JP3300106B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly, to a structure of a switch operating member used as an input device of an electronic device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic devices such as cameras and home electric appliances have become increasingly multifunctional, and many devices provided with many operation buttons as input devices have increased. On the other hand, there is a demand for compactness and a reduction in the number of parts. Conventionally, a push button used for switch operation is basically provided with one spring member for urging the button in a direction against pressing at the time of input with respect to one button. Therefore, the number of parts increased. In order to reduce the number of parts, a rubber molded product in which the operation button and the biasing spring are integrally formed has been proposed. But,
The push button of the rubber molded article has a drawback that the touch and appearance are not good, and at the same time, it is difficult to make the push button compact.

Therefore, the operation switch and the operation switch of the electric zoom lens camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-280708 relate to a switch that selects and opens three or more switches. This switch enables the contacts of the three switches to be operated by a single operating member.
Place at the top of the square. Further, a swing fulcrum is provided above the middle of the three sides of the virtual triangle. And
Each of the contacts is opened and closed by pressing the single operating member and swinging about the three swing fulcrums. Since this switch structure allows a plurality of contacts to be opened and closed by a single operating member, it is a convenient switch as an input device for an electronic device such as the camera, which requires a large number of switches. It can be called a structure.

[0004]

However, in the operation switch disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-280708, the position of the fulcrum between the three sides, which is the center of the swing, is naturally the position of the virtual triangle. At the pressing position of the operating member rather than the center position,
It is a closer position. Therefore, when the operating member is pressed for the ON operation of the switch, the tip of the operating member on the opposite side to the pressed portion of the operating member is lifted high upward, and the operability can be deteriorated due to the moment balance. There was sex. Further, in the above-described operation switch, only the peripheral portion of the single operation member is the operation portion, and there is no contact that is opened / closed by pressing the central portion thereof. Therefore, it is disadvantageous to increase the number of switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an input device capable of operating a plurality of switches by a pressing portion, having excellent operability, reducing the number of parts, and reducing the size. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

An input device according to the present invention has a shaft portion for pressing a main switch and a pressing portion exposed so as to be operable, and the shaft portion is pressed in response to the pressing operation of the pressing portion. A first operating member slidably supported in the axial direction, a plurality of switches arranged around the main switch, and a switch group opposing the switch group so as to be able to press the switch group. And a plurality of pressing portions formed so as to surround the entire circumference of the first operation member, and can swing around the axis of the first operation member substantially in the entire circumferential direction. And a second operating member which is swingable in a desired direction independently from the entire surrounding direction independently of the first operating member. . Further, the input device according to the present invention includes:
Shaft for pressing the main switch and exposed to enable pressing
A first operating member having a main body support slidably along an axial direction in which the main body is slidably operated in accordance with the pressing operation of the pressing portion; and the main switch To
A plurality of switches disposed around the centering, the
Each of the switch groups can be pressed to face the switch group.
A plurality of pressing portions formed in the same manner, and are arranged coaxially with the first operating member so as to surround the entire periphery of the first operating member, and the shaft portion of the first operating member is provided. Is supported so as to be swingable in all directions around the periphery of the main body supporting portion that supports the main body, and can be selectively rocked in a desired direction from all directions around the first operation member independently. A second operating member, wherein the second operating member is slidably movable in the axial direction on the main body supporting portion.
The first operating member is supported between the first operating member and the second operating member, and is disposed between the first operating member and the second operating member.
And the operating member, characterized by comprising a single biasing member that biases in a direction away from each other I along with the axial direction.

[0007]

[ Operation ] In the above configuration, the first operation member is exposed.
By pressing the pressing part, the shaft part moves in the axial direction.
And presses the main switch, and the second operating member
Selectively selects a desired pressing portion of the pressing portions that are exposed.
By pressing the shaft portion of the first operating member
About the center or the shaft of the first operating member.
With the periphery of the main body support portion as a fulcrum,
One that is pressed independently from all directions
Swing in the direction of
Press my switch .

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a push button switch as an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3
2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA and a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the push button is not operated. The push button switch according to the present embodiment is a first operation member, and includes a push button 1 having a pressing portion 1c and a shaft portion 1a slidably supported by the main body 4; And a compression cone spring 3 of elastic means for urging a push button 2 described later in a downward direction, respectively, and a disc-shaped second operating member coaxially arranged with the push button 1 A push button 2, a main body 4 to which the buttons 1 and 2 are attached, and a commercially available diaphragm type switch that outputs an on / off signal by pressing the push buttons 1 and 2, and a main switch 5a located at the center; A switch FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 5 in which a plurality of switch groups 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g are arranged on the periphery around the switch 5a, and a support plate 6 supporting the FPC 5; It is configured.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the central recess 2c of the push button 2 and its shaft 1
a is fitted into a shaft hole 4 a which is a support portion of the main body 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a locking claw portion 1b provided on the button 1
Is inserted through the insertion hole 4b provided in the main body 4, and is held in a state where upward movement is restricted. Therefore, the main body 4 is held so as to be slidable downward by a predetermined distance. When the pressing portion 1c of the push button 1 is pressed downward against the urging force of the conical compression spring 3, the shaft portion 1c is pressed.
The leading end of “a” presses the main switch 5a of the switch FPC5 to make the switch pattern provided on the switch FPC5 conductive.

