JP2003280799A - Information input device and electronic equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a click sensation in rotationally operating a rotation body, without contact between the rotating body side and the fixed side in a multifunctional switch (an information input device) for detecting the rotation of the rotation body by the output change of a Hall element for detecting the magnetic field based on the magnetic poles of a rotation detecting magnetic substance provided at the rotation body. <P>SOLUTION: The fixed (base 120) side is provided with a click sensation generating magnetic substance 142 with a plurality of magnetic poles magnetized to magnetically interact with the magnetic poles of a rotation detecting magnetic substance 152 provided at the rotation body (an operating dial) 154, while being reverse to each other in the direction of the line of magnetic force. The magnetic poles of the click sensation generating magnetic substance 142 are alternately arranged in the same pitch P as the arranged angle pitch P of the magnetic poles of the rotation detecting magnetic substance 152. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device, and more particularly to an information input device capable of inputting by operating a disc-shaped (disk-shaped) rotating body, and electronic equipment using the same.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The applicant company specializes in making an information input device thinner, thereby making electronic devices using the information input device thinner, for example, mobile communication terminal devices such as mobile phones. The application 2002-26244 proposes an information input device and an electronic device using the same.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of such an information input device, the outline of which will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a substantially disk-shaped base made of resin, for example, and a cylindrical portion 4 is integrally formed at a position closer to the inner side of one side of the disk. Reference numeral 6 denotes a click feeling protrusion, which has a dome shape and is integrally formed on the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 4, and is loosely fitted into a click feeling concave portion formed on the lower surface of the operation dial described later to perform the operation. It plays the role of generating a click feeling when rotating the dial.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an annular portion projecting outward at the upper end of the tubular portion 4, and an operation dial mounting groove 10 is formed between the annular portion 4 and the peripheral portion of the base 2. Reference numeral 12 is an FPC board insertion slit provided on the inner side of the tubular portion 4 of the base 2, and is a flexible printed wiring board (F
The signal extraction part of the PC board) is passed through.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as "FPC board") assembled to the base 2.
In addition, a signal take-out portion 22 integrally projecting outward is provided in a part of the disc-shaped main portion. Then, the signal extracting unit 22
Through the FPC plate layer through slit 12 of the base 2 so as to project from the base 2 to the outside, and the disc-shaped main portion of the FPC plate 20 is positioned inside the tubular portion 4 of the base 2. , The base 2 and the main part of the FPC board 20 are bonded and integrated.

Denoted by 26, 26, ... are tact switches provided on the back surface of the FPC board 20 and are composed of a reversing spring 28 and a switch element (not shown) provided in the reversing spring 28. Each terminal is connected to the wiring film of the FPC board 20. One tact switch 26 is provided for confirmation in the central portion (this central tact switch is designated as 26o), and four tact switches are provided for scrolling left / right and up / down at 90 ° intervals in the peripheral portion thereof. There is.

Reference numeral 30 designates a Hall IC, and generally two Hall ICs are provided, and only one Hall IC 30 appears in FIG. Each of the two Hall ICs has a Hall element built therein and is provided on the upper surface of the FPC board 20 in a predetermined positional relationship. Three
A dustproof sheet 2 protects the surface of the FPC board 20, including the surfaces of the tact switches 26, 26, ... And the Hall ICs 30a, 30b arranged on the surface.

Reference numerals 34, 34, ... Depict click feeling projections provided on the back surface of the dustproof sheet 32 so as to correspond to the tact switches 26, 26 ,. A click feeling is generated when the tact switch 26 is turned on, and an operating force applied by pushing an operation dial described later is applied to the protrusion 3
4 to effectively transmit the tact switch 26 to the tact switch 26 so that the tact switch 26 can be operated reliably. The click feeling protrusions 34, 34, ...
The dustproof sheet 32 is attached on the surface of the circular main portion of the FPC board 20 so as to be located on the top of the reversing spring 28 of the corresponding tact switches 26 ,.

Reference numeral 36 denotes an operation dial (rotating body), which is made of, for example, resin, has a disk shape, and has a central hole 38. The lower portion of the central hole 38 has a larger diameter than the upper portion. A downward engaging step portion 40 is formed.
The engagement step portion 40 is for engaging with a lower collar portion of the button described later to prevent the button from coming off the operation dial 36.

Reference numeral 42 is a magnet housing groove formed in a ring shape on the lower surface of the operation dial 36, and a donut-shaped magnet 44 is fitted and fixed in the magnet housing groove 42. The magnet 44 is formed by arranging a set of an S pole and an N pole adjacent thereto at a constant angular pitch.

Reference numeral 46 denotes an engaging portion which is formed integrally with the peripheral portion of the operation dial 36, and which extends outward from the upper portion of the peripheral portion of the operation dial 36, and extends downward from the outer end portion of the portion 48. The skirt-shaped portion 50 and the engagement piece 52 protruding inward from the lower end portion of the skirt-shaped portion 50 form a space 54 in which the upper annular portion 6 of the base 2 is accommodated in the engagement portion 46. Reference numeral 56 denotes an opening extending downward from the space 54, the annular portion 6 of the base 2 is inserted through the opening 56, and the annular portion 6 and the engaging piece 52 of the operation dial 36 are engaged with each other. The engagement prevents the operation dial 36 from coming off the base 2, and the base 2 keeps the operation dial 36 rotatably held.

Reference numerals 58, 58, ... Show click feeling projections 6, 6, formed on the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 4 of the base 2.
.. are loosely fitted click feeling grooves arranged at a constant angular pitch, and when the operation dial 36 is rotated, the click feeling protrusions 6, 6, ... By moving 58, ... while loosely fitting, a click feeling is generated each time the fixed angle (rotated by the angle pitch) is rotated. Numerals 60, 60, ... Are radial grooves formed on the upper surface of the operation dial 36. In order to make the upper surface of the operation dial 36 uneven and to transmit the rotary operation force by a finger or the like effectively to the operation dial 36. It was formed.

62 is a button (central switch pusher),
It has a collar-shaped portion 64 in its lower portion and is inserted into the center hole 38 of the operation dial 36 from below, and is engaged with the engagement step portion 40 in the lower portion of the center hole 38 by the collar-shaped portion 64. There is.
The operation dial 36 is attached to the base 2 after inserting the button 62 into the center hole 38 of the operation dial 36.

In such an information input device, when the operation dial 36 is rotated, the Hall IC 30 outputs
One cycle (: λ) of output is generated each time the set pitch of the set of N poles and S poles is rotated. Therefore, by counting the number of output cycles, the operation dial 36
The rotation amount of can be detected in units of the above arrangement pitch. Further, there are two Hall ICs 30, and the two Hall ICs are positioned so as to be located at positions deviating from each other by an integer multiple of the arrangement angular pitch of the set of the S pole and the N pole of the magnet 42. Therefore, the rotation direction of the rotating body can be detected from the phase relationship of the output waveform of the Hall element.

As described above, according to the present information input device, the rotation of the operation dial 36 can be detected in a non-contact manner even in the rotation direction, and it can be said that the detection reliability is high. Further, in such an information input device, the click feeling groove 58 in which the click feeling protrusion 6 formed on the upper surface of the tubular portion 4 of the base 2 is loosely fitted to the operation dial 36.
Are provided at a constant angle pitch, and when the operation dial 36 is rotated, the click feeling protrusion 6 advances while loosely fitting in the click feeling groove 58. Therefore,
The click feeling is generated every time the operation dial 36 is rotated by the angular pitch of the arrangement of the click feeling groove 58.

[0016]

However, the above-mentioned information input device has the following problems. First, in the information input device, the magnet 44 provided on the operation dial 36 is located above the Hall IC 30 on the base 2 side, in other words, the magnet 44 and the Hall IC 30.
Since the above is arranged vertically, there is a problem that the thinning of the information input device is restricted. This problem cannot be overlooked because the demand for thinner information input devices is increasing.

