JP2001051740A - Multidirectional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the whole height of a multidirectional input device called as a joystick. SOLUTION: This multidirectional input device is provided with upward flat faces 44A and 44B on both end shaft parts of rotating members 40A and 40B combined in a case 10 at a right angle. A spherical part 32 is provided at the lower part of an operation member 30 combined by the rotating members 40A and 40B as a fall-off stop part. A pair of rotating shaft parts 33 are provided in the spherical part 32. A recessed part 14 which is formed in the lower half of the spherical part 32 and supports a hemispherical part 34 projected downward is provided at the base plate of the case 10. A recessed part 46B storing the spherical part 32 and a bearing part 47B storing the rotating shaft parts 33 are provided below the rotating member 40B. A circular slider 50 energized downward is elastically abutted on the flat faces 44A and 44B of the rotating members 40A and 40B from above by a spring 60 above the rotating member 40B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device for inputting various signals by operating an operation member operated in an arbitrary direction around the input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-directional input device of this type called a joystick is usually supported in a case so as to be rotatable in two directions perpendicular to each other, and each has a long hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction. A pair of rotating members, an operating member that penetrates each long hole of the upper and lower pair of rotating members, rotates each of the rotating members by being operated in an arbitrary surrounding direction, and a compressed state in the case. A spring that is housed and automatically returns the operating member to the neutral position, and a set of signals that are connected to each end of the pair of upper and lower rotating members and output a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of each rotating member. Output means.

In such a multi-directional input device, it is necessary to rotatably support the lower part of the operating member on the lower rotating member in the direction of its long hole. As a support structure of this operation member,
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19925, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-276
In the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-108885 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-283885, the lower part of the operating member is connected to the lower rotating member by a pin in a direction perpendicular to the long hole direction. As a result, the operating member rotates in the direction of the long hole of the lower rotating member, and rotates the upper rotating member. Further, the lower rotating member is rotated together with the lower rotating member in the direction of the long hole of the upper rotating member, and the lower rotating member is rotated.

On the other hand, as a structure for automatically returning the operating member to the neutral position, a multi-directional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-19925 discloses a multi-directional input device in which a set of upper and lower rotating members is urged upward by a spring. A structure is employed in which the moving member is elastically held at a neutral position.

In the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-27608 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-283885, a dish-shaped plate provided at the lower end of the operation member is used as an automatic return structure of the operation member. A structure is employed in which the operating body is elastically pressed upward by a spring provided below the operating body.

[0006]

However, these conventional multidirectional input devices have the following problems in connection with the support structure of the operating member and the automatic return structure.

In any of the multi-directional input devices, since the intermediate portion of the operating member is connected to the lower rotating member by a pin, the overall length of the operating member is increased, and the size of the device is reduced, including reduction in the height of the device. Is difficult.

The structure for automatically returning the operating member to the neutral position is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 7-27608 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the multidirectional input device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 0-283885,
The springs are arranged in series below the operating member, and a large space for accommodating the springs is required below the operating members. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the device including suppressing the height of the device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a multidirectional input device that can be easily miniaturized while suppressing the height of the device.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, a multi-directional input device according to a first aspect of the present invention is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to each other in a case, each of which is rotatable. A pair of upper and lower rotating members having an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members penetrate through the respective elongated holes, and are rotated in arbitrary directions around the rotating member to rotate each rotating member. An operating member for moving the operating member, a return mechanism for automatically returning the operating member to a neutral position, and an output member connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower rotating members to output a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of each rotating member. A multi-directional input device comprising a set of signal output means,
A lower part of the operating member is supported on a bottom plate of the case so as to be rotatable in any direction around the lower part, and a lower part having a hemispherical shape with an upper half convex upward is provided at the lower part. A recess in which the portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and the return mechanism holds a pair of upper and lower rotating members at a neutral position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multidirectional input device which is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to each other in a case, and each of which has an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction. A pair of rotating members, an operating member that penetrates each of the long holes of the upper and lower rotating members, and is operated in an arbitrary direction around the rotating members to rotate each of the rotating members; A multi-directional input including a return mechanism for automatically returning and a set of signal output means connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower rotating members and outputting a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of each rotating member. In the device, a lower portion of the operation member is supported on a bottom plate of the case so as to be rotatable in any surrounding direction, and a pair of rotation shaft portions projecting in two directions perpendicular to the operation member are provided on the lower portion. The lower bearing is a lower bearing in which a pair of rotating shafts are rotatably fitted. Provided on the lower surface sandwiching the long hole of the member, and is configured to hold a neutral position set of upper and lower turning member by the return mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multidirectional input device which is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to each other in a case, and has a long hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction. A pair of rotating members, an operating member that penetrates each of the long holes of the upper and lower rotating members, and is operated in an arbitrary direction around the rotating members to rotate each of the rotating members; A multi-directional input including a return mechanism for automatically returning and a set of signal output means connected to each end of a pair of upper and lower rotating members and outputting a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of each rotating member. In the device, a lower portion of the operation member is supported on a bottom plate of the case so as to be rotatable in an arbitrary direction around the lower portion, and a lower portion having a hemispherical shape having an upper half convex upwardly is provided on the lower portion; A pair of rotating shafts protruding from the stopper in two directions perpendicular to the operating member; A recess in which the retaining portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and a pair of rotating shafts are rotatably fitted on the lower surface sandwiching the elongated hole of the lower rotating member. A concave bearing is provided, and the return mechanism holds a pair of upper and lower rotating members at a neutral position.

