JP2002055773A - Inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an input device having high detecting precision or resolution of the tilted amounts of an operating lever. SOLUTION: This input device is provided with an operating lever 15, a supporting part 11 for supporting this operating lever 15 so that this can be tilted, a circular member 21 to be detected whose center is positioned at the axial core of the operating lever 15 so as to be fixed to this, and plural detecting members 31, 32, 33 and 34 arranged at the different sites of the supporting part 11 for detecting the local parts of the member 21 to be detected. Thus, it is possible to eliminate any contact transmitting mechanism between the operating lever and the detecting members, and to detect the tilted amounts of the operating lever, and to improve the detecting precision or resolution of the tilted amounts by removing any clearance accompanying the contact transmission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for inputting an operation amount by tilting an operation rod, and more particularly to a technology for detecting the amount of tilt. A typical example of such an input device is a joystick having a tiltable operation rod for inputting coordinate data and the like to the wireless control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional joystick, a pair of motion converting members are interposed between an operating rod and a detecting member to detect the amount of tilt of the operating rod, and the movement of the operating rod in the X and Y directions. A contact transmission mechanism such as a slider is used as the operation conversion member (see JP-A-11-67018 and JP-A-11-33960).
No. 3).

[0003]

However, in order to ensure a smooth operation with such a conventional input device, a certain amount of play must be provided to the contact transmission. It is difficult to increase the resolution.
For example, if a resolution of more than 5 bits is to be obtained, the cost of precision processing of the slider member is too high. On the other hand, in applications where such detection accuracy and resolution are not sufficient,
From the viewpoint of improving operability and the like, there is a demand to introduce an input device having an operating rod such as a joystick.

[0004] Therefore, it is a technical problem to devise so that the amount of tilt can be detected without interposing a contact transmission mechanism between the operating rod and the detecting member. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize an input device having high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of an operating rod.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems First to fourth solving means invented to solve such problems are as follows.
The configuration and operation and effect will be described below.

[First Solution] The input device of the first solution is an operating rod, as described in claim 1 at the beginning of the application.
A support portion for tiltably supporting the operating rod; and a center positioned on the axis of the operating rod or an extension thereof, and fixed to the operating rod (directly or indirectly through an extension member or the like). And a plurality of detecting members provided at different portions of the support portion and each detecting a local portion of the detected member. The member to be detected may be a ring-shaped member or an annular member.
As described in (1), the operating rod may be divided and formed in an arc shape or a point shape, and may be dispersed and arranged in an annular area or a part thereof located at the center on the axis of the operating rod or an extension thereof.

In the input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operating rod and the detected member move integrally, the tilt of the operating rod is transmitted to the detected member without any loss of tilt. Is done. Moreover, since the arrangement center of the detected member coincides with the axis of the operating rod or the like, the tilt amount of the operating rod is transmitted to the corresponding local portion of the detected member at a fixed ratio for any direction component. . Then, each of the detecting members detects the amount of tilt for a local portion coming to the corresponding detecting member among such detected members, and obtains respective corresponding directional components. Therefore, even if the movement of the operating rod itself is not disassembled, detection results equivalent to disassembly in a direction corresponding to the dispersive arrangement of the respective detection members with respect to the operating rod are obtained.

Thus, the contact transmission mechanism is eliminated from between the operating rod and the detecting member. In addition to this, not only can the tilting amount of the operating rod be detected, but also the play associated with the contact transmission has disappeared. Resolution is improved. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an input device having high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod.

[Second Solution] The input device of the second solution is the first device described in the first aspect of the present invention.
In the input device according to the first aspect, the detection member performs the detection on the detected member in a non-contact manner.

In the input device according to the second aspect, even if the detection member is fixed, the detection member does not contact the detection member. The tilt amount is detected without hindrance,
As a result, a smooth operation is reliably ensured. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an input device in which the operation of the operation rod is easy and the detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount are high.

[Third solution means] The input device of the third solution means is the input device of the first and second solution means as described in claim 4 at the time of filing the application. At least one pair of the members is arranged symmetrically with respect to the operation rod, and a differential detection unit for obtaining a difference between the pair of detection results is provided.