Secondly, in order to generate a click feeling when the operation dial 36 is rotated, a base 2 having an appropriate number of protrusions 6 and a large number of click feeling grooves 58 as the operation dial 36 are formed at a constant angular pitch. The formed products must be prepared separately, the shapes of the members to be used are complicated, and the dimensional accuracy is required to be high, which causes a problem of high manufacturing cost. Also,
The click feeling when rotating the operation dial 36 is
By loosely fitting the projection 6 in the click feeling groove 58,
That is, it is obtained by contact. Therefore, there is a problem that the click feeling tends to vary, and the projection 6 or the click feeling groove 58 is worn by use, the strength of the click feeling is changed, and the click feeling is gradually reduced. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and one object thereof is to detect the rotation of a rotating body by means of a Hall element to detect a change in magnetic field due to magnetic poles provided on the rotating body. In the information input device, it is intended to make the device thinner, and further, to make it possible to thin an electronic device using such an information input device, such as a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, and the like. The object of the present invention is to make it possible to generate a click feeling when rotating the rotating body without contacting the rotating body side and the fixed side, that is, in a non-contact manner.

[0019]

An information input device according to claim 1 has at least a rotating body and a Hall element, and the rotating body has a set of magnetic poles magnetized so that their polarities are opposite to each other. Are arranged at a constant angle pitch along the circumference of a circle centered on the center of rotation of the rotating body, and the Hall element is arranged inside or outside of the rotation detecting magnetic body to rotate the rotation. It is characterized in that it is provided so as to detect the strength of the magnetic field due to the magnetic poles passing by the rotation of the body.

Therefore, according to the information input device of the first aspect, when the rotating body rotates, it acts on the Hall element.
Since the magnetic force generated by the magnetic poles provided on the rotating body changes in accordance with the rotation, the amount of rotation and the like can be detected by detecting the output of the Hall element. In particular,
If the rotating body is twice the pitch P of the magnetic poles, Q (= 2
P) The number of pulses of the output pulse (the number of cycles) is because one cycle of the output pulse is generated from the Hall element every time the rotation is made by P).
The amount of rotation of the rotating body can be detected by counting. Since the hall element is provided outside or inside the rotation detecting magnetic body, not outside or below, the thickness of the information input device can be reduced.

An information input device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes at least a rotating body, a hall element, and a click feeling magnetic body, and the rotating body is magnetized so that the directions of magnetic force lines are opposite to each other. A plurality of magnetic poles alternately arranged, the magnetic body for rotation detection arranged at a pitch of a constant angle along the circumference of a circle having the center of rotation of the rotor as a center, and the Hall element includes a set of the magnetic poles. Is provided inside or outside of the arrangement portion for detecting the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic poles which is rotated by the rotation of the rotating body, and the click feeling generating magnetic body is provided on the rotating body. A plurality of magnetic poles, which can magnetically interact with each other with the magnetic poles of the rotation detecting magnetic body and are magnetized so that the directions of the magnetic force lines are opposite to each other, are arranged at the same angle pitch as the above angle. It is characterized by

Therefore, according to the information input device of the second aspect, at least the rotation amount can be detected from the output of the hall element, and the hall element is placed on the magnetic substance for rotation detection, similarly to the information input device of the first aspect. Alternatively, since it is provided outside or inside rather than below, not only can the thickness of the information input device be reduced, but when the rotating body is rotated,
The click feeling can be generated by the magnetic interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body provided on the rotating body and the click feeling generating magnetic body.

That is, the magnetic pole of the magnetic material for generating the click feeling is
Arranged at the same angular pitch as the magnetic pole of the rotation detecting magnetic body,
Since they can magnetically interact with the magnetic poles, specifically, repulsive force is generated when magnetic poles of the same polarity come close to each other, and attraction force is generated when magnetic poles of different polarities come close together. A click feeling is generated every time the movement is twice the pitch. Specifically, when a magnetic pole having the same polarity approaches the magnetic pole of the click feeling generating magnetic material, it tries to move it away, and when it passes and a different magnetic pole approaches, it tries to bring it closer, and when it approaches, it tries to maintain that state. Since a force is generated, it is possible to obtain a click feeling in units of Q that is twice the arrangement pitch P of the magnetic poles (the arrangement pitch of a combination of two adjacent magnetic poles having different polarities).

An information input device according to a third aspect is the information input device according to the second aspect, wherein the magnetic material for generating a click feeling is
It is characterized in that it is arranged outside or inside the rotation detecting magnetic body. Therefore, according to the information input device of claim 3, since the click feeling generating magnetic body is arranged inside or outside the rotation detecting magnetic body, it is necessary to provide the click feeling generating magnetic body. It is possible to prevent the input device from becoming thick. Further, there is an effect that the operation of the rotating body can be made relatively light. That is, if the rotation detecting magnetic material and the click feeling generating magnetic material are arranged vertically, the click feeling generating magnetic material is basically fixed on the fixed side (for example, the base). Since the magnetic body is fixed to the rotating body and the rotating body is attached so as to be rotatable with respect to the fixed side (for example, the base), the magnetic property of the click feeling generating magnetic body and the rotation detecting magnetic body is increased. Due to the interaction, a magnetic attraction force acts in such a direction that the rotating body sticks to the fixed side, which becomes a factor that makes the operation of the rotating body heavy. However, according to the information input device, since the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body are arranged so that one is located outside the other, the rotating body is fixed. There is no fear that a magnetic attraction force in the direction of sticking to the side will act, and there is no fear that the operation of the rotating body will become heavy.

The information input device according to claim 4 is the information input device according to claims 1 and 2.
Or, in the information input device according to 3, the central switch pusher provided at the center of rotation of the rotating body, and the state between ON and OFF or between ON and OFF when the central switch pusher is operated. It is characterized by having a switch that changes. Therefore, according to the information input device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to determine the input by the rotation operation of the rotating body by driving the switch by operating the central switch pressing element.

The information input device of claim 5 is the information input device of claim 1,
The information input device according to 2, 3 or 4 is provided with a plurality of switches for turning on or off or changing a state between on and off when a portion of the rotating body separated from a rotation center is pushed. It is characterized by Therefore, according to the information input device of the fifth aspect, it is possible to perform an input by operating the switch by pushing a portion of the rotating body which is separated from the center of rotation.

In the information input device according to the second aspect, when the switch is provided, the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body are arranged not on the upper and lower sides but on the outside of the other side. Since it has a structure, there is no risk of magnetic attraction in the direction in which such a rotating body sticks to the fixed side, and in turn there is no risk of excessive pressure being applied to the switch by such attraction. . That is, as described above, when the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body are arranged vertically, the magnetic attraction force acts in such a direction that the rotating body sticks to the fixed side. Therefore, if there is a switch, there is a risk that extra pressure will be applied to the switch due to the suction force. However, in the information input device according to claim 2, the information input device provided with the switch will rotate. Since the magnetic material for detection and the magnetic material for generating click feeling are not arranged above and below, there is no risk of applying extra pressure to such a switch.

The information input device according to claim 6 is the information input device according to claim 1,
In the information input device described in 2, 3, 4 or 5, the number of the hall elements is plural, and the positions of the plurality of hall elements are separated from each other by an integer multiple of twice the arrangement pitch of the magnetic poles. The rotation direction of the rotating body is detected from the phase relationship of the output waveforms of the plurality of Hall elements. Therefore, claim 6
According to the information input device, the rotation amount of the rotating body can be detected by the output of any one of the plurality of Hall elements as described above, and the rotation direction can be detected by the phase relationship of the outputs of the plurality of Hall elements. can do.

The information input device according to claim 7 is the information input device according to claim 1,
In the information input device of 2, 3, 4 or 5, the output waveform of the Hall element generated by the rotation of the rotating body has a sawtooth shape,
The rotation direction is detected based on the magnitude relationship between the time required to change the reference value of the output waveform to the peak value and the time required to change the peak value to the reference value.

