JP6621301B2 - Rotating and swinging input device and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary swing input device provided in an electronic apparatus including an imaging device such as a digital camera, and an electronic device including the rotary swing input device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Some electronic devices such as a digital camera include a rotary swing input device having an operation dial that can perform a combined operation of a swing operation and a rotation operation in a plurality of directions. As the rotation detecting means of the rotary swing type input device, the operation dial is rotated based on the pulse signal generated by sliding the contact brush fixed to the operation dial along the electrode pattern provided on the printed wiring board. A detection technique has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In this proposal, by swinging the operation dial, a switch is pushed by a pusher provided on the operation dial, and a signal is output.

  However, since the contact brush is always in sliding contact with the electrode pattern when the operation dial is rotated, there is a possibility that the operability may be deteriorated due to wear of the electrode pattern when continuously operated. In addition, the electrode pattern is unstable in contact with the contact brush due to wear, and thus there is a problem in the disturbance of the output signal and durability. Furthermore, there is a problem that the resistance value is likely to vary due to the contact state between the contact brush and the electrode pattern, and chattering occurs.

  In addition, as a rotation detection means of the rotary swing type input device, a technique for detecting the rotation of the operation dial using a magnet and a magnetic field detection element has been proposed (Patent Document 2). This proposal also requires a plurality of magnets according to the resolution of rotation detection, so it is difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus, and the magnets need to have a high accuracy and a plurality of magnetizations of N and S poles. Because of this, it is difficult to configure at low cost.

  On the other hand, as a rotation detecting means, a technique for detecting the rotation of the operation dial by passing a plurality of light shielding portions of the light shielding blade rotating integrally with the operation dial between the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the transmission type optical sensor. It has been known. The rotation detection means using the transmission type optical sensor has excellent durability because the light shielding blade and the transmission type optical sensor are not in contact with each other, and the light shielding blade has a simple structure. Since it is not necessary to use expensive parts, it can be constructed at low cost.

Japanese Patent No. 5281589 Japanese Patent No. 3820548

  However, when a transmission type optical sensor is used as the rotation detection means, the rotation detection accuracy of the operation dial is not appropriate if the positional relationship between the light shielding portion of the light shielding blade and the transmission type optical sensor is not appropriate at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial has stopped. May be reduced.

  For example, the transmission and shading of the transmissive optical sensor may become unstable due to variations in the fixed position of the operation dial and the light-shielding blade and the stable position of the operation dial, and the rotation amount and direction of the operation dial may be erroneously detected. It is done. It is also necessary to prevent erroneous detection when the switch is pressed by swinging the operation dial when the light shielding blade is in the stable position.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a technique for preventing erroneous detection when the operation dial is rotated or oscillated when a transmission type optical sensor is used as the rotation detection means of the rotary oscillating input device. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, the rotary swing type input device according to the present invention is capable of a light sensor that receives a light beam emitted from a light projecting unit at a light receiving unit , a rotating operation, and a swing operation in a plurality of directions. A plurality of operating means , a plurality of switches provided on the arrangement surface side of the optical sensor and generating a signal when pressed by the swinging operation; and the light projecting unit when the operating means is rotated. a light blocking member a plurality of light-shielding portion is set vignetting circumferentially passing through the gap formed between the light receiving portion, and a click means for generating a click feeling when the rotational operation of the operation means The rotation / swing type input device includes a rotation stop position of the operation means, the position of the operation means when the plurality of light shielding portions pass through the gap portion of the photosensor in the rotation direction of the operation means. Is a different position, The width of the gap portion of the light sensor in the rotation direction is wider than the width of the light shielding portion in the rotation direction, and the width in the rotation direction of the gap between the two light shielding portions adjacent to each other in the rotation direction is The width in the rotation direction of the gap between the two light shielding portions adjacent to each other in the rotation direction is larger than the width in the rotation direction of the light shielding portion. It is characterized by being wider .

According to the present invention, in the case of using the optical sensor as the rotation detection means of the rotary oscillating input device, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection when the rotation operation and the rocking operation of the operation means.

It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera which is an example of embodiment of an electronic device provided with the rotational oscillation type input device of this invention from the back side. It is a perspective view of a rotation oscillation type input device. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary swing type input device shown in FIG. 2. (A) is a perspective view of the light-shielding blade fitted to the back side of the operation dial, and (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the light-shielding blade is attached to the back side of the operation dial. (A) is a side view of the rotationally oscillating input device at a stable position where the rotation of the operation dial is stopped, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of (a). (A) is a principal part perspective view explaining the relationship between the light shielding blade and the photo interrupter at a stable position where the rotation of the operation dial is stopped, and (b) is a view of the relationship between the photo interrupter and the light shielding blade at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial is stopped. It is a figure explaining a relationship. (A) is the perspective view seen from the operation dial side of the holder, (b) is the figure which looked at the principal part of the rotation oscillation type input device in the stable position where rotation of the operation dial stopped from the operation dial side. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG.7 (b).

