Patent Abstract:
An operation input device includes a base, a printed circuit board which has a plurality of pushbutton switches and Hall elements mounted on its upside and which is stacked on and united with the base, an operation plate which is supported on the base so as to be vertically movable on the printed circuit board, and a disc type operation dial in which an annular magnet with N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately is assembled on the underside of this operation dial and which is turnably assembled on the upside of the operation plate. Here, the disc type operation dial is turned, thereby to sense the changes of the magnetic fluxes of the annular magnet by the Hall elements and to detect a turning direction, while the disc type operation dial is depressed, thereby to operate any of the pushbutton switches through the operation plate. The operation dial is prevented from becoming rickety in a horizontal direction, and it ensures a smooth turning operation, thereby to afford a good operation feeling.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an operation input device which is applicable to a portable telephone or a portable music player. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Heretofore, an operation input device for use in a portable telephone or the like has been, for example, one including a base, a printed circuit board which has a plurality of pushbutton switches and magnetic field detecting elements mounted on its upside and which is stacked on and united with the base, an operation plate which is placed on the printed circuit board, and a disc type operation dial in which an annular magnet with N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately is assembled on the underside of the operation dial and which is turnably assembled on the operation plate. With the operation input device, the operation dial is turned, whereby the changes of the magnetic fluxes of the annular magnet are sensed by the magnetic field detecting elements so as to detect a turning direction, while the operation dial is depressed, whereby the pushbutton switch is operated (refer to JP-A-2003-280799). 
   The operation input device is schematically shown in  FIG. 19 . As seen from the figure, the peripheral edge of a rotary member (operation dial)  154  is retained through a retaining ring  164  which is mounted on a base  120 . Here, the rotary member (operation dial)  154  is subjected to a turning operation and a depressing operation, thereby to drive any of pushbutton switches not shown. In this case, when the upper peripheral edge of the rotary member  154  abuts against the retaining ring  164  in depressing the peripheral edge of this rotary member  154 , an operation feeling worsens, and hence, some gap G 1  is provided. Due to the provision of the gap G 1 , however, the rotary member  154  becomes rickety in a vertical direction. It is therefore considered to urge the rotary member  154  upwards by elastic members. With such a configuration, however, the retaining ring  164  and the upper peripheral edge of the rotary member  154  come into touch, and a friction develops in subjecting the rotary member  154  to the turning operation. This leads to the problem that a smooth turning operation is not attained. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the problem mentioned above, the present invention has for its object to provide an operation input device of good operation feeling, which removes the vertical ricketiness of an operation dial and ensures a smooth turning operation. 
   In order to accomplish the object, an operation input device according to the invention consists in comprising a base, a printed circuit board which has a plurality of pushbutton switches and magnetic field detecting elements mounted on its upside and which is stacked on and united with the base, an operation plate which is supported on the base so as to be vertically movable on the printed circuit board, and a disc type operation dial in which an annular magnet with N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately is assembled on an underside of the operation dial and which is turnably assembled on an upside of the operation plate; wherein the disc type operation dial is turned, thereby to sense changes of magnetic fluxes of the annular magnet by the magnetic field detecting elements and to detect a turning direction, while the disc type operation dial is depressed, thereby to operate any of the pushbutton switches through the operation plate. 
   In the invention, a depressing operation function is allotted to the operation plate which is supported on the base so as to be vertically movable, while a turning operation function is allotted to the operation dial which is turnably assembled on the upside of the operation plate. Therefore, the vertical ricketiness can be eliminated, and a smooth turning operation is permitted, so that the operation input device of good operation feeling is obtained. 
   As an embodiment according to the invention, the outer peripheral edge parts of a slide sheet which is arranged between the operation plate and the disc type operation dial are supported by the base, thereby to bestow urging forces on the operation plate. 
   According to this embodiment, the slide sheet urges the operation plate downwards, so that the vertical ricketiness of the operation plate can be prevented more reliably, and the operation feeling is enhanced. 
