Rotary input device

Abstract

A rotary input device includes: a rotary operating unit which has an operating tubular portion formed from a first material and rotationally operated, and a gripper formed from a second material which has more elasticity than the operating tubular portion, the gripper covering an outer surface of a one-end side of the operating tubular portion; a casing which has the rotary operating unit disposed therein rotatably about an axis of the rotary operating unit, and which has a locking portion for restricting a rotational range of the rotary operating unit; and an input unit which transmits a predetermined signal with the rotation of the rotary operating unit. The operating tubular portion further includes, on the other-end side thereof, a portion to be locked that has a rotational range restricted to a predetermined rotational angle by the locking portion. The operating tubular portion is provided with an extension portion that is formed from the second material integrally with the gripper, and that extends toward the other end of the operating tubular portion from the gripper. The extension portion has an abutting portion that covers at least a portion of the portion to be locked and abuts against the locking portion.

Claims

1. A rotary input device comprising: a rotary operating unit that includes an operating tubular portion and a gripper, the operating tubular portion comprising a first material with a first elasticity and rotationally operated, the operating tubular portion having a first end and a second end, the gripper comprising a second material with a second elasticity greater than the first elasticity, the gripper covering an outer surface of a portion of the operating tubular portion, the portion being closer to the first end than the second end; a casing that includes a locking portion for restricting a rotational range of the rotary operating unit, the casing holds the rotary operating unit in such a manner that the rotary operating unit is disposed rotatably about an axis of the rotary operating unit; and an input unit that transmits a signal corresponding to an amount of rotation of the rotary operating unit, wherein the operating tubular portion further comprising: a portion to be locked that is provided at a portion of the operating tubular portion closer to the second end than the gripper, and restricts the rotational range of the rotary operating unit by abutting against the locking portion; an extension portion integral the gripper and formed of the second material, the extension portion extends toward the second end from the gripper, the extension portion having an abutting portion, the abutting portion covering and abutting at least a portion of the portion to be locked, and the abutting portion configured to abut against the locking portion; and a holder, the holder having a through hole that extends in an extension direction of the extension portion, the extension portion being provided within the through hole.

2. The rotary input device according to claim 1, wherein the second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary input device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view including a partial cross-sectional view of the rotary input device.

(3) FIG. 3A is a diagram of the rotary input device viewed from the side direction.

(4) FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3A.

(5) FIG. 4A is a diagram of the rotary input device viewed from the side direction.

(6) FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 4A.

(7) FIG. 5A is a diagram of the rotary input device viewed from above.

(8) FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5A.

(9) FIG. 6A is a diagram of a rotary operating unit viewed from above.

(10) FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 6A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(11) Prior to describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, problems found in a conventional device will be described briefly. In the rotary switch device in PTL 1 described above, the locking portion of the hollow rotary shaft abuts against the stopper of the illuminating member, thereby restricting the rotational range of the hollow rotary shaft. Furthermore, in the stopper structure in PTL 2, the protrusion of the rotary knob and the protrusion of the turning member abut against each other, thereby restricting the turning range of the rotary knob. When the rotational ranges of the hollow rotary shaft and the rotary knob are restricted in this manner, the rotary members (the locking portion of the hollow rotary shaft and the protrusion of the rotary knob) collide against the fixed members (the stopper of the illuminating member and the protrusion of the turning member).

(12) For the collision members, a hard resin, such as ABS, is normally used in consideration of durability against collision. However, the collision between such hard resins generates a loud sound, which can cause discomfort to a user.

(13) Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will specifically be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical or corresponding elements depicted in all the drawings are denoted with identical reference marks; therefore, the duplicate description thereof will be omitted. For convenience of following explanation, the rotary operating unit side with respect to a casing is defined as an upper side, while the opposite side is defined as a lower side. However, the rotary input device may be installed in any orientation. For example, the rotary operating unit is not necessarily placed above the casing.

Exemplary Embodiment

(14) Rotary input device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment is initially described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B. Hereinafter, rotary input device 10 which is composed of a combination of a push button switch and a rotary switch will be described. However, rotary input device 10 may be a device which is equipped with only a rotary switch, without a push button switch. Rotary input device 10 includes push button 20, rotary operating unit 30, slide tube 40, guide tube 50, casing 60, and input unit 70.

(15) Push button 20 has a cylindrical shape with an upper end closed, and has upper wall 21 and side wall 22.

