JP2002278695A - Multi-directional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an analog output according to the inclining direction and angle of a lever. SOLUTION: The four sets of contact electrodes respectively constituted of a pair of electrodes are formed on a substrate 21 with 90 deg. intervals on one and the same circumference, and pressure sensitive conductive rubber 47 are respectively arranged on those respective contact electrodes. According to the inclining operation of a lever 38, the pressure sensitive conductive rubber 47 in the inclining direction is pressurized and compressed with a spacer 48 interposed by an inclining key top 41. The internal resistance of the pressure sensitive conductive rubber 47 is reduced according as the pressure sensitive conductive rubber 47 is compressed so that the resistance value between terminals 28 connected to a pair of electrodes of the contact electrodes can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device used for a positioning operation on a display screen, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional multi-directional input device used for such an application, a multi-directional tilt lever is provided.
There is a device configured to turn on a switch contact in an operation direction by operating the lever. This type of device is called a joystick, and FIG. 16 shows a schematic external configuration thereof. The multidirectional input device (joystick) includes a case 11, a switch board 12 attached to the lower surface of the case 11, and a lever 13 protruding from the upper surface of the case 11.
A member that tilts integrally with the lever 13 is housed therein so as to be tiltable.

When the lever 13 is tilted in the X direction, for example,
For example, X, Y, −X, and X are provided on the switch substrate 12.
The X-direction switch contact of the four Y-direction switch contacts is pressed and turned on. Also, set the lever 13 to Z
Direction, that is, in the axial direction, the switch substrate 12
The center switch contact provided at the center of the switch is pressed and turned on. Such a pushing operation of the lever 13 in the Z direction sets (selects) a predetermined position by tilting the lever 13.
After that, it is used, for example, as an input for determining it.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional multidirectional input device, a predetermined switch contact is turned on by operating a lever, that is, a plurality of switch contacts are turned on and off as a digital output. For example, an analog output corresponding to the operation angle (tilt angle) of the lever cannot be obtained. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device that can obtain an analog output according to the direction and angle by tilting a lever.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device which has a simple structure and can be configured to be small and thin.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a box-shaped resin body whose one side is open is arranged on the same circumference on the bottom surface of the box at 90 ° intervals. , Four sets of contact electrodes each consisting of a pair of electrodes adjacent to each other, a fixed resistor for comparison disposed on the bottom surface, a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber disposed on each contact electrode, and Elastic spacers respectively arranged on the body, a cover that covers one surface of the body and forms an opening in the center of the one surface, a shaft portion located in the opening, and a base that forms a flange shape with respect to the shaft portion. And a key top whose base is mounted on the four spacers and whose shaft is biased in a direction protruding from the opening.
As the key top is tilted, the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is pressed via the spacer, and the resistance between the pair of electrodes changes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a guide forming four substantially circular guide portions facing each contact electrode between the side wall of the body and the guide is formed integrally with the body, and the pressure-sensitive conductive material is formed. Rubber is located on each guide. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a center contact electrode composed of a pair of electrodes is disposed at the center of the circumference on the bottom surface, and a disc spring-shaped snap plate is disposed on the center contact electrode. A lever having one end abutting on the snap plate and the other end protruding outside is locked and engaged with a through hole formed in the axis of the key top in a direction protruding from the shaft portion, and is engaged in the axial direction of the lever. By pressing, the snap plate is inverted, and the pair of central contact electrodes is made conductive.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, a guide hole having a central contact electrode is provided, and four substantially circular guide portions are provided between the contact hole and the side wall of the body. The guide is integrally formed with the body, the snap plate is located in the guide hole, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is located in each guide. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the electrodes and the terminals derived from the electrodes are integrally formed by pressing a metal plate, and the body is integrally formed with the electrodes and the terminals. You.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the plate has a central hole through which the shaft portion is inserted, and a plate spring having a disc spring shape is formed to project downward. Is mounted between the upper end surface of the body side wall and the cover, and the base is urged by the inner peripheral portion of the leaf spring in a direction of pressing the spacer. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber has a disk shape. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the surface of the spacer facing the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is spherical.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external shape of an embodiment of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a sectional structure thereof. FIGS. 3 to 12 show the respective components.
The structure of each part will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Shows a substrate 21 on which a required electrode pattern is formed. In this example, a central contact electrode 22 is patterned at the center of the substantially rectangular substrate 21, and a circle surrounding the central contact electrode 22 is formed. The four contact electrodes 23 are pattern-formed at 90 ° intervals, that is, at equidistant positions on two orthogonal axes about the center contact electrode 22.

