JP4272025B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of making output with a small load, and moreover without impairing the operability. <P>SOLUTION: When the input device is not operated, a prescribed distance is formed between a supporting protrusion 2a arranged at the center of the lower face of an operation body 2 and a detection plate 4. It is constructed so that the supporting protrusion 2a touches the detection plate 4, and a resistor element 6a and a low resistance body 6b of respective contacts 6 arranged on the detection plate 4 contact with each other to obtain an output immediately, when the central part of the operation body 2 is depressed. The length of the distance is set so as to obtain a stroke, enabling pressing of the operation body 2 further from the above state, to obtain the output in a prescribed range of width. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device whose output changes based on a change in pressing stroke or pressing force that presses an operating body, and more particularly to an input device that can improve deadlines and improve operability.

  Patent Document 1 below relates to an input device for a game machine. This input device has a stick-like operation body supported so as to be freely tiltable, and an output changes in an analog manner based on a change in pressing force or pressing stroke of the operation body.

The input device is composed of an elastic support member having an electrode provided on a substrate and a conductive elastic body facing the electrode. When the operation body is tilted in any direction, the elastic support member is elastically deformed and the conductive elastic body comes into contact with the electrode. When the contact area between the conductive elastic body and the electrode is changed based on a change in pressing force or pressing stroke, the resistance value changes and the output changes in an analog manner.
JP 2000-348574 A

  In the input device, when the operating body is not operated, the electrode provided on the substrate and the conductive elastic body are separated from each other, so that the operating body is operated beyond a predetermined pressing force or pressing stroke. Until this time, no output is obtained, and this becomes a dead zone, resulting in a problem that the operability is impaired. For example, when this input device is used for a game machine, when moving the character on the screen, tilt the operation body to the right side and move the character to the right side while tilting the operating body to the left side. The contact between the electrode and the conductive elastic body is released at the time of switching to be moved to the position, and as a result, a dead zone occurs and a phenomenon that the character temporarily stops occurs.

  Further, when the positional relationship between the operating body and the substrate is set so that a large pressing stroke is required until the electrode and the conductive elastic body come into contact with each other when the operating body is pressed, an output is obtained. It is necessary to press the operation part with a relatively large load until it is received.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device that can obtain an output even with a low load and that does not impair operability.

The present invention includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a detection board arranged at an interval inside the housing, and a support inserted inside the opening by being inserted into the opening from the detection board side. An operation body to be operated, a support protrusion that supports the central portion of the operation body, an elastic support member that biases the operation body toward the housing, and a contact that changes in output according to a pressing stroke. A detection unit, and a plurality of pressing units that transmit the pressing force applied to the operating body to the detection unit, and the detection unit is provided on the detection substrate on both sides of the support protrusion,
The support protrusion is provided on one of the operation body and the detection substrate, and a gap is formed between the operation body and the support protrusion or between the support protrusion and the detection substrate. The operating body has a movement margin in the pressing direction toward the detection substrate,
When the central portion of the operation body is pressed, the operation body and the support protrusion come into contact with each other, or the support protrusion and the detection substrate come into contact with each other, and the contacts in all the detection units come into contact with each other. Output is obtained,
When the point of action of the pressing force on the operating body moves from the central portion toward any one of the detection units, the operating body and the support protrusion are separated, or the support protrusion and the detection substrate are separated, and the support The operation body and the inside of the housing are in contact with each other on the side opposite to the action point across the protrusion, and the operation body is configured to bring the action point side closer to the detection substrate with the contact point as a fulcrum. Inclined, the change of the output based on the pressing stroke is obtained at the detection part on the action point side, and the contact is separated at the detection part located on the opposite side of the action point with the support protrusion interposed therebetween. It is what.

  In the present invention, since the output is immediately obtained from the contact when the operating body is pressed, the output can be obtained even when the operating body is operated with a low load. Even when the operation position of the operating body is moved from one contact to another, the output is not interrupted during the movement.

