JP3047746B2 - Lever switch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lever switch device for operating a switch by tilting an operation lever.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of this type of lever switch device is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-201244. As shown in FIG. 12, a substantially hemispherical bearing body 73 slidably in contact with a hemispherical guide surface 71 at an upper portion inside the hollow of the housing 70, and a center of the bearing 73 is provided on the bearing 73. An operation lever 72 including a slide rod 74 that is freely slidably inserted so as to pass therethrough is provided.

When the operating lever 72 is tilted from a neutral state, the sliding rod 74 and the bearing 73 are rotated integrally, so that the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the bearing 73 pushes down the operating pin 78. Then, when the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the bearing body 73 is displaced by a predetermined operation stroke, the switch 79 disposed below the operation pin 78 is operated, and when the hand is released from the operation lever 72, the operation lever 72 is neutralized by the return spring 81. Will return to.

[0004]

In this switch, the operating pin 78 and the switch 79 are, for example, 90
Assuming that the operation lever 72 is tilted to the right side in the drawing, for example, only the operation pin 78 provided at the right side position is pushed down when the operation lever 72 is tilted to the right side in the drawing, assuming that the operation lever 78 is disposed at four positions on the left and right, the back side and the near side of the drawing at angular intervals of degrees. When the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the bearing body 73 is displaced by a predetermined operation stroke,
Only the corresponding switch 79 operates. But,
When the operation lever 72 is tilted toward the middle between the right position and the back position, the right operating pin 78
And the operating pin (not shown) on the back side are simultaneously pushed down. At this time, which of the two operation pins activates the switch first is determined by the direction in which the operation lever 72 is tilted. That is, if the operation stroke of each position is the same, by tilting in a direction closer to the right position than the position at an angle of 45 degrees between the right position and the back position, the switch in the right position is activated first. This is effective, and if it is tilted in a direction closer to the far side position than the position at the angle of 45 degrees, the switch in the far side position is activated first and this becomes effective.
Therefore, conventionally, since the operation stroke of each position is set to be the same, the operation area where the switch can be operated by tilting the operation lever is the same for each position.

[0005] However, for example, when the operation frequency is different for each position, there is a situation that it is desirable that the operation area is wider for frequently operated positions. However, in the conventional configuration, since the operation area of each position is uniform, it is not possible to cope with such a situation.

Further, in order to eliminate unstable operation when two adjacent switches are simultaneously operated, a circuit configuration in which when two switches are simultaneously operated, it is always assumed that only one switch is operated is always considered. May prepare. In the case where such a circuit configuration is provided in the conventional configuration, it is considered that one switch is always depressed when the operation lever is tilted to an intermediate position between two adjacent switches, so that the operation area of one switch is the other. Is wider than the operating area of the switch. for that reason,
Contrary to the above, if there is a demand to make the operating area uniform for each position, it becomes impossible to cope with this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lever switch device having good operability by making operation regions for each position different as desired.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a lever switch device of the present invention includes an operation lever capable of tilting operation, a plurality of switch elements provided at positions surrounding the operation lever, and an operation lever. An actuating section which is provided so as to be displaced in conjunction with the tilt of the lever, and which operates one of the switch elements when displaced by a predetermined operation stroke based on the tilt of the operating lever, The present invention is characterized in that the operating stroke of each operating portion for operating is different from that of some of the switch elements arranged in the direction of winding of the operation lever (the invention of claim 1). .

[0009] In an apparatus for scrolling an image on a display device in accordance with the tilting direction of an operating lever, an operating stroke for operating a switch element is different from the tilting direction of scrolling an image up and down among the tilting directions of the operating lever. It may be set to be shorter (the invention of claim 2).

Further, the operation lever is attached to a vertically long case, and among the tilt directions of the operation lever, a tilt direction that is oblique to the longitudinal side of the case is an operation for operating the switch element. The stroke may be set shorter than others (the invention of claim 3).