That is, in these multidirectional input devices, a retaining portion and / or a rotating shaft portion are provided at a lower portion of the operating member, and the lower portion is rotated between a bottom plate of the case and a lower rotating member. Since it is supported as possible, the length of the operation member is suppressed as compared with the case where a pin is used, and the size of the device including the suppression of the device height can be easily reduced. In addition, since the operating member is automatically returned to the neutral position, a pair of upper and lower rotating members are held at the neutral position, so that a large space for accommodating the spring under the operating member is not required, and the size is also reduced. It becomes easy. The rotation shaft portion can prevent rotation of the operation member around the axis without using the pin.

In the multidirectional input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the return mechanism includes a spring housed in a compressed state in the case, and an annular slider urged by the spring. The slider is held in a neutral position by elastically contacting the slider with a flat surface formed on both end shafts of a pair of upper and lower rotating members. This configuration is advantageous for miniaturization because the inside of the slider can be used as an effective member housing space.

The slider may be provided above or below a pair of upper and lower rotating members, but is preferably provided above both end shafts of the rotating member from the viewpoint of miniaturization. When the slider is provided below a pair of upper and lower rotating members, the slider is urged upward by a lower spring and elastically abuts a flat surface formed downward on both end shafts of the rotating member from below. Touch When the slider is provided above, the slider is urged downward by an upper spring, and elastically abuts from above on a flat surface formed upward on both end shafts of the rotating member.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the lower end surface of the operating member has a structure in which the retaining portion of the operating member is rotatably supported on a bottom plate of the case in any surrounding direction. A combination of a downwardly convex hemispherical convex portion provided on the bottom plate and a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion provided at the center of the bottom plate of the case so that the convex portion fits, or A combination of an upwardly convex hemispherical concave portion provided on the lower end surface and an upwardly convex hemispherical convex portion provided at the center of the bottom plate of the case so that the concave portion is fitted is adopted. I have. This structure is preferable in terms of miniaturization.

Further, in the multidirectional input device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the lower rotating member has a hemispherical portion having a spherical upper surface between both end shaft portions, the upper surface of which is convex upward. The upper rotating member has a circular arc portion whose lower surface is a curved surface corresponding to the upper surface of the hemispherical portion between the shaft portions at both ends. This structure can reduce the size of the rotating member while securing the strength of the rotating member.

The set of signal input means may be any of an electrical sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-directional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view taken along line BB of FIG. 4 is a four-sided view of a lower case used in the multidirectional input device, FIG. 5 is a three-sided view of an operating member used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 6 is used in the multidirectional input device. FIG. 7 is a four-sided view of the upper rotating member. FIG. 7 is a view of the lower rotating member 4 used in the multidirectional input device.
FIG. 8 is a three-view drawing of a slider used in the multidirectional input device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a rectangular box-shaped case 10 mounted on a substrate and two orthogonal side surfaces of the case 10. It has attached signal output means 20A and 20B. The signal output means 20A, 20B is an electric sensor,
Any of an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor may be used, and the type is not particularly limited.

In the case 10, a rod-shaped operating member 30 tilted around the lower part in an arbitrary direction around the lower portion, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members 40A and 40B rotated by the operating member 30 are provided. And a slider 50 and a spring 60 for automatically returning the operation member 30 to the neutral position.

