JP2002108472A - Joy stick device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a joy stick device which is small and whose structure is simple and whose strength is large. SOLUTION: Wide slit-shaped holes 16 going through a shaft center are formed on the side face of the lower part of an operating member 13, an interlocking member 14 is inserted, a circular ring 14a formed at the central part of the holes 16 are positioned at the holes 16, wide slit-shaped holes 17 crossing orthogonally with the holes 16 are formed on the member 13, an interlocking member 15 is inserted through a hole 17 and also inserted through the ring 14a, and when the member 13 is inclined with an edge of a return ring 25 as a fulcrum, one or both of the interlocking members 14 and 15 is rotated. Slit strings 33 and 34 are respectively attached to the members 14 and 15, and the slit strings are made to move between a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joystick device that generates a signal corresponding to the direction and the amount of tilt by tilting an operation member in multiple directions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional joystick device, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-240368, for example, a second interlocking member is inserted into a first interlocking member at right angles, and these first and second interlocking members are inserted. Can be rotated within a certain angle range. When the operating member is inserted through the first and second interlocking members and the operating member is tilted, the first and second operating members are tilted according to the tilt direction and the tilt amount. One or both of the second interlocking members are interlockingly rotated, and the amount of rotation of the first and second interlocking members is detected by the detecting means.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional apparatus, the operating member is inserted into the intersection of the first and second interlocking members, and the first and second interlocking members are tilted by the operation member. , The width of the interlocking member must be larger than the diameter of the insertion portion of the operating member into the interlocking member, and the operating member requires relatively large strength. There is a limit and the width of the first and second interlocking members must be increased, making it difficult to downsize the joystick device. There is also a problem that the shape of the interlocking member is complicated and the price is high.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the first interlocking member is inserted into the operating member from a first direction, and the second interlocking member is inserted into the operating member from a direction intersecting the first direction. Have been.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The pedestal 11 has a cylindrical shape, and includes a circular bottom plate 11a closing a lower end, a circular upper plate 11b having a center hole 12 formed therein, and a rectangular upper edge 11c. The operation member 13 is inserted vertically into the pedestal 11 through the center hole 12 of the upper plate 11b, and is disposed vertically. As shown in FIG. 4, the first interlocking member 14 is inserted through the operation member 13 from the first direction, and the second interlocking member 15 is inserted through the operation member 13 from a direction intersecting the first interlocking member, that is, at right angles in the embodiment. You.
The tilting operation of the operating member 13 and the first and second interlocking members 14
And 15 are linked. First interlocking member 14
Is a circular ring 14 at the center of the rod as shown in FIG.
a is formed, a rod-shaped second interlocking member 15 is inserted into the ring 14a as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and the second interlocking member 15 is inserted into the ring 14a in its length direction (axial center).
Is rotatable around.

A wide slit-like hole 16 passing through the axis of the operation member 13 is formed in a lower side surface thereof, a first interlocking member 14 is inserted through the wide slit-like hole 16, and a ring 14a thereof is fitted. ing. A similar wide slit-shaped hole 17 intersecting at right angles with the wide slit-shaped hole 16 is formed in the operating member 13, and the second interlocking member 15 is inserted through the wide slit-shaped hole 17. The portion 15a of the second interlocking member 15 inserted into the operating member 13 has a square cross section, and both side surfaces thereof are in contact with the slit forming surface of the wide slit hole 17. The second interlocking member 15 is the wide slit-shaped hole 1
When the ring 14a is tilted by the operating member 13 at the center in the length direction of the second
5 is kept out of the way.

The bearing recesses 18 and 19 in which both ends of the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15 are arranged are shown in FIGS.
The bearing recesses 18 and 19 are formed as shown in FIG.
In a state in which both end portions of the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15 are arranged, the lower side thereof is supported by a support portion 21 provided to protrude from the inner peripheral wall of the pedestal 11 as shown in FIG. The first and second interlocking members 14 and 15 are rotatably held on the pedestal 11 by the upper plate 11a and the support portion 21, respectively. A collar 22 is formed at one end of each of the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15, and this is inserted into an engagement groove 23 formed in the bearing recess 18, so that the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15 are formed. It does not move in its length direction.

