JP2007149397A - Multiple direction input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an analog-like sense of operation, using a simple structure, such that the operating load increases, corresponding to the increase in the amount of operation. <P>SOLUTION: The operation member 30, which is inclination operated in all surrounding directions centered about a specific point, is pushed by a spring 50 via a pushing auxiliary member 60 and is elastically supported at a neutral position. The contact face of the operating member 30, with the pushing auxiliary member 60, is made into a curving portion 37 that curves with respect to the horizontal face orthogonal to the center line of the operating member 30, so that the horizontal distance F, from the inclination center point O of the operating member 30 to the contact point with the pushing auxiliary member 60 at the lower side, becomes constant, regardless of the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device that inputs various signals by operating an operation member that is operated in an arbitrary surrounding direction.

  This type of multi-directional input device called a joystick is usually combined with a stick-like operation member that is tilted in all directions around a specific point, and operably tilted in two directions. A set of motion conversion members that move in a direction corresponding to the direction of the operation according to the operation, a spring that elastically holds the operation member in a neutral position, and a signal corresponding to each momentum of the set of motion conversion members. A set of signal output means for outputting.

  The spring is housed in a compressed state on the lower side of the operating member, and the upper operating member is elastically pressed via a pressing auxiliary member such as a cup shape or a disk shape to bring the operating member into a neutral position. Hold elastic.

  As a set of motion converting members, a set of sliders that can move in two directions perpendicular to each other and a set of rotating members that rotate in two directions perpendicular to each other are used. Moreover, as a set of signal output means, an electric sensor represented by a volume, a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, or the like is used, but a volume is relatively used mainly from the viewpoint of cost.

  In such a multidirectional input device, the operation member is elastically held in the neutral position by elastically contacting the flat upper surface of the pressing assist member with the flat lower surface of the operation member. When the operating member is tilted from the neutral position, the operating member is tilted with respect to the flat upper surface of the pressing assist member, and the outer peripheral edge of the operating member partially contacts the flat upper surface of the lower pressing assist member to press The auxiliary member is pushed down. At this time, the operation load of the operation member corresponds to the amount of contraction of the spring, but since the operation amount of the operation member does not correspond to the amount of contraction of the spring, the operation load of the operation member does not correspond to the operation amount of the operation member. is there.

  This problem will be described with reference to FIG. 16. The operation member 1 has a large-diameter disk-shaped pedestal 2 at its lower end, and is pressed downward by a disk or ring that is biased upward by a spring (not shown). When the pedestal 2 is pressed upward by the auxiliary member 3, it is elastically held at the neutral position. When the operation member 1 is tilted against the pressing holding force, the pedestal portion 2 is tilted, and the lower pressing auxiliary member 3 is pressed downward at the outer peripheral edge of the pedestal portion 2. When the operating force is removed, the operating member 1 automatically returns to the original neutral state by the pressing by the pressing auxiliary member 3.

  As the operation amount of the operation member 1, a horizontal operation stroke S associated with the tilt of the operation member 1 is defined, and the horizontal direction from the tilt center point O of the operation member to the contact point between the operation member 1 and the pressing auxiliary member 3. If the distance is L, the horizontal distance L is large at the beginning of the operation (when the operation stroke S is small), and the pressing assisting member 3 moves greatly downward with a slight increase in the operation stroke S. That is, the spring contracts greatly. As the operation stroke S further increases, the horizontal distance L decreases as the operation stroke S increases, and even if the operation stroke S is increased, the downward movement amount of the pressing assisting member 3 decreases. The horizontal direction is a direction perpendicular to the center line of the operation member 1 at the initial position.

  As described above, as a result of the change (decrease) in the horizontal distance L with the increase in the operation stroke S, the operation load (the load required for the operation) shows a maximum value at the beginning of the operation, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, a tendency to decrease as the operation stroke S increases is shown. The stable load reached at the beginning of the operation (the load at which the spring begins to exhibit the desired characteristics) is called the initial load, and conventionally the initial load is the maximum load.

  When the relationship between the operation amount of the operation member and the operation load is as shown in FIG. 17, the operation feeling becomes digital, which may be useful in some cases, but in some cases, the operation load is proportional to the increase in the operation amount. In some cases, an analog operation feeling that increases the number of times is required. Conventional multi-directional input devices cannot meet such demands, and there is a problem that the feeling of use is not natural.

