioned below the first pressing operation unit 10a is easily lowered while maintaining the horizontal posture, or even if the movable member 20 is inclined, the movable member 20 is easily lowered with a small inclination angle. At this time, the fulcrum portion 23 formed on the movable member 20 moves toward the support substrate 3 between the pair of support protrusions 33 a and 33 a formed on the elastic sheet 32.

  The downward force of the pressing portion 22 of the movable member 20 acts downward on the push button 31b across the contact convex portion 32c, and the contact mechanism in the switch mechanism 31 is switched. Since the movable member 20 is lowered in a substantially horizontal posture, the push button 31b is pushed downward, which is the original operation direction, so that the movable member 20 can be smoothly lowered and the contact mechanism of the switch mechanism 31 can be switched reliably. become.

  The upward operation reaction force when the push button 31b is pressed is given upward from the two receiving portions 24 and 24 to the lower surface of the operation member 10 on both sides of the first operation line L1. Therefore, a stable reaction force is applied to the finger pressing the operation member 10 between the two receiving portions 24 and 24.

  With this operation, the operation feeling when the first pressing operation unit 10a is pressed with a finger is good, and the switching operation of the switch mechanism 31 in the first switch unit 30a can be smoothly performed.

  This is the same when the second pressing operation unit 10b, the third pressing operation unit 10c, and the fourth pressing operation unit 10d are pressed with a finger.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation when a pressing force Fb is applied between the first pressing operation portion 10a and the third pressing operation portion 10c. In the same cross-sectional view as in FIG. 2 and FIG. The operation | movement of the movable member 20 located in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the pressing force Fb acts on the operation member 10 on the intermediate operation line La that forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to both the first operation line L1 and the second operation line L2, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation member 10 has a contact portion between the flange portion 12 positioned on the opposite side of the operation portion of the pressing force Fb on the extension of the intermediate operation line La and the fulcrum contact portion 2c of the panel 2. Tilt in the α direction as a fulcrum.

  Operation forces F3 and F4 are applied downward from the lower surface of the operation member 10 to the pair of receiving portions 24 and 24 of the movable member 20 located in the storage recess 5a. The operating force F3 acting on the receiving portion 24 located on the left side in FIG. 4 is larger than the operating force F4 acting on the receiving portion 24 located on the right side, and the movable member 20 uses the fulcrum portion 23 as a fulcrum. It is inclined in the α direction which is the same direction as 10.

  When the movable member 20 is tilted, the push button 31b of the switch mechanism 31 is pushed by the pressing portion 22 of the movable member 20, and an oblique push force acts on the push button 31b with respect to its original operation direction. Therefore, the switch mechanism 31 becomes difficult to operate, and the resistance force to the operation member 10 increases. Further, when the movable member 20 is tilted, the support protrusions 33a and 33a formed by the elastic member are deformed by the fulcrum portion 23 provided on the movable member 20, so that the reaction force from the movable member 20 to the operation member 10 is deformed. Becomes even larger.

  Since the movable member 20 positioned below the third pressing operation portion 10c also performs the tilting operation in the same manner, a large operation reaction force acts from the two movable members 20 on the finger giving the pressing force Fa. . Therefore, the switch mechanism 31 becomes difficult to operate when the operation member 10 is pressed at a portion other than the pressing operation portions 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the operation member 10 moves obliquely, the left end portion 21 a of the movable member 20 hits the stopper 7 formed on the intermediate support member 4. The inclination angle of the movable member 20 is limited. The inclination angle of the movable member 20 at this time is determined from the relationship between the height position of the stopper 7 and the operation stroke of the push button 31b. When the movable member 20 is tilted, a downward force is applied from the pressing portion 22 to the push button 31b. At this time, the push button 31b cannot be pushed completely, and the contact mechanism inside the switch mechanism 31 is turned off. The inclination angle of the movable member 20 is determined so as not to change.

  As described above, by limiting the tilt angle of the movable member 20, the switch mechanism 31 can be configured not to operate when the operation member 10 is pressed at a portion other than the pressing operation portions 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. . However, in the thin input device 1, if the tilt angle of the movable member 20 is limited, the tilt angle of the movable member 20 when a pressing force is applied must be reduced. However, even in this case, when the pressing force Fa is applied to the first pressing operation portion 10a, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable member 20 descends in a substantially parallel posture and the original operation with respect to the push button 31b. Since a force parallel to the stroke direction can be applied, the operation feeling when operating the switch mechanism 31 is improved.

  That is, even when the tilt angle of the operation member 10 is reduced, the input device 1 has the switch mechanism 31 when the operation member 10 is pressed at a portion other than the pressing operation portions 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. When the pressing operation units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are pressed without being operated, the switch mechanism 31 can be operated with a good operation feeling.

1 Input device 2 Panel 2c Support point contact part 3 Support substrate (substrate)
4 Intermediate support member 7 Stopper 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Press operation part 10 Operation member 11 Operation main body part 20 Movable member 22 Press part 24 Receiving part 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d Switch part 31 which exhibits elastic urging force Switch mechanism 31b Push button 32 Elastic sheet 33 Support structure 33a Support protrusion F1, F2, F3, F4 Operation force Fa, Fb Press force L1 First operation line L2 Second operation line O Center line

Claims (9)

In an input device provided with a plurality of switch portions provided on a substrate and an operation member that presses the switch portion,
A plurality of operation lines that intersect with each other are set, and a pair of switch portions are provided on the operation lines with the intersection of the operation lines interposed therebetween, and a plurality of pairs of the switch portions according to the number of the operation lines. Provided,
A movable member supported so as to be able to move toward the substrate and to fall in a direction crossing the operation line is provided between the operation member and each of the switch portions, A pressing portion that presses the switch portion and a pair of receiving portions that are positioned on both sides of the operation line and receive a pressing force from the operation member are formed,
When the operation member is pressed on the switch unit, the movable member moves toward the substrate to operate the switch unit, and the operation member is pressed between the adjacent switch units. The input device is characterized in that the movable member is tilted when it is touched.   2. A stopper is provided between the substrate and the operation member to restrict the amount of inclination of the movable member, and the switch portion does not operate when the amount of inclination of the movable member is restricted. The input device described.   The two said operation lines are orthogonally arranged, the said switch part and the said four movable members are each provided, and all the switch parts are arrange | positioned equidistant from the said intersection. Input device.   4. A fulcrum contact portion that is supported at least on the operation line from the opposite side of the substrate is provided, and the operation member is capable of tilting with the contact portion with the fulcrum contact portion as a fulcrum. The input device according to any one of the above.   The input device according to claim 4, wherein an elastic urging force for contacting the fulcrum contact portion acts on the operation member.   The input device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic biasing force is applied by an operation reaction force of each switch unit.   The support structure part which supports the said movable member is provided between the said operation member and the said board | substrate, The support center in this support structure part is located on the said operation line. The input device according to any one of the above.   The said support structure part has a pair of support protrusion which opposes on both sides of the said operation line, The fulcrum part formed in the said movable member is pinched | interposed into a pair of said support protrusion. Input device.   The input device according to claim 8, wherein the pair of support protrusions are formed of an elastic member.

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