A plate-shaped return ring 25 is disposed on the upper plate 11b so as to be substantially coaxial with the center hole 12. The operating member 13 is inserted through the return ring 25, and a locking collar 13 a is formed at the upper end of the operating member 13. A coaxial coil outside the operating member 13 is provided between the collar 13 a and the return ring 25. A state return spring 26 is interposed. Return ring 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a rectangle in this embodiment, and two adjacent sides are substantially perpendicular to the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15. Operating member 1 between upper plate 11a and upper side of collar 13a
A rubber cover 27 covering 3 and the like is attached. A part of the operating member 13 protrudes from the cover 27, and a knob 28 is attached to the protruding portion.

As shown in FIG. 4, slit members 31 and 32 as scale members are attached to one end of the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15, respectively.
When the 15 is rotated, the slit members 31 and 32 are also rotated. In the slit members 31 and 32, slit rows 33 and 34 are formed at right angles to the plate surfaces of the slit members 31 and 32 along an arc centered on each axis of the first and second interlocking members 14 and 15. I have. Slit members 31, 32,
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 8, wiring boards 35 and 36 are provided opposite to the respective inner surfaces, and these wiring boards 35 and 36 are mounted in parallel with the inner surface of the bottom plate 11 a. It is erected on a substrate 37 (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 7A, the light emitting elements 38a and 38b and the light receiving elements 39a and 39b are mounted on the wiring board 35 with the slit row 33 interposed therebetween. These light emitting elements 38a, 38b and light receiving elements 39a,
39b is attached to the substrate 35 via a U-shaped attachment 41. Similarly, the light emitting elements 42a and 42b and the light receiving elements 43a and 43b
Is attached to the substrate 36 via the U-shaped fixture 44.

In a state where the operating member 13 is returned to a predetermined position by the return spring 26, in this example, in a vertical state, that is, in a state of being at the origin position, as shown in FIG. 8A, the light emitting elements 38a, 38b and 39a, 39b are provided. , The slit pitch of the origin portions 33a and 33b of the slit row 33 sandwiched therebetween is larger than that of the other portions. In this example, the width of the light blocking portion is longer than that of the other portions, for example, 2.5 to 3 It is about double. The slit, that is, the light passing portion may be the origin portions 33a and 33b. In this case, the width of the slits of the origin portions 33a and 33b may be longer than the slits of the other portions. The slit row 34 is similarly configured.

In this embodiment, signals in two axial directions are received by light receiving elements 39a, 39b, 43 by tilting the operation member 13.
a and 43b, and further an operation signal in the third axial direction is obtained. A slit member 51 is rotatably provided in the knob 28 as shown in FIGS. The slit member 51 includes a cylindrical portion 51a inserted and guided in the ring-shaped guide groove 52, and a short cylindrical slit holding portion 51b fixed to the cylindrical portion 51a and protruding below the cylindrical portion 51a. A slit row 53 protruding downward along the outer peripheral edge is provided. A wiring board 54 is arranged to face the bottom surface of the slit member 51, and a U-shaped fixture 55 is mounted on the wiring board 54, and although not shown in the figure, the slit row 53 is sandwiched between the U-shaped fixtures 55. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are attached by.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a window 56 is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the knob 28 so as to face the cylindrical portion 51a, and an operation projection 57 fixed to the cylindrical portion 51a projects from the window 56. I have. By moving the operation protrusion 57 along the circumferential direction of the knob 28, the slit member 51 can be rotated. The upper and lower shaft portions of the slit member 51 are inserted into the holding plate portion of the switch portion 61 and the wiring board 54, and are held rotatably. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9A, an intermediate portion between a pair of return pieces 62 and 63 is rotatably held on a shaft 51c of the slit holding portion 51b between the slit holding portion 51b and the switch portion 61, and is returned. Piece 6
A return coil spring 64 is hung between one end of 2 and 63,
The other end of the return pieces 62 and 63 sandwiches a projection 65 protruding from the bottom of the switch section 61. Also, the return piece 62
And 63 sandwich an engaging portion 51d protruding from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 51a. In FIG. 1, the inside of the switch unit 61 is omitted. The switch section 61 is operated by pressing a button 66.