In the input device of the third solution, a difference is obtained from the detection result at the symmetric position, and the difference between the two is input as a corresponding direction component of the tilt amount. Such an input value includes the amount of tilt of the operating rod and the detected member doubled based on the interaction between the symmetric arrangement of the detecting members and the differential detection, while the parallelism of the operating rod and the detected member is included. The fluctuation of the detection value caused by the movement cancels out and cannot be included. In addition, other undesired fluctuations that occur along with the detection member, such as a zero point drift due to a temperature change, are also cancelled. Therefore, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize a stable input device with high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod.

[Fourth Solution Means] The input device of the fourth solution means comprises an operating rod,
A support portion that tiltably supports the operation rod; a detection member positioned on a virtual plane passing through the center of rotation of the tilt and fixed to the operation rod; and a detection member provided at different portions of the support portion. A plurality of detection members each of which performs detection in a non-contact manner with respect to a local portion of the detected member, and differential detection for obtaining a difference between detection results of the detection members which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the operation rod. Means.

According to the input device of the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to basically providing the effects of the first to third aspects of the invention, a virtual plane passing through the center of rotation of the tilt is provided. Since the detected member is located on the upper side, for example, by taking the detection direction of each detection member in a direction perpendicular to its virtual plane, based on the interaction between the symmetrical arrangement of the detection members and the differential detection. What can suppress undesired fluctuations other than tilting can be easily realized. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a stable input device having high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments for implementing the input device of the present invention achieved by such a solution will be described with reference to the following first to seventh embodiments.
Each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 respectively embodies the first to fourth solving means described above. In these figures, for simplicity, etc.,
Detailed processing shapes such as fasteners such as bolts and mounting holes are omitted from illustration, and those necessary and related to the description of the invention are mainly shown.

In the description, the horizontal direction in the drawing is the X direction, the vertical direction in the plan view, that is, the direction penetrating the paper in the front view is the Y direction, and the vertical direction in the front view, that is, the direction penetrating the paper in the plan view. Is the Z direction. A virtual straight line passing through the fulcrum of the operating rod, that is, a rotation center point at the time of tilting in the X direction is called an X axis, a virtual straight line passing through in the Y direction is called a Y axis, and a virtual straight line passing through in the Z direction is called a Z axis. Further, a rotation component about the X axis is called an X axis rotation, a rotation component about the Y axis is called a Y axis rotation,
The rotation component about the axis is called Z-axis rotation.

[0017]

First Embodiment A specific configuration of a first embodiment of the input device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a plan view of a mechanism section, FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional front view thereof, and FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an electric circuit section.

The operating rod 15 employed in this input device is
A simple round bar-shaped one that is easy to make, one that has appropriate unevenness or the like so that it is easy to operate, or one that is similar to a handle of a general joystick may be used as long as one end is operably extended. In order to tiltably support the operation rod 15, the input device is also provided with a mounting board 11, a bearing 12, a receiving seat 13, and a spherical body 14. 14 are fixedly connected to each other by fitting or screwing.

A seat 13 is mounted on a mounting substrate 11 via a bearing 12, and the mounting substrate 11 is mounted on an operation panel or the like (not shown), and an X-axis including an X-axis and a Y-axis.
When the mounting board 11 comes on a plane parallel to the Y plane,
Can smoothly rotate the Z axis. Catch 13
In the center of, in addition to a through hole through which the operation rod 15 can be loosely inserted,
A spherical depression corresponding to the spherical body 14 is also formed, and the receiving body 13 is divided into two parts so that the spherical body 14 is accommodated in the concave part. The spherical body 14 stored in the seat 13 is held so as to be slidable and rotatable in the recess, and the operating rod 15 extending from the spherical body 14 is attached to the spherical body 1.
4 can be smoothly tilted around the center of rotation, and when the operation is stopped, it returns to the Z-axis by a spring or the like (not shown). Or, if you stop the operation, it will stop there.

The ball 14 is fixedly connected not only to the operating rod 15 but also to a rod extending member 16, and the connection is made from the opposite side of the operating rod 15. For example, the rod extension member 16
Is formed by engraving one surface thereof from a thick disk-shaped member in a ring shape, is formed into a mountain shape in cross section, and is processed into a shape capable of connecting the tip end portion of the center to the spherical body 14. In addition, an annular thickened portion is also left on the peripheral portion of the rod extension member 16, and an annular detection member 21 is mounted thereon.

