JP7057170B2 - Input devices and electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an input device that accepts a rotation operation and generates a click feeling associated with the rotation operation, and an electronic device including the input device.

An electronic device such as a digital camera in which an input device having an operation dial for accepting a rotation operation or a swing operation is arranged is known. In such an electronic device, the function to be executed is changed according to the rotation angle of the operation dial. Therefore, a click mechanism for generating a click feeling is provided for each predetermined rotation angle, and the operation dial is rotated by the click feeling. Notify the user that the function has changed. Further, it is necessary to detect the rotation of the operation dial in order to determine which function is selected. In response to this, for example, a rotation pulse switch having a contact brush and a rotation detection mechanism having an electrode pattern is proposed. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In the switch of Patent Document 1, when the operation dial is rotated, the operation dial is rotated based on the pulse signal generated by the contact brush fixed to the operation dial sliding along the annular electrode pattern. Detected. Further, in the switch of Patent Document 1, the operation dial is configured to be swingable, and when the operation dial swings, the switch is pressed by a pusher provided on the operation dial, and a signal is output.

By the way, in the switch of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to bring the contact brush into contact with the electrode pattern, the electrode pattern cannot be covered with a waterproof film or the like, and it is difficult to improve the drip-proof performance. Therefore, a rotary dial device capable of detecting the rotation of the operation dial without contacting the contact brush with the electrode pattern has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the dial device of Patent Document 2, a magnet that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the dial and a Hall element that faces a part of the rotation trajectory of the magnet are provided, and the magnet passes in front of the Hall element as the dial rotates. The rotation of the dial is detected based on the change in the magnetic flux at the time of operation. In the dial device of Patent Document 2, since the magnet and the Hall element do not come into contact with each other, a waterproof wall can be provided between the magnet and the Hall element, whereby the drip-proof performance of the Hall element or the like can be improved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5281589 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-46024

However, in the dial device of Patent Document 2, a rotating body to which a magnet is fixed is arranged in the dial so as to avoid a click mechanism, and the dial and the gear interlock with each other to rotate around different rotation axes. That is, since the dial and the rotating body are not arranged coaxially, there is a problem that the dial accommodating the rotating body becomes enlarged in the radial direction, and as a result, it is difficult to miniaturize the dial device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an input device and an electronic device that can be miniaturized.

In order to achieve the above object, the input device of the present invention faces a click mechanism that generates a click feeling by rotation, an operation dial that accepts a rotation operation, a magnet provided on the operation dial, and the operation dial. The operation dial is provided with a magnetic sensor arranged in such a manner, and the rotation of the operation dial is detected based on the change in magnetic flux when the magnet passes in front of the magnetic sensor as the operation dial rotates, and the click mechanism is provided. The rotation axis of the operation dial and the rotation axis of the operation dial are aligned with each other, and when viewed from the vertical direction of the rotation axis, at least a part of the operation dial and the click mechanism are arranged so as to overlap each other, and the click mechanism is arranged so that the rotation axis of the operation dial and the click mechanism are overlapped with each other. The leaf spring has a rotating body having a shaft as a central axis, a plurality of convex portions arranged along the outer periphery of the rotating body, and a leaf spring urged toward the outer periphery of the rotating body. It is characterized in that it is arranged so that the thickness direction coincides with the radial direction of the rotating body .

According to the present invention, an input device and an electronic device provided with the input device can be miniaturized.

It is a rear perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a digital camera as an electronic device provided with the input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged perspective view of the input device in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the input device in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the operation dial in FIG. 2 in detail. It is a rear view which shows the positional relationship between a leaf spring and a rotating body when an operation dial is held by a holder. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a switch sheet and a printed wiring board in FIG. 3 are overlapped with each other. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the switch sheet and the printed wiring board in FIG. 3 are overlapped with each other. It is a figure for demonstrating the laminated structure of each component in an input device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the configurations described in the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a digital camera as an electronic device including an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 10 includes a lens barrel 11 provided on the front side and a display unit 12 provided on the back side. The display unit 12 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays, for example, a subject image formed on an image pickup element (not shown) that has passed through the photographing optical system of the lens barrel 11. The back surface of the digital camera 10 is covered with the back cover 13, and the display unit 12 is arranged so as to cover most of the back cover 13 when the digital camera 10 is viewed from the back side. Further, a portion of the back cover 13 that is not covered by the display unit 12, in the present embodiment, an input device 14 is provided on the right side of the display unit 12 (see the portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure). The input device 14 has an operation dial 15 and a plurality of buttons 16. The operation dial 15 accepts a rotation operation, and for example, a continuous input operation such as manual focus or white balance is assigned to the rotation operation. Further, the operation dial 15 is configured to be swingable, and accepts a swing operation, a swing operation in a plurality of directions, and a combined operation of a rotation operation. In the input device 14, for example, an on / off / auto switching operation of flash light emission is assigned to a swing operation.