The outer shape of the push button 2 is inserted into the concave portion 4k of the main body 4, and the support hole 2a provided at the center is inserted into the boss of the shaft hole 4a of the main body 4. 2, a plurality of protrusions 2d, 2e, 2 arranged on concentric circles on the lower surface side.
f and 2g are attached to the main body 4 in a state of being inserted into four through holes 4c on the main body 4. The through hole 4c has a long hole shape having a predetermined gap toward the center with respect to the projections 2d, 2e, 2f, and 2g, and the push button 2 is within a predetermined angle in four directions with respect to the main body 4. Has a shape that allows the inclination of

The push button 2 is urged downward by a compression conical spring 3, and when no external force is applied, the end surface 2h of the push button 2 around the support hole 2a is attached to the body 4
Abuts against the outer peripheral edge 4h of the shaft hole 4a and is held in parallel with the main body 4.

The push button 2 has protrusions 2d, 2e, 2
The small protrusions 2i are provided at four places on the surface side corresponding to f and 2g. When one place near the small protrusions 2i is pressed, the push button 2 is inclined against the compression conical spring 3 and the support hole is inclined. 2a
The support portion swings around the periphery 4h of the support portion in contact with the surrounding end surface 2h. Due to this swinging operation, one of the tips of the protrusions 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g is moved to the switch groups 5d, 5e, 5 of the switch FPC5.
The corresponding one of f and 5g is pressed to make the corresponding switch pattern of the switch FPC5 conductive.

When the push button 2 is depressed and tilted, two adjacent switches 2d, 5e, 5f and 5g are set.
Four protrusions 4j are arranged at positions hidden by the push buttons 2 on the inner periphery of the concave portion 4k of the main body 4 so as not to be pressed at the same time, and near the center circle line between the through holes 4c. I have. Therefore, even if the surface corresponding to the intermediate position between the protrusions 2d, 2e, 2f, and 2g of the push button 2 is pressed, the protrusion 4j prevents the push button 2 from swinging by a predetermined amount or more. Switch groups 5d, 5e, 5f, 5
g does not turn on. The height of the projections 4j is set as low as possible. In a normal pressing state in which the vicinity of the small projections 2i is pressed, the projections 4j and the push button 2 do not interfere with each other, and the switch group 5d does not interfere. , 5e, 5
f, 5 g can be pressed. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view around the operation member mounting portion of the main body 4 and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the push button 2 alone.

The push-button switch of the present embodiment constructed as described above is assembled in the following procedure. That is,
The push button 2 is inserted into the concave portion 4k of the main body 4. At this time, the protrusions 2d, 2e, 2f, 2ga of the push button 2 are placed so as to be inserted into the through holes 4c of the main body 4, respectively. The compression conical spring 3 is placed thereon. Next, the shaft portion 1a of the push button 1
Is inserted into the through hole 4a of the main body 4, and further, the locking claw 1b is inserted through the insertion hole 4b of the main body 4 via the push button 2, so that the upward movement position is restricted. Here, for the first time, the positions of the push button 1, the push button 2, and the compression spring 3 are determined. In this manner, the partial assembly of the push buttons 1 and 2 can be easily performed.

On the other hand, the main switch 5a and the switch groups 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g are positioned and attached to the switch FPC 5 with a jig or the like. The FPC 5 on which the switches 5a and the like are mounted and the support plate 6 are assembled by aligning the mounting holes 5i and 6i with a jig or the like. The assembled FPC 5 and the support plate 6 are mounted below the push buttons 1 and 2 in the partially assembled state, and the push button switch is completed.

Next, the operation of the push-button switch of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the pressing portion 1c of the push button 1 is pressed in the P1 direction, as shown in the cross-sectional view when the main switch is pressed in FIG. 4, the compression conical spring 3 is compressed, and the shaft portion 1a descends to press the main switch 5a. , Turn on. At that time, the position of the push button 2 does not change. When the pressing portion 1c of the push button 1 is released, the push button 1 returns, the main switch 5a is turned off, and the state returns to the state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when one of the four small protrusions 2i of the push button 2 is pressed in the P2 direction, for example, the surface of the protrusion 2d is pressed in the direction P2, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. The support button peripheral edge 4h of the main body 4 becomes a fulcrum, and the push button 2 swings and tilts. In this state, the projection 2d presses one switch 5d of the switch group to turn it on. At this time, the pressed side of the compression conical spring 3 extends, and the opposite side is compressed. In this state, the push button 2 is in an inclined state, and the side facing the pressing portion is lifted upward.
However, the lifting amount is smaller since the pivot point of the swing is the peripheral edge 4h of the support portion near the center.

