Multidirectional input device

Details Multidirectional input device Multidirectional input device

2003-08-20

2004-07-13

Scott, James R. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Multiple circuit control

Combined pivoted and reciprocating contact

C200S0050EA, C200S00600C, C200S018000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06762372

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multidirectional input device employed in in-vehicle electronic apparatuses such as car multimedia and navigation systems.
2. Background Art
Rapid advances are being seen in recent years in features of in-vehicle electronic apparatuses such as car multimedia and navigation systems. Since these electronic apparatuses are installed in the limited space available in a vehicle, input devices for operating these multi-functional apparatuses are needed to allow the use of a single operating knob for inputting in multiple directions.
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 2000-48681 is one example of this type of conventional multidirectional input device. This input device outputs signals by rotating and pressing an operating shaft, which can also be tilted in any direction.
An electronic component for rotating and pressing operation is employed, and this electronic component is configured on a printed wiring board of an in-vehicle electronic apparatus to generate signals also by tilting operation the operating shaft.
This conventional multidirectional input device is described with reference to
FIGS. 14
to
18
.
FIG. 14
is a front view, partly in section, showing a conventional multidirectional input device. Printed wiring board
610
of the in-vehicle electronic apparatus, electronic component for rotating and pressing operation
620
, operating shaft
630
, and auto-return push switches
641
to
644
are shown in the drawings.
In electronic component for rotating and pressing
620
(hereafter simply referred as electronic component
620
), polygonal sphere
651
, whose horizontal section is a polygon, of operating shaft
650
is inserted into polygonal hole
661
at the center of rotor
660
in a vertically movable fashion but rotates together with rotor
660
, as shown in a front sectional view in FIG.
15
.
When operating shaft
650
is rotated, contact plate
670
rotates via rotor
660
. Resilient contacts
681
and
682
which resiliently and in sliding fashion contact this contact plate
670
configure rotary encoder
690
as a rotary section, and output signals. When operating shaft
650
is pressed, dome-shaped flexible contact
710
is pressed downward via driver
700
which contacts the bottom end of operating shaft
650
.
Pressed flexible contact
710
short-circuits between fixed contacts
721
and
722
to make switch
730
, the pressing section, output signals. When operating shaft
650
is tilted, operating shaft
650
tilts smoothly in polygonal hole
661
of rotor
660
rotating about the center of polygonal sphere
651
of operating shaft
650
.
As shown in
FIG. 16
which is a sectional view taken along Line
16
—
16
in
FIG. 14
, four push switches
641
to
644
are disposed in four directions at 900 intervals on the same radius, centering on operating shaft
650
of electronic component
620
. Bottom peripheral end
631
of a larger diameter of knob
630
mounted on the tip of operating shaft
650
of electronic component
620
contacts push buttons
741
to
744
. The operation stroke of these four push switches
641
to
644
is set to be longer than that of switch
730
of electronic component
620
.
When knob
630
of the multidirectional input device as configured above is rotated, operating shaft
650
of electronic component
620
rotates rotor
660
to make rotary encoder
690
output signals. When knob
630
is pressed, the bottom part of operating shaft
650
pushes driver
700
such that switch
730
activates and outputs signals, as shown in the front sectional view in FIG.
17
.
When knob
630
is pressed, peripheral bottom end
631
also pushes buttons
741
to
744
of push switches
641
to
644
. However, four push switches
641
to
644
are not activated because the operation stroke of these switches is longer than the operation stroke of switch
730
. When knob
630
is tilted in the required direction, for example to the left as shown by the arrow in the front-view cross section in
FIG. 18
, button
741
at the tilted direction is pressed so that push switch
641
activates and outputs signals.
In the conventional multidirectional input device, however, the multidirectional input device is configured on the printed wiring board of the electronic apparatus. This increases the possibility of positional deviation between constituents of the input device. In addition, bottom peripheral end
631
needs to remain in contact with the top face of buttons
741
to
744
of four push switches
641
to
644
to prevent looseness of knob
630
in the normal state. This makes bottom peripheral end
631
slide on the top face of four push buttons
741
to
744
when knob
630
is rotated, generating an uncomfortable tactile feedback during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above disadvantage of the prior art. The present invention aims to offer a multidirectional input device that can be assembled as an independent device before mounting it on a printed wiring board of an electronic apparatus. The operating knob has no looseness, and rotates with a comfortable touch. In addition, erroneous operations are reduced.
The multidirectional input device of the present invention includes:
(a) an electronic component for outputting signals in response to rotation and pressing of the operating section;
(b) a top substrate holding the electronic component at its center which is rockable about a first support pin on a first rocking axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the operating section;
(c) a frame surrounding the top substrate and having an rocking support for the first support pin, and is rockably supported centering by a second support pin on a second rocking axis perpendicular to the rotation axis and at right angles to the first rocking axis;
(d) a bottom substrate having a support for the second support pin; and
(e) multiple push switches disposed on the bottom substrate such as to contact the bottom face of the top substrate. The push switches are disposed at an equal distance and equal angular interval centering on a crossing point of the first rocking axis and second rocking axis.
The top substrate tilts toward the bottom substrate by tilting the operating section, and one or two push switches are activated.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5952628 (1999-09-01), Sato et al.
patent: 6049044 (2000-04-01), Mizobuchi
patent: 6262381 (2001-07-01), Kikuchi et al.
patent: 2000-048681 (2000-02-01), None

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