JPH0914992A - Rotary encoder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the size of a rotary encoder by making the number of patterns smaller than that of bits constituting encode signals by forming a plurality of contacts which come into contact with patterns on the same circumference at different locations on conductive contact pieces. CONSTITUTION: A conductive pattern 80 is concentrically formed on one surface of the substrate of a rotary encoder. The pattern 80 is composed of ground patterns 5A, 5B, and 5C formed over an angular range of about 360 deg. and a plurality of signal patterns 1A and 4B corresponding to the encode signals of a plurality of bits. Of the pattern 80, at least the patterns on one circumference are formed so that the signal patterns 1A and 4B can exist on the same circumference in a mixing state. Conductive contact pieces which connect the patterns 5A, 5B, and 5C to the patterns 1A and 4B form a plurality of contacts 76A and 76B which come into contact with the patterns on the same circumference at different locations. Namely, a plurality of signals is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary encoder, and more particularly to a rotary encoder for detecting a rotary position of a dial used for setting photographing conditions of a camera such as aperture value, shutter speed and focus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a rotary encoder of this type, a signal pattern and a ground pattern corresponding to each bit forming an encoded signal of a plurality of bits are concentrically formed on a substrate, and each signal pattern and It is known that a conductive contact piece having a contact with a ground pattern is slidably contacted with the substrate and rotated to output an encode signal indicating the rotational position of the conductive contact piece. .

[0003]

However, in the case of the rotary encoder, as the number of bits forming the encode signal increases, the number of patterns formed in concentric circles also increases, and the diameter of the rotary encoder increases. There is a problem that becomes large. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a rotary encoder capable of reducing the number of concentrically formed patterns rather than the number of bits forming an encoded signal, and enabling miniaturization. The purpose is to do.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a conductive pattern including a ground pattern formed on one surface over approximately 360 ° and a plurality of signal patterns corresponding to a plurality of bits of encoded signals. A substrate formed in a concentric circle shape, and a plurality of contact points that come into contact with the conductive pattern, consisting of a conductive contact piece that rotates by sliding contact with one surface of the substrate, depending on the rotational position of the conductive contact piece. A rotary encoder that outputs an encode signal indicating the rotation position, wherein the conductive pattern is formed such that a plurality of signal patterns are mixed on at least one pattern on the same circumference, and the conductive contact piece is formed on the same circumference. A plurality of contacts that are in contact with the upper pattern at different positions are formed, and a contact that is in contact with the ground pattern is formed. It is a symptom.

A second pattern on the same circumference is formed inside the pattern on the same circumference (pattern on the first same circumference) in the conductive pattern, and the conductive contact piece is in the second identical pattern. Contact points are formed in contact with the pattern on the circumference, and a plurality of bits of encode signals are obtained from the first and second patterns on the same circumference. The second pattern on the same circumference may be formed so that a plurality of signal patterns are mixed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, at least one of the concentric conductive patterns formed on the same circumference is formed so that a plurality of signal patterns are mixed, and the pattern on the same circumference is formed. A plurality of contact points that come into contact with each other at different positions are formed on the conductive contact piece. That is, since a plurality of signal patterns are formed on the same circumference, a plurality of contacts come into contact with these signal patterns, so that an encoded signal of a plurality of bits can be obtained. Further, by forming the second pattern on the same circumference inside the pattern on the same circumference (the pattern on the first same circumference), the number of bits can be further increased.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a rotary encoder according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a camera to which the rotary encoder according to the present invention is applied will be described. 1, 2, and 3 are a front view, a top view, and a rear view of a camera to which the present invention is applied, respectively.

The camera shown in FIG. 1 is a camera using a Brownie film, and a photographing lens 12 is arranged in a substantially central portion of the front surface of a camera body 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and the photographing lens 12 has an upper right corner portion in the figure. The daylighting finder 14
Is arranged. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 54 is an eyepiece of the finder 14. A strobe light emitting section 16 is arranged above the photographing lens 12, and the strobe light emitting section 16 is provided.
Is mounted in a recess 18 formed on the upper surface of the camera body 10 so as to be retractable. When the strobe light emitting unit 16 is housed in the recess 18, the engaging groove (not shown) formed in the arm 20 of the strobe light emitting unit 16 is recessed into the recess 18.
By being engaged with the claw 22 positioned at, the state where the claw 22 is accommodated in the concave portion 18 is held. In addition, the flash emitting unit 16
1 is released from the engagement by pressing the lock release button 24 provided on the back surface of the camera body 10 shown in FIG. 3, and protrudes from the concave portion 18 by the urging force of the urging member (not shown) to the position shown in FIG. Held in. The link mechanism 26 enhances the rigidity of the arm 20 when protruding from the recess 18.