  In order to make the initial operation of the operation member smooth, the lower surface of the outer periphery of the large-diameter pedestal formed at the lower end of the operation member is curved or inclined with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the center line of the operation member. The technique for reducing the initial load is described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. However, this technique merely reduces the initial load, and does not realize an analog operation feeling in which the operation load increases in proportion to the operation amount.

JP 11-53995 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-329160

  The present invention was devised in view of such circumstances, and provides a multidirectional input device capable of realizing an analog operation feeling that increases an operation load corresponding to an increase in an operation amount with a simple configuration. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a multidirectional input device according to the present invention converts an operation member tilted in all directions around a specific point, and converts an operation direction and an operation amount of the operation member into an electrical signal. Therefore, a pair of motion converting members that are movable in two directions perpendicular to each other and moving in accordance with the tilting operation of the operating member, and the operating member in order to elastically hold the operating member in the neutral position. A spring that elastically presses from the side, and a pressing auxiliary member that is interposed between the operating member and the spring and press-contacts the lower surface of the operating member, thereby increasing the amount of operation when the operating member is tilted. Accordingly, at least one of the contact surfaces of the operating member and the pressing assisting member is formed in a curved surface with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the center line of the operating member so that the operating load increases accordingly, more preferably Tilt center point At least one of the contact surfaces of the operation member and the pressure assisting member is the horizontal surface so that the horizontal distance to the contact point between the operation member and the lower pressure assisting member is constant regardless of the operation amount of the operation member. Is formed into a curved surface.

  The pair of motion converting members is a rotating member that rotates in two directions perpendicular to each other about a line passing through the operation center of the operation member, and the pressing auxiliary member is moved together with the operation member from the lower side by the spring. When the operation member is tilted, the contact force between the pair of motion conversion members and the pressure assisting member is increased so that the operation force increases as the operation amount increases. It is preferable that at least one of them is formed with a curved surface with respect to the horizontal plane, and the horizontal distance from the rotation center line of the pair of motion converting members to the contact point between the motion converting member and the lower pressing auxiliary member operates. More preferably, at least one of the contact surfaces of the pair of motion converting member and the pressing assisting member is formed in a curved surface with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be constant regardless of the rotation amount of the converting member.

  When the lower surface of the operation member is a flat surface parallel to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the center line of the operation member, a horizontal distance L from the tilt center point of the operation member to the contact point between the operation member and the pressing auxiliary member (in the horizontal plane) The separation distance in the parallel direction) decreases with the tilting operation of the operating member. For this reason, as the operation amount of the operation member increases, the pushing amount of the spring decreases, and the operation load decreases. On the other hand, by curving the lower surface of the operation member with respect to the horizontal plane, more specifically, by curving the lower surface of the operation member toward the outer peripheral side in a direction gradually away from the lower pressing auxiliary member, The decrease in the horizontal distance L accompanying the increase in the operation amount of the operation member can be suppressed, and the distance L can be kept constant, thereby increasing the operation load corresponding to the increase in the operation amount. Become. In particular, an operation load proportional to the operation amount can be obtained by using a curved surface shape in which the horizontal distance L is constant regardless of a change in the operation amount of the operation member.

  Instead of the lower surface of the operating member, the upper surface of the pressing assist member can be formed into a curved surface, or both can be formed into a curved surface.

  A set of motion converting members is a rotating member that rotates in two directions perpendicular to each other about a line passing through the operation center of the operation member, and together with the operation member, the spring is interposed from the lower side via the pressing auxiliary member. In the case of being elastically pressed, the effect can be further enhanced if at least one of the contact surfaces is curved as in the case of the operation member.

  The multidirectional input device according to the present invention has at least one of the contact surfaces of the operation member and the pressure assisting member, and further, if necessary, at least one of the contact surfaces of the pair of motion converting member and the pressure assisting member as the center of the operation member. With a simple method of forming a curved surface with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the line, an analog operation feeling that increases the operation load in response to an increase in the operation amount can be realized, and an analog operation feeling is required. A high commercial value can be given to the use.

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

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a multidirectional input device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the multidirectional input device, showing a case where an operation member is in a neutral state, and FIG. It is a vertical side view of the apparatus, and shows a case where the operation member is in an inclined state.