Therefore, according to the information input device of the seventh aspect, the portion from the reference value to the peak value of the sawtooth output waveform of the Hall element in the same rotation direction and the portion from the peak value to the reference value are the same. Since the slopes are different, the magnitude relationship between the time required to change from the reference value to the peak value and the time required to change from the peak value to the reference value is different. Therefore, the rotation direction of the rotating body can be detected from the magnitude relation. Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the rotation amount but also the rotation direction even if there is only one Hall element.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, any one of the information input devices according to the first to seventh aspects is mounted such that the entire upper surface of the rotating body is exposed so that it can be operated at least from the outside. It is characterized by Therefore, according to the electronic device of the eighth aspect, the advantages of the information input device used among the information input devices of the first to seventh aspects can be utilized in the electronic device.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The information input device of the present invention basically comprises a rotating body, a rotation detecting magnetic body provided on the rotating body, and the rotation detecting means which passes therethrough by the rotation of the rotating body. A Hall element that detects the strength of the magnetic field due to the magnetic poles of the magnetic material for use in the magnetic field, and the Hall element is arranged outside or inside the magnetic material for rotation detection. It is preferable that a click feeling be generated when the rotating body is rotated by a magnetic interaction with the rotation detecting magnetic body. In that case, the click feeling generating magnetic body is provided outside or inside the rotation detecting magnetic body,
In order to make the information input device thinner, it is preferable to generate the click feeling by the magnetic material for generating the click feeling.

When the information input device is used in an electronic apparatus such as a mobile communication terminal device (typically a mobile phone) or a mobile information terminal, the entire upper surface of the rotating body should be exposed so that it can be operated at least from the outside. It is preferable to attach it to the main body of the electronic device as described above. Further, the rotation detection by the rotation detecting magnetic body and the hall element may detect only the rotation amount, but the detection of the rotation direction can also diversify the input. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable.

As means for detecting the rotation direction, firstly, two Hall elements are provided, and the arrangement interval (angle) between the two Hall elements is set to the S pole and N pole of the magnet. The phase relationship between the outputs of the two Hall elements, which are shifted from an integer multiple of the arrangement pitch (whether the output of one Hall element is earlier or later than the output of another Hall element) Therefore, there is a means for detecting the rotation direction.

Secondly, there is also a means for detecting the rotation direction by providing only one Hall element. This is, as described above, the output waveform is a sawtooth shape as a Hall element,
In the same direction of rotation, using different slopes of the rising and falling portions of the output waveform, find the magnitude relationship between the time required to change from the reference value to the peak value and the time required to change from the peak value to the reference value. The direction of rotation of the rotating body is detected based on the magnitude relation. If you do this,
Since only one Hall element needs to be used, the cost of the information input device can be reduced.

A central switch pusher may be provided at the center of rotation of the rotating body of the information input device, and a switch (central switch) that is turned on / off by operating the central switch pusher may be provided. This is because the state selected by rotating the rotating body can be determined by driving the switch by operating the central switch pressing element.

Further, it is preferable to provide a plurality of peripheral switches which are operated by pushing a portion of the rotating body which is separated from the central portion. This is because not only by simply rotating the rotating body, but also by driving any of the peripheral switches by pushing the part of the rotating body away from the center of rotation, input can be extended. Is because the input can be diversified. And
The selection made by inputting by driving the central switch by pushing the portion separated from the center of rotation may be confirmed by driving the central switch by the central switch pusher.

The central switch and the peripheral switches may be push switches that are pressed to turn on,
Other than that, for example, a switch of a type that turns on / off by detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance due to operation may be used, and the type is not limited. In particular, the central switch not only has a function of only on / off, but also has two functions of omnidirectional multi-cursoring and on / off by pressing like an electrostatic capacitance type XY pointer. A switch may be used.

The click feeling generating magnetic body may be located inside the rotation detecting magnetic body, or conversely, may be located outside the rotation detecting magnetic body. When the click feeling generating magnetic body is provided outside the rotation detecting magnetic body, it needs to be formed in a ring shape. In that case, a notch may be provided in the ring-shaped magnetic material for generating a click sensation, and the Hall element may be arranged in the notch. By doing so, there is an advantage that the diameter of the information input device can be further reduced. When the cutout is provided, the magnetic force acting between the click feeling generating magnetic body and the rotation detecting magnetic body is reduced by the cutout, but even if it is decreased, the magnetic force required to obtain the click feeling is reduced. If it can be secured, the decrease will be fine.

When the click feeling generating magnetic body is provided inside the rotation detecting magnetic body, it is not necessarily required to have a ring shape, and it may be formed into a disk shape without holes. Even in that case, a cutout may be provided in the click feeling generating magnetic body, and a Hall element may be provided in the cutout. Needless to say, this makes it possible to further reduce the diameter of the information input device.
In the present invention, the positional relationship among the Hall element, the rotation detecting magnetic body, and the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the magnetization directions of the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click interval generating magnetic body in each positional relationship. There may be various embodiments, but each embodiment will be described in the section of Examples with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 8 to 13) and will not be described here.

Further, in the present invention, neither the rotation detecting magnetic body nor the click feeling generating magnetic body may be such that no non-magnetic material is interposed between the adjacent magnetic poles. I am doing that. However, a non-magnetic material may intervene between adjacent magnetic poles. The interposition of the non-magnetic material will be described in detail in the embodiment section with reference to FIG. 14, and will not be described here. A typical example of the electronic device incorporating the information input device is a mobile communication terminal device, for example, a mobile phone or a mobile information terminal, but the electronic device is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0042]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 to 6 are for explaining a multifunction switch 111 of a first embodiment in which the electronic device of the present invention is applied to a mobile phone which is a kind of mobile communication terminal device.
(A) is a circuit block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration, (B)
Is a front view showing a front shape, FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are vertical cross-sectional views with different cross sections, and FIG.
1 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4, (A), (B), (C), (D-
1) and (D-2) show the difference in the phase relationship between the output positions of the Hall ICs incorporating the two Hall elements (the Hall ICs incorporating the Hall elements) and the rotation direction. 5 (A) to 5 (E) are for explaining a Hall IC incorporating a Hall element, and FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (D) are for rotating the operation dial. It is for explaining the principle that a click feeling is generated by the magnetic interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an antenna and 102
Is a transmitter / receiver circuit, 103 is a transmitter, 104 is a receiver, 10
Reference numeral 5 is a CPU, 106 is a ROM for storing programs executed by the CPU 105, and 107 is R for temporary storage necessary for the CPU 105 to execute programs.
AM, 108 is a display device drive circuit, 109 is the circuit 10
The display device is driven by 8 to display, and is generally composed of a liquid crystal display panel. 110 is an operation key, 111 is a multi-function switch which is an information input device, and the operation key 110 and the multi-function switch 111 constitute an operation unit 112.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the antenna 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes an upper right end portion of the mobile phone main body 113 that is capable of expanding and contracting upwardly. The earpiece 104 is arranged substantially at the center of the upper end portion of the device main body 113, and the display device 109 positions the transmitter 103. And the operation unit 1 underneath
12 is arranged, and the transmitter section 3 is arranged at the lower end of the apparatus main body 113. The operation unit 112 has a configuration in which the multi-function switch 111 is arranged on the upper part and a large number of operation keys 110 such as a numeric keypad are arranged under the multi-function switch 111.

Next, the structure of the multi-function switch 111 will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 120 denotes a base, on the periphery of which attached pieces 122, 122 and holding ring holding pieces 124, 124, 124, 124 are integrally formed. The attached pieces 122, 122 have attachment holes, and the attachment of the multifunction switch 111 to a housing of an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant is performed by screwing the attached pieces 122, 122. Done. Retaining ring retaining piece 12
4, 124, 124, 124 have holding holes, and a held piece (168) of a holding ring (164) described later is passed through the holding holes to hold the holding ring (164). There is.