On the right side of the taking lens 12 in the drawing, an AF light projecting section 28, an AF light receiving section 30, and an AE light receiving section 31 are arranged in close proximity to each other. Further, a grip portion 32 is formed on the left side of the camera body 10 in the drawing, and a shutter button 34 is arranged on the upper surface of the grip portion 32. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an UP / DOWN dial 36 is arranged close to the shutter button 34. This UP
The / DOWN dial 36 is a dial switch capable of forward and reverse rotation, which outputs a signal indicating 14 rotational positions per rotation, and is used for shooting aperture value, exposure compensation, shutter speed, subject distance, ISO sensitivity, date, etc. When setting conditions,
And when the Brownie film is loaded (when the leader paper is wound around the winding shaft 45 (FIG. 4)).

That is, this UP / DOWN dial 36
Is a select dial 38 provided on the back surface of the camera body 10 shown in FIG. 3, an exposure correction button 42, an AF button 46 for switching between autofocus mode (AF mode) / manual focus mode (MF mode), and a back cover. The back cover switch 41 (see FIG. 4) for detecting the open state of 52, the DATA button 44, and the MF button 48 (see FIG. 1).
Refer to the following) for various settings and
Perform the operation. The select dial 38 is unlocked by pressing the select dial lock button 40, and can be rotated, so that "M", "A", "P", "OFF",
Select one of the "ISO" modes, "M" for manual exposure, "A" for aperture priority A
E and “P” are programs AE, and “ISO” is a mode selected when ISO sensitivity is set. The select dial 38 also functions as a power switch,
When "FF" is selected, the main power supply of the camera is turned off.

Now, the UP / DOWN dial 36
As shown in Table 1, when the back cover switch 41 is operated while detecting the open state of the back cover 52, the feeding motor is driven according to the operation regardless of the setting mode at that time. . That is, each time a signal indicating each rotational position is output from the UP / DOWN dial 36, the feeding motor is rotated by a predetermined amount and the winding shaft 45 is rotated by a constant angle. By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, this camera includes a film supply section 60 in which a Brownie film is loaded, and a film winding section for winding the Brownie film loaded in the film supply section 60 by rotating a winding shaft 45. 62,
Control means for controlling the feeding motor so that the Brownie film is fed one frame each time the photographing is completed, and for controlling the feeding motor when setting the film of the first frame and winding the film after the photographing of all the frames is completed. (Not shown). The film feed amount in the case of controlling the single frame feed is detected by the rotation amount of the roller 64 which rotates with the film feed.

When the Brownie film is loaded into this camera, the back cover 52 is opened to store the Brownie film in the film supply unit 60, and the leader paper of the Brownie film is inserted into the winding shaft 45 and further wound. The winding shaft 45 is appropriately rotated in the winding direction until the winding around the shaft 45 is confirmed. When the winding shaft 45 at this time is driven by the feeding motor, the UP / DOW is used.
The N dial 36 is operated.

On the other hand, the back cover 52 is opened by the back cover switch 41.
Is detected, the select dial 38,
Depending on the combination of AF button 46 and other switches, U
The function of the P / DOWN dial 36 is specified. That is,
When the "ISO" mode is selected by the select dial 38, the ISO sensitivity is set by operating the UP / DOWN dial 36. The contents of this setting are U
It is displayed on the LCD panel 50 (see FIG. 2) arranged close to the P / DOWN dial 36.

When the "A" or "M" mode is selected by the select dial 38, the UP / D
The aperture value is set by operating the OWN dial 36,
When the "P" or "A" mode is selected by the select dial 38 and the exposure compensation button 42 is turned on, exposure compensation becomes possible and is automatically set based on the photometric value by the operation of the UP / DOWN dial 36. The EV value is corrected in steps of 1/2 within a range of ± 2 EV.