   In the invention, an operation input device may well comprise a base, a printed circuit board which has a plurality of pushbutton switches and magnetic field detecting elements mounted on its upside and which is stacked on and united with the base, an operation plate which is arranged on the printed circuit board, a disc type operation dial in which an annular magnet with N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately is assembled on an underside of the operation dial and which is turnably assembled on an upside of the operation plate, and a flexible slide sheet which is arranged between the operation plate and the disc type operation dial and whose outer peripheral edge parts are supported by the base; wherein the disc type operation dial is turned, thereby to sense changes of magnetic fluxes of the annular magnet by the magnetic field detecting elements and to detect a turning direction, while the disc type operation dial is depressed, thereby to operate any of the pushbutton switches through the operation plate. 
   According to the invention, the operation plate is supported through the flexible slide sheet supported on the base. Here, a depressing operation function is allotted to the slide sheet and the operation plate, while a turning operation function is allotted to the operation dial which is turnably assembled on the upside of the operation plate. Therefore, the vertical ricketiness can be eliminated, and a smooth turning operation is permitted, so that the operation input device of good operation feeling is obtained. 
   As an embodiment according to the invention, the operation plate may well have its underside pushed up by elastic arms cut and raised from the base, thereby to be urged upwards. 
   According to this embodiment, the operation plate is pushed upwards, so that superfluous loads do not act on the pushbutton switches, and any maloperation can be prevented. Moreover, since the operation plate need not be pushed up by elastic arms being separate members, the number of components and the number of assembling man-hour are small, and the operation input device of high productivity is obtained. 
   As another embodiment according to the invention, elastic pads may well be arranged between the pushbutton switches and the operation plate. 
   According to this embodiment, the compressed elastic pads urge the operation plate upwards, and the vertical ricketiness can be prevented. Moreover, since the elastic pads absorb an assemblage error, a high assemblage precision is not required, and the fabrication of the operation input device is facilitated. 
   An electronic equipment according to the invention consists in that the operation input device mentioned above is mounted with the disc type operation dial exposed so as to be operable from outside. 
   According to the invention, there is the advantage that the electronic equipment which is capable of a smooth turning operation without vertical ricketiness is obtained. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view of a portable telephone in which the first embodiment of an operation input device according to the present invention is incorporated; 
       FIG. 1B  is an enlarged front view of the operation input device; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views in which the operation input device shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  is seen from above and from below, respectively; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view in which parts of the operation input device shown in  FIG. 2A  are disassembled and seen from above; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 2A  is seen from above; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view in which parts of the operation input device shown in  FIG. 2B  are disassembled and seen from below; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 2B  is seen from below; 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are a front view of the operation input device shown in  FIG. 1 , and sectional views taken along a line B-B and a line C-C indicated in  FIG. 7A , respectively; 
       FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are a front view of the operation input device shown in  FIG. 1 , and sectional views taken along a line B-B and a line C-C indicated in  FIG. 8A , respectively; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective views in which the second embodiment of the operation input device according to the invention is seen from above and from below, respectively; 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are sectional views which correspond to the perspective views shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , respectively; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 9A  is seen from above; 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 9B  is seen from below; 
       FIGS. 13A ,  13 B and  13 C are a front view of the operation input device shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , and sectional views taken along a line B-B and a line C-C indicated in  FIG. 13A , respectively; 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are perspective views in which the third embodiment of the operation input device according to the invention is seen from above and from below, respectively; 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  are sectional views which correspond to the perspective views shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , respectively; 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 14A  is seen from above; 
       FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view in which the operation input device shown in  FIG. 14B  is seen from below; 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic sectional view showing the operating principle of the operation input device according to the invention; and 
       FIG. 19  is schematic sectional views showing the operating principle of an operation input device in a prior-art example. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of an operation input device according to the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 18 . 