Reference numeral 126 is a wiring board, for example a flexible wiring board, which is positioned and arranged on the base 120 so as to maintain a predetermined positional relationship, and has a circular main portion and a wiring lead-out portion 128 integrally protruding from a part thereof. The wiring film 130 is formed on an insulating film made of, for example, a polyimide resin. 132, 132, ... are the wiring boards 1
The tact switch provided on the switch 26 is composed of a switch element provided in the reversing spring, and each terminal of the element is connected to the wiring film 130. The tact switch 13
One 2 is provided for confirmation in the central portion (the tact switch of this central portion is set to 132o), and four are provided for peripheral scrolling 90 ° apart in the peripheral portion for left and right vertical scrolling.

Reference numeral 134 denotes a dustproof sheet, which is the wiring board 126.
Of the tact switches 132, 132, ...
.. The wiring board 126 and the tact switch 132 are protected by covering them including the top. However, the dustproof sheet 134 is notched in the mounting portion of the Hall ICs (136a, 136b) described below. Hall ICs 136a and 136b both have Hall elements built therein and are provided on the upper surface of the wiring board 126 in a predetermined positional relationship. The Hall IC 136
The a and 136b are not covered with the dustproof sheet 134. Regarding the above-mentioned positional relationship, internal structure and function,
It will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and will not be described here. For the sake of convenience, 136a is designated as the first hole I.
Let C1 be 136c and the second Hall IC2 be 136b.

Reference numeral 138 is a confirming button, which has a cap-like shape, has a flange-like portion on the lower peripheral edge, and is integrally formed with a pressing projection 140 projecting downward at the center of the lower surface. Reference numeral 142 denotes a magnetic material for generating a click feeling, which is composed of two arc-shaped pieces 144 and 144, and the arc-shaped pieces 144 and 144 are integrally held by one annular holding portion 146 and are located on one circumference. To be done. Each of the arc-shaped pieces 144 and 144 forming the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is made of a magnetic body and is magnetized to be magnetized. Details of this magnetization will be described later.

The holding portion 146 has the Hall IC1 on the outer peripheral portion.
36a and 136b are provided with notches 148 and 148, and the central tact switch 128 is provided on the bottom surface.
4 tact switches excluding o 128, 128, 12
Protrusions 150, 150, 150, 1 corresponding to 8, 128
50 is integrally formed. The protrusions 150, 150,
150 and 150 are effective when pushing any one of the four tact switches 128, 128, 128 and 128 by pushing a position shifted left or right or up and down from the center of an operation dial (154) described later. In addition, the signal is transmitted to the tact switch 128 for effective and reliable operation.

Reference numeral 152 denotes a ring-shaped magnetic substance for rotation detection, the inner diameter of which is made by the holding portion 146 so that the arc-shaped pieces 144, 144 are formed.
It is made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 which holds, and is made of a magnetic body like the arc-shaped pieces 144 and 144, and is magnetized to be magnetized. Details of this magnetization will be described later. The rotation detecting magnetic body 152 has an operation dial (15
It is attached to 4).

Reference numeral 154 denotes an operation dial (corresponding to a rotating body in the claims) which is rotated or pressed, and which has a substantially donut shape and has an inner diameter such that the button 138 can be loosely fitted therein. A skirt-shaped annular portion 156, which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of 138 and extends downward from the peripheral edge, is integrally formed. From the annular portion 156, a collar-shaped annular engaging piece 158 is engaged inward. Piece 160, 16
0, ... Are integrally formed so as to project. Then, the outer peripheral side of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is fitted into the concave storage portion 162 formed by the upper portion of the operation dial 154, the annular portion 156, and the engaging pieces 160, 160, ... Magnetic substance for rotation detection 1
52 is integrally attached to the operation dial 154. The upper surface of the operation dial 154 is formed with, for example, a large number of projections or grooves formed in a radial pattern so that the rotational operation force of a finger can be effectively transmitted to the operation dial 154.

Numeral 164 is a holding ring, which is integrally formed with an annular holding piece 166 on the upper inner peripheral edge and is held on the lower outer peripheral edge.
8, 168, 168, 168 are integrally formed.
The holding pieces 168, 168, 168, 168 are holding ring holding pieces 124, 124, 124, 124 of the base 120.
The holding ring 164 is held by the base 120 by the insertion.

Next, the assembly of the multi-function switch 111 will be described. First, the wiring board 126 is mounted on the base 120.
Position and place. This wiring board 126 is equipped with tact switches 132, 132, 132, 132, 132o, a dustproof sheet 134 is attached, and further the Hall IC 13 is mounted.
6a and 136b are mounted. Then, a button 138 is placed at the center of the wiring board 126, and further, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is placed on the wiring board 126 in a state of being fitted onto the button 138. Then, the operation dial 154 in which the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is mounted in the concave storage portion 162 is set on the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 while being fitted onto the button 138. After that, in a state where the holding ring 164 is fitted onto the operation dial 154, the brim-shaped engaging piece 158 of the operation dial 154 is held by the holding piece 166, and the holding piece 168 of the holding ring 164,
168, 168, 168 are fitted into the holes of the retaining ring retaining pieces 124, 124, 124, 124 of the base 120. Then, the multifunction switch 111 is completed.

In the multi-function switch 111, the operation dial 154 is rotatably held on the base 120, and the button 138 touches the center of the operation dial 154.
The tact switch 132o at the center is turned on by the pressing projection 140 at the center when it is held in a state where it is engaged with the engaging portion 170 with 54 and prevented from coming off. Further, the operation dial 154 has the above-mentioned tact switches 132, 132, 132, 1 located apart from each other vertically and horizontally at the center thereof.
When a portion substantially corresponding to 32 is pressed from above, the pressing force acts on the tact switch 132 via the holding piece 146 and the protrusion 150, and turns it on.

The magnetic field generated by the magnetic poles of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is detected by the Hall ICs 136a and 136b located inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152,
When the operation dial 154 rotates and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 integrated with the operation dial 154 rotates accordingly, the magnetic field crosses the Hall elements 136a and 136b, and the strength of the magnetic field detected by the Hall elements 136a and 136b changes. Then
From the change, the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the operation dial 154 can be adjusted. Further, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is located inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 so as to magnetically interact with the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, thereby rotating the operation dial 154. At that time, a click feeling is generated due to the magnetic interaction.

First, the principle of detecting the amount of rotation and the direction of rotation will be described with reference to FIG. 4A is a plan view for explaining the arrangement positions of the two Hall elements, FIG. 4B is a perspective view for explaining the magnetic poles of the rotation detecting magnetic body, and FIG. 4C is for forming the magnetic poles. Magnetization explanatory view showing an example of magnetization,
(D-1) shows the output waveforms of the two Hall elements in a certain rotation direction (forward direction), and (D-2) shows the output waveforms of the two Hall elements in the opposite direction to the rotation direction. It is a waveform diagram.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a description will be given of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, the first Hall IC 136a, and the second Hall IC 136b. The rotation detecting magnetic body 152 has a donut shape and is seen from above as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the N poles and the S poles are alternately arranged at a constant pitch p. However, in this example, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the portion of the N pole viewed from above, the upper side is the N pole and the lower side is the S pole. On the contrary, when viewed from above, the S-pole portion has the S-pole on the upper side and the N-pole on the lower side. This is because, as shown in FIG. 4C, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in its thickness direction, in other words, in the vertical direction.

