JP4913673B2 - Multi-directional operation switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional operation switch used for an input operation unit for performing a scroll operation of a screen display content of a vehicle-mounted electronic device such as a car navigation device.

  In recent years, for example, a car navigation apparatus mounted on a vehicle has a multi-directional operation switch so that a scroll operation of the screen display contents (for example, a map display screen) to both the X and Y axes can be performed with good operability. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In the multidirectional operation switch (multidirectional slide switch) of Patent Document 1, the first and second slide members (operation knobs) that move in the orthogonal directions are inclined with respect to the X and Y axis directions and their axes. Multi-directional switch operation is possible because the contact at the tip of the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact according to the sliding of the first and second slide members in a predetermined direction. (Switch on).
JP 2001-307599 A

  By the way, in the multi-directional operation switch (multi-directional slide switch) of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to install the movable contact and the fixed contact at the predetermined positions as the switch members, so that the installation space becomes large. Therefore, the present inventor has proposed a multidirectional operation switch using a pressing switch as a switch member in order to reduce the installation space of the switch member (unpublished Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-216815 (paragraph [ 0035], FIG. 1, FIG.

  In this multi-directional operation switch, the multi-directional switch operation (switch-on) is performed by pressing the push pin on the push inclined surface of the slide member in accordance with the slide movement of the slide member, and further pressing the push switch by the push pin. I do.

  By the way, in this multi-directional operation switch, when the pressing inclined surface of the slide member is pushed down while being in sliding contact with the push pin, if the wear occurs on the pressing inclined surface of the sliding member that is in sliding contact with the push pin due to long-term use or the like, There is a case where a variation in the operational feeling (operation feeling) occurs when the dial member is slid in multiple directions.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional operation switch that can perform a multidirectional switch operation according to the sliding movement of the slide member with a good operational feeling over a long period of time.

In order to achieve the above object, a multidirectional operation switch according to a first aspect of the present invention intersects with an operation member installed so as to be slidable in multiple directions so as to be orthogonal to each other, and According to the slide operation, the first and second slide members that are slidably installed in the intersecting directions, and the first and second slide members are installed in the vicinity of the first and second slide members, respectively. A photo interrupter having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion arranged opposite to each other , which outputs ON signals having different waveforms depending on whether the direction of each slide direction of the second slide member is the forward direction or the reverse direction, the first, based on the second oN signal outputted from each of the photo-interrupter according to the direction of the respective sliding direction of the sliding member, the switch corresponding to the slide operation direction of the operating member Work is performed, the first, on the one side of the back surface side of the second slide member, the rib so as to be positioned between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photointerrupter are respectively formed, On one side along the longitudinal direction of the rib, a plurality of slit openings are formed in accordance with the position of the photo interrupter, and the first and second slide members are slid in the forward direction or the reverse direction. When this is done, an ON signal with a different waveform is output as the rib having the plurality of slit openings moves in the forward or reverse direction between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter. It is characterized by being.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the multi-directional operation switch according to the present invention, further comprising return means for returning the first and second slide members to a neutral position when the operation member is not slid. .

According to the multidirectional operation switch according to the present invention, in the vicinity of the first and second slide members intersecting at right angles, the directions of the slide directions of the first and second slide members are the forward direction. Install a photo interrupter that outputs an ON signal with a different waveform in the reverse direction, and based on the ON signal output from the photo interrupter according to the direction of each slide direction of the first and second slide members, Since the switch operation corresponding to the slide operation of the operation member in multiple directions is performed, the first and second slide members and the photo interrupter do not come into contact with each other. It can be performed with a good operational feeling over a long period of time.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a multidirectional operation switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the multidirectional operation switch, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the multidirectional operation switch.

  As shown in these drawings, the multidirectional operation switch 1 according to this embodiment includes two light transmission type photointerrupters 3a on a first substrate 2 around a hole 2a formed in the center thereof. 3b (see FIG. 4) is arranged at an angle of 90 degrees. Each photointerrupter 3a, 3b has a light emitting part (LED) and a light receiving part (phototransistor) arranged to face each other with a predetermined gap, and when the gap between them is not shielded, an ON signal is output, When the space between the two is shielded, an OFF signal is output.

