WO2007114407A1

WO2007114407A1 - Midpoint reset structure of slide pad operating section

Info

Publication number: WO2007114407A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/057344
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroshi Ishimaru
Original assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-03-31
Filing date: 2007-03-27
Publication date: 2007-10-11

Abstract

A midpoint reset structure of a slide pad operating section comprising a base section (2) where an inner circumferential wall (2c) is standing on a circle with a required radius for a midpoint (6), an operating section (7) where a disc body (7b) is fixed to a shaft section (7a), and three or more spring bodies (8, ...) each having a fixed side arcuate portion (8b) secured at one end (8a) to the inner circumferential wall (2c), having a fold-back side arcuate portion (8e) folded back in V-shape at a fold back portion (8c) with a free end (8d) sliding on the inner circumferential wall (2c), and touching the circumferential side face of the disc body (7b) at the fold back portion (8c). The operating section (7) is normally held at the position of the midpoint (6) by the three or more spring bodies (8, ...) and reset to the position of the midpoint (6) by the resiliency of the three or more spring bodies (8, ...) when slide operation by the operating section (7) is released, thus prolonging the lifetime of the spring bodies and facilitating alteration in setting of the operation load.

Description

Midpoint return structure of slide pad operation section

Technical field

Light

The present invention relates to a midpoint return structure of a sliding pad operation unit, and is used particularly in, for example, the Irida force device of a portable game machine, and the operation load setting can be changed according to the applied device. It relates to the midpoint return structure for easy sliding pad operation. -

BACKGROUND ART The following multi-directional input device is known as a prior art related to the midpoint return structure of a slide pad operation section. In this prior art, an operation member is constituted by a movable contact and an operation unit attached to the center of the movable contact. The movable contact is formed by forming a thin metal plate having conductivity to form a square base having a hole to which the operation unit is attached at the center, and four sides of the square base. Further, as described below, the pair of first elastic arms and the pair of second elastic arms are formed in a substantially mange shape. That is, on the four sides of the square base portion, a pair of first U-shaped first portions extending in opposite directions across the hole in the X1 and X2 directions which are the first directions from the opposite corners of the base portion. Elastic arms are formed, and a pair of second U-shaped elastic arms are formed that extend in opposite directions across the hole in the second direction Y 1 and Y 2 from other opposing corners. Has been For example, in the slide operation in the X2 direction by the operation unit, the U-shaped bent portion in one of the first elastic arms in the slide direction is bent, and the slide operation is performed. When released, the one of the praised first elastic arms is restored, and the operation portion is restored to the neutral position (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2 0 2 0 2 6 0 4 8 9 (FIGS. 1 to 9). Disclosure of the invention

In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, a thin metal plate is formed, and a pair of first elastic arms and a pair of second elastic arms are formed on four sides of a square base. It is formed in an almost mange shape. As the elastic force for returning the operation portion to the neutral position when the sliding operation is released, the elastic force in the direction orthogonal to the thickness of the thin metal plate in each elastic arm is used. For this reason, the elasticity of each elastic arm is not so strong. At the same time, each elastic arm has a long function as a spring body that always returns the operating part to the neutral position. It is difficult to maintain across. In addition, the base and the first and second elastic arms are integrally formed by a single thin metal plate. For this reason, it is difficult to change the setting of the operation load of the operation unit according to the application device.