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the operating portion which is displaced in conjunction with the operation lever, the operation stroke for operating each switch can be made different between each switch element. Here, if the operation stroke is shortened, the operation region in which the switch element can be operated by tilting the operation lever is widened, and if the operation stroke is long, the operation region is narrowed. Therefore, by making the operation stroke different between the switch elements, the operation area between the switch elements can be made different. Thereby, for example, for each switch element, the operation area can be made different depending on the frequency at which the switch element operates. In addition, in order to eliminate an uncertainty area when two adjacent switches are pressed simultaneously, if a circuit configuration is provided in which two switches are simultaneously pressed, it is always assumed that one switch is pressed. Even so, by extending the operation stroke for one switch element, the operation area can be made the same between adjacent switch elements.

The lever switch device according to the second aspect of the present invention is used, for example, for scrolling an image displayed on a display device of a car navigation system,
In this case, since the operation stroke for the switch element for scrolling the image in the vertical direction is shorter than the other, the operation area of the operation lever that can scroll the image in the vertical direction is wider than the others. That is, the operation area of the operation lever for the switch that frequently operates is wide.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the operation stroke of the switch element located obliquely with respect to the side of the case, that is, the switch element in the direction in which it is difficult to tilt the operating lever, is shorter than the other. As a result, the operation area of the operation lever in the direction in which it is difficult to tilt becomes wider than the others.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation stroke can be made different for each switch element, so that the operation area for each switch element can be made different as desired, thereby improving operability. The effect which can be improved is produced.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the operating stroke in the frequently operated operation direction is shortened.
The operation area for the frequent operation direction is wide, and the usability is very good. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operation area in the direction in which the operation lever is hardly tilted is wide, the operation can be smoothly performed without any discomfort as a whole.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the lever switch device of the present invention is applied to an operation panel of a vehicle-mounted navigation system will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular printed board 2 on which circuit components such as an IC, a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor (not shown) are mounted on a back surface is fixed in a rectangular case 1 having a shallow tray shape. A pair of set switch fixed contacts 3a are arranged on the surface of the printed circuit board 2 and are spaced at equal angular intervals of 45 ° on a circle around the set switch fixed contact 3a. Thus, eight pairs of fixed contacts 4a for select switches are arranged.

A rubber switch cover 5 having electrical insulation and elasticity is fixed to the surface of the printed circuit board 2. The switch cover 5 has a rectangular thin plate shape that covers the entire surface of the printed circuit board 2 as a whole.
The pair of fixed contacts 3a and 8 for the set switch described above.
At a total of nine positions corresponding to each of the pair of fixed contacts 4a for the switch, a switch operating portion 6 which always swells away from the surface of the printed circuit board 2 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each switch actuating section 6 separates each fixed contact 3 from the surface of the switch cover 5.
a, 4a stand up in a tapered cylindrical shape to surround,
Disc-shaped movable short-circuits 3b and 4b made of a conductive rubber material are fixed to the back surface of the head 6a.
And the switch operation part 6 always has the movable short-circuiting element 3b,
When the head 6a is pressed, the movable short-circuiting members 3b, 4b are brought into contact with both pairs of fixed contacts 3a, 4a while being elastically deformed when the head 6a is pressed. Between the fixed contacts 3a, 4a.
Further, when the pressing on the head 6a is released, the movable short-circuiting members 3b, 4b return to the original non-operating state where they are separated from the fixed contacts 3a, 4a by the elastic restoring force. Thereby, each switch element, that is, one set switch 3 including the fixed contact 3a and the movable short-circuit 3b is formed, and eight select switches 4 including the fixed contact 4a and the movable short-circuit 4b are configured. .