  A substantially cylindrical base member 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the first substrate 2 by fitting a projection 4a formed on the back side of the center thereof into the hole 2a. In addition, a cross-shaped guide groove 4f is formed on the inner upper portion of the base member 4 by four protrusions 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e (see FIG. 4). The photo interrupters 3a and 3b are provided in the back side cavity of the guide groove 4f.

  The guide groove portion 4f of the base member 4 has an inverted conical pin receiving portion 4g at the center thereof, and a slit-shaped opening portion corresponding to the positions of the photo interrupters 3a and 3b around the outside of the pin receiving portion 4g. 4h and 4i are formed.

  On the guide groove portion 4f, first and second slide plates 5 and 6 that are orthogonally crossed are slidably disposed. Long holes 5a and 6a are formed in the center of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6, respectively, and a rib is provided on the back side of one side of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6. 5b and 6b are formed. The ribs 5b and 6b are moved between the light emitting portions and the light receiving portions of the photo interrupters 3a and 3b facing each other through the openings 4h and 4i in accordance with the sliding movement of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6. It is provided so that it can be shielded.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the outer half (one side) along the longitudinal direction of the rib 6b, a plurality of (four in FIG. 3) slits along the longitudinal direction according to the position of the photo interrupter 3b. An opening 6c is formed. When the dial member 21 to be described later is not slid in multiple directions (when the second slide plate 6 is in the neutral position (initial position) shown in FIG. 3), the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the photo interrupter 3b In the non-shielding state in which the slit opening 6c on the most central side is located between the two, an OFF signal is output. A plurality of similar slit openings (not shown) are also formed in the rib 5b of the first slide plate 5. Similarly, when the first slide plate 5 is in the neutral position (initial position), it is OFF. A signal is output.

  On the upper surface side of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6, a plate member 7 having an opening 7a in the center and a cylindrical pin holding portion 9a holding a slide pin 8 slidably on the inner peripheral surface. The base member 4 side of the pin holding portion 9a is inserted into the opening portion 7a of the plate member 7 and the elongated holes 5a and 6a of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6. ing. Note that the outer diameter of the pin holding portion 9a is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 7a of the plate member 7, and is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the long holes 5a, 6a of the first and second slide plates 5, 6 on the short diameter side. It is.

  The tip end side (base member 4 side) of the slide pin 8 protrudes from the open end of the pin holding portion 9a, and the spring 10 disposed in the pin holding portion 9a causes the hemispherical tip portion 8a of the slide pin 8 to receive the pin. It is urged to always contact the portion 4g. The pin holding portion 9a, the slide pin 8, the spring 10, and the pin receiving portion 4g constitute return means for returning the dial member 21 and the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 to the neutral position (initial position). .

  On the upper surface side of the pad member 9, a base cover 11 having an opening 11 a in the center is arranged with a predetermined gap, and a plurality of locking pieces 4 j formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base member 4 are arranged on the outer periphery of the base cover 11. The plurality of locking holes 11b formed on the surface are fixed by locking each. As a result, the pad member 9 is slidably disposed in the plane direction in the gap formed between the base cover 11 and the plate member 7.

  A first case member 12, a second substrate 13, and a second case member 14 are arranged on the upper surface side of the base cover 11, and the first case member 12, the second substrate 13, The two case members 14 are fixed to the pad member 9 by three screws 15. Further, a cylindrical portion 13 a formed on the back surface side (base member 4 side) of the second substrate 13 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the pin holding portion 9 a of the pad member 9, and further, the second substrate 13. An opening 12a formed at the center of the first case member 12 is fitted into the cylindrical portion 13a. The first substrate 2 and the second substrate 13 are electrically connected by a cable 16 having connectors at both ends.