Therefore, there is a technical problem to be solved in order to extend the life of the spring body and to make it easy to change the setting of the operation load. The present invention aims to solve this problem. The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an opening is formed at the center of the flat plate and a required radius with respect to a midpoint which is the center of the opening A base part with an inner peripheral wall standing on the circle and a disk-like body attached to the shaft part, and the shaft part on the non-operating side with respect to the disk-like body can be moved to the opening part. The operation part inserted loosely, a fixed-side arcuate part whose one end is fixed to the inner peripheral wall, and a folded part at the other end of the fixed-side arcuate part are folded back in a V shape and the free end is the inner peripheral wall And having three or more spring bodies that come into contact with the peripheral side surface of the disk-shaped body at the folded-back portion, and the operation section is configured by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies. Is always held at the position of the midpoint, and a slant in any direction along the plate surface of the flat plate portion by the operating portion is provided. When the sliding motion is released due to the sliding motion, the midpoint return of the sliding pad operating portion is configured such that the operating portion is returned to the midpoint position by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies. Provide structure. According to this configuration, the three or more springs disposed between the peripheral side surface of the disk-shaped body and the inner peripheral wall so that each folded portion comes into contact with the peripheral side surface of the disk-shaped body in the operation unit. The operation unit is always held at the midpoint position by the elasticity of the body. When the sliding operation is released due to the sliding operation in an arbitrary direction by the operating unit, the operating unit always returns to the midpoint position by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies.

Each spring body has a fixed-side arcuate part and a folded-side arcuate part that are folded back in a V shape at the folded part, so that the load received during the sliding operation of the operation part is the fixed-side circular part. Dispersed into the arc-shaped portion and the folded-back arc-shaped portion. In addition, the V-shaped opening angle of each spring body can be set and changed appropriately, It is possible to change the setting to reduce or increase the operating load received by the operating unit during the sliding operation of the operating unit.

The invention according to claim 2 provides a midpoint return structure of the slide pad operation part in which the number of the spring bodies is four.

According to this configuration, the operation portion is elastically supported by the folded portions of the four spring bodies, thereby enabling a finer sliding operation of the operation portion.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that an annular portion for restricting the folded portion of the spring body from approaching a predetermined distance or less with respect to the midpoint is provided on the peripheral portion of the opening. Provides a midpoint return structure for the sliding pad operation section.

According to this configuration, even when the operating portion slides in any direction, even if the folding portion of some of the spring bodies is separated from the circumferential side surface of the disk-like body due to the amount of sliding movement. The separated folded portion is in a standby state at a predetermined distance from the midpoint. Therefore, when the sliding operation is released, the folded portion once separated comes into reliable and smooth contact with the peripheral side surface of the disc-like body, and the operation portion always returns to the middle position.

The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an opening is formed in the central portion of the flat plate portion, a base portion in which an inner peripheral wall is erected on a circle having a required radius with respect to a center point that is the center of the opening portion, and a shaft A disc-like body is attached to the portion, an operating portion in which a shaft portion on the non-operating side with respect to the disc-like body is loosely inserted into the opening, and one end is fixed to the inner peripheral wall. The fixed-side arc-shaped portion and the folded-back portion at the other end of the fixed-side arc-shaped portion have a folded-side arc-shaped portion that is folded back in a V shape and has a free end slidingly contacting the inner peripheral wall. 3 to contact the peripheral side of the disk The operation part is always held at the position of the middle point by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies, and in any direction along the plate surface of the flat plate part by the operation part When the sliding motion is released due to the sliding motion, the operation unit is returned to the middle position by the elasticity of the three or more springs. By having a fixed-side arcuate part and a folded-side arcuate part folded back in a V shape at the folded part, the operating part can be held stably and elastically, and the sliding movement of the operating part The load received at this time is distributed to the fixed-side arcuate portion and the folded-side arcuate portion, so that a long life can be achieved. In addition, the V-shaped opening angle of each spring body or the thickness of the spring body can be changed as appropriate according to the application device, etc. The operating load received by the operating unit can be set and changed as appropriate, and the return force to the midpoint position of the operating unit when releasing the sliding operation can be set and changed accordingly. There is. ·

In the invention according to claim 2, since the number of the spring bodies is four, the operating portion can be further finely slid and can be released even if the slid is finely slid. In this case, there is an advantage that the operation unit can be smoothly returned to the midpoint position.