  4 is a perspective view of an upper case used in the multidirectional input device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lower case used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 6 is used in the multidirectional input device. 7 is a perspective view from above of the upper motion conversion member, FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below of the upper motion conversion member used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 8 is used in the multidirectional input device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of the lower motion conversion member used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 10 is used in the multidirectional input device. FIG. 11 is a perspective view from above of a pressing assisting member used in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view from below of the pressing assisting member used in the multidirectional input device. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a push switch used in the multidirectional input device. That.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of each member when the operation member is operated in the multidirectional input device, and FIG. 15 is a graph showing the relationship between the operation amount and the operation load in the multidirectional input device.

  The multidirectional input device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is a body constituted by an upper case 10 and a lower case 20, protrudes upward from the body, and is supported to be tiltable in all directions. The shaft-shaped operating member 30 and a pair of rotary motion converting members 40A and 40B which are incorporated into the body in two upper and lower stages and rotate in two directions perpendicular to each other when the operating member 30 is tilted. The operation member 30 is interposed between the operation member 30 and the spring 50, and the operation member 30 is interposed between the operation member 30 and the spring 50. A pressure assisting member 60 that presses upward together with the members 40A and 40B, and volumes 70A and 70B attached to two right-angled sides of the body to convert the motion of the motion converting members 40A and 40B into electrical signals, Positioned below the operating member 30 and a press switch 80 incorporated in the body.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the upper case 10 constituting the body has a rectangular box shape with an open bottom, and the top plate portion is provided with a circular opening 11 for projecting the operation member 30. The opening 11 is set to an inner diameter that does not hinder the tilting operation of the operation member 30. The back surface of the top plate is designed so as not to hinder the two-direction rotation operation of the motion conversion members 40A and 40B.

  The two opposite side plate portions of the upper case 10 are provided with cuts 12A into which both end portions of the motion converting member 40A are fitted, and the other two side plate portions have both end portions of the motion converting member 40B. Cuts 12B to be fitted are provided. In addition, a pair of holding portions 13A and 13B are projected from two orthogonal side plate portions of the upper case 10 in order to hold the volumes 70A and 70B.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower case 20 includes a rectangular bottom plate portion 21 that closes the bottom opening of the upper case 10, and a fixing portion 22 that protrudes upward from two corner portions that are located diagonally to the bottom plate portion 21. 22, support portions 23 </ b> A and 24 </ b> A that protrude upward from two opposite side edge portions of the bottom plate 21, and support portions 23 </ b> B and 24 </ b> B that protrude upward from the other two side edge portions of the bottom plate 21. Yes. The fixing portions 22 and 22 are inserted into the through holes 14 and 14 of the upper case 10 in a state where the upper case 10 is combined with the lower case 20, and are connected and fixed to the case 20 having the upper case 10. In this state, the support portions 23A and 24A are inserted into the cuts 12A and 12A of the upper case 10 to constitute a bearing portion that rotatably supports both ends of the motion conversion member 40A. Further, the support portions 23B and 24B are inserted into the notches 12B and 12B of the upper case 10 to constitute a bearing portion that rotatably supports both ends of the motion conversion member 40B.

  A circular concave portion 25 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 21 to accommodate the spring 50 and the push switch 80, and four convex portions 26 for positioning these are provided in the concave portion 25. Yes. The four convex portions 26 position and hold the spring 50 on the outside, and position and hold the push switch 80 on the inside.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the operation member 30 includes a round bar-shaped main body portion 31, a bowl-shaped support portion 32 provided at the lower end portion thereof, and a disk-like pedestal provided further below the support portion 32. The shaft portion 34 is provided at both ends of the support portion 32.

