JP2003084864A - Portable operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve a problem that a holding feeling is hard to get from a conventional portable operation device, a finger or the like is easy to get tired in operating its enable switch or holding it for a long time, its housing is hard to always surely grasp and the enable switch is hard to operate. SOLUTION: This portable operation device 10 is provided with the housing 11, and plural operation switches 43a-43c mounted on the upper face 11a of the housing 11. A thumb support part 19 having a plate-like shape for hooking a left-hand thumb 61 is formed at a predetermined position of the housing 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable operating device, and more specifically, it is movably connected to a target system as a control target via a communication cable and displays the control state of the target system. The present invention relates to a portable operating device used when operating and controlling this target system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing a conventional portable operating device of this type, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. 4B is a side view. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the portable operating device and the entire control system including the portable operating device. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 41 is made of a synthetic resin material and is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a display 42 having a rectangular shape in a front view is disposed at the center of the housing upper surface 41a. Characters and images are displayed at 42. At a predetermined place on the display 42,
A touch panel (not shown) is formed in close contact with this,
A plurality of operation switches 43a are equipped at this predetermined location. A plurality of operation switches 43b and 43c are provided on both left and right sides of the display 42, and an enable switch 44a is provided at an end of the operation switch 43b. The display 42, the operation switches 43a to 43c, and the enable switch 44a are formed so as to be substantially flush with the housing upper surface 41a.

An emergency stop button 45 is provided in the vicinity of the right corner of the upper surface 41a of the housing, which is the upper surface 41a of the housing.
It is attached so as to project more than. On the other hand, the lower part 4
A recess 48 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed at a predetermined position on the left side of 1b, and the enable switch 44 is provided in the recess 48.
b (FIG. 4B) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, a CP is provided in the housing 41.
U (Central Processinng Unit), SRAM (Static R
AM), FEPROM (Flash Erasable and Programmabl
e ROM), DRAM (Dynamic RAM), VRAM (Video RA
M), a display controller (both not shown), and the like are provided with control means 46. This S
The RAM and FEPROM store a display control program, a communication program, a protocol conversion program, a ladder program, a ladder processing program, screen data, communication protocol data (both not shown), and based on these, portable operation The device 40 is adapted to operate. The control means 46 includes a display 42, operation switches 43a to 43c, and enable switches 44a and 44.
b, the emergency stop button 45, etc. are connected. These housing 41, display 42, operation switches 43a to 43
c, enable switches 44a and 44b, control means 46
The portable operation device 40 is configured to include the above.

As shown in FIG. 5, a portable operating device 40
Is connected to a control host computer 51 via a connector 47 and a communication cable 54a, and the control host computer 51 can control the entire control system 50. In addition, the portable operating device 40
Is a connector 47, a communication cable 54b, a PLC (Progra
mmable Logic Controller) 52 and a communication cable 54d, or via a connector 47 and a communication cable 54c to each device (not shown) of the target system 53 such as a food processing line. These communication cables 54a to 54c are a set of cables 54.
The length is set to a distance that allows the portable operation device 40 to move freely in the vicinity of the PLC 52 and / or the target system 53.
Further, when an abnormality occurs in the control system 50, an operator (not shown) can recognize it by displaying it on the display 42 and push the emergency stop button 42. A control system 50 is configured including the portable operation device 40, a control host computer 51, a PLC 52, a target system 53, and the like.

[0006] The portable operating device 40 having such a configuration
When using, the left palm 66 is first attached to the left side wall portion 41 of the housing.
c and a predetermined portion of the housing lower portion 41b. Then, the first finger of the left hand (thumb) is placed on the upper surface 41a of the housing, and the second to fifth fingers of the left hand (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger) 62 to 6
By inserting 5 into the recess 48 and grasping it, the portable operating device 40 is grasped by the left hand 60. Next left hand second to fifth
Grip your finger firmly and enable switch 44b in recess 48
When a predetermined operation switch 43a to 43c is input while pressing, a predetermined character and / or image data regarding a process, quality, cost, etc. is called and displayed on the display 42. After confirming the problematic part based on these data, the operator moves to a predetermined position in the target system 53 while pulling the cable 54 while holding the portable operating device 40 with the left hand 60. While confirming the operation of the target system 53, the recess 48
When a predetermined operation switch 43a to 43c is input while operating the enable switch 44b therein, new control support is sent and the target system 53 is controlled. When the enable switch 44b is momentarily strongly gripped due to an electric shock, the operation switches 43a to 43a-4
The operation of 3c cannot be accepted.

On the other hand, when the portable operation device 40 is used while it is placed on the desk, the operator uses, for example, the second finger 62 of the left hand.
While pressing the enable switch 44a with, the predetermined operation switches 43a to 43a are pressed by, for example, the second finger (not shown) of the right hand.
Input c. When an abnormality occurs in the control system 50, when the operator presses the emergency stop button 45, the operation of the entire target system 53 is stopped.