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera, which is an example of an embodiment of an electronic apparatus provided with the rotary swing input device of the present invention, as viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a lens barrel 12 on the front side, and on the back side, an imaging element (not shown) that passes through the imaging optical system of the lens barrel 12. A display unit 13 such as an LCD for displaying a subject image formed on the screen is provided. When the digital camera 10 is viewed from the back side, an operation dial 25 that constitutes the rotary swing input device 14 is provided on the right side of the display unit 13.

  In the rotary swing type input device 14, for example, a rotation operation of the operation dial 25 is assigned to a function that requires a continuous input operation such as manual focus and white balance. Further, as a combined operation of a swing operation and a rotation operation in a plurality of directions, the push button operation of the operation dial 25 is assigned to a function that can be set by a toggle operation such as flash on / off / auto.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotary swing type input device 14. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary swing type input device 14 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation dial 25 is held so as to be rotatable about the Z axis with respect to the holder 20. Further, the operation dial 25 is held so as to be swingable with respect to the holder 20 when pressed in the vertical and horizontal directions in the figure as a composite operation. A display plate 26 is provided at the center of the operation dial 25.

  On the appearance of the display board 26, icons representing the button functions in the up, down, left, and right directions are printed. The display board 26 is positioned in a hole provided in the base 28, and a pin-shaped portion protruding from the back surface of the base 28 is crimped and fixed to the base 28, so that its rotation is restricted. A center key 27 is provided at the center of the display board 26, and the center key 27 is held so that it can be pushed in the axial direction with respect to the display board 26.

  When the operation dial 25 is pressed in the up / down / left / right directions, the display board 26 swings following the operation dial 25, and the center key 27 is interlocked when the operation dial 25 is rotated or swinged. Without pushing, only the pushing operation in the axial direction is possible. The operation dial 25 is fixed to the base 28 via a double-sided tape 30 which is an example of an adhesive sheet together with the printed wiring board 29.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of photo interrupters 22 is mounted on the printed wiring board 29 as a transmissive optical sensor for detecting the rotation of the operation dial 25. On the mounting surface side of the photo interrupter 22 of the printed wiring board 29, a sheet switch 23b that holds a plurality of metal dome switches 23a integrally is fixed. A double-sided tape 30 is disposed on the printed wiring board 29 on the side opposite to the mounting surface of the photo interrupter 22.

  The holder 20 is positioned in a through hole (not shown) provided in the base 28, and a pin-shaped caulking portion 20j (see FIG. 6B) protruding from the back surface of the base 28 is crimped. 28 is fixed. A click spring 21 is held on the holder 20.

  FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the light shielding blade 31 fitted to the back side of the operation dial 25, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing how the light shielding blade 31 is attached to the back side of the operation dial 25.

  The light shielding blade 31 is formed of a metal material or the like, and has an annular portion 31a that is fitted and fixed to the back side of the operation dial 25 and rotates integrally with the operation dial 25, as shown in FIG. A plurality of light-shielding portions 31b protruding in the axial direction of the operation dial 25 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the annular portion 31a at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  The light shielding part 31b shields the light from the light projecting part of the photo interrupter 22, and the light from the light projecting part of the photo interrupter 22 is shielded in the gap 32 between the light shielding parts 31b adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Without being received by the light receiving unit. A positioning portion 31 c for positioning with the operation dial 25 is provided in one gap 32 of the light shielding blade 31 so as to protrude in the axial direction of the operation dial 25. The positioning part 31c has an axial protrusion dimension shorter than that of the light shielding part 31b. Therefore, the light from the light projecting part of the photo interrupter 22 is not shielded by the positioning part 31c.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the operation dial 25 has a rotating shaft portion 25b that is rotatably held in a holding hole 20c (see FIG. 3) formed in the holder 20 and swingable in a plurality of directions. Is provided. A plurality of convex portions 25 a protruding outward in the radial direction are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft portion 25 b at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  When the click spring 21 comes into contact with the convex portion 25a, a click feeling is generated when the operation dial 25 is rotated, and the operation dial 25 is stopped at a stable position when the operation dial 25 is stopped. Further, the operation dial 25 is provided with a notch portion 25c into which the positioning portion 31c of the light shielding blade 31 is positioned and fitted.

