Pointing device and portable information apparatus
Abstract
This record has no abstract on file.
Term
Term ended
Expired 26 December 2023, 2.7 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Expired
- Today
1 claim: 1 independent, 0 dependent
- 1基部と、該基部に対して変位可能に該基部上に支持される操作部と、該操作部に設置される磁石と、該磁石の近傍で該基部に設置される磁電変換素子と、該基部に設置され、該操作部の押下操作により作動するスイッチ機構とを具備するポインティングデバイスにおいて、 前記操作部は、前記磁石を固定的に保持して前記基部上に移動可能に支持される保持部と、該保持部に連結され、該基部上での該保持部の移動に伴い、該保持部を移動範囲の原点位置に復帰させる弾性力を発揮する弾性部とを備え、該保持部と該弾性部とが別部材から形成されて互いに組み合わされ、 前記弾性部は、前記保持部を実質的全周に渡って囲繞する主部分と、該主部分の一端で該保持部に重なるように延長されて該保持部に連結される第1連結部分と 、該主部分の他端で前記基部に連結される第2連結部分とを、互いに 一体に有し、該主部分が、該基部上での該保持部の移動方向に関わらず一様な前記弾性力を発揮するように形成され、 前記基部は、前記スイッチ機構を前記操作部に対向する側で該操作部の下方に位置決めして担持する回路基板 と、前記弾性部の前記第2連結部分を包囲するカバー部材と を備え、 該カバー部材は、中心開口を画定する円環状の端壁を有し、該端壁で、該弾性部の該第2連結部分を固定的に保持し、 前記磁電変換素子は、前記回路基板を挟んで前記操作部及び前記スイッチ機構とは反対側に配置され、該回路基板が、前記磁石と該磁電変換素子との間に該磁石と該磁電変換素子とを隔てるように介在すること、を特徴とするポインティングデバイス。
189 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention relates to a pointing device incorporated in a data processing apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a portable information device equipped with a pointing device.
In a digital data processing device equipped with a display and a keyboard, such as a personal computer or a word processor, an auxiliary input instructing coordinate data such as cursor movement data on the display by manually inputting analog information by an operator. Those equipped with a pointing device as a device are well known. In particular, in a portable small data processing device, a configuration in which a pointing device is integrally incorporated in a housing of the processing device is common.
This type of pointing device includes a base, an operation unit that is movably supported on the base, a magnetron conversion element installed at the base, and a magnet installed at the operation unit close to the magnetron conversion element. What to do is known. In this pointing device, the operator moves the operation unit on the base in an arbitrary curved direction to change the relative positional relationship between the magnet and the magnetron conversion element to change the output voltage of the magnetron conversion element. Therefore, analog information corresponding to the moving direction and moving distance of the operation unit can be input.
Further, in addition to the above configuration, a pointing device is also known in which a switch mechanism is provided between the base and the operation unit so that the operator operates the switch mechanism by pushing the operation unit toward the base (). For example, see Patent Document 1). In this pointing device, in addition to inputting analog information, by pressing the operation unit, for example, a click operation can be performed in relation to a pointer on the display of the device to be mounted.
<patcit num="1"><text>Special Fair 7-17875 Gazette</text></patcit>
<p> In general, a magnetic-electric conversion element type pointing device has a small amount of movement of an operation unit required for inputting coordinate data and has a relatively low power consumption. Therefore, it is used in electronic organizers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, etc. It is considered that it can be mounted particularly advantageously on various portable information devices that can be operated by hand. However, since the conventional magnetic-electric conversion element type pointing device described above employs a configuration in which the operating portion is moved in the curved surface direction on the base portion, the required curvature and the required curvature of the mutual engagement portion between the base portion and the operating portion are obtained. It is necessary to form a curved surface having an area, and as a result, it has become difficult to reduce the external dimensions of the pointing device to the extent that it can be mounted on a portable information device.</p><p> For example, in a foldable portable information device in which a display unit and a keyboard unit are hinged to each other, it is necessary to eliminate protrusions of switches installed on the keyboard unit from the surface of the keyboard unit as much as possible. It is desirable from the viewpoint of reducing the thickness and further improving portability. Therefore, when the magnetron conversion element type pointing device is mounted on the keyboard portion of such a portable information device, it is required to reduce the dimension of the pointing device in the height direction as much as possible.</p><p> In addition, when a pointing device is mounted on a portable information device, the electrical and mechanical connection between the pointing device and the main circuit board (mounting board) of the information device is ensured in the narrow internal space of the device housing. And stable realization is required. Further, when a magnetron conversion element type pointing device is mounted on a portable information device, it is feared that the handling of various components of the miniaturized pointing device becomes complicated and the assembly workability of the entire information device deteriorates. To.</p><p> Further, in the magnetron conversion element type pointing device having a click function, relative movement is inevitably generated between the magnet and the magnetron conversion element with the pressing operation of the operation unit. At this time, depending on the relative movement directions of the two, there is a concern that an analog data signal such as cursor movement data may be output from the pointing device due to fluctuations in the output voltage of the magnetic-electric conversion element immediately before the click operation. Therefore, in order to carry out an appropriate click operation, it is necessary to push the operation unit accurately in the vertical direction with respect to the base, and an additional guide structure for that purpose is required, or the skill of the operator is required. Will be.</p><p> Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetron conversion element type pointing device whose external dimensions can be reduced to a level that can be mounted on a portable information device without impairing the operability of the operation unit. It is in. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable information device having a structure for improving assembly workability in a portable information device equipped with a magnetron conversion element type pointing device.</p>
<p> In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is based on a base, an operation unit that is displaceably supported on the base with respect to the base, a magnet installed on the operation unit, and a magnet in the vicinity of the magnet. In a pointing device having a magnetic-electric conversion element installed at the base and a switch mechanism installed at the base and operated by pressing the operation unit, the operation unit can move on the base by holding a magnet fixedly. The holding portion is provided with an elastic portion that is connected to the holding portion and exerts an elastic force that returns the holding portion to the origin position of the moving range as the holding portion moves on the base portion. The elastic part is formed from a separate member and combined with each other, and the elastic part is extended so as to overlap with the holding part at one end of the main part and the holding part which surrounds the holding part substantially the entire circumference. With the first connection part connected to<u style="single">, The second connecting part connected to the base at the other end of the main part,</u>It is integrally held, and the main part is formed so as to exert a uniform elastic force regardless of the moving direction of the holding part on the base part, and the base part is formed so that the switch mechanism is opposed to the operation part of the operation part. Circuit board that is positioned and supported downward<u style="single">And the cover member that surrounds the second connecting part of the elastic part</u>With<u style="single">The cover member has an annular end wall that defines the central opening, which holds the second connecting portion of the elastic portion in a fixed manner.</u>The magnetic-electric conversion element is arranged on the side opposite to the operation unit and the switch mechanism with the circuit board sandwiched between them, and the circuit board is interposed between the magnet and the magnetic-electric conversion element so as to separate the magnet and the magnetic-electric conversion element. To provide a pointing device characterized by.</p>
<p> According to the pointing device according to the present invention, since the magnetron conversion element is arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board from the switch mechanism, it can be mounted on a portable information device without impairing the operability of the operation unit. The external dimensions of the pointing device can be reduced to the possible level.</p><p> Further, according to the portable information device according to the present invention, since the elastic portion of the operation portion is integrated with the key panel, the assembling workability of the portable information device is improved.</p>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components are designated by a common reference numeral. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device 10 according to the related technology of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the pointing device 10, and FIG. 3 is an assembled sectional view of the pointing device 10. The pointing device 10 is an auxiliary input device for instructing two-dimensional coordinate data on a display in a data processing device such as a personal computer or a personal word processor, or a portable information device such as an electronic notebook, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone. It can be used in a configuration that is integrated into the device housing.
The pointing device 10 includes a base 12, an operation unit 14 supported on the base 12 so as to be displaceable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 12, and a disk-shaped magnet (for example, a permanent magnet) installed on the operation unit 14. ) 16 and a plurality of magnetron conversion elements (for example, Hall elements) 18 installed at the base 12 in the vicinity of the magnet 16. The operation unit 14 is connected to a holding unit 20 which holds the magnet 16 fixedly and is supported so as to be movable in the horizontal direction on the base 12, and the holding unit 20 is connected to the holding unit 20 and horizontally moves the holding unit 20 on the base 12. Along with this, the holding portion 20 is provided with an elastic portion 22 that exerts an elastic force to return the holding portion 20 to the origin position in the horizontal movement range.
The base 12 includes a circuit board 24 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, and a support member 26 fixedly connected to the circuit board 24. The support member 26 has a support portion 28 that slidably supports the holding portion 20 of the operation portion 14 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position separated from the surface 24a of the circuit board 24. In this form, the "horizontal direction" means a direction substantially parallel to the substantially flat surface 24a of the circuit board 24. Therefore, the support portion 28 of the support member 26 is formed with a flat and circular support surface 28a extending substantially parallel to the surface 24a of the circuit board 24 on the side away from the circuit board 24. The support surface 28a slidably supports the holding portion 20 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 24a of the circuit board 24.
Further, the support member 26 is provided with a cylindrical wall 30 that surrounds the support surface 28a and defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 of the operation portion 14. The cylindrical wall 30 is projected from the surface 24a of the circuit board 24 to a position higher than the support surface 28a, and the elastic portion 22 surrounds the cylindrical wall 210 with a part thereof and becomes a support member 26 as described later. It is attached. The central axis of the cylindrical wall 30 passing through the center of the support surface 28a constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device 10 and defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 on the support surface 28a. Further, on the outer edge of the support member 26, a plurality of (4 in the figure) elastic claws 32 protruding on the opposite side of the cylindrical wall 30 are formed. The support member 26 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 24 by snap-fitting the elastic claws 32 into a plurality of holes 34 provided at corresponding positions of the circuit board 24.
On the surface 24a of the circuit board 24, a total of four magnetron conversion elements 18 are centered on the central axis P, etc., inside a space formed between the circuit board 24 and the support portion 28 of the support member 26. It is implemented in a distributed arrangement. With such an arrangement configuration of the magnetron conversion element 18, the pointing device 10 can output an analog data signal in the two-dimensional coordinate system.
The base 12 further comprises a cover member 36 that substantially shields the outer edge region of the support member 26 and is fixedly connected to the circuit board 24. The cover member 36 includes a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 38 and an annular end wall 40 extending radially inward from one end in the axial direction of the outer peripheral wall 38, and the inner edge of the end wall 40 is an operation unit described later. A central opening 42 is defined to allow the 14 main operating parts to be inserted horizontally. A plurality of (four in the figure) elastic claws projecting on the opposite side of the end wall 40 are integrally connected to the other end of the outer peripheral wall 38 of the cover member 36 in the axial direction. The cover member 36 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 24 by snap-fitting the elastic claws 44 to the opposite outer edges of a set of rectangular flat plate-shaped circuit boards 24. The cover member 36 holds the operation portion 14 so as not to fall off from the base portion 12 in a state where the main operation portion of the operation portion 14 is projected outward through the central opening 42.
In the illustrated form, the holding portion 20 and the elastic portion 22 of the operating portion 14 are individually manufactured as separate members and fixedly combined with each other. The holding portion 20 is made of a stepped cylindrical member having rigidity that does not substantially deform while the operating portion 14 is horizontally moved on the base portion 12, and a magnet is formed on a large diameter portion on one end side in the axial direction thereof. A recess 46 is formed to accommodate 16. The magnet 16 can be fixed to the recess 46 of the holding portion 20 by using, for example, an adhesive or press-fitting. The holding portion 20 is on the support surface 28a in a state where the tip (lower end in the figure) of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 48 defining the recess 46 is uniformly in contact with the support surface 28a of the support member 26 of the base portion 12. It can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions. Such a configuration is advantageous in that the friction between the contact surface between the holding portion 20 and the support surface 28a is reduced and the horizontal movement operability of the operating portion 14 is improved.
The elastic portion 22 is composed of a bowl-shaped member that elastically deforms relatively easily while the operating portion 14 is horizontally moved on the base portion 12, and has a main portion 50 extending around the holding portion 20 through a gap. The first connecting portion 52 connected to the holding portion 20 at one end of the main portion 50 and the second connecting portion 54 connected to the base portion 12 at the other end of the main portion 50 are integrally provided. The main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 surrounds the holding portion 20 over substantially the entire circumference, and has a truncated cone-like or dome-shaped contour shape that is arranged coaxially with the holding portion 20 in a no-load state. Therefore, the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 is elastically deformed as the holding portion 20 moves horizontally on the base portion 12, and the elastic force corresponding to the amount of deformation is applied to the elastic portion 22 regardless of the horizontal moving direction of the holding portion 20. Demonstrate like.
The first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 protrudes in a dish shape in the axial direction from the small diameter end of the main portion 50 of the truncated cone-shaped contour and is integrally extended, and the axis of the holding portion 20 is formed in a recess formed inside the small diameter end. The small diameter portion 56 on the other end side in the direction is fixedly fitted. The first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 can be fixed to the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20 by, for example, an adhesive. The first connecting portion 52 extends so as to closely cover the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20, and an operating surface 58 is formed on the outer surface thereof so that, for example, the fingertips of the hand are brought into contact with the operating portion 14 when the operator moves the operating portion 14. ..
The second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22 projects from the large-diameter end of the main portion 50 of the truncated cone-shaped contour in a flange shape in the radial and axial directions and is integrally extended, and the thick portion thereof constitutes the base portion 12. It is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the outer region of the cylindrical wall 30 of the support member 26 and the outer peripheral wall 38 and the end wall 40 of the cover member 36. The first and second connecting portions 52 and 54 fixedly connect the elastic portion 22 to the holding portion 20 and the base portion 12, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 20 moves horizontally on the base portion 12. ..
The elastic portion 22 can be formed from various elastic materials such as synthetic rubber and natural rubber. In particular, considering that the reflow process is performed when the pointing device 10 is mounted on the main circuit board of the device to be mounted, it is advantageous to form the pointing device 10 from a material such as silicon rubber whose properties do not easily deteriorate even at high temperatures. is there.
With the various components described above properly combined, the operation unit 14 inserts the main portion 50 and the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 into the central opening 42 of the cover member 36 of the base portion 12 so as to be horizontally movable. At the same time, the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20 and the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 covering the holding portion 20 are arranged at positions protruding outward from the end wall 40 of the cover member 36 of the base portion 12. In this state, the operator can operate the operation surface 58 formed on the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 by, for example, a finger to move the holding portion 20 horizontally on the base portion 12.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the elastic portion 22 of the operating portion 14 is in an equilibrium state, the central axis Q of the magnet 16 held in the holding portion 20 and its recess 46 coincides with the central axis P of the pointing device 10. To do. In this state, the holding portion 20 is positioned at the origin position of the horizontal movement range on the support member 26 of the base portion 12, and the four magnetron conversion elements 18 on the circuit board 24 are arranged equidistant from the magnet 16. .. From this state, as shown in FIG. 4, when the operator abuts the fingertip against the operation surface 58 and translates the holding portion 20 in an arbitrary horizontal direction, the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 moves the holding portion 20. Depending on the direction and the distance traveled, different forms of elastic deformation occur over the entire circumference. As a result, the elastic portion 22 exerts an elastic force as a resultant force in the entire main portion 50, and urges the holding portion 20 in the direction opposite to the moving direction thereof. Therefore, the operator horizontally moves the operating portion 14 against the spring-forced force generated by the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22.