2 is an enlarged perspective view of the input device in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device in FIG. 1. The input device 14 includes an operation dial 15, a holder 17, a leaf spring 18, a sliding sheet 19 (annular resin member), a display plate 20, a center key 21, an elastic sheet 22 (elastic film), a switch sheet 23, and a printed wiring board 24. It has a (board), double-sided tape 25, and a base 26. The substantially cylindrical operation dial 15 is rotatably held around the Z axis in the drawing by inserting the rotary shaft portion 30 described later into the holding hole 17a of the holder 17. Further, the operation dial 15 is attached to the elastic sheet 22 via the sliding sheet 19 and swings due to the elasticity of the elastic sheet 22. When the user presses a part of the operation dial 15, the pressed part of the operation dial 15 swings so as to be buried in the elastic sheet 22. In the holder 17, the pin 17b protruding from the lower part in the drawing is inserted into a pin hole (not shown) provided in the base 26, and the pin 17b protruding from the back surface of the base 26 is caulked and welded to the base. Attached to 26. When the holder 17 is attached to the base 26, the elastic sheet 22, the switch sheet 23, and the printed wiring board 24 are sandwiched between them. Further, the printed wiring board 24 is attached to the base 26 by the double-sided tape 25.

The holder 17 has a substantially annular shape, and a substantially C-shaped leaf spring 18 is arranged concentrically with the holder 17 in the holding hole 17a of the holder 17. The detailed shape of the leaf spring 18 will be described later. A display plate 20 is fitted in the center of the operation dial 15, and a user-visible surface of the display plate 20 is pressed in each direction of the operation dial 15, for example, upward, downward, rightward, or left. Various icons indicating the functions corresponding to the swing operation in the direction are printed. The display plate 20 is formed by inserting a pin 20a protruding from the lower part of the drawing into a pin hole (not shown) provided in the base 26 and caulking and welding the pin 20a protruding from the back surface of the base 26. It is attached to the table 26 so that rotation is restricted. Further, a center key 21 is embedded in the central portion of the display board 20. When the operation dial 15 is pressed in each of the up, down, left, and right directions, the display plate 20 swings following the operation dial 15 due to its partial elastic deformation. On the other hand, the center key 21 is held on the display board 20 so as to accept only the pressing operation in the Z-axis direction without interlocking with the rotation operation or the swing operation to the operation dial 15. An elastic sheet 22 is arranged between the operation dial 15 and the switch sheet 23. The elastic sheet 22 is made of a material having an airtightness such as rubber, and seals the switch sheet 23 and the printed wiring board 24 from the external environment of the digital camera 10. When the operation dial 15 is pressed in each of the up, down, left, and right directions, the corresponding portion of the elastic sheet 22 is also deformed in response to these operations, and the corresponding portion protrudes toward the switch sheet 23. The sliding sheet 19 is made of an annular resin member, has a positioning hole 19a, and is positioned and held with respect to the elastic sheet 22 by fitting the protrusion 22a of the elastic sheet 22 into the positioning hole 19a. .. The sliding sheet 19 may be integrally formed with the elastic sheet 22. A pair of Hall elements 27 as magnetic sensors are mounted on the printed wiring board 24 on the surface on the switch sheet 23 side, that is, on the surface on the side on which each metal dome switch 23a described later is arranged. Further, a switch sheet 23 that integrally holds a plurality of metal dome switches 23a is arranged between the elastic sheet 22 and the printed wiring board 24. Each metal dome switch 23a is arranged corresponding to each pressing position of each button 16 and the operation dial 15, and is switched on and off according to the pressing operation transmitted via the elastic sheet 22. Further, each Hall element hole 23b is formed in the switch sheet 23 at a position corresponding to each Hall element 27 of the printed wiring board 24. When the switch sheet 23 is superposed on the printed wiring board 24, each Hall element 27 flies into the Hall element hole 23b and faces the elastic sheet 22.

4A and 4B are views for explaining the configuration of the operation dial in FIG. 2 in detail, FIG. 4A is a perspective view when the operation dial is viewed from the back surface side, and FIG. 4B is an operation. It is a rear view of a dial. As shown in the figure, the operation dial 15 holds the annular magnet 28 concentrically by accommodating the annular magnet 28 in the annular groove 29. The magnet 28 is magnetized so that the magnetic poles (N pole, S pole) alternately appear at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. As a result, the magnet 28 rotates integrally with the operation dial 15, and when viewed from one point facing the operation dial 15, the facing magnetic poles are replaced with the rotation of the operation dial 15. Further, the operation dial 15 has a cylindrical rotating shaft portion 30 (rotating body) protruding toward the back surface side. The central axis of the rotary shaft portion 30 and the rotary shaft of the operation dial 15 coincide with each other, and the rotary shaft portion 30 is inserted into the holding hole 17a of the holder 17. At this time, since the rotary shaft portion 30 is loosely fitted with the holding hole 17a, there is a degree of freedom in movement, and as a result, the operation dial 15 is held rotatably and swingably with respect to the holder 17. Further, the rotation shaft portion 30 has a plurality of convex portions 30a arranged at equal intervals along the outer periphery thereof.