Hereinafter, the structures of the case 10, the operating member 30, the rotating members 40A and 40B, and the slider 50 will be described in detail.

The case 10 includes a lower case 10a forming a bottom plate portion thereof, and an upper case 10
b is a two-piece structure.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower case 10a has a substantially square bottom plate portion 11. At four corners of the bottom plate portion 11, claw portions 12 projecting upward are provided for fixing to the upper case 10b. At the center of each side of the bottom plate portion 11, a support portion 13 projecting upward is provided to support the rotating members 40A and 40B. Bottom plate 11
Is thick at the center, and on the top of the thick part,
A downwardly convex spherical concave portion 1 into which the lower portion of the operation member 30 is fitted.
4 are formed.

The upper case 10 to be put on the lower case 10a
“b” is a square box-shaped cap having an open lower surface, and an opening 16 is provided in the top plate so as to protrude an upper portion of the operation member 30 upward. Each side wall of the upper case 10b is provided with a notch 18 into which the support 13 is fitted. A pair of claws 19 on both sides are provided on two orthogonal side walls for fixing the signal output means 20A and 20B.
19 are provided.

When the upper case 10b is put on the lower case 10a, the claws 12 of the lower case 10a are fitted into the fitting portions provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the upper case 10b, so that the lower case 10a and the upper case 10b are fitted. Is fixed. In addition, by fitting the support portion 13 of the lower case 10a into the cut portion 18 of the upper case 10b,
Circular openings are formed for supporting both end shafts of the rotating members 40A and 40B. Further, the signal output means 20A, 20B are fixed to two orthogonal side surfaces of the case 10 by the claws 19, 19.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation member 30 has a rod portion 31 having a circular cross section and a spherical portion 32 as a retaining portion continuously provided below the rod portion 31. . The spherical portion 32 has a diameter larger than the width of a long hole 43B of a lower rotating member 40B described later in order to prevent the spherical portion 32 from coming off. Spherical part 32
A pair of rotating shafts 33 perpendicular to the operating member 30;
33 are provided integrally. Rotating shafts 33, 33
Has a semicylindrical cross section and a curved upper surface. The axes of the rotating shafts 33, 33 are on the same line and intersect with the center of the spherical body 32. The lower part of the spherical part 32 is a downwardly convex hemispherical convex part 34 fitted into the concave part 14 of the case 10.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper rotating member 40A has rotating shaft portions 41A, 41A having circular cross sections at both ends, and an arc portion 42A formed by an upwardly convex arch therebetween.
have. A long hole 43A extending in the direction of the rotation center axis is provided in the arc portion 42A as a guide hole for the operation member 30. The inner surface of the arc portion 42A is provided with a rotating member 40A,
In order not to hinder the rotation of 40B, the arc surface is formed in the direction of the long hole 43A and the direction perpendicular to the long hole 43A.

The upper surface of the shaft connecting the rotating shafts 41A, 41A and the arc 42A is a flat surface 44A, 44A on which the slider 50 elastically contacts from above. Protrusions 45A, 45A are provided on the distal end surfaces of the rotating shaft portions 41A, 41A for connection with signal output means.

The lower rotating member 40B is assembled at right angles below the upper rotating member 40A. This rotating member 4
7B, as shown in FIG. 7, has rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B having circular cross sections at both ends, and has an upwardly convex hemispherical portion 42B between the rotating shaft portions 41B, 41B. I have. Hemisphere 42
In B, a long hole 43B extending in the direction of the rotation center axis is provided as a guide hole for the operation member 30.

The lower surface of the hemispherical portion 42B is provided with an upwardly convex hemispherical concave portion 46B into which most of the operation member 30 except the lower end portion of the spherical portion 32 is rotatably fitted. The hole 43B communicates with the concave portion 46B. Hemisphere 42
The lower surface of B is also provided with concave bearing portions 47B, 47B into which the rotating shaft portions 33, 33 of the operating member 30 are fitted. The bearing portions 47B, 47B are located on both sides of the concave portion 46B and are continuous with the concave portion 46B.

