Complex operation input device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a complex operation input device that can be suitably used with a digital camera or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

To describe the configuration of a complex operation input device according to the prior art with reference to FIG.

10

and

FIG. 11

, a fixed member

52

is fitted above a housing

51

, which is a molded synthetic resin item.

An insulating substrate

53

is fitted to the housing

51

so as to cover a receptacle

51

a

provided in the housing

51

, and over this insulating substrate

53

is mounted a first flexible insulating substrate

54

having a plurality of fixed contacts (not shown).

A movable contact

55

consisting of a leaf spring, in a state of opposing fixed contacts provided on the first flexible insulating substrate

54

, is mounted on the first flexible insulating substrate

54

. As the upper part of the movable contact

55

is pressed and reversed, the movable contact

55

comes into contact with one of the fixed contacts. These fixed contacts and movable contact

55

constitute a first push switch part S

3

.

A second flexible insulating substrate

56

provided with a fixed contact (not shown) is arranged so as to cover the upper part of the movable contact

55

, and the fixed contact provided on this second flexible insulating substrate

56

is connected by a communicating means (not shown) to the fixed contacts provided on the first flexible insulating substrate

54

.

A holding member

57

, which is a molded synthetic resin item, has a plate

57

a

and a cylindrical shaft

57

b

provided over this plate

57

a

, and this holding member

57

, in a state in which its plate

57

a

is accommodated in the receptacle

51

a

, is rotatably held by pressing the shaft

57

b

through the fixed member

52

.

A rubber contact

58

provided with a contact point is fitted within the shaft

57

b

so as to oppose the fixed contact provided on the second flexible insulating substrate

56

.

When the upper part of the rubber contact

58

is suppressed, the rubber contact

58

is bent to come into contact with the fixed contact provided on the second flexible insulating substrate

56

. These fixed contact and rubber contact

58

constitute a second push switch part S

4

.

As a result, the first and second push switch parts S

3

and S

4

constitute a two-stage suppressive switching section P

2

, and the first and second push switch parts S

3

and S

4

constituting this two-stage suppressive switching section P

2

are arranged in a layered state in the direction of the rotation axis G

2

of the holding member

57

.

In the two-stage suppressive switching section P

2

, first the rubber contact

58

is pressed to operate the second push switch part S

4

, and its continued pressing causes the movable contact

55

to be suppressed to operate the first push switch part S

3

.

A slider

59

consisting of a metal plate is fitted to the plate

57

a

in a position outer than the two-stage switching section P

2

in the radial direction, and this slider

59

comes into sliding contact with the fixed contact provided on the first flexible insulating substrate

54

. These fixed contact and slider

59

constitute a rotary electrical part D

2

.

This rotary electrical part D

2

is arranged in a radial direction orthogonal to the rotation axis G

2

of the two-stage suppressive switching section P

2

.

A lever

60

, which is a molded synthetic resin item, has a holder

60

a

and an arm

60

b

extending in one direction from this holder

60

a

. This lever

60

, in a state of being linked so as to rotate the holding member

57

, is arranged over the fixed member

52

.

A key top

61

arranged to be able to suppress the rubber contact

58

, in a state in which it is prevented from coming off by the holder

60

a

of the lever

60

, is fitted to be shiftable in the direction of the rotation axis G

2

.

A button

63

, which is a molded synthetic resin item elastically pressed by a coil spring

62

, is fitted to be vertically movable in a state in which it is prevented from coming off by the arm

60

b

of the lever

60

. This button

63

is provided with a projection

63

a,

which can be engaged with and disengaged from the fixed member

52

. When the button

63

is suppressed against the coil spring

62

, the projection

63

a

can come off a hole

52

a

of the fixed member

52

to enable the lever

60

to rotate.

A spring

64

fixed to the rotatable holding member

57

can be engaged with and disengaged from the insulating substrate

53

to form a detent mechanism, so that, when the holding member

57

rotates, the spring

64

engages with or disengages from the insulating substrate

53

to give a sense of click to the rotary action of the holding member

57

and the lever

60

.

