JP2002163960A - Multi-directional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable that an analog output corresponding to a direction and an angle of tilting of a lever is obtained. SOLUTION: On a substrate 21, four resistor patterns are formed with distances of 90 deg. on the circumference surrounding the central contact point pattern, and electroconductive rubber contact points 47 whose counter contact faces are made to be spherical are arranged on their resistor patterns. Accompanied with a tilting operation of a lever 38, the rubber contact point 47 of the tilting direction is pressed by a tilting key top 41, and a contacting area with the resistor pattern increases. By this, the resistance value becomes that which decreases between terminals 28 connected with this resistor pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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

[0002]

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

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

[0004]

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

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device which has a simple structure, can be made small and thin, and can be mounted by reflow soldering.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a center contact pattern, four resistor patterns arranged at 90 ° intervals on a circumference surrounding the center contact pattern, and a comparative fixed pattern are provided. A substrate on which a resistor pattern is formed and a lead pattern is drawn out from each of the patterns, a plurality of terminals each having one end positioned around the substrate and connected to the lead pattern, And a terminal is formed integrally with the terminal to form a box with one side open, a substrate is located on the bottom surface inside the box, and the other end of each terminal is formed on a resin body protruding from the periphery, and on the central contact pattern, A disc spring-like snap plate arranged in a convex shape, four conductive rubber contacts arranged on each resistor pattern and having a substantially spherical contact surface with the resistor pattern, and one surface of the body To While a cover constituting an opening in the center of one surface thereof, a shaft portion located on the opening,
The shaft portion is formed in a flange shape, and the side surface on the shaft portion side is formed as a base having a substantially conical surface shape. The base portion is mounted on four rubber contacts, and the elastic restoring force of the rubber contacts is used. A key top urged in the direction in which the shaft protrudes from the opening, and a through hole formed in the axis of the key top are prevented from rotating around the axis, and come off in a direction protruding from the shaft. Stopped and engaged, the inner end is in contact with the snap plate, and the outer end is composed of a lever protruding from the shaft. The lever is pushed in the axial direction, the snap plate is reversed and the central contact pattern turns on. The rubber contact is pressed by the key top that tilts together with the lever by the tilting operation of the lever, so that the contact area with the resistor pattern increases.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided four guide holes each having a guide hole facing the central contact pattern, and four substantially circular guide portions facing each resistor pattern between the guide hole and the side wall of the body. The guide is integrally formed with the body and is located on the substrate, the snap plate is located in the guide hole, and the rubber contact is located in each of the guide portions. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the shaft portion has a central hole through which the plate spring having a disc spring shape is convex downward, and the outer peripheral portion is a body side wall. The leaf spring is sandwiched between the upper end face and the cover, and is urged by the inner peripheral portion of the leaf spring in a direction of pressing the rubber contact.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the rubber contact is substantially hemispherical. In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the rubber contact is a sphere. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the rubber contact has an abacus ball shape. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the rubber contact is made of silicone rubber.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the body and the substrate are made of a heat-resistant material. In a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the terminal is led out flush with the lower surface of the body.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external shape of an embodiment of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a sectional structure thereof. FIGS. 3 to 11 show each component.
The structure of each part will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Indicates a substrate 21 and a pattern formed on the substrate. In this example, a central contact pattern 22 is formed at the center of the substantially rectangular substrate 21, and a circle surrounding the central contact pattern 22 is formed. The four resistor patterns 23 are formed at 90 ° intervals, that is, at equidistant positions on two orthogonal axes about the center contact pattern 22.

The center contact pattern 22 is a circular pattern 22
a and a donut-shaped pattern 22b surrounding the circular pattern 22a. The donut-shaped pattern 22b is partially cut away. Circular pattern 2
The lead pattern 24a drawn out from 2a is led out to the peripheral part of the substrate 21 through this cutout, and the lead pattern 24b drawn out from one end of the donut-shaped pattern 22b is also drawn out to the peripheral part. Each resistor pattern 23 has a rectangular shape and the same shape, and one end side thereof is connected to a common lead pattern 24c.
The other end of each resistor pattern 23 is connected to a lead pattern 24d to 24g, respectively, and these lead patterns 24c to 24g are drawn out to the peripheral portion of the substrate 21, respectively. In the drawing, reference numeral 25 denotes a fixed resistor pattern for comparison. The fixed resistor pattern 25 has one end connected to the common lead pattern 24c and the other end connected to a lead pattern 24h drawn out to the peripheral portion of the substrate 21. It is connected to the.