  For example, the contact is composed of a resistance element and a low resistance body facing the resistance element, and the output changes based on the contact area between the resistance element and the low resistance body.

  In addition, each of the resistance elements can be arranged at intervals in two orthogonal directions, and the low resistance body facing each of the resistance elements can be operated by the operation body. In this case, the shape of the operating body may be a cross shape or a circular shape. Alternatively, the operating body may be supported by the seesaw by arranging the two contact points so as to be opposed to each other with the support protrusion as the center.

Further, according to the present invention, the contact point serving as the fulcrum is a part of the operating body between the detection unit and the support projection, which is located on the opposite side of the action point with the support projection interposed therebetween . A contact point with the inside of the housing is preferable.

In the above invention, by the fulcrum of the operating body shifts from the center to the outside, it is possible to ensure a large pressing stroke of the operating unit.

  According to the present invention, an output is reliably obtained even when the operating body is operated with a low load, and the output is not interrupted when the operating position of the operating body is switched, so that the operability is not impaired.

  In addition, since the fulcrum of the operating body moves, a large pressing stroke of the operating body can be secured.

  1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view when the input device is viewed from the operation surface side, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact portion, and FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the change of the fulcrum.

  This input device 1 has an operating body 2 and a detection substrate 4 as detection means. The operation body 2 is formed in a cross shape in a cross shape with synthetic resin, metal, or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the operating body 2 has operating portions 2x1, 2x2, 2y1, 2y2 extending in the X1, X2, Y1, Y2 directions.

  A support protrusion 2a is integrally formed at the center portion of the lower surface of the operation body 2. The support protrusion 2a is attached to an elastic support member 3 provided on the lower side (Z2 side) thereof. Further, flanges 2b, 2b, 2b, 2b are integrally formed on the lower surface of the operation body 2 around the support protrusion 2a. Further, slit-like long holes 2d extending in the axial direction are formed on the lower surfaces of the operation portions 2x1, 2x2, 2y1, 2y2 of the operation body 2, respectively.

  The elastic support member 3 is formed in a disc shape with an elastically deformable member such as synthetic rubber or silicone rubber. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fitting hole 3a is formed at the center of the elastic support member 3, and the support protrusion 2a of the operating body 2 is inserted into the fitting hole 3a and fitted. Yes.

  Further, the elastic support member 3 is formed with elastic pressing bodies 3b, 3b, 3b, 3b protruding downward at positions corresponding to the operation portions 2x1, 2x2, 2y1, 2y2 of the operation body 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic pressing body 3b is integrally formed with a pressing portion 3b1 that is compressible and deformable, and a thin rib 3b2 that is elastically deformable and prevents inclination of the pressing portion 3b1. Is.

  In addition, protrusions 3f are integrally formed upward on the upper surface of each elastic pressing body 3b. Each protrusion 3f is inserted into the elongated hole 2d, and the operating body 2 is prevented from rotating with respect to the elastic support member 3.

  The detection substrate 4 is provided below the elastic support member 3 (Z1 side), and a reinforcement member 5 is provided below the detection substrate 4.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the detection substrate 4 has a three-layer structure of a lower sheet 4a, an upper sheet 4b, and a separation sheet 4m, and all the sheets are made of a synthetic material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having flexibility and insulation. It is made of resin. Instead of the separation sheet 4m, an insulating resin film may be formed on one or both of the lower sheet 4a and the upper sheet 4b so as to ensure a space between the upper and lower sheets 4b and 4a.

  A hole 4m1 is formed in the spacing sheet 4m at a position corresponding to each elastic pressing body 3b, and a resistance element 6a is formed in the lower sheet 4a at the position of the hole 4m1, and the upper sheet 4b at the same position. A low-resistance body 6b is formed on the substrate, and the resistance element 6a and the low-resistance body 6b are supported so as to be able to contact and separate.