When the pressing force of the push button 2 is released,
The push button 2 is returned by the urging force of the compression conical spring 3, the switch 5d is turned off, and returns to the state of FIG.
As described above, since the push button 1 and the push button 2 are mounted on the main body 4 with the compression conical spring 3 interposed therebetween,
Single operation is possible without interfering with each other.

Since the push button 2 has a structure in which a plurality of pressing portions are integrated, if the pressing position is erroneously pressed and the intermediate position of the small projection 2i is pressed, two or more switch groups are connected. It may be pushed at the same time. However, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the protrusion 4
By j, the swing of the push button 2 due to the pressing of the intermediate position is prevented by a predetermined angle or more, and the switch is not turned on and malfunction is avoided.

As described above, in the push button switch of the present embodiment, the operation of the main switch 5a by the push button 1 disposed in the center and the operation of the plurality of switch groups 5d to 5g by the push button 2 are described. Can be operated independently, and furthermore, the inclination of the push button 2 at the time of the pressing operation can be suppressed to be small, the operability is good, and the number of parts is also reduced due to the simple configuration. .

In the switch of this embodiment, the compression cone spring 3 is used to bias the two push buttons 1 and 2. However, any elastic means which can simultaneously bias both buttons is used. It is not necessary to use the compression conical spring 3 in particular. For example, it is possible to propose a modification of a type in which a switch unit having conductive rubber as elastic means is applied instead of the compression conical spring 3. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the push button switch of the modification.

In the push button switch of the above modification,
The switch operation unit other than the switch unit using the conductive rubber has the same structure as that of the embodiment. Then, when the push button 1 urged upward by the conductive rubber 7a is pressed against the urging force, the shaft portion 1a deforms the conductive rubber 7a downward. Due to the deformation, the lower conductive rubber 7b comes into contact with the pattern of the switch FPC5, and the output of the main switch is turned on. When the pressing force is released, the push button 1 is returned by the restoring force of the conductive rubber 7a, and returns to the state of FIG.

Also, for example, the protrusion 2 around the push button 2
When the portion corresponding to d is pressed against the upward biasing force of the conductive rubber 7d, the conductive rubber 7d is pressed by the protrusion 2d and deforms downward. Due to the deformation, the lower conductive rubber 7e comes into contact with the pattern of the switch FPC5, and the output of the corresponding switch is turned on. In this state, push button 2
Is lifted upward by a predetermined amount. When the pressing force is released, the push button 2 is returned by the return force of the conductive rubber 7d, and returns to the state of FIG.

[0024]

As described above, the input device according to the present invention is an integral member having a first operating member for a main switch at the center and a pressing portion at a peripheral portion. By arranging the second operating member capable of swinging around the periphery of the portion, a plurality of switches can be operated, the operability is good, and the configuration can be made with a small number of parts. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a push button switch as an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a push button side at the center of the push button switch of FIG. 1 is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the disc-shaped push button side of the push button switch of FIG. 1 is pressed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part around the push button mounting portion of the main body of the push button switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a single disc-shaped push button of the push button switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a switch as a modification of the push button switch of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... push button (first operating member) 1c ... pressing part 1a ... shaft part 2 ... push button (second 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g ... Projection 3 ... Compression conical spring (elastic means) 4 ... Body 4a ... ... Shaft hole (supporting portion of main body) 4h ........ Peripheral edge of supporting portion of main body 5a. 7a, 7d...... Conductive rubber (elastic means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B ^7/ 02-7/105 H01H 23/00 H01H 25/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A shaft for pressing a main switch and a pressing operation;
A pressing portion operably exposed, and a pressing operation of the pressing portion
A first operating member slidably supported in the axial direction of the shaft portion, a plurality of switch groups disposed around the main switch, and the switch group. Can be pressed to the switch group
A plurality of pressing portions formed facing each other, and the first operation
It is arranged so as to surround the entire circumference of the member, and the first
Swingable in all directions around the shaft of the operating member
Supported and independently of the first operating member.
Input device for a second operating member swingable operation selectively in a desired direction from among the circumferential, characterized and comprises a kite. 2. A shaft portion for pressing a main switch, and a pressing portion.
A pressing portion operably exposed, and a pressing operation of the pressing portion.
A first operation member having a shaft portion supported by the main body support portion so as to be slidable along an axial direction that is pressed in accordance with the operation, and a plurality of members arranged around the main switch as a center
Switch group and the switch group so that the switch group can be pressed.
A plurality of pressing portions formed facing each other , and arranged on the same axis as the first operating member so as to surround the entire circumference of the first operating member, It is swingably supported in all directions around the periphery of the main body supporting portion that supports the shaft portion, and is selectively rocked in a desired direction independently from all directions around the first operating member. An input device comprising: an operable second operation member. 3. The sliding member according to claim 2, wherein the second operating member slides in the axial direction.
Movably supported by the main body support , disposed between the first operating member and the second operating member,
Claim 2, characterized in that the said first operating member and the second operating member comprises a single biasing member that biases in a direction away from each other I along with the axial direction Input device.