The detected member 21 is a permanent magnet formed in a circular annular shape, and is uniformly magnetized.
When mounted on the sphere, its center coincides with the center of the spherical body 14. Such a detected member 21 is positioned such that its center is located on an extension of the axis of the operating rod 15,
It is indirectly fixed to the operation rod 15 via the spherical body 14 and the rod extension member 16. And the operating rod 15
When the spherical body 14 rotates in the X-axis or the Y-axis by tilting, the detected member 21 also rotates together. When the operating rod 15 is on the Z axis, the detected member 21 is parallel to the mounting board 11, specifically, on the XY plane. If the imaginary plane where the detected member 21 is located, that is, the thickness, is ignored, the detected member 2
The same is assumed for a virtual plane that extends including 1.

In order to accurately detect the detected member 21 in a non-contact manner, a plurality of detecting members 31 and 3 are required.
2, 33, 34 are provided. These detection members 31 to
Each of the reference numerals 34 includes a magnetic detection element such as a Hall element, for example, and is mounted on the back surface of the mounting substrate 11 so as to face the detection target member 21. At this time, the detection members 31 to 34
Are placed equidistant from the Z axis, but at different locations. That is, the detecting member 31 is disposed on the positive side of the X axis, the detecting member 32 is disposed on the negative side of the X axis, the detecting member 33 is disposed on the positive side of the Y axis, and the detecting member 34 is disposed on the negative side of the Y axis. Placed in Thereby, the pair of detection members 3
1 and 32 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the operation rod 15, and the pair of detection members 33 and 34 are also arranged symmetrically with respect to the operation rod 15. Also,
Since the sensitive range of the Hall element or the like is limited to the magnetic field in the vicinity thereof, each of the detecting members 31 to 34 detects each of the opposed local portions of the detected member 21. Specifically, the displacement in the Z direction is detected based on the fixed coordinates, and the displacement in the axial direction is detected based on the operating rod 15.

These detect the X-axis rotation and Y-axis rotation of the operating rod 15 due to the tilting operation. In order to further detect the Z-axis rotation of the operating rod 15, this input device includes:
A rotation interlocking member 22 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the seat 13, and a rotation detecting member 35 attached to the lower surface of the mounting board 11.
Are also provided. In this example, since the range of the Z-axis rotation is not wide and the required accuracy of the detection is not strict, a single piece of permanent magnet or the like is adopted as the rotation interlocking member 22, and the rotation detecting member 35 for detecting the same is also a Hall element or the like. Only one magnetic sensor is employed.

The detecting members 31 and 32 for detecting the tilting of the operating rod 15 in the X direction, that is, the rotation of the Y-axis, are driven by appropriate sensor driving circuits 41 and 42, respectively, and the detection results are sent to the sensor driving circuit 41. , 42 are output as a pair of electric signals. In order to determine the difference between the pair of detection results, the electronic circuit section of the input device applies the electric signals to an inverting input and a non-inverting input, respectively. A receiving differential operation circuit 43 is provided. The differential operation circuit 43 calculates the difference between the two signals and performs a predetermined signal amplification or the like to generate an input signal / input data to the microprocessor 47. A low-pass filter 44 or the like is provided between the differential operation circuit 43 and the microprocessor 47 if necessary for removing high-frequency noise in order to input the digital value to the microprocessor 47. If necessary, an analog-digital conversion circuit 45 is provided.

Although not shown, the detecting member 3 for detecting the tilt of the operating rod 15 in the Y direction, that is, the rotation of the X axis, is used.
Similarly, a pair of sensor driving circuits, a differential operation circuit, a low-pass filter, an analog-digital conversion circuit, and the like are provided for the devices 3 and 34. The rotation detecting member 35 for detecting the Z-axis rotation of the operating rod 15 is different from the above, and has only one sensor drive circuit and no differential operation circuit. The detection results of the X-axis rotation, the Y-axis rotation, and the Z-axis rotation are collected by the interface 46 and then transmitted collectively or individually and input to the microprocessor 47. If the application of the input device is, for example, a radio control device, the microprocessor 47 may be followed by the interface 46 or the microprocessor 4.
A wireless communication circuit or the like is provided in place of 7.

The usage and operation of the input device of the first embodiment will be described. First, a description will be given of a case where a tilting operation involving rotation of the X and Y axes is performed, and then a description will be given of a case where a rotation of the Z axis is performed.