To describe the operation of the conventional complex operation input device having such a configuration, first, when the key top

61

is suppressed in the direction of the rotation axis G

2

, the rubber contact

58

is pressed, and the second push switch part S

4

is manipulated. When the key top

61

is further suppressed, the rubber contact

58

suppresses the movable contact

55

via the second flexible insulating substrate

56

, and the first push switch part S

3

is manipulated.

Then, when released from suppression by the key top

61

, the movable contact

55

and the rubber contact

58

automatically return to their respective original states by their own elasticity, and the key top

61

returns to its own original state with the return of the rubber contact

58

.

Next, when the button

63

is suppressed against the coil spring

62

, the projection

63

a

is disengaged from the fixed member

52

to enable the lever

60

to turn, and if in this state the lever

60

is turned with the arm

60

b

, the holding member

57

will rotate to turn the slider

59

, which comes into sliding contact with the fixed contact on the first flexible insulating substrate

54

to cause the rotary electrical part D

2

to be operated.

Then, the spring

64

engages with or disengages from the insulating substrate

53

to cause the lever

60

to turn with a sense of click.

Or if the lever

60

is released from rotation, the lever

60

and the holding member

57

will be stopped by the detent mechanism where they have turned by a prescribed angle and, if in this position the button

63

is released from suppression, the button

63

will be pushed back by the coil spring

62

to enter into a state in which the fixed member

52

is engaged with the hole

52

a.

Such manipulations cause the complex operation input device to be operated.

The complex operation input device according to the prior art, in which the two-stage suppressive switching section P

2

and the rotary electrical part D

2

are arranged in the radial direction orthogonal to the direction of the rotation axis G

2

, has a large dimension in the lateral direction, and accordingly involves a problem of allowing no size reduction in the radial direction.

Especially, there is a problem that the device is unsuitable for portable items, such as a digital camera.

There is another problem that, on account of the use of the mutually separate first and second flexible insulating substrates

54

and

56

, not only is an extra task of electrically connecting them needed but also their incorporation is troublesome, resulting in poor productivity.

Still another problem is that, as the second flexible insulating substrate

56

provided with the fixed contact for the second push switch part S

4

is mounted over the movable contact

55

of the first push switch part S

3

and, moreover, the movable contact

55

is deformed in a state in which the rubber contact

58

is in contact with the fixed contact, the contact of the second push switch part S

4

is destabilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a complex operation input device which permits a size reduction in the lateral direction, provides high productivity and stabilizes the contact of the double-action push switch unit.

A first means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration provided with an operating member, a rotary electrical part manipulated with the operating member and a double-action push switch unit manipulated with the operating member, wherein the rotary electrical part and the double-action push switch unit are arranged in a layered state in a direction of a rotation axis of the rotary electrical part.

A second means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the operating member comprises a rotatable knob and a key top shiftable in the direction of the rotation axis, the rotary electrical part is operated by rotation of the knob and the double-action push switch unit is operated,by shifting of the key top.

A third means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the knob is annularly shaped and arranged so as to surround an outer circumference of the key top.

A fourth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the double-action push switch unit comprises two, first and second, push switch parts differing from each other in operating force, a carrier member is provided to support the double-action push switch unit, the carrier member has a plate, and over the plate the first and second push switch parts are arranged in a layered state in the direction of the rotation axis.

A fifth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the first and second push switch parts click by operating forces differing from each other.

A sixth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration further provided with a driver arranged between the key top and the carrier member and capable of shifting in the direction of the rotation axis, wherein the first and second push switch parts are arranged above and underneath the driver, one above and the other underneath, with this driver in between.

A seventh means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein one of the first and second push switch parts is supported over the plate, the other of the first and second push switch parts is supported over the driver, the one suppressive switching unit supported by the plate is operated by the driver, and the other suppressive switching unit supported by the driver is operated by the key top.

An eighth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the carrier member is provided with a guide for guiding the shifting of the driver in the direction of the rotation axis.