In the input device 14, the operation dial 15 is held by the holder 17 so that the magnet 28 held by the operation dial 15 faces each Hall element 27 of the printed wiring board 24. Therefore, when the magnet 28 rotates with the rotation of the operation dial 15, the magnetic poles passing in front of each Hall element 27 are exchanged, and the magnetic flux detected by each Hall element 27 changes. The rotation of the operation dial 15 can be detected by converting this change in magnetic flux into an output signal by each Hall element 27. Since the pair of Hall elements 27 mounted on the printed wiring board 24 are arranged at an angle at which the waveforms of the output signals are shifted by a half phase, the operation dials can be compared by comparing the waveforms of the output signals of the Hall elements 27. The rotation direction of 15 can also be detected.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the leaf spring and the rotating shaft portion when the operation dial is held by the holder. When the rotary shaft portion 30 is loosely fitted into the holding hole 17a of the holder 17, the leaf spring 18 is arranged in the holding hole 17a so as to sandwich the rotary shaft portion 30. Semicircular engaging portions 18a projecting toward the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft portion 30 are formed at both ends of the leaf spring 18. Further, since both ends of the leaf spring 18 are urged toward the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft portion 30, each engaging portion 18a of the leaf spring 18 is engaged between two adjacent convex portions 30a of the rotating shaft portion 30. Will be combined. As a result, the free rotation of the rotary shaft portion 30 and the free rotation of the operation dial 15 are suppressed, and the operation dial 15 is maintained in a stable state. Further, in this stable state, the magnetizing position of the magnet 28 is determined so as to have an optimum phase for detecting the rotation operation of the operation dial 15. Since the holding hole 17a is formed smaller than the groove 29 of the operation dial 15, the leaf spring 18 and the rotating shaft portion 30 are arranged inside the magnet 28 when viewed from the back surface. Further, at this time, the leaf spring 18 is arranged so that its thickness direction coincides with the radial direction of the operation dial 15.

When a rotation operation is applied to the operation dial 15 by the user, the engaging portion 18a of the leaf spring 18 gets over one convex portion 30a and is between two adjacent convex portions 30a as the rotary shaft portion 30 rotates. A click feeling is generated by the impact when landing. That is, since the click feeling is generated by the mechanical impact, the input device 14 can obtain a clear click feeling rather than the click feeling generated by the magnetic force change of the magnet, which is a known technique. In the present embodiment, the rotary shaft portion 30, each convex portion 30a of the rotary shaft portion 30, and the leaf spring 18 form a click mechanism.

According to the operation dial 15, since the central axis of the rotation shaft portion 30 of the click mechanism and the rotation axis of the operation dial 15 coincide with each other, the click mechanism and the operation dial 15 can be arranged without using wasted space. Further, the magnet 28 has an annular shape, and the leaf spring 18 and the rotating shaft portion 30 are arranged inside the magnet 28. Therefore, the input device 14 can be miniaturized. Further, in the operation dial 15, the leaf spring 18 is arranged so that the thickness direction thereof coincides with the radial direction of the operation dial 15. Since the leaf spring 18 is thin, it is possible to eliminate the need to secure a large space for arranging the leaf spring 18 in the radial direction of the operation dial 15. As a result, the input device 14 can be further miniaturized.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the switch sheet and the printed wiring board in FIG. 3 are overlapped, and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which the switch sheet and the printed wiring board in FIG. 3 are overlapped. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the arrangement relationship, FIG. 7 also shows a leaf spring 18, a rotating shaft portion 30, and a holding hole 17a of the holder 17. Further, in FIG. 7, the region (projection region) 31 where the magnets 28 in the switch sheet 23 overlap is shown by a double line.

In the switch sheet 23, each Hall element hole 23b is formed between two adjacent metal dome switches 23a. Further, each Hall element 27 and each metal dome switch 23a are arranged so as to be contained in the projection region 31, specifically, on the same circumference and facing the magnet 28. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need to secure a large space for arranging each Hall element 27 and each metal dome switch 23a in the radial direction of the operation dial 15, so that the input device 14 can be miniaturized.