Numerals 172 and 172 are magnetizing electromagnets, which are located above and below the rotated rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the same position of the magnetic body is excited to have opposite polarities at the upper side and the lower side. Magnetize 152. This magnetizing electromagnet 172,
The rotation detection magnetic body 15 is magnetized by 172.
While rotating 2 continuously or intermittently at a predetermined speed, at the same time, the magnetic pole is always kept constant by the exciting current of the magnetizing electromagnets 172, 172 (for example, a sine wave or a rectangular pulse wave in which positive and negative polarities are alternately reversed). It is performed so that the polarities are alternately reversed in a cycle. That is, when the upper downward magnetizing electromagnet 172 is magnetized to the S pole, the lower upward magnetizing electromagnet 172 is always magnetized to the N pole, and
At a constant cycle, the upper magnetizing electromagnet 172 has an N pole → S pole →
The N-pole → S-pole →, and the lower magnetizing electromagnet 172 is configured such that the magnetized magnetic poles are switched from S-pole → N-pole → S-pole → N-pole.

As a result, the magnetized rotation detecting magnetic material 152 can be obtained as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The click feeling generating magnetic body 142 can be magnetized by the same method. However, both the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 were magnetized in the thickness direction (vertical direction) in this example, but the magnetization direction is outside when the magnetic body is a donut shape. It is also possible to magnetize in the width direction, in other words, in the horizontal direction by placing the magnetizing electrode inside and magnetizing. There are various embodiments in this regard, which will be described later. In this example, the magnetic substance 142 for generating a click feeling is used until
It is assumed that the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in the thickness direction (vertical direction).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 provided on the operation dial 154 has an S pole and an N pole as viewed from above (this portion is an N pole and an S pole on the lower side). Of the Hall ICs provided on the FPC board 20 on the base 2 are arranged at a constant angular pitch (this angular pitch is referred to as Q for convenience).
136a is located at a position corresponding to the portion indicated by the black circle in FIG. 4A, and the other Hall IC1 is also provided.
36b is located at a position corresponding to any one of the plurality of portions shown by the rectangle in FIG. 4 (A). still,
Regardless of the polarity of N or S, the arrangement angle pitch for each magnetic pole is P. Therefore, 2P = Q.

The Hall IC 136a on one side and the Hall IC 136b on the other side are positioned so as to be displaced from each other by an integer multiple of the arrangement angle pitch Q of the set of the S pole and the N pole of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152. The rotation direction of the rotating body is detected based on the phase relationship of the output waveform of the Hall element. This is because it is possible to detect the rotation direction of the operation dial 154 from the phase relationship between the outputs of the Hall IC 136a and the Hall IC 136b.

Regarding this point, FIGS. 4 (A) and (D-
1) and FIG. 4D-2 will be described. When the operation dial 154 is rotated, the two hall elements 136a,
From 136b, one cycle (:) every time the operation dial 154 rotates by the arrangement pitch of the set of the N pole and the S pole.
Output of λ) is generated. However, the Hall element 136a
And 136b have different positional relations with respect to the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, as described above, and therefore, FIGS.
As shown in 2), two Hall elements 136a, 136
The phase of the output of b is different, and the phase is different due to the difference in the rotation direction.

For example, when the operation dial 154 is rotated in one direction, the output of the hall element 136a leads the phase of the hall element 136b as shown in FIG. 4D-1. Then, when the operation dial 154 is rotated in the direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction, FIG.
As shown in 2), the phase of the output of the Hall element 136b leads that of the Hall element 136a, and the phase relationship is different due to the difference in the rotating direction. Therefore, by detecting the phase relationship, that is, the Hall elements 136a and 13a
The rotation direction can be detected by detecting which phase of the output of 6b is earlier (or later).

Next, according to FIG. 5, one Hall IC 13
The description will be focused on item 6. 5A is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of the Hall IC with respect to the magnet, FIG. 5B is a circuit diagram, and FIG. 5C is a waveform diagram showing changes in the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field by the magnet that crosses the Hall IC. ) Is a waveform diagram showing the output waveform of the Hall element, (E) is a waveform diagram (upper side) showing the output waveform of the amplifier circuit for amplifying the output of the Hall element,
FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram (lower side) showing an output waveform of a Schmitt trigger circuit that shapes an analog output of an amplifier circuit into a digital waveform.

The Hall IC 136 is arranged inside the ring-shaped rotation detecting magnetic body 152 as shown in FIG. 5A, and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is rotated by rotating the operation dial 154 not shown in FIG. When rotated, the magnetic field generated from the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 crosses the Hall IC 136, the magnetic flux density received by the Hall IC 136 is changed, and the output of the Hall element in the Hall IC 136 is amplified, shaped, and rotated. Etc. can be detected.

The internal circuit of the Hall IC 136 is shown in FIG.
REG is a regulator that receives a magnetic material for detecting the power supply voltage V rotation and outputs a stable predetermined power supply voltage, and HD is a Hall element, which is a magnetic field at the position where the device is present. Generates an output voltage corresponding to the magnetic flux density. FIG. 5C shows the change in the magnetic flux density, and FIG. 5D shows the change in the output voltage. Amp is an amplifier circuit that amplifies the output of the Hall element HD, and ST is a Schmitt trigger circuit that binarizes the output of the amplifier circuit Amp, and is a digital signal that undergoes waveform shaping and changes between Bop and Brp levels. You can get a nice and clean square wave.

The upper part of FIG. 5 (E) shows the input waveform of the Schmitt trigger circuit ST, and the lower part shows the output waveform. T
r is a transistor that amplifies the output of the Schmitt trigger circuit ST. The outputs of the Hall ICs 136a and 136b shown in FIGS. 4D-1 and 4D-2 are outputs of the transistor Tr. In the multifunction switch 111 of the present embodiment, two Hall elements 136 (136
As described above, a and 136b) are provided.

Next, when the operation dial 154 is rotated by a finger or the like, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 provided on the operation dial 154 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 whose position does not change with respect to the base 120. The principle of generating a click feeling due to the magnetic interaction will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 have a magnetic pole arrangement angle pitch P [an arrangement angle pitch Q of a set of N pole and S pole].
(= 2P)] are the same. And normally,
As shown in FIG. 6A, S of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is
The pole is the N pole of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the N pole of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is the click feeling generating magnetic body 142.
It is stable in the direction facing the S pole. This is because different magnetic poles have an attractive force, and the same magnetic poles have a repulsive force.

Therefore, when a rotational force in the direction indicated by the arrow A is applied to the operation dial 154 (not shown in FIG. 6 for convenience), a repulsive force indicated by the arrow B opposite thereto acts due to magnetic interaction. However, a rotational force that rotates against the repulsive force is applied to rotate as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is attached to the N pole of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142.
Of the magnetic pole 142 for generating a click feeling,
When the N pole of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is oriented so as to approach, a force that promotes the rotation indicated by the arrow A acts due to the magnetic interaction, and as shown in FIG. The S pole of the detection magnetic body 152 is stabilized in a direction in which the N pole of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the N pole of the rotation detection magnetic body 152 and the S pole of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 face each other. Then, when further rotating from that direction, a magnetic interaction acts to prevent the rotation, and the force gives a click feeling to the person who operates the rotation. This click feeling occurs every time the arrangement angle pitch Q of the set of the N pole and the S pole is rotated.

Next, the operation of such a multi-function switch 111 will be described. When the operation dial 154 is rotated, the rotation amount and its rotation direction are detected as described above. Then, it is possible to input the scroll amount, for example, by the rotation amount and the scroll direction (for example, right or left, or up or down direction) by the rotation direction. Then, when the operation dial 154 is rotated, the arrangement angle pitch Q of the set of the N pole and the S pole is rotated by the magnetic interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 as described above. There is a feeling of click.

When the button 138 is pressed, its operating force is effectively applied to the central tact switch 132o on the wiring board 126 via the pressing projection 140 at the lower surface center,
The tact switch 132o is turned on by the force.
Therefore, by using the tact switch 132o as a confirmation switch and turning it on, it is possible to confirm the already input, for example, the scroll direction and the scroll amount.