Here, among the eight select switches 4, the switch located on the upper side as viewed from above the case 1 with the set switch 3 in FIG. 1 as the center is "up", and the switch located on the lower side is "lower". The switch located on the right side is the right switch and the switch located on the left side is the select switch 4 located on the left,
Furthermore, the one located between the upper side and the right side is “upper right”, the one located between the upper side and the left side is “upper left”, the one located between the lower side and the right side is “lower right”, the lower side And the switch located on the left side as the select switch 4 located on the "lower left",
The same applies hereinafter. Then, when the select switch 4 located at the “up” position is operated, the image displayed on the display device of the navigation system (not shown) is scrolled upward.
The image is configured to scroll in the same direction as the direction in which the select switch 4 is located.

On the other hand, on the switch cover 5, a base 7 having a circular shape concentric with the arrangement circle of the eight pairs of select switches 4 centered on the set switch 3 is positioned at its peripheral edge by a cover 17 described later. It is fixed in the state where it was set. In addition, the base 7 is integrally formed with a cylindrical regulating rising portion 9 which is slightly larger in diameter than the circle on which the select switch 4 is arranged and rises concentrically on the surface side of the bottom plate portion 8.

In the bottom plate portion 8 of the base 7, relief portions 8 a are formed at eight positions corresponding to the select switch 4. To prevent interference. Furthermore, the escape portion 8
A guide hole 8b is formed in the upper portion of the upper portion a so as to extend from the escape portion 8a to the surface of the bottom plate portion 8 and communicate therewith.
An operating pin 10 having a pressing portion 10a at the lower end is inserted into the inside of the housing with its upper end protruding from the guide hole 8b toward the surface of the bottom plate portion 8. Thereby, the pressing portion 10a
Are movable in the escape portion 8a in a direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 2. The operating pin 10 is always pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the switch operating part 6, and the pressing part 10a is held at the ceiling of the relief part 8a.

At the center of the bottom plate 8, a rectangular through hole 8c is formed so as to surround the set switch 3, and among the opposing edges of the through hole 8c,
A support shaft 11 is provided at each of the pair of hole edges. The axis of the support shaft 11 passes through the center of the circle on which the eight pairs of select switches 4 are arranged on the printed circuit board 2.

Further, the base 7 is provided with a square bracket-shaped bearing bracket 12, and bearing holes 12 a and 12 b are formed at opposing sides of the mutually opposing side surfaces of the bearing bracket 12. I have. And
The support shaft 11 is fitted in one bearing hole 12a, and the tilting holder 13 is fitted in the other bearing hole 12b with a rotating shaft 13a projecting from the lower end thereof.
The tilt holder 13 is supported so as to be rotatable around two axes passing through the center of an arrangement circle of the eight pairs of select switches 4 and orthogonal to each other.
It is possible to tilt in an arbitrary direction with the center of the arrangement circle of the pair of select switches 4 as a center point.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tilt holder 13 has
A flange portion 14 is formed on the outer periphery.
A concave portion 14a is formed at a position corresponding to the select switch 4 of "upper right", "lower right", "upper left", "lower left".
Further, in a neutral state in which the tilt holder 13 faces in a direction perpendicular to the printed circuit board 2, “up”, “down”, and “out” of the eight operating pins 10 fitted to the base 7.
The upper ends of the operating pins 10 located on the left and right sides are in contact with a portion of the lower surface of the flange portion 14 that is not recessed,
The upper end of the operating pin 10 located at the upper right, lower right, upper left, or lower left has a predetermined gap with the lower surface of the flange portion 14 (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 1, the tilting holder 13 is formed with a support hole 13 b having a cross-shaped cross section extending from the upper end surface to the lower end surface along the length direction thereof, and at the lower end of the tilting holder 13. Is formed with a notch 13c, which can be engaged with a locking portion 15a of the operation lever 15 described later.

