JP4929035B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an operation button holding structure.

  In recent years, while electronic devices such as digital cameras have been reduced in size, there are many cases where the device main body has a large video output screen, and the arrangement space of operation members on the same surface as the video output screen has been reduced. In particular, it has become difficult to place a cross button that requires a space in an arc shape, and the diameter tends to decrease year by year. On the other hand, multi-functionalization has progressed and the need for multi-input devices has increased.

Under such circumstances, the present applicant has proposed an operation button device in which two types of switches, an analog switch and a metal dome sheet, are stacked on the side in which the cross button and the center button are pushed. (Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-32412

  However, in the operation button device described in Patent Document 1, when the metal dome switch is deformed, the operation feeling of the button is affected by the sliding resistance between the analog switch and its positioning pin. Further, the operation feeling of the button is also influenced by which part of the rubber sheet holding the cross button is deformed.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having a good button operation feeling.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation member that can be inclined in a plurality of directions, an elastic member that elastically supports the operation member, a pressure sensor that is disposed on the elastic member, and the pressure sensor. An electronic device having a switch arranged in a stack and a frame on which the elastic member and the pressure sensor are positioned, the elastic member having an arm portion extending from a portion holding the outer periphery of the operation member. The arm portion is formed with a first positioning portion and an elastic deformation region for positioning the elastic member and the frame, and a second positioning portion for positioning the pressure sensor with the frame is It is provided at a position closer to the center of the operation member than the elastic deformation region.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device with a good button operation feeling.

  Hereinafter, embodiments relating to the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a digital camera which is an embodiment of the electronic apparatus of the present invention. A display monitor 2 for displaying a photographed image is disposed on the back of the digital camera 1.

  In FIG. 1, an operation unit is laid out on the right side of the display monitor 2. The operation unit includes a ring-shaped four-way button 4 (operation member) that can be pushed in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and a center button 3 that is disposed at the center of the four-way button 4 and that can be pushed.

  The four-way button 4 is configured to be displaced in the pushing direction, and outputs different signals depending on whether the user touches the four-way button 4 or the user pushes the four-way button 4. . In the camera of this embodiment, a setting menu of the camera is displayed based on a signal output when the user touches the four-way button 4, and a signal output when the user presses the four-way button 4. The setting menu determination operation is executed based on the above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the operation button 3 and the four-direction button 4.
An operation unit including a center button 3 and a four-direction button 4 is fixed to the frame 10. A positioning pin 16 (first positioning portion) is crimped on the frame 10 and a hole 30 is provided.

  The positioning member 8 is formed with a positioning pin 13 (second positioning portion) made of an insulating material. The positioning member 8 is fixed to the frame 10 with the positioning pins 13 of the positioning member 8 inserted into the holes 30 of the frame 10. By fixing in this way, the positioning pin 13 ensures the same dimensional accuracy as that provided on the frame 10.

  The printed wiring board 9 is positioned and fixed to the frame 10 by the positioning pins 13 and 16. The printed wiring board 9 is provided with a plurality of contact patterns 12 arranged concentrically. A metal dome 20 that is a conductive contact member is disposed on the contact pattern 12, and each metal dome 20 is held by the contact sheet 7. The contact sheet 7 is also positioned and fixed to the frame 10 by positioning pins 16 and 13.

  The pressure-sensitive sensor 6 is disposed so as to overlap the contact sheet 7. The pressure-sensitive sensor 6 includes a circuit film composed of a resistor layer printed on an insulating film and a rigid metal plate that fixes and holds the circuit film. By inserting the positioning pin 13 into the hole 15 provided in the pressure sensor 6, the pressure sensor 6 is positioned and held on the frame 10. The positioning pin 13 is provided with an insulating property in consideration of contact with the pressure sensor 6. A circuit signal from the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 is connected from a circuit signal transmission unit 27 via a connector 28 mounted on the printed wiring board 9.

  The elastic member 5 is disposed so as to overlap the pressure sensor 6. The elastic member 5 elastically supports the four-direction button 4 and the center button 3. The elastic member 5 is formed with an arm portion 14 extending from an edge portion 5 a that holds the outer periphery of the four-way button 4, and a hole 29 is provided at the tip of the arm portion 14. The elastic member 5 is positioned and held in the frame 10 by the positioning pin 16 being inserted into the hole 29. That is, the elastic member 5 is held in a state of being suspended by the arm portion 14.

