Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090255353 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL INPUT APPARATUS - A multi-directional input apparatus includes a swinging member (first drive lever) having a through hole and an operating lever including a drive shaft which is inserted through the long hole. When the operating lever is tilted in a direction that crosses an axial direction of the swinging member, the swinging member is rotated by the drive shaft. A leaf spring is attached to the swinging member, and the drive shaft of the leaf spring is elastically biased against a side surface of an inner wall of the long hole. The leaf spring includes a bent portion which extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the swinging member and which is in elastic contact with the drive shaft. A hole at which the long hole is completely exposed is formed in the leaf spring. | 10-15-2009 |
20090273490 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL INPUT APPARATUS - A multi-directional input apparatus includes an operating member including a shaft portion which extends to the outside, a housing having an opening through which the shaft portion extends and configured to support the operating member in a tiltable manner, interlocking members moved by the operating member when the shaft portion is tilted, and detectors which detect changes in the positions of the interlocking members. A sliding member is externally fitted to the shaft portion such that the sliding member is movable in an axial direction, and a coil spring is disposed between a flange provided on the shaft portion and the sliding member. A rubbing surface of the sliding member is in elastic contact with a receiving surface on an inner wall of an annular edge portion surrounding the opening. The rubbing surface and the receiving surface are spherical surfaces centered on a tilting center of the shaft portion. | 11-05-2009 |
20110090069 | VARIABLE OPERATION SENSATION INPUT DEVICE - A variable operation sensation input device includes: an operation member slidable along a plane including first and second directions perpendicular to each other; a first driving member including a first engagement portion driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the first direction; a second driving member including a second engagement portion driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the second direction; a first motor connected to the first driving member via a first power transmission section; a second motor connected to the second driving member via a second power transmission section; a first detection section detecting a movement state of the operation member in the first direction; a second detection section detecting a movement state of the operation member in the second direction; and a control section controlling a driving of the motors on the basis of outputs of the first and second detection sections. | 04-21-2011 |
20120038495 | OPERATION FEELING IMPARTING TYPE TRACKBALL DEVICE - A trackball device includes a friction plate rockably supported having opening in which a top portion of the sphere is exposed, as a brake unit applying braking force (friction force) to the sphere, and an actuator capable of driving the friction plate to a lower side. When the friction plate is driven by the actuator, the circumference portion of the opening of the friction plate is pressed to be in contact with the sphere from an upper side. A supporting member rotatably holding the sphere includes a plurality of supporting small spheres contacts the sphere at a point and a base member in which the supporting small spheres is arranged to be dispersed in the circumferential direction. The base member rockably supports the friction plate. | 02-16-2012 |
20120080294 | FORCE-FEEDBACK MULTIDIRECTIONAL INPUT DEVICE - A force-feedback multidirectional input device includes a slider slidably supported by a support base and an operation knob joined to the slider. In a sliding operation, the slider operates in conjunction with actuating members included in a force-feedback unit. Therefore, a sense of force based on the sliding is fed back to the operation knob. Furthermore, the slider is elastically urged by coil springs toward an inner bottom surface of a housing space defined in the support base. In a depressing operation, the operation knob presses the support base downward against the urging force of coil springs. Therefore, a vertically movable member joined to the support base is moved downward along guide portions (convex rails and concave grooves). Thus, a push switch provided on a pedestal (circuit board) is pressed and activated by the vertically movable member. | 04-05-2012 |
20150084890 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes: an operation unit on which an input operation is performed by the contact or approach of an operating body with or to an upper surface thereof, and which is supported so as to be movable downward; an input detection unit that detects the input operation; a pressing detection unit detecting that the operation unit has been moved downward; a drive member that drives the operation unit in a vertical direction; and a case member that holds the drive member. The drive member is disposed at a central position of the operation unit in plan view, the drive member is a solenoid actuator including a plunger, an upper end portion of the plunger is disposed so as to come into contact with a lower surface of the operation unit, and the plunger is pressed down by the operation unit with a downward movement of the operation unit. | 03-26-2015 |
20150084898 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes: an operation portion allowing an input operation by an operating body contacting with or coming close to an upper surface thereof; an input detection portion detecting an input operation with respect to the operation portion; a driving member provided below the operation portion and driving the operation portion in an up-down direction; an elastic member provided below the operation portion; a case member holding the driving member; an interlocking member provided below the operation portion, connected to the operation portion, and driven with the operation portion; a restricting member provided between the operation portion and the interlocking member and restricting upward movement of the interlocking member; and an elastic first damper member provided below the interlocking member and contactable with the interlocking member. The elastic member elastically urges the interlocking member such that the interlocking member is brought into press contact with the first damper member. | 03-26-2015 |
20150357132 | INPUT APPARATUS WITH FORCE FEEDBACK - The input apparatus with force feedback includes an operating unit that includes an operating surface, a detecting unit that detects an operation performed on the operating surface, a drive member that drives the operating unit, an elastic member that elastically supports the operating unit, and a base unit that holds the drive member. The drive member includes a solenoid that vertically drives an actuator connected to the operating unit and a casing member that holds the solenoid and the actuator. The actuator vertically penetrates through the casing member. The actuator includes a first damping member able to be brought into contact with a lower surface of the operating unit and a second damping member disposed between a lower surface of the casing member and part of the actuator. The second damping member is brought into contact with the actuator and the casing member as the actuator is driven. | 12-10-2015 |