Input device and electronic equipment

Abstract

To provide an input device that makes it possible to improve the operability of both tilting operation and pushing-in operation.SOLUTION: An input device (200) can perform tilting operation and pushing-in operation. The input device has a twill-shaped operation surface (301) for operating the input device, and a wall (302) formed at an end of the operation surface. Each vertex of the twill shape is located on a spherical surface, and the wall protrudes from the spherical surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device for inputting information, and more particularly to an input device that allows input by tilting operation. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices require a variety of operating members. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an input device that can be tilted in multiple directions and pressed down as an operating member for selecting various setting items when taking still images, videos, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-236548 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the input device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation surface of the input device that the user's finger touches is smooth, which means that the user's finger is likely to slip on the operation surface, and there is a risk that the user will erroneously operate the input device.

[0005] In addition, some input devices that are mounted on conventional electronic devices such as cameras and that can be tilted in multiple directions have uneven surfaces on the flat operation surface that the user's fingers touch. However, with input devices of this shape, pressing operations are difficult and can be painful if the user continues to press the input device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides an input device that makes it possible to improve the operability of both tilting operations and pushing operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An input device according to one aspect of the present invention is an input device capable of tilting and pushing operations, and has a twill-shaped operating surface for operating the input device and a wall portion formed at an end of the operating surface, with each vertex of the twill shape being located on a sphere and the wall portion protruding beyond the sphere.

[0008] Other objects and features of the present invention are illustrated in the following examples. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input device that makes it possible to improve the operability of both tilt operations and push operations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera 100 according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 200. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the input device 200 is tilted. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of a contacted portion 211 of a key top 201. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contacted portion 211. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the camera 600 is held by a user. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 700. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the camera 800 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 900. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0012] (First embodiment) An electronic device according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The electronic device of this embodiment is, as an example, a digital camera. Hereinafter, the electronic device will be referred to as camera 100.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a camera 100 according to this embodiment. The camera 100 has a grip section (grip section) 101 that is held by the right hand. When a user holds the camera 100 via the grip section 101, an input device 200 that can be pressed down and tilted in multiple directions is disposed in the camera 100 at a position that can be operated by the user's thumb. The coordinate axes shown in FIG. 1 are used to define directions for the explanation, and are also used in other drawings. The left-right direction of the camera 100 is the X-axis, the up-down direction is the Y-axis, and the depth direction is the Z-axis, and the arrow direction of each axis is defined as the positive direction as shown in the figure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 200. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of the input device 200 during a tilt operation. The input device 200 is composed of a key top 201, a movable switch 203 mounted on a printed wiring board 202, a drip-proof member 204, and a support member 205. The key top 201 is fitted to an axis portion 203a of the movable switch 203. A user can tilt or press the key top 201 by pressing a finger against a contact portion 211 of the key top 201. This allows a user to input to the movable switch 203 by tilting the key top 201 in eight directions and pressing the movable switch 203 in the axial direction (-Z direction in the figure). As shown in FIG. 3, the tilt operation of the input device 200 is performed by tilting the key top 201 by an angle α in each of the eight directions. This operation inputs operation information of the tilt direction to the movable switch 203. The drip-proof member 204 is fitted and held in a recess 201a provided in a part of the key top 201. When the key top 201 is moved, the drip-proof member 204 moves together with the recess 201a and maintains its engagement with the recess 201a. Furthermore, the drip-proof member 204 is sandwiched and fixed between the support member 205 and the exterior cover member 206. This makes it possible to prevent water and dust from entering the inside of the camera 100.

[0015] 4 is a perspective view of the contacted portion 211 of the key top 201. The contacted portion 211 is mainly composed of a knurled portion (operation surface) 301 with a twill pattern that the user contacts with the pad of his / her finger, and a wall portion 302 for preventing the user's finger from slipping during a tilt operation.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contacted portion 211. The outer shape of the contacted portion 211 (the outer shape of the knurled portion 301) is circular, and the diameter of the contacted portion 211 (the diameter of the knurled portion 301) is φ. Each vertex of the twill shape of the knurled portion 301 is on a spherical surface (P surface in the figure) with a radius SR. The wall portion 302 formed at the end of the knurled portion 301 protrudes by a height H from the P surface. In this embodiment, the wall portion 302 is provided continuously along the outer periphery of the circular knurled portion 301, but this is not limited to this. The wall portion 302 may be provided discontinuously along the outer periphery of the circular knurled portion 301. In other words, a plurality of arc-shaped walls may be provided along the outer periphery of the knurled portion 301. By making the knurled portion 301 spherical, the axis of the direction of the pressing operation becomes easy to understand, and the operability of the pressing operation is improved. In addition, since the knurled portion 301 is spherical, the finger grip during tilting operation is improved, and the operability of tilting operation is improved. Furthermore, since the knurled portion 301 has a twill shape, the frictional force between the finger and the knurled portion 301 during tilting operation is improved, and the operability of tilting operation is improved.