Further, the button 138 of the operation dial 154 is used.
When any one of the left, right, up and down four positions outside is pressed, the pressed force is applied to the tact switch 132 via the protrusion 150 on the lower surface of the holding piece 146, and the tact switch 132 is pressed by the force. Turn on. Therefore, the four tact switches 132, 132, around this,
By using 132, 132 as input means for left and right and up and down, it is possible to input, for example, scroll left and right, up and down (or front and back), shift, and the like.

The advantages of the multifunction switch 111 will be described below. First, in the multifunction switch 111, the Hall ICs 136a and 136b are provided inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, not below (or above) the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 of the operation dial 154 which is a rotating body. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the thickness of the multifunction switch 111. When the operation dial 154 is rotated, the magnetic interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 causes a click feeling as described above. This can be realized without contact with the side, and for example, it is possible to eliminate the risk of variation and fluctuation in the click feeling due to dimensional error and wear of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142. Further, since the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is arranged inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, it is possible to obtain a click feeling without contact due to magnetic interaction, which increases the thickness of the multifunction switch. It can be prevented from becoming a factor.

In the multifunction switch 111, the rotation detecting magnetic body 1 formed on the operation dial 154 is used.
Since the Hall element HD in the Hall IC 136 detects the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field due to 52 to detect rotation without contact, the positional relationship between the base 120 and the operation dial 154 (positional relationship in the vertical direction) The detection can be performed well even if the accuracy of is low.

Further, according to the multifunction switch 111,
The effect that the operation of the operation dial 154 can be made relatively light is also obtained. That is, if the rotation detecting magnetic body 152
When the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is arranged vertically, the click feeling generating magnetic body 1 is basically arranged.
42 is fixed to the base 120, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is fixed to the operation dial 154, and the operation dial 154 is rotatably attached to the base 120. Due to the magnetic interaction with the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, a magnetic attractive force acts in such a direction that the operation dial 154 sticks to the base 2 side, which becomes a factor that makes the operation of the operation dial 154 heavy.

However, according to the multi-function switch 111, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 are not located above and below, but the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is outside the click feeling generating magnetic body 142. Since the structure is such that the operation dial 154 sticks to the fixed side, there is no risk of a magnetic attraction force acting in such a direction.
There is no fear that the operation of the operation dial 154 will be heavy.

According to the multi-function switch 111,
There is also an advantage that the tact switch 132 is not subject to excessive pressure due to the magnetic attraction force. That is,
As described above, when the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 are arranged vertically, the magnetic attraction force in the direction in which the operation dial 154 sticks to the base 120 is generated. There is a risk that it will act, and there is a risk that extra pressure will be applied to the tact switch 132 due to its magnetic attraction force. However, in the multi-function switch 111, since the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 are not vertically arranged, the operation dial 154 sticks to the base 120 magnetically. There is no fear that the suction force acts, and by extension, such a suction force causes the tact switch 132 to operate.
There is no fear that extra pressure will be applied to.

FIGS. 7 (A-1), (A-2), and (B) are for explaining the essential parts of the second embodiment of the multifunction switch of the present invention. A-2) is an output waveform diagram of the Hall element when the rotation directions are opposite to each other, and (B) is a flowchart showing the rotation direction detection operation. In this example,
Even if the number of Hall elements is reduced to one, both the rotation amount and the rotation direction can be detected, and the difference between the first embodiment and the first embodiment is only in that point. But other than that, there is no difference.

In this embodiment, as the Hall element, the output waveform is not a sine waveform in a strict sense, and the slope is increased between the portion where the 0 level rises to the peak (for example, the positive peak) and the portion where the peak falls to the 0 level. Use different waveforms. Then, the rotation direction is detected by comparing the time required for the output of the Hall element to reach the peak from the 0 level with the time required for reaching the 0 level from the peak.

That is, in FIG. 5 for explaining the first embodiment, the output of the hall element HD when the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the operation dial 154 is shown in (D). Although it is shown as if it is a sine wave, there are some that do not become a sine wave, and such a Hall element HD is used in this embodiment shown in FIG. Then, the output is amplified, but binarization using the Schmitt trigger circuit is not performed for rotation detection. However, binarization may be performed in the rotation amount detection circuit.

In the present embodiment, as described above, only one Hall element is prepared and placed in a place where it receives a magnetic field from a magnet. Then, when the magnet rotates, the output of the Hall element becomes as shown in FIG. 7 (A-1) in the case of a certain rotation direction, and in FIG. 7 (A-2) in the opposite direction. As shown. And
The rotation direction is detected by the operation of the flow shown in FIG.

(1) "Have Vo exceeded?" First, the output of the Hall element is the reference voltage Vo (for example, 0 V).
It is detected whether or not it exceeds. That is, it is determined whether or not the output of the Hall element rises from a voltage lower than the reference voltage Vo and causes a so-called zero cross. The determination result is No (:
In the case of N), the determination is repeated until the determination result of Yes (: Y) is obtained. (2) “Set time to t1.” When the result of the determination in step (1) above is Y, that is, when the zero cross occurs, the time at that time is set to t1.

(3) "Have MAX?" Next, it is determined whether or not the output of the Hall element has reached MAX. When the determination result is N, the determination is repeated until the determination result of Y is obtained. (4) “Set time to t2” When the determination result of the step (3) is Y, that is, when the output of the hall element is MAX (positive peak),
The time at that time is set to t2.

(5) "Has it fallen below Vo?" Next, it is judged whether the output of the Hall element falls below the reference voltage Vo, that is, whether the zero crossing has occurred. When the determination result is N, the determination is repeated until the determination result of Y is obtained. (6) “Set time to t3” When the determination result of the step (5) becomes Y, that is, when the zero cross occurs, the time at that time is set to t3.

(7) "t2-t1>t3-t2?" Next, t2-t1, that is, the time required for the output of the Hall element to reach MAX (positive peak) from the reference voltage Vo (0V). And t3-t2, that is, the time required for the voltage to drop from MAX to the reference voltage Vo,
-It is determined whether or not t1 is larger than t3-t2. (8) “Output in the forward direction” When the determination result in step (7) is Y, the rotation direction is output in the forward direction [the case shown in FIG. 7 (A-1)].

(9) "Output in the reverse direction" When the determination result in step (7) is N, the rotation direction is output in the reverse direction [the case shown in FIG. 7 (A-2)]. When step (8) or (9) ends, the rotation direction detection step ends. According to the second embodiment as described above, the number of Hall elements is only one, so that the manufacturing cost of the multifunction switch can be further reduced.

Below, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142, and the Hall elements 136a and 13b.
Various embodiments relating to the respective cases regarding the positional relationship between and, and the magnetization directions of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 in each case will be described. 8A to 8D are explanatory views of preconditions for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 8A is a plan view, FIG. 8B is a longitudinal sectional view, and as shown in FIGS. In each of FIGS. 9 to 13, the Hall elements 136a and 136b are rectangular in the vertical cross-sectional view with two diagonal lines, and are small rectangles in the plan view. . Further, regardless of the plan view or the vertical sectional view, the rotation detecting magnetic body 15
2 is shown by hatching as it goes to the left, and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is shown as hatched as it goes up toward the left and as it goes down toward the left.

(C) and (D) are magnetic substances for rotation detection 15
2, an explanatory view of the magnetization direction of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142, (C) shows the case where the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 or the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in its thickness direction, that is, in the vertical direction. In that case, the magnetization direction is represented by an arrow pointing in the vertical direction as shown by an arrow Av in the longitudinal sectional view. (D) shows a case where the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 or the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the width direction (horizontal direction), and in that case, the magnetization direction is indicated by an arrow Ah in the longitudinal sectional view. It is represented by an arrow pointing in the horizontal direction.