Further, the "M" mode is selected by the select dial 38 and the exposure compensation button 42 is turned on.
Then, the shutter speed can be set and UP / D
The shutter speed is set by operating the OWN dial 36. Further, the "P", "A" or "M" mode is selected by the select dial 38 and the DAT
When the A button 44 is turned on, the date can be set, and the date when the data is imprinted is set by operating the UP / DOWN dial 36.

When the "P", "A" or "M" mode is selected by the select dial 38, the MF mode is selected by the AF button 46, and the MF button 48 is turned on, the photographing distance can be set. And UP
By operating the / DOWN dial 36, the distance is set in 14 steps from 0.7 m to ∞. The above MF button 4
8, the AF mode is selected by the AF button 46,
If the shutter button 34 is turned on while the focus is locked by pressing the shutter button 34 halfway, the shutter button 3
It is possible to keep the focus as it is even if the finger is released from 4.

Next, the structure of the UP / DOWN dial 36 will be described. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the UP / DOWN dial 36. As shown in the figure, UP / D
The OWN dial 36 mainly includes a knob 70, a mounting member 72, a conductive contact piece 74, a conductive pattern 80, and the like, and the conductive contact piece 74 is mounted on the knob 70 via the mounting member 72. The conductive pattern 80 has a ground pattern and a plurality of signal patterns corresponding to encoded signals of a plurality of bits, as will be described later, and is formed on a substrate (not shown). Then, when the knob 70 is rotated, the contact of the conductive contact piece 74 is rotated while slidingly contacting one surface of the substrate, and the ground pattern and the plurality of signal patterns are rotated according to the rotating position of the conductive contact piece 74. And are appropriately short-circuited, and an encode signal indicating 14 rotational positions per rotation is output.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing details of the conductive pattern 80. As shown in FIG.
0 is composed of three concentric patterns,
In the outermost first pattern on the same circumference, four signal patterns 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and a ground pattern 5A are mixed in the circumferential direction. Further, signal lines 81 to 84 for extracting signals are formed to extend to these signal patterns 1A to 4A, and a ground line 85 connected to the ground GND is formed to extend to the ground pattern 5A. ing.
Reference numerals 86 and 87 are floating patterns that are electrically insulated.

Further, in the pattern on the second same circumference inside the pattern on the first outer circumference, the four signals in the circumferential direction are provided in the same manner as the pattern on the first same circumference. Patterns 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B and ground pattern 5
B is formed so as to be mixed, and further, a non-point-symmetrical ground pattern 5C is formed in a pattern on the third same circumference on the inner circumference side of the pattern on the second same circumference.

Signal patterns of the same kind, that is, the same pattern of the first outermost circumference and the second inner circumference of the outermost circumference (that is, signal patterns 1A and 1B, signal patterns 2A and 2B, respectively). The signal patterns 3A and 3B) are connected to each other, and the ground patterns 5A, 5B and 5C of the first to third patterns on the same circumference are also connected to each other.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the details of the conductive contact piece 74. As shown in the figure, the conductive contact piece 74 includes two contact points 76A and 76B which come into contact with each other at a position different from the first outermost circumference pattern of the conductive pattern 80 and the innermost outermost circumference contact point. Two contact points 78A, 78B contacting at different positions from the contact point 76C contacting the two patterns on the same circumference and the third inside pattern (the ground pattern) on the same circumference. Has been formed.

Here, the two contact points 76A and 76B which come into contact with each other at positions different from the first pattern on the same circumference are provided at point symmetry positions with respect to the rotation center O of the conductive contact piece 74, and the second contact points The contact 76C, which comes into contact with the pattern on the circumference, is provided at a position shifted from the contact 76B by approximately 360 ° / 14. Further, the two contact points 78A, 78B that come into contact with each other at a position different from the third pattern on the same circumference are provided at positions asymmetric with respect to the rotation center O of the conductive contact piece 74. That is, the contact 78A is approximately 360 degrees from the contact 76A.
The contact 78B is provided at a position shifted in phase by ° / 14.
Are provided at the same phase as the contact 76B.