  On the second substrate 13, a push switch 17, a rotation switch 18, a substrate circuit (not shown), and the like are arranged. The pressing switch 17 is connected to the back side of a cylindrical member 19 that is installed so as to be movable in the vertical direction in FIG. 3 along the inner peripheral surface of the rotation switch 18. A push button member 20 is fixed to the front side of the cylindrical member 19 (upper side in FIG. 3). The rear surface side of the cylindrical dial member 21 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary switch 18. The front side of the dial member 21 is located on the outer peripheral side of the push button member 20.

  In the multidirectional operation switch 1 according to this embodiment, when the push button member 20 is pressed, the push switch 17 is turned on by the movement of the cylindrical member 19 in the back direction. When the dial member 21 is rotated, a switch signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the dial member 21 is output from the rotary switch 18.

  Furthermore, in the multidirectional operation switch 1 according to the present embodiment, the dial member 21 has a vertical direction (arrow a direction, arrow b direction), a horizontal direction (arrow c direction, arrow d direction), as shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to perform a sliding operation in eight directions, which are intermediate directions (arrow e direction, arrow f direction, arrow g direction, arrow h direction) with respect to these directions.

  That is, the dial member 21 can slide integrally with the rotary switch 18, the second substrate 13, the second case member 14, the cylindrical portion 13a, the first case member 12, the pad member 9, the slide pin 8, and the like. Thus, the distal end portion 8a of the slide pin 8 that is urged by the spring 10 in the pin holding portion 9a according to the sliding operation direction of the dial member 21 slides on the surface of the pin receiving portion 4g. At the same time, the pin holding portion 9a inserted through the long holes 5a and 6a moves, and either one or both of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 slide on the guide groove portion 4f. As a result, the dial member 21 is slid in eight directions (details will be described later).

  Further, as described above, the sliding operation of the dial member 21 causes the rib 6b of the second slide plate 6 to move between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b in the left direction in FIG. 3 (the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 2). ), The rib 6b shields between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b, and an ON signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. 5A is output.

  Similarly, when the rib 5b of the first slide plate 5 moves between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a in the direction of the arrow c in FIG. 2, the light emitting portion of the photo interrupter 3a is similarly formed by the rib 5b. And the light receiving unit are shielded, and an ON signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. 5A is output.

  Further, as described above, the sliding operation of the dial member 21 causes the rib 6b of the second slide plate 6 to move between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b in the right direction in FIG. 3 (the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 2). ), The plurality of slit openings 6c of the rib 6b shield the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b at a constant interval, and have a rectangular wave as shown in FIG. 5B. An ON signal is output.

  Similarly, when the rib 5b of the first slide plate 5 moves between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 2, a plurality of slit openings ( (Not shown) shields the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a at a constant interval, and outputs an ON signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. 5B.

  Next, the switch operation by the multidirectional operation switch 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  For example, when the multidirectional operation switch 1 is used in an input operation unit of a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle, an arbitrary menu is selected from a plurality of menus displayed on the screen, as shown in FIG. As described above, the rotary switch 18 is rotated by rotating the dial member 21 in either the left or right direction. By moving the cursor on the screen in accordance with the switch signal output from the rotary switch 18 to be rotated and selecting an arbitrary menu, the cylindrical member 19 is pushed and pressed by pressing the push button member 20. When the switch 17 is turned on, the selected menu is confirmed. During this switch operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the tip 8a of the slide pin 8 is positioned at the center of the pin receiving portion 4g by the urging force of the spring 10.

  When the map display screen of the car navigation device is scrolled, as shown in FIG. 2, the dial member 21 is moved in the vertical direction (arrow a direction and arrow b direction) and in the left and right direction (arrow c direction and arrow d direction). ), And a sliding operation is performed in any of the eight directions of the intermediate directions (arrow e direction, arrow f direction, arrow g direction, arrow h direction) with respect to these directions. By sliding the dial member 21 in either direction, the map display screen is scrolled in the sliding operation direction of the dial member 21 based on signals output from the photo interrupters 3a and 3b.

  Hereinafter, the switch operation by the output of the ON / OFF signal from the photo interrupters 3a and 3b when the dial member 21 is slid in multiple directions (eight directions) will be described.