The upper surface of the shaft connecting the rotating shafts 41B, 41B and the hemisphere 42B is a flat surface 44B, 44B on which the slider 50 elastically contacts from above. The flat surfaces 44B, 44B are the flat surfaces 44 of the rotating member 40A.
A, 44A. Protrusions 45B, 41B are provided on the distal end surfaces of the rotating shafts 41B, 41B for connection with signal output means.
45B are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pair of upper and lower rotating members 40A and 40B are assembled into the case 10 with their respective rotating central axes orthogonal to each other in the same plane.
It is rotatably supported in the case 10. In the operation member 30, the shaft portion 31 is inserted into the long holes 43A and 43B of the rotating members 40A and 40B, and the upper portion of the spherical portion 32 is fitted into the concave portion 46B of the rotating member 40B. 33, 33 are fitted to the bearing portions 47B, 47B, and the lower part (convex portion 34) of the spherical body portion 32 is fitted to the concave portion 14 of the case 10, and is combined with the rotating members 40A, 40B in the case 10. .

Thus, the operating member 30 is connected to the case 10
Can be tilted in all directions around the spherical portion 32 on the central portion of the bottom plate. Also, with the rotation shafts 33, 33 as the center,
The tilting operation is performed in the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B. Thereby, the upper rotating member 40A rotates along the upper surface of the hemispherical portion 42B of the lower rotating member 40B. Further, the lower rotary member 40B is tilted about the rotary shaft portions 41B, 41B of the lower rotary member 40B in the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotary member 40B, so that the lower rotary member 40B is rotated upward. It rotates along the lower surface of the arc portion 42A of the moving member 40A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an annular slider 50 for automatically returning the operating member 30 to the neutral position is provided above the rotating members 40A and 40B.
Are arranged so as to surround the circular arc portion 42A and the hemispherical portion 42B of the rotating member 40B. As shown in FIG. 8, the slider 50 is an annular body having a substantially rectangular outer peripheral surface which is fitted into the case 10 so as to be able to move up and down, and has leg-shaped support portions projecting downward at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction. 51 are provided. The plurality of support portions 51 abut on the inner surface of the case 10 to prevent the slider 50 from tilting.

The lower surface of the slider 50 is a flat contact surface 52 that comes into surface contact with the flat surfaces 44A, 44A of the rotating member 40A and the flat surfaces 44B, 44B of the rotating member 40B, respectively. A circular groove 53 into which the spring 60 is fitted is provided on the upper surface of the slider 50.

The spring 60 is housed in a compressed state between the slider 50 and the top plate of the case 10, and the slider 50 is caused to urge the contact surface 52 of the rotating member 40A by the downward bias. The rotating members 40A, 40B are elastically held in the neutral position by elastically making surface contact with the flat surfaces 44A, 44A and the flat surfaces 44B, 44B of the rotating member 40B, whereby the operating member 30 is elastically held in the neutral position. I do.

Next, the function of the multi-directional input device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the operating member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 43B of the lower rotating member 40B, the upper rotating member 40B is rotated.
When A rotates and the signal output means 20A is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation amount is output. When the operation member 30 is tilted in the direction of the long hole 43A of the upper rotating member 40A, the lower rotating member 40B is rotated, and the signal output means 20B is operated, so that the operation amount is adjusted according to the operation amount. A signal is output. By these combinations, the operating member 3
0 is operated in a surrounding arbitrary direction, and a signal corresponding to the operation direction and the operation amount is input to an electronic device or the like using the multidirectional input device.

During this operation, the flat surfaces 44A, 44A of the rotating member 40A and the flat surfaces 44A of the rotating member 40B
B and 44B are inclined according to the operation angle and the operation amount. Due to this inclination, the slider 50 is pushed up against the biasing force of the spring 60, and a return force to the neutral position is applied to the rotating members 40A and 40B.

Here, the operation member 30 has a ball portion 32 integrally formed as a retaining portion at a lower portion thereof and rotation shaft portions 33, 33 formed integrally therewith. For this reason, the length of the operation member 30, particularly the length of the portion accommodated in the case 10, is shorter than that using a pin as the rotation shaft, and the size of the device including the suppression of the device height is reduced. It becomes easy.

The operating member 30 is also provided on the bottom plate 1 of the case 10.
The lower spherical portion 32 is rotatably supported between the first rotating member 40B and the lower rotating member 40B. That is, the pivoting of the operation member 30 is performed using both the case 10 and the rotating member 40B. In addition, most of the spherical portion 32 is
It is housed in the hemispherical portion 42B of the lower rotating member 40B together with 3, 33. For these reasons, downsizing of the apparatus including suppression of the apparatus height is further facilitated.