A cable 68 is used as a lead wire for the wiring boards 35, 36, 37, and the cable 68 is
Are spirally arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the knob and are introduced into the knob 28. In the above configuration, the operation member 13 is moved from the state shown in FIG.
5 is rotated to the right as a fulcrum of the right side 25a of the return ring 25, the opposite left side 25b is separated from the upper plate 11b, and the ring 14a of the first interlocking member 14 is And the slit member 31 also rotates clockwise, and the slit row 3
3 is a light emitting element 38a, 38b and a light receiving element 3 shown in FIG.
9a and 39b, and the amount of movement is the operating member 1
The number of pulses corresponding to the inclination angle of 3 and passed by the slit is obtained from the light receiving elements 39a and 39b. Further, as understood from FIG. 8A, the pulse of the light receiving element 39a is advanced from the pulse of the light receiving element 39b, and the operating member 1
3 is obtained. At this time, the second interlocking member 15 is in a stationary state.

When the operation member 13 is inclined, the left side 25b of the return ring 25 is connected to the upper plate 11b as described above.
, And the return spring 26 is compressed accordingly. Therefore, when the hand is released from the knob 28, the operating member 13 returns to the vertical state due to the restoring force of the return spring 26. Similarly, when the operation member 13 is inclined in the length direction of the first interlocking member 14,
The ring-shaped hole 1 of the operating member 13 of the second interlocking member 15 is tilted with the side 25c or 25d of the return ring 25 as a fulcrum.
The portion 15a sandwiched by the portions 7 is rotated, the slit row 34 of the slit member 32 moves, and two pulse trains of a number corresponding to the amount of movement are obtained with a phase corresponding to the tilt direction. At this time, the first interlocking member 14 remains stationary. When the hand is released from the knob 28, the operating member 13 returns to the vertical state (initial state) due to the restoring force of the return spring 26.

The operating member 13 is connected to the first and second interlocking members 1.
When the first and second interlocking members 14 and 1 are tilted in a direction intersecting with both of the length directions 4 and 15 in accordance with the direction.
5 rotates, and the slit rows 33 and 34 move together. One of the two movement amounts is larger or smaller than the other depending on the inclination direction. If the direction is 45 degrees, the movement amounts are the same. In this manner, two sets of pulse trains of the phase and the pulse number corresponding to the tilt direction and the tilt angle of the operation member 13 are obtained.

However, in this example, the first or second interlocking member 1
When the operating member 13 is inclined along the length direction of 4 or 15, one side of the return ring 25 becomes a fulcrum, while the first
When the direction intersecting with both length directions of the second interlocking members 14 and 15 is inclined, the angle of the return ring 25 becomes a fulcrum, and it is more distant from the operation member 13 than when the side becomes a fulcrum. When the member 13 is inclined, a large force is required. That is, since there is a difference in operation force between the operation along the length direction of the interlocking member and the operation in the direction oblique to the length direction, the operation in the length direction and the operation in the length direction and the operation in the diagonal direction are distinguished tactilely. Can do the right thing. Note that the diagonal direction of the square return ring 25 may be made to coincide with the length direction of the interlocking members 14 and 15.