In the upright state in which the operating rod 15 is not tilted, the detected member 21 is substantially parallel to the mounting board 11, and each of the detecting members 31 to 34 and each opposing portion (local) of the detected member 21 is located. The distances will be approximately equal. The difference between the detection results of the detection members 31 and 32 at this time is defined as the zero point of the Y-axis rotation, and the difference between the detection results of the detection members 33 and 34 is defined as the zero point of the X-axis rotation. In such a manner, the offset adjustment and the like of the differential operation circuit 43 are performed in advance.

Then, when the operating rod 15 is tilted in a positive diagonal direction, for example, in both X and Y directions (upper right direction in FIG. 1A),
In the detected member 21, the point where the operating rod 15 is tilted (upper right in FIG. 1A) is farthest from the mounting board 11, and the opposite side is closest (lower left in FIG. 1A). And
The distance between the detected member 21 and the detecting member 31 is increased by an amount corresponding to the projection component on the XZ plane of the tilt of the operating rod 15, while the distance between the detected member 21 and the detecting member 32 is The Y-axis rotation component of the tilt amount of the operating rod 15 appears twice as large in the difference between the detection results of the detection members 31 and 32 by the same amount. Further, while the distance between the detected member 21 and the detecting member 33 is increased by an amount corresponding to the projection component on the YZ plane of the tilt of the operating rod 15, the distance between the detected member 21 and the detecting member 34 is increased. Are narrowed by the same amount, and the difference between the detection results of the detection members 33 and 34 is
The X-axis rotation component at the tilt amount of 5 appears to be doubled.

When the spherical body 14 is slightly moved due to the gap between the seat 13 and the spherical body 14 or the existence of the bearing 12 during the tilting operation or the like, the operating rod 15 is moved together therewith. , The rod extension member 16 and the detected member 21 also move,
In this case, the movement is not tilting but parallel movement. Therefore, the distance between the detection target member 21 and the detection members 31 and 32 is similarly enlarged and reduced, and the fluctuation values of the detection results due thereto are offset by the difference calculation, so that the difference between the detection results of the detection members 31 and 32 is reduced. Has no effect. Similarly, the distance between the detected member 21 and the detection members 33 and 34 is enlarged and reduced, and the fluctuation value of the detection result due to the enlargement / reduction is canceled out by the difference calculation. There is no. It should be noted that the parallel movement on the XY plane perpendicular to the displacement detection direction does not change the detection distance, and therefore does not affect the detection result without canceling.

Next, when the Z-axis rotation is performed, that is, when the operating rod 15 itself is rotated within the bidirectionally rotatable range without changing the tilt state of the operating rod 15, the receiving seat 13 is accordingly moved. While rotating, the rotation interlocking member 22 swings.
Then, the distance between the rotation interlocking member 22 and the rotation detection member 35 also changes according to the rotation amount, and the rotation amount is detected by the rotation detection member 35. The detected member 21 also rotates along with the rotation of the operating rod 15. The detected member 21 is a rotationally symmetric annular body whose center is on the extension of the axis of the operating rod 15. Therefore, even if such a rotational movement is performed, the relative positional relationship between each of the detection members 31 to 34 and the opposing portions does not change.

Thus, in this input device, the X direction, the Y direction
The tilting amount is detected with high accuracy and high resolution as the operating rod 15 is tilted in the direction and in the intermediate direction. Further, the Z-axis rotation can be detected without impairing the detection accuracy and the like. Then, the detection results are converted into digital data of 8 bits, 10 bits or more, and the like, and then input to the microprocessor 47 to be used for direction instructions, coordinate instructions, and the like.

[0032]

Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2A is a vertical sectional front view, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of an electric circuit. This input device differs from that of the first embodiment in that the method of detecting the rotation of the X and Y axes is changed from a method of directly detecting the magnetic field intensity to a method of detecting the magnetic impedance.

Specifically, the detecting member 31 is
a and a magnetic core 31b wound therewith, and the detection member 32 is configured by a combination of a coil 32a and a magnetic core 32b wound therewith. Although illustration is omitted, the same applies to the detection members 33 and 34. The detected member 21 is made of a material having high magnetic permeability such as permalloy, similarly to the magnetic cores 31b and 32b. Furthermore, in the input device of this example, after the detected member 21 is fixed to the rod extension member 16, a large number of cuts are radially made on the detected member 21. As a result, the detected member 21 is not a complete ring, but is formed by dividing into a number of arc-shaped pieces and distributed in an annular area whose center is located on the extension of the axis of the operating rod 15. Become.