Next, the operation of the UP / DOWN dial 36 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
This UP / DOWN dial 36 has P1 per rotation.
To output a 4-bit encode signal indicating the 14 rotational positions of P14, and the knob 3 at each of the positions P1 to P14.
A click mechanism (not shown) for stopping 6 (conductive contact piece 74) is provided.

In FIG. 8, the UP / DOWN dial 36 is set to P.
Conductive pattern 80 and conductive contact piece 7 when positioned at position 1
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a positional relationship with the position No. 4; It should be noted that the conductive contact piece 74 is shown with only contacts for simplicity. As shown in the figure, in this state, the contact 76A of the conductive contact piece 74 contacts the signal pattern 1A, and the contact 76B and the contacts 78A, 78B.
Contacts the ground patterns 5A and 5C, and contacts 76C
Is in contact with the signal pattern 4B. Therefore, the 4-bit encoded signals S1, S2, S3, and S4 obtained from the four signal lines 81 to 84 are (◯, ×, ×, ◯) at the position P1. In addition, the mark ◯ indicates that the signal pattern is connected to the ground pattern through the conductive contact piece 74.

When the conductive contact piece 74 is rotated in the clockwise direction from the state shown in the position P1 shown in FIG.
The encode signals S1, S2, S3, and S4 shown in the following table are output according to 1 to P14 and the intermediate position between the rotational positions. As is clear from Table 2 above, when switching between the position P1 and the position P2, two signals (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the 4-bit encode signals S1, S2, S3, S4 are selected.
S4) are switched at the same time, but when switching between other positions, 4-bit encode signals S1, S
The conductive pattern 80 and the conductive contact piece 74 are formed so that only one of the signals of 2, S3, and S4 can be switched.

By the way, when two or more signals are simultaneously switched like the switching between the position P1 and the position P2, the contact point contacting the signal pattern of the conductive contact piece 74 is changed to another pattern. Before contacting, all the contacts in contact with the ground pattern of the conductive contact piece 74 are floated so that the ground is turned off. This prevents erroneous encoded signals from being output when the encoded signals are switched such that two or more signals are switched at the same time.

In FIG. 9, the UP / DOWN dial 36 is P1.
It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the conductive pattern 80 and the conductive contact piece 74 when it is located between P2 and P2. As shown in the figure, in this state, the two contacts 78A, 78B that come into contact with the third pattern (ground pattern 5C) on the same circumference of the conductive contact piece 74 are both floated, and the contact 76B is also in contact. Is also floating.
On the other hand, the other contacts 76A and 76C are in contact with the signal patterns 1A and 4B, respectively, as when the UP / DOWN dial 36 is located at P1 (see FIG. 8).

As described above, before the contacts 76A and 76C are switched from the signal patterns 1A and 4B to another pattern at substantially the same time, the other contacts 78A, 78B and the contact 76B are floated, so that the ground is OF.
F, so that 4-bit encoded signals S1 and S
2, S3 and S4 are (x, x, x, x). Therefore,
After that, the UP / DOWN dial 36 is located at P2,
Even if the contacts 76A and 76C are switched from the signal patterns 1A and 4B to the floating pattern 87 and the ground pattern 5A, respectively, the encode signals S1 and S are generated.
2, S3 and S4 do not change.

Incidentally, the innermost third pattern on the same circumference (ground pattern 5C) and the contacts 78A and 78B of the conductive contact piece 74 contacting the same are floating at the same time and after half a circumference. It is formed so as not to be point-symmetric. In addition, the conductive contact piece 7
Depending on the rotational position of 4, either one of the contacts 78A and 78B is floated. In this case,
The ground patterns 5A and 5B are formed so that at least one of the other contacts 76A, 76B and 76C contacts the ground patterns 5A and 5B.

In the present embodiment, the second pattern on the same inner side of the pattern on the first outermost periphery has the same plurality of signal patterns as the pattern on the first same periphery. Although it is configured to be mixed, the second pattern on the same circumference may be composed of only one signal pattern or the second same pattern as long as a desired encoded signal is obtained. The pattern on the circumference may be omitted. Further, another pattern composed of one or more signal patterns may be provided inside the second pattern on the same circumference. Further, the number of contacts of the conductive contact piece that comes into contact with the outermost first pattern on the same circumference is not limited to this embodiment, and may be two or more.