  On the circular lower surface of the pedestal portion 33, a spherical convex portion 35 is provided at the center portion for operating the push switch 80. The outside of the convex portion 35 is a contact surface with the lower pressing auxiliary member 60. The inner peripheral portion of the contact surface is an annular flat surface portion 36, and the outer peripheral portion is a so-called downward convex annular curved surface portion 37 that is curved upward as the distance from the flat surface portion 36 increases. The curved surface portion 37 prevents the horizontal distance L from the tilt center point of the operation member 30 to the contact point with the lower pressing auxiliary member 60 from changing when the operation member 30 is tilted. This is an important configuration, which will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper motion conversion member 40 </ b> A includes a dome-shaped (hemispherical) main body portion 41 </ b> A and a horizontal axis in the Y-axis direction integrally provided on both side portions of the main body portion 41 </ b> A. 42A and 42A. The main body 41A rotates in the X-axis direction around the shafts 42A and 42A, and the end in the X-axis direction is removed in an arc shape to allow the rotation. The main body 41A is provided with a through hole 43A through which the operation member 30 passes. The through-hole 43A is a long hole in the Y-axis direction so that the motion converting member 40A is synchronized with the operation of the operating member 30 in the X-axis direction and the motion converting member 40A does not hinder the operation of the operating member 30 in the Y-axis direction. Has been.

  The lower surfaces of both side portions of the main body 41A are contact surfaces with the lower pressing assisting member 60, and the portions of the contact surfaces other than the rotational direction both ends (X-axis direction both ends) of the motion converting member 40A are flat. 44A, and both ends in the rotational direction (both ends in the X-axis direction) are curved surface portions 45A and 45A that curve upward as they move away from the plane portion 44A.

  The lower-stage motion conversion member 40B includes a dome-shaped (hemispherical) main body portion 41B that fits within the dome-shaped main body portion 41A of the motion conversion member 40A, and a bowl shape integrally provided on both sides of the main body portion 41B. Support portions 42B and 42B, and horizontal shaft portions 43B and 43B in the X-axis direction that are integrally provided on the outer side of the support portions 42B and 42B. The main body portion 41B rotates in the Y-axis direction around the horizontal shaft portions 43B and 43B, the rotation center line intersects with the upper-stage motion conversion member 40A rotation center line at a right angle, and the intersection is the operation member. It is also the center point of 30 tilts.

  The main body portion 41B is provided with a through hole 44B through which the operation member 30 passes. The through hole 44 </ b> B is a long hole in the X-axis direction so that the motion conversion member 40 </ b> B is synchronized with the operation of the operation member 30 in the Y-axis direction and the motion conversion member 40 </ b> B does not hinder the operation of the operation member 30 in the X-axis direction. Has been.

  On the inner surface of the main body portion 41B, hook-shaped first recesses 45 into which the hook-shaped support portions 32 of the operation member 30 are fitted are provided so as to intersect with the through holes 43B. Are provided with semicircular second recesses 46 and 46 into which the shaft portions 34 and 34 are fitted. The operation member 30 is supported by these recesses so as to be tiltable in the X-axis direction within the motion conversion member 40B, and the tilt center line of the operation member 30 in the X-axis direction is the X of the motion conversion member 40A. It coincides with the axial rotation center line. Further, the operation member 30 is supported so as to be rotatable in the Y-axis direction together with the motion conversion member 40A by the rotation of the motion conversion member 40B in the Y-axis direction. It can be turned in the axial direction.

  In this manner, the operation member 30 is supported so as to be tiltable in all directions by the combination of the rotation of the motion conversion member 40A in the X-axis direction and the rotation of the motion conversion member 40B in the Y-axis direction.

  Each lower surface of the support portions 42B and 42B is a contact surface with the lower pressing assisting member 60, and a portion of the contact surface excluding both rotation direction end portions (Y-axis direction both end portions) of the motion conversion member 40B. It is a plane part 48B, and both ends in the rotational direction (Y-axis direction both ends) are curved surface parts 49B and 49B that are curved upward as they move away from the plane part 48B.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the disk-shaped pressing auxiliary member 60 is a ring having an opening 61 at the center. The opening 61 is a relief hole for projecting the spherical convex portion 35 of the operation member 30 downward. The upper surface of the pressure assisting member 60, particularly the inner peripheral surface surrounding the opening 61, comes into contact with the lower surface of the pedestal 33 of the operating member 30, particularly the contact surfaces (the flat surface 36 and the curved surface 37) outside the convex portion 35. An annular receiving surface 62, which is a horizontal flat surface. The outside of the receiving surface 62 is an inclined surface 65 that descends toward the outer peripheral side.