[0017] Here, the radius SR of the spherical surface and the diameter φ of the contacted portion 211 satisfy the following conditional expression (1).

[0018] 0.8φ <SR<1.2φ (1) If the radius SR is less than 0.8φ, when the user presses down on the key top 201, the pressure applied by the finger is biased toward the center of the contacted portion 211, causing pain to the finger if the user continues to press down on the key top 201. On the other hand, if the radius SR is more than 1.2φ, when the user presses down on the key top 201, the pressure applied by the finger is dispersed to the periphery of the contacted portion 211, reducing the reliability of the pressing operation. Therefore, the contacted portion 211 of this embodiment has a shape that satisfies conditional formula (1).

[0019] The angle of the peaks of the twill shape of the knurled portion 301 (the angle between the normal to the P surface and the slope of the peaks of the twill shape) is θ. Here, the peak angle θ and the operation angle α during the tilt operation shown in FIG. 3 satisfy the following conditional formula (2).

[0020] 45°<θ<90°-2α (2) If the angle θ is less than 45°, when the user's finger touches the key top 201, the pressure from each vertex of the twill pattern becomes large, causing pain to the finger. On the other hand, if θ is more than 90°-2α, when the user's finger touches the key top 201, the finger comes into continuous contact with the twill pattern, making the finger more likely to slip. Therefore, the contacted portion 211 of this embodiment has a shape that satisfies conditional expression (2).

[0021] Furthermore, it is desirable that the contactable portion 211 of the key top 201 of this embodiment is located closest to the user (+Z direction) in the area where the user's thumb is projected. This is because the accessibility of the thumb decreases as the contactable portion 211 of the key top 201 is located in the -Z direction. However, this condition is not an essential requirement, but merely indicates a desirable form.

[0022] According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide the input device 200 that can improve the operability of both the tilt operation and the push operation.

[0023] (Modification of the first embodiment) Hereinafter, an electronic device according to a modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 7. As in the first embodiment, the electronic device according to this modification is a digital camera as an example. Hereinafter, the electronic device will be referred to as a camera 600. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a user holds the camera 600. The camera 600 is provided with an input device 700 that can be pressed and tilted. As shown in FIG. 6, the user tilts the input device 700 using the thumb of the right hand. The ease of tilting varies depending on the direction. An operation in a direction approaching the grip (operation in the +X direction in the figure) is easy to operate because it is easy to apply force. On the other hand, an operation in a direction away from the grip (operation in the -X direction in the figure) is difficult to operate.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an input device 700. The input device 700 is composed of the same members as the input device 200, except for the key top 701. The knurled portion of the contacted portion 711 of the key top 701 is formed by a knurled portion 703 on the -X side and a knurled portion 704 on the +X side, with the central axis 702 as the boundary. In the knurled portion 703, the apex of the twill shape is located at the center 707 on a spherical surface 705 of radius SR2. In the knurled portion 704, the apex of the twill shape is located at the center 708 on a spherical surface 706 of radius SR3. Here, the center 707 is located on the central axis 702, and the center 708 is located on the -X side of the central axis 702. For this reason, even in an operation in a direction away from the grip, a tilt operation is easy to perform.

[0025] In this modification, the spherical surface on which the vertices of the twill pattern are located is made up of multiple spherical surfaces with different centers. Specifically, the size of the radius SR remains the same (SR2=SR3), but the position of the center of the sphere is shifted. In this modification, the ease of tilting operation is improved by configuring the spherical surface in this way, but the same effect can be obtained by changing the size of the radius SR depending on the region. In other words, the spherical surface on which the vertices of the twill pattern are located may be made up of multiple spherical surfaces with different radii.

[0026] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide the input device 700 that can improve the operability of both the tilt operation and the push operation.

