Multidirectional controller and multidirectional controlling device using the same

• US 6,181,323 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsui, Hiroshi, Ishihara, Yukihiro, Shigemoto, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAMANI, ALI A
• Application Number:
  US09/010,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/154, 345/159, 345/157
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part

Abstract

A multidirectional controller includes: a substrate having a first end portion and a second end portion, which sways via a supporting point provided at the first end portion; an electronic part provided at the second end portion, which includes a control portion which is manipulated in a predetermined direction in which the electronic part causes the substrate to sway when the electronic part is manipulated; a supporting member for supporting the substrate; and a switch provided so as to be switched in response to the sway of the substrate, when the electronic part is manipulated in the predetermined direction.

Claims

1. A multidirectional controller, comprising:

a substrate having a first end portion and a second end portion, which sways without bending via a supporting point provided at the first end portion;

an electronic part attached at the second end portion, which includes a control portion which is manipulated in a predetermined direction wherein the electronic part causes the substrate to sway without bending when the electronic part is manipulated;

a supporting member for supporting the substrate; and

a switch provided so as to be switched in response to the sway of the substrate, when the electronic part is manipulated in the predetermined direction.

2. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a thin portion which functions as the supporting point.

3. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and the supporting member are integrally formed by a resin molding.

4. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the substrate comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and the switch is provided on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate;

the supporting member includes opposing supporting portions which are provided so as to sandwich the surfaces of the substrate therebetween; and

at least one of the opposing supporting portions has a pressing portion for pressing the switch in response to the sway of the substrate in a direction toward at least one of the surfaces of the substrate.

5. A multidirectional controller according to claim 4, wherein the substrate includes an insulative flexible substrate portion and the flexible substrate portion is provided with a line pattern, and wherein the flexible substrate portion is adhered to at least one of the surfaces of the substrate.

6. A multidirectional controller according to claim 5, wherein:

the line pattern includes an electric signal lead portion for leading electric signals from the electronic part and outputting electric signals from the switch to elements which are outside of the multidirectional controller; and

the electric signal lead portion is provided at a position extending in sideways from the top surface or bottom surface of the substrate.

7. A multidirectional controller according to claim 5, wherein the electronic part and the switch are provided on the line pattern.

8. A multidirectional controller according to claim 5, wherein:

the control portion has a movable contact portion which makes contact with a first securing contact portion which is provided on the flexible substrate; and

the switch includes a movable dome-like contact portion made from an deformable metal thin plate on a second securing contact portion which is provided on the flexible substrate portion.

9. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the substrate includes a pressing portion for pressing the switch; and

the pressing portion is on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate.

10. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, further comprising a joint between the substrate and the supporting member, wherein at least a part of the joint functions as the supporting point.

11. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member has an opening for inserting the substrate into the supporting member and wherein a portion where the opening and the substrate make contact with each other functions as the supporting point.

12. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a sway shaft and the supporting member supports the substrate such that the substrate is swayable substantially about the sway shaft.

13. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein:

the switch is provided on at least one of a position lower than the top surface of the substrate and a position higher than the bottom surface of the substrate;

the substrate includes a pressing portion for pressing the switch; and

the pressing portion is provided at a different level from a level of the substrate and is provided at a position extending sideways from the substrate.

14. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is an insulative substrate and the substrate includes a line pattern.

15. A multidirectional controller according to claim 14, wherein:

a first securing contact portion is formed on the line pattern;

the supporting member includes an elastic contact portion which deformably makes contact with the first securing contact portion; and

the elastic contact portion transmits electric signals from the electronic part and electric signals from the switch to elements which are outside of the multidirectional controller.

16. A multidirectional controller according to claim 14, wherein:

the switch includes a movable dome-like contact portion which is made from a deformable metal thin plate;

a first securing contact portion is formed on the line pattern; and

the movable dome-like contact portion is on the first securing contact portion.

17. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the electronic part includes a rotation-type or a sliding-type encoder.

18. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the electronic part includes a rotation-type or a sliding-type switch.

19. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the electronic part includes a click adjustment at a predetermined position.

20. A multidirectional controller according to claim 1, wherein the control portion further comprises a switch which is switched when the control portion is pressed toward the supporting point.

21. A multidirectional controlling device including a multidirectional controller, the multidirectional controller comprising:

a substrate having a first end portion and a second end portion, which sways without bending via a supporting point provided at the first end portion;

an electronic part attached at the second end portion, which includes a control portion which is manipulated in a predetermined direction wherein the electronic part causes the substrate to sway without bending when the electronic part is manipulated;

a supporting member for supporting the substrate; and

a switch provided so as to be switched in response to the sway of the substrate, when the electronic part is manipulated in the predetermined direction,

wherein the multidirectional controller is mounted in a main body of the multidirectional controlling device such that a part of the control portion projects out from the main body.

22. A multidirectional controlling device according to claim 21, wherein a predetermined operation is executed or halted by manipulating the control portion in a predetermined direction.