  Four receiving portions 63 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the pressing assisting member 60 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Of the four receiving portions 63, the two facing portions are A-member support portions where both side portions of the main body portion 41A of the motion converting member 40A abut from above, and the remaining two receiving portions 63 are the members of the motion converting member 40B. The support portions 42B and 42B are B member support portions that come into contact with each other from above. The upper surface of any receiving part 63 is a flat horizontal bearing surface.

  The four receiving portions 63 are also guide portions that are in sliding contact with the four support portions 23A, 24A, 23B, and 24B of the lower case 20, and the small convex portions 64 that protrude outward from the respective receiving portions 63 are four of the lower case 20. By horizontally engaging the support portions 23A, 24A, 23B, and 24B, the pressure assisting member 60 can be moved up and down horizontally by fitting into the longitudinal grooves provided on the inner wall surfaces of the two support portions 23A, 24A, 23B, and 24B. To do.

  The lower surface of the pressing auxiliary member 60, particularly the periphery of the opening 61, is recessed in a trapezoidal shape so as to avoid interference with the lower pressing switch 80, and the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion is positioned for positioning the spring 50. An annular groove 66 into which the upper end of the spring 60 is fitted is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the push switch 80 has a rectangular main body 81 and a key top 83 fixed to the upper surface of the key switch 83 by a cover 82. The main body 81 is positioned and held inside the four convex portions 26 of the lower case 20, and in this state, the plurality of leads 84 are connected to the lower case 20 from the plurality of openings 29 provided in the bottom plate portion 21 of the lower case 20. Project to the lower side.

  Next, functions of the multidirectional input device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the operation member 30 is pressed upward by the pressing auxiliary member 60 urged upward by the spring 50. The upper and lower motion conversion members 40 </ b> A and 40 </ b> B are also pressed upward together with the operation member 30 by the pressing auxiliary member 60 biased upward by the spring 50.

  More specifically, in a state where the operating member 30 is not subjected to external force, as shown in FIG. 2, the annular flat receiving surface 62 of the pressing assisting member 60 is provided on the lower surface of the pedestal portion 33 of the operating member 30, particularly the convex portion 35. It is in surface contact with the annular flat surface portion 36 on the outer side. Further, the flat upper surfaces of the two receiving portions 63, 63 facing each other of the pressing assisting member 60 are elastically applied to the lower surfaces of both side portions of the motion converting member 40A, particularly the flat surface portion 44A sandwiched between the curved surface portions 45A, 45A. The flat upper surfaces of the other two receiving portions 63 and 63 are elastic to the lower surfaces of the support portions 42B and 42B of the motion conversion member 40B, in particular, the flat surface portion 48B sandwiched between the curved surface portions 49B and 49B. Surface contact.

  Thus, the operation member 30 and the upper and lower motion conversion members 40A and 40B are elastically held at the neutral position. In this state, the operation member 30 can tilt in the X-axis direction together with the upper-stage motion conversion member 40A, and can tilt in the Y-axis direction together with the lower-stage motion conversion member 40B. The operation member 30 can be tilted in all directions. Further, as described above, the rotation center line in the Y-axis direction of the motion converting member 40A and the rotation center line in the X-axis direction of the motion converting member 40B are orthogonal to each other, and the intersection is the tilt center point of the operation member 30. It is.

  When the operation member 30 is tilted in the X-axis direction, the upper motion conversion member 40A rotates accordingly. 3 and 14, the lower surface of the pedestal portion 33 of the operation member 30, particularly the curved surface portion 37 outside the flat surface portion 36, causes the annular auxiliary receiving surface of the pressing auxiliary member 60 to move. The pressing auxiliary member 60 is pressed down against the urging force of the spring 50 in contact with 62.

  Here, in the curved surface portion 37 of the operation member 30, the horizontal distance L from the tilt center point O of the operation member 30 to the contact point between the operation member 30 and the pressing auxiliary member 60 is related to the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. It is designed to be constant. In other words, because of the curved surface portion 37, the contact position (distance from the center) of the operation member 30 on the receiving surface 62 of the pressing assist member 60 is constant regardless of the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the operation load F of the operation member 30 increases in proportion to the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. More precisely, the operation load F is proportional to the operation stroke S in the area after the initial load.