A ninth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the first and the suppressive switching units comprise one flexible insulating substrate provided with fixed contacts for the first and second push switch parts and movable contacts for the first and second push switch parts, to be engaged with and disengaged from the fixed contacts, the bending of the flexible insulating substrate causes it to be mounted over the plate or the driver, one of the first and second push switch parts is arranged between the key top and the driver, and the other is arranged between the driver and the plate.

A tenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the double-action push switch unit and the rotary electrical part are arranged on different sides of the plate of the carrier member, and the double-action push switch unit is positioned toward the key top.

An eleventh means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the rotary electrical part is provided with a rotor rotating together with the knob, a slider provided on this rotor, and a conducting pattern provided on a flexible insulating substrate, the slider coming into sliding contact with the conducting pattern, and fixed contacts for the first and second push switch parts are formed over the flexible insulating substrate.

A twelfth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration further provided with a supporting member for supporting the carrier member, wherein the flexible insulating substrate mounted over the supporting member is held between the supporting member and the carrier member.

A thirteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the rotor is arranged between the plate of the carrier member and the supporting member, side walls provided on the rotor are in contact with or close to part of the flexible insulating substrate positioned on an outer circumference of the conducting pattern to prevent the flexible insulating substrate from floating off.

A fourteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the plate of the carrier member has a shaft provided in its central part and a plurality of projections protruding from the tip of the shaft in the direction of the rotation axis, the shaft is pressed through a hole bored in the rotor to rotatably support the rotor and the knob, and the projections are pressed through holes bored in the flexible insulating substrate and the supporting member to fit the carrier member to the supporting member.

A fifteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the flexible insulating substrate is held between the tip of the shaft and the supporting member.

A sixteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein a forcing member intervenes between the carrier member and the rotor and/or the knob and, when the rotor has rotated via the knob, the rotor is returned to its initial position by the forcing member.

A seventeenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein a stopper to limit a range of rotation of the rotor is provided between the carrier member and the rotor and/or the knob.

An eighteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the rotary electrical part has a detent mechanism and, when the knob is rotated, the knob turns with articulation.

A nineteenth means to solve the problems noted above has a configuration wherein the detent mechanism is arranged within the rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a plan of a complex operation input device, which is a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a section along line

2

—

2

in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

shows an exploded perspective view of the complex operation input device, which is the first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4

illustrates how a rotor and a knob are coupled to each other and how a driver is guided in the complex operation input device, which is the first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5

shows the under side of the rotor pertaining to the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating how a slider is fitted;

FIG. 6

shows the operation of the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating the state of its initial position;

FIG. 7

shows the operation of the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating the state of its operation;

FIG. 8

shows a development of a flexible insulating substrate in the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode.

FIG. 9

shows a section of the essential part of a complex operation input device, which is a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10

shows a plan of the complex operation input device according to the prior art; and

FIG. 11

shows a section of the essential part of the complex operation input device according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To explain drawings illustrating a complex operation input device according to the present invention,

FIG. 1

is a plan of a complex operation input device, which is a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

is a section along line

2

—

2

in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

shows an exploded perspective view of the complex operation input device, which is the first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4

illustrates how a rotor and a knob are coupled to each other and how a driver is guided in the complex operation input device, which is the first preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5

shows the under side of the rotor pertaining to the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating how a slider is fitted.

Further,

FIG. 6

shows the operation of the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating the state of its initial position;

FIG. 7

shows the operation of the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode, illustrating the state of its operation;

FIG. 8

shows a development of a flexible insulating substrate in the complex operation input device embodying the invention in the first mode; and

FIG. 9

shows a section of the essential part of a complex operation input device, which is a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Next will be described the configuration of a complex operation input device, which is the first preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG.

1

through

FIG. 8. A

supporting member

1

consisting of a metal plate, synthetic resin or the like is planarly shaped, and in its central part has a plurality of holes

1

a

provided on the same circle.