The center contact pattern 22 and each of the lead patterns 24a to 24h are formed by printing with, for example, a copper paste or a silver paste, and the resistor patterns 23 and the fixed resistor patterns 25 are formed with, for example, carbon paste. In addition, as shown in the drawing, an insulating resist 26 or the like is applied to a portion of the lead pattern 24a located at the cutout portion of the donut-shaped pattern 22b, and the surface thereof is insulated. Note that a low-resistance carbon paste is appropriately printed on each of the patterns 22a and 22b of the center contact pattern 22.

The material of the substrate 21 is paper phenol or glass epoxy resin having excellent heat resistance. Note that a heat-resistant film such as PEI (polyetherimide), PET (polyester), or PPS resin may be used. The terminals are positioned and arranged with respect to the substrate 21 having the above configuration, and the substrate 21, the terminals, and the body are integrally formed. FIG. 4 shows the integrally molded body 27 on the lower surface (bottom surface).
This is a state viewed from the side, in which 28 indicates a terminal and 29 indicates a terminal carrier. Numeral 31 indicates a hole formed at the place where the holding pin was arranged at the time of molding.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which each terminal 28 is cut at a predetermined position, that is, the terminal carrier 29 is cut and removed in the state of FIG. Each terminal 28 has its tip positioned on the substrate 21 and the lead pattern 2
4a to 24h. In this example, the other end of each terminal 28 projecting from the periphery of the body 27 is led out flush with the lower surface of the body 27. Therefore, each terminal 28 is provided at an intermediate portion thereof as shown in FIG. 5C. It is bent. The terminal 28 is made of, for example, steel and plated with Sn.

Next, the structure of the body 27 will be described with reference to FIG. The body 27 has a box shape with one side open, and the substrate 21 is located on the bottom surface in the box.
The guide 32 located on the substrate 21 is formed integrally with the body 27, and has a guide hole 33 formed in the center thereof. The center contact pattern of the substrate 21 is formed through the guide hole 33. 22 faces the outside. On the other hand, a substantially semicircular notch 34 is formed at each intermediate portion of the four sides around the guide 32, and a substantially semicircular notch 35 formed on each side wall of the body 27 facing the notch 34. Together, they constitute a substantially circular guide portion 36. Each resistor pattern 2 of substrate 21
3 are located in these guide portions 36 and are exposed.

The guide 32 is formed integrally with the body 27 by flowing molding resin through a hole 37 provided in the substrate 21. The resin used is, for example, PPS resin or nylon. FIG. 6 shows a lever 38 for operation. The lever 38 has a prismatic shape as shown in the figure, and a rectangular plate portion 38a is formed at one end of the lever 38 so as to protrude like a flange. A projection 38b having a spherical end surface. The lever 38 is made of a resin such as nylon, for example. In addition, it can also be made of metal.

FIG. 7 shows the key top 41 engaged with the lever 38. Key top 41 is shaft part 41a
And a flange portion with respect to the shaft portion 41a.
A base surface 41b having a substantially conical surface on the side surface,
A through hole 42 is formed at the axis thereof. Through hole 42
Is a size through which the lever 38 can be inserted, and its base 41
A concave portion 42a that engages with the square plate portion 38a of the lever 38 is formed at the end on the b side. The base 41b has a substantially rectangular outer shape as shown in the figure, and further includes a semicircular protruding portion 41c in the middle of each side. The key top 41 is made of, for example, a resin such as nylon.

FIG. 8 shows a cover 4 for covering one surface of the body 27.
3, the cover 43 has a circular opening 44 at the center thereof, and four locking pieces 46 having locking holes 45 formed in the periphery thereof are formed by bending. . The cover 43 is formed of, for example, a stainless plate. FIG. 9A shows a substantially hemispherical rubber contact 47 disposed on each resistor pattern 23 of the substrate 21. The rubber contact 47 is made of, for example, conductive silicon rubber. The front end has a slight flat portion 47a, and the other end has a slight columnar portion 47b.