Further, if the leaf spring 18 is arranged at a position where it does not overlap with each metal dome switch 23a or each Hall element 27 arranged on the same circumference in a plan view, the leaf spring 18 can press the metal dome switch 23a. It does not interfere with the magnetic flux change detection by each Hall element 27. Therefore, the leaf spring 18 can be freely arranged in the annular region 32 between each metal dome switch 23a and the rotating shaft portion 30, which is shown by hatching in FIG. 7. Further, since the annular region 32 has a predetermined area, it is possible to easily secure a stroke for the engaging portion 18a to get over the convex portion 30a in the leaf spring 18 arranged in the annular region 32. That is, by arranging each metal dome switch 23a and each Hall element 27 on the same circumference, the stroke of the leaf spring 18 can be easily secured, and the size of the operation dial 15 can be reduced in the radial direction.

8A and 8B are views for explaining a laminated structure of each component in the input device, FIG. 8A is a plan view of the input device, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. Is. As shown in FIG. 8B, the elastic sheet 22 is integrally provided with a pusher 33 that projects toward each of the four metal dome switches 23a arranged on the same circumference. When the user presses a part of the operation dial 15, the pusher 33 at the corresponding position is pressed via the magnet 28, and the corresponding metal dome switch 23a is pressed. On the other hand, a resin sliding sheet 19 is interposed between the operation dial 15 (magnet 28) and the elastic sheet 22 (pusher 33), and the magnet 28 of the operation dial 15 comes into contact with the sliding sheet 19, so that the sliding sheet 19 is slid. The moving sheet 19 slides the operation dial 15. As a result, the rotation operation of the operation dial 15 is not hindered by the friction with the elastic sheet 22. Further, since the pressing operation of the operation dial 15 is transmitted to the metal dome switch 23a as it is by the pusher 33, it is possible to eliminate the need to provide a complicated mechanism for transmitting the pressing operation of the operation dial 15 or an individual pressing switch. can. As a result, the input device 14 can be miniaturized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), when viewed from the vertical direction of the rotation axis (Z axis in the figure), the positions of the leaf spring 18 and the magnet 28 held by the operation dial 15 with respect to the Z axis direction are substantially equal to each other. Match. That is, when the input device 14 is viewed from the side, the operation dial 15 and the leaf spring 18 constituting the click mechanism are arranged so as to overlap each other. As a result, the height of the input device 14 in the Z-axis direction can be lowered, and the input device 14 can also be miniaturized.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof. Specifically, the material, shape, size, form, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component of the present invention can be appropriately changed as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. For example, in the above-described embodiment, each Hall element 27 is mounted on the surface of the printed wiring board 24 on the switch sheet 23 side, that is, on the surface on the side on which each metal dome switch 23a is arranged. However, by forming the printed wiring board 24 with a member capable of transmitting magnetic flux, even if each Hall element 27 is mounted on the surface of the printed wiring board 24 opposite to the surface on which each metal dome switch 23a is arranged. good.

10 Digital camera 14 Input device 15 Operation dial 17 Holder 18 Leaf spring 22 Elastic sheet 23a Metal dome switch 24 Printed wiring board 27 Hall element 28 Magnet 30 Rotating shaft 30a Convex 33 Pusher

Claims (9)

A click mechanism that creates a click feeling by rotation, and
An operation dial that accepts rotation operations and
The magnet provided on the operation dial and
A magnetic sensor arranged so as to face the operation dial,
The rotation of the operation dial is detected based on the change in the magnetic flux when the magnet passes in front of the magnetic sensor with the rotation of the operation dial.
The rotation axis of the click mechanism and the rotation axis of the operation dial match,
When viewed from the vertical direction of the rotation axis, the operation dial and at least a part of the click mechanism are arranged so as to overlap each other .
The click mechanism includes a rotating body having the rotating axis as a central axis, a plurality of convex portions arranged along the outer periphery of the rotating body, and a leaf spring urged toward the outer periphery of the rotating body. Have and
The leaf spring is an input device characterized in that the leaf spring is arranged so that the thickness direction coincides with the radial direction of the rotating body . The magnet has an annular shape and is arranged concentrically with the rotation axis of the operation dial.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the click mechanism is arranged inside the magnet. The input device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a holder for swingably holding the operation dial. It is further provided with a switch that is arranged so as to face the operation dial and is pressed when the operation dial swings.
The input device according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic sensor and the switch are arranged on the same circumference. Further provided with an elastic membrane disposed between the operation dial and the switch
The elastic membrane has a pusher that projects toward the switch.
The input device according to claim 4, wherein the pusher presses the switch when the operation dial swings. The input device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic film is integrally formed with an annular resin member that abuts on the magnet. Further provided with a substrate on which the magnetic sensor is arranged,
The input device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the magnetic sensor is arranged on a surface of the substrate on the side on which the switch is arranged. Further provided with a substrate on which the magnetic sensor is arranged,
The input device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the magnetic sensor is arranged on a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface on which the switch is arranged. An electronic device comprising the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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