   The operation input device in each embodiment is applied to a portable telephone. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a scroll bar (not shown) within a monitor  2  disposed in the portable telephone  1  is scrolled by the operation input device  3 , whereby a selection instruction can be given through a pushbutton  40 , etc. to be stated below. Incidentally, numeral  4  designates ten-keys, numeral  5  a microphone, and numeral  6  a loudspeaker. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the operation input device  3  includes a metal base  10  on and with which a flexible printed circuit board  20  is stuck and united, a resin-made film cover  30  which has a center pushbutton switch  29   a  and four pushbutton switches  29   b - 29   e  stuck on its underside beforehand, the pushbutton  40  which operates the center pushbutton switch  29   a , an operation plate  50  which is supported on the metal base  10 , a slide sheet  60  which is placed on the upside of the operation plate  50 , and an operation dial  70  which has an annular magnet  65  fitted and fixed and has a fixation ring  45  clinched and fixed on its underside and which is turnably mounted on the operation plate  50 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the metal base  10  is substantially rectangular in plan, and it has a pair of positioning pillars  11 ,  11  cut and erected at its central parts and is provided with jig holes  12 ,  12  outside the respective positioning pillars. Besides, the metal base  10  has elastic engagement receivers  13  cut and erected centrally of the edges of its respective latera. 
   The printed circuit board  20  made of a flexible resin film is formed of a circuit board body  20   a  of substantially rectangular shape, whose rear surface is coated with a bonding material and is clad with peeling paper, and a lead portion  20   b  which extends from the circuit board body  20   a . Here, the circuit board body  20   a  is centrally provided with a concentric conductive portion  21   a , and it has concentric conductive portions  21   b ,  21   c ,  21   d ,  21   e  arranged crosswise about the conductive portion  21   a  thereon. Besides, the printed circuit board  20  is provided with positioning holes  22  and jig holes  23  at positions which correspond respectively to the positioning pillars  11  and jig holes  12  of the metal base  10 . Further, LEDs  24  for notifying an operating state are mounted on the respective corner parts of the circuit board body  20   a , and a pair of Hall elements  25   a ,  25   b  are mounted on this circuit board body  20   a  so as to oppose to each other with the conductive portion  21   a  interposed therebetween. 
   Incidentally, the conductive portions  21   a - 21   e  are not restricted to only the concentric ones. Each of these conductive portions may well be, for example, such that one conductive portion which is substantially C-shaped in plan has the other conductive portion arranged centrally so as to be led out. 
   The resin-made film cover  30  has a planar shape in which this film cover can be mounted on the circuit board body  20   a . This resin-made film cover  30  is provided with sticking portions  31   a - 31   e  at those positions of its rear surface coated with a bonding material which correspond to the respective conductive portions  21   a - 21   e . Flat dome-shaped inversion springs which form the pushbutton switches  29   a - 29   e , are respectively stuck to the sticking portions  31   a - 31   e . Further, the resin-made film cover  30  is provided with positioning holes  32  and jig holes  33  at positions which correspond respectively to the positioning pillars  11  and jig holes  12  of the metal base  10 . 
   The pushbutton  40  has an outer peripheral shape in which this pushbutton can be inserted into the operation hole  71  of the operation dial  70  to be stated later. A coming-off preventive annular rib  41  is unitarily molded at the edge part of the lower end of the outer periphery of the pushbutton  40 . Besides, the pushbutton  40  is protrusively provided with a depressing lug  42  ( FIG. 6 ) centrally of its bottom surface, and it is formed with guiding slits  43  which engage the respective positioning pillars  11  of the metal base  10 , in the outer peripheral surface of the annular rib  41 . 
   The fixation ring  45  is clinched and fixed onto the underside of the operation dial  70  to be stated later, thereby to turnably assemble the operation dial  70  to the operation plate  50 . 
   The operation plate  50  is a resin-molded article which is substantially rectangular in plan, and which can cover the metal base  10 . This operation plate  50  is centrally provided with a fitting hole  51 , and it is formed with an annular step  52  at the peripheral edge part of the underside of the fitting hole  51  ( FIG. 6 ). Besides, the operation plate  50  is protrusively provided with depressing lugs  53   b - 53   e  at positions which correspond to the respective sticking portions  31   b - 31   e  of the resin-made film cover  30 . Further, the operation plate  50  is provided with rectangular holes  54  at positions which correspond to the respective Hall elements  25   a ,  25   b , and it is provided with elastic pawls  55  centrally of the edge parts of the respective latera in a manner to protrude sideward. Incidentally, the rectangular holes  54  are provided in order to facilitate the passages of magnetic fluxes. 