Further, an operation lever 15 is provided above the tilt holder 13, and this operation lever 15 is composed of a leg 15b having a cross-shaped cross section and an umbrella-shaped knob 15c formed at the upper end thereof. . And the leg 15b is fitted in the support hole 13b, whereby the operation lever 1
5 can move up and down and can tilt the tilt holder 13 integrally. Further, a return spring 16 made of a compression coil spring is fitted to the leg 15b of the operation lever 15, which urges the operation lever 15 in the upward direction, and the locking formed at the lower end of the leg 15b. Part 15a
Is engaged with the notch 13c to hold the operation lever 15 in a non-operating state. Thereby, the lower end surface of the leg 15b and the head 6a of the switch operating portion 6 of the set switch 3
Is provided with a predetermined gap. The outer peripheral edge of the knob 15 c of the operation lever 15 has substantially the same diameter as the regulation rising portion 9 of the base 7, and has a predetermined gap between the regulation rising portion 9. Thus, when the knob 15c is tilted and moved downward, the knob 15c
Is in contact with the upper end of the regulation rising portion 9 to restrict its movement.

A cover 17 is fixed to the case 1 so as to cover the above-mentioned components. A window 17a having a larger diameter than the knob 15c of the operation lever 15 is formed in the front of the cover 17 in a circular shape concentric with the base 7, and a part of the knob 15c is formed through the window 17a. It is exposed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The operation lever 15 is always in the neutral state, and both the one set switch 3 and the eight select switches 4 are in the inactive state. From this state, set switch 3
Is operated, the knob 15c of the operation lever 15 may be pressed. As a result, the lower end surface of the leg 15b of the operation lever 15 elastically deforms the switch operating portion 6 to bring the movable short-circuiting member 3b into contact with the fixed contact 3a for the set switch, and the fixed contact 3a for the set switch becomes conductive. Become. In order to return to the original non-operating state, when the pushing operation of the operating lever 15 is released, the operating lever 15 is returned to the non-operating state by the return spring 16 and the movable short-circuiting member 3b is separated from the fixed contact 3a.

To operate the select switch 4, the knob 15c of the operation lever 15 may be tilted in any of the eight directions. For example, when the knob 15c of the operation lever 15 is tilted in the "up" direction, the tilt holder 13 also tilts in the "up" direction in accordance with the tilt of the operation lever 15. Then, the operating pin 10 of the select switch 4 located “up” is pushed in the direction of the printed circuit board 2, the switch operating portion 6 is elastically deformed, and the movable short-circuiting element 4b and the fixed contact element 4a come into contact. Thereby, the fixed contact 4a is brought into a conductive state. In order to return the operation lever 15 to the original non-operation state, when the tilting operation of the operation lever 15 is released, the operation lever 15 returns to the original non-operation state by the elastic force of the switch operation unit 6.

Next, the knob 15c of the operation lever 15
Is tilted in the "upper right" direction. Also in this case, when the knob 15c of the operation lever 15 is tilted,
The tilt holder 13 also tilts in accordance with the tilt of the operation lever 15. However, unlike the case where the operation lever 15 is tilted in the "up" direction, a slight gap is provided between the lower surface of the flange portion 14 and the operating pin 10 of the select switch 4 located at the "upper right". Therefore, the operating pin 10 is not pushed immediately by the flange portion 14 with the tilting, but is pushed after the tilting holder 13 reaches the predetermined tilting angle. When the operating lever 15 is further tilted, the operating pin 10 moves downward while pushing down the head 6a of the switch operating portion 6 to be elastically deformed, and the movable short-circuiting member 4b contacts the fixed contacting member 4a ( See FIG. 6). Thereby, the fixed contact 4a is brought into a conductive state. Further, in order to return the operation lever 15 to the original non-operation state, the tilting operation of the operation lever 15 may be released.

Here, the operation stroke of each select switch 4 in the flange portion 14 from the neutral state until the operation lever 15 is tilted and the movable short-circuiting member 4b comes into contact with the fixed contact 4a is observed. Lever 15
The operating stroke is longer when the device is tilted in the “upper right” direction than when the device is tilted in the “up” direction. This is the operation pin 1 of the select switch 4 located at the "up" position.
0 is pushed together with the tilting of the tilting holder 13, whereas the operating pin 10 of the select switch 4 located at “upper right” moves the tilting holder 13 by the amount of the gap defined by the recess 14 a.
This is because it is pushed after tilting in the upper right direction.