  When the dial member 21 is not slid, the tip portion 8a of the slide pin 8 is positioned at the center of the pin receiving portion 4g by the urging force of the spring 10. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 that are orthogonally crossed are in the neutral position (initial position) on the guide groove 4f. Is stationary. At this time, since the slit openings of the ribs 5b and 6b of the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 are in positions that do not shield between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupters 3a and 3b, the photo interrupter 3a and 3b output an OFF signal.

  When the dial member 21 is slid downward (in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 2), the tip portion 8a of the slide pin 8 also moves downward while sliding with the pin receiving portion 4g. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the outer peripheral surface of the pin holding portion 9a presses the long hole 6a of the second slide plate 6 downward, whereby the second slide plate 6 Only slide down.

  As the second slide plate 6 slides downward, the rib 6b shields between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b, so that the waveform is turned on as shown in FIG. A signal is output from the photo interrupter 3b. At this time, since the first slide plate 5 is in a stationary state, the slit opening of the rib 5b of the first slide plate 5 is in a position that does not shield between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a. The photo interrupter 3a outputs an OFF signal.

  When the dial member 21 is slid upward (in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2), the distal end portion 8a of the slide pin 8 also moves upward while sliding with the pin receiving portion 4g. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the outer peripheral surface of the pin holding portion 9a presses the elongated hole 6a of the second slide plate 6 upward, whereby the second slide plate 6 Only slides upward.

  As the second slide plate 6 slides upward, the plurality of slit openings 6c of the rib 6b shield the gap between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the photointerrupter 3b at a constant interval, whereby FIG. An ON signal having a rectangular wave as shown in (b) is output from the photo interrupter 3b. At this time, since the first slide plate 5 is in a stationary state, the slit opening of the rib 5b of the first slide plate 5 is in a position that does not shield between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a. The photo interrupter 3a outputs an OFF signal.

  When the dial member 21 is slid in the right direction (arrow d direction in FIG. 2), the tip portion 8a of the slide pin 8 also moves to the right while sliding with the pin receiving portion 4g. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9A, the outer peripheral surface of the pin holding portion 9a presses the elongated hole 5a of the first slide plate 5 in the right direction, so that only the first slide plate 5 is in the right direction. Move to slide.

  As the first slide plate 5 slides in the right direction, the rib 5b shields between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a, so that the waveform ON as shown in FIG. A signal is output from the photo interrupter 3a. At this time, since the second slide plate 6 is in a stationary state, the slit opening of the rib 6b of the second slide plate 6 is in a position that does not shield between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b. The photo interrupter 3b outputs an OFF signal.

  Similarly, when the dial member 21 is slid leftward (in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 2) and only the first slide plate 5 is slid leftward, the first slide plate 5 The plurality of slit openings of the rib 5b shields the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the photo interrupter 3a at a constant interval, so that an ON signal having a rectangular wave as shown in FIG. 5B is converted into the photo interrupter 3a. Is output from. At this time, since the second slide plate 6 is in a stationary state, the slit opening of the rib 6b of the second slide plate 6 is in a position that does not shield between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b. The photo interrupter 3b outputs an OFF signal.

  Further, when the dial member 21 is slid to the right diagonally downward direction (arrow g direction in FIG. 2), the tip portion 8a of the slide pin 8 slides to the diagonally downward right direction while sliding with the pin receiving portion 4g. To do. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, the outer peripheral surface of the pin holding portion 9a presses the elongated holes 5a, 6a of the first and second slide plates 5, 6 in the diagonally downward direction to the right. One slide plate 5 slides rightward and the second slide plate 6 slides downward.

  As the first slide plate 5 slides in the right direction, the rib 5b shields between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3a, so that the waveform ON as shown in FIG. A signal is output from the photo interrupter 3a. Further, as the second slide plate 6 slides downward, the rib 6b shields between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 3b, thereby causing a waveform as shown in FIG. Is output from the photo interrupter 3b.

