Multi-contact input device

• US 20060060455A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
• Inventors: Saomoto, Takuhiko, Mimata, Yoshihisa, Mimata, Satoko
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/48.A
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04796 for rectilinear control along the axis of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/046 having a spherical bearing between operating member and housing or bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/048 having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/002 Longer travel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/02 After travel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/064 Limitation of actuating pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/002 Linear coil spring combined with dome spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to protect a central switch of a multi-contact input device to input various kinds of signals by a pressing operation of an operating member to operate the central switch, and by an inclining operation of the operating member to operate a plurality of peripheral switches provided in the periphery of the central switch. A push rod 32 is projected from a body 31 of an operating member 30 toward a pressing side, and the push rod 32 can be moved in an axis direction with respect to the body 31. The push rod 32 is forced toward the projection side by a spring 33 incorporated in the body 31 with the push rod 32. The force is set such that it is stronger than force required to operate a central switch 51 and that the central switch is not damaged.

Claims

1. A multi-contact input device comprising:

a cover;

a body in which the cover is mounted, a central switch is provided on a bottom plate, and a plurality of peripheral switches are provided around it;

a drive unit provided so that it can be inclined to the periphery in a space between the cover and the body to operate the plurality of peripheral switches; and

an operating member which penetrates the drive unit in an axis direction and is elastically held in a neutral position, and inclines the drive unit when inclined to the periphery against the holding force or operates a central switch by a pressing operation thereof in the axis direction,

characterized in that the operating member has a push rod which projects from a main body of the operating member to a pressing side and can be moved in the axis direction with respect to the main body of the operating member to operate the central switch, and a spring which is incorporated in the main body of the operating member with the push rod and forces the push rod toward a pressing side with force which is stronger than force required to operate the central switch and does not damage the central switch.

2. The multi-contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is separated from the operating member.

3. The multi-contact input device according to claim 2, wherein the operating member and the drive unit are constituted so that the operating member can be inclined to a periphery with respect to the drive unit, and an elastic body which elastically holds the operating member in a neutral position with respect to the drive unit is provided.

4. The multi-contact input device according to claim 3, wherein said elastic body is constituted so that the operating member is not inclined with respect to the drive unit when the operating member is operated to incline the drive unit, and the operating member is inclined with respect to the drive unit when the operating member is operated with force beyond force which inclines the drive unit.

5. The multi-contact input device according to claim 3, wherein said elastic body is a spring which forces the push rod toward the pressing side.

6. The multi-contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is integrated with said main body of the operating member.

7. The multi-contact input device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is integrated with the push rod of the operating member.

8. The multi-contact input device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom plate of the body or the drive unit, or the bottom plate of the body and the drive unit are provided with a stopper for restricting the drive unit or the operating member to be pressed in in movement toward the pressing side.

9. A multi-contact input device comprising:

a case in which a central switch is provided on a bottom plate and a plurality of peripheral switches are provided around it;

a drive unit provided so that it can be inclined to the periphery in the case to operate the plurality of peripheral switches and held in a neutral position by an elastic body; and

an operating member which penetrates the drive unit in the axis direction so that it can be moved and inclines the drive unit by its inclining operation and operates the central switch by its pressing operation in the axis direction,

characterized in that in order to operate the central switch, the push rod is constituted such that it is projected from a main body of the operating member to the pressing side and it can be moved with respect to the main body of the operating member in the axis direction, and the push rod is forced to the projection side by a spring incorporated in the main body with the push rod with force which is stronger than force required to operate the central switch and which does not damage the central switch.

10. The multi-contact input device according to claim 9, wherein the operating member and the drive unit are constituted such that the operating member can be inclined to the periphery with respect to the drive unit, the operating member is elastically held in a neutral position with respect to the drive unit using force by the spring, and it is constituted so that the operating member is not inclined with respect to the drive unit when the operating member is operated to incline the drive unit, and the operating member is inclined with respect to the drive unit when the operating member is operated with force beyond force which inclines the drive unit.

11. The multi-contact input device according to claim 9, wherein said main body of the operating member is forced by the spring from the drive unit to the direction opposite to the pressing direction, and the push rod is incorporated in the drive unit so that it is forced from the drive unit to the pressing direction, and said elastic body which holds the drive unit in a neutral position serves also as an elastic body which forces the operating member to the direction opposite to the pressing direction.

12. The multi-contact input device according to claim 11, wherein the case has a stopper on a bottom plate which prevents the drive unit from being lowered.