JP2009146668A - Electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

It is possible to reliably perform a desired function at the time of use without being limited to the position of a rotary operation member.
An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of press detection means that detect a press on a rotation operation member that is disposed in a rotation direction of the rotation operation member and is spaced apart from the rotation center, and an output from the plurality of press detection means. And a processing means for performing any one of a plurality of functions of the electronic device and a rotation detecting means for detecting the rotation of the rotation detecting means, wherein the processing means is a rotation phase of the rotation operation member detected by the rotation detecting means. Accordingly, the function corresponding to the output from each pressing means is changed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-function operation device that can be input by operating a rotary operation unit, and an electronic apparatus using the multi-function operation device.

  In recent years, digital cameras, mobile phones, and the like have become multifunctional, and various functions can be selected and used by operating menu keys. For example, an operation switch provided with means (hereinafter referred to as a switch) for detecting pressing in the four directions of up, down, left, and right in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the operation panel is used for a digital camera, a mobile phone, and the like. By appropriately pressing this operation switch, a cursor on the display screen that moves in response to the pressed operation switch can be moved, or command input such as scrolling data displayed on the screen can be performed. The operation panel surface of the operation switch or the casing surface is printed to recognize the function when the switch is pressed, so that the switch that performs the intended function can be pressed reliably. There is something.

Also, in this type of digital camera or mobile phone, it is common to use it with a single hand because of the trend of miniaturization. Therefore, in order to improve the operability, when selecting the menu as described above, for example, by operating a single special shape button by operating the thumb or index finger of one hand holding the mobile phone, the menu selection operation can be performed. What you can do is provided. As this special shape button, for example, a JOG dial key which is formed in a disk shape and can be rotated is known. As an example, there is International Publication WO95 / 31863. This JOG dial key is rotatable with respect to the main body case of a digital camera or a mobile phone and can be displaced in the axial direction, and a multi-function operating device constituting a JOG dial key is known. The internal configuration of this multi-function operation device is provided with an encoder that is a rotation detection unit that detects an operation in the rotation direction, and a switch that is a press detection unit that detects a pressing operation on a rotary operation member that is separated from the rotation center. . Further, a return spring is provided for returning to the original state with respect to the pressing operation on the rotary operation member separated from the rotation center. An example is Patent Document 1.
JP 2003-296006 A (page 29, FIG. 2)

  When there are four switches for detecting the pressing on the rotary operation member of the JOG dial key as described above, the desired operation can be performed most accurately by pressing the target switch right above. However, there is a fear that pressing the middle position will result in an erroneous operation. In addition, in order to perform an accurate operation, it is necessary to operate after confirming the place to be pressed.

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1 described above, the rotation operation member rotates when a desired pressing operation is performed, which is likely to cause an erroneous operation. In addition, since the icon (character) representing the function to be executed when the rotary operation member is pressed is not displayed on the rotary operation member, the pressing position is difficult to understand.

  Here, even if the function icon is displayed on the rotation operation member, the display position of the function icon is shifted from the position of the switch for performing the function due to the rotation of the rotation operation member. Inconvenience that it may not occur may occur. On the other hand, when displaying a function icon on the housing, it is necessary to secure a display area in the housing, resulting in poor space efficiency and consequently a need to enlarge the camera housing itself. In particular, recently, digital cameras and mobile phones equipped with large-screen liquid crystal have become mainstream, and space for operation buttons cannot be taken on the housing. Therefore, even if a function icon is displayed on the housing, characters, marks, and the like are small, so that visibility is poor and difficult to understand.

  An electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention is an electronic device having a rotation operation member, and is a plurality of pressure detections that are arranged in the rotation direction of the rotation operation member and detect a pressure on the rotation operation member spaced from the rotation center. Means, a processing means for executing one of a plurality of functions of the electronic device in response to outputs from the plurality of press detection means, and a rotation detection means for detecting the rotation of the rotation operation member. The function corresponding to the output from each pressing means is changed according to the rotation phase of the rotation operation member detected by the rotation detecting means.