The center contact electrode 22 has a pair of electrodes 22a and 22a.
2b, the electrode 22a has a circular pattern, and the electrode 22b has a donut-shaped pattern surrounding the electrode 22a. The electrode 22b is partially cut away, and the lead pattern 24 drawn from the electrode 22a is cut out.
a is led out to the peripheral portion of the substrate 21 through the cutout portion, and the lead pattern 24b drawn out of the electrode 22b.
Are also led out to the periphery. Four contact electrodes 23
Is constituted by a pair of parallel electrodes 23a and 23b which are adjacent to each other at a predetermined distance from each other.
a is connected to the common lead pattern 24c. The other electrode 23b has lead patterns 24d to 24d, respectively.
g, and these lead patterns 24c to 2c
4 g are respectively drawn to the peripheral portion of the substrate 21.
In the drawing, reference numeral 25 denotes a patterned fixed resistor for comparison. The fixed resistor 25 has one end connected to the common lead pattern 24c and the other end connected to a lead pattern drawn out to the peripheral portion of the substrate 21. 24h.

The center contact electrode 22, each contact electrode 23, and each lead pattern 24a to 24h are formed by printing using, for example, copper paste or silver paste, and the fixed resistor 25 is formed by printing, for example, using carbon paste. In the drawing, an insulated resist or the like is applied to a dotted portion, and the surface is insulated. Also, the center contact electrode 2
A low-resistance carbon paste is printed and applied on the surface 2 as appropriate. The material of the substrate 21 is paper phenol or glass epoxy resin having excellent heat resistance. In addition, PEI (polyetherimide), PET (polyester), or PPS
A heat-resistant film such as a resin may be used.

The terminals are positioned and arranged with respect to the substrate 21 having the above configuration, and the substrate 21, the terminals, and the body are integrally formed. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the integrally formed body 27 is viewed from the lower surface (bottom surface) side. In the drawing, 28 indicates a terminal, and 29 indicates a terminal carrier. Numeral 31 indicates a hole formed at the place where the holding pin was arranged at the time of molding. FIG. 5 shows the state of FIG. 4 in which each terminal 28 is cut into a predetermined position, that is, the terminal carrier 29 is cut.
Indicates a state in which it has been cut and removed. Each terminal 28
Are located on the substrate 21 and are connected to the lead patterns 24a to 24h by pressing.

The other end of each terminal 28 projecting from the periphery of the body 27 is led out in this example to be flush with the lower surface of the body 27. Therefore, each terminal 28 is shown in FIG. It is folded as if. The terminal 28 is made of, for example, steel and plated with Sn. Next, the structure of the body 27 will be described with reference to FIG. The body 27 has a box shape with one side open, and the substrate 21 is located on the bottom surface in the box. The guide 32 located on the substrate 21 is formed integrally with the body 27 and has a guide hole 33 at the center thereof.
Are formed, and the substrate 21 is inserted through the guide holes 33.
Center contact electrode 22 faces the outside.

On the other hand, a substantially semicircular notch 34 is formed in each intermediate portion of the four sides around the guide 32, and a substantially semicircular notch 34 is formed on each side wall of the body 27 facing the notch 34. A substantially circular guide portion 36 together with the notch 35
Is constituted. Each contact electrode 2 of the substrate 21
3 are located in these guide portions 36 and are exposed.
Note that the fixed resistor 25 is also exposed. The guide 32 is integrally formed with the body 27 by flowing the molding resin through a hole 37 provided in the substrate 21. The resin used is, for example, PPS resin or nylon.