9A to 9D, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is located inside the click feeling generating magnetic body 142.
Hall IC 136 (hereinafter referred to as “hall element IC 13
6a, 136b "is simply displayed as" Hall IC 136 ". (A) shows various embodiments relating to the magnetization directions of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 in the case where they are located inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152. ) Is a mode in which the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 are both vertically magnetized, (B) is a case where both are horizontally magnetized, and (C) is rotation detecting. The magnetic material 152 for vertical generation and the magnetic material 142 for generating click feeling are magnetized in the horizontal direction, and (D), on the contrary, the magnetic material 152 for rotation detection is horizontally generated for generating click feeling. This is the case where the magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the vertical direction. 8 is a plan view showing the positional relationship among the click feeling generating magnetic body 142, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the Hall IC 136 in this case.
Since it is as shown in (A), its illustration is omitted.

10A to 10D, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is located inside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the Hall IC 136 is located outside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152. In the case described above, various embodiments relating to the magnetization directions of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 are shown. (A) shows the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152. Are both vertically magnetized, (B) is both horizontally magnetized, and (C) is a rotation detecting magnetic body 152 in the horizontal direction, and a click feeling generating magnetic body 142. Is magnetized in the vertical direction, and (D) is the case where the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in the vertical direction and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the horizontal direction. Note that FIG. 10E shows the click feeling generating magnetic body 142, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the Hall IC 13 in this case.
6 is a plan view showing the positional relationship of No. 6; FIG.

11A) to 11D are rotation detecting magnetic bodies 1.
The magnetic substance 142 for generating a click feeling is located inside the 52.
In the case where the Hall IC 136 is located in the notch 142a of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 are arranged.
Showing various embodiments relating to the magnetization direction of
(A) is a mode in which both the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 are vertically magnetized,
(B) is the case where both are horizontally magnetized, and (C)
Is the case where the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in the horizontal direction and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the vertical direction.
On the contrary, (D) shows the case where the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in the vertical direction and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the horizontal direction. In addition, FIG. 11E shows the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 15 in this case.
2 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between 2 and the Hall IC 136. FIG. Incidentally, the first embodiment of the information input device of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, the magnetic material 14 for generating a click feeling is generated.
It is also possible to provide notches 142a and 142a in 2 and arrange the Hall IC 136 in each notch 142a. This is because there is an advantage that the diameter of the information input device can be made smaller. Notches 142a, 1
If 42a is provided, the magnetic force acting between the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is reduced by the amount of the notch 142a, but even if it is decreased, even the magnetic force required to obtain a click feeling is reduced. If it can be secured, it can be said that the decrease will be no problem.

In FIG. 12, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is located outside the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the Hall IC 1
36 is a notch 14 of the magnetic material 142 for generating the click feeling
2A shows various embodiments relating to the magnetization directions of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 in the case positioned inside 2a. FIG. 7A shows the click feeling generating magnetic body 142. , Magnetic substance for rotation detection 152
Are both vertically magnetized, and (B) is both
In the case of being magnetized in the horizontal direction, (C) shows the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 in the vertical direction and the click feeling generating magnetic body 14 in the vertical direction.
No. 2 is magnetized in the horizontal direction, and (D) is the case where the rotation detecting magnetic material 152 is magnetized in the horizontal direction and the click feeling generating magnetic material 142 is magnetized in the vertical direction.
Note that FIG. 12E shows a click feeling generating magnetic body 142, a rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and a hole I in this case.
It is a top view which shows the positional relationship of C136. Also in this case,
Similar to the case shown in FIG. 11, there is an advantage that the diameter of the information input device can be made smaller.

13 (A) and 13 (B), a disk-shaped magnetic material 142 (without a hole in the center) is used as the magnetic material 142 for generating a click feeling, and a magnetic material 152 for rotation detection is provided outside thereof. And a magnetic substance 142 for generating a click feeling
Hall IC 136 in each of the notches 142a, 142a
Magnetic body 14 for generating a click feeling in the case where the
2 shows one embodiment of the magnetization direction of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, (A) shows the click feeling generating magnetic body 142, the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, and the Hall IC 136.
FIG. 3B is a plan view showing the planar positional relationship of FIG. In this example, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 is magnetized in the vertical direction and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 is magnetized in the horizontal direction. However, this is an example until the user gets tired. Both the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 may be magnetized in the horizontal direction, or both may be magnetized in the vertical direction. You can Further, the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 may be magnetized in the horizontal direction and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152 may be magnetized in the vertical direction.

As described above, there are many kinds of embodiments of the information input device 111 shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, and the present invention can be implemented in any of the embodiments. It should be noted that in the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body 152, magnetic poles for generating magnetic force lines in mutually opposite directions are alternately arranged at a constant angular pitch, and the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 and the rotation detecting magnetic body are arranged. Although the angular pitches of 152 are the same as each other, a nonmagnetic portion may be provided between the magnetic poles.

FIGS. 14A to 14D show other examples of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 (or the rotation detecting magnetic body 152) provided with such a non-magnetic portion.
In the figure, a is a magnetic pole part and b is a non-magnetic part. 14A and 14B, there is a non-magnetic portion b between the magnetic poles a of the click feeling generating magnetic body 142 (or the rotation detecting magnetic body 152) whose occupancy angle is significantly narrower than that of the magnetic poles a. (A) is a case where it is magnetized in the horizontal direction, and (B) is a case where it is magnetized in the vertical direction.
14C and 14D show a magnetic material 142 for generating a click feeling.
(Or, the magnetic pole 152 of the rotation detecting magnetic body 152) is an example in which the occupied angle is significantly narrower than the non-magnetic portion b interposed between the magnetic poles a and a. In the case of doing, (D) is the case of being magnetized in the vertical direction.

[0097]

According to the information input device of the first aspect, when the rotating body rotates, the magnetic force acting on the Hall element by the magnetic poles provided on the rotating body changes with the rotation. The amount of rotation and the like can be detected by detecting the output of the Hall element. Since the hall element is provided outside or inside the rotation detecting magnetic body, not outside or below, the thickness of the information input device can be reduced.

According to the information input device of the second aspect, as in the information input device of the first aspect, at least the rotation amount can be detected from the output of the hall element, and the hall element is placed above or below the rotation detecting magnetic body. Instead, because it was provided outside or inside,
Not only is it possible to reduce the thickness of the information input device, but when the rotating body is rotated, the click feeling is generated by the interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body. Can occur.

According to the information input device of the third aspect, since the click feeling generating magnetic body is arranged inside or outside the rotation detecting magnetic body, it is necessary to provide the click feeling generating magnetic body. It is possible to prevent the device from becoming thick. According to the information input device of the fourth aspect, it is possible to determine the input by the rotation operation of the rotating body by driving the switch by operating the central switch pressing element.

According to the information input device of the fifth aspect, it is possible to perform input by operating the switch by pushing a portion of the rotating body which is separated from the center of rotation. According to the information input device of claim 6, the rotation amount of the rotating body can be detected by the output of any one of the plurality of Hall elements as described above, and the rotation can be performed by the phase relationship of the outputs of the plurality of Hall elements. The direction can be detected.

According to the information input device of the seventh aspect, the slope between the reference value and the peak value of the sawtooth output waveform of the Hall element in the same rotation direction is different from the slope between the peak value and the reference value. Therefore, the magnitude relationship between the time required to change from the reference value to the peak value and the time required to change from the peak value to the reference value is different. Therefore, the rotation direction of the rotating body can be detected from the magnitude relation. Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the rotation amount but also the rotation direction even if there is only one Hall element.

According to the electronic apparatus of claim 8,
The above-described advantages of the information input device used among the seven information input devices can be utilized in the electronic device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electronic device (a mobile phone which is a kind of mobile communication terminal device) equipped with a first embodiment of an information input device of the present invention.
FIG. 3A is a circuit block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration, and FIG.