In the invention according to claim 3, an annular portion for restricting the folded portion of the spring body from approaching a predetermined distance or less with respect to the midpoint is provided at the peripheral portion of the opening. The folded part once separated by the sliding amount of the operating part can be reliably and smoothly re-contacted with the peripheral side surface of the disk-shaped body, and the operating part can always be returned to the middle position. Has the advantage of being able to The Brief Description of Drawings

The figure shows the midpoint return structure of the slide pad operating part according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the first embodiment, where (a) is a plan view of a midpoint return structure, (b) is a plan view of a base portion, (c) is a side view of an operating portion, and (d) is a spring body. (E) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. (B).

Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the slide pad.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the midpoint return structure of the second embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

For the purpose of extending the life of the spring body and making it easy to change the operating load, an opening is formed in the center of the flat plate, and the required radius with respect to the midpoint that is the center of the opening A base part with an inner peripheral wall standing on the circle and a disk-like body attached to the shaft part, and the shaft part on the non-operating side with respect to the disk-like body can be moved to the opening part. The operation part inserted loosely, a fixed-side arcuate part whose one end is fixed to the inner peripheral wall, and a folded part at the other end of the fixed-side arcuate part are folded back in a V shape, and the free end is connected to the inner peripheral wall A folding-side arcuate portion that is in sliding contact; and four spring bodies that are in contact with a peripheral side surface of the disk-like body at the folding-back portion, and the operation portion is moved by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies. While maintaining the position of the middle point at all times, the operation unit slides the plate in any direction along the plate surface of the flat plate portion. 3 or more when releasing the sliding movement The operating portion is returned to the position of the middle point by the elasticity of the spring body of No. 7, and the folded portion of the spring body is set at a predetermined distance or less with respect to the middle point at the periphery of the opening. This was realized by setting up an annular part to restrict the approach.

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1, (a) is a plan view of the midpoint return structure, (b) is a plan view of the base part, (c) is a side view of the operating part, (d) is a perspective view of the spring body, and (e) is a figure. (B) A sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the slide pad.

First, the configuration of the midpoint return structure of the slide pad operating section will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a cover 4 is attached to the base part 2 of the slide pad 1 via fitting parts 3,. The base part 2 and the cover 4 are made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. A shaft portion 7 a of the operation portion, which will be described later, protrudes from a round hole 4 _a formed in the central portion of the force bar ₄ . .

As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the base portion 2 has an opening 2 b made of a round hole in the central portion of the flat plate portion 2 a, and the center portion 6 is the center of the opening 2 b. An inner peripheral wall 2c is erected on a circle having a required radius. As shown in FIG. 1 (e), an annular portion for restricting a folded portion of a spring body, which will be described later, from approaching a predetermined distance or less with respect to the midpoint 6, at the peripheral portion of the opening 2 b. 2d is erected.

An operation unit 7 is disposed at the center of the base unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1 (c), the operating portion 7 has a disc-like body 7 b attached to the shaft portion 7 a, and the shaft portion 7 c on the non-operating side with respect to the disc-like body 7 b Move to opening 2b It is freely inserted, and slides in an arbitrary direction along the plate surface of the flat plate portion 2a.

Between the inner peripheral wall 2 c and the disc-like body 7 b, three spring bodies 8,... That elastically hold the operating portion 7 at the position of the midpoint 6 are disposed. Each spring body 8 is made of an elastic plate such as SUS, and as shown in FIG. 1 (d), one end 8 a is fixed to the inner peripheral wall 2 c, and the fixed side arcuate portion 8 b and the fixed side At the other end of the arcuate part 8b, the folded part 8c is folded back into a V shape, and the free end 8d has a folded-back arcuate part 8e that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall 2c, and the folded part 8c It contacts the peripheral side surface of the disc-like body 7b.

Next, the operation of the midpoint return structure configured as described above will be described. The operating portion 7 is always held at the midpoint 6 position by the elasticity of the three spring bodies 8. When the sliding movement is released in accordance with the sliding movement in any direction by the operating section 7, the operating section 7 always returns to the position of the middle point 6 by the elasticity of the three spring bodies 8,. To do.