  This is because the operating load of the operating member 30 is F, the distance from the load acting point on the operating member 30 to the tilting center point O is l, the pressing force by the pressing holding member 60 is f, and the pressing force from the tilting center point O of the operating member 30 is If the distance to the point of action (the distance from the tilting center point O of the operation member 30 to the contact point of the operation member 30 and the pressing auxiliary member 60) is L, Equation 1 is established, and k is the spring constant of the spring 50. , X is a contraction amount, Formula 2 is established because f = k · x. Here, if L is constant, Formula 3 is established, and the operation load F of the operation member 30 is proportional to the amount of contraction x of the spring 50, and is therefore proportional to the operation stroke S of the operation member 30.

  The operation stroke S of the operation member 30 satisfies tan θ≈θ (rad) in a region where the tilt angle θ is small. For this reason, the operation stroke S corresponds to θ (rad). Usually, since the tilt angle θ of the operation member 30 is about 20 degrees at the maximum, the operation stroke S≈the tilt angle θ (rad) is established.

  In addition to the tilting operation of the operating member 30, the upper motion converting member 40A is rotated by the tilting operation of the operating member 30 in the X-axis direction. The side curved surface portion 45 </ b> A contacts the flat upper surfaces of the two receiving portions 63, 63 of the pressing assisting member 60, and the pressing assisting member 60 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring 50. However, the contact of the both sides of the motion converting member 40A with the two receiving portions 63, 63 of the pressing assisting member 60 is limited to the time when the operating member 30 is in the neutral state and the time when the operating amount is small. When the amount increases and the descending amount of the pressing assisting member 60 increases, both side portions (the flat surface portion 44A and the curved surface portions 45A, 45A) of the motion converting member 40A move away from the two receiving portions 63, 63 of the pressing assisting member 60.

  That is, the contact between the both side portions of the motion converting member 40A and the two receiving portions 63, 63 of the pressing assisting member 60 functions here to increase the stability and holding load in the vicinity of the initial position of the operating member 30. The relationship between the operation amount and the operation load is not directly involved.

  When the operation member 30 is tilted in the Y-axis direction, the lower-stage motion conversion member 40B rotates accordingly. Due to the tilting of the operation member 30, the lower surface of the pedestal portion 33 of the operation member 30, particularly the curved surface portion 37 outside the flat surface portion 36 comes into contact with the annular flat receiving surface 62 of the pressing assist member 60, and the biasing force by the spring 50 The pressing assisting member 60 is pushed down against this.

  Here, in the curved surface portion 37 of the operation member 30, the horizontal distance L from the tilt center point O of the operation member 30 to the contact point between the operation member 30 and the pressing auxiliary member 60 is related to the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. It is designed to be constant. In other words, because of the curved surface portion 37, the contact position (distance from the center) of the operation member 30 on the receiving surface 62 of the pressing assist member 60 is constant regardless of the operation stroke S of the operation member 30. As a result, the operation load F of the operation member 30 increases in proportion to the operation stroke S.

  Further, as a result of the lower operation conversion member 40B being rotated by the operation of tilting the operation member 30 in the Y-axis direction, the lower surfaces of the support portions 42B and 42B of the operation conversion member 40B, particularly the curved surface portion 49B on the tilt operation side, The pressing assisting member 60 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring 50 by contacting the flat upper surfaces of the other two receiving portions 63, 63 of the motion converting member 60. This is when the operating member 30 is in the neutral state. When the operation amount of the operation member 30 is increased and the lowering amount of the pressing auxiliary member 60 is increased, the both side portions (the flat surface portion 48B and the curved surface portions 49B and 49B) of the motion conversion member 40B are limited. It separates from the two receiving parts 63, 63 of the pressing auxiliary member 60. That is, the lower surfaces of the support portions 42B and 42B of the motion conversion member 40B also function to increase the stability and holding load in the vicinity of the initial position of the operation member 30, and the relationship between the operation amount and the operation load is directly Is not involved.

  When the operation load applied to the operation member 30 is removed, the operation member 30 automatically returns to the neutral position (origin position). The operation load at the time of return is slightly smaller than the operation load at the time of tilting.

  If the operating member 30 is pressed in the vertical direction, the pressing member 30 moves down together with the auxiliary pressing member 60 against the urging force of the spring 50, and the pressing switch 80 is operated.