  According to the present invention, a desired function can be reliably performed at the time of use without being limited to the position of the rotary operation member. In addition, it can be configured without damaging the design and can be miniaturized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 9 shows the appearance of an electronic still camera that is an embodiment of the present invention. In this electronic still camera, an internal device is held by a camera casing 1 which is an exterior, and an image is formed on an imaging element (not shown) by a lens barrel 2. A video signal is generated from the image sensor based on the output signal. The viewfinder 3 observes the subject image at a predetermined position in conjunction with the photographing optical system of the lens barrel 2. The power button 4 turns on / off activation of the electronic still camera. A subject image can be picked up by the release button 5, and the strobe 6 compensates for the insufficient light quantity at the time of image pickup. A liquid crystal (LCD) 7 visually confirms an image generated based on the image sensor. A mode dial 8 is used to change the shooting mode of the camera. The JOG dial key 9 (hereinafter referred to as a rotation operation member) of this embodiment can easily select the camera function. An operation button 10 to which a camera photographing function is assigned is further provided.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing an operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the operation unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the operation unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 9.

  First, a tact switch 14c and a multi-function operation device 13 that are electrically operated by clicking the operation button 10 are mounted on the operation board 14 (which may be a flexible printed board) by soldering or the like. A connector (not shown) and the like are mounted on the operation board 14. The connector part (not shown) is connected to the main board (not shown) on which the image processing circuit / system processing circuit / power supply circuit system electrical circuit of the camera is mounted by a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) to electrically The camera is operating.

  Next, the shaft 13d held on the multi-function operating device 13 is fitted into the hole 12c formed on the central operating member 12, and is held by locking means such as press fitting or adhesion. The hole 12c and the shaft 13d have a D-cut shape to prevent rotation. Next, icon (character) displays 11a, 11g, 11h, and 11i representing functions are printed on the rotation operation member 11 at intervals of 90 degrees. In this embodiment, a plurality of functions at the time of shooting by each camera are assigned. For example, 11a is an icon (character) representing the flash emission mode. Each time the display 11a is pressed, auto flash, forced flash, and flash prohibition are switched. 11g is an icon (character) representing ISO sensitivity. Each time the display 11b is pressed, the ISO sensitivity is set to auto ISO, ISO 200, ISO 400, and so on. 11h is an icon (character) representing the AF operation mode. Each time the display 11h is pressed, the AF mode is set such as normal, far, and macro. 11i is an icon representing the shooting mode and the self-timer time. Each time the display 11h is pressed, the shooting mode or self-timer time is set in the order of single shooting, continuous shooting, self-timer 10 seconds, and self-timer 2 seconds. Further, by pressing the central operation member 12, other functions at the time of camera photographing are assigned. For example, there are exposure correction, photometric distribution, white balance, number of recorded pixels, compression ratio, etc., and as the individual layer function selection method, the rotary operation member 11 is selected by rotating and the central operation member 12 is pressed to confirm. Is possible. Further, at the time of camera playback, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the image by selecting and confirming one image from a plurality of images and rotating the rotation operation member 11.

  A shaft 12b formed on the central operation member 12 is locked to a hole 11d formed on the rotation operation member 11 by a slidable fitting. Further, the shaft 11a formed on the central operation member 12 is maintained at an appropriate clearance in the hole 11b formed on the rotation operation member 11. Further, the rotation stop of the rotation operation member 11 and the central operation member 12 in the rotation direction is a slidable fitting with the hole 11e formed on the rotation operation member 11 and the shaft 12d formed on the central operation member 12. It is locked with. The rib 11f formed on the rotation operation member 11 is maintained with a notch 13c formed on the ring member 13b on the multi-function operation device 13 with an appropriate clearance, and rotation assistance when the rotation operation member 11 is rotated. It functions as a hooking part. Furthermore, the camera housing 1 is maintained with an appropriate clearance from the hole 1a formed in the camera housing 1 (partially omitted in FIG. 2) and the shaft 11c formed on the rotation operation member 11, and the camera housing 1 is held by fixing means such as a screw (not shown).