(16) Upper wall 21 is, for example, disc shaped and has a portion provided with illuminator 23 through which light passes. Side wall 22 is, for example, cylindrical shaped and extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of upper wall 21. Such push button 20 is fitted into first hole 31a, described later, of rotary operating unit 30, and at that time, side wall 22 almost entirely sinks into first hole 31a, but upper wall 21 is exposed to the outside from the upper end opening of first hole 31a.

(17) Rotary operating unit 30 has operating tubular portion 31, and gripper 32 that covers the outer surface of one-end side (upper-end side or first end in this exemplary embodiment) of operating tubular portion 31. Operating tubular portion 31 is formed from a first material, and examples of the first material include a hard resin such as ABS, acrylic, or polycarbonate. Operating tubular portion 31 includes body 31b, portion 31c to be locked, and two holders 31d. Body 31b, portion 31c to be locked, and two holders 31d are integrally formed.

(18) Body 31b is of substantially cylindrical shape having first hole 31a. First hole 31a has a columnar shape and penetrates the center of operating tubular portion 31 in the vertical direction. The axes of operating tubular portion 31 and first hole 31a coincide with each other and extend in the vertical direction.

(19) Portion 31c to be locked is a portion extending downward from a portion of the body 31b and has an arc shape in a cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction. The axis of body 31b of cylindrical shape and the axis of portion 31c to be locked of arc shape coincide with each other, and the diameter of portion 31c to be locked is larger than the diameter of body 31b.

(20) It should be noted that the shape of portion 31c to be locked is not limited to a continuous arc shape but may be any shape as long as both end positions of the arc shape can be defined. For example, portion 31c to be locked may be two portions extending downward from two places of body 31b. Such two portions 31c to be locked are provided in spaced relation to each other, and are disposed at either end of the arc shape.

(21) As shown in FIG. 4B, each of holders 31d is provided in a protruding shape on the outer surface of body 31b and has second hole 31e. Holder 31d has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or a substantially columnar shape, and the outer surface of holder 31d has an arc shape in a cross section orthogonal to the vertical direction. Two holders 31d are arranged above portion 31c to be locked, in spaced relation to each other at positions that sandwich portion 31c to be locked therebetween. Second hole 31e has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape or a substantially columnar shape, and is a through hole that is located lateral to body 31b and penetrates holder 31d in the vertical direction (extension direction of the extension portion).

(22) Gripper 32 is a portion which is gripped by a user when rotary operating unit 30 is rotated. Gripper 32 is formed from the second material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, having a second elasticity greater than a first elasticity of the first material of operating tubular portion 31. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include a urethane thermoplastic elastomer, a styrene thermoplastic elastomer, and an olefin thermoplastic elastomer. This material may have a flexibility greater than that of operating tubular portion 31 in addition to elasticity.

(23) Gripper 32 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is provided above portion 31c to be locked and holders 31d of operating tubular portion 31. Gripper 32 may cover not only the outer surface of body 31b of operating tubular portion 31 but also the upper end and the inner surface of body 31b. As a result, gripper 32 is more firmly fixed to operating tubular portion 31. It should be noted that gripper 32 may be provided with slits (FIG. 2) extending in the vertical direction. However, the slits do not reach the top of gripper 32, and the top of gripper 32 is not separated by the slits and form a substantially cylindrical shape.

(24) Extension portion 32a extending toward the other end of operating tubular portion 31 (lower end or second end in this exemplary embodiment) from gripper 32 is provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31. Abutting portion 32b is provided at the lower end of extension portion 32a. Gripper 32, extension portion 32a, and abutting portion 32b are integrally formed from the second material and formed, for example, by double molding in combination with operating tubular portion 31, and cover the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31 in tight contact with the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31.

(25) Extension portion 32a is a portion extending downward from a portion of gripper 32, and two extension portions are provided to gripper 32. Extension portions 32a have a substantially plate shape or a substantially semicircular columnar shape along the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31, and reach each side of portion 31c to be locked of operating tubular portion 31. Extension portions 32a are provided within second holes 31e (through holes) of holders 31d. Thus, extension portions 32a are covered and held by holders 31d.

(26) Abutting portions 32b are provided at the lower ends of extension portions 32a lateral to portion 31c to be locked. Two abutting portions 32b are arranged in spaced relation to each other at positions that sandwich portion 31c to be locked therebetween. Abutting portions 32b cover at least a portion of the side surface of portion 31c to be locked while being in tight contact with the side surface of portion 31c to be locked. The side surface of portion 31c to be locked is a surface orthogonal to the circumferential direction of operating tubular portion 31.