When the operation unit 14 is horizontally moved from the origin position in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the relative positional relationship between the magnet 16 and each magnetron conversion element 18 changes, and the output voltage of each magnetron conversion element 18 fluctuates. .. Fluctuations in the output voltage of each magnetic conversion element 18 are processed as analog information by a CPU (not shown) on the circuit board 24 and converted into digital coordinate data, and are converted into digital coordinate data via a connector portion (not shown) provided on the circuit board 24. , It is output to the data processing circuit of the device to be mounted (not shown). In this way, for example, the cursor or pointer on the display of the device to be mounted can be moved in a desired direction by a desired distance according to the moving direction and moving distance of the holding unit 20 of the operating unit 14.
When the operator releases the operating force from the data input position in FIG. 4 by releasing the finger from the operating portion 14, the holding portion 20 is immediately integrated with the magnet 16 due to the spring urging force generated by the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22. It moves toward the origin position and returns to the origin position when the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 reaches the equilibrium state. While the holding unit 20 returns to the origin position, the sudden fluctuation of the output voltage of each magnetron conversion element 18 caused by the rapid movement of the magnet 16 is canceled by the processing flow in the CPU, for example, and the digital coordinate data. Can be configured so that it does not convert to.
According to the pointing device 10 having the above configuration, since the holding portion 20 of the operating portion 14 is moved on the flat supporting surface 28a provided on the supporting member 26 of the base portion 12, a curved supporting surface is adopted. The external dimensions of the base 12 can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Further, since the operating portion 14 is provided with the elastic portion 22 for returning the holding portion 20 to the origin position in the horizontal movement range, the holding portion 20 can be quickly and accurately returned to the origin position, and the operability of the operating portion 14 can be improved. Can be improved. Moreover, since the elastic portion 22 is a main portion 50 that surrounds the holding portion 20 over substantially the entire circumference and exhibits a uniform elastic force regardless of the moving direction of the holding portion 20, the base portion and the operating portion Compared with the conventional configuration in which a return spring is interposed between the and, the external dimensions in the height direction can be reduced without impairing the operability. The first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 that covers the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20 forms the operation surface 58 at a position protruding outward from the cover member 36 of the base portion 12, so that the operator can perform the operation surface 58 on the base portion 12. There is also an advantage that the position of the operation unit 14 can be easily confirmed by touch. In this way, the pointing device 10 can be mounted on various handheld information devices such as electronic organizers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones without impairing the operability of the operation unit 14. External dimensions can be reduced to the possible level.
5 and 6 show the pointing device 60 according to the related technique of the present invention in an exploded perspective view and an assembled sectional view, respectively. Since the pointing device 60 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 10 according to the related technology described above except for the configuration of the support member connected to the circuit board at the base, the corresponding components are designated by a common reference code. And the explanation is omitted.
The pointing device 60 is located in the vicinity of the base 62, the operation unit 14 which is supported on the base 62 so as to be movable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 62, the magnet 16 installed in the operation unit 14, and the magnet 16. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 installed on the base 62. The base 62 is fixed to the circuit board 24 by substantially shielding the circuit board 24 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 64 fixedly connected to the circuit board 24, and the support member 64. It is composed of a cover member 36 which is specifically connected.
The support member 64 includes a hollow cylindrical wall 66 that defines a circular central opening. Further, the support member 64 has a plurality of elastic claws 68 (4 in the figure) protruding to the opposite side of the cylindrical wall 66 along the outer edge thereof, and these elastic claws 68 are used to position the support member 64 at a predetermined position on the circuit board 24. Can be assembled fixedly. Then, on the surface 24a of the circuit board 24, a flat support surface 70 that slidably supports the holding portion 20 of the operating portion 14 in an arbitrary horizontal direction is provided in a circular region surrounded by the cylindrical wall 66 of the supporting member 64. It is formed.
The cylindrical wall 66 of the support member 64 defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 of the operating portion 14 within the support surface 70 formed on the surface 24a of the circuit board 24. Further, the central axis of the cylindrical wall 66 passing through the center of the support surface 70 constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device 60 and defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 on the support surface 70. The holding portion 20 slides 360 ° in all directions on the support surface 70 with the tip (lower end in the figure) of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the large-diameter portion uniformly in contact with the support surface 70 on the circuit board 24. You can move in parallel while moving. The four magnetron conversion elements 18 are mounted on the back surface 24b of the circuit board 24 located on the opposite side of the support surface 70 in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P.
The pointing device 60 can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 14 on the base 62 in the same manner as the pointing device 10 described above. At this time, the holding portion 20 can be quickly and accurately returned to the origin position in the horizontal movement range by the action of the elastic portion 22 provided on the operating portion 14. In particular, in the pointing device 60, the holding portion 20 of the operating portion 14 is mounted directly on the front surface 24a of the circuit board 24 of the base 62, and the magnetron conversion element 18 is mounted on the back surface 24b of the circuit board 24. Compared with the pointing device 10, the dimension in the height direction can be reduced more effectively.
In the above configuration, the support member 64 defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 as described above, and fixedly sandwiches the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22 in cooperation with the cover member 36. Acts on. Therefore, the size of the central opening 42 of the cover member 36 is adjusted so that the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 can be defined by the central opening 42, and the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22 and the cover member 36 are connected. The support member 64 can be omitted by improving the strength by, for example, integral molding or the like.
7 and 8 show the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in an exploded perspective view and an assembled sectional view, respectively. The pointing device 80 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 10 according to the related technology described above, except for the configuration of the support member connected to the circuit board at the base and the configuration having a built-in switch mechanism for adding the click function. Therefore, the corresponding components are designated by a common reference code, and the description thereof will be omitted.
The pointing device 80 is located in the vicinity of the base 82, the operation unit 14 which is supported on the base 82 so as to be movable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 82, the magnet 16 installed on the operation unit 14, and the magnet 16. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 installed on the base 82, and a switch mechanism 84 arranged between the base 82 and the operation unit 14. The base 82 substantially shields the circuit board 24 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 86 fixedly connected to the circuit board 24, and the outer edge region of the support member 86, and the circuit board. It includes a cover member 36 that is fixedly connected to 24. The support member 86 has a plurality of elasticity (four in the figure) constituting a support portion that slidably supports the holding portion 20 of the operating portion 14 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position separated from the surface 24a of the circuit board 24. It has a beam portion 88. A flat support surface 88a extending substantially parallel to the surface 24a of the circuit board 24 under no load is formed on each of the elastic beam portions 88 of the support member 86 on the side away from the circuit board 24.
The plurality of elastic beam portions 88 of the support member 86 are arranged radially around the central axis P of the pointing device 80, and can be elastically displaced independently of each other with their radial outer ends as fulcrums. At the base end, that is, the radial outer end of each elastic beam portion 88, an arc wall 90 that surrounds each support surface 88a and defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 of the operation portion 14 is projected. To. The arc walls 90 are arranged on the same circumference centered on the central axis P, and the central axis P defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 on the plurality of support surfaces 88a. In the holding portion 20, the tip (lower end in the figure) of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the large-diameter portion is uniformly in contact with the support surfaces 88a of the plurality of elastic beam portions 88, and the entire 360 ° on the support surfaces 88a. It can move in parallel while sliding in the direction.
Further, in one of the plurality of elastic beam portions 88 desired, a pressing point 92 that is locally raised on the opposite side of the support surface 88a is formed at the free end of the radial inner end thereof. To. The pressing points 92 are aligned and arranged on the central axis P of the pointing device 80. The support member 86 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 24 by a plurality of (four in the figure) elastic claws 94 provided on the outer edge thereof.
On the surface 24a of the circuit board 24, a switch mechanism 84 for adding a click function is mounted inside a space formed between the circuit board 24 and the plurality of elastic beam portions 88 of the support member 86. .. The switch mechanism 84 has a well-known opening / closing structure having a movable contact and a fixed contact, and the switch mechanism 84 is arranged at a position where both contacts are substantially aligned with the central axis P of the pointing device 80. That is, the movable contact of the switch mechanism 84 is positioned directly below the pressing point 92 provided on one elastic beam portion 88 of the support member 86. The four magnetron conversion elements 18 are mounted on the back surface 24b of the circuit board 24 located on the opposite side of the switch mechanism 84 in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P. That is, the circuit board 24 of the base 82 positions and supports the switch mechanism 84 below the operation unit 14, and the magnetron conversion element 18 is arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board 24 from the switch mechanism 84. As a result, the required dimension of the space between the circuit board 24 and the support member 86 is reduced.
The configuration of the switch mechanism 84 is arbitrary, and various types such as a mechanical switch in which a movable contact is supported on a spring and a membrane switch having a pair of flexible circuit boards can be adopted. Further, depending on the external dimensions of the switch mechanism 84, a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 can be installed in a space between the circuit board 24 and the plurality of elastic beam portions 88.
The pointing device 80 can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 14 on the base 82 in the same manner as the pointing device 10 described above. At this time, the holding portion 20 can be quickly and accurately returned to the origin position in the horizontal movement range by the action of the elastic portion 22 provided on the operating portion 14. Further, in the pointing device 80, at the origin position shown in FIG. 8, the operator presses the operation surface 58 of the operation unit 14 with, for example, a fingertip, and presses the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the holding unit 20 against the plurality of elastic beam portions 88. As a result, the switch mechanism 84 located below the elastic beam portions 88 can be closed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, by pressing the operation unit 14, each elastic beam portion 88 elastically bends with the radial outer end as a fulcrum, and a pressing point provided on one elastic beam portion 88. 92 presses and operates the switch mechanism 84 directly below it.
When the switch mechanism 84 is closed, the CPU on the circuit board 24 processes it as a click signal and outputs it to the data processing circuit of the device to be mounted. By pressing the operation unit 14 at the origin position in this way, for example, a click operation can be performed in relation to the pointer on the display of the device to be mounted. Then, when the operator releases the pressing force from the pressing position in FIG. 9, the plurality of elastic beam portions 88 are elastically restored, the switch mechanism 84 is opened, and the operation unit 14 returns to the origin position in FIG. To do. In order to prevent the switch mechanism 84 from being inadvertently operated by the operating force applied to the operation unit 14 by the operator during the horizontal movement operation of the operation unit 14, the material of the support member 86 and the elastic beam portion It is desirable to adjust the elastic force of these elastic beam portions 88 by appropriately selecting the dimensions of 88.
The pointing device having the above-mentioned switch mechanism can also be realized by other configurations. 10 and 11 show such a pointing device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention in an exploded perspective view and an assembled sectional view, respectively. Since the pointing device 100 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment described above, except for the configuration of the support member connected to the circuit board at the base to operate the switch mechanism, the pointing device 100 has a corresponding component. Is assigned a common reference code and the description thereof will be omitted.
The pointing device 100 is located in the vicinity of the base 102, the operation unit 14 which is supported on the base 102 so as to be movable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 102, the magnet 16 installed on the operation unit 14, and the magnet 16. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 installed on the base 102, and a switch mechanism 84 arranged between the base 102 and the operation unit 14. The base 102 is mounted on a circuit board 24 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, a first support member 104 fixedly connected to the circuit board 24, and a first support member 104 via an elastic member 106. It includes a second support member 108 that is elastically displaceably supported, and a cover member 36 that substantially shields the first support member 104 and is fixedly connected to the circuit board 24.
The first support member 104 includes a plurality of arc walls 110 that are concentrically arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the arc walls 110 define a circular central opening. Further, the first support member 104 has a plurality of elastic claws 112 (4 in the figure) protruding to the opposite side of each arc wall 110 along the outer edge thereof, and the elastic claws 112 on the circuit board 24. It is fixedly assembled in place. As an example, the elastic member 106 made of a compression coil spring is arranged so as to concentrically surround a plurality of arc walls 110 of the first support member 104.
The second support member 108 has a disk-shaped support portion 114 and a plurality of flanges (four in the figure) that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction along the outer edge of the support portion 114 and extend outward in the radial direction. It includes a portion 116. The support portion 114 of the second support member 108 has dimensions and shapes that are slidably accommodated in the axial direction without rattling in the central opening defined by the plurality of arc walls 110 of the first support member 104. Further, the plurality of flange portions 116 have dimensions and shapes that are slidably received in the axial direction without rattling between the arc walls 110 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the first support member 104.
With the second support member 108 properly assembled to the first support member 104, the plurality of flange portions 116 are placed on the upper ends of the elastic members 106 arranged around the plurality of arc walls 110. In this state, the support portion 114 of the second support member 108 is arranged at a position separated from the surface 24a of the circuit board 24. The support portion 114 is formed on a side away from the circuit board 24 with a flat and circular support surface 114a in which the elastic member 106 extends substantially parallel to the surface 24a of the circuit board 24 in a no-load state.
The plurality of flange portions 116 of the second support member 108 each have an arcuate surface surrounding the support surface 114a, and cooperate with the plurality of arcuate walls 110 of the first support member 104 to hold the operation portion 14. Defines 20 horizontal movement ranges. The central axis of the arc wall 110 passing through the center of the support surface 114a constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device 100 and defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 20 on the support surface 114a. Further, the support portion 114 of the second support member 108 is formed with a pressing point 118 that is locally raised on the opposite side of the support surface 114a on the central axis P. The holding portion 20 is in a state where the tip (lower end in the figure) of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the large-diameter portion is uniformly in contact with the support surface 114a of the second support member 108, and is 360 ° omnidirectional on the support surface 114a. Can move in parallel while sliding to.
The pointing device 100 can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 14 on the base 102 in the same manner as the pointing device 10 described above. At this time, the holding portion 20 can be quickly and accurately returned to the origin position in the horizontal movement range by the action of the elastic portion 22 provided on the operating portion 14. Further, in the pointing device 100, at the origin position shown in FIG. 11, the operator presses the operation surface 58 of the operation unit 14 with, for example, a fingertip, and the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the holding unit 20 is pressed by the support portion 114 of the second support member 108. The switch mechanism 84 located below the support portion 114 can be closed by pressing against. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, by pressing the operation portion 14, the elastic member 106 is elastically compressed via the plurality of flange portions 116 of the second support member 108, and is provided on the support portion 114. The pressing point 118 presses and operates the switch mechanism 84 directly below it.
Then, when the operator releases the pressing force from the pressing position of FIG. 12, the elastic member 106 is elastically restored, the switch mechanism 84 is opened, and the operation unit 14 returns to the origin position of FIG. The spring constant of the elastic member 106 is appropriately adjusted so that the switch mechanism 84 is not inadvertently operated by the operating force applied to the operation unit 14 by the operator during the horizontal movement operation of the operation unit 14. It is desirable to do.