  FIG. 3 is a front view, a cross-sectional view, and an internal see-through schematic view showing the multifunction operation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the multifunction operation device 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The external appearance structure of the multi-function operating device 13 is such that the ring member 13b is rotatably held in the CW / CCW direction indicated by the arrow on the base member 13a, and a click is provided when rotating. Further, the shaft 13d is held on the base member 13a so as to be rotatable in the CW / CCW directions indicated by the arrows, and the shaft 13d can swing from the vertical state to a predetermined angle B around the swing reference 13g. . Furthermore, the shaft 13d can be pushed down in the direction of arrow A only in the vertical state.

  Next, in the multifunctional operation device 13, a metal dome switch 13e as a pressure detecting means is arranged in the center and in eight directions on a flexible printed board (not shown) arranged on the base member (15a, 15b). 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f, 15g, 15h, 15i). The metal dome switch 13e is pressed by an unillustrated pusher formed on the shaft 13d by the push-down operation and the swinging direction operation of the shaft 13d, and electrical conduction is made. After the pressing operation and the swinging operation, the shaft 13d returns to the vertical state by the repulsive force of the metal dome switch 13e. A pattern 13f is disposed on the outer periphery, and a brush contact (not shown) formed on the ring member 13b is brought into electrical contact with the pattern 13f with an appropriate spring pressure. Then, the rotation direction and the rotation amount or rotation angle are detected by operating the ring member 13b. The present invention is configured by a rotary encoder that detects the relative position on the microcomputer side based on the two signals output in phase each time as the rotation detecting means is repeatedly turned on / off by the rotation of the ring member 13b. Yes. As another detection method, when a potential distribution is generated by a resistance film between two conductive sheets provided for the X-axis and the Y-axis, and the panel surface with the conductive sheet is touched It may be configured to detect and output a changing voltage. Further, the magnetic detection means (Hall element or Hall IC incorporating the Hall element) provided on the side of the magnet and the base member supporting the magnet may be used for the rotating body, and the magnetic change generated in the magnet may be detected by the magnetic detection means. .

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are a front view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the central operation member is operated when the rotation operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention is not operated. The operation of the central operation member will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the central operation member 12 is pressed in the direction of the arrow F, the metal dome switch 15a is pressed by the vertical operation of the shaft 13d on the multifunctional operation device 13 held by the central operation member 12. Then, a predetermined electrical signal output (for example, a pulse signal) is processed by a system processing circuit (not shown) by electrical conduction, and a switch operation is performed. After the pressing operation, the shaft 13d and the central operation member 12 return to the vertical state by the repulsive force of the metal dome switch 15a.

  FIG. 4 is a front view and a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the rotation operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention is not operated, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the rotation operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention is operated rightward. It is a figure and sectional drawing. The swing operation of the rotary operation member will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

  When a swing operation is performed in the direction of arrow C on the rotation operation member 11 that is separated from the center of rotation, the center operation member 12 is similarly swung. At this time, the shaft 13d on the multifunction operation device 13 held by the central operation member 12 is tilted at an angle B with the swing reference 13g as a fulcrum. Then, the metal dome switch 13e is pressed and a predetermined electrical signal output (for example, a pulse signal) is processed by a system processing circuit (not shown) by electrical conduction to perform a switch operation. (In the case of this embodiment, the flash emission mode). After the swing operation, the rotary operation member 11 and the central operation member 12 return to the vertical state by the repulsive force of the metal dome switch 13e. Since this swinging motion is the same in the four directions of up, down, left and right in this embodiment, the description will be omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a front view and a cross-sectional view showing a non-operating state in which the rotation operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention is rotated 45 degrees, and FIG. 7 is a rotation operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention rotated 45 degrees. It is the front view and sectional drawing which show the state which act | operated to the diagonal direction. The rotation and swinging motion of the rotation operation member will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the rotary operation member 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow D, the central operation member 12 is similarly rotated. At this time, the shaft 13d on the multifunctional operation device 13 held by the central operation member 12, the rib 11f formed on the rotation operation member 11, and the notch 13c formed on the ring member 13b are in the CCW direction. Rotate to. By this operation, the rotation phase is detected by a system processing circuit (not shown) based on the electrical signal output determined by the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the ring member 13b, and the camera function position is discriminated. (In the case of this embodiment, the flash emission mode).