The hemispherical portion 42B of the rotating member 40B is
Since it is structurally high in strength, it is possible to reduce the size while securing the strength, which also contributes to downsizing of the device.

Further, since the shafts at both ends of the rotating members 40A and 40B are pressed by the slider 50 in order to maintain the operation member 30 in the neutral state, the springs 60 for urging the slider 50 are serially arranged below the operation member 30. There is no need to provide the device, and from this point, the size of the device including the suppression of the height of the device can be reduced.
In particular, when the slider 50 is disposed above the shafts at both ends of the rotating members 40A and 40B as in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral side of the arc portion 42A of the rotating member 40A and the hemispherical portion 42B of the rotating member 40B. Can be used as a space for accommodating the slider 50 and the spring 60, and the utilization efficiency is high.

Further, the rotating shaft 3 is provided below the operating member 30.
The provision of 3, 33 prevents the operation member 30 from rotating around the axis.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a multidirectional input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same multidirectional input device.

The multi-directional input device according to the present embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG.
8 is different from the above-described multidirectional input device shown in FIG. That is, in the multidirectional input device according to the present embodiment, the slider 50 is
A, 40B are disposed below the shaft portions at both ends. Along with this, the spring 60 is housed in a compressed state between the bottom plate 11 of the case 10 and the slider 50, and the contact surface 52 of the slider 50 is formed on the upper surface thereof,
Flat surfaces 44A and 44B of 0A and 40B are formed on the lower surfaces of the shaft portions at both ends. Other structures are substantially the same as those of the above-described multi-directional input device, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

Also in the multidirectional input device according to the present embodiment, by using the taper type spring 60 whose winding diameter increases from bottom to top, the height of the device is substantially the same as that of the above-described multidirectional input device. It is possible to reduce the size of the device including suppression.

In these embodiments, the operating member 3
In order to rotatably support the lower part of the housing 10 on the bottom plate of the case 10, a hemispherical convex part 34 which is convex downward on the side of the operation member 30.
Is provided on the bottom plate side of the case 10, and the hemispherical concave portion 14 in which the convex portion 34 is fitted is provided. However, a concave portion is provided on the operation member 30 side, and a convex portion is provided on the bottom plate side of the case 10. It is also possible.

The rotating shafts 33, 33 of the operating member 30
Can be omitted, or the spherical stopper portions can be omitted, and the rotating shaft portions 33, 33 can be formed directly on the operation member 30. In this case, the rotating shaft portions 33 also function as retaining portions.

[0052]

As described above, in the multidirectional input device according to the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention, the retaining member and / or the rotating shaft portion are integrally provided below the operating member. Since the lower portion is rotatably supported between the bottom plate of the case and the lower rotating member, and an existing member is used for the support, the length of the operating member can be reduced as compared with the case where a pin is used. Further, in order to automatically return the operating member to the neutral position, the pair of upper and lower rotating members are elastically held at the neutral position, so that a space for accommodating the return mechanism can be efficiently secured in the case. These make it easy to reduce the size of the device, including suppressing the height of the device.

In the multidirectional input device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the annular slider is brought into contact with the flat surfaces formed on the shafts at both ends of the upper and lower rotating members, so that the space for accommodating the return mechanism is provided. And miniaturization is particularly easy.

Further, the multidirectional input device according to claim 5 of the present invention has a structure in which the lower part of the operating member is supported on the bottom plate of the case by a combination of hemispherical convex portions and concave portions which are fitted to each other. The operation member can be reliably supported on the side of the case without hindering downsizing.

In the multidirectional input device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a hemispherical portion having a spherical upper surface is provided between both end shafts of the lower rotating member, and the upper rotating member is provided. By providing a circular arc portion whose lower surface is a curved surface corresponding to the upper surface of the hemispherical portion between the shaft portions at both ends of the member, it is possible to reduce the size of the rotating member while securing the strength thereof. In particular, miniaturization is particularly easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along a line BB in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are four views of a lower case used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a front view, and (d) is a view indicated by arrows D-D.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are three views of an operation member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are four views of an upper rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG. 6B is a view taken along the line EE, and FIG. FIG. 3D is a side view of the drawing along the arrow F. FIG.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are four views of a lower rotating member used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view, FIG. 7B is a view taken along a line GG, and FIG. H line arrow view, (d) is a side view.