   The slide sheet  60  has a concentric circular shape in which this slide sheet can cover the upside of the operation plate  50 , and it is provided with elastic tongues  61  which engage the respective elastic engagement receivers  13  of the metal base  10 , at its outer peripheral edge parts. 
   The annular magnet  65  has N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately, and it is fitted and fixed into the annular groove  75  of the operation dial  70  to be stated later. In particular, according to this embodiment, the annular magnet  65  is embedded in the annular groove  75  of the operation dial  70 , and it does not lie in direct touch with the slide sheet  60 . This brings forth the advantage that the operation input device  3  of thin type in which a frictional resistance acting on the operation dial  70  is low and which can be smoothly operated is obtained. 
   The operation dial  70  is centrally provided with the operation hole  71  into which the pushbutton  40  is fitted, and it is provided with antiskid raises  72  at the peripheral parts of its upside in a manner to extend radially and to lie at equal pitches. Besides, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the operation dial  70  is concentrically provided with an annular protrusion  73  for clinching and fixing the fixation ring  45 , at the peripheral edge part of the underside of the operation hole  71 , and it is protrusively provided with clinching projections  74  on the lower surface of the annular projection  73 . Further, the operation dial  70  is concentrically provided with the annular groove  75  for fitting and fixing the annular magnet  65  thereinto, outside the annular protrusion  73 . Incidentally, the disc type operation dial  70  need not always be circular, but it may well be in the shape of, for example, an equilateral octagon as long as it is turnable. 
   Next, there will be described a process for assembling the constituent components stated above. 
   First, the jig holes  12  of the metal base  10  are respectively set to one pair of positioning pins of a jig not shown, thereby to position this metal base  10 . Subsequently, the jig holes  23  and positioning holes  22  of the printed circuit board  20  on which the Hall elements  25   a ,  25   b  and the LEDs  24  are mounted at their predetermined positions are respectively set to the pair of pins of the jig and the positioning pillars  11  of the metal base  10 , thereby to stick and unite the printed circuit board  20  to and with the metal base  10 . Further, the dome-shaped inversion springs to become the pushbutton switches  29   a - 29   e  are respectively stuck and united to and with the sticking portions  31   a - 31   e  of the resin-made film cover  30 . Besides, the jig holes  33  and positioning holes  32  of the resin-made film cover  30  are respectively set to the pair of positioning pins of the jig and the positioning pillars  11  of the metal base  10 , whereby the resin film  30  is stuck and united to and with the printed circuit board  20 , and the pushbutton switches  29   a - 29   e  made up of the inversion springs stuck to the resin film  30  are formed. 
   On the other hand, the annular magnet  65  is fitted into the annular groove  75  of the operation dial  70  and is bonded and fixed thereto. Besides, the slide sheet  60  is positioned onto the upside of the operation plate  50 , and the annular protrusion  73  of the operation dial  70  is fitted into the fitting hole  51 . Further, the fixation fitting  45  is positioned to the annular protrusion  73  of the operation dial  70 , and the clinching projections  74  of the annular protrusion  73  are inserted into the clinching holes  46  of the fixation fitting  45  and are clinched. Thus, the operation plate  50  and the slide sheet  60  are held between the operation dial  70  and the fixation ring  45 , and the operation dial  70  is turnably supported on the operation plate  50  through the slide sheet  60 . 
   Besides, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pushbutton  40  is positioned over the pushbutton switch  29   a  of the printed circuit board  20 . Further, the pushbutton  40  is fitted into the fitting hole  71  of the operation dial  70 , and the elastic pawls  55  of the operation plate  50  and the elastic tongues  61  of the slide sheet  60  are engaged with the elastic engagement receivers  13  of the metal base  10 , whereby the assembling operations are completed. Here, the elastic tongues  61  of the slide sheet  60  are engaged with the elastic engagement receivers  13  in a state where they are somewhat bent downward, so as to generate urging forces. 
   According to this embodiment, the operation plate  50  is unturnably fixed to the base  10 , and the operation dial  70  is depressed, thereby to bear the depression operation function of depressing the pushbutton switches  29   a - 29   e . On the other hand, the operation dial  70  turnably assembled onto the upside of the operation plate  50  is turned, thereby to bear a turning operation function. 