  Next, when the rotation operation member 11 is swung in the direction of arrow E, the central operation member 12 is swung similarly. At this time, the shaft 13d on the multifunction operation device 13 held by the central operation member 12 is tilted at an angle B with the swing reference 13g as a fulcrum. The metal dome switch 13e is pressed, and a predetermined electrical signal output (pulse signal or the like) is processed by a system processing circuit (not shown) by electrical conduction to perform a switch operation. (In the case of this embodiment, the flash emission mode). After the swing operation, the rotary operation member 11 and the central operation member 12 return to the vertical state by the repulsive force of the metal dome switch 13e. Since this swinging operation is the same in the four oblique directions of the present embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, since the rotation phase of the rotary operation member 11 is detected by a rotary encoder, the camera function displayed on the pressed rotary operation member 11 can be reliably obtained no matter where the metal dome switch 13e is pressed. Can be done. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing performed by the system processing circuit when the rotary operation member 11 is rotated. Processing performed by the system processing circuit when the rotation operation member 11 is rotated will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 10.

  By rotating the rotation operation member 11, the ring member 13b rotates. A brush contact (not shown) formed on the ring member 13b is brought into electrical contact with the pattern 13f with an appropriate spring pressure, and detects the rotation direction and the rotation amount or rotation angle. By this detection, the function executed when the metal dome switch 13e is pressed is changed. For example, when the rotation is 90 degrees from the reference position, the output by pressing the metal dome switch 15f is changed so that the function of the strobe 11a is performed. Thereby, no matter where the metal dome switch 13e is pressed, the camera function corresponding to the icon on the pressed rotation operation member 11 can be reliably performed.

  Moreover, since it is displayed on the rotation operation member 11, a display space is not required on the camera housing 1, so that the size can be reduced. Furthermore, the photographing user can intuitively determine the display icon of the camera function to be switched. At the same time, the above-described configuration makes it possible to select a desired camera function by pressing the display regardless of the phase on the circumference of the rotary operation member 11, and the operability is greatly improved. To do. This makes it possible to shoot lightly without missing a photo opportunity.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the metal dome switch 13e is configured in eight directions, but the same effect as in the present invention can be obtained even if the configuration is increased or decreased.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to various types of cameras such as a single-lens reflex camera, a lens shutter camera, a video camera, and a digital camera, as well as optical devices other than the camera and other devices. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to devices that are applied to these cameras, optical devices, and other devices, or elements that constitute these devices.

Front view of the operation unit of the embodiment The exploded perspective view of the operation part of an example The front view and sectional drawing which show the multifunctional operation device of an Example, and internal perspective schematic Front view and sectional view showing a state in which the rotation operation member of the embodiment is not operated Front view and sectional view showing a state in which the rotation operation member of the embodiment is operated in the right direction Front view and sectional view showing a non-operating state in which the rotation operation member of the embodiment is rotated 45 degrees The front view and sectional drawing which show the state which rotated the rotation operation member of the Example 45 degree | times, and act | operated in the diagonal direction Front view and sectional view showing a state in which the central operation member is activated when the rotation operation member of the embodiment is inactive The perspective view and back view of the electronic still camera of the Example of this invention The flowchart which shows the processing operation of the system processing circuit of the Example of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera housing 2 Lens barrel 3 Finder 4 Power button 5 Release button 6 Strobe
7 Liquid crystal (LCD)
8 Mode Dial 9 JOG Dial Key 10 Operation Button 11 Rotation Operation Member 12 Central Operation Member 13 Multifunctional Operation Device 14 Operation Board

Claims (2)

An electronic device having a rotation operation member,
A plurality of press detection means arranged in the rotation direction of the rotation operation member and detecting a press on the rotation operation member spaced from the rotation center;
Processing means for executing one of a plurality of functions of the electronic device in response to outputs from the plurality of press detection means;
Rotation detection means for detecting rotation of the rotation operation member;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit changes a function corresponding to an output from each pressing unit in accordance with a rotation phase of the rotation operation member detected by the rotation detection unit. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a character representing a function to be executed when pressed is displayed on the rotation operation member.