In the electric circuit section, the coils 31a and 32a connected in series are inserted and connected to a part of the bridge circuit, and the bridge circuit is connected to, for example, 10 kHz.
z, the coils 31a, 32
The difference of the electromotive force induced by a is detected.

In this case, the gap between the magnetic core 31b and the detected member 21 changes in accordance with the tilt of the operating rod 15 in the X-axis direction. , The equivalent resistance of the coil 31a and the induced voltage also change.
At that time, the gap between the magnetic core 32b and the detected member 21 changes in reverse, and the induced voltage of the coil 32a also changes.
Then, the difference between them is calculated by the bridge circuit and the differential operation circuit 43.
In this case as well, the amount of tilt of the operating rod 15 in the X-axis direction is detected with high accuracy and high resolution. Detection when the operating rod 15 is tilted in the Y-axis direction is performed in the same manner. Further, in this case, since the detected member 21 is divided into a number of small pieces, the magnetization of the opposing portion by the coil 31a and the magnetic core 31b propagates through the detected member 21 and the coil 3
It does not reach the opposing portions of 2a and the magnetic core 32b and the opposing portions of other coils and the magnetic core.

[0036]

Third Embodiment The input device of the present invention whose longitudinal sectional front view is shown in FIG. 3 is different from that of the above-described second embodiment in that a method of forming a gap in a magnetic path is different. Specifically, one end surface of the magnetic core 31b and the like and the upper surface of the detected member 21 do not face each other directly from each other, but pass each other with a slight gap. When the detected member 21 moves in response to the tilt of the operating rod 15, the proximity overlapping area between the side surface of the magnetic core 31b or the like and the side surface of the detected member 21 changes. In this case, since the change of the magnetic impedance becomes gentle, further improvement of the resolution is achieved,
The detectable tilt range of the operating rod 15 is also widened.

[0037]

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view and a bridge circuit, etc., of an input device according to the present invention which is different from the second and third embodiments in the method of forming magnetic paths and gaps. It is different. Specifically, the magnetic cores 31b, 32b, etc. are formed in the shape of a straight bar and are installed in parallel with the Z axis, and the magnetic path forming member also made of a high magnetic permeability material such as permalloy and formed in a circular annular shape. 31c has been introduced. Further, the detected member 21 is formed in a continuous loop.

The magnetic path forming member 31c is attached to the mounting substrate 11 in such a manner that the detected member 21 is moved in parallel in the Z direction, and the magnetic cores 31b and 32b are mounted on the magnetic path forming member 3c.
It is mounted on the mounting substrate 11 or the like with one end in close contact with 1 c and the other end facing the detection target 21. The coils 31a,
31b is incorporated in one side of the bridge circuit in a state where it is connected in series in a direction in which the electromotive force due to the tilt of the operating rod 15 is doubled.

In this case, the magnetic core 31b and the magnetic path forming member 31
c, the magnetic core 32b, and the detected member 21, a magnetic path is formed, and its magnetic impedance is detected. The gap in the magnetic path is the gap between the magnetic core 31b and the detected member 21. And the magnetic core 32b and the detected member 21
, The X of the operating rod 15 is more accurately determined than in the above-described second and third embodiments.
The directional tilt is reflected in the change in the magnetic impedance. Therefore, the distance in the Z direction between the magnetic cores 31b and 32b and the detected member 21 can be detected more accurately.

Further, since the adjustment of the air gap is hardly required, the assembling work becomes easy. Since the magnetic path forming member 31c and the detected member 21 also serve as a magnetic path for detecting the tilt in the Y direction, the magnetization is not saturated even in the overlapping portion.
Further, the magnetic core 31b and the like are driven by an appropriate alternating current so that undesired hysteresis characteristics of the magnetism do not appear.
Thus, even with this input device, the amount of tilt of the operation rod 15 is detected with high accuracy and resolution.