8A and 8B are three views of a slider used in the multidirectional input device, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a side view.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a multi-directional input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view of the multidirectional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 10a Lower case 10b Upper case 14 Depression 20A, 20B Signal output means 30 Operation member 31 Shaft body part 32 Spherical body part (prevention part) 33 Rotating shaft part 34 Convex part 40A, 40B Rotating member 41A, 41B Rotation Shaft portion 42A Arc portion 42B Hemisphere portion 43A, 43B Long hole 44A, 44B Flat surface 45A, 45B Projection 46B Recess 47B Bearing 50 Slider 52 Contact surface 60 Spring

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pair of upper and lower pivot members, each of which is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to the inside of a case and has an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction, and a pair of upper and lower pivot members An operating member that penetrates each elongated hole of the member and is operated in an arbitrary direction around the operating member to rotate each rotating member, a return mechanism that automatically returns the operating member to the neutral position, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members And a set of signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the rotation angle of each rotation member, wherein the lower part of the operation member is placed on a bottom plate of a case. The lower half is provided with a retaining portion which is rotatably supported in an arbitrary direction around the upper portion and has a hemispherical shape whose upper half is convex upward, and a concave portion into which the retaining portion is rotatably fitted. It is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members are Multidirectional input device, characterized in that to hold the position. 2. A pair of upper and lower pivot members, each of which is rotatably supported in two directions orthogonal to the inside of the case and has an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction, and a pair of upper and lower pivot members. An operating member that penetrates each elongated hole of the member and is operated in an arbitrary direction around the operating member to rotate each rotating member, a return mechanism that automatically returns the operating member to the neutral position, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members And a set of signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the rotation angle of each rotation member, wherein the lower part of the operation member is placed on a bottom plate of a case. The operation member is supported so as to be rotatable in any direction around it, and a pair of rotation shafts projecting in two directions perpendicular to the operation member are provided at the lower portion, and the pair of rotation shafts are rotatably fitted. A concave bearing portion to be provided is provided on the lower surface sandwiching the long hole of the lower rotating member, and Multidirectional input device, characterized in that to hold the neutral position the upper and lower pair of rotating members Ri. 3. A pair of upper and lower pivot members, each of which is rotatably supported in two directions perpendicular to the case and has an elongated hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction, and a pair of upper and lower pivot members. An operating member that penetrates each elongated hole of the member and is operated in an arbitrary direction around the operating member to rotate each rotating member, a return mechanism that automatically returns the operating member to the neutral position, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members And a set of signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the rotation angle of each rotation member, wherein the lower part of the operation member is placed on a bottom plate of a case. A retaining portion, which is rotatably supported in an arbitrary direction around the lower portion and has a hemispherical shape with an upper half convex upward, and a pair of projections projecting in two directions perpendicular to the operating member from the retaining portion. And a rotation shaft portion of
A recess in which the retaining portion is rotatably fitted is provided on the lower surface of the lower rotating member, and a pair of rotating shafts are rotatably fitted on the lower surface sandwiching the elongated hole of the lower rotating member. A multi-directional input device, wherein a concave bearing portion is provided, and a pair of upper and lower rotating members are held at a neutral position by the return mechanism. 4. The return mechanism has a spring housed in a compressed state in a case, and an annular slider urged by the spring. 4. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member is held at a neutral position by elastically contacting a flat surface formed on the shaft portion. 5. A structure for supporting a lower portion of an operating member on a bottom plate of a case so as to be rotatable in an arbitrary surrounding direction, comprising: a downwardly projecting hemispherical convex portion provided on a lower end surface of the operating member; As the convex portion is fitted, a combination with a downwardly convex hemispherical concave portion provided at the center of the bottom plate of the case, or an upwardly convex hemispherical concave portion provided on the lower end surface of the operating member, 5. The multi-layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion is a combination with an upwardly convex hemispherical convex portion provided at a central portion of a bottom plate of the case so as to be fitted. Direction input device. 6. The lower rotating member has a hemispherical portion having a spherical upper surface convex between both end shaft portions, and the upper rotating member has a lower surface corresponding to the upper surface of the hemispherical portion. The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein a curved arc portion having a curved surface is provided between both end shaft portions. 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the set of signal input means is one of an electric sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor. Multi-directional input device.