  Next, the relationship between the light shielding blade 31 and the photo interrupter 22 at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a side view of the rotary oscillating input device 14 at a stable position where the operation dial 25 stops rotating, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

  As shown in FIG.5 (b), the both ends of the click spring 21 are each engaged between the convex parts 25a adjacent to each other. That is, the click spring 21 generates a spring force that resists the rotation of the operation dial 25 due to the inclined surfaces of the convex portions 25a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, whereby the operation dial 25 is in a stable position where the rotation is stopped. At this time, the light shielding portion 31b of the light shielding blade 31 is disposed at a position spaced in the circumferential direction from the gap portion 22a between the light projecting portion 22c and the light receiving portion 22b of the photo interrupter 22. In this state, the light from the light projecting unit 22c of the photo interrupter 22 is received by the light receiving unit 22b without being blocked.

  When the light shielding blade 31 rotates together with the operation dial 25, the light shielding portion 31b and the gap 32 pass through the gap portion 22a between the light projecting portion 22c and the light receiving portion 22b of the photo interrupter 22, thereby causing the light interrupting portion 22 to project. The light from the light part 22c repeats light shielding and transmission. Based on the output signal from the photo interrupter 22 at this time, the rotation of the operation dial 25 can be detected. Note that the pair of photo interrupters 22 mounted on the printed wiring board 29 are arranged at an angle where the waveform of the output signal is shifted by half phase, so that the rotation direction of the operation dial 25 can also be detected. Yes.

  FIG. 6A is a main part perspective view for explaining the relationship between the light shielding blade 31 and the photo interrupter 22 at a stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 6A, at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped, the light shielding portion 31b of the light shielding blade 31 is located in the gap portion 22a between the light projecting portion 22c and the light receiving portion 22b of the photo interrupter 22. On the other hand, they are arranged at positions separated in the rotational direction. Even if the operation dial 25 is swung in this state, the light from the light projecting unit 22c of the photo interrupter 22 is not blocked, and the state received by the light receiving unit 22b does not change.

  FIG. 6B is a view for explaining the relationship between the photo interrupter 22 and the light shielding blade 31 at a stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped. The operation dial 25 may be displaced from the stable position where the rotation is stopped due to a phase shift of the light shielding blade 31 with respect to the operation dial 25 or a position shift between the convex portion 25 a and the click spring 21.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, the circumferential width W1 of the gap 32 between the light shielding portions 31b adjacent to each other is set wider than the circumferential width W2 of the light shielding portion 31b. The circumferential width W1 is set wider than the circumferential width W3 of the light projecting portion 22c and the light receiving portion 22b of the photo interrupter 22. As shown in FIG. 6B, the circumferential width W3 of the light projecting portion 22c and the light receiving portion 22b of the photo interrupter 22 is set wider than the circumferential width W2 of the light shielding portion 31b.

  As a result, even if a phase shift of the light shielding blade 31 with respect to the operation dial 25 or a positional shift between the convex portion 25a and the click spring 21 occurs, these shifts can be absorbed. For this reason, at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped, the light received from the light projecting unit 22c of the photo interrupter 22 can be stably maintained without being blocked by the light receiving unit 22b. . As a result, erroneous detection when the operation dial 25 is rotated and swung can be prevented.

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the holder 20 as viewed from the operation dial 25 side. As shown in FIG. 7A, the holder 20 includes an inner annular portion 20h having a holding hole 20c that holds the rotary shaft portion 25b of the operation dial 25 so as to be rotatable and swingable in a plurality of directions. An outer annular portion 20d is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the inner annular portion 20h, and the outer annular portion 20d and the inner annular portion 20h are connected via four connection portions 20f arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Has been. The inner annular portion 20h, the connecting portion 20f, and the outer annular portion 20d are integrally formed of an elastically deformable resin material or the like.

  On the surface of the outer annular portion 20d on the side of the operation dial 25, four sliding portions 20e that slide when the operation dial 25 rotates are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The four sliding portions 20e are provided corresponding to the four metal dome switches 23a on the top, bottom, left, and right arranged at the center of the plurality of metal dome switches 23a shown in FIG. The sliding portion 20e functions as a pressing portion that presses down the corresponding metal dome switch 23a when the operation dial 25 is swung in either the up, down, left, or right direction.

  At this time, the outer annular portion 20d is provided with a first contact portion 20b as a stopper in the swinging direction of the operation dial 25. The first abutting portion 20b is arranged in the vicinity of the photo interrupter 22, and has the same phase as that of the connecting portion 20f and is shifted at a phase of 45 ° with respect to the sliding portion 20e at four substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Is provided. Similarly, the inner annular portion 20h is provided with a second contact portion 20a as a stopper in the swinging direction of the operation dial 25. In the present embodiment, the case where the outer annular portion 20d and the inner annular portion 20h are integrally formed is illustrated, but the outer annular portion 20d and the inner annular portion 20h may be separate.