FIG. 6 shows an operating lever 38. The lever 38 has a prismatic shape as shown in the figure, and a rectangular plate portion 38a is formed at one end of the lever 38 so as to protrude like a flange. Further, a projection 38 having a spherical tip surface at the tip thereof.
b. The lever 38 is made of a resin such as nylon, for example. In addition, it can also be made of metal. FIG. 7 shows a key top 41 engaged with the lever 38.
It is shown. The key top 41 has a shaft portion 41a,
A base portion 41b is formed in a flange shape with respect to the shaft portion 41a, and a side surface on the shaft portion 41a side has a substantially conical surface shape, and a through hole 42 is formed in the axis thereof.

The through hole 42 is sized to allow the lever 38 to pass therethrough, and has a recess 42a at the end on the base 41b side for engaging with the square plate 38a of the lever 38. The base 41b has a substantially square outer shape as shown in the figure, and further includes a semicircular protruding portion 41c at an intermediate portion of each side. Key top 41
Is made of a resin such as nylon. FIG. 8 shows the body 2
7 is a cover 43 that covers one surface of the cover 7. The cover 43 has a circular opening 44 in the center thereof, and four locking pieces 46 having locking holes 45 formed in the periphery thereof are bent. It is formed and provided. The cover 43 is formed of, for example, a stainless plate.

FIG. 9 shows the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 arranged on each contact electrode 23. The pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 has a characteristic that the internal resistance is reduced by being compressed under pressure, and is made of, for example, silicone rubber filled with carbon powder. The pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is formed, for example, by punching a sheet material into a round shape, and has a disk shape. FIG. 10 shows a spacer 48 disposed on the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47. The spacer 48 has a circular shape similarly to the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47, and has a convex surface 48a having one surface protruding in a spherical shape. It has been. This spacer 4
Numeral 8 is made of, for example, silicone rubber and has required elasticity.

FIG. 11 shows a disc spring-shaped snap plate 49 disposed on the center contact electrode 22.
FIG. 12 shows a disc spring-like leaf spring 51 used between the upper end surface of the side wall of the body 27 and the cover 43. The leaf spring 51 has a central hole 52. These snap plate 49 and leaf spring 5
1 is made of stainless steel. Next, the assembly of these components will be described. Snap plate 4
9 is arranged on the center contact electrode 22 as a convex upward, and a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is placed on each contact electrode 23 by a pair of electrodes 23a, 2a.
3b. The snap plate 49 is housed and held in the guide hole 33 as shown in FIG. 2, and each pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is positioned and held by the guide portion 36.

The lever 38 is inserted into the through hole 42 of the key top 41.
Pass through. The square plate portion 38a of the lever 38 has a key top 4
The lever 38 is engaged with the concave portion 42a formed in the key top 41, thereby preventing the lever 38 from coming off in the direction protruding from the shaft portion 41a of the key top 41, and preventing rotation about the axis. As shown in FIG. 2, a spacer 48 is placed on each pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 with its convex surface 48a facing the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47, and the key top 41 and the lever 38 are attached to the body 27.
The cover 43 is attached to the body 27. Cover 43
And the body 27 are fixed by the four locking pieces 46 of the cover 43.
Of the body 27 is formed in the outer surface of the body 27.
This is performed by engaging the two projections 53 respectively. At this time, the plate spring 51 is fixed by being sandwiched between the upper end surface of the side wall of the body 27 and the cover 43 at four locations on the outer peripheral portion.

The key top 41 has a base portion 41b on which a protruding portion 41c is formed is mounted on a spacer 48, and the shaft portion 41a is inserted through the central hole 52 of the leaf spring 51 to the opening 44 of the cover 43. Is located. Leaf spring 51
2 is in elastic contact with the base 41b of the key top 41 as shown in FIG.
The spacer 48 and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 are urged in the direction of pressing the spacer 48 and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47.
7, the shaft portion 41a is opened by the elastic restoring force.
4 is projected in a direction to protrude from, that is, a state of receiving a reaction force.