2A and 2B are vertical sectional views of the above embodiment, FIG.
(A) shows a cut surface that does not cut the Hall element (Hall IC), and (B) shows a cut surface that cuts the Hall element (Hall IC).

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the above embodiment.

4 (A), (B), (C), (D-1), (D-
2) is for explaining the arrangement position of two Hall elements (Hall ICs with built-in elements) and the difference in the phase relationship of the output of the Hall ICs with the two Hall elements due to the difference in the rotation direction. A) is a plan view for explaining the arrangement positions of the two Hall elements, FIG. 9B is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the rotation detecting magnetic body, and FIG. 9C is a magnetizing method for the rotation detecting magnetic body. An explanatory view showing an example, (D-1) shows the output waveforms of the two Hall elements in a certain rotation direction as (D-
1) is a waveform diagram showing output waveforms of the two Hall elements in a certain rotation direction.

5A to 5E are diagrams for explaining a Hall IC including a Hall element, and FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a positional relationship of the Hall IC with respect to a magnet;
(B) is a circuit diagram, (C) is a waveform diagram showing a change in the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field due to a magnet that crosses the Hall IC, (D) is a waveform diagram showing the output waveform of the Hall element, and (E) is the output of the Hall element. 2 is a waveform diagram (upper side) showing an output waveform of an amplifier circuit that amplifies a signal, and a waveform diagram (lower side) showing an output waveform of a Schmitt trigger circuit that binarizes an analog output of the amplifier circuit.

6A to 6D are rotation detecting magnetic bodies for explaining the principle of generation of a click feeling due to a magnetic interaction between the rotation detecting magnetic body and the click feeling generating magnetic body of the embodiment. It is a top view which shows the change of the positional relationship of the magnetic body for click feeling generation in order.

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a main part of a second embodiment of the information input device of the invention, FIG. 7A is an output waveform diagram of a Hall element, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing a rotation direction detecting operation. Is.

8 (A) to 8 (D) show the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body in each case regarding the positional relationship between the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the Hall element. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of preconditions for explaining various embodiments relating to a magnetic direction, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a longitudinal sectional view, and (C) is an explanatory view in the case where the magnetization direction is a vertical direction. ,
(D) is an explanatory view of the same in the horizontal direction.

9A to 9D are views of a rotation detecting magnetic body and a click feeling generating magnetic body in one case regarding a positional relationship between a rotation detecting magnetic body, a click feeling generating magnetic body, and a Hall element. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows another embodiment regarding the magnetization direction.

10A to 10D are views of a rotation detecting magnetic body and a click feeling generating magnetic body in another case regarding the positional relationship between the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the Hall element. FIG. 3E is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment relating to the magnetization direction, and FIG. 3E is a plan view showing the positional relationship among the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the Hall element in this case.

11A to 11D are rotation detection magnetic bodies and click sensation generation magnetic bodies in still another case regarding the positional relationship between the rotation detection magnetic body, the click sensation generation magnetic body, and the Hall element. FIG. 5E is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment relating to the magnetization direction, and FIG. 6E is a plan view showing the positional relationship among the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the Hall element in this case.

12A to 12D are rotation detection magnetic bodies and click sensation generation magnetic bodies in still another case regarding the positional relationship between the rotation detection magnetic body, the click sensation generation magnetic body, and the Hall element. FIG. 5E is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment relating to the magnetization direction, and FIG. 6E is a plan view showing the positional relationship among the rotation detecting magnetic body, the click feeling generating magnetic body, and the Hall element in this case.

13 (A) and 13 (B) are one embodiment relating to the magnetization directions of a rotation detecting magnetic body and a click feeling generating magnetic body when a disk-shaped one is used as the click feeling generating magnetic body. And (A) is a plan view and (B) is a vertical sectional view.

FIGS. 14A to 14D are perspective views showing examples of different embodiments of a click feeling generating magnetic body (or a rotation detecting magnetic body) having a non-magnetic body between magnetic poles.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of an information input device (multifunctional switch).

[Explanation of symbols]

111 ... Information input device (multifunctional switch), 120
... Base, 132 ... Switch, 136 ... Hall element (Hall IC), 138 ... Central switch presser (button), 142 ... Magnetic material for generating click feeling, 152 ... Rotation Magnetic body for detection, 154 ... Rotating body (operation dial), HD ... Hall element.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H01H 25/04 H01H 25/04 D // G01D 5/245 G01D 5/245 H (72) Inventor Hiroshi Higashi Omron Co., Ltd. 801 Shiorikodori Horikawa Higashiirinami Fudodo-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture (72) Inventor Nobu Tabe No. 801 Omoron Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Uchida 801 Furukawa Higashiiri Minamifudodocho, Shimokoji, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan Omron Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F063 AA35 BA30 CA35 DA01 DA05 DD03 EA03 GA52 GA68 KA04 NA06 2F077 CC02 NN04 NN17 PP12 VV02 5B020 AA20 BB02 CC12 DD05 GG01 5G019 AA09 AM25 CY21 SK02 SK10 SY14

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A rotary body that is rotated by being operated on an upper surface, a rotation detecting magnetic body provided on the rotary body, and a Hall element. At least the rotation detecting magnetic body has lines of magnetic force with each other. A plurality of magnetic poles that are magnetized so that the directions thereof are reversed, are arranged at a constant angle pitch along the circumference of a circle centered on the center of rotation of the rotating body, and the Hall element is It is provided inside or outside the rotation detecting magnetic body so as to detect a change in the strength of the magnetic field by the magnetic pole passing by the rotation of the rotating body, and at least detects the rotation amount from the output of the Hall element. Information input device characterized in that 2. A rotating body which is rotated by being operated on an upper surface, a rotation detecting magnetic body provided on the rotating body, a hall element, and a click feeling generating magnetic body. The magnetic body for detection has a plurality of alternating magnetic poles magnetized so that the directions of magnetic force lines are opposite to each other, and the magnetic bodies are arranged at a constant angle pitch along the circumference of a circle centered on the center of rotation of the rotating body. The Hall element is provided inside or outside the magnetic body for rotation detection so as to detect a change in the strength of the magnetic field due to the magnetic pole passing by the rotation of the rotor, and the output of the Hall element From at least the rotation amount is detected, the click feeling generating magnetic body can magnetically interact with each of the magnetic poles of the rotation detecting magnetic body, and the directions of the magnetic force lines are opposite to each other. Magnetized as The poles are multiple alternately, the information input apparatus characterized by comprising disposed at a pitch of the same angle as the pitch of the angle. 3. The information input device according to claim 2, wherein the click feeling generating magnetic body is arranged outside or inside the rotation detecting magnetic body. 4. A central switch pusher provided at a center of rotation of the rotating body, and when the central switch pusher is operated, the central switch pusher is turned on or off or a state change between on and off is performed.
The information input device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: a switch. 5. A plurality of switches are provided, which are turned on or off or change a state between on and off when a portion of the rotating body separated from a rotation center is pushed. The information input device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4. 6. The number of the hall elements is plural, and the positions of the plurality of hall elements are set apart from each other so as to deviate from each other by an integer multiple of twice the arrangement pitch of the magnetic poles. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation direction of the rotating body is detected from the phase relationship of the output waveform of the element. 7. The number of the hall elements is one, the output waveform of the hall element generated by the rotation of the rotating body is sawtooth, and the slope of the rising part and the slope of the falling part of the output waveform are Differently, the time from the time when the output of the Hall element crosses the reference voltage to the time when it reaches max (positive peak value) or minimum (negative peak value), and the time when max (positive peak value) or minimum (negative peak value) The time from when the value of the rotating body is reached to the time when the reference voltage is crossed, and the rotation direction of the rotating body is detected from the comparison result. 4. The information input device according to 4 or 5. 8. An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the entire upper surface of the rotating body is exposed and attached so as to be operable at least from the outside. machine.