  Then, based on the output of ON / OFF signals (ON / OFF switch operation) from the photo interrupters 3a and 3b when the dial member 21 is slid in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the dial member 21 is tilted to the upper right. When a sliding operation is performed in the direction (the direction of arrow e in FIG. 2), an ON signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. 5A is output from the photointerrupter 3a, and a rectangle as shown in FIG. An ON signal having a wave is output from the photo interrupter 3b.

  When the dial member 21 is slid in the diagonally downward left direction (arrow h direction in FIG. 2), an ON signal having a rectangular wave as shown in FIG. 5B is output from the photo interrupter 3a. An ON signal as shown in FIG. 5A is output from the photo interrupter 3b. Furthermore, when the dial member 21 is slid in the upper left direction (the direction of the arrow f in FIG. 2), ON signals having rectangular waves as shown in FIG. 5B are output from the photo interrupters 3a and 3b, respectively. Is done.

  Note that when the sliding operation of the dial member 21 in the eight directions (vertical direction, horizontal direction, intermediate direction between these directions (diagonal direction)) is canceled, the distal end portion 8a of the slide pin 8 is moved by the urging force of the spring 10. By returning to the center of the pin receiving portion 4g while sliding, the dial member 21, the first and second slide plates 5, 6 and the like return to the neutral position shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). .

  As described above, when the dial member 21 is slid in eight directions (vertical direction, left and right direction, intermediate direction between these directions (oblique direction)), two types of ON signals respectively output from the photo interrupters 3a and 3b. By combining the OFF signal (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) and the OFF signal, the switch operation according to the slide operation direction of the dial member 21 can be performed.

  Further, when the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 are slid, the first and second slide plates 5 and 6 and the photo interrupters 3a and 3b do not come into contact with each other and are not worn. The switch operation can be performed with a good operational feeling (operation feeling) over a long period of time.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the multidirectional operation switch which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The top view of the multidirectional operation switch which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. The disassembled perspective view of the multidirectional operation switch which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the waveform of two types of ON signals output from a photo interrupter. (A) is a top view which shows the position of two slide plates when the dial member is not slidingly operated, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multidirectional operation switch at this time. (A) is a top view which shows the position of two slide plates when a dial member is slid downward, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multidirectional operation switch at this time. (A) is a top view which shows the position of two slide plates when a dial member is slid upwards, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multidirectional operation switch at this time. (A) is a plan view showing the positions of the two slide plates when the dial member is slid to the right, and (b) is the two slide plates when the dial member is slid to the lower right. The top view which shows a position.

Explanation of symbols

1 multidirectional switch 3a, 3b photo inter Lapu data
4 Base member 4f Guide groove portion 4g Pin receiving portion 5 First slide plate (first slide member)
6 Second slide plate (second slide member)
5a, 6b Rib 6c Slit opening 8 Slide pin 9a Pin holding part 18 Rotation switch 20 Push button member 21 Dial member (operation member)

Claims (2)

An operation member installed so as to be slidable in multiple directions;
First and second slide members that are crossed so as to be orthogonal to each other, and are slidably installed in each of the intersecting directions in response to a slide operation in multiple directions of the operation member;
ON signals having different waveforms depending on whether the first and second slide members are installed in the vicinity of the first and second slide members in a non-contact manner and the directions of the slide directions of the first and second slide members are the forward direction and the reverse direction, respectively. A photointerrupter having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion arranged opposite to each other to output,
Based on ON signals respectively output from the photo interrupters in accordance with the orientations of the first and second slide members in the respective slide directions, a switch operation is performed in accordance with the slide operation direction of the operation member ,
Ribs are formed on the back side portions of one side of the first and second slide members so as to be positioned between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter, and the longitudinal direction of the ribs A plurality of slit openings are formed in accordance with the position of the photo interrupter on one side along
When the first and second slide members are slid in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the rib having the plurality of slit openings is provided between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter. ON signals with different waveforms are output by moving in the forward or reverse direction .
A multidirectional operation switch characterized by that. A return means for returning the first and second slide members to a neutral position when the operation member is not slid;
The multidirectional operation switch according to claim 1 .

Images