  As described above, in the multidirectional input device according to the present embodiment, from the tilt center point O of the operation member 30 to the contact point between the operation member 30 and the pressing auxiliary member 60 due to the shape design of the curved surface portion 37 of the operation member 30. The horizontal distance L is made constant regardless of the operation stroke S of the operation member 30, whereby the operation load F is proportional to the operation stroke S. If the shape of the curved surface portion 37 of the operation member 30 is changed, the magnitude of the initial load can be changed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the proportional constant of the load curve can be changed by changing the characteristics of the spring 50.

  In the above embodiment, in order to elastically hold the operation member 40 in the neutral position, both the operation member 40 and the motion conversion members 40A and 40B are pressed by the spring 50, and the load curve is operated by the design of the operation member 40. However, it is also possible to manipulate the load curve with both. In that case, for example, both side portions (the flat surface portion 44A and the curved surface portions 45A and 45A) of the motion converting member 40A and both side portions (the flat surface portion 48B and the curved surface portions 49B and 49B) of the motion converting member 40B are used. Alternatively, the upper surface shape of the receiving portions 63, 63,.

  In the above-described embodiment, the motion conversion members 40A and 40B are also rotatable. However, in the case of the slide type, the horizontal distance F only needs to be maintained constant only in the operation member 30.

1 is an external view of a multidirectional input device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the multidirectional input device shows a case where the operation member is in a neutral state. It is a vertical side view of the multidirectional input device, and shows a case where the operation member is in an inclined state. It is a perspective view of the upper case currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view of the lower case used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the upper part of the operation | movement conversion member of the upper stage currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the bottom of the upper stage operation conversion member used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the upper part of the operation | movement conversion member of the lower stage used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the bottom of the operation | movement conversion member of the lower stage currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view of the operation member currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the upper side of the press auxiliary member currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view from the bottom of the press auxiliary member currently used for the multidirectional input device. It is a perspective view of a push switch used in the multidirectional input device. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of each member when the operation member is operated in the multidirectional input device. (A) And (b) is a graph which shows the relationship between the operation angle and operation load in the multidirectional input device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the positional relationship of an operation member and a press auxiliary member. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the operation angle and the operation load in the conventional multidirectional input device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Upper case 20 Lower case 30 Operation member 33 Base part 36 Plane part 37 Curved part 40A, 40B Motion conversion member 43A, 44B Through-hole (long hole)
44A, 48B Flat surface portion 45A, 49B Curved surface portion 50 Spring 60 Pressing auxiliary member 62 Receiving surface 63 Receiving portion 70A, 70B Volume 80 Press switch

Claims (5)

  An operation member that is tilted in all directions around a specific point, and an operation member that is operable in two directions perpendicular to convert the operation direction and operation amount of the operation member into an electrical signal. A set of motion converting members that move in accordance with the tilting operation, a spring that elastically presses the operating member from below to elastically hold the operating member in a neutral position, and the operating member and the spring A pressure assisting member interposed between the operation member and the lower surface of the operation member. The contact between the operation member and the pressure assisting member increases so that an operation load increases as the operation amount increases when the operation member is tilted. At least one of the surfaces is formed in a curved surface with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the center line of the operation member.   The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal distance from a tilt center point of the operation member to a contact point between the operation member and a pressing auxiliary member below the operation member is constant regardless of an operation amount of the operation member. Thus, the multidirectional input device in which at least one of the contact surfaces of the operation member and the pressing auxiliary member is formed in a curved surface with respect to the horizontal plane.   The multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of motion conversion members are rotating members that rotate in two directions perpendicular to each other about a line passing through the operation center of the operation member, together with the operation member. A multidirectional input device that is elastically pressed by the spring from below via the pressing auxiliary member.   4. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the contact surfaces of the pair of motion converting member and the pressing auxiliary member is increased so that the operation force increases with an increase in the operation amount when the operation member is tilted. A multidirectional input device, one of which is formed in a curved surface with respect to the horizontal plane.   5. The multidirectional input device according to claim 4, wherein a horizontal distance from a rotation center line of the pair of motion converting members to a contact point between the motion converting member and the lower pressing assisting member is determined by the rotation of the motion converting member. A multi-directional input device in which at least one of the contact surfaces of the pair of motion converting member and the pressing auxiliary member is formed in a curved surface with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be constant regardless of the amount of movement.

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