Haptic feedback input device

• US 20050230594A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Miyasaka, Yasuhiro, Oikawa, Tomohiro, Ogasawara, Satoru, Sato, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/105,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/652
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04 in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction

Abstract

There is provided a haptic feedback input device of which a manipulation section is not vertically tilted even when a vertical impact is applied to a vehicle body. As support means for supporting a coupled body 16 of a manipulation section 6 and a motor 8 to be tiltable only in the horizontal direction, a pair of tilt axes 19 protruded from the upper and lower portions of a front engine cover 12 and a pair of tongues 20, which are provided inside a rear case 4 and which has an axial bore 20A into which the tilt axis 19 is rotatably inserted, are provided.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback input device comprising:

a manipulation section which is tilted and rotated;

a motor which is coupled to the manipulation section to deliver rotary power to the manipulation section and is tilted in response to a tilt manipulation of the manipulation section;

support means for tiltably supporting a coupled body of the manipulation section and the motor;

detection means for detecting the tilt of the coupled body; and

restoration means for restoring the coupled body to a neutral position from a tilted position,

wherein the support means mounts the coupled body to a vehicle such that a rotation axis of the manipulation section is approximately horizontal, and supports the coupled body to be tiltable only in an approximately horizontal direction.

2. The haptic feedback input device according to claim 1, further comprising a case which houses the motor and the coupled body such that the manipulation section is protruded,

wherein a designed portion indicating a tiltable direction of the manipulation section is formed on a surface of the case from which the manipulation section is protruded.

3. The haptic feedback input device according to claim 2, wherein the designed portion is formed around the manipulation section and includes a recessed portion extending in the tiltable direction of the manipulation section.

4. The haptic feedback input device according to claim 2, wherein the designed portion includes a mark indicating the tiltable direction of the manipulation section.