[0027] (Second embodiment) An electronic device according to a second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. The electronic device according to this embodiment is a digital camera as an example. Hereinafter, the electronic device will be referred to as camera 800. Fig. 8 is a rear view of camera 800 according to the second embodiment. An input device 900 that can be pressed and tilted is disposed on camera 800. Dials 902 are disposed around input device 900.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 900. The configuration of the input device 900 is the same as that of the input device 200 described in the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used. The difference from the first embodiment is that a dial (rotation input device) 902 that can be rotated around a rotation center that is the same as an operation axis 901 for tilting and pushing the input device 900 is arranged around the periphery of the input device 900. That is, the dial 902 can be rotated around the operation axis 901 for tilting and pushing the input device 900. As shown in FIG. 9, the height of the operation surface 903 of the dial 902 is higher than the height 904 of the apex of the contacted portion 211 of the input device 900. This is because the contacted portion 211 of this embodiment is less likely to slip on the key top of a conventional input device and is easier to push, so that the height 904 of the apex of the contacted portion 211 can be lower than the conventional height 904 of the operation surface 903 of the dial 902. Therefore, as described above, the height of the operating surface 903 of the dial 902 can be made greater than the height 904 of the apex of the contactable portion 211, and it is possible to prevent the contactable portion 211 of the input device 900 from interfering with the rotation operation of the dial 902.

[0029] According to the above-described configuration, even in a configuration in which operating members capable of rotational operation are arranged around the input device 900, it is possible to provide an input device 900 that can improve the operability of both tilting operations and pushing operations.

[0030] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0031] The disclosure of each embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0032] (Configuration 1) An input device capable of tilting and pushing, A textured operation surface for operating the input device; A wall portion formed at an end portion of the operation surface, Each vertex of the twill shape is located on a spherical surface, The input device, wherein the wall portion protrudes from the spherical surface. (Configuration 2) The outer shape of the operation surface is circular, When the radius of the spherical surface is SR and the diameter of the operation surface is φ, 0.8φ <SR<1.2φ 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: (Configuration 3) When the angle between the normal to the spherical surface and the mountain slope of the twill shape is θ and the operation angle of the tilt operation is α, 45°<θ<90°-2α 3. The input device according to configuration 1 or 2, which satisfies the following conditions: (Configuration 4) 4. The input device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the spherical surface includes a plurality of spherical surfaces having different centers. (Configuration 5) 5. The input device according to configuration 4, wherein the spherical surface includes a plurality of spherical surfaces having different radii. (Configuration 6) A gripping portion for a user to grip; an input device that is arranged at a position that allows the user to operate the input device with a finger when the user holds the grip portion, 6. The electronic device, wherein the input device is an input device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5. (Configuration 7) 7. The electronic device according to configuration 6, further comprising a rotation input device arranged around the input device and capable of being rotated. (Configuration 8) 8. The electronic device according to configuration 7, wherein the rotary input device is a dial that is rotatable around an axis of the tilt operation and the push operation on the input device. (Configuration 9) 9. The electronic device according to configuration 7 or 8, wherein the operation surface of the rotary input device is higher than the height of a vertex of the operation surface of the input device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 200 Input Device 301 Knurled section (operation surface) 302 Wall section

Claims

1. An input device capable of tilting and pushing, a textured operation surface for operating the input device; a wall portion formed at an end of the operation surface, an input device characterized in that the wall portion protrudes in the axial direction of the input device from a spherical surface passing through multiple vertices of the twill shape on the operation surface, and does not protrude from a plane passing through a vertex of the twill shape located at the center of the operation surface and perpendicular to the axis.

2. The outer shape of the operation surface is circular, When the radius of the spherical surface is SR and the diameter of the operation surface is φ, 0.8φ<SR<1.2φ 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:

3. When the angle between the normal to the spherical surface and the mountain slope of the twill pattern is θ and the operation angle of the tilt operation is α, 45°<θ<90°-2α 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the spherical surface includes a plurality of spherical surfaces having different centers.

5. 5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the spherical surface includes a plurality of spherical surfaces having different radii.

6. a gripping portion for a user to grip; an input device arranged at a position operable by the user's finger when the user holds the grip portion, 2. An electronic device, wherein the input device is the input device according to claim 1.

7. 7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising a rotary input device that is arranged around the input device and that can be rotated.

8. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the rotary input device is a dial that can rotate around an operation axis of the tilt operation and the push operation of the input device.

9. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the operation surface of the rotary input device is higher than the height of the apex of the operation surface of the input device.

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