JP2001243759A - Rotary operation mechanism for electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an inexpensive and simple structure of a mechanism which carries out, for example, fast feed/fast rewinding operation by rotationally operating a jog dial (rotary operating member) 7. SOLUTION: The structure that, when the jog dial 7 is rotationally operated, a flexible piece 20 is pressed by the jog dial 7 and is bent in a direction approximately orthogonal with the rotating direction of the jog dial 7 and a momentary switch is thereby operated to be pressed is adopted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary operation mechanism in electronic equipment such as audio equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an electronic device such as an audio device having a rotation operation mechanism using a rotation operation member generally called a jog dial is widely practiced. That is, the jog dial is rotated forward and backward by a predetermined angle from the neutral position, thereby performing a fast-forward / fast-return operation of a compact disc, a tape cassette, a tuner, and the like.

A conventional rotary operation mechanism using a jog dial generally has a structure in which rotation of the jog dial is detected by an encoder to perform a fast-forward or fast-return operation.

[0004]

As described above, the encoder is conventionally used for detecting the rotation of the jog dial, which is a rotary operation member. However, since the encoder is an expensive part, the encoder is expensive and the cost of the device is low. There was a problem that would greatly hinder the development.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a low-cost rotary operation mechanism in electronic equipment.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a rotary operation member rotatably mounted on a housing of an electronic device, a tact switch provided inside the electronic device, and a rotary operation member. And a flexible piece that is provided between the tact switch and a flexible piece that is bent by being pressed by the rotary operating member during rotation of the rotary operating member in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation direction of the rotary operating member, And the flexible piece bends with the rotation of the rotary operation member, so that the tact switch is pressed by the flexible piece.

In this configuration, the flexible piece has a first hinge at its base and a second hinge between the part pressed by the rotary operating member and the part pressing the tact switch. Structure.

The rotation operation mechanism of the present invention thus configured uses an inexpensive tact switch for detecting the rotation of the rotation operation member and is simple in structure, so that it can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, in this configuration, since the flexible hinges of the flexible piece are provided at the two positions of the first hinge part and the second hinge part, the distance between the tact switch and the flexible piece varies. Even if there is, this can be absorbed and the tact switch can be pressed reliably, and a stable operation feeling can be realized.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an audio apparatus 1 as an example of an electronic apparatus to which the present invention is applied, where 2 is a disk player section for reproducing a compact disk (CD), and 3 is a recording and reproducing section for a tape cassette. The cassette player unit 4 is an operation unit for performing various operations of the disc player unit 2, the cassette player unit 3 and the built-in tuner unit, and the reference numeral 5 is a display unit for displaying an operation state and the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a volume knob for adjusting the volume, and 7
Is a jog dial for fast-forwarding / fast-returning a compact disk, a tape cassette, and a tuner. Degree) A fast-forward or fast-return operation is performed by performing a rotation operation. The jog dial 7 is provided with a lever portion 7a protruding so as to be easily operated by putting a finger on the jog dial 7 during the rotation operation.

In the device 1 of the present embodiment, the rotary operation mechanism according to the present invention is employed in connection with the jog dial 7.

The detailed structure of the rotary operation mechanism is shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the front panel 8 constituting the housing of the device 1 is provided with a concave accommodating portion 9, and the volume knob 6 and the jog dial 7 are coaxially accommodated in the accommodating portion 9. It is rotatably mounted.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a volume encoder. The volume encoder 10 is fastened and fixed to the front panel 8 by a nut 11, and its rotary operation shaft 10a
Is mounted with a volume knob 6. By rotating the volume encoder 10 with the volume knob 6, the playback volume (output) of the device is adjusted.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a mounting member to which the jog dial 7 is mounted. The mounting member 12 is fixedly fastened to the front panel 8 by a nut 11 together with the volume encoder 10 so that the jog dial 7 can be rotated while maintaining coaxiality with the volume encoder 10. It is to be attached to.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a spring for holding the jog dial 7 at a neutral position. The spring 13 is a coil-shaped spring wound in the direction of rotation of the jog dial 7, and has arms 13 a protruding outward at both ends thereof. It is attached in the accommodation part 9 in a hooked state.

On the other hand, a pair of protrusions 15 are provided on the back side surface of the jog dial 7 as shown in FIG.
When the jog dial 7 is rotated left or right from the neutral position, one of the protrusions 15 pushes and moves one arm 13a of the spring 13 in the direction of drawing the coil. Is operated to return to the neutral position when the hand is released.

As shown in FIG. 7, a guide groove 16 having a predetermined length is provided on the peripheral surface of the jog dial 7 in the circumferential direction.
A stopper projecting piece 17 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the jog dial 7 is engaged, thereby restricting the rotation range of the jog dial 7.

In the device 1 of the present embodiment, the compact disc, tape cassette, and tuner are fast-forwarded / fast-returned by rotating the jog dial 7. In particular, the rotary operating mechanism according to the present invention rotates the jog dial 7. A tact switch is used for detection.

Two tact switches 18 are arranged and fixed on a substrate 19 mounted on the back side of the front panel 8 inside the device 1.
When is rotated left or right from the neutral position, one of the tact switches 18 is pressed.