A flexible insulating substrate

2

consisting of a sheet of insulating film, as shown in FIG.

3

and

FIG. 8

in particular, has a planar first base

2

a

; a first link

2

b

bent upward from this first base

2

a

; a planar second base

2

c

arranged, in a state of being linked to this first link

2

b

, opposite the first base

2

a

; a second link

2

d

bent upward from this second base

2

c

and positioned on the reverse side to the first link

2

b

with the second base

2

c

in between; a planar third base

2

e

arranged, in a state of being linked to this second link

2

d

, opposite the second base

2

c

; a third link

2

f

bent from this third base

2

e

and positioned on the reverse side to the second link

2

d

with the third base

2

e

in between; and a planar fourth base

2

g

arranged, in a state of being linked to this third link

2

f

, opposite the third base

2

e.

The first base

2

a

of the flexible insulating substrate

2

has a wide portion

2

h

and a drawer

2

j

linked to this wide portion

2

h

. The flexible insulating substrate

2

in the central part of the wide portion

2

h

has a plurality of holes

2

k

provided on the same circle, a hole

2

m

provided in the central part of the third base

2

e

, and a small hole

2

n

provided in the vicinity of the third link

2

f

of the fourth base

2

g.

On the surface of this flexible insulating substrate

2

, as illustrated in particular in

FIG. 8

, is drawn a wiring pattern

3

consisting of an electric conductor. This wiring pattern

3

has, in the position of the outer circumference of the holes

2

k

, a conducting pattern

3

a

provided on the first base

2

a

to constitute a fixed contact; a pair of first fixed contacts

3

b

provided on the second base

2

c

; and a pair of second fixed contacts

3

c

provided on the fourth base

2

g

. These first and second fixed contacts

3

b

and

3

c

are led to the drawer

2

j

by the wiring pattern

3

provided on the first, second and third links

2

b

,

2

d

and

2

f

and the first, second, third and fourth bases

2

a

,

2

c

,

2

e

and

2

g

, and the conducting pattern

3

a

is also led by the wiring pattern

3

to the wide portion

2

h.

Over the flexible insulating substrate

2

is provided an insulating film (insulating resist)

15

with the conducting pattern

3

a

, the first and second fixed contacts

3

b

and

3

c

, and the wiring pattern

3

partly exposed, and the conducting pattern

3

a

is exposed on the right and left with the insulating film

15

in the middle.

In the flexible insulating substrate

2

being configured in this way, the holes

2

k

are matched with the holes

1

a

of the supporting member

1

and, with the conducting pattern

3

a

directed upward, the first base

2

a

is mounted over the supporting member

1

.

A carrier member

4

, which is a molded synthetic resin item, has a flat plate

4

a

, a cylindrical shaft

4

b

protruding downward from this plate

4

a

, a plurality of projections

4

c

projecting downward from the tip of this shaft

4

b

, three stubs

4

d

provided on the under face of the plate

4

a

to surround the shaft

4

b

at intervals, a guide

4

e

consisting of two holes penetrating the plate

4

a

, and a stopper

4

f

consisting of a convex protruding in the radial direction from the outer circumference of the plate

4

a.

This carrier member

4

presses the projections

4

c

through the holes

2

k

of the flexible insulating substrate

2

and the holes

1

a

of the supporting member

1

, and the tips of the projections

4

c

are heat-caulked to fit the carrier member

4

to the supporting member

1

.

In this arrangement, the first base

2

a

of the flexible insulating substrate

2

is supported by being held between the tip of the shaft

4

b

and the supporting member

1

to prevent the first base

2

a

from floating off the supporting member

1

.

A rotor

5

, which is a molded synthetic resin item, has a disk-shaped base

5

a

, a hole

5

b

provided in the central part of this base

5

a

, a plurality of arcwise side walls

5

c

protruding downward from the outer circumference of the base

5

a

, a plurality of cuts

5

d

provide between these side walls

5

c

, a plurality of arcwise walls

5

e

protruding upward from the outer circumference of the base

5

a

, a plurality of grooves

5

f

provided between these walls

5

e

, a plurality of projections

5

g

protruding outward from the outer faces of the walls

5

e

, an engaging piece

5

h

(see FIG.

