COMPOUND OPERATION INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090229963A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Inventors: YAMANAKA, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,968,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/525
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/525 using a return spring acting perpendicular to the actuating direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

A compound operation input device of the invention includes: a body; a switch being disposed in the body and including a contact in an arcuate cross-sectional shape; and a lever. The lever includes: a basal portion disposed on a vertex of the contact; and an operating portion being swingable in swing directions and being depressible toward the switch from a predetermined position on a swing path. The body includes an arcuate abutting portion. The lever has a protrusion being disposed above the abutting portion. The abutting portion has a recess at a position thereof corresponding to the predetermined position. When the lever makes a depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the protrusion abuts against the abutting portion. When the lever makes a depressing movement from the predetermined position, the protrusion is received in the recess such that the basal portion presses the vertex of the contact.

Claims

1. A compound operation input device comprising:

a body;

a press switch disposed in the body, the press switch including a first movable contact in a substantially arcuate cross-sectional shape;

an operating lever including

a basal portion, disposed on a vertex of the first movable contact of the press switch, and

an operating portion, projecting outward from the body, being swingable in two opposite swing directions relative to the vertex serving as a fulcrum, and being depressible toward the press switch from at least one predetermined position on a swing path of the operating lever; and

a movement detecting part, provided in the body to output a signal corresponding to a swing of the operating lever, wherein

the body includes a substantially arcuate abutting portion provided in a portion opposite the operating lever,

the operating lever includes a protrusion, the protrusion protruding in a direction substantially orthogonal to the swing directions and being disposed above the abutting portion,

the abutting portion of the body has at least one recess at a position thereof corresponding to the predetermined position,

when the operating lever makes a depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the protrusion abuts against the abutting portion, and

when the operating lever makes a depressing movement from the predetermined position, the protrusion is received in the recess of the abutting portion such that the basal portion presses the vertex of the first movable contact.

2. The compound operation input device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member, the basal portion of the operating lever being disposed on the pressing member instead of the press switch, wherein

the operating lever is adapted to make a depressing movement not toward the press switch but toward the pressing member,

upon depression of the pressing member by the basal portion in response to a depressing movement of the operating lever, the pressing member is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the depressing movement and to the swing directions, and

the press switch is disposed to oppose the pressing member with the vertex of the first movable contact pointing in an opposite direction to the moving direction of the pressing member.

3. The compound operation input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the press switch includes:

first, second and third stationary contacts, provided at the body;

the first movable contact, contacting the first stationary contact; and

a second movable contact in a substantially arcuate cross-sectional shape, disposed between the first movable contact and the body to be contactable with the second stationary contact, the second movable contact having a vertex at a position between the vertex of the first movable contact

and the third stationary contact, the operating lever is capable of making a first depressing movement, in which the basal portion presses the vertex of the first movable contact directly or through the intermediary of the pressing member, and a second depressing movement, in which the basal portion presses the vertices of the first and second movable contacts directly or through the intermediary of the pressing member,

when the vertex of the first movable contact is pressed as a result of the first depressing movement of the operating lever, the first movable contact is elastically deformed and the vertex of the first movable contact contacts the vertex of the second movable contact, and

when the vertices of the first and second movable contacts are pressed as a result of the second depressing movement of the operating lever, the first and second movable contacts are elastically deformed and the vertices of the first and second movable contacts contact the third stationary contact.

4. The compound operation input device according to claim 3, wherein

the protrusion and the abutting portion are separated by such a distance that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the protrusion does not abut against the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the protrusion abuts against the abutting portion.

5. The compound operation input device according to claim 3, the predetermined position comprising at least first and second predetermined positions, from which the operating lever is depressible, wherein

the recess comprises at least first and second recesses that are located corresponding to the first and second predetermined positions, respectively, in the abutting portion of the body,

the first recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the protrusion does not abut against a bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the protrusion abuts against the bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and

the second recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first and second depressing movements from the second predetermined position, the protrusion does not abut against a bottom of the second recess in the abutting portion during both of the movements.

6. The compound operation input device according to claim 4, the predetermined position comprising at least first and second predetermined positions, from which the operating lever is depressible, wherein

the recess comprises at least first and second recesses that are located corresponding to the first and second predetermined positions, respectively, in the abutting portion of the body,

the first recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the protrusion does not abut against a bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the protrusion abuts against the bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and

the second recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first and second depressing movements from the second predetermined position, the protrusion does not abut against a bottom of the second recess in the abutting portion during both of the movements.

13. The compound operation input device according to claim 2, wherein

at least one of the basal portion of the operating lever and the pressing member has a slope for moving the pressing member toward the press switch upon depression of the operating lever.

15. The compound operation input device according to claim 2, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable, and

when the first movable contact is released from pressure by the operating lever, the pressing member and the first movable contact are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.

17. The compound operation input device according to claim 3, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable,

when the first movable contact is released from pressure directly by the operating lever, the first movable contact is restorable so as to lift the operating lever, and

when the first and second movable contacts are released from pressure directly by the operating lever, the first and second movable contacts are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.