[0031]

As described above, according to the rotary encoder of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of concentrically formed patterns to be smaller than the number of bits forming the encode signal, and thus the conductive pattern. Also, the outer diameter of the conductive contact piece can be reduced, that is, the rotary encoder can be downsized. In addition, when the same size and the same number of bits as those of the conventional rotary encoder are used, the width of the conductive pattern and the width of the contact of the conductive contact piece can be increased, thereby improving the reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera to which a rotary encoder according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a state in which a back cover of the camera shown in FIG. 3 is opened.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary encoder according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing details of the conductive pattern shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing details of the conductive contact piece shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a conductive pattern and a conductive contact piece when the rotary encoder according to the present invention is located at P1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a conductive pattern and a conductive contact piece when the rotary encoder according to the present invention is positioned in the middle of P1 and P2.

[Explanation of symbols]

36 ... UP / DOWN dial 70 ... Knob 72 ... Mounting member 74 ... Conductive contact piece 76A, 76B, 76C, 78A, 78B ... Contact 80 ... Conductive pattern 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B ... Signal Patterns 5A, 5B, 5C ... Ground patterns 81, 82, 83, 84 ... Signal lines 85 ... Ground lines 86, 87 ... Floating patterns

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A substrate having concentric conductive patterns including a ground pattern formed on one surface over approximately 360 ° and a plurality of signal patterns corresponding to encoded signals of a plurality of bits, and a contact with the conductive pattern. A rotary encoder that has a plurality of contacts and that rotates while slidingly contacting one surface of the substrate and that outputs an encode signal indicating the rotational position of the conductive contact according to the rotational position of the conductive contact. The conductive pattern is formed such that at least one pattern on the same circumference is mixed with a plurality of signal patterns, and the conductive contact piece is formed with a plurality of contacts that come into contact with the pattern on the same circumference at different positions. A rotary encoder, which is formed with a contact that is in contact with the ground pattern. 2. A substrate in which a conductive pattern including a ground pattern formed on one surface over approximately 360 ° and a plurality of signal patterns corresponding to encoded signals of a plurality of bits is concentrically formed, and the conductive pattern is in contact with the substrate. A rotary encoder that has a plurality of contacts and that rotates while slidingly contacting one surface of the substrate and that outputs an encode signal indicating the rotational position of the conductive contact according to the rotational position of the conductive contact. The conductive pattern is formed such that at least the outermost first pattern on the same circumference is mixed with a plurality of signal patterns, and the conductive contact piece is located at a position different from each of the patterns on the first same circumference. A rotary encoder comprising a plurality of contact points which are in contact with each other and a contact point which is in contact with the ground pattern. 3. The conductive pattern has a second pattern on the same circumference formed inside the pattern on the first circumference, and the conductive contact piece is in contact with the pattern on the second circumference. 3. The rotary encoder according to claim 2, wherein a contact point is formed so that an encoded signal of a plurality of bits is obtained from the first and second patterns on the same circumference. 4. The second pattern on the same circumference is formed so that a plurality of signal patterns are mixed.
Rotary encoder. 5. The same signal patterns in the first and second patterns on the same circumference are connected to each other, whereby a signal line is drawn from each signal pattern of the patterns on the first same circumference. The rotary encoder according to claim 4, wherein: 6. Each of the signal patterns of the first and second patterns on the same circumference and each contact of the conductive contact piece connected to the first and second patterns on the same circumference have a plurality of bits. 5. The encoding signal according to claim 3 is formed so as not to switch two or more bits at the same time.
Rotary encoder. 7. A plurality of encoded signals of 2 bits are simultaneously transmitted.
3. The rotary encoder according to claim 2, wherein when the bit or more is switched, the ground pattern is formed so that the contact of the conductive contact piece connected to the ground pattern is floated before the switching. 8. The contact of the conductive contact piece connected to the ground pattern is plural, and the ground pattern is formed asymmetrically so as not to float after half a circumference while simultaneously floating each contact. Another ground pattern is formed in the first pattern on the same circumference so that one of the plurality of contacts in contact with the pattern on the first same circumference is grounded at a position where one of the contacts is floating. The rotary encoder according to claim 7, wherein