During the sliding operation of the operating portion 7, the folded portion 8c of some of the spring bodies 8 may be separated from the peripheral side surface of the disk-like body 7b depending on the amount of sliding movement. However, even if this state occurs, the separated folded portion 8c is restricted from approaching a predetermined distance or less with respect to the midpoint 6 by the annular portion 2d, and the standby state is set at the position of the predetermined distance. Become. Therefore, when the sliding operation is released, for example, the folded portion 8c that is separated from each other is surely and smoothly in contact with the peripheral side surface of the disc-like body 7b, and the operation portion 7 is It always returns to the midpoint 6 position by the elasticity of the spring body 8.

Each spring body 8 includes a fixed-side arcuate portion folded back in a V shape at the turn-up portion 8c. 8 b and the folding-side arcuate part 8 e distribute the load received during the sliding operation of the operation part 7 between the fixed-side arcuate part 8 b and the folding-side arcuate part 8 e. The In addition, by appropriately setting and changing the V-shaped opening angle of each spring body 8, whether the operation load received by the operation unit 7 side during the sliding operation of the operation unit 7 is reduced or increased. As described above, in the midpoint return structure of the slide pad operating part according to the present embodiment, each spring body 8 is fixed in a V shape at the turn-up part 8c. By having the constant-side arc-shaped portion 8 b and the folded-back-side arc-shaped portion 8 e, the operation portion 7 can be held stably and elastically.

Each spring body 8 has a longer life by distributing the load received during the sliding movement of the operating portion 7 to the fixed-side arcuate portion 8 b and the folded-side arcuate portion 8 e. Can do.

By changing the V-shaped opening angle of each spring body 8 or the thickness of the elastic plate material forming the spring body 8 appropriately according to the application device, etc. The operating load received by the operating unit 7 can be set and changed as appropriate, and the return force to the middle point 6 of the operating unit 7 when releasing the sliding operation is set and changed appropriately. can do. The folded portion 8 c once separated by the sliding amount of the operating portion 7 can also be reliably and smoothly brought into contact with the peripheral side surface of the disc-like body 7 b. The position can be reliably returned.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the midpoint return structure. In this embodiment, the inner peripheral wall 2 c in the base part 2 and the operation part 7 In this embodiment, four spring bodies 8,... Are arranged between the disk-like bodies 7 b of the four spring bodies 8,. By elastically supporting the operation unit 7, it is possible to perform the sliding operation of the operation unit 7 more finely. Even if the slide operation is performed finely, the operation unit 7 can be smoothly returned to the position of the midpoint 6 when the slide operation is released.

The number of spring bodies 8 is three in the first embodiment and four in the second embodiment. However, the number of the spring bodies 8 may be three or more.

Further, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones. Industrial applicability

As described above, the midpoint return structure of the slide pad operation unit according to the present invention is used for an input device or the like of a portable game machine, and in particular, the operation load is set according to the device to which the structure is applied. It is suitable for use as a midpoint return structure for a slide operation part that can be easily changed.

Claims

The scope of the claims

An opening is formed in the central part of the flat plate part, a base part with an inner peripheral wall standing on a circle with a required radius with respect to the center point that is the center of the opening part, and a disk-like body is attached to the shaft part An operating portion in which a shaft portion on the non-operating side with respect to the disk-like body is loosely inserted into the opening, a fixed-side arc-shaped portion whose one end is fixed to the inner peripheral wall, and the fixed side The other end of the arcuate part is folded back into a V-shape and the free end has an arcuate part that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall, and the folded part is in contact with the peripheral side surface of the disk-like body.

Three or more spring bodies, and the operation portion is always held at the position of the middle point by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies, and along the plate surface of the flat plate portion by the operation portion The operation unit is configured to return to the position of the middle point by the elasticity of the three or more spring bodies when the slide operation is released due to the slide operation in an arbitrary direction. The midpoint return structure of the sliding pad operation section characterized by

The midpoint return structure according to claim 1, wherein the number of the spring bodies is four.

The annular portion for restricting the folding portion of the spring body from approaching a predetermined distance or less with respect to the midpoint is provided upright at the peripheral edge portion of the opening. The midpoint return structure of the slide pad operation section described in 2.