INPUT APPARATUS WITH FORCE FEEDBACK

• US 20150357132A1
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Shinji, Wakuda, Hiroshi, Hayashi, Yukiharu, Suzuki, Hajime, Iwasaki, Yoshiyuki, Shiine, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

The input apparatus with force feedback includes an operating unit that includes an operating surface, a detecting unit that detects an operation performed on the operating surface, a drive member that drives the operating unit, an elastic member that elastically supports the operating unit, and a base unit that holds the drive member. The drive member includes a solenoid that vertically drives an actuator connected to the operating unit and a casing member that holds the solenoid and the actuator. The actuator vertically penetrates through the casing member. The actuator includes a first damping member able to be brought into contact with a lower surface of the operating unit and a second damping member disposed between a lower surface of the casing member and part of the actuator. The second damping member is brought into contact with the actuator and the casing member as the actuator is driven.

Claims

1. An input apparatus with force feedback, the apparatus comprising:

an operating unit that includes an operating surface, on which an operation is performed by bringing an operating body into contact with or moving the operating body close to the operating surface, on an upper surface of the operating unit;

a detecting unit that detects the operation performed on the operating surface by the operating body;

a drive member provided below the operating unit, the drive member driving the operating unit in a vertical direction;

an elastic member positioned below the operating unit, the elastic member elastically urging the operating unit upward so as to support the operating unit; and

a base unit that holds the drive member,

wherein the drive member includes;

an actuator connected to the operating unit,

a solenoid that drives the actuator in the vertical direction, and

a casing member that holds the solenoid and the actuator,

wherein the actuator penetrates through the casing member in the vertical direction and includes;

a first damping member that has elasticity and that is disposed at a position where the first damping member is able to be brought into contact with a lower surface of the operating unit, and

a second damping member that has elasticity and is disposed between an upper surface or a lower surface of the casing member and part of the actuator, and

wherein the second damping member is brought into contact with at least one of the actuator and the casing member as the actuator is driven.

2. The input apparatus with force feedback according to claim 1,

wherein the actuator includes:

a column portion that penetrates through the casing member in the vertical direction, and

a flat plate portion that projects from an end portion of the column portion on a lower side so as to extend along the lower surface of the casing member,

wherein the second damping member is disposed between the flat plate portion and the lower surface of the casing member, and

wherein the flat plate portion is able to be brought into contact with the lower surface of the casing member with the second damping member interposed between the flat plate portion and the lower surface of the casing member.

3. The input apparatus with force feedback according to claim 2,

wherein the second damping member has an insertion hole that _penetrates through the second damping member in the vertical direction, and the second damping member is disposed between the flat plate portion and the lower surface of the casing member with the column portion inserted through the insertion hole.

4. The input apparatus with force feedback according to claim 3,

wherein the second damping member has a discoid shape and includes:

a base portion that has the insertion hole at a central portion of the base portion,

a skirt portion that continuously extends toward one side in the vertical direction from an outer circumferential portion of the base portion, and

a hollow portion that is covered by the base portion and the skirt portion and that has a substantially dome shape,

wherein the base portion is in contact with one of the flat plate portion and the casing member on the other side of the base portion in the vertical direction,

wherein the skirt portion includes a first contact portion that has an annular shape in plan view and that is disposed at an end portion of the skirt portion on a side away from the base portion such that the first contact portion is able to be brought into contact with the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member,

wherein an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion are provided in the hollow portion so as to be perpendicular to the base portion,

wherein the inner wall portion has an annular shape surrounding the insertion hole in plan view,

wherein the outer wall portion is between the skirt portion and the inner wall portion and has an annular shape surrounding the inner wall portion in plan view,

wherein second contact portions are at end portions of the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion on the side away from the base portion so as to be able to be brought into contact with the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member and positioned closer to the base portion than the first contact portion,

wherein a through hole is in a region of the base portion interposed between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion, and

wherein, as the actuator is driven, the first contact portion is brought into contact with the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member, pressed against the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member, and bent, thereby causing the second contact portions to be brought into contact with the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member and pressed against the other of the flat plate portion and the casing member.