The lever 38 has a protrusion 38b at one end thereof.
Is in contact with the snap plate 49, and the other end protrudes from the shaft portion 41 a of the key top 41, that is, is in a state of protruding upright on the cover 43. In the multidirectional input device having the above structure, when the lever 38 is tilted,
The key top 41 is tilted together with the lever 38, whereby the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is pressed via the spacer 48 and compressed. Since the internal resistance of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is reduced by this compression, the resistance value between the pair of electrodes 23a and 23b that are conducted through the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 is reduced, that is, the contact electrode 23 is connected. The resistance value between the terminals 28 decreases with the increase of the compression pressure.

Therefore, according to the multidirectional input device, an analog output corresponding to the tilting direction and the tilting angle of the lever 38 can be obtained. The spacer 48 is provided to prevent the pressing force from being directly applied to the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 from the key top 41. That is, the spacer 48 is not a rigid body such as the key top 41 but such an elastic body. By pressing the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 with the spacer 48 made of, it is possible to disperse the stress on the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber 47 and prevent its deterioration.

On the other hand, when the lever 38 is pressed in the axial direction, the snap plate 49 is pressed and inverted, whereby the pair of electrodes 22a and 22b of the center contact electrode 22 are turned on and turned on. When the pressing is released, the snap plate 49 returns to the original state.
Becomes OFF. FIG. 13 shows an equivalent circuit of the multidirectional input device operating in this manner. In the figure, reference numerals 1 to 8 denote Nos. Assigned to the terminals 28 (see FIG. 5). The output between the terminals 2 and 4 to which the fixed resistor 25 is connected is used for detecting the voltage ratio output, so that even if the resistance value fluctuates due to a temperature change, it is not affected. It has become.

In the above example, the key top 41 and the cover 4
3, the key top 41 is pressed by the leaf spring 51, but a configuration without the leaf spring 51, for example, is also possible. In this case, the key top 41 is urged by the elastic restoring force of the four pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers 47 and the four spacers 48 in a direction in which the shaft portion 41a protrudes from the opening 44, whereby the lever 38 is set to the neutral point, that is, The lever 38 is returned and maintained to be perpendicular to the cover 43. By providing the leaf spring 51 as in this example, it is possible to reliably return the lever 38 to the neutral point (origin). The return characteristic can be improved, and a good operation feeling of the lever 38 can be obtained.

As shown in this example, the body 27 and the substrate 2
1 is made of a heat-resistant material, and the terminals 28 are led out flush with the lower surface of the body 27, so that, for example, automatic mounting can be performed on a mating printed circuit board on which the multidirectional input device is mounted, and reflow soldering is performed. Mounting can be easily performed. FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the center contact electrodes 22 and 4 are used.
The two contact electrodes 23 and the lead patterns 24a to 24h are not formed on the substrate 21 by printing, but are formed integrally with the terminals 28 by pressing a metal plate. That is, the configuration without the substrate 21 is adopted. Things.

The integrally formed electrodes 22a, 22b, 23
The terminals a and 23b and the terminal 28 are integrally formed with the body 27, and the electrodes 22a, 22b, 23a and 23b are buried in the bottom surface of the body 27 in the box. The fixed resistor 25
Although not shown in the figure, it may be formed by printing after the molding of the body 27, or a chip resistor may be mounted between electrodes integrally formed with the terminal 28.
If the contact electrode and the terminal are formed by using an integrated press material without using the substrate in this way, the configuration can be made inexpensively, and the work of connecting the terminal to the substrate becomes unnecessary. Therefore, problems such as the reliability of these joints do not occur.

FIG. 15 shows an ON-state of the configuration shown in FIG.
This is a configuration without an OFF switch (center push switch), and a multidirectional input device of such a form is used depending on the application. In this example, the center contact electrode 2
2. There is no snap plate 49 and no guide hole 33 for accommodating it. Further, since it is not necessary to make the key top 41 and the lever 38 independent of each other, as shown in the figure, for example, the lever 41d may be formed integrally with the shaft portion 41a of the key top 41 as an extension.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, by tilting the keytop with the lever provided on the keytop, an analog output corresponding to the tilting direction and the tilting angle can be obtained. Further, the structure is simple, and it is easy to reduce the size and thickness. In addition,
Analog detection of the tilt direction and tilt angle of the key top uses the change in the resistance of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber.However, by providing a fixed resistor for comparison, the resistance changes due to temperature changes. However, it is not affected by that.