The pointing devices 10, 60, 80, and 100 described above can be modified and modified in various ways. For example, the operating portion 14 has the holding portion 20 and the elastic portion as shown in FIG. 13 instead of the above-mentioned configuration in which the holding portion 20 and the elastic portion 22 individually manufactured as separate members from different materials are fixedly combined with each other. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which 22 and 22 are integrally molded from different materials. In the modified example of the pointing device 10 shown in FIG. 13, the elastic portion 22 made of a rubber material is integrally molded with the holding portion 20 and the cover member 36 individually molded in advance from the same or different resin materials by an insert molding process. ing. According to such a configuration, the connection strength between the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 and the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20 can be improved, and the elastic portion 22 is covered by the second connecting portion 54. Since it can be integrated with 36, it has the advantage of facilitating assembly work.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the holding portion 20 is a small diameter portion 56 thereof, penetrates the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22, and protrudes to the outside, and a key top formed as a separate member in the protruding portion 120. It can also be configured to mount 122. An operation surface 124 is formed on the outer surface of the key top 122 so that, for example, the fingertips of the hand come into contact with each other when the operator moves the operation unit 14. In this configuration, by integrally molding the holding portion 20 and the elastic portion 22 as described above, sufficient connecting strength between the small diameter portion 56 of the holding portion 20 and the first connecting portion 52 of the elastic portion 22 is ensured. can do. Further, the key top 122 can be firmly and fixedly connected to the holding portion 20 only by press-fitting the protruding portion 120 of the holding portion 20 into the recess 126 provided on the back side of the key top 122. According to this configuration, the design of the pointing device can be improved by printing various codes and patterns on the outer surface of the key top 122 and coloring the key top 122.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the operating portion 14 can be manufactured by integrally molding the holding portion 20 and the elastic portion 22 from the same rubber material. According to this configuration, the number of parts of the operation unit 14 is reduced, and the assembly workability is improved. Further, since it is not necessary to consider the assembling strength of the elastic portion 22 with the holding portion 20 in the first connecting portion 52, it is possible to further promote the miniaturization of the operating portion 14.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, an auxiliary elastic portion for assisting the origin position return function by the elastic portion can be arranged between the base portion and the operation portion. For example, in the modified example of the pointing device 10 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a leaf spring 128 that functions as an auxiliary elastic portion is installed between the support member 26 of the base portion 12 and the holding portion 20 of the operation portion 14. .. A plurality of leaf springs 128 are arranged at equal intervals along the inner peripheral edge of the annular foundation portion 130 and the foundation portion 130, curved convexly toward the central axis P, and extended inward in the radial direction. It has (4 in the figure) arm portions 132. The base portion 130 of the leaf spring 128 has dimensions and shapes that are uniformly in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 30 of the support member 26 and mounted on the support surface 28a.
With the components of the pointing device 10 properly combined, the plurality of arm portions 132 of the leaf spring 128 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral wall 48 of the large diameter portion of the holding portion 20 at their free ends. Then, when both the elastic portion 22 and the leaf spring 128 are in an equilibrium state, the operating portion 14 is positioned at the origin position on the base portion 12 (FIG. 17). When the operating portion 14 is horizontally moved from the origin position in FIG. 17, the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 and the arbitrary arm portion 132 of the leaf spring 128 are elastically deformed according to the moving direction and moving distance of the holding portion 20. As a result, the holding portion 20 is urged in the direction opposite to the moving direction (Fig. 18).
When the operator releases the operating force from the data input position of FIG. 18 by releasing the finger from the operating portion 14, the main portion 50 of the elastic portion 22 and the arm portion 132 of the leaf spring 128 are immediately held by the spring urging force generated. The portion 20 moves integrally with the magnet 16 toward the origin position, and returns to the origin position when both the elastic portion 22 and the leaf spring 128 reach the equilibrium state. In this way, by using the leaf spring 128 as the auxiliary elastic portion, the holding portion 20 can be returned to the origin position in the horizontal movement range more quickly and accurately. Further, the decrease in operability due to the aged deterioration of the rubber elastic portion 22 can be suppressed by the action of the leaf spring 128.
Instead of the leaf spring 128 described above, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a coil spring 134 wound in a flat shape can also be used as an auxiliary elastic portion. In this case, the coil spring 134 is fitted to the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 30 of the support member 26 at its outer end 136, and is fitted to the outer peripheral wall 48 of the large-diameter portion of the holding portion 20 at its inner end 138. To. It is preferable to form a bead 140 at the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 48 of the holding portion 20 to hook the inner end 138 of the coil spring 134. Then, when both the elastic portion 22 and the coil spring 134 are in an equilibrium state, the operating portion 14 is positioned at the origin position on the base portion 12 (FIG. 20). When the operating portion 14 is horizontally moved from the origin position in FIG. 20, the main portion 50 and the coil spring 134 of the elastic portion 22 are elastically deformed according to the moving direction and the moving distance of the holding portion 20, thereby causing the holding portion 20 to be elastically deformed. Is urged in the direction opposite to the direction of movement.
As described above, the magnetic-electric conversion element type pointing device according to the present invention has its external dimensions, such as an electronic organizer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile phone, without impairing the operability of the operation unit. It can be reduced to a level that can be installed in operable portable information devices. By the way, when a pointing device is mounted on such a portable information device, the pointing device and the main circuit board (mounting board) of the device to be mounted are electrically and mechanically connected to each other in a narrow internal space of the device housing. It is required to realize a reliable and stable connection.
21 and 22 show a pointing device 150 according to a third embodiment of the present invention having such a highly functional electrical and mechanical connection structure. The pointing device 150 shall have substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment described above, except for the configuration of the electrical and mechanical connection structures, and the corresponding components shall have a common reference code. The explanation will be omitted.
The pointing device 150 has two connectors 152 for electrically connecting the magnetic conversion element 18 and the switch mechanism 84 mounted on the circuit board 24 of the base 82 to the main circuit board (mounting board) M of the device to be mounted. To be equipped. Each connector 152 includes an insulating member 154 and a plurality of terminals 156 that are aligned and supported by the insulating member 154 at equal intervals. In the region near the outer edge of the rectangular flat plate-shaped circuit board 24, a plurality of through holes 158 correspond to the terminals 156 of the connector 152 along the pair of opposite outer edges on the side where the elastic claws 44 of the cover member 36 are not fitted. They are formed by arranging them at equal intervals. The through holes 158 are electrically connected to the magnetron conversion element 18 and the switch mechanism 84 on the circuit board 24 via, for example, a printing circuit.
The insulating member 154 of each connector 152 is a square bar-shaped member integrally molded from a resin material, and is molded in a state where a plurality of terminals 156 are embedded by, for example, an insert molding process. Each terminal 156 is formed by bending a pin-shaped metal piece punched out by a pressing process into an L shape. Each terminal 156 is fixedly supported by the insulating member 154 by projecting one end 156a from the top surface 154a of the insulating member 154 and projecting the other end 156b from the side surface 154b of the insulating member 154. Positioning protrusions 160 are formed on both ends of the insulating member 154 of each connector 152 in the terminal arrangement direction. On the other hand, in the circuit board 24, positioning holes 162 for receiving the positioning protrusions 160 are formed on both sides of the through holes 158 in each row in the arrangement direction.
In each connector 152, the positioning protrusion 160 provided on the insulating member 154 is fitted into the corresponding positioning hole 162 of the circuit board 24, and one end 156a of the plurality of terminals 156 is individually inserted into the corresponding through hole 158 of the circuit board 24. In this state, it is mounted on the circuit board 24. At this time, each connector 152 is oriented so that the other end 116b of the plurality of terminals 116 projects outward from the circuit board 24. In this state, each terminal 156 is fixed to each through hole 158 by solder 164 at one end 156a thereof, and is electrically connected to the magnetron conversion element 18 and the switch mechanism 84. Further, each connector 152 is mounted on the mounting board M via the solder 166 in a state where the other end 156b of the plurality of terminals 156 is aligned with a plurality of electrodes (not shown) provided on the surface of the mounting board M. Will be done.
As described above, since the connector 152 having the above configuration has an extremely simple configuration in which a plurality of terminals 156 are embedded in the rod-shaped insulating member 154, it has an advantage that it can be easily miniaturized and narrowed in pitch. Moreover, since each terminal 156 is fixed to the corresponding through hole 158 provided on the circuit board 24, each terminal 156 can be fixed on the circuit board 24 as compared with the configuration in which the terminals are soldered to the electrode pads, for example. There is an advantage that the required area can be effectively reduced. Therefore, when the pointing device 150 is mounted on a portable information device, the electrical connection between the pointing device 150 and the main circuit board of the information device must be reliably and stably realized in the narrow internal space of the device housing. Becomes possible.
In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of mounting members 168 are used as a mechanical connection structure for reinforcing the electrical and mechanical connection by soldering between the pair of connectors 152 of the pointing device 150 and the mounting board M. Has been done. Each mounting member 168 is formed by punching and bending, for example, from a sheet metal material, and integrally has a hook portion 170 at one end and a leg portion 172 at the other end. On the other hand, the support member 86 of the base 82 is formed with a pair of hook receivers 174 extended at positions facing each other along the outer edge thereof.
When mounting the pointing device 150 on the mounting board M, after soldering each connector 152 as described above, a pair of mounting members 168 are hooked on each hook portion 170 on the corresponding hook receiver 174. Attach to support member 86. In that state, the leg portions 172 of each mounting member 168 are fixed to desired positions on the surface of the mounting board M with solder 176. In this way, the pointing device 150 is firmly fixed and held on the mounting board M against the force applied by the operator to the operation unit 14.
In the pointing device 150, a land having a special shape capable of effectively expanding the mounting area required for mounting various electronic components on the circuit board 24 with respect to a plurality of through holes 158 formed on the circuit board 24. Can be formed. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the portion between the opening edge 158a and the outer edge 24c of the circuit board 24 adjacent to the opening edge 158a of each through hole 158 of the circuit board 24 is narrower than the other portions. The land 178 to be held can be formed on the surface 24a of the circuit board 24. By adopting the land 178 having such a shape, the through hole 158 can be formed as close as possible to the outer edge 24c of the circuit board 24, so that the electronic component mounting area on the circuit board 24 can be effectively expanded.
It is advantageous to manufacture the circuit board 24 including the connector 152 connected to the through hole 158 having the land 178 having such a characteristic shape by the following method. First, as shown in FIG. 24, a circuit board 24 having a rectangular mounting area 180 for mounting an electronic component (not shown) and a pair of discarding areas 182 adjacent to both sides of the mounting area 180 is prepared. Such a discard area 182 is an area in which electronic components are not mounted or a circuit is not formed, and is known to be used for supporting and positioning when transporting a circuit board in a general board mounting process. ing.
Next, in the mounting area 180 of the circuit board 24, each annular land 178 extends continuously from the mounting area 180 to the discard area 182, and a plurality of through holes 158 with lands are formed in the mounting area 180 and the discard area 180. It is formed along the boundary line 184 with 182. Here, each through hole 158 can be formed as a double-sided plated through hole having lands 178 on both sides of the circuit board 24 as shown in FIG. 25 (a) by a general method for manufacturing a printed circuit board. it can. Further, after forming the through holes 158, it is advantageous to form grooves 186 (FIG. 25 (b)) extending along the boundary line 184 on both sides of the circuit board 24.
The plurality of terminals 156 of the connector 152 are then individually inserted into the plurality of through holes 158 at one end 156a of them and soldered to the corresponding lands 178. Thereby, the pair of connectors 152 are fixed to the mounting area 180 of the circuit board 24 having the discard area 182. Finally, with each connector 152 still attached to the mounting area 180, the discard area 182 is cut off from the mounting area 180 along the groove 186 formed on the boundary line 184 to separate it. In this way, as shown in FIG. 26, a circuit board 24 having a pair of connectors 152 mounted along a pair of opposite outer edges 24c is produced.
The above-mentioned through hole 158 with a land may be shaped so as to partially open to the outer edge 24c of the circuit board 24 on the premise that the terminal fixing strength of the solder 164 can be secured. In this case, a C-shaped land is formed in each through hole 158.
Although some preferred embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention can adopt various embodiments other than those illustrated embodiments. For example, the characteristic configuration of the operation unit of the pointing device according to the present invention is that the positional relationship between the magnet 16 and the plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 is opposite to that of the illustrated embodiment, that is, the bases 12, 62, 82, 102. It can be effectively adopted even in a pointing device in which the magnetron conversion element 18 installed in the operation unit 14 is displaced with respect to the magnet 16 installed in the above, and similarly, it exerts a special effect. Further, the method for manufacturing a circuit board with a connector is not limited to the above-mentioned application to the pointing device 150, and can be applied to a circuit board connection structure in various other electronic devices.
By the way, the magnetic-electric conversion element type pointing device according to the present invention can be mounted on, for example, a foldable portable information device (for example, a mobile phone) in which a display unit and a keyboard unit are hingedly connected to each other. In this case, it is desirable to reduce the amount of protrusion of various switches including the pointing device from the surface of the keyboard as much as possible from the viewpoint of reducing the thickness of the entire device at the time of folding and further improving portability. 27 to 29 show a pointing device 190 according to the related technology of the present invention, which has a low profile structure that can be suitably mounted on a keyboard portion of such a portable information device. The pointing device 190 has a basic structure that is functionally substantially the same as the pointing device 10 according to the related technology described above.
The pointing device 190 includes a base 192, an operation unit 194 supported on the base 192 so as to be movable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 192, and a disk-shaped magnet (for example, a permanent magnet) installed on the operation unit 194. ) 196 and a plurality of magnetron conversion elements (for example, Hall elements) 198 installed at the base 192 in the vicinity of the magnet 196. The operation unit 194 has a holding unit 200 that holds the magnet 196 fixedly and is supported so as to be movable in the horizontal direction on the base 192, and a holding unit 200 that is connected to the holding unit 200 and horizontally moves the holding unit 200 on the base 192. Along with this, the holding portion 200 is provided with an elastic portion 202 that exerts an elastic force for returning the holding portion 200 to the origin position in the horizontal movement range.
The base 192 includes a circuit board 204 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, and a support member 206 fixedly connected to the circuit board 204. The support member 206 is a substantially square plate-shaped member in a plan view, is mounted on the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 without a gap, and holds a holding portion of the operation unit 194 in a substantially circular concave region in the center thereof. It has a support portion 208 that slidably supports the 200 in any horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the horizontal direction means a direction substantially parallel to the substantially flat surface 204a of the circuit board 204. Therefore, the support portion 208 of the support member 206 is formed with a flat and circular support surface 208a extending substantially parallel to the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 on the side away from the circuit board 204. The support surface 208a slidably supports the holding portion 200 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204.
Further, the support member 206 is provided with a cylindrical wall 210 that surrounds the support surface 208a and defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 of the operation portion 194. The cylindrical wall 210 is projected from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 to a position higher than the support surface 208a, and the elastic portion 202 encloses the cylindrical wall 210 as a part thereof and forms the support member 206 as described later. It is attached. The central axis of the cylindrical wall 210 passing through the center of the support surface 208a constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device 190 and defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 on the support surface 208a. Further, the support portion 208 of the support member 206 is formed with one positioning pin 212 projecting to the opposite side of the support surface 208a and the cylindrical wall 210 at substantially the center thereof. The support member 206 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 204 by fitting the positioning pin 212 into the hole 214 provided at the corresponding position of the circuit board 204. An adhesive may be used as an auxiliary in order to firmly fix the support member 206 to the circuit board 204.
On the opposite side of the front surface 204a of the circuit board 204 (that is, the back surface 204b), a total of four magnetron conversion elements 198 are mounted in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P. With such an arrangement configuration of the magnetron conversion element 198, the pointing device 190 can output an analog data signal in the two-dimensional coordinate system.
