Force sense imparting type input apparatus

• US 20040140950A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Onodera, Mikio
• Granted Patent: US 6,953,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04796 for rectilinear control along the axis of the controlling member

Abstract

A force sense imparting type input apparatus includes an exterior decoration plate having an opening, an operation lever supported by a stick controller positioned inside the exterior decoration plate in such a manner as to be capable of rocking, encoders for detecting a rocking amount and a rocking direction of the operation lever, motors for imparting desired external force to the operation lever, and a control unit for controlling driving of the motors on the basis of an output signal outputted from the encoders, wherein an operation knob is provided to an upper end of the operation lever protruding outward from the opening, and can be pushed or pulled in an axial direction of the operation lever with a neutral position of the operation knob as a reference, and the push-pull operation of the operation knob selectively operates first and second push switches.

Claims

1. A force sense imparting type input apparatus comprising:

an exterior decoration plate having an opening;

an operation lever having a support point thereof positioned inside said exterior decoration plate and so supported as to be capable of rocking;

detection means for detecting an operating condition of said operation lever;

an actuator for imparting external force to said operation lever; and

control means for controlling driving of said actuator on the basis of an output signal outputted from said detection means;

wherein an operation knob is provided to an end part of said operation lever protruding outward from said opening, a push-pull operation is allowed in an axial direction of said operation lever with a neutral position of said operation knob as a reference, and the push-pull operation of said operation knob selectively operates two switches.

2. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation knob includes a large diameter portion with said operation lever being a proximal end side, and a protuberance portion protruding from said large diameter portion.

3. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a constriction is defined at a part of said protuberance portion.

4. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a roughening surface treatment is applied to a ceiling surface of said protuberance portion.

5. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a roughening surface treatment is applied to a ceiling surface of said protuberance portion.

6. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said large diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.

7. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said large diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.

8. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said large diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.

9. A force sense imparting type input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two switches are push switches, said push switches are so arranged on said operation lever as to face each other, and a pusher is provided to said operation knob at a position between stems of said push switches.