Further, in the third aspect of the present invention, a center push switch is provided in addition to the analog input in four directions, and the switch can be turned on and off by pressing the lever in the axial direction. Can be used as a function. Moreover, in the invention of claim 5, the electrode and the terminal are formed integrally by pressing a metal plate, that is, the electrode and the terminal are constituted by an integrated press material. Obtainable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 3; FIG.
Is its front view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the substrate in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a molded state of a body.

5A is a plan view of the body in FIG. 2 which is completed by being integrally formed with a substrate and terminals, FIG. 5B is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged sectional view thereof.

6A is a plan view of the lever in FIG. 2, B is a front view thereof, C is a bottom view thereof, and D is an EE sectional view.

7A is a plan view of the key top in FIG. 2, B is a front view thereof, and C is a sectional view thereof.

8A is a plan view of a cover in FIG. 2, and FIG.

9A is a front view of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber in FIG. 2, and FIG. 9B is a bottom view thereof.

10A is a front view of the spacer in FIG. 2, and FIG.

11A is a cross-sectional view of the snap plate shown in FIG. 2, and FIG.

12A is a plan view of the leaf spring in FIG. 2, and FIG.

FIG. 13 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the multidirectional input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 5;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 1;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a conventional multidirectional input device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01H 11/00 H01H 11/00 P 5G023 11/04 11/04 C 5G051 13/00 13/00 C 25 / 04 25/04 DF term (reference) 3J034 AA02 BA08 CA03 3J070 AA04 BA90 CD16 CD36 DA61 EA11 5B087 AA06 BC02 BC12 BC13 BC19 BC33 DD03 5E030 BA29 CA04 CB01 GA01 5G006 AA07 AB25 AZ08 BA02 CD02 DB03 CA05 A05CA05 AC14 AC20

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A box-shaped resin body having one open side, and four pairs of adjacent pairs of electrodes disposed on the bottom surface of the body at an interval of 90 ° on the same circumference. A contact electrode, a comparative fixed resistor disposed on the bottom surface, a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber disposed on each of the contact electrodes, and an elastic spacer disposed on each of the pressure-sensitive conductive rubbers, A cover that covers one surface of the body and forms an opening at the center of the one surface; a shaft located at the opening; and a base that forms a flange with respect to the shaft. A key top mounted on the two spacers and biased in a direction in which the shaft portion protrudes from the opening, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is pressed via the spacer as the key top tilts. Being the above pair A multi-directional input device having a structure in which a resistance value between the electrodes changes. 2. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, wherein guides forming four substantially circular guide portions facing the contact electrodes between the side walls of the body are formed integrally with the body. A multidirectional input device, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is located in each of the guide portions. 3. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein a central contact electrode comprising a pair of electrodes is disposed at the center of the circumference on the bottom surface, and a disc spring-shaped snap plate is provided on the central contact electrode. A lever having one end abutting on the snap plate and the other end protruding to the outside is engaged with a through hole formed in the shaft center of the key top in a direction protruding from the shaft portion. The multi-directional input device, wherein the snap plate is inverted by the axial pressing of the lever, and the pair of electrodes of the central contact electrode is conducted. 4. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, further comprising a guide hole through which said central contact electrode faces, and four substantially circular guides each of said contact electrodes facing between said side wall of said body. A multi-directional input device, wherein a guide forming a part is integrally formed with the body, the snap plate is located in the guide hole, and the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is located in each of the guide parts. 5. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes and the terminals derived from the electrodes are integrally formed by pressing a metal plate, and the body is formed of the electrodes and the terminals. A multi-directional input device, which is integrally formed with the multi-directional input device. 6. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, further comprising a central hole through which said shaft portion is inserted, wherein a plate spring having a disc spring shape is formed to be convex downward, and an outer peripheral portion thereof. Is mounted between the upper end surface of the body side wall and the cover, and the base is urged by an inner peripheral portion of the leaf spring in a direction of pressing the spacer. . 7. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive rubber has a disk shape. 8. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said spacer facing said pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is spherical.