The base 192 further comprises a cover member 216 that substantially shields the outer edge region 206a of the support member 206 and is fixedly connected to the support member 206. The cover member 216 is a thin plate-like member having a substantially square shape in a plan view corresponding to the support member 206, and the main operation portion of the operation portion 194, which will be described later, is inserted into the central region of the end plate portion 216a so as to be horizontally movable. It has a substantially circular central opening 218. At the outer edge of the cover member 216, extension pieces 220 are extended along the four sides in a direction substantially orthogonal to the end plate portion 216a, and each extension piece 220 is formed with a mounting hole 222 penetrating in the plate thickness direction. Orthogonal. The cover member 216 snaps a plurality of claws 224 projecting laterally along the four sides of the support member 206 into the corresponding mounting holes 222 of the extension pieces 220 by utilizing the elastic deformation of each extension piece 220. By fitting in the formula, it is fixedly assembled to the support member 206. The cover member 216 holds the operation portion 194 so as not to fall off from the base portion 192 in a state where the main operation portion of the operation portion 194 is projected outward through the central opening 218. The cover member 216 having such a structure can be manufactured from a desired sheet metal material.
In the illustrated form, the holding portion 200 and the elastic portion 202 of the operating portion 194 are individually manufactured as separate members and fixedly combined with each other. The holding portion 200 is composed of a hollow cylindrical member having a rigidity that does not substantially deform while the operating portion 194 is horizontally moved on the base 192, and a magnet 196 is formed inside the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 226. A cavity 226a is formed to accommodate the above. The magnet 196 can be fixed to the cavity 226a of the holding portion 200, for example, by using an adhesive or press-fitting. In the holding portion 200, the axial end surface of the flange portion 228 extending radially outward at one end (lower end in the figure) of the outer peripheral wall 48 in the axial direction is uniformly applied to the support surface 208a of the support member 206 of the base 192. In the state of contact, it can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surface 208a. Such a configuration is advantageous in that the friction between the contact surface between the holding portion 200 and the support surface 208a is reduced and the horizontal movement operability of the operating portion 194 is improved.
A yoke 230 interposed between the magnet 196 and the elastic portion 202 is attached to the holding portion 200. The yoke 230 is a lid-like member having a substantially circular shape in a plan view, and its disk-shaped end wall portion 230a shields the magnet 196 housed in the holding portion 200 from one surface (upper surface in the figure) and the end wall. A cylindrical peripheral wall portion 230b extending from the outer edge of the portion 230a surrounds the outer peripheral wall 226 of the holding portion 200 and is attached to the holding portion 200. The yoke 230 can be fixed to the outer peripheral wall 226 of the holding portion 200, for example, by using an adhesive or press-fitting. The yoke 230 is made of a desired magnetic metal material and acts to prevent magnetic leakage to the outside through the elastic portion 202 by actively closing the magnetic path between the magnet 196 and the magnetron conversion element 198. .. Such a yoke 230 is particularly effectively equipped in a low profile pointing device 190.
The elastic portion 202 is composed of a bowl-shaped member that elastically deforms relatively easily while the operation portion 194 is horizontally moved on the base portion 192, and has a main portion 232 extending around the holding portion 200 through a gap. The first connecting portion 234 connected to the holding portion 200 at one end of the main portion 232 and the second connecting portion 236 connected to the base portion 192 at the other end of the main portion 232 are integrally provided. The main portion 232 of the elastic portion 202 surrounds the holding portion 200 over substantially the entire circumference, and has a truncated cone-like or dome-shaped contour shape that is arranged coaxially with the holding portion 200 in a no-load state. Therefore, the main portion 232 of the elastic portion 202 is elastically deformed as the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base portion 192, and the elastic force corresponding to the amount of deformation is applied regardless of the horizontal moving direction of the holding portion 200. Demonstrate like.
The first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 protrudes in a dish shape in the axial direction from the small diameter end of the main portion 232 of the truncated cone-shaped contour and extends integrally, and is attached to the holding portion 200 in a recess formed inside the concave portion 234. The yoke 230 is fixedly fitted. The first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 can be fixed to the yoke 230, for example, by using an adhesive or press-fitting. The first connecting portion 234 closely covers the end wall portion 230a and the peripheral wall portion 230b of the yoke 230 and extends, and the operation surface 238 that the operator contacts, for example, the fingertips of the hand when moving the operation portion 194 to the outer surface thereof. Is formed.
The second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 projects from the large-diameter end of the main portion 232 of the truncated cone-shaped contour in a flange shape in the radial and axial directions and is integrally extended, and the thick portion thereof constitutes the base portion 192. The outer annular groove region 210a of the cylindrical wall 210 of the support member 206 and the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216 are fixedly sandwiched and hooked. The first and second connecting portions 234 and 236 fixedly connect the elastic portion 202 to the holding portion 200 and the base portion 192, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base portion 192. ..
The elastic portion 202 can be formed from various elastic materials such as synthetic rubber and natural rubber. In particular, considering that the reflow process is performed when the pointing device 190 is mounted on the main circuit board of the device to be mounted, it is advantageous to form it from a material such as silicon rubber whose properties do not easily deteriorate even at high temperatures. is there.
With the various components described above properly combined, the operation unit 194 inserts the main portion 232 and the first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 into the central opening 218 of the cover member 216 of the base portion 192 so as to be horizontally movable. At the same time, the first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 connected to the holding portion 200 via the yoke 230 is arranged at a position protruding outward from the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216 of the base portion 192. In this state, the operator can operate the operation surface 238 formed on the first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 by, for example, a finger to move the holding portion 200 horizontally on the base portion 192.
As shown in FIG. 29, when the elastic portion 202 of the operating portion 194 is in an equilibrium state, the central axis Q of the magnet 196 held by the holding portion 200 and the hollow portion 226a thereof coincides with the central axis P of the pointing device 190. To do. In this state, the holding portion 200 is positioned at the origin position of the horizontal movement range on the support member 206 of the base portion 192, and the four magnetron conversion elements 198 on the circuit board 204 are arranged equidistant from the magnet 196. .. From this state, when the operator abuts the fingertip on the operation surface 238 and moves the holding portion 200 in parallel in an arbitrary horizontal direction, the main portion 232 of the elastic portion 202 corresponds to the moving direction and moving distance of the holding portion 200. As a result, different forms of elastic deformation occur over the entire circumference. As a result, the elastic portion 202 exerts an elastic force as a resultant force in the entire main portion 232, and urges the holding portion 200 in the direction opposite to the moving direction thereof. Therefore, the operator horizontally moves the operating portion 194 against the spring-forced force generated by the main portion 232 of the elastic portion 202.
As described above, since the pointing device 190 includes the base 192 and the operating unit 194 which are functionally the same as the base 12 and the operating unit 14 in the pointing device 10 described above, the operating unit 194 can be operated in the same manner as the pointing device 10. Analog information corresponding to the moving direction and the moving distance can be input. Moreover, since each component constituting the base 192 and the operation unit 194 is thinned and the magnetron conversion element 198 is mounted on the back surface 204b of the circuit board 204, the overall height is lower than that of the pointing device 10. The pointing device 190 that realizes this is provided.
30 to 32 show a pointing device 240 according to the related technology of the present invention, which enables further reduction in height as compared with the pointing device 190. Since the pointing device 240 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 190 according to the related technology described above except for the configuration of the support member connected to the circuit board at the base, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals. And the explanation is omitted.
The pointing device 240 is located in the vicinity of the base 242, the operation unit 194 supported on the base 242 so as to be displaced in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 242, the magnet 196 installed on the operation unit 194, and the magnet 196. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198 installed on the base 242. The base portion 242 substantially shields and supports the circuit board 204 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 244 fixedly connected to the circuit board 204, and the outer edge region 244a of the support member 244. It is composed of a cover member 216 that is fixedly connected to the member 244.
The support member 244 is a substantially square plate-shaped member in a plan view, is mounted on the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 without a gap, and holds a holding portion of the operation unit 194 in a substantially circular concave region in the center thereof. It has a support portion 246 that slidably supports the 200 in any horizontal direction. The support portion 246 of the support member 244 is formed with a flat and circular support surface 246a extending substantially parallel to the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 on the side away from the circuit board 204. The support surface 246a slidably supports the holding portion 200 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204.
The support member 244 is further recessed to a position where the height of the circuit board 204 from the surface 204a is lower than the support surface 246a, and a plurality of (four in the figure) grooves extending in an arc shape in a direction surrounding the support surface 246a. Has 248. In the illustrated form, the support portion 246 of the support member 244 and the outer edge region 244a are integrally connected to each other only by a plurality of (four in the figure) connecting pieces 250 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support surface 246a. As a result, a plurality of grooves 248 separated from each other via the connecting piece 250 are formed through the same circumference surrounding the support surface 246a in the plate thickness direction.
The central axes of the plurality of grooves 248 passing through the center of the support surface 246a constitute the central axis P of the pointing device 240 and define the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 on the support surface 246a. The holding portion 200 can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surface 246a in a state where the axial end surface of the flange portion 228 is uniformly in contact with the support surface 246a of the support member 244.
Further, the support portion 246 of the support member 244 is formed with one positioning pin 252 projecting to the opposite side of the support surface 246a at substantially the center thereof. The support member 244 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 204 by inserting the positioning pin 252 into the hole 214 provided at the corresponding position of the circuit board 204. The cover member 216 is a support member by snap-fitting a plurality of claws 254 projecting laterally along the four sides of the support member 244 into the corresponding mounting holes 222 of each extension piece 220. It is fixedly assembled to 244.
The second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is inserted into the plurality of grooves 248 of the support member 244. That is, the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the plurality of grooves 248 of the support member 244 and the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216 at the thick portion thereof. Therefore, in the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202, a notch 236a for receiving the connecting piece 250 is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of connecting pieces 250 of the support member 244. The first and second connecting portions 234 and 236 of the elastic portion 202 fix the elastic portion 202 to the holding portion 200 and the base portion 242, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base portion 242. Connect
The pointing device 240 can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 194 on the base 242 in the same manner as the pointing device 190 described above. In particular, in the pointing device 240, the support member 244 constituting the base 242 is provided with a plurality of grooves 248 recessed to a position lower than the support surface 246a instead of the cylindrical wall 210 provided on the support member 206 in the pointing device 190. Since the second connecting portion 236 is inserted into these grooves 248 and the elastic portion 202 is attached to the support member 244, the support member 244 can be further thinned. Therefore, the pointing device 240 can more effectively reduce the dimensions in the height direction as compared with the pointing device 190 described above.
33 and 34 show a pointing device 260 according to the related technology of the present invention, which enables further reduction in height as compared with the above-mentioned pointing device 240. Since the pointing device 260 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 190 according to the related technology described above except for the configuration of the base, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
The pointing device 260 is located in the vicinity of the base 262, the operation unit 194 supported on the base 262 so as to be displaceable in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 262, the magnet 196 installed on the operation unit 194, and the magnet 196. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198 installed on the base 262. The base portion 262 includes a circuit board 264 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, and a cover member 216 for fixedly connecting the elastic portion 202 of the operation portion 194 to the base portion 262. Therefore, the base portion 262 is not provided with a support member that slidably supports the holding portion 200 of the operating portion 194.
The circuit board 264 has a flat support surface 266 that slidably supports the holding portion 200 of the operating portion 194 in an arbitrary horizontal direction in a desired circular region of the surface 264a. The circuit board 264 further has a plurality of (four in the figure) groove holes 268 extending in an arc shape in a direction surrounding the support surface 266. The groove holes 268 are arranged separately from each other on the same circumference surrounding the support surface 266, and are formed to penetrate in the plate thickness direction. A connecting piece 270 is formed between the adjacent groove holes 268 as a part of the circuit board 264.
The central axes of the plurality of groove holes 268 passing through the center of the support surface 266 form the central axis P of the pointing device 260 and define the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 on the support surface 266. The holding portion 200 can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surface 266 in a state where the axial end surface of the flange portion 228 is uniformly in contact with the support surface 266 on the circuit board 264. .. The four magnetron conversion elements 198 are mounted on the back surface 264b of the circuit board 264 on the opposite side of the support surface 266 in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P. The cover member 216 has an insertion piece 272 instead of the mounting hole 222 (FIG. 27) in each of the extension pieces 220 extending on its four sides, and these insertion pieces 272 correspond to the circuit board 264. It is fixed to the circuit board 264 by being inserted into the slit 274 formed through the position and bent appropriately.
The second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is inserted into the plurality of groove holes 268 of the circuit board 264. That is, the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the plurality of groove holes 268 of the circuit board 264 and the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216 at the thick portion thereof. .. Therefore, in the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202, a notch 236a for receiving the connecting piece 270 is formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of connecting pieces 270 of the circuit board 264. The first and second connecting portions 234 and 236 of the elastic portion 202 fix the elastic portion 202 to the holding portion 200 and the base portion 262, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base portion 262. Connect
The pointing device 260 can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 194 on the base 262 in the same manner as the pointing devices 190 and 240 described above. In particular, in the pointing device 260, the support members 206 and 244 are omitted, and the support surface 266 is formed directly on the surface 264a of the circuit board 264 of the base 262 to mount the holding portion 200 of the operation unit 194. Compared with the pointing devices 190 and 240 described above, the dimensions in the height direction can be reduced more effectively.
35 to 37 show a pointing device 280 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is low profile and has a click function. The pointing device 280 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 190 according to the related technology described above, except that the support member connected to the circuit board at the base and the switch mechanism for adding the click function are built-in. Therefore, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The pointing device 280 has a basic structure that is functionally substantially the same as the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment described above.
The pointing device 280 is located in the vicinity of the base 282, the operation unit 194 supported on the base 282 so as to be displaced in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 282, the magnet 196 installed on the operation unit 194, and the magnet 196. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198 installed on the base 282, and a switch mechanism 284 arranged between the base 282 and the operation unit 194. The base 282 substantially shields and supports the circuit board 204 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 286 fixedly connected to the circuit board 204, and the outer edge region 286a of the support member 286. It includes a cover member 216 that is fixedly connected to the member 286.
The support member 286 is a substantially square plate-like member in a plan view, and functions as a support portion that slidably supports the holding portion 200 of the operation portion 194 in an arbitrary horizontal direction in a substantially circular concave region in the center thereof. A plurality of elastic beam portions 288 (four in the figure) are provided at positions separated from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204. A flat support surface 288a extending substantially parallel to the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 under no load is formed on each of the elastic beam portions 288 of the support member 286 on the side away from the circuit board 204. The support surfaces 288a cooperate with each other to slidably support the holding portion 200 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204.
The plurality of elastic beam portions 288 of the support member 286 are arranged radially around the central axis P of the pointing device 280, and can be elastically displaced independently of each other with their radial outer ends as fulcrums. In particular, in this embodiment, since each elastic beam portion 288 extends in the radial direction from each apex portion of the substantially square contour in the plan view of the support member 286, the elastic beam portion 286 is reduced in size and thickness. The maximum length of 288 can be secured. As a result, it is possible to increase the elastic force of the elastic beam portion 288 and reduce the pressing operation force when the switch is operated.
The support member 286 is further formed with a fan-shaped mounting portion 290 between adjacent elastic beam portions 288. At the radial inner edge of the mounting portions 290, an arc wall 292 that defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 of the operating portion 194 is projected so as to surround the support surface 288a of each elastic beam portion 288. Each arc wall 292 is projected to a position where the height of the circuit board 204 from the surface 204a is higher than each support surface 288a, and as will be described later, the elastic portion 202 forms all the arc walls 292 at the second connecting portion 236. It surrounds and is attached to the support member 286. The arc walls 292 are arranged on the same circumference centered on the central axis P, and the central axis P defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 on the plurality of support surfaces 288a. The holding portion 200 is in a state where the axial end faces of the flange portions 228 are uniformly in contact with the support surfaces 288a of the plurality of elastic beam portions 288, while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surfaces 288a. Can move in parallel.