For this reason, assuming that the operation lever 15 is tilted approximately in the middle between adjacent select switches 4, for example, almost in the middle between the select switches 4 located at “up” and “upper right”. Actuating pin 1 located above
0 is pushed by the flange portion 14 and then “upper right”
Is pushed. The operating pin 10 located on the “up” is the switch operating section 6.
Is elastically deformed to bring the movable short-circuiting element 4b into contact with the fixed contact element 4a. However, the operating pin 10 located at the "upper right" only slightly elastically deforms the switch operating section 6, and the operating pin 10 previously pushed is pressed. The movable short circuit 4b does not contact the fixed contact 4a. That is, when the operation lever 15 is tilted substantially in the middle of the select switches 4 located at “up” and “upper right”, “
The select switch 4 located on the “upper” is activated, and the “upper right”
Is not operated. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation area A for the select switch 4 located “upper” is wider than the operation area B for the select switch 4 located “upper right”.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by forming the concave portion 14a in the flange portion 14 of the tilt holder 13, the select switch 4 located at the "up", "down", "right", or "left" position. Can be wider than the operation areas for the select switches 4 located at “upper right”, “lower right”, “upper left”, and “lower left”. Therefore,
In the car navigation system, the frequency of scrolling the image up, down, left, and right is higher than the frequency of scrolling upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left. The operation area of the switch 4 is narrowed, and the operability of the lever switch device is improved.

In order to eliminate an uncertain area when two adjacent select switches are pressed at the same time, 2
In some cases, if two select switches are pressed at the same time, a circuit configuration that always regards one select switch as being pressed is provided. When such a circuit configuration is provided in the conventional configuration, when the operation lever is tilted in the middle direction between two adjacent select switches, it is always considered that one switch is pressed, so that the operation area of one switch is It becomes wider than the operation area of the other switch. However, if the operation stroke for the select switch can be made different as in the present embodiment,
By extending the operation stroke for one of the select switches, the expanded operation region can be narrowed, and the operation region can be made the same between adjacent select switches. Therefore, even when such a circuit configuration is provided, even when it is desired to make the operation regions uniform for all the select switches, it is possible to cope with the demand and to provide a lever switch device with good operability. Can be.

<Other Embodiments> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified and implemented as follows, for example, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. included. The same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(A) In the above embodiment, the concave portion 14a is formed on the lower surface of the flange portion 14 of the tilt holder 13, so that the select switch 4 located at "up", "down", "left", or "right" can be , "Upper right", "lower right", "upper left", and "lower left", the operation stroke of the select switch 4 is made different. Good.

A. As shown in FIG. 8, the length of the operation pin 22 in the select switch 21 (right side in the figure) located at “upper right”, “lower right”, “upper left”, and “lower left” is
The length of the operating pin 24 of the select switch 23 (left side in the figure) located at the upper, lower, right, and left sides is shorter than the operating pin 2 located at the upper right.
A fixed gap is provided between the upper end of the flange 2 and the lower surface of the flange portion 25. When the operation lever is tilted, for example, in the "upper right" direction, the operating pin 22 is immediately moved along with the tilt of the operation lever. Not pushed by 25,
It is pushed after tilting slightly. Accordingly, the operation stroke of the select switch 21 located at the "upper right" is longer than that of the select switch 23 located at the "upper", for example, as in the above-described embodiment.