[0008]

In the portable operation device 40 described above, as described above, in order to prevent malfunction, the predetermined operation switches 43a to 43c are pressed while pressing either of the enable switches 44a and 44b. It is possible to operate by doing. While there are few problems when it is operated by placing it on a desk, it is difficult to hold the portable operation device 40 with the left hand 60 while pressing the enable switch 44b, except when the operation switch 43b can be pressed simultaneously. was there.

Further, in order to make it easy to carry, the shape and size of the casing 41 are set to be compact as a whole to the limit, and the operation switch 43b and the enable switch 44a are set.
Is disposed close to the left side wall portion 41c. As a result, the left-hand first finger 61 is brought close to the left-side wall portion 41c, and the left-hand first finger side surface 61a presses the housing upper surface 41a in the E direction. In such a gripping posture, the housing upper surface 41a
The first finger 61 is liable to slip in the direction of the arrow H in the figure, it is difficult to obtain a firm hold feeling, and tired easily. When the enable switch 44b is further operated, the first finger 6
The burden on 1 increases. As a result, the first finger 61 is D
There was a risk that the portable operating device 40 would fall because it could not withstand the rotational force in the direction and slipped in the H direction to come off the housing upper surface 41a.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to obtain a firm hold feeling and to reduce the occurrence of finger fatigue even when the enable switch is operated or the grip is held for a long time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable operation device that can always be surely gripped and can easily operate a switch.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects Thereof In order to achieve the above object, a portable operating device (1) according to the present invention comprises:
In a portable operation device including a casing and a plurality of switches provided on a main surface of the casing, a plate-shaped thumb support portion for catching a thumb is formed at a predetermined position of the casing. It is characterized by that. According to the portable operation device (1) described above, it is possible to press the housing while hooking the thumb on the thumb support portion, and as a result, the thumb is firmly attached to the upper surface of the housing without being removed. You can get the hold feeling. Further, even when the enable switch is operated or the case is held for a long time, the occurrence of hand fatigue can be reduced and the case can be reliably held at the same time, and at the same time, the enable switch can be operated. It can be easy.

Further, the portable operating device (2) according to the present invention
Is characterized in that, in the portable operation device (1), the thumb contact surface of the thumb support portion is formed in a shape along the thumb. According to the portable operation device (2) described above, since the thumb support portion has a shape along the thumb, fatigue and pain are less likely to occur in the thumb even when it is held for a long time. can do.

The portable operating device (3) according to the present invention
Is characterized in that, in the portable operation device (1) or (2), the thumb support portion is formed substantially at a position where the thumb comes into contact when the housing is held by one hand. There is. According to the portable operation device (3) described above,
Since the pressing force of the thumb can be ergonomically applied to the upper surface of the housing via the thumb support, the housing can be efficiently gripped with less force.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a portable operating device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that components having the same functions as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals. 1A and 1B are schematic views showing a portable operation device according to an embodiment (1), where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view. The housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by using a synthetic resin material or the like, as in the case shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A thumb support portion 19 is formed integrally with the housing 11 at a predetermined position near the left side wall portion 11c on the top surface 11a of the housing. The thumb support portion 19 has a width W, a length L, and a height. It is formed in a substantially plate shape of t. Since the other configurations are substantially the same as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, detailed description of the configurations will be omitted here. The portable operation device 10 according to the embodiment (1) is configured to include the housing 11, the thumb support 19, and the like. A control system is configured to include the portable operation device 10 and the like.

The portable operating device 10 thus constructed
When using, the left palm 66 is first placed on the left side wall 11 of the housing.
c and a predetermined portion of the housing lower portion 11b. Then, the left hand first finger side surface 61a is hooked on the thumb support portion 19 and pressed in the directions of arrows E and H in the figure, and the left hand second to fifth fingers 6 are
The portable operating device 10 is supported by the left hand 60 by inserting 2 to 65 into the recess 48 and grasping the portable operating device 10.

As is apparent from the above description, in the portable operation device 10 according to the embodiment (1), the thumb support portion 19 is provided.
It is possible to strongly press the housing 11 in the E and H directions with the left hand 61 while hooking the first finger 61 on the
The pressing force E of the finger 61 can be reliably applied to the upper surface 11a of the housing 11 and can be applied in the H direction opposite to the rotation direction D of the housing 11 (FIG. 4B), and the efficiency can be reduced with a small force. The housing 11 can be grasped well, and a firm hold feeling can be obtained. Also, enable switch 4
Even when 4b is operated or the case 11 is held for a long time, the occurrence of hand fatigue can be reduced and the case 11 can be reliably held at all times, and at the same time, the operation switch 43
a to 43c can be easily operated.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the portable operating device according to the embodiment (2).
Indicates the housing. Similar to that shown in FIG. 1, it is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape using a synthetic resin material. At a predetermined location near the left side wall portion 21c on the top surface 21a of the housing,
A substantially plate-shaped thumb support portion 29 having a width W, a length L, and a height t is integrally formed with the housing 21, and the main surface 29a of the thumb support portion 29 has a left-hand first finger. The concave shape is set so as to extend along the side surface 61a of 61. Since other configurations are similar to those shown in FIG. 1, detailed description of the configuration will be omitted here. These housings 2
1, the portable operation device 20 according to the embodiment (2) is configured to include the thumb support portion 29 and the like.