Further, one of the plurality of elastic beam portions 288 desired has a pressing point 294 formed at the free end of the radial inner end thereof and locally raised on the opposite side of the support surface 288a. To. The elastic beam portion 288 having the pressing point 294 is slightly longer than the other elastic beam portions 288 and extends beyond the central axis P of the pointing device 280. As a result, the pressing point 294 is aligned and arranged on the central axis P of the pointing device 280.
Further, a positioning pin 296 is provided so as to project from the pair of mounting portions 290 of the support member 286 facing each other on the opposite side of the arc wall 292. The support member 286 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 204 by inserting the positioning pins 296 into the holes 298 provided at the corresponding positions of the circuit board 204. The cover member 216 is a support member by snap-fitting a plurality of claws 300 projecting laterally along the four sides of the support member 286 into the corresponding mounting holes 222 of each extension piece 220. It is fixedly attached to the 286.
The second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is a thick portion thereof, and is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the outer annular groove region 292a of each arc wall 292 of the support member 286 and the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216. It will be stopped. The first and second connecting portions 234 and 236 of the elastic portion 202 fix the elastic portion 202 to the holding portion 200 and the base 282, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base 282. Connect
On the surface 204a of the circuit board 204, a switch mechanism 284 for adding a click function is mounted inside a space formed between the circuit board 204 and the plurality of elastic beam portions 288 of the support member 286. .. The switch mechanism 284 has a well-known opening / closing structure having a movable contact and a fixed contact, and the switch mechanism 284 is arranged at a position where both contacts are substantially aligned with the central axis P of the pointing device 280. That is, the movable contact of the switch mechanism 284 is positioned directly below the pressing point 294 provided on one elastic beam portion 288 of the support member 286. The four magnetron conversion elements 198 are mounted on the back surface 204b of the circuit board 204 located on the opposite side of the switch mechanism 284 in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P. That is, the circuit board 204 of the base 282 positions and supports the switch mechanism 284 below the operation unit 194, and the magnetron conversion element 198 is arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board 204 from the switch mechanism 284. As a result, the required dimension of the space between the circuit board 204 and the support member 286 is reduced.
The configuration of the switch mechanism 284 is arbitrary, and various types such as a mechanical switch in which a movable contact is supported on a spring and a membrane switch having a pair of flexible circuit boards can be adopted. Further, depending on the external dimensions of the switch mechanism 284, a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198 can be installed in a space between the circuit board 204 and the plurality of elastic beam portions 288.
In the pointing device 280 having the above configuration, at the origin position shown in FIG. 37, the operator presses the operation surface 238 of the operation unit 194 with, for example, a fingertip, and presses the flange portion 228 of the holding portion 200 against the plurality of elastic beam portions 288. Thereby, the switch mechanism 284 located below the elastic beam portion 288 can be closed. In this embodiment, by pressing the operation portion 194, each elastic beam portion 288 elastically bends with the radial outer end as a fulcrum, and the pressing point 294 provided on the long elastic beam portion 288 is a switch immediately below the elastic beam portion 288. The mechanism 284 is pressed to operate.
As described above, since the pointing device 280 includes the base 282 and the operation unit 194 which are functionally the same as the base 82 and the operation unit 14 in the pointing device 80 described above, the operation unit 194 can be operated in the same manner as the pointing device 80. It is possible to input analog information corresponding to the moving direction and the moving distance, and to perform a click operation in relation to the pointer on the display of the device to be mounted, for example. Moreover, since each component constituting the base 282 and the operation unit 194 has been made thinner, the pointing device 280 which has realized a lower profile as a whole as compared with the pointing device 80 is provided.
FIGS. 38 to 40 show a pointing device 310 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, which enables further reduction in height as compared with the pointing device 280. Since the pointing device 310 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 280 according to the fourth embodiment described above except for the configuration of the support member connected to the circuit board at the base, the corresponding components have the same reference numerals. Is added to omit the description.
The pointing device 310 is located in the vicinity of the base 312, the operation unit 194 supported on the base 312 so as to be displaceable in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 312, the magnet 196 installed on the operation unit 194, and the magnet 196. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198 installed on the base 312. The base 312 substantially shields and supports the circuit board 204 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 314 fixedly connected to the circuit board 204, and the outer edge region 314a of the support member 314. It is composed of a cover member 216 which is fixedly connected to the member 314.
The support member 314 is a substantially square plate-like member in a plan view, and functions as a support portion that slidably supports the holding portion 200 of the operation portion 194 in an arbitrary horizontal direction in a substantially circular concave region in the center thereof. A plurality of elastic beam portions 316 (4 in the figure) are provided at positions separated from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204. A flat support surface 316a extending substantially parallel to the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 under no load is formed on each of the elastic beam portions 316 of the support member 314 on the side away from the circuit board 204. The support surfaces 316a cooperate with each other to slidably support the holding portion 200 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 204a of the circuit board 204.
The plurality of elastic beam portions 316 of the support member 314 are arranged radially around the central axis P of the pointing device 310, and can be elastically displaced independently of each other with their radial outer ends as fulcrums. In particular, in this embodiment, since each elastic beam portion 316 extends in the radial direction from each apex portion of the substantially square contour in the plan view of the support member 314, the elastic beam portion 314 is reduced in size and thickness. The maximum length of 316 can be secured. As a result, it is possible to increase the elastic force of the elastic beam portion 316 and reduce the pressing operation force when the switch is operated. Further, in this embodiment, all the elastic beam portions 316 have the same length and are arranged symmetrically around the central axis P.
The support member 314 is further formed with mounting portions 318 that spread in a fan shape between adjacent elastic beam portions 316. A plurality of (four in the figure) grooves 320 extending in an arc shape in a direction surrounding the support surface 316a of each elastic beam portion 316 are recessed in the radial outer edge of the mounting portions 318. Each groove 320 is recessed to a position where the height of the circuit board 204 from the surface 204a is lower than the support surface 316a. The grooves 320 are arranged on the same circumference centered on the central axis P, and the central axis P defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 on the plurality of support surfaces 316a. The holding portion 200 is in a state where the axial end faces of the flange portions 228 are uniformly in contact with the support surfaces 316a of the plurality of elastic beam portions 316, while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surfaces 316a. Can move in parallel.
Further, in one of the plurality of elastic beam portions 316, which is desired, a pressing point 322 that locally rises on the opposite side of the support surface 316a is formed at the free end of the radial inner end thereof. To. The pressing point 322 is arranged at a position deviated in the radial direction from the central axis P of the pointing device 310. Then, the switch mechanism 284 mounted on the surface 204a of the circuit board 204 is positioned directly below the pressing point 322 provided on one elastic beam portion 316 of the support member 314.
Further, a positioning pin 324 is provided so as to project from the pair of mounting portions 318 of the support member 314 facing each other on the opposite side of the groove 320. The support member 314 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 204 by fitting the positioning pins 324 into the holes 298 provided at the corresponding positions of the circuit board 204. The cover member 216 is a support member by snap-fitting a plurality of claws 326 projecting laterally along the four sides of the support member 314 into the corresponding mounting holes 222 of each extension piece 220. It is fixedly assembled to 314.
The second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is inserted into the plurality of grooves 320 of the support member 314. That is, the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the plurality of grooves 320 of the support member 314 and the end plate portion 216a of the cover member 216 at the thick portion thereof. Therefore, the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is formed with a notch 236a that receives a part of the elastic beam portion 316 at a position corresponding to the plurality of elastic beam portions 316 of the support member 314. The first and second connecting portions 234 and 236 of the elastic portion 202 fix the elastic portion 202 to the holding portion 200 and the base 312, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 200 moves horizontally on the base 312. Connect
Similar to the pointing device 280 described above, the pointing device 310 having the above configuration can input analog data by horizontally moving the operation unit 194 on the base 312, and for example, by pressing the operation unit 194. A click operation can be performed in relation to the pointer on the display of the device to be mounted. In particular, in the pointing device 310, a plurality of grooves are recessed in the support member 314 constituting the base 312 to a position lower than the support surface 316a instead of the plurality of arc walls 290 provided on the support member 286 in the pointing device 280. Since the 320 is formed and the second connecting portion 236 is inserted into these grooves 320 to attach the elastic portion 202 to the support member 314, the support member 314 can be further thinned. Therefore, the pointing device 310 can more effectively reduce the dimensions in the height direction as compared with the pointing device 280 described above.
In the pointing device 310, as shown in FIG. 39, the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 200 of the operating portion 194 on the support surface 316a is defined for each elastic beam portion 316 and each mounting portion 318 of the support member 314. It is also possible to project the arc-shaped rib 328. Since these ribs 328 are not involved in fixing the elastic portion 202, the height of protrusion from the support surface 316a can be reduced as much as possible, and therefore, the thinning of the support member 314 is not hindered.
Further, in the pointing device 310, since the plurality of elastic beam portions 316 provided on the support member 314 are all formed to have the same size and shape and arranged symmetrically around the central axis P, the operator presses them on the operation unit 194. The repulsive force from the elastic beam portion 316 when a force is applied is balanced, and as a result, there is an advantage that an accurate switch pressing operation can be performed. In particular, as shown in FIG. 41, the position where the pressing point 322 for pressing the switch mechanism 284 overlaps the flange portion 228 of the holding portion 200 at the origin position of the horizontal movement range on one elastic beam portion 316. When arranged in, the pressing force applied from the holding portion 200 of the operating portion 194 to the plurality of elastic beam portions 316 can be transmitted to the switch mechanism 284 without waste. As a result, the pressing operation force by the operator is reduced, and the switch operability is improved.
In the configuration in which the pressing point 322 is arranged at a position deviated from the central axis P of the pointing device 310 as described above, there is a directionality between the support member 314 and the circuit board 204 that should be matched with each other at the time of assembly. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 42, the pair of elastic beam portions 316 facing each other are provided with the pressing points 322 (FIG. 42 (a)), and all the elastic beam portions 316 are provided with the pressing points 322 (FIG. 42 (FIG. 42). b)) is advantageous from the viewpoint of improving assembly workability.
In the above-mentioned pointing devices 280 and 310 having a click function, when the operation unit 194 is pressed, the operation unit 194 is accurately vertically oriented with respect to the bases 282, 312 and the switch mechanism 284 (that is, the operation unit 194 is horizontal). It is important to displace the data in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction in order to avoid unintended input of analog data such as cursor movement data. Therefore, it is advantageous to provide the pointing devices 280 and 310 with a guide portion for guiding the operation unit 194 in the vertical direction with respect to the switch mechanism 284.
43 and 44 show a modification of the pointing device 310 having such a guide portion. In this modification, each of the plurality of mounting portions 318 provided on the support member 314 is integrally formed with a guide portion 330 extending inward in the radial direction in a fan shape. The guide portions 330 are arranged on the same circumference centered on the central axis P of the pointing device 310, each of which has an inner peripheral edge 330a having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 228 of the holding portion 200. To. Further, the surface 330b of each guide portion 330 is arranged on the same plane as the support surface 316a of the elastic beam portion 316 when no load is applied, and in cooperation with the plurality of support surfaces 316a, the holding portion 200 is held in an arbitrary horizontal position. Supports slidably in the direction.
According to such a configuration, if the operation portion 194 is pressed while the holding portion 200 is at the origin position of the horizontal movement range, the flange portion 228 of the holding portion 200 is switched by the plurality of guide portions 330 of the support member 314. It is accurately guided in the vertical direction with respect to 284. During this time, since the relative movement in the horizontal direction does not occur between the magnet 196 and the plurality of magnetron conversion elements 198, unintended input of analog data such as cursor movement data is avoided. Further, while the holding portion 200 is moving from the origin position of the horizontal movement range, even if a pressing force is applied to the operating portion 194, the flange portion 228 of the holding portion 200 interferes with the guide portion 330 of the support member 314. Therefore, the elastic beam portion 316 cannot be pushed down. Therefore, according to this configuration, the switch operation position when performing a click operation or the like can be specified only at the origin position in the horizontal movement range of the holding unit 200.
By the way, when the magnetron conversion element type pointing device according to the various embodiments of the present invention described above is mounted on a portable information device such as a mobile phone, the handling of various components of the miniaturized pointing device becomes complicated. , There is a concern that the assembly workability of the entire information device will deteriorate. 45 to 55 are main portable information devices according to various embodiments of the present invention, which are portable information devices equipped with the pointing device according to the present invention and have a structure for improving the assembly workability of the device itself. Shows the part.
FIG. 45 shows a circuit board 340 and a key panel 342 which are components of a portable information device (for example, a mobile phone) according to an embodiment of the present invention. This portable information device is illustrated as a pointing device 260 according to the related technology described above mounted under a structure that improves assembly workability, and the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals. The description will be omitted. It will be understood that the portable information device according to the present invention is configured by mounting the pointing device 280 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention described above in place of the pointing device 260.
As shown in FIG. 45 (a), the circuit board 340 is provided with a plurality of switches 344, which are the main input units of the portable information device, mounted on the surface 340a in a predetermined aligned arrangement. Further, the circuit board 340 is formed with a plurality of (four in the figure) arcuate groove holes 346 for mounting the elastic portions 202 of the pointing device 260 at predetermined positions on the surface 340a. Each groove 346 corresponds to the groove 268 of the circuit board 264 shown in FIG. 33, and the holding portion 200 of the operation portion 194 can be slidably slidable in an arbitrary horizontal direction in the circular region surrounded by the groove 346. A flat support surface 266 to support is defined. On the back surface 340b of the circuit board 340, four magnetron conversion elements 198 are mounted at positions corresponding to the support surface 266 in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P of the pointing device 260 (FIG. 45 (FIG. 45). b)).
The key panel 342 is a thin plate-shaped member integrally molded from an elastic material such as rubber, and a plurality of key tops 348 are projected on the surface 342a at positions corresponding to a plurality of switches 344 of the circuit board 340. Ru. Further, the elastic portion 202 of the pointing device 260 is integrally formed on the key panel 342 at a position corresponding to the support surface 266 of the circuit board 340. That is, the elastic portion 202 is integrally connected to the key panel 342 having the plurality of key tops 348 at the second connecting portion 236 thereof. Then, the main portion 232 and the first connecting portion 234 of the elastic portion 202 project from the front surface 342a of the key panel 342, and the plurality of thick portions 236b of the second connecting portion 236 form the back surface 342b of the key panel 342. It is thrust into.
As shown in FIG. 46 (a), in the elastic portion 202 formed on the key panel 342, the holding portion 200 accommodating the magnet 196 and the yoke 230 attached to the holding portion 200 are provided on the back side of the first connecting portion 234. It is fixedly accepted in the recess. In this state, the key panel 342 is assembled to the circuit board 340 in a predetermined relative positional relationship in which the back surface 342b is brought into contact with the front surface 340a of the circuit board 340 and the key tops 348 and the switches 344 are aligned. At this time, the plurality of thick portions 236b formed in the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 are fitted into the corresponding groove holes 346 of the circuit board 340, respectively. As a result, the holding portion 200 is properly positioned and slidably mounted on the support surface 266 of the circuit board 340. Further, by covering the key panel 342 assembled on the circuit board 340 with the housing 350 of the portable information device, the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is fixed between the circuit board 340 and the housing 350. It is pinched and hooked (Fig. 46 (b)). In this way, the pointing device 260 integrated into the portable information device is completed.