(27) Slide tube 40 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an axis extending in the vertical direction and an upper portion to which side wall 22 of push button 20 is connected. Slide tube 40 is disposed in first hole 31a of operating tubular portion 31.

(28) Guide tube 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an axis extending in the vertical direction and an interior into which slide tube 40 is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to guide tube 50. Guide tube 50 is disposed in first hole 31a of operating tubular portion 31 and fixed to input unit 70.

(29) Casing 60 has rotary operating unit 30 disposed therein rotatably about the axis of rotary operating unit 30, and has locking portion 63 for restricting the rotational range of rotary operating unit 30. Casing 60 is formed from a hard resin such as ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate. Casing 60 has a box shape having an internal space and opening downward and has upper wall 61 and side wall 62. Upper wall 61 is, for example, a substantially pentagonal plate-shaped body, and has opening 64 at the center thereof. Opening 64 has a circular shape and penetrates upper wall 61. The diameter of opening 64 is larger than the diameter of rotary operating unit 30, and the lower end of body 31b is disposed spaced apart from the edge of the upper portion of opening 64. Side wall 62 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of upper wall 61.

(30) Locking portion 63 is provided at the lower portion of opening 64 and protrudes inward from the inner edge of the lower portion of opening 64, and has an arc shape in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The inner periphery of locking portion 63 is provided parallel to the inner edge of opening 64, and the center of locking portion 63 having an arc shape coincides with the center of opening 64. Portion 31c to be locked is disposed in the region on the inside of the lower portion of opening 64 where locking portion 63 is not provided, and the rotation of portion 31c to be locked causes abutting portion 32b covering portion 31c to be locked to abut against locking portion 63.

(31) Input unit 70 is disposed on printed substrate 71 and electrically connected to the electronic circuit on printed substrate 71. Input unit 70 is, for example, a potentiometer, and performs conversion into a predetermined signal corresponding to the rotation amount of either the rotational angle or the movement amount of rotary operating unit 30 to output the signal to the electronic circuit on printed substrate 71. Input unit 70 has fixed tubular portion 73 and rotary tubular portion 74, both of which have a cylindrical shape, and the axes of fixed tubular portion 73 and rotary tubular portion 74 extend in the vertical direction and coincide with each other. Fixed tubular portion 73 is disposed inside rotary tubular portion 74 and fixed to printed substrate 71. Rotary tubular portion 74 is held by fixed tubular portion 73 so as to be rotatable with respect to fixed tubular portion 73.

(32) Printed substrate 71 is provided in the internal space of casing 60, and fixed tubular portion 73 and rotary tubular portion 74 pass through opening 64 of casing 60 and protrude upward from upper wall 61 of casing 60. Guide tube 50 is fixed to fixed tubular portion 73 by the snap-in method or the like. Operating tubular portion 31 of rotary operating unit 30 is fixed to rotary tubular portion 74. Light emitter 72 is disposed inside fixed tubular portion 73. Furthermore, light emitter 72 and a switch (not shown) are arranged on printed substrate 71, and the switch turns light emitter 72 on or off according to the vertical movement of slide tube 40.

(33) Next, a description will be given of the use of rotary input device 10. When the user pushes push button 20, slide tube 40 connected to push button 20 moves downward with respect to guide tube 50 on the inside of guide tube 50. This movement is detected by the switch, and light emitter 72 emits light. The light from light emitter 72 passes through the interior of slide tube 40 and reaches push button 20 to illuminate illuminator 23 of push button 20.

(34) Furthermore, when the user grips gripper 32 and rotates rotary operating unit 30, rotary operating unit 30 is rotated around slide tube 40 and guide tube 50 within opening 64 of casing 60. With this rotation, rotary tubular portion 74 of input unit 70 connected to rotary operating unit 30 rotates. Input unit 70 detects the rotational angle or the movement amount of rotary tubular portion 74, and outputs a predetermined signal corresponding the rotational angle or the movement amount to the circuit of printed substrate 71.

(35) When portion 31c to be locked of rotary operating unit 30 abuts against locking portion 63 of casing 60 during the rotation of rotary operating unit 30, the rotational range of rotary operating unit 30 is restricted. Here, if rotary operating unit 30 is rotated largely, portion 31c to be locked collides with locking portion 63 with abutting portion 32b interposed therebetween. At this time, abutting portion 32b, which is an elastic body, absorbs the collision energy, thereby allowing a reduction in the occurrence of sound due to collision. Further, by absorbing the collision energy with abutting portion 32b, it is possible to reduce the propagation of the collision energy to locking portion 63 and portion 31c to be locked, and prevent the breakage of locking portion 63 and portion 31c to be locked due to the collision.

