Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Masato Yamasaki

Jun Sato

Takumi Nishimoto

Koji Ono

Tetsuya Fukuda

Takahiro Nishimura

Masayuki Ozaki

Masataka Nabeshima

A digital camera includes a CCD image sensor that produces a plurality of sets of image data by continuously capturing a subject, a controller that sets the priority for executing image processing on at least one of the plurality of sets of image data, and an image processor that subjects a plurality of sets of image data to image processing on the basis of the priority for executing image processing.

Imaging device for performing processing of image data on the basis of priority

A rotationally-operated electronic component in which a predetermined signal is obtained by rotating a roller-shaped operating dial, and a detent generating mechanism can easily be disposed even when the diameter of the operating dial is reduced. The rotationally-operated electronic component is configured in such a manner that the detent generating mechanism for the operating dial is stored within a recess formed on the left circular portion with coil spring being deflected, and with an urging force of coil spring, movable clicking member is brought into resilient contact with fixed clicking member on the outside thereof. Accordingly, even when the diameter of the operating dial is reduced, the detent generating mechanism can be disposed easily and the preferable detent feeling can be maintained for a long time.

Rotationally-operated electronic component

In a rotary encoder, a range of operable angle is divided into four large sections. A plurality of signal contact shoes come into contact with signal conductive portions in different combinations at individual positions within each of the large sections, and these states of contacting combinations repeat in each of the large sections. A plurality of common contact shoes correspond individually to four large sections, and each remains in contact with a common conductive portion continuously in the corresponding large section.

Rotary type encoder

A composite switch having a configuration in which: on the upper part of movable contacts of a first switch to a fourth switch disposed in a case, two driving bodies made of an inelastic insulating material such as polyamide are mounted in parallel to a swing center shaft; an upper surface of the case is covered with a cover having two long holes from which upper parts of the two driving bodies protrude; and the two driving bodies are pressed by an operation body, made of an inelastic insulating resin, which is swingably supported. With a composite switch having this configuration, an operation stroke is short and the generation of noise can be suppressed.

Composite switch

A multi operating electronic component includes a case, a rotary member, a cover member, an operating knob and a rotationally actuated component. In the central hole of the rotary member rotatably supported by the case, a center leg of the operating knob and an engaging portion provided around the leg are inserted in such a manner as to be movable vertically and tiltable. A pressing central switch or pressing peripheral switches provided in the case are operated by the operating knob. The rotationally actuated component is at least partly formed in the case and is rotated together with the rotary member by the operating knob.

Multi operating electronic component

A multidirectional operation switch includes an insulation case having a recess having a bottom, an outer fixed contact provided on the bottom, plural inner fixed contacts provided on the bottom, a conductive cover for covering the recess of the case, a movable contact made of resilient conductive plate in the recess of the case and having a dome shape including a concave surface, a convex surface opposite to the concave surface, and a peripheral edge, plural first terminals provided on the case and electrically connected to the outer fixed contact and the plurality of inner fixed contacts, respectively, and a second terminal for allowing the cover to be electrically connect the case to an outside of the switch. Each of the inner fixed contacts departs from a predetermined point on the bottom by a predetermined distance shorter than a distance between the predetermined point and the outer fixed contact. The cover has a hole formed therein over the predetermined point. The peripheral edge of the movable contact is mounted on the outer fixed contact. The concave surface faces the inner fixed contacts, and has a deepest point located over the predetermined point. The operation body includes an operation shaft inserted into the hole of the cover and electrically insulated from the cover, and a conductive flange bonded to the operation shaft. The flange is located between the cover and the convex surface of the movable contact and over the fixed contacts. This switch is small and thin.

Multidirectional operation switch

A surface mounted electronic component includes a case and a board mounting part. The board mounting part includes a leg bent in parallel with a printed circuit board at its tip, an outer frame soldered to a land of a mounted part on the board, and a projection disposed in the outer frame and inserted into a hole in the mounted part. The electronic component is mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board in various electronic instruments, and can keep to be mounted on the board tightly even when an external force is applied.

Surface mounting type electronic component

A switch mechanism, and a multidirectional operation switch and multidirectional operation unit employing this switch mechanism. The switch mechanism has a flexible contact, multiple fixed contacts, and multiple common contacts. Multiple fixed contacts are disposed facing the flexible contact, and include multiple first common contacts and multiple second common contacts for common electrical coupling, and multiple independent contacts which are electrically independent. These fixed contacts are aligned in a group of the first common contact, independent contact, second common contact, and independent contact. This group is disposed repeatedly in the clockwise or counterclockwise sequence. The flexible contact touches the first or second common contacts and one independent contact adjacent to the common contact for electrically coupling the common contact and independent contact.

Switch mechanism, multidirectional operation switch, and multidirectional operation unit

Multi-directional operating switch

A multi-directional operating switch comprises: a case made of resin having generally a square opening on top, provided on a bottom surface thereof with a central contact, an outer contact, and peripheral contacts disposed at each corner of the opening; a dome-like circular movable contact disposed within the opening in a manner to rest in contact with the outer contact; a manipulation body having a flange and a contact plate under the flange, placed above the dome-like circular movable contact; and a cover for covering the opening and having a shaft of the manipulation body penetrating therethrough. Switching operation is made between the central contact and the outer contact when the shaft is depressed, and between any adjacent pair of the peripheral contacts, as the dome-like circular movable contact is being deformed, when the shaft is tilted.

Growing community of inventors

Okayama, Japan

Masato Yamasaki