According to the above configuration, the elastic portion 202 and the circuit board 264, which are the original components of the pointing device 260, are combined with the key panel 342 and the circuit board 340, which are essential components of the portable information device on which the pointing device 260 is mounted. In addition, since they are integrated, the number of independent components of the pointing device 260 itself is reduced. Moreover, when assembling the pointing device 260, it is possible to combine other small-sized component groups with the large-format key panel 342 and circuit board 340 equipped with the main parts of the portable information device. The assembling workability of the pointing device 260 itself and the assembling workability of the portable information device equipped with the pointing device 260 are remarkably improved.
The portable information device described above has a configuration in which the housing 350 is attached after the circuit board 340 and the key panel 342 are combined. However, the housing is first attached to the key panel, and then the key panel is attached to the circuit board. Procedures may be taken. FIG. 47 shows a key panel 342 and a housing 350 as modified examples that can cope with such a procedure.
In this modification, the elastic portion 202 integrally molded with the key panel 342 includes a thick portion 236b of the second connecting portion 236 so as to project from the surface 342a of the key panel 342 (FIG. 47 (a)). )). Correspondingly, on the back surface 350a of the housing 350, a plurality of grooves 354 for receiving the thick portion 236b of the second connecting portion 236 are formed around the opening 352 into which the elastic portion 202 is inserted. (Fig. 47 (b)). Therefore, the key panel 342 is assembled to the housing 350 while inserting the elastic portion 202 and the plurality of key tops 348 into the openings 352 and the plurality of key holes 356 provided in the housing 350, respectively. At this time, the plurality of thick portions 236b formed in the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 are fitted into the corresponding grooves 354 of the housing 350, respectively.
In the key panel 342 to which the housing 350 is attached in this way, the elastic portion 202 receives the magnet 196, the holding portion 200, and the yoke 230, and the back surface 342b thereof is brought into contact with the front surface 340a of the circuit board 340. The key top 348 and each switch 344 are assembled to the circuit board 340 in a predetermined relative positional relationship. As a result, the holding portion 200 is properly positioned and slidably mounted on the support surface 266 of the circuit board 340, and the second connecting portion 236 of the elastic portion 202 is the circuit board 340 and the housing 350. It is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between them (Fig. 48). In this way, the pointing device 260 integrated into the portable information device is completed.
49 to 51 show a circuit board 360, a key panel 362, and a housing 364, which are components of a portable information device (for example, a mobile phone) according to another embodiment of the present invention. This portable information device is equipped with a pointing device 366 having a configuration similar to the pointing device 10 according to the related technology described above under a structure that improves assembly workability, and is a component corresponding to the pointing device 10. The same reference numerals are given to the above, and the description thereof will be omitted. It will be understood that the portable information device according to the present invention is configured by mounting a pointing device similar to the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above instead of the pointing device 10.
As shown in FIG. 49, the circuit board 360 is provided with a plurality of switches 368, which are the main input portions of the portable information device, mounted on the surface 360a in a predetermined aligned arrangement. Further, the key panel 362 is a thin plate-like member integrally molded from an elastic material such as rubber, and a plurality of key tops 370 project on the surface 362a at positions corresponding to a plurality of switches 368 of the circuit board 360. Will be set up.
The housing 364 is a thin plate-shaped member integrally molded from a resin material, and a plurality of key holes 372 are formed through the key panels 362 at positions corresponding to the plurality of key tops 370. Further, the housing 364 is provided with a concave region at a predetermined position on the surface 364a, and a support member 26 of the pointing device 366 is integrally formed at the bottom of the concave region. That is, the support member 26 is integrally connected to the housing 364 having the plurality of key holes 372 in the outer region of the cylindrical wall 30. Then, the support surface 28a and the cylindrical wall 30 of the support member 26 are arranged on the surface 364a side of the housing 364.
As shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, the support member 26 formed in the housing 364 has a holding portion 20 accommodating the magnet 16 and an elastic portion 22 attached to the holding portion 20 at the axial end of the holding portion 20. It is mounted with the edge slidably mounted on the support surface 28a. Further, by attaching the annular cover member 36 to the housing 364 so as to cover the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22, the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22 is fixedly fixed on the housing 364. It will be stopped.
In this state, the circuit board 360, the key panel 362, and the housing 364 are assembled to each other in a predetermined relative positional relationship in which the respective switches 368, key top 370, and key hole 372 are aligned with each other. At this time, the key panel 362 has a contour shape that does not overlap with the support member 26 formed in the housing 364, and the back surface 360b of the circuit board 360 is located at a position corresponding to the support surface 28a of the support member 26. The magnetron conversion elements 18 are mounted in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P of the pointing device 366. In this way, the pointing device 366 integrated into the portable information device is completed.
According to the above configuration, the support member 26 and the circuit board 24, which are the original components of the pointing device 366, are combined with the housing 364 and the circuit board 360, which are essential components of the portable information device on which the pointing device 366 is mounted. In addition, since they are integrated, the number of independent components of the pointing device 366 itself is reduced. Moreover, when assembling the pointing device 366, it is possible to combine other small-sized component groups with the large-format housing 364 and circuit board 360 equipped with the main parts of the portable information device. The assembling workability of the pointing device 366 itself and the assembling workability of the portable information device equipped with the pointing device 366 are remarkably improved.
Further, in the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 51, a space can be formed between the surface 360a of the circuit board 360 and the support member 26 formed in the housing 364, so that electronic components can be mounted on the circuit board 360. There is an advantage that the possible area is expanded. In the above configuration, when a switch mechanism having a click function is added to the pointing device 366, instead of the support member 26, as shown in FIG. 52, a plurality of elastic beam portions 316 in the pointing device 310 described above are provided. The support member 314 may be integrally molded with the housing 364.
53 to 55 show a lower panel 380, a membrane sheet 382, a switch panel 384, and a key top 386 which are components of a portable information device (for example, a portable keyboard) according to still another embodiment of the present invention. This portable information device is equipped with a pointing device 388 having a configuration similar to the pointing device 10 according to the related technology described above under a structure that improves assembly workability, and is a component corresponding to the pointing device 10. The same reference numerals are given to the above, and the description thereof will be omitted. It will be understood that the portable information device according to the present invention is configured by mounting a pointing device similar to the pointing device 80 according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above instead of the pointing device 10.
As shown in FIG. 53, the switch panel 384 is a thin plate-like member integrally molded from a resin material, and a plurality of openings 390 at positions corresponding to a plurality of switches (not shown) formed on the membrane sheet 382. Is formed through. Further, the switch panel 384 is provided with a convex region at a predetermined position on the surface 384a, and a support member 26 of the pointing device 388 is integrally formed at the bottom of the convex region. That is, the support member 26 is integrally connected to the switch panel 384 having the plurality of openings 390 in the outer region of the cylindrical wall 30. Then, the support surface 28a and the cylindrical wall 30 of the support member 26 are arranged on the surface 384a side of the switch panel 384.
As shown in FIGS. 54 and 55, the support member 26 formed on the switch panel 384 has a holding portion 20 accommodating the magnet 16 and an elastic portion 22 attached to the holding portion 20 at the axial end of the holding portion 20. It is mounted with the edge slidably mounted on the support surface 28a. Further, by attaching the cover member 36 to the switch panel 384 so as to cover the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22, the second connecting portion 54 of the elastic portion 22 is fixedly hooked on the switch panel 384. Will be done.
In this state, the membrane sheet 382 and the switch panel 384 are assembled with each other in a predetermined relative positional relationship in which the respective switches and the openings 390 are aligned with each other, and are placed on the lower panel 380. At this time, between the membrane sheet 382 and the switch panel 384, the circuit board 24 on which the magnetron conversion element 18 is mounted is inserted into the space formed on the opposite side of the support surface 28a of the support member 26. It is arranged in the state of. Further, the corresponding key top 386 is assembled to the switch operating mechanism (not shown) installed in each opening 390 of the switch panel 384, and the key top 392 is attached to the elastic part 22 of the pointing device 388. In this way, the pointing device 388 integrated into the portable information device is completed.
Also in the above configuration, since the support member 26, which is the original component of the pointing device 388, is integrated with the switch panel 384, which is an essential component of the portable information device on which the pointing device 388 is mounted, the pointing device 388 itself. The number of independent components is reduced, and the workability of assembling the pointing device 388 itself and the workability of assembling the portable information device equipped with the pointing device 388 are significantly improved.
By the way, the pointing devices 80, 100, 150, 280 and 310 according to various embodiments of the present invention having the above-mentioned click function move the operation units 14, 194 in the vertical direction with respect to the bases 82, 102, 282 and 312. It is configured to operate the switch mechanisms 84 and 284 by pressing the button. In this configuration, the magnets 16 and 196 held by the holding units 20 and 200 correspond to the plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 and 198 on the bases 82, 102, 282 and 312 as the operating units 14 and 194 are pressed. Inevitably move. If the moving directions of the magnets 16 and 196 at this time include horizontal components with respect to the plurality of magnetron conversion elements 18 and 198, the output voltages of the magnetron conversion elements 18 and 198 are immediately before the click operation. There is a concern that analog data signals such as cursor movement data may be output from the pointing devices 80, 100, 280, and 310 due to the fluctuation of. Therefore, in order to perform a proper click operation, it is necessary to push the operation units 14 and 194 accurately in the vertical direction with respect to the bases 82, 102, 282 and 312, and whether to additionally equip a guide structure for that purpose. Otherwise, the skill of the operator will be required.
On the other hand, the pointing device 400 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 56 to 58 is a low profile type and has a structure capable of performing an appropriate click operation extremely easily. The pointing device 400 includes a base 402, an operation unit 404 supported on the base 402 so as to be displaceable in an arbitrary horizontal direction with respect to the base 402, and an annular magnet (for example, a permanent magnet) installed on the operation unit 404. It includes a 406, a plurality of magnetron conversion elements (for example, Hall elements) 408 installed on the base 402 in the vicinity of the magnet 406, and a switch mechanism 410 arranged between the base 402 and the operation unit 404. The operation unit 404 is connected to a holding unit 412 that holds the magnet 406 fixedly and is supported so as to be movable in the horizontal direction on the base 402, and is connected to the holding unit 412 to move the holding unit 412 horizontally on the base 402. Along with this, the elastic part 414, which exerts an elastic force to return the holding part 412 to the origin position of the horizontal movement range, and the holding part 412 can move in the vertical direction substantially orthogonal to the horizontal direction on the base 402. It is configured with an actuating unit 416 arranged in.
The base 402 includes a circuit board 418 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, and a support member 420 fixedly connected to the circuit board 418. The support member 420 is a substantially square plate-shaped member in a plan view, and an annular support that slidably supports the holding portion 412 of the operating portion 404 in an arbitrary horizontal direction in a substantially circular concave region in the center thereof. It has a portion 422 and is mounted on the surface 418a of the circuit board 418 without a gap in a state where the switch mechanism 410 is inserted into the circular opening 424 formed in the center of the support portion 422. In this embodiment, the horizontal direction means a direction substantially parallel to the substantially flat surface 418a of the circuit board 418. Therefore, the support portion 422 of the support member 420 is formed with a flat and annular support surface 422a that extends substantially parallel to the surface 418a of the circuit board 418 on the side away from the circuit board 418. The support surface 422a slidably supports the holding portion 412 in an arbitrary horizontal direction at a position protruding from the surface 418a of the circuit board 418.
Further, the support member 420 is provided with a cylindrical wall 426 that surrounds the support surface 422a and defines the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 412 of the operation portion 404. The cylindrical wall 426 is projected from the surface 418a of the circuit board 418 to a position higher than the support surface 422a, and the elastic portion 414 encloses the cylindrical wall 426 with a part thereof and becomes the support member 420 as described later. It is attached. The central axis of the cylindrical wall 426 passing through the center of the opening 424 constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device 400 and defines the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding portion 412 on the support surface 422a. The support member 420 is fixedly assembled at a predetermined position on the circuit board 418 using, for example, an adhesive.
A switch mechanism 410 having a substantially circular contour in a plan view is mounted on the surface 418a of the circuit board 418 with the central axis P as the center. Further, on the back surface 418b of the circuit board 418, a total of four magnetron conversion elements 408 are mounted in an evenly spaced distributed arrangement centered on the central axis P. With such an arrangement configuration of the magnetron conversion element 408, the pointing device 400 can output an analog data signal in the two-dimensional coordinate system. That is, the circuit board 418 of the base 402 positions and supports the switch mechanism 410 below the operation unit 404, and the magnetron conversion element 408 is arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board 418 from the switch mechanism 410. As a result, the required dimension of the space between the circuit board 418 and the support member 420 is reduced.
The base 402 further comprises a cover member 428 that substantially shields the outer edge region 420a of the support member 420 and is fixedly connected to the support member 420. The cover member 428 is a thin plate-like member having a substantially square shape in a plan view corresponding to the support member 420, and the main operation portion of the operation portion 404, which will be described later, is inserted into the central region of the end plate portion 428a so as to be horizontally movable. It has a substantially circular central opening 430. At the outer edge of the cover member 428, extension pieces 432 are extended along the four sides in a direction substantially orthogonal to the end plate portion 428a, and each extension piece 432 is formed with a mounting hole 434 penetrating in the plate thickness direction. Orthogonal. The cover member 428 snaps a plurality of claws 436 projecting laterally along the four sides of the support member 420 into the corresponding mounting holes 434 of the extension pieces 432 by utilizing the elastic deformation of each extension piece 432. By fitting in the formula, it is fixedly assembled to the support member 420. The cover member 428 holds the operation portion 404 so as not to fall off from the base portion 402 in a state where the main operation portion of the operation portion 404 is projected outward through the central opening 430. The cover member 428 having such a structure can be manufactured from a desired sheet metal material.
In the illustrated embodiment, the holding portion 412 and the elastic portion 414 of the operating portion 404 are individually manufactured as separate members and fixedly combined with each other. The holding portion 412 is composed of an annular member having a rigidity that does not substantially deform while the operating portion 404 is horizontally moved on the base 402. An annular recess 442 that accommodates the magnet 406 is formed between the inner peripheral wall 438 and the intermediate wall 440 that are concentrically projected on one end surface (upper end surface in the figure) of the holding portion 412 in the axial direction. The magnet 406 can be fixed to the annular recess 442 of the holding portion 412, for example, by using an adhesive or press-fitting. The holding portion 412 can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the supporting surface 422a in a state where the other end surface in the axial direction is uniformly in contact with the supporting surface 422a of the supporting member 420 of the base portion 402.
The elastic portion 414 is composed of a bowl-shaped member that elastically deforms relatively easily while the operation portion 404 is horizontally moved on the base 402, and the main portion 444 is extended around the holding portion 412 through a gap. , A first connecting portion 446 connected to the holding portion 412 at one end of the main portion 444 and a second connecting portion 448 connected to the base portion 402 at the other end of the main portion 444 are integrally provided. The main portion 444 of the elastic portion 414 surrounds the holding portion 412 over substantially the entire circumference, and has a truncated cone-like or dome-shaped contour shape that is arranged coaxially with the holding portion 412 in a no-load state. Therefore, the main portion 444 of the elastic portion 414 is elastically deformed as the holding portion 412 moves horizontally on the base portion 402, and the elastic force corresponding to the amount of deformation is applied regardless of the horizontal moving direction of the holding portion 412. Demonstrate like.