6

and

FIG. 7

) consisting of one convex projecting outward from the outer face of one of the walls

5

e

, a plurality of stubs

5

j

projecting downward from the lower face of the base

5

a

, and a plurality of engaging stubs

5

k

(see FIG.

6

and

FIG. 7

) projecting upward at intervals on the upper face of the base

5

a.

This rotor

5

is fitted between the plate

4

a

of the carrier member

4

and the supporting member

1

to be rotatable around the shaft

4

b

, with the shaft

4

b

of the carrier member

4

being pressed through the hole

5

b.

When the rotor

5

is fitted, the tops of the stubs

4

d

come into contact with the upper face of the base

5

a

in a state in which the plate

4

a

is positioned within the walls

5

e

, with the result that a void

6

is formed between the plate

4

a

and the base

5

a

. At the same time, in a state in which the side walls

5

c

surround the conducting pattern

3

a

, the lower ends of the side walls

5

c

come into contact with or are positioned close to the first base

2

a

to prevent the flexible insulating substrate

2

from floating off.

Also, when the rotor

5

is fitted, the flexible insulating substrate

2

has a configuration that, in a state in which the bent first link

2

b

extends upward through the cuts

5

d

and the first fixed contact

3

b

faces upward, the second base

2

c

is mounted on the plate

4

a.

Further, when the rotor

5

is fitted, if the stopper

4

f

of the carrier member

4

is positioned in the grooves

5

f

of the rotor

5

, the rotation of the rotor

5

causes the walls

5

e

positioned in the grooves

5

f

to hit against the stopper

4

f

to limit the range of rotation of the rotor

5

.

A slider

7

consisting of a springy metal plate, as shown in

FIG. 5

in particular, is fitted to the rotor

5

by caulking by one of the stubs

5

j

in a state in which it is positioned on the under face of the base

5

a

of the rotor

5

so that it rotates together with the rotor

5

, and at the same time another of the stubs

5

j

, positioned in the central part of the slider

7

, determines the position of the slider

7

.

This slider

7

slides in contact with the conducting pattern

3

a

to switch from one contact to another, and this slider

7

and the conducting pattern

3

a

constitute a rotary electrical part D

1

.

A forcing member

8

consisting of a twisted coil spring has a wound portion

8

a

and a pair of arms

8

b

projecting in the radial direction from the two ends of the wound portion

8

a

. This forcing member

8

is accommodated in the void

6

in a state in which the shaft

4

b

is pressed through the wound portion

8

a

. As shown in

FIG. 6

in particular, it is fitted in a state in which the pair of arms

8

b

are in contact with two of the stubs

4

d

and in contact with two of the engaging stubs

5

k

of the rotor

5

.

Thus, the forcing member

8

intervenes between the rotor

5

and the carrier member

4

.

As in this process the engaging stubs

5

k

are in contact with the arms

8

b

, the rotor

5

is prevented from playing and is in its initial (neutral) position.

When the rotor

5

in this initial position rotates in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the rotor

5

, accompanied by the slider

7

as shown in

FIG. 7

, hooks one of the arms

8

b

and rotates against the elasticity of the arm

8

b

to cause the rotary electrical part D

1

to be operated. At the same time, when the rotor

5

has rotated by a prescribed angle, the stopper

4

f

hits against the walls

5

e

to stop the rotation.

If the rotor

5

in this state is released from rotation, the rotor

5

is returned to its initial position by the elasticity of the arms

8

b

for self-returning.

An operating member

9

is configured of an annular knob

10

and a key top

11

arranged in the central part of this knob

10

, and the knob

10

has an annular base

10

a

, a hole

10

b

bored in the central part of this base

10

a

, a cylinder

10

c

provided to surround this hole

10

b

and protruding downward from the under face of the base

10

a

, a wide notch

10