VIBRATION-MECHANISM-EQUIPPED INPUT DEVICE

• US 20180299959A1
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: KATO, Kazunari
• Granted Patent: US 10,437,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A vibration-mechanism-equipped input device includes a manipulation part on which the manipulator can perform an input manipulation, one end of a bracket being attached to the manipulation part, a vibration generating part that generates vibration to be transmitted to the manipulation part, and a controller that controls the operation of the vibration generating part. The vibration generating part is attached to another end of the bracket, the position of the other end being offset from the one end of the bracket.

Claims

1. A vibration-mechanism-equipped input device comprising:

a manipulation part on which a manipulator can perform an input manipulation, one end of a bracket being attached to the manipulation part;

a vibration generating part that generates vibration to be transmitted to the manipulation part; and

a controller that controls an operation of the vibration generating part;

wherein the vibration generating part is attached to another end of the bracket, a position of the another end being offset from the one end of the bracket.

2. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the vibration generating part is able to generate vibration at least in a direction deviating from a line that connects the one end and the another end of the bracket together; and

the manipulation part has a buffer part that eliminates a vibration component in a direction along the line from vibration components generated by the vibration generating part.

3. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 2, further comprising a fixed part that is placed so as to cover at least part of a rear surface of the manipulation part;

wherein

the fixed part suspends the manipulation part in a free direction through a support part.

4. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 3, wherein the buffer part is composed of the support part.

5. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating part is placed so that a line passing through a center of gravity of the manipulation part and extending vertically passes through a center of vibration of the vibration generating part when viewed along a normal of a manipulation surface of the manipulation part.

6. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 1, wherein a line passing through a center of gravity of the manipulation part and extending vertically passes through a portion at the one end of the bracket, the portion being attached to the manipulation part, when viewed along a normal of a manipulation surface of the manipulation part.

7. The vibration-mechanism-equipped input device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating part vibrates in a direction along an in-plane direction of a manipulation surface of the manipulation part.