The first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 is integrally extended radially inward from the small diameter end of the main portion 444 of the truncated cone-shaped contour in an annular shape, and holds the magnet 406 in a recess formed inside the main portion 444. The inner peripheral wall 438 and the intermediate wall 440 of the holding portion 412 are fixedly fitted. The first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 can be fixed to the holding portion 412 by using, for example, an adhesive or press-fitting. Further, the first connecting portion 446 has a cylindrical receiving hole 450 formed concentrically with respect to the inner peripheral wall 438 and the intermediate wall 440 of the holding portion 412 in the center thereof. The first connecting portion 446 extends so as to closely cover one end surface of the holding portion 412 and the magnet 406 in the axial direction, and the operating surface 452 that the operator contacts, for example, the fingertips of the hand when moving the operating portion 404. Is formed.
The second connecting portion 448 of the elastic portion 414 protrudes in a flange shape in the radial and axial directions from the large-diameter end of the main portion 444 of the truncated cone-shaped contour and is integrally extended, and the thick portion thereof constitutes the base portion 402. It is fixedly sandwiched and hooked between the outer annular groove region 426a of the cylindrical wall 426 of the support member 420 and the end plate portion 428a of the cover member 428. The first and second connecting portions 446 and 448 fix the elastic portion 414 to the holding portion 412 and the base 402, respectively, without substantially deforming while the holding portion 412 moves horizontally on the base 402. ..
The elastic portion 414 can be formed from various elastic materials such as synthetic rubber and natural rubber. In particular, considering that the reflow process is performed when the pointing device 400 is mounted on the main circuit board of the device to be mounted, it is advantageous to form it from a material such as silicon rubber whose properties do not easily deteriorate even at high temperatures. is there.
The actuating portion 416 is composed of a columnar member having a rigidity that does not substantially deform during the vertical movement operation on the base portion 402. At one end in the axial direction (lower end in the figure) of the operating portion 416, a protruding edge portion 416a is integrally extended outward in the radial direction. Further, at the other end of the operating portion 416 in the axial direction, a pressing operation surface 454 is formed so that, for example, the fingertips of the hand are brought into contact with the operating portion 416 when the operator presses the operating portion 416. The operating portion 416 is separated from the elastic portion 414 and is received through a gap in the receiving hole 450 provided in the first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414. At this time, the operating portion 416 is provided so that the protruding edge portion 416a can engage with the shoulder portion 438a slightly protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral wall 438 of the holding portion 412 on the side opposite to the magnet 406. Be oriented. With the ridge portion 416a of the actuating portion 416 engaged to the shoulder portion 438a of the holding portion 412, the pressing operating surface 454 of the operating portion 416 is arranged slightly raised in the center of the operating surface 452 of the elastic portion 414. To.
A locally raised pressing point 456 is formed in the center of one end surface (lower end surface in the figure) of the operating portion 416 in the axial direction. The pressing point 456 is aligned and arranged on the central axis P of the pointing device 400. With the operating unit 404 properly assembled to the base 402, the operating unit 416 abuts its pressing point 456 against the switch mechanism 410 located in the opening 424 of the support member 420 and is vertically within the operating unit 404. It is supported by the switch mechanism 410 so that it can move in the direction.
The configuration of the switch mechanism 410 is arbitrary, and various types such as a mechanical switch in which a movable contact is supported on a spring and a membrane switch having a pair of flexible circuit boards can be adopted. Further, depending on the external dimensions of the switch mechanism 410, a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 408 can be installed in the opening 424 of the support member 420.
With the various components described above properly combined, the operation unit 404 covers the portion including the main portion 444 and the first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 and the pressing operation surface 454 of the operating portion 416 to cover the base portion 402. It is inserted into the central opening 430 of the 428 so as to be horizontally movable, and is arranged at a position protruding outward from the end plate portion 428a of the cover member 428. In this state, the operator can operate the operation surface 238 formed on the first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 with, for example, a finger to move the holding portion 412 horizontally on the base portion 402 and the operating portion 416. The pressing operation surface 454 of the above can be vertically moved on the base 402 by pressing the operating portion 454 with, for example, a finger.
As shown in FIG. 58, when the elastic portion 414 of the operating portion 404 is in an equilibrium state, the magnet 406 held in the holding portion 412 and its annular recess 442 and the central axis Q of the operating portion 416 are at the center of the pointing device 400. Aligns with axis P. In this state, the holding portion 412 is positioned at the origin position of the horizontal movement range on the support member 420 of the base 402, and the four magnetron conversion elements 408 on the circuit board 418 are arranged equidistant from the magnet 406. .. From this state, when the operator touches the operation surface 452 with his fingertip and translates the holding portion 412 in an arbitrary horizontal direction, the main portion 444 of the elastic portion 414 corresponds to the moving direction and moving distance of the holding portion 412. As a result, different forms of elastic deformation occur over the entire circumference (Fig. 59 (a)). As a result, the elastic portion 414 exerts an elastic force as a resultant force in the entire main portion 444, and urges the holding portion 412 in the direction opposite to the moving direction thereof. Therefore, the operator horizontally moves the operating portion 404 against the spring-forced force generated by the main portion 444 of the elastic portion 414.
Further, at the origin position shown in FIG. 58, the operator presses the pressing operation surface 454 of the operating portion 416 of the operating portion 404 with, for example, a fingertip, and presses the pressing point 456 of the operating portion 416 against the switch mechanism 410, thereby causing the switch mechanism. The 284 can be closed (Fig. 59 (b)). At this time, since the holding portion 412 is statically supported on the supporting surface 422a of the supporting member 420, even if the pressing operation force of the operator is applied to the operating surface 452 of the elastic portion 414, the holding portion 412, that is, the magnet 406 Vertical movement of the magnet is definitely avoided.
In this way, in the pointing device 400, by applying a substantially horizontal operating force to the operating unit 404, analog information corresponding to the moving direction and moving distance of the holding unit 412 can be input and at the origin position. By applying a pressing operation force in a substantially vertical direction to the operation unit 404, for example, a click operation can be performed in relation to a pointer on the display of the device to be mounted. Moreover, since the vertical movement of the holding portion 412 with respect to the base portion 402 can be reliably prevented during the pressing operation, the relative movement of the magnet 406 and the plurality of magnetron conversion elements 408 is eliminated. Therefore, in the pointing device 400, an appropriate click operation can be performed extremely easily.
Further, in the pointing device 400, as in the case of the pointing device 280 according to the fourth embodiment described above, since each component constituting the base portion 402 and the operation unit 404 is thinned, it is possible to realize a low profile as a whole. .. Similar to the pointing device 310 according to the fifth embodiment, the support member 420 is further reduced in height by forming an annular groove for attaching the second connecting portion 448 of the elastic portion 414 instead of the cylindrical wall 426. Can also be realized.
60 and 61 show a pointing device 460 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, which is low profile and can perform a proper click operation extremely easily. Since the pointing device 460 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 400 according to the sixth embodiment described above except for the configuration of the operating portion of the operation unit, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals. The explanation is omitted.
The pointing device 460 is located in the vicinity of the base 402, the operation unit 462 supported on the base 402 so as to be displaced in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 402, the magnet 406 installed on the operation unit 462, and the magnet 406. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 408 installed on the base 402, and a switch mechanism 410 arranged between the base 402 and the operation unit 462. The base portion 402 substantially shields and supports the circuit board 418 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 420 fixedly connected to the circuit board 418, and the outer edge region 420a of the support member 420. It includes a cover member 428 that is fixedly connected to the member 420.
Operation unit 462, based on holding the magnet 406 and the holding portion 412 which is horizontally movably supported on portion 402, an elastic portion 414 for returning the holding portion 412 to the home position of the horizontal movement range, the holding portion 412 Independent from the above, the base 402 is provided with an actuating portion 464 that is movably arranged in the vertical direction substantially orthogonal to the horizontal direction. The actuating portion 464 is integrally connected to the first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 and is housed in the receiving hole 450. More specifically, the operating portion 464 has a receiving hole 450 of the first connecting portion 446 of the elastic portion 414 at the ridge portion 464a extending radially outward at one end in the axial direction (lower end in the figure). The inner peripheral wall to be defined is integrally molded from, for example, the same material as the elastic portion 414.
At the other end of the operating portion 464 in the axial direction, a pressing operation surface 466 is formed so that, for example, the fingertips of the hand are brought into contact with the operating portion 464 when the operator presses the operating portion 464. In a state where the pressing force is not applied to the operating portion 464, the pressing operation surface 466 of the operating portion 464 is arranged so as to be slightly raised at the center of the operating surface 452 of the elastic portion 414. Further, when a pressing force is applied to the operating portion 464, the operating portion 464 moves in the vertical direction in the receiving hole 450 of the elastic portion 414 while the interconnection region between the elastic portion 414 and the operating portion 464 is elastically deformed. .. As shown in the figure, the inner peripheral wall 438 of the holding portion 412 (FIG. 56) so that the interconnection region between the elastic portion 414 and the operating portion 464 can be elastically deformed without any obstacle when a pressing force is applied to the operating portion 464. ) Should be omitted.
A locally raised pressing point 468 is formed in the center of one end surface (lower end surface in the figure) of the operating portion 464 in the axial direction. The pressing points 468 are aligned and arranged on the central axis P of the pointing device 460. With the operating unit 462 properly assembled to the base 402, the operating unit 464 abuts its pressing point 468 against the switch mechanism 410 arranged in the opening 424 of the support member 420 and is vertically in the operating unit 462. It is supported by the switch mechanism 410 so that it can move in the direction.
The pointing device 460 having the above configuration moves the holding portion 412 on the base 402 in the moving direction and movement by applying a substantially horizontal operating force to the operating portion 462 in the same manner as the pointing device 400 described above. Analog information corresponding to the distance can be input (Fig. 62 (a)). Further, at the origin position shown in FIG. 61, the operator presses the pressing operation surface 466 of the operating portion 464 of the operating portion 462 with, for example, a fingertip, and presses the pressing point 468 of the operating portion 464 against the switch mechanism 410 to press the switch mechanism 410. Can be activated (Fig. 62 (b)). At this time, since the vertical movement of the holding portion 412 with respect to the base portion 402 is reliably prevented, an appropriate click operation can be performed extremely easily, for example, in relation to the pointer on the display of the device to be mounted. In particular, in the pointing device 460, since the elastic portion 414 of the operating portion 462 and the operating portion 464 are integrated, the number of parts is reduced and the assembly workability is improved.
In the above-mentioned pointing devices 400 and 460 having the operating portions 416 and 464 dedicated to the pressing operation, not only the operating portions 416 and 464 are accurately moved in the vertical direction during the pressing operation, but also the holding portion 412 is supported by the support member 420. It is important not to move it in the horizontal direction unintentionally above in order to avoid unintended input of analog data such as cursor movement data. Therefore, it is advantageous to provide the pointing devices 400 and 460 with a guide portion that guides the operating portions 416 and 464 in the vertical direction only at a limited position directly above the switch mechanism 410.
FIG. 63 shows a modified example of the pointing device 460 having such a guide portion. In this modification, the opening 424 provided in the support member 420 is formed so as to have a diameter dimension slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of the ridge portion 464a of the operating portion 464. Further, when no pressing force is applied to the operating portion 464, the bottom surface of the operating portion 464 is formed so as to be arranged at a position slightly farther from the surface 418a of the circuit board 418 than the support surface 422a of the support member 420. ..
According to such a configuration, if the operating portion 462 is horizontally moved without applying a pressing force to the operating portion 464, the holding portion 412 is placed on the support surface 422a without the operating portion 464 interfering with the support member 420. Smoothly slides in the desired horizontal direction (Fig. 63 (a)). Even if a pressing force is applied to the operating portion 464 while the holding portion 412 is moving horizontally, the operating portion 464 collides with the support surface 422a of the support member 420, so that the switch mechanism 410 cannot be operated. Further, if the operating portion 464 is pressed while the holding portion 412 is at the origin position of the horizontal movement range, the ridge portion 464a of the operating portion 464 is moved vertically above the switch mechanism 410 by the opening 424 of the support member 420. It is accurately guided to (Fig. 63 (b)). During this time, even if the operating portion 462 is unknowingly loaded with the horizontal component force, the operating portion 464 collides with the support member 420 within the opening 424, so that the holding portion 412 does not move in the horizontal direction. Therefore, according to this configuration, the switch operation position when performing a click operation or the like can be specified only at the origin position of the horizontal movement range of the holding unit 412, and an unintended input of analog data such as cursor movement data is input during the switch operation. It can be definitely avoided.
Further, in the above-mentioned pointing device 460 having the operating portion 464 integrally molded with the elastic portion 414, the operating portion 464 is equipped with a key top 470 independent of the elastic portion 414 as shown as another modification in FIG. can do. In this case, the operating portion 464 integrally molds only the region near the ridge portion 464a connected to the elastic portion 414 with the elastic portion 414, and the integrally molded portion is on the operation surface 452 side of the elastic portion 414. , It can be configured by fixing the key top 470 (Fig. 65 (a)). The key top 470 is formed with a pressing operation surface 472 for vertically pressing the operating portion 464 on its axial end surface close to the operating surface 452.
According to this configuration, by equipping the key top 470 made of a material different from the elastic portion 414, the visibility and pressing operability of the operating portion 464 and the design of the operating portion 462 as a whole can be improved. it can. In particular, as shown in the figure, a pressing pin 474 is projected from the center of the other end surface in the axial direction of the key top 470, and the pressing pin 474 is inserted into a through hole 464b provided in the center of the integrally molded portion of the operating portion 464. Therefore, it is preferable that the tip thereof protrudes from the operating portion 464 toward the switch mechanism 410. According to this configuration, the switch mechanism 410 can be operated accurately by the pressing pin 474 of the key top 470 formed of a material harder than the elastic portion 414.
Further, if it is permissible to increase the size of the operation unit 462, as shown in FIG. 65 (b), a key top 478 having a pressing operation surface 476 having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the magnet 406 is used as the operating unit 464. Can also be equipped on. With this configuration, the visibility and pressing operability of the operating unit 464 can be further improved.
66 and 67 show a pointing device 480 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, which has an actuating portion dedicated to a pressing operation. Since the pointing device 480 has substantially the same configuration as the pointing device 400 according to the sixth embodiment described above except for the configuration of the operation unit, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. To do.
The pointing device 480 is located in the vicinity of the base 402, the operation unit 482 supported on the base 402 so as to be displaced in any horizontal direction with respect to the base 402, the magnet 484 installed on the operation unit 482, and the magnet 484. It includes a plurality of magnetron conversion elements 408 installed on the base 402, and a switch mechanism 410 arranged between the base 402 and the operation unit 482. The base portion 402 substantially shields and supports the circuit board 418 on which electronic components such as a CPU (not shown) are mounted, the support member 420 fixedly connected to the circuit board 418, and the outer edge region 420a of the support member 420. It includes a cover member 428 that is fixedly connected to the member 420. The switch mechanism 410 is mounted on the circuit board 418 at a position deviated from the central axis P of the pointing device 480, and the support member 420 has an opening 424 at a position corresponding to the switch mechanism 410.