  The resistance element 6a is a carbon film, and the pattern thereof is rectangular. The low resistance body 6b is a film having a lower electrical resistance than the resistance element 6a, and is a metal film such as silver, gold, or copper. . Electrode films 6a1 and 6a2 made of silver or the like are connected to both sides of the resistance element 6a. The resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b may be formed in a rectangular shape, or both may be formed in a circular shape, or the resistance element 6a may be formed in a rectangular shape and the low resistance body 6b. May be circular. In the present embodiment, a contact is constituted by the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b.

  The reinforcing member 5 is formed of a metal plate such as aluminum. The reinforcing member 5 is formed in a circular shape, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the reinforcing member 5 has locking pieces 5c, 5c bent upward (Z1 side) at the peripheral edge. The locking pieces 5c, 5c are inserted into square holes 4c, 4c formed in the detection substrate 4, and inserted into slit-shaped locking holes 3c, 3c formed in the elastic support member 3, The detection substrates 4 are combined and positioned relative to each other while being sandwiched between the reinforcing member 5 and the elastic support member 3.

  In addition, since the tips of the locking pieces 5c and 5c are bent slightly outward, respectively, when the locking pieces 5c and 5c penetrate the elastic support member 3, the locking pieces 5c and 5c The upper surface of the elastic support member 3 is locked at the tip, and is prevented from coming off.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, two cylindrical positioning pins 12, 12 are formed on the inner surface 10 b of the housing 10 so as to protrude downward. The positioning pins 12 and 12 are inserted into the through holes 3 d and 3 d formed in the elastic support member 3 when the input device 1 is attached to the housing 10, and the through holes formed in the detection substrate 4. The holes 4d and 4d are inserted into the holes 5d and 5d formed in the reinforcing member 5. And the front-end | tip of the positioning pins 12 and 12 which penetrated the said round holes 5d and 5d is located in the recessed parts 11a and 11a formed in the base member 11 provided in the lower side of the said reinforcement member 5. FIG. As described above, in the input device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily mount the input device 1 simply by providing the predetermined positioning pins 12 and 12 of the housing 10.

  In the input device 1, the operation body 2 is inserted from the inside into a cross-shaped opening 10 a formed in the housing 10. At this time, each flange formed in the operation body 2 is inserted into the operation body 2. It is locked at the edge of the opening 10a so that the operating body 2 is regulated so as not to come out of the opening 10a.

  In the input device 1, when the operation body 2 is placed on the elastic support member 3, the flanges 2 b are inserted into the notches formed in the elastic support member 3, and the operation body 2 is inserted. And the upper surface of the elastic support member 3 are brought into close contact with each other. Thereby, the height dimension of the input device 1 in the Z direction can be set small.

  In the input device 1 formed in this way, the operation body 2 can be operated to press the operation portions 2x1, 2x2, 2y1, 2y2 of the operation body 2 with its upper portion protruding upward from the housing 10. is there.

  When the operating portion 2x1 of the operating body 2 is pressed, the elastic pressing body 3b is pressed by the operating portion 2x1, the detection substrate 4 is elastically deformed by the elastic pressing body 3b, and the low resistance body 6b is turned into the resistance element 6a. Contact. When the operation portion 2x1 is further pushed, the pressing portion 3b1 of the elastic pressing body 3b is compressed and deformed and the detection substrate 4 is further bent, and the contact area between the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b is increased.

  As the pressing stroke or pressing force of the operation unit 2x1 increases, the contact area between the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b increases. As the contact area increases, the electrical resistance value between the electrode film 6a1 and the electrode film 6a2 decreases. That is, the output of the electrical resistance value between the electrode film 6a1 and the electrode film 6a2 changes in an analog manner as the pressing stroke or pressing force of the operation unit 2x1 increases.

In the input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the gap 13 having the dimension H (see FIG. 7 ) is formed from the surface of the detection substrate 4 at the tip of the support protrusion 2a when the operation body 2 is not pressed. Is set to This gap 13 is a movement margin in the present embodiment. Therefore, when the operating body 2 is not pressed, the operating body 2 is supported by the detection substrate 4 via the elastic support member 3.