FIG. 10 shows the center contact pattern 22 of the substrate 21.
FIG. 11 shows a disc spring-like snap plate 48 disposed between the upper end surface of the side wall of the body 27 and the cover 43. It is a thing. The leaf spring 49 has a central hole 51. These snap plates 4
8 and the leaf spring 49 are formed of a stainless material.
Next, the assembly of these components will be described. The center contact pattern 22 with the snap plate 48 protruding upward.
And a rubber contact 47 is disposed on each resistor pattern 23. The rubber contact 47 is arranged as shown in FIG. 2 so that the surface in contact with the resistor pattern 23 has a spherical shape.
The snap plate 48 is housed and held in the guide hole 33, and each rubber contact 47 is positioned and held by the guide portion 36.

The lever 38 is inserted into the through hole 42 of the key top 41.
Pass through. The square plate portion 38a of the lever 38 has a key top 4
The lever 38 is engaged with the concave portion 42a formed in the key top 41, thereby preventing the lever 38 from coming off in the direction protruding from the shaft portion 41a of the key top 41, and preventing rotation about the axis. As shown in FIG. 2, the key top 41 and the lever 38 are incorporated in the body 27, and a leaf spring 49 is mounted so as to project downward, and the cover 43 is attached to the body 27. The fixing of the cover 43 and the body 27 is performed by using the cover 43
This is performed by engaging the locking holes 45 of the two locking pieces 46 with the four projections 52 formed on the outer surface of the body 27, respectively. At this time, the plate spring 49 is fixed by being sandwiched between the upper end surface of the side wall of the body 27 and the cover 43 at four locations on the outer peripheral portion.

The key top 41 has a base 41b, on which a projection 41c is formed, mounted on a rubber contact 47, and the shaft 41a is inserted through the center hole 51 of the leaf spring 49 to open the opening 44 of the cover 43. Is located. Leaf spring 49
2 is in elastic contact with the base 41b of the key top 41 as shown in FIG.
Thus, the rubber contact 47 is urged in the direction of pressing, while the rubber contact 47 urges the shaft portion 41a in a direction to protrude from the opening 44 by its elastic restoring force, that is, receives a reaction force.

The lever 38 has a protrusion 38b at its inner end.
Are in contact with the snap plate 48, and the outer end protrudes from the shaft portion 41 a of the key top 41, that is, protrudes upright on the cover 43. In the multidirectional input device having the above structure, when the lever 38 is tilted,
The key top 41 is tilted together with the lever 38, whereby the rubber contact 47 is pressed and elastically deformed (distorted). Due to this deformation, the contact area of the rubber contact 47 with the resistor pattern 23 increases, so that the resistance value between the terminals 28 to which the resistor pattern 23 is connected decreases as the contact area increases.

That is, according to the multidirectional input device, an analog output corresponding to the tilt direction and the tilt angle of the lever 38 can be obtained. On the other hand, when the lever 38 is pressed in the axial direction, the snap plate 48 is pressed and inverted, whereby the central contact pattern 22 is turned on. When the pressing is released, the snap plate 48 returns to the original state, and the center contact pattern 22 is turned off. FIG.
2 shows an equivalent circuit of the multi-directional input device operating in this manner.
o. (See FIG. 5). Note that the fixed resistor pattern 2
No. 5 to which terminal No. 5 is connected. The output between 1 and 2 is used for voltage ratio output detection.

In the above example, the key top 41 and the cover 4
A leaf spring 49 is provided between the key spring 3 and the key top 41. The key spring 41 is pressed by the leaf spring 49. However, for example, a configuration without the leaf spring 49 may be adopted. In this case, the key top 41 is urged by the elastic restoring force of the four rubber contacts 47 in a direction in which the shaft portion 41a protrudes from the opening 44, whereby the lever 38 becomes a neutral point, that is, perpendicular to the cover 43. The lever 38 can be reliably restored and maintained by providing the leaf spring 49 as in this example.
That is, the neutral point return characteristic can be improved, and a good operation feeling of the lever 38 can be obtained.