  FIG. 7B is a view of the main part of the rotary swing type input device 14 viewed from the operation dial 25 side at the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 is stopped. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the operation dial 25 is operated to swing, the second contact portion 20 a provided in the inner annular portion 20 h contacts the fixed surface 31 a of the light shielding blade 31, and the operation dial 25 swings. It will be a stopper. Further, the outer peripheral end portion of the operation dial 25 is in contact with the first contact portion 20b disposed in the vicinity of the photo interrupter 22, and similarly serves as a stopper in the swing direction of the operation dial 25. In other words, by providing a plurality of contact portions of the operation dial 25 and the holder 20 when the operation dial 25 is swung near the photo interrupter 22 on the inner diameter side and the outer diameter side of the light shielding portion 31b, the swing operation of the operation dial 25 is performed. In this case, the light-shielding portion 31b is restricted so as not to change beyond a predetermined amount.

  The dimension between the tip of the light shielding part 31 b of the light shielding blade 31 and the opposing surface (bottom surface) of the gap part 22 a of the photo interrupter 22 is between the second contact part 20 a and the annular part 31 a of the light shielding blade 31. And the dimension between the first contact portion 20b and the outer peripheral end portion of the operation dial 25 is larger. As a result, a phase shift in the rotation direction of the operation dial 25 occurs, and even if the operation dial 25 is swung while the light shielding portion 31b is inside the gap portion 22a of the photo interrupter 22, the light shielding portion 31b is still in the photo interrupter 22. It is possible to prevent the interference.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even when the stable position where the rotation of the operation dial 25 stops is displaced, the state of receiving light by the light receiving unit 22b of the photo interrupter 22 can be stably maintained. This can prevent erroneous detection of the photo interrupter 22 when the operation dial 25 is rotated or swung.

  In the present embodiment, due to a phase shift in the rotation direction of the operation dial 25, even if the operation dial 25 is swung while the light shielding portion 31 b is in the gap portion 22 a of the photointerrupter 22, the light shielding portion 31 b remains in the photointerrupter. Interference with 22 can be prevented.

  The configuration of the present invention is not limited to that exemplified in the above embodiment, and the material, shape, dimensions, form, number, arrangement location, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 14 Rotation rocking | fluctuation input device 20 Holder 22 Photo interrupter 22b Light receiving part 22c Light projection part 23a Metal dome switch 25 Operation dial 29 Printed wiring board 31 Light shielding blade 31b Light shielding part

Claims (4)

An optical sensor that receives the light beam emitted from the light projecting unit at the light receiving unit;
Operating means capable of rotating and swinging in multiple directions;
A plurality of switches that are provided on the arrangement surface side of the optical sensor and generate a signal when pressed by the swing operation;
A light-shielding member provided with a plurality of light-shielding portions in the circumferential direction passing through a gap formed between the light projecting portion and the light-receiving portion when the operation means is rotated;
A rotation swing input device comprising: click means for generating a click feeling when the operation means is rotated;
The rotation stop position of the operation means is a position different from the position of the operation means when the plurality of light shielding portions pass through the gap portion of the photosensor in the rotation direction of the operation means,
The width of the gap portion of the optical sensor in the rotation direction is wider than the width of the light shielding portion in the rotation direction,
The width in the rotation direction of the gap between the two light shielding portions adjacent to each other in the rotation direction is wider than the width in the rotation direction of the gap portion of the photosensor,
The rotationally oscillating input device, wherein a width between the two light shielding portions adjacent to each other in the rotation direction is wider than a width of the light shielding portion in the rotation direction. An elastically deformable holder for holding the operating means together with the light shielding member and swingable in the plurality of directions;
The holder is disposed on an outer annular side of the inner annular portion for holding the operating means together with the light-shielding member so as to be rotatable and swingable in the plural directions, and the operating means is arranged in the plural directions. An outer annular portion provided with a pressing portion that is elastically deformed and depresses a corresponding switch among the plurality of switches when swinging is performed in any of the directions,
When the operation means is swung by a predetermined amount or more on at least one of the light shielding member on the inner annular portion on the inner diameter side from the light shielding portion and on the outer annular portion on the outer diameter side of the light shielding member in the outer annular portion. 2. The rotary swinging type according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion that contacts the operating means before the light blocking portion of the light blocking member contacts the gap portion of the optical sensor. Input device. The rotary swing input device according to claim 2 , wherein the optical sensor is provided between the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion of the holder in the rotation direction. An electronic apparatus comprising the rotationally oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.