  7 to 9 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the input apparatus 1, and the whole is simplified. For simplification of description, the size of the detection substrate 4 is shown enlarged in the Z direction from the actual size. FIG. 7 shows a state before the operation. In this state, the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b of each contact 6 provided on the detection substrate 4 are not in contact with each other.

  When the center portion of the operating body 2 is pressed with the pressing force F1 in the non-operating state shown in FIG. 7, the support protrusion 2a of the operating body 2 comes into contact with the upper surface of the detection substrate 4 and is elastic as shown in FIG. The detection board 4 is bent and deformed by the pressing body 3b, and the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b of the respective contacts 6 contact each other. The pressing force F1 at this time is preferably set to a low load.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the pressing point is moved from the central portion to the outer operating portion 2x1 side while applying a pressing force F2 larger than the pressing force F1 to the operating body 2, the operating portion 2x1 side The operating body 2 is tilted and the pressing portion 3b1 of the elastic pressing body 3b is compressed and deformed, and the contact area between the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b is increased. The gap of dimension H formed between the support protrusion 2a and the detection substrate 4 is further pressed when the operation portion 2x1 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 8, and the change in the contact area is predetermined. It is set to be obtained within the range.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the operation portion 2x1 is pressed with a relatively strong pressing force F2, the resistance element 6a and the low resistance body 6b of the contact 6 facing the opposite operation portion 2x2 are separated from each other. However, even if the pressing point is moved from the operation unit 2x1 side shown in FIG. 9 to the opposite operation unit 2x2 side, when the pressing point reaches the central portion of the operating body 2 during the movement, that is, the resistance element 6a. And the low resistance body 6b are in contact with each other, the output is not cut off, and the switching control from the operation unit 2x1 to the operation unit 2x2 can be smoothly transitioned.

  In the case of the other operation units 2x2, 2y1, and 2y2, the operation is performed in the same manner as described above. The switching operation from the operation unit 2x2 to 2x1, the switching operation from the operation unit 2y1 to 2y2, and the operation unit 2y2 to 2y1 are performed in the same manner as described above.

  For example, when the input device 1 is used as a cross key of a controller of a game machine, the character on the screen is moved to the right by pressing the operation unit 2x1 while pressing the entire operation tool 2. Even if the pressing point is moved to the operation unit 2x2, the character is immediately moved leftward without temporarily stopping. The same applies not only to the left and right reversal operation but also to the top and bottom.

  Moreover, the input device 1 of this Embodiment changes the fulcrum of the operation body 2 with a pressing point. The change of the fulcrum will be described with reference to FIG. However, FIG. 10 shows a state when the operating tool 2 is pressed at the position of the point P4.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the central portion (point P1) of the operation body 2 is pressed with a predetermined pressing force, the tip of the support protrusion 2a of the operation body 2 comes into contact with the upper surface of the detection substrate 4, and the operation body 2 is supported with the point A shown as a fulcrum. When the operating body 2 is pressed at the base end portion (point P2) of the operating portion outside the central portion, the operating body 2 is tilted so that the side surface 2c of the operating body 2 is at the edge of the opening 10a of the housing 10. The operating body 2 is operated with the point B and the point A shown in the figure as fulcrums.

  Further, when the pressing point for the operating body 2 is moved further to the outer point P3, the fulcrum of the operating body 2 cannot be maintained at the points A and B, and the side surface 2c of the operating body 2 and the edge of the opening 10a The support protrusion 2a which is the fulcrum A is lifted from the detection substrate 4, and the flange 2b located on the side opposite to the pressing side comes into contact with the inner surface 10b of the housing 10. Thereafter, the point C operates as a fulcrum of the operating body 2. When the operating tool 2 is further pressed at the point P4, the operating tool 2 is further tilted with the C point as a fulcrum.