[0041]

Fifth Embodiment The input device of the present invention whose longitudinal sectional front view is shown in FIG.
The point is that the Y-axis rotation detection method has been changed from a magnetic method to an optical method. Specifically, the detecting member 31 is configured by a combination of a light emitting diode 31c and a phototransistor 31d, and the detecting member 32 is
It is composed of a combination of c and the phototransistor 32d. Although illustration is omitted, the same applies to the detection members 33 and 34. In addition, the detection member 21 has a tip portion that enters and exits between the two so as to block light transmission from the light emitting diode 31c and the like to the phototransistor 31d and the like.

In this case, when the detected member 21 moves in response to the tilt of the operating rod 15, the light-shielding state of the detected member 21 changes and the amount of light received by the phototransistors 31d and 32d increases or decreases. By performing a differential operation on the photoelectric conversion signal, the operating rod 15 can be formed with high accuracy and resolution.
Can be detected. In addition, in both the light detection method and the magnetic detection method described above,
The operation of the operating rod 15 can be performed lightly because the local detection is performed without contact.

[0043]

Sixth Embodiment The input device of the present invention whose plan view is shown in FIG. 6 is different from that of the first embodiment in that the detection of the Z-axis rotation is also of the differential type. Specifically, the rotation interlocking member 22 formed in an annular shape is mounted eccentrically on the seat 13 and a pair of rotation detection members 35 and 3 are mounted.
6 are installed at symmetric positions with respect to the Z axis.

In this case, the operating rod 15 is not limited to 360 ° or less, and can rotate any number of axes beyond that, and with the rotation, the distance between the rotation detecting member 35 and the side peripheral surface of the detected member 21 is reduced. At the same time, the distance between the rotation detecting member 36 and the side peripheral surface of the detected member 21 decreases and increases. Then, a difference between the detected distances by the rotation detection members 35 and 36 is calculated, and the difference is input to the microprocessor 47 as rotation position information of the operation rod 15.

[0045]

Seventh Embodiment The input device of the present invention whose mechanical structure is shown in FIG. 7 is different from the input device of the first embodiment in that the mounting substrate 11 is mounted on a radio control device or the like. (Operation panel). For this reason, other operation members are mounted on the surface of the mounting board 11 in addition to the operation rod 15. Although two push-button-like switches 48 are shown in the figure as a specific example, a rotary switch, a knob for variable setting, an antenna, and the like may be mounted. A printed wiring board 40 is attached to the back surface of the mounting board 11 directly or fixedly via an appropriate spacer or the like so as to be attached to the mounting board 11.
1 to 34 are mounted on the printed wiring board 40.
On the printed wiring board 40, in addition to the sensor drive circuit 41 and the differential operation circuit 43, a low-pass filter 44 and a microprocessor 47 are mounted, if possible.

In this case, since the housing of the wireless control device also serves as the housing of the input device, there is no need to provide a housing dedicated to the input device, so that members can be saved and the cost can be reduced. Most of the electrical connections are made by the printed circuit board 4.
Since the number of steps can be reduced to zero, the wiring process and the amount of work are shortened, and the cost is further reduced. The replacement of the detection member and the electronic component can be easily performed by replacing the printed wiring board 40, so that maintenance is also facilitated. Furthermore, there is little waste of mounting, and the device becomes compact.

[0047]

[Others] In each of the above-described embodiments, the Z-axis rotation is detected in addition to the X- and Y-axis rotations of the operating rod 15. However, the rotation interlocking member 22 for detecting the Z-axis rotation and the rotation detecting member. The presence or absence of 35 is arbitrary, and the detection method is not limited to the same as the X and Y axis rotation detection method, and is arbitrary. Further, whether the detection result is an analog signal or digital data is also an arbitrary design item. Furthermore, the mounting method of the seventh embodiment is not limited to the first embodiment, but can be applied to other embodiments.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, in the input device according to the first solution of the present invention, the tilting amount of the operating rod can be detected by disassembly without the contact transmission mechanism. With this configuration, there is an advantageous effect that an input device with high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod can be realized.

Further, in the input device according to the second solving means of the present invention, the detecting member does not brake the detected member and thus the operating rod, so that the tilting operation is easy and the tilting amount is excellently detected. There is an advantageous effect that the input device can be realized.

Further, in the input device according to the third solution of the present invention, undesired fluctuations are suppressed based on the interaction between the symmetric arrangement of the detecting members and the differential detection, and at the same time, the amount of tilt is detected. Has an advantageous effect that a stable input device with high detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod can be realized.