This structure will be described in detail. A flexible piece 20 for converting the rotation of the jog dial 7 into a pressing force of the tact switch 18 is provided between the jog dial 7 and the tact switch 18. This flexible piece 20
Is formed on a part of the plastic front panel 8 so as to bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation direction of the jog dial 7, and has an inclined surface at a central portion of the surface facing the jog dial 7. A protrusion 21 is formed so as to protrude, and a button portion 22 having a convex shape facing the operation portion 18a of the tact switch 18
Are formed.

The flexible piece 20 has flexible hinges at two places, that is, a flexible hinge 20 has a first hinge portion 20a at the base of the flexible piece 20 and a thin flexible piece. A second hinge portion 20b is provided at a portion between the inclined protrusion 21 at the center portion of the flexible member 20 and the button portion 22 at the distal end thereof by a step having a thin distal end portion of the flexible piece.
In this example, the flexible piece 20 has an arc shape corresponding to the rotation direction of the jog dial 7, and is formed symmetrically corresponding to the two tact switches 18.

On the other hand, a pair of pressing projections 23 are provided on the back side surface of the jog dial 7 as shown in FIG. 8, and when the jog dial 7 is rotated left or right from the neutral position, one of the pressing projections 23 is pressed. The projection 23 presses the inclined projection 21 of one of the flexible pieces 20, whereby the flexible piece 20 bends, and the button 22 of the flexible piece 20 presses the corresponding operation section 18 a of the tact switch 18. It works as follows. Here, the pressing projection 23 is formed so that the inclined projection 21 of the flexible piece 20 can be pressed smoothly.
Is formed in a shape having an inclination corresponding to the inclined surface of.

As described above, the tact switch 18
Is pressed, a fast-forward or fast-return operation of a compact disk, a tape cassette, a tuner, or the like is performed.

The pressing operation of the tact switch 18 by the rotation operation of the jog dial 7 as described above will be described in further detail with reference to FIG.

Here, as described above, the flexible piece 20 is formed by combining the flexible hinge with the first hinge portion 20a and the second hinge portion 20b.
It has in the place. The rotation of the jog dial 7 causes the pressing projection 2 to move as shown in FIGS.
3, when the inclined projection 21 is pressed, the flexible piece 20 first bends with the first hinge portion 20a as a fulcrum. In this state, when the inclined projection 21 is further pressed by the pressing projection 23, the same figure (C). As shown in FIG.
The button portion 22 at the tip presses the operation portion 18a of the tact switch 18 while bending the hinge portion 20b as a fulcrum.

As described above, the flexible piece 20 is connected to the first hinge 2
With the structure in which the tact switch 18 is depressed by bending at the two positions of the second hinge portion 20a and the second hinge portion 20b, the variation in the interval between the tact switch 18 and the flexible piece 20 can be effectively absorbed.

That is, in the manufacture of the equipment, the mounting height of the tact switch 18 on the substrate 19 is slightly different for each equipment, so that the interval between the tact switch 18 and the flexible piece 20 varies. , As described above,
With the flexible hinges at the locations, the tactile switch 18 can be reliably pressed even if there is some variation in the distance between the tactile switch 18 and the flexible piece 20, and a stable operational feeling is realized. You can do it.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the operation by the rotation operation of the jog dial is not limited to fast-forwarding / rewinding a compact disc, a tape cassette, a tuner, etc. in audio equipment,
In addition, the present invention can be widely applied to selection of a source / function of an audio device, selection of a menu on a screen of a computer device, selection of YES / NO, and the like. Further, the rotary operation mechanism according to the present invention may be used at a plurality of locations, and may be applied to a controller of a home-use game machine, a radio control device, or the like. Further, the number of tact switches can be further increased, and a structure in which many different operations are performed depending on the rotation angle of the jog dial can be adopted.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the rotation operation mechanism of the present invention uses an inexpensive tact switch for detecting the rotation of the rotation operation member (jog dial) and is simple in structure, so that it is manufactured at low cost. This is highly effective in reducing the price of the device. Further, in this rotation operation mechanism, the flexible hinge of the flexible piece is connected to the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion.
Are provided at the two positions of the hinge part, so that even if there is a slight variation in the interval between the tact switch and the flexible piece, this can be absorbed, and the tact switch can be reliably pressed and operated, and a stable operation feeling can be obtained. There is an effect that can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an electronic device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary operation mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part in a partial cross section.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part in a partial cross section.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the main part.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the jog dial.

FIG. 8 is a view of the same as viewed from the back side of the jog dial.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a pressing operation of the tact switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 audio equipment (electronic equipment), 7 jog dial (rotary operation member), 18 tact switch, 20
{Flexible piece, 20a} first hinge part, 20b {second hinge part, 21} inclined projection, 22} button part,
23 ‥‥ pushing protrusion

Claims (2)

[Claims] A rotary operation member rotatably attached to a housing of the electronic device; a tact switch provided inside the electronic device; and a tact switch provided between the rotary operation member and the tact switch. A flexible piece that is depressed by the rotary operating member during the rotary operation of the rotary operating member and that flexes in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation direction of the rotary operating member. A rotating operation mechanism in the electronic device, wherein the flexible piece is bent so that the tact switch is pressed by the flexible piece. 2. The flexible piece has a first hinge at a base thereof, and a second hinge between a portion pressed by the rotary operating member and a portion pressing the tact switch. The rotation operation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rotation operation mechanism is provided.