   Thus, according to this embodiment, the elastic pawls  55  of the operation plate  50  are held in engagement with the elastic engagement receivers  13  of the base  10 , so that the operation plate  50  can be prevented from becoming rickety in a horizontal direction. 
   Moreover, the operation plate  50  is urged upwards by the spring forces of the pushbutton switches, so that it undergoes no ricketiness in a vertical direction. 
   Furthermore, the elastic tongues  61  of the slide sheet  60  are held in engagement with the elastic engagement receivers  13 , thereby to urge the operation plate  50  downwards, so that the vertical ricketiness of the operation plate  50  can be prevented more reliably. Besides, the slide sheet  60  urges the operation dial  70  also upwards. Therefore, the operation dial  70  can be restrained from excessively turning due to an inertial force, to bring forth the advantage that any erroneous operation is difficult to occur. 
   Incidentally, the operation plate  50  and the operation dial  70  may well be supported in such a way that only the elastic tongues  61  of the slide sheet  60  arranged between the operation plate  50  and the operation dial  70  are engaged with the elastic engagement receivers  13  of the base  10 . 
   Next, there will be described an operation method for the operation input device  3  of the above configuration. 
   When the operation dial  70  is turned, thereby to turn the annular magnet  65  unitarily with this operation dial, the changes of a magnetic field are respectively sensed by the pair of Hall ICs  25   a ,  25   b , and a turning direction and a turning magnitude are detected on the basis of the sensed changes. 
   Besides, the results of the detections are reflected as the movement of the scroll bar on the screen display of the monitor  2  through a control circuit not shown. Subsequently, in a case where the scroll bar has arrived at a desired position, the pushbutton  40  is depressed, whereby the center pushbutton switch  29   a  is operated by the depressing lug  42  so as to output a selection command. 
   Alternatively, the peripheral part of the operation dial  70  as corresponds to, for example, the depressing lug  53   e  shown in  FIG. 8B  may well be depressed, thereby to invert and turn ON the inversion spring of the pushbutton switch  29   e  lying directly under the depressing lug  53   e.    
   As shown in  FIG. 9A  through  FIG. 13C , the second embodiment of the invention corresponds to a case where an operation plate  50  is urged upwards by elastic arms  14  which are cut and raised from the peripheral edge parts of a metal base  10 , thereby to prevent the operation plate  50  from becoming rickety in a vertical direction. The same parts as in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and signs, and they shall be omitted from description. 
   According to the second embodiment, the operation plate  50  is pushed upwards, so that superfluous loads do not act on pushbutton switches  29   a - 29   e , and any maloperation can be prevented. Moreover, since elastic arms being separate members are not required, the number of components and the number of assembling man-hour are small, and an operation input device of high productivity is obtained. 
   As shown in  FIG. 14A  through  FIG. 17 , the third embodiment of the invention corresponds to a case where elastic pads  34  are respectively placed on pushbutton switches  21   a - 21   e  through a resin-made film cover  30 . Incidentally, the same parts as in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and signs, and they shall be omitted from description. For the brevity of illustration, however, the resin-made film cover  30  is not shown in  FIGS. 14A through 15C . 
   According to the third embodiment, the elastic pads  34  are placed so as to push an operation plate  50  upwards, whereby the operation plate  50  can be prevented from becoming rickety in a vertical direction. Especially, since the elastic pads  34  can absorb a cumulative error ascribable to the assemblage of a large number of components, a high assemblage precision is not required, and an operation input device easy of fabrication is obtained. 
   Incidentally,  FIG. 18  illustrates the principle stated above. Elastic members urging the operation plate  50  in the figure correspond to the slide sheet  60 , elastic arms  14  and elastic pads  34  in the respective embodiments stated above. 
   Besides, the ricketiness may well be prevented in such a way that the elastic pads are arranged between the upside of the printed circuit board  20  and the underside of the operation plate  50  so as to urge this operation plate  50  upwards. 
   It is a matter of course that the operation input device according to the invention is not restricted to the portable telephone, but that it may well be applied to another mobile equipment or any other electronic equipment.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6