  The four-way button 4 is held by the elastic member 5 so that it can tilt in the vertical and horizontal directions and returns to the initial position by the elastic force of the elastic member 5. Since the elastic member 5 is held in a state of being hung by the arm portion 14, the elastic force for returning the four-way button 4 to the initial position is the elastic force of the arm portion 14 of the elastic member 5. Similarly, the center button 3 is held by the elastic member 5 so that the center button 3 can be operated in the pushing direction and is returned to the initial position by the elastic force.

  When the user touches the four-way button 4, the four-way button 4 is slightly inclined against the elastic force of the elastic member 5. A plurality of pins are erected on the back surface of the four-way button 4, and a signal is output from the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 when the pins come into contact with the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 due to the inclination of the four-way button 4. The

  When the operator further pushes the four-way button 4, the four-way button 4 is further tilted, and a pin provided on the back surface of the four-way button 4 pushes the pressure sensor 6. Since the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 is not fixed in the pushing direction, the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 tilts together with the four-way button 4 and the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 pushes the metal dome 20. The metal dome 20 buckles and electrically contacts the contact pattern 12 to function as a switch.

  Therefore, when the four-way button 4 is pressed with a weak force, a signal is output from the pressure sensor 6. When the four-way button 4 is pressed with a strong force, the metal dome 20 is buckled and electrically contacts one of the contact patterns 12 so that a signal is output.

  FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the shape of the elastic member 5. The elastic member 5 positions the four-way button 4 by the edge portion 5 a covering the outer periphery of the four-way button 4. The four-way button 4 is stuck and fixed to the elastic member 5 with a double-sided tape (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the arm portion 14 is formed to extend from the edge portion 5 a, and a hole 29 through which the positioning pin 16 is inserted is formed in the arm portion 14. The arm portion 14 is provided with an elastic deformation region 31 that is deformed when the four-way button 4 is operated. When the four-way button 4 is operated, the four-way button 4 tilts while the elastic deformation region 31 is elastically deformed. The four-way button 4 returns to the initial position by the restoring force of the elastic deformation region 31. Further, a dummy-shaped portion 17 is provided at one diagonal position of the arm portion 14 for generating a restoring force in the same manner when the elastic deformation region 31 is deformed.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the frame 10 to which the positioning member 8 is fixed. The relationship between the positioning pins 13 and 16 is shown. The positioning pin 13 is disposed at a distance r1 from the center position of the four-way button 4, and the positioning pin 16 is disposed at a distance r2 from the center position of the elastic member 5. Placed in position. Since the distance r <b> 1 is shorter than the distance r <b> 2, the positioning pin 13 is disposed closer to the center position of the four-way button 4 than the positioning pin 16.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the elastic member 5 is attached to the frame 10. When the four-way button 4 is pushed, the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 is tilted together with the four-way button 4. When the pressure-sensitive sensor 6 is inclined, a sliding resistance is generated between the hole 15 and the positioning pin 13. In the present embodiment, the positioning pin 13 is disposed inside the deformation region 31 in consideration of the influence of the sliding resistance.

  As described above, the digital camera of the present embodiment can improve the operational feeling of the four-way button 4 by being arranged at such a position.

1 is a perspective view of a digital camera that is an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the internal structure of the operation button 3 and the 4 direction button 4. FIG. The figure explaining the shape of the elastic member 5. FIG. The figure which looked at the flame | frame 10 to which the positioning member 8 was fixed from the front. The figure which shows the state which attached the elastic member 5 to the flame | frame 10. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Center button 4 Four direction button 5 Elastic member 6 Pressure sensor 7 Contact sheet 8 Positioning member 9 Printed wiring board 10 Frame 13 Positioning pin of pressure sensor 14 Arm part 16 Positioning pin of elastic member 5

Claims (5)

An operation member that can be inclined in a plurality of directions, an elastic member that elastically supports the operation member, a pressure-sensitive sensor that is disposed on the elastic member, and a switch that is disposed on the pressure-sensitive sensor An electronic device having a frame on which the elastic member and the pressure sensor are positioned,
The elastic member has an arm portion extending from a portion that holds the outer periphery of the operation member, and the arm portion is formed with a first positioning portion for positioning the elastic member and the frame and an elastic deformation region. In addition, the second positioning portion for positioning the pressure sensor with the frame is provided at a position closer to the center of the operation member than the elastic deformation region.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second positioning portion is provided at a position closer to the center of the operation member than the first positioning portion.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second positioning portion is made of an insulating material.   The elastic member is formed with a portion for generating a force to return the operation member to an original position when the operation member is pushed into a diagonal position of the arm portion. 4. The electronic device according to any one of items 3 to 3.   5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are at least two locations, respectively.

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