The operating member 13 is in the initial position (vertical state).
That is, the origin part 33 of the slit rows 33 and 34
When a and 33b face the light emitting element and the light receiving element, as shown in FIG. 8, the origin parts 33a and 33b are larger than the corresponding parts of the other parts, so that there is some backlash. However, the output signal of the light receiving element always returns to the initial position. Therefore, high precision of the parts is not required, and it is easy to manufacture and can be manufactured at low cost. Moreover, the operation is easy because there is some play.
In addition, there is no possibility that an erroneous signal will be generated even when a small vibration is applied from the outside.

When the operation projection 57 in FIG. 1 is moved in the circumferential direction of the knob 28, the state shown in FIG.
As shown in (5), the return piece 62 is rotated by the engagement portion 51, the return piece 63 is prevented from rotating by the projection 65, and the spring 64 is extended. In addition, this movement of the operation protrusion 57 rotates the slit member 51, and the slit row 5
3 moves between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element attached to the fixture 55, and the phase and the number of pulses corresponding to the operation direction and the amount of movement of the operation protrusion 57 as described with reference to FIG. Two pulse trains are obtained. When you release your hand from the operation protrusion 57,
The slit member 51 is returned to the initial state shown in FIG. 9 by the restoring force of the return spring 64.

In this way, the input in the third axis direction is
The operation is performed by operating the operation projection 57 provided on the peripheral surface of the upper portion, and the operation can be easily performed with the extra finger while holding the knob 28. Since the cable 68 is provided in a spiral shape, stress is dispersed even when the cable 68 is displaced, and durability is improved. In the case where the operating member 13 is tilted, if the cable 68 is spirally provided, the effect of the cable 68 is the same regardless of the direction in which the cable 68 is tilted, and the physical behavior of the cable 68 is easily predicted. Unnecessary catching can be prevented.

In the above description, the means for detecting the inclination of the operation member is not limited to the case using the slit array and the light emitting element and the light receiving element. For example, the axis of the potentiometer may be rotated by rotating the interlocking member. The arrangement of the N and S magnetic poles may be used instead of the slit row, and the magnetic sensor may detect the movement of the magnetic pole arrangement. When the magnetic pole array is used in this manner, the size of the origin portion can be made larger than that of the other portions in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 7, and the same effect as that described above can be obtained. However, when a scale member such as a slit row or a magnetic pole row is used, the origin portion does not necessarily have to be particularly large. Further, the third axis input means may be omitted. The return ring 25 may be circular.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the interlocking members 14, 15 are inserted into the operation member 13, the interlocking members 14, 15 do not become large.
Moreover, the structure can be made simple, and the whole can be reduced in size without reducing the strength of the operation member 13. Further, the structure of the interlocking members 14 and 15 can be simplified, and the interlocking members 14 and 15 can be manufactured at low cost. Although the operation member 13 needs to be thick, the strength can be increased without increasing the size as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a connected state of the operation member and the interlocking member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a main part in a state where the operation member is inclined.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a slit array and a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a portion of a return means of the third axis input means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operating member held so as to be capable of tilting operation in multiple directions, first and second interlocking members interlocked with the tilting of the operating member, and tilt detecting means for detecting in accordance with the tilting of the operating member And a return mechanism for returning the operating member to a predetermined position, wherein the first interlocking member is inserted into the operating member from a first direction, and the second interlocking member is connected to the first direction. A joystick device, wherein the joystick device is inserted into the operation member from a second direction intersecting therewith. 2. The return mechanism, wherein a return ring is disposed on a fixed portion, the operation member is inserted through the return ring and the fixed portion, and an operation member is provided between an engagement portion of the operation member and the return ring. The joystick device according to claim 1, wherein a return coil spring is interposed therebetween, and the operation member is configured to be inclined with an outer edge of the return ring as a fulcrum. 3. The tilt detecting means according to claim 1, wherein said first and second scale members are held so as to interlock with said first and second interlocking members, respectively, and said operation member is at said predetermined position. 3. The joystick device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the first and second scale members facing the scale detection unit is larger than other portions.