The operation unit 482 is formed from a holding unit 486 that holds the magnet 484 and is supported so as to be horizontally movable on the base portion 402, an elastic portion 488 that returns the holding unit 486 to the origin position in the horizontal movement range, and a holding unit 486. Independently, on the base 402, an actuating portion 490 arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction is provided. The holding portion 486 is a plate-shaped member having an accommodating groove 492 in the center, and an opening 494 having a size corresponding to the opening 424 of the support member 420 is formed at a position close to the accommodating groove 492. The opening 494 of the holding portion 486 is aligned and superposed on the opening 424 of the support member 420 when the holding portion 486 is at the origin position of the horizontal movement range on the base 402. The holding portion 486 is attached to the elastic portion 488 by fixedly accommodating the disc-shaped magnet 484 in the accommodating groove 492. The holding portion 486 can move in parallel while sliding 360 ° in all directions on the support surface 422a with its axial end surface uniformly in contact with the support surface 422a of the support member 420.
The elastic portion 488 has a main portion 496 extending around the holding portion 486 via a gap, a first connecting portion 498 connected to the holding portion 486 at one end of the main portion 496, and the other end of the main portion 496. It integrally has a second connecting portion 500 that is connected to the base 402. The main portion 496 of the elastic portion 488 is elastically deformed as the holding portion 486 moves horizontally on the base 402, and the elastic force corresponding to the amount of deformation is uniform regardless of the horizontal moving direction of the holding portion 486. Demonstrate in. The first connecting portion 498 of the elastic portion 488 is formed with an operation surface 502 that, for example, contacts the fingertips of the hand when the operator moves the operation portion 482. Further, the first connecting portion 498 has a cylindrical receiving hole 504 at a position corresponding to the opening 494 of the holding portion 486.
The operating portion 490 is integrally connected to the first connecting portion 498 of the elastic portion 488 at a protruding edge portion 490a extending radially outward at one end in the axial direction (lower end in the figure), and is integrally connected to the first connecting portion 498 of the elastic portion 488 to receive the receiving hole 504. It is housed inside. At the other end of the operating portion 490 in the axial direction, a pressing operation surface 506 is formed so that, for example, the fingertips of the hand are brought into contact with the operating portion 490 when the operator presses the operating portion 490. Further, on one end surface (lower end surface in the figure) in the axial direction of the operating portion 490, a locally raised pressing point 508 is formed in the center thereof. With the operating unit 482 properly assembled to the base 402, the operating unit 490 abuts its pressing point 508 against the switch mechanism 410 arranged in the opening 424 of the support member 420 and is vertically within the operating unit 482. It is supported by the switch mechanism 410 so that it can move in the direction.
The pointing device 480 having the above configuration, in the same manner as the pointing device 460 described above, applies an operating force in a substantially horizontal direction to the operating unit 482 to move the holding unit 486 on the base 402 in the moving direction and movement. You can enter analog information corresponding to the distance. Further, at the origin position shown in FIG. 67, the operator presses the pressing operation surface 506 of the operating portion 490 of the operating unit 482 with, for example, a fingertip, and presses the pressing point 508 of the operating unit 490 against the switch mechanism 410 to press the switch mechanism 410. Can be activated. At this time, since the vertical movement of the holding portion 486 with respect to the base portion 402 is reliably prevented, an appropriate click operation can be performed extremely easily, for example, in relation to the pointer on the display of the device to be mounted. In particular, in the pointing device 480, since the operating portion 490 is arranged at a position deviated from the central axis P, there is an advantage that a simple disk-shaped magnet 484 can be used. Further, since a plurality of switch mechanisms 410 can be mounted on the circuit board 418 and a plurality of operating units 490 corresponding to the switch mechanisms 410 can be provided on the operation unit 482, various functions can be added to the pointing device 480. can do.
In the pointing device according to the various embodiments described above having a click function, an unintended input of analog data is performed when the switch is pressed due to structural measures such as providing a guide portion that enables accurate vertical movement operation of the operation unit. It can be avoided. However, instead of or supplementarily added to such a guidance structure, it is possible to avoid an unintended input of analog data when the switch is pressed by devising a signal processing device output from the pointing device. FIG. 68 shows a signal processing method according to the related technique of the present invention in which such a device is applied.
For example, in the pointing device 400 according to the sixth embodiment described above, when the operating unit 416 is pressed to operate the switch mechanism 410, the CPU mounted on the circuit board 418 uses the on signal received from the switch mechanism 410 as a click signal. It processes and outputs it to the processing mechanism of the data processing device equipped with the pointing device 400. Here, as shown in FIG. 68, while the switch mechanism 410 is in the ON state, the signal processing program is set so that the CPU does not output the cursor movement data signal even if the holding unit 412 moves horizontally. .. As a result, it is possible to avoid unintended analog data input when the switch is pressed.
Further, in the pointing device 400, the cursor movement data signal may be output when the holding unit 412 unconsciously moves horizontally even after the pressing operation of the operating unit 416 is released. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 68, even if the holding unit 412 moves horizontally for a predetermined time T after the switch mechanism 410 is turned off, the CPU does not output the cursor movement data signal. It is advantageous to set up a signal processing program. As a result, it is possible to avoid unintended analog data input even after the switch pressing operation is released. The time T in this configuration can be set in various ways in consideration of the operability of the pointing device. For example, the time can be set so that the pointer can be easily held at a fixed position on the display screen during the double-click operation often used in a personal computer or the like.
Although some suitable embodiments for the main purpose of reducing the height and improving the operability have been described above, various embodiments other than the illustrated configuration can be adopted in these embodiments as well. For example, the characteristic configuration of the low-profile pointing device according to the present invention is that the positional relationship between the magnet and the plurality of magnetron conversion elements is opposite to that of the illustrated embodiment, that is, the operation unit with respect to the magnet installed at the base. It can be effectively adopted even in a pointing device in which the magnetron conversion element installed in the above is configured to be displaced, and similarly, it has a special effect. Further, the above-mentioned method for manufacturing a circuit board with a connector can be applied to the various low-profile pointing devices described above. Further, the output signal processing method of the pointing device described above is not limited to the application to the magnetron conversion element type pointing device according to the illustrated embodiment, and can be applied to other pointing devices having various analog data input structures.
The present invention can be applied to various portable information devices that can be operated by hand, such as electronic organizers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones.
<figref num="1">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by the related technique of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is an assembly perspective view of the pointing device of FIG.</figref><figref num="3">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device along the lines III-III of FIG. 2 shows the state where the operation unit is in the origin position.</figref><figref num="4">The vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 shows a state in which the operation unit is horizontally moved.</figref><figref num="5">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by the related technique of this invention.</figref><figref num="6">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 5 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="7">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to 1st Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="8">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 7 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="9">The vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 8 shows a state in which the operation unit is pressed.</figref><figref num="10">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="11">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 10 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="12">The vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 shows a state in which the operation unit is pressed.</figref><figref num="13">It is a vertical cross-sectional exploded view of a pointing device by a modification.</figref><figref num="14">It is a vertical cross-sectional exploded view of a pointing device by another modification.</figref><figref num="15">It is a vertical cross-sectional exploded view of the pointing device by still another modification.</figref><figref num="16">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by still another modification.</figref><figref num="17">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 16 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="18">A vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 17 shows a state in which the operation unit is horizontally moved.</figref><figref num="19">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by still another modification.</figref><figref num="20">A vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 19 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="21">It is an assembly perspective view which shows the pointing device according to 3rd Embodiment of this invention in the state of being mounted on the mounting board.</figref><figref num="22">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device of FIG.</figref><figref num="23">It is a top view of the circuit board with a connector in the pointing device of FIG.</figref><figref num="24">It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of the circuit board of FIG. 23, and is the top view of the circuit board at the stage before attaching a connector.</figref><figref num="25">FIG. 24 is a (a) partially enlarged cross-sectional view and (b) partially enlarged plan view of the circuit board of FIG. 24.</figref><figref num="26">It is sectional drawing of the circuit board along the line XXVI-XXVI of FIG.</figref><figref num="27">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by the related technique of this invention.</figref><figref num="28">It is an assembly perspective view of the pointing device of FIG. 27.</figref><figref num="29">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device along the line XXIX-XXIX of FIG. 28 shows the state where the operation unit is in the origin position.</figref><figref num="30">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by the related technique of this invention.</figref><figref num="31">It is a perspective view of the support member in the pointing device of FIG.</figref><figref num="32">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 30 shows a state in which the operation unit is in the origin position.</figref><figref num="33">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device by the related technique of this invention.</figref><figref num="34">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 33 shows a state in which the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="35">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to 4th Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="36">It is a figure of the support member in the pointing device of FIG. 35, (a) the perspective view seen from the upper side, and (b) the perspective view seen from the lower side.</figref><figref num="37">It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 35, (a) a view shown along the line XXXVIIA-XXXVIIA of FIG. 36, and (b) a view shown along the line XXXVIIB-XXXVIIB of FIG.</figref><figref num="38">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to the 5th Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="39">It is a figure of the support member in the pointing device of FIG. 38, (a) the perspective view seen from the upper side, and (b) the perspective view seen from the lower side.</figref><figref num="40">It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 38, (a) a view shown along the line XXXXA-XXXXA of FIG. 41, and (b) a view shown along the line XXXXB-XXXXB of FIG. 41.</figref><figref num="41">It is a bottom view of the support member in the modification of the pointing device of FIG. 38.</figref><figref num="42">(a) is a plan view of the support member in another modification of the pointing device of FIG. 38, and (b) is a plan view of the support member in still another modification.</figref><figref num="43">It is a top view of the support member in the modification of the pointing device of FIG. 38.</figref><figref num="44">It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device by the modification which provided the support member of FIG. 43.</figref><figref num="45">It is an exploded perspective view which shows the main component of the portable information apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention, (a) the figure seen from the top, and (b) the figure seen from the bottom.</figref><figref num="46">It is a vertical cross-sectional view at the time of assembling the main component of FIG. 45, and shows the state (a) before assembling the housing and (b) after assembling the housing.</figref><figref num="47">It is an exploded perspective view which shows the main component of the portable information apparatus by another embodiment of this invention, (a) the figure which looked at from the top, and (b) the figure which looked at from the bottom.</figref><figref num="48">It is a vertical sectional view at the time of assembling the main component of FIG. 47.</figref><figref num="49">It is an exploded perspective view which shows the main component of the portable information apparatus by still another Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="50">It is a perspective view which shows the state which the component of the pointing device is attached to the housing shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="51">It is the figure at the time of assembling the main component of FIG. 49, and is the vertical sectional view which shows along the line XXXXXI-XXXXXI of FIG.</figref><figref num="52">It is an enlarged perspective view of the modification of the housing shown in FIG. 49.</figref><figref num="53">It is an exploded perspective view which shows the main component of the portable information apparatus by still another Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="54">It is a perspective view at the time of assembling the main component of FIG. 53.</figref><figref num="55">It is a view at the time of assembling the main component of FIG. 53, and is a vertical sectional view shown along the line XXXXXV-XXXXXV of FIG. 54.</figref><figref num="56">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to the 6th Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="57">It is an assembly perspective view of the pointing device of FIG. 56.</figref><figref num="58">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device along the line XXXXXVIII-XXXXXVIII of FIG. 57 shows the state where the operation unit is at the origin position.</figref><figref num="59">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 56 shows the states during (a) horizontal movement operation and (b) pressing operation.</figref><figref num="60">It is an exploded perspective view of the pointing device according to the 7th Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="61">It is an assembly perspective view of the pointing device of FIG. 60.</figref><figref num="62">The vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 60 shows the states at the time of (a) horizontal movement operation and (b) pressing operation.</figref><figref num="63">The vertical cross-sectional view of the modified example of the pointing device of FIG. 60 shows the states at the time of (a) horizontal movement operation and (b) pressing operation.</figref><figref num="64">It is an exploded perspective view of another modification of the pointing device of FIG. 60.</figref><figref num="65">(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified example of FIG. 64, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of another modified example.</figref><figref num="66">It is an assembly perspective view of the pointing device according to 8th Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="67">FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pointing device of FIG. 66 along the lines XXXXXXVII-XXXXXXVII.</figref><figref num="68">It is a diagram which shows the signal processing method by the related technique of this invention.</figref>
Code description
10, 60, 80, 100, 150, 190, 240, 260, 280, 310, 400, 460, 480 ... Pointing devices 12, 62, 82, 102, 192, 242, 262, 282, 312, 402. .. Base 14, 194, 404, 462, 482 ... Operation unit 16, 196, 406, 484 ... Magnet 18, 198, 408 ... Magnetron conversion element 20, 200, 412 ... Holding unit 22 , 202, 414, 488 ... Elastic parts 24, 204, 418 ... Circuit board 26, 64, 86, 206, 244, 286, 314, 420 ... Support members 28, 208, 422 ... Support Part 28a, 70, 88a, 114a, 208a, 288a, 316a, 422a ... Support surface 36, 216, 428 ... Cover member 50, 232, 444, 496 ... Main part 52, 234, 446, 498 ... 1st connection part 54, 236, 448, 500 ... 2nd connection part 58, 238, 452, 502 ... Operation surface 84, 284, 410 ... Switch mechanism 88, 288, 316 .. Elastic beam part 104 ... 1st support member 106 ... Elastic member 108 ... 2nd support member 122, 470, 478 ... Key top 128 ... Leaf spring 134 ... Coil spring 152. .. Connector 154 ... Insulation member 156 ... Terminal 158 ... Through hole 164, 166, 176 ... Solder 168 ... Mounting member 178 ... Land 180 ... Mounting area 182 ... Discard area 184 ... Boundary 416, 464, 490 ... Acting part
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office |
|---|---|---|
| JP10207616A | Cites | Japan |
| JP10055250A | Cites | Japan |
| JP04125723A | Cites | Japan |
| JP05204539A | Cites | Japan |
26 members in 2 offices
Priority claims7
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001012082 | Japan | A | |
| 2001012082 | Japan | A | |
| 2001012082 | Japan | – | |
| 2003435282 | Japan | A | |
| 2001200112082 | – | – | – |
| JP20010012082 | – | – | – |
| JP20030435282 | – | – | – |
Members26
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2002097224A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2002287891A | Japan | A | |
| JP2004118873A | Japan | A | |
| JP2004118874A | Japan | A | |
| JP2004118875A | Japan | A | |
| JP2004133953A | Japan | A | |
| JP2004171585A | Japan | A | |
| US6831629B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2005068134A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2005068135A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2005088411A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2005093822A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2005099391A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP3816076B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP2008033963A | Japan | A | |
| JP4121730B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP4121939B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP4121940B2This record | Japan | B2 | |
| JP4121941B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP4121942B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP4122045B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| US7489296B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US7502013B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US7502014B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US7595712B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US7633488B2 | United States of America | B2 |
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Numbers
- Publication
- 4121940
- Publication, DOCDB
- 4121940
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP4121940B
- Application
- 435282
- Application, DOCDB
- 2003435282
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20030435282
Titles2
- Japanese
- ポインティングデバイス及び携帯型情報機器
- English
- Pointing devices and portable information devices
Classification
- IPC, 2
- G06F3 033
- G06F3 0338