  When the operation unit 2x2 is tilted with the point C as a fulcrum, as shown in FIG. 2, two flanges located on the X1 side from the support protrusion 2a serve as fulcrums. Even when the other operation portions 2x1, 2y1, and 2y2 are operated, the two flanges on the opposite side with the support protrusion 2a interposed therebetween serve as fulcrums.

  In this way, when a gap of a predetermined dimension H is formed between the support protrusion 2a and the detection substrate 4, when the pressing point of the operating body 2 is moved from the central portion to the tip of the operating portion, the arrow Q in FIG. As shown, the fulcrum is moved from point A to point C. Accordingly, when the operating tool 2 is pressed at the point P4, the distance between the fulcrum and the pressing point (P4) becomes longer, so that the operating tool 2 can be operated with a larger pressing stroke.

  In this embodiment, the support protrusion 2a is formed to protrude from the lower surface of the operation body 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the support protrusion is formed to protrude upward from the detection substrate 4 side. A gap having a predetermined dimension may be formed between the tip of the protrusion and the lower surface of the operation unit.

The exploded perspective view which shows an example of the input device of the present invention, A plan view when the input device after assembly is viewed from the operation surface side, Sectional drawing when cut along line 3-3 in FIG. Sectional drawing when cut along line 4-4 in FIG. Sectional drawing when cut along line 5-5 in FIG. An enlarged cross-sectional view showing a contact portion, Operation explanatory diagram showing the input device in a state before operation, Operation explanatory diagram showing the state when the center part of the operating body is pressed, Operation explanatory diagram showing the state when the operation unit is pressed, Explanatory diagram showing changes in fulcrum,

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device 2 Operation body 2a Support protrusion 2b Flange 2x1, 2x2, 2y1, 2y2 Operation part 3 Elastic support member 3b Elastic press body 3b1 Press part 4 Detection substrate 5 Reinforcement member 6 Contact 6a Resistance element 6b Low resistance body 6a1, 6a2 Electrode Membrane 10 Housing 10a Opening

Claims (5)

A casing in which an opening is formed, a detection board arranged at an interval inside the casing, and an operating body that is inserted into the opening from the detection board side and supported inside the casing A support protrusion that supports the central portion of the operation body, an elastic support member that urges the operation body toward the housing, a detection unit that faces a contact whose output changes according to a pressing stroke, A plurality of pressing portions that transmit the pressing force applied to the operating body to the detection unit, and the detection unit is provided on the detection substrate on both sides of the support protrusion,
The support protrusion is provided on one of the operation body and the detection substrate, and a gap is formed between the operation body and the support protrusion or between the support protrusion and the detection substrate. The operating body has a movement margin in the pressing direction toward the detection substrate,
When the central portion of the operation body is pressed, the operation body and the support protrusion come into contact with each other, or the support protrusion and the detection substrate come into contact with each other, and the contacts in all the detection units come into contact with each other. Output is obtained,
When the point of action of the pressing force on the operating body moves from the central portion toward any one of the detection units, the operating body and the support protrusion are separated, or the support protrusion and the detection substrate are separated, and the support The operation body and the inside of the housing are in contact with each other on the side opposite to the action point across the protrusion, and the operation body is configured to bring the action point side closer to the detection substrate with the contact point as a fulcrum. Inclined, the change of the output based on the pressing stroke is obtained at the detection part on the action point side, and the contact is separated at the detection part located on the opposite side of the action point with the support protrusion interposed therebetween. An input device. The contact point serving as the fulcrum includes a part of the operating body between the detection unit and the support protrusion that is located on the opposite side of the action point across the support protrusion, and an inner side of the housing. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input point is an abutment point .   One of the contacts provided in the detection unit is a resistance element, and the other contact is a low resistance body facing the resistance element, and when the pressing stroke changes, the resistance element and the low resistance body The input device according to claim 1, wherein the output changes as a result of a change in the contact area.   The input device according to claim 3, wherein the pressing portion is formed of an elastic pressing body.   5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is arranged at four positions across the support protrusion in two orthogonal directions centered on the support protrusion.

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