The portable operating device 20 constructed in this way
When using, the left palm 66 (FIG. 1) is first applied to a predetermined location such as the housing left side wall 21c, and the second to fifth fingers 62 to 65 of the left hand 60 are inserted into the recess 48 (both FIG. 1). And support. Next, after the side surface 61a of the first finger 61 of the left hand is made to follow the main surface 29a of the thumb support portion 29, a pressing force P is applied to the main surface 29a side. Then, the pressing force P becomes a component force in the E and H directions, interacts with the supporting force of the left palm 66, and the portable operating device 20 is gripped by the left hand 60.

As is apparent from the above description, the portable operation device 20 according to the embodiment (2) can obtain substantially the same effects as those shown in FIG.

In the portable operation device 20 according to the embodiment (2), the case where the thumb support portion 29 is formed integrally with the housing 21 using a synthetic resin material has been described. In another embodiment, the thumb support is made of an elastic member such as hard rubber and is formed separately from the housing 21, and is fixed to the housing upper surface 21a by using an adhesive or the like. It may be a thing. In this case, the housing 21
Even if the object collides with an obstacle or the like, the possibility that the thumb support portion will be damaged is reduced.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a main part of the portable operating device according to the embodiment (3), in which 31 is a casing. Similar to that shown in FIG. 1, the housing 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape using a synthetic resin material or the like. A plate-shaped thumb support portion 39 having a length L and a height t is disposed at a predetermined position near the left side wall portion (not shown) on the top surface 31a of the housing.
9 is formed using an elastic member such as hard rubber. The main surface 39a of the thumb support portion 39 is set to have a concave shape substantially similar to that shown in FIG. A protrusion 39b is formed on the lower portion of the thumb support 39, and a plurality of locking portions 39c into which the protrusion 39b is inserted are formed on the upper portion of the housing 31. Since other configurations are similar to those shown in FIG. 1, detailed description of the configuration will be omitted here. The portable operation device 30 according to the embodiment (3) is configured to include the housing 31, the thumb support 39, and the like.

The portable operating device 30 having the above structure
When assembling, the locking portion 31b is selected at a position suitable for the size of the hand (not shown), and the projection 39b of the thumb support portion 39 is screwed and locked in the locking portion 31b. Then, the thumb support portion 39 is rotated and adjusted to a position where the angle between the first finger (not shown) and the main surface 39a matches.

As is apparent from the above description, in the portable operation device 30 according to the embodiment (3), it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as that shown in FIG. Since it is adapted to the position and direction of the one finger, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of fatigue and pain in the first finger, and it is possible to facilitate reliable gripping.

In the portable operating device 30 according to the embodiment (3), the projection 39b of the thumb support 39 is attached to the housing 3.
Although the case of screwing and locking in the locking portion 31b of No. 1 has been described, the locking mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, a screw is used to lock the thumb support portion to the housing in a detachable manner. You may.

In each of the portable operation devices 10 to 30 according to the embodiments (1) to (3), the case where the control host computer 51 is connected has been described, but in another embodiment. , Control host computer 5
1 does not have to be connected.

In addition, in each of the portable operation devices 10 to 30 according to the embodiments (1) to (3), the case where no hand strap is provided has been described, but in another embodiment, the casing is used. A hand strap for inserting a hand may be provided on the left side wall portion of each of 11 to 31.

In each of the portable operation devices 10 to 30 according to the embodiments (1) to (3), the case where the operator holds the left hand 60 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined portions may be left-right opposite so that they can be gripped by the right hand.

Further, in the portable operation devices 10 to 30 according to the embodiments (1) to (3), the description has been made of the case where the target system 53 is applied to the food processing line. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, but in another embodiment, it can be applied to a manufacturing line such as a chemical plant, an automatic assembly line, a press working line, or a distribution service system such as transportation or sales.

In each of the portable operating devices 10 to 30 according to the embodiments (1) to (3), the case where one portable operating device 10 to 30 is connected to the target system 53 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
A plurality of 0 to 30 may be connected, or the target system 53 may be connected to the portable operation devices 10 to 30 and the installed operation / display device in a mixed manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are schematic views showing an embodiment (1) of a portable operating device according to the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view and (b) is a plan view.
Is a side view.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the portable operation device according to the embodiment (2).

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the portable operating device according to the embodiment (3).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional portable operating device,
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional portable operation device and an entire control system including the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Portable operating device 11 housing 11a upper surface 19 Thumb support 43a-43c operation switch 61 first finger

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable operating device comprising a housing and a plurality of switches provided on a main surface of the housing, wherein a plate-shaped thumb support portion for hooking a thumb on a predetermined portion of the housing. A portable operating device, characterized by being formed with. 2. The portable operation device according to claim 1, wherein a thumb contact surface of the thumb support portion is formed in a shape along the thumb. 3. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the thumb support portion is formed at a position where the thumb substantially comes into contact when the case is held with one hand. Mold operation device.