19. The compound operation input device according to claim 3, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable,

when the first movable contact is released from pressure through the intermediary of the pressing member, the pressing member and the first movable contact are restorable so as to lift the operating lever, and

when the first and second movable contacts are released from pressure through the intermediary of the pressing member, the pressing member and the first and second movable contacts are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.

7. A compound operation input device comprising:

a body;

a press switch disposed in the body, the press switch including a first movable contact in a substantially arcuate cross-sectional shape;

an operating lever including

a basal portion, disposed on a vertex of the first movable contact of the press switch, and

an operating portion, projecting outward from the body, being swingable in two opposite swing directions relative to the vertex serving as a fulcrum, and being depressible toward the press switch from at least one predetermined position on a swing path of the operating lever; and

a movement detecting part, disposed in the body to output a signal corresponding to a swing of the operating lever, wherein

the body includes an abutting portion in a substantially arcuate ledge shape, the abutting portion being arranged to face and project toward the operating lever,

the operating lever including a cutout, the cutout facing the body for receiving the abutting portion,

the abutting portion of the body having at least one recess at a position thereof corresponding to the predetermined position,

when the operating lever makes a depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, an upper lip of the cutout abuts against the abutting portion, and

when the operating lever makes a depressing movement from the predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout is received in the recess of the abutting portion in such a manner that the basal portion presses the vertex of the first movable contact.

8. The compound operation input device according to claim 7, further comprising a pressing member, the basal portion of the operating lever being disposed on the pressing member instead of the press switch, wherein

the operating lever is adapted to make a depressing movement not toward the press switch but toward the pressing member,

upon depression of the pressing member by the basal portion in response to a depressing movement of the operating lever, the pressing member is moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the depressing movement and to the swing directions, and

the press switch is disposed to oppose the pressing member with the vertex of the first movable contact pointing in an opposite direction to the moving direction of the pressing member.

9. The compound operation input device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein

the press switch includes:

first, second and third stationary contacts, provided in the body;

the first movable contact, contacting the first stationary contact; and

a second movable contact in a substantially arcuate cross-sectional shape, disposed between the first movable contact and the body to be contactable with the second stationary contact, the second movable contact having a vertex at a position between the vertex of the first movable contact and the third stationary contact,

the operating lever is capable of making a first depressing movement, in which the basal portion presses the vertex of the first movable contact directly or through the intermediary of the pressing member, and a second depressing movement, in which the basal portion presses the vertices of the first and second movable contacts directly or through the intermediary of the pressing member,

when the vertex of the first movable contact is pressed as a result of the first depressing movement of the operating lever, the first movable contact is elastically deformed and the vertex of the first movable contact contacts the vertex of the second movable contact, and

when the vertices of the first and second movable contacts are pressed as a result of the second depressing movement of the operating lever, the first and second movable contacts are elastically deformed and the vertices of the first and second movable contacts contact the third stationary contact.

10. The compound operation input device according to claim 9, wherein

the upper lip of the cutout and the abutting portion are separated by such a distance that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the upper lip does not abut against the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from a position other than the predetermined position, the upper lip abuts against the abutting portion.

11. The compound operation input device according to claim 9, the predetermined position comprising at least first and second predetermined positions, from which the operating lever is depressible, wherein

the recess comprises at least first and second recesses that are located corresponding to the first and second predetermined positions, respectively, in the abutting portion of the body,

the first recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout does not abut against a bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout abuts against the bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and

the second recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first and second depressing movements from the second predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout does not abut against a bottom of the second recess in the abutting portion during both of the movements.

12. The compound operation input device according to claim 10, the predetermined position comprising at least first and second predetermined positions, from which the operating lever is depressible, wherein

the recess comprises at least first and second recesses that are located corresponding to the first and second predetermined positions, respectively, in the abutting portion of the body,

the first recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout does not abut against a bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and that when the operating lever makes the second depressing movement from the first predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout abuts against the bottom of the first recess in the abutting portion, and

the second recess has such a depth that, when the operating lever makes the first and second depressing movements from the second predetermined position, the upper lip of the cutout does not abut against a bottom of the second recess in the abutting portion during both of the movements.

14. The compound operation input device according to claim 8, wherein

at least one of the basal portion of the operating lever and the pressing member has a slope for moving the pressing member toward the press switch upon depression of the operating lever.

16. The compound operation input device according to claim 8, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable, and

when the first movable contact is released from pressure by the operating lever, the pressing member and the first movable contact are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.

18. The compound operation input device according to claim 9, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable,

when the first movable contact is released from pressure directly by the operating lever, the first movable contact is restorable so as to lift the operating lever, and

when the first and second movable contacts are released from pressure directly by the operating lever, the first and second movable contacts are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.

20. The compound operation input device according to claim 9, wherein

the pressing member is elastically deformable,

when the first movable contact is released from pressure through the intermediary of the pressing member, the pressing member and the first movable contact are restorable so as to lift the operating lever, and

when the first and second movable contacts are released from pressure through the intermediary of the pressing member, the pressing member and the first and second movable contacts are restorable so as to lift the operating lever.