Also, as in this example, the body 27 and the substrate 2
1 is made of a heat-resistant material, and the terminals 28 are led out flush with the lower surface of the body 27, so that, for example, automatic mounting can be performed on a mating printed circuit board on which the multidirectional input device is mounted, and reflow soldering is performed. Mounting can be easily performed. In the above-described example, the shape of the rubber contact 47 is substantially a hemisphere, but the shape of the rubber contact is not limited to this. For example, the rubber contact 53 in the form of an abacus ball as shown in FIG. A simple spherical rubber contact 54 as shown in FIG. 9 (3) can also be used.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, an analog output can be obtained in accordance with the tilt direction and the tilt angle of the lever, and the switch (center contact) can be obtained by pressing the lever in the axial direction (vertical direction). ) Can be turned on and off. In addition, the structure is simple, it is easy to reduce the size and thickness, and the body and substrate are made of heat-resistant material, and the terminals are led out flush with the lower surface of the body. In addition, a multidirectional input device capable of reflow soldering can be obtained.

By providing a leaf spring between the key top and the cover and biasing the key top in the direction of pressing the rubber contact, the neutral point return characteristic of the lever can be improved. And a good operation feeling of the lever can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 9 is a view showing a rubber contact in FIG. 2;
(2) and (3) are figures which show the other examples of a structure (shape) of a rubber contact, respectively, A is a front view, B is a bottom view.

10A is a cross-sectional view of the snap plate shown in FIG. 2, and FIG.

11A is a plan view of the leaf spring in FIG. 2, and FIG.

FIG. 12 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the multi-directional input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional multidirectional input device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01C 10/36 H01C 10/36

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A center contact pattern, four resistor patterns arranged at 90 ° intervals on a circumference surrounding the center contact pattern, and a fixed resistor pattern for comparison are formed. A substrate having a pattern drawn out to the periphery, a plurality of terminals each having one end located at the periphery of the substrate and connected to the lead pattern, and a box formed integrally with the substrate and the terminals and having one open side A resin body in which the other end of each of the terminals protrudes from the periphery, and a disc spring-like shape that is arranged to project upward on the central contact pattern. A snap plate, four conductive rubber contacts disposed on each of the resistor patterns, and having a substantially spherical contact surface with the resistor pattern; A cover forming an opening at the center of one surface, a shaft portion located at the opening, a base portion having a flange shape with respect to the shaft portion, and a side surface on the shaft portion side having a substantially conical surface shape, A base is mounted on the four rubber contacts, and a key top is urged in a direction protruding from the opening by the elastic restoring force of the rubber contacts, and is formed on an axis of the key top. The through-hole is prevented from rotating around the axis, and is prevented from coming off in the direction protruding from the shaft portion and engaged therewith, the inner end abuts on the snap plate, and the outer end contacts the lever protruding from the shaft portion The axial contact operation of the lever inverts the snap plate to turn on the center contact pattern, and the tilting operation of the lever causes the rubber contact to be tilted together with the key top that tilts with the lever. It is pressed multi-directional input apparatus characterized by being structured to contact area between the resistor pattern is increased. 2. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide hole through which the central contact pattern faces, and wherein each of the resistor patterns faces between a side wall of the body.
A guide forming one substantially circular guide portion is formed integrally with the body and positioned on the substrate, the snap plate is positioned in the guide hole, and the rubber contact is positioned in each guide portion. A multidirectional input device. 3. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, further comprising a central hole through which said shaft portion is inserted, wherein a plate spring in the form of a disc spring is convex downward, and an outer peripheral portion thereof. A multi-directional input, wherein the base is urged by an inner peripheral portion of the leaf spring in a direction of pressing the rubber contact. apparatus. 4. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein said rubber contact is substantially hemispherical. 5. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the rubber contact is a sphere. 6. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein said rubber contact is in the shape of an abacus ball. 7. The multidirectional input device according to claim 4, wherein said rubber contact is made of silicone rubber. 8. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the body and the substrate are made of a heat-resistant material. 9. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is led out flush with a lower surface of said body.