(36) As described above, according to rotary input device 10 having the above-described configuration, abutting portion 32b which covers portion 31c to be locked suppresses collision sound between portion 31c to be locked and locking portion 63 and improves the durability of these portions.

(37) Furthermore, abutting portion 32b is provided on extension portion 32a extending from gripper 32. Gripper 32, extension portion 32a, and abutting portion 32b are integrally formed. In addition, abutting portion 32b, extension portion 32a, and gripper 32 are formed by double molding in combination with operating tubular portion 31 and brought into tight contact with operating tubular portion 31. Further, extension portion 32a passes through second hole 31e of holder 31d, and is covered and held by holder 31d. Thus, even when locking portion 63 and portion 31c to be locked collide with each other, abutting portion 32b is less likely to detach from portion 31c to be locked, and thus suppression of collision sound and improvement of durability are maintained.

(38) Further, by using a thermoplastic elastomer for abutting portion 32b, extension portion 32a, and gripper 32, it is possible to form operating tubular portion 31 and abutting portion 32b, extension portion 32a and gripper 32 by double molding. Therefore, it is unnecessary to form and assemble operating tubular portion 31 and abutting portion 32b, extension portion 32a and gripper 32, and the operation efficiency is excellent.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

(39) In the above-described exemplary embodiment, portion 31c to be locked is provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31, and locking portion 63 is provided on the inner surface of opening 64 of casing 60. Alternatively, portion 31c to be locked may be provided on the inner surface of operating tubular portion 31, and locking portion 63 may be provided on the outer surface of opening 64 of casing 60. Also in this case, with the same configuration as that in the above-described exemplary embodiment, rotary input device 10 can exert the same operations and effects as in the above exemplary embodiment.

(40) Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, extension portion 32a is provided on the outer surface of operating tubular portion 31, but may be provided on the inner surface of body 31b of operating tubular portion 31. In this case, the diameter of portion 31c to be locked is formed to be smaller than that of body 31b so that abutting portion 32b of extension portion 32a is located lateral to portion 31c to be locked. Thus, extension portion 32a extends toward the lower end from gripper 32 on the inner surface of operating tubular portion 31 so that abutting portion 32b can cover portion 31c to be locked.

(41) Further, in this case, holder 31d having second hole 31e extending in the extension direction of extension portion 32a may be provided in a protruding shape on the inner side of body 31b. Thus, extension portion 32a extends toward the lower end on the inner surface of operating tubular portion 31 and passes through second hole 31e of holder 31d, and thus is covered and held by holder 31d.

(42) Furthermore, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, extension portion 32a is formed in a linear shape, but the shape of extension portion 32a is not limited thereto. For example, extension portion 32a may be bent such that abutting portion 32b is located further toward the inside than gripper 32. On the contrary, extension portion 32a may be bent such that abutting portion 32b is located further toward the outside than gripper 32.

(43) Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, two extension portions 32a are provided such that two abutting portions 32b reach each side of portion 31c to be locked. Alternatively, one extension portion 32a may be provided such that one abutting portion 32b reaches one side of portion 31c to be locked. This allows abutting portion 32b to cover at least one side of portion 31c to be locked.

(44) Any of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined as long as no incompatibility is produced between one another. It is apparent from the foregoing description that those skilled in the art will conceive various modifications and other exemplary embodiments on the present invention. It is accordingly understood that the foregoing description is merely interpreted as being illustrative and is given for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. It is therefore possible to substantially change the details of at least one of the structure and function of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(45) The rotary input device of the present invention is useful as a rotary input device or the like capable of suppressing collision sound while having durability.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

(46) 10: rotary input device 20: push button 21: upper wall 22: side wall 23: illuminator 30: rotary operating unit 31: operating tubular portion 31a: first hole 31b: body 31c: portion to be locked 31d: holder 31e: second hole 32: gripper 32a: extension portion 32b: abutting portion 40: slide tube 50: guide tube 60: casing 61: upper wall 62: side wall 63: locking portion 64: opening 70: input unit 71: printed substrate 72: light emitter 73: fixed tubular portion 74: rotary tubular portion