Further, in the input device according to the fourth solution of the present invention, the installation condition of the detected member is strict, so that the detection accuracy and resolution of the tilt amount of the operating rod are high and the input device is stable. Can be easily realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a first embodiment of the input device of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is a longitudinal front view,
(C) is an electric circuit diagram.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the structure of a second embodiment of the input device of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional front view and FIG. 2B is an electric circuit diagram.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a mechanical structure of a third embodiment of the input device of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the structure of a fourth embodiment of the input device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional front view and FIG. 4B is an electric circuit diagram.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a mechanical structure of a fifth embodiment of the input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a mechanical structure of a sixth embodiment of the input device of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a mechanical structure of a seventh embodiment of the input device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 11 Mounting board (base plate, housing, operation panel, fixed support) 12 Bearing (rolling bearing, bearing, rotation support) 13 Receiving seat (operation rod receiver, holder, external fitting member, tilt support) 14 Spherical body ( Ball, ball, internal fitting member, rod extension member, tilting support part) 15 operating rods (pick, handle, lever, rod, rod, handle,
16 Stick extension member (disc body, end plate) 17 Support (fixed support portion) 18 Box (fixed support portion) 21 Detected member (permanent magnet ring, annular arrayed magnetic material, light-shielding / translucent ring) 22) rotation interlocking member (projected member, eccentric disk, detected member other than tilting) 31 detecting member (magnetic sensor such as Hall element, one of tilt detection around Y axis) 31a coil (magnetic sensor, Y axis center 31b Magnetic core (magnetic path forming member, one of tilt detection around Y axis) 31c Light emitting diode (optical path forming member, one of tilt detection around Y axis) 31d Phototransistor (optical sensor, center of Y axis) 32a Detection member (a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element and the other of tilt detection around the Y axis) 32a Coil (a magnetic sensor and the other of tilt detection around the Y axis) 32b Core (magnetic path type) 32c Light emitting diode (optical path forming member, one of X axis center tilt detection) 32d Phototransistor (optical sensor, one of X axis center tilt detection) 33 Detection member (Hall element) A magnetic sensor such as one of the tilt detections about the X-axis) 34 a detection member (a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element and the other of the tilt detection about the X-axis) 35 a rotation detection member (a magnetic / optical / capacitance sensor; One of rotation detection) 36 Rotation detection member (magnetic / optical / capacitance sensor, the other of rotation detection around the Z axis) 40 Printed wiring board (electronic circuit / electric circuit board, fixed support) 41, 42 Sensor drive circuit 43 Differential operation circuit (Amp, operational amplifier, operational amplifier, differential detection means) 44 Low-pass filter (LPF) 45 Analog-digital conversion circuit (A / D) 46 Inter Face (I / F) 47 Microprocessor (MPU, host controller) 48 Switch (knob, operating member other than operating rod)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Yachibashi 2-16-46 Minami Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Tokimec Co., Ltd. (72) Kuniaki Kato 2--16-46 Minami Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. F-term in Tokimec Co., Ltd. (reference) 5B087 AA02 BC02 BC12 BC19 BC26 DD03

Claims (5)

[Claims] An operating rod, a supporting portion for tiltably supporting the operating rod, and an annular cover fixed to the operating rod with its center located on the axis of the operating rod or an extension thereof. An input device comprising: a detection member; and a plurality of detection members provided at different portions of the support portion, each detecting a local portion of the detected member. 2. The member to be detected is divided into an arc shape or a dot shape, and is disposed in an annular area or a part thereof centered on the axis of the operating rod or an extension thereof. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection member performs detection on said detected member in a non-contact manner.
Alternatively, the input device according to claim 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of said detection members is symmetrically arranged with respect to said operation rod, and differential detection means for obtaining a difference between said pair of detection results is provided. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises: 5. An operating rod, a support portion for tiltably supporting the operating rod, a detected member positioned on a virtual plane passing through the center of rotation of the tilt and fixed to the operating rod, A plurality of detection members that are provided at different portions of the support unit and perform detection in a non-contact manner with respect to a local portion of the detected member,
An input device comprising: differential detection means for obtaining a difference between detection results of the detection members arranged symmetrically with respect to the operation rod.