B. As shown in FIG.
Select switch 31 located at the bottom, left, and right
(Left side in the figure), the switch operation of the select switch 33 (right side in the figure) where the thickness of the back surface 32a of the head of the switch operation part 32 is located at “upper right”, “lower right”, “upper left”, “lower left”. The distance between the movable short-circuit 35 and the fixed contact 36 is made shorter than the distance between the movable short-circuit 35 of the select switch 33 and the fixed contact 36, as compared with the distance from the back surface 34a of the head of the portion 34. Thus, for example, when the operating lever is tilted in the "up" direction, the operating pin 37 is pushed by the flange portion 38, but the movable short-circuiting member 35 and the fixed contacting member 36 come into contact with a slight push. The working stroke is shorter than, for example, when tilted in the “upper right” direction.

C. As shown in FIG. 10, in the select switch 41 (right side in the figure) located at “upper right”, “lower right”, “upper left”, and “lower left”, the thickness of the head 42a of the switch operating section 42 is set to “up”. The thickness of the head 46a of the switch operating portion 46 of the select switch 45 (left side in the drawing) located at "", "down", "left", and "right" is reduced between the operating pin 43 and the flange portion 44. Provide a gap. Thus, for example, when the operating lever is tilted in the "upper right" direction, the operating pin 43 is not immediately pushed by the flange portion 44 but is pushed slightly and then pushed, so that the operating stroke is operated together with the tilt. For example, the operation stroke of the select switch 45 positioned “up” when the pin 47 is pressed is longer.

(B) In addition to the above embodiment, when the lever switch device of the present invention is provided with a select switch or the like in a vertically long case, as shown in FIG. The operation stroke of the select switch 53 located in a direction oblique to the longitudinal side 52a of the vertically long case 52 may be shorter than the operation strokes of the other select switches 54.

Thus, the operation area of the operation lever 51 with respect to the select switch 53 is
The working area is wider. Therefore, when operating the operation lever 51 by holding the case 52, the operation lever 51
Since the operation area of the select switch 53 in the direction in which the tilt is difficult to tilt is wide, the operational feeling in each direction can be balanced as a whole, and the operation can be performed in any direction without a sense of incongruity.

(C) In the above embodiment, the operation lever 15
The switches 3 and 4 operated by the pushing operation or the tilting operation are not limited to the switching means of the above-described embodiment, but may include other switching means such as a tact switch.

(D) In the above embodiment, the case where the number of select switches 4 arranged on the annular area is eight has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where the number of switches is other than eight. It can be applied in some cases. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing select switches located at “upper right” and “lower left” in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing select switches located at “up” and “down” in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tilt holder according to the embodiment as viewed from below.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing adjacent select switches of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an operation state of a select switch located at “upper right” of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation area for each select switch of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing adjacent select switches in another embodiment in which the lengths of operation pins are different.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing adjacent select switches in another embodiment in which the thickness of the back surface of the head of the switch operation section is different.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing adjacent select switches in another embodiment in which the thickness of the head of the switch operation section is different.

FIG. 11 is a top view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 ... Select switch (switch element) 14 ... Flange part (operating part) 15 ... Operation lever

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An operating lever capable of tilting operation, a plurality of switch elements provided at positions surrounding the operating lever, and provided so as to be displaced in conjunction with the tilting of the operating lever, the tilting of the operating lever is provided. And an actuating section for actuating any of the switch elements when displaced by a predetermined actuation stroke based on the operating stroke of the operating lever for actuating the switch element . A lever switch device wherein a part of the switch element group arranged in the winding direction is different from the others. 2. An actuation stroke for actuating a switch element for scrolling an image on a display device in accordance with a tilt direction of an operation lever, wherein the tilt direction of scrolling the image up and down among the tilt directions of the operation lever is determined. 2. The lever switch device according to claim 1, wherein is set shorter than others. 3. The operation lever is attached to a vertically long case, and a switch element is activated in a tilt direction of the operation lever that is oblique to a longitudinal side of the case. 2. The lever switch device according to claim 1, wherein an operation stroke for the operation is set shorter than the other operation strokes.