JP2022072724A - Foot controller device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a foot controller device that can reduce the number of components.SOLUTION: The foot controller device includes: a housing; a pedal in the shape of a flat plate, rotatably supported while facing the housing; a magnet held on the housing side of the pedal; and a detection unit for detecting the amount of rotation of the pedal. The detection unit includes: a first detection unit in the housing, the first detection unit facing a magnet which moves according to the rotation of the pedal and detecting a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet; and a second detection unit for detecting a preset amount of rotation of the pedal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

The present invention relates to a foot controller device.

In general, a foot controller device (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a foot controller) is a control device operated by depressing a pedal with a foot. The foot controller converts the pedal depression angle into the shaft rotation angle of the potentiometer via an internal mechanism, and converts the shaft rotation angle (depression amount) into an electrical output (current, voltage, etc.). That is, the foot controller is a control device for extracting an electric output according to the depression angle of the pedal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, the foot controller is required to have vibration resistance and long life depending on the usage environment. For this reason, the potentiometer used for the foot controller is widely adopted as a non-contact type instead of a contact type composed of a resistor and a contact.
A foot controller using a conventional non-contact potentiometer has a coupling mechanism for converting pedal depression into the shaft rotation of the potentiometer. Then, in this foot controller, in order to obtain the intended electrical output, it is necessary to make adjustments when attaching the potentiometer and adjustments of the connecting mechanism portion.

Further, a foot controller using the above-mentioned non-contact potentiometer is known to have a safety mechanism as an independent function. As a safety mechanism, for example, a configuration is known that outputs an electric signal for notifying that the pedal is approaching the terminal position before the maximum pedal depression position (terminal position) (for example,). See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-57497 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-198046

However, in the foot controller using the non-contact potentiometer, in order to reduce the cost, it is required to reduce the number of parts of the above-mentioned connecting mechanism and the reduction of the adjustment work.
Further, in the above-mentioned safety mechanism of the foot controller, since it is necessary to add the parts constituting this safety mechanism, it is necessary to further assemble and adjust the safety mechanism. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost, it is required to reduce the number of parts even in the non-contact type foot controller device provided with a safety mechanism.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a foot controller device capable of reducing the number of parts.

The foot controller device of the present invention detects a housing, a flat plate-shaped pedal rotatably supported facing the housing, a magnet held on the housing side of the pedal, and the amount of rotation of the pedal. It has a part. The detection unit includes a first detection unit provided in the housing for detecting a change in the magnetic flux of a magnet arranged at a position facing the magnet moved by the rotation of the pedal, and a predetermined rotation of the pedal set in advance. It is provided with a second detection unit that detects the amount.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a foot controller device capable of reducing the number of parts.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the conventional foot controller device. It is a top view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is a side view (free state) of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is a side view (maximum angle position) of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a pedal depression angle and an output voltage in a conventional foot controller device. It is a schematic external view of the foot controller apparatus of embodiment. It is a top view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. It is a front view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. It is a bottom view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. 8 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the foot controller device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion C of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the whole structure of a foot controller device. It is an enlarged view of the D part of the foot controller apparatus shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the whole structure of a foot controller device. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of a pedal housing side. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the bottom side of a foot controller device. It is a side view (free state) of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the E part of the foot controller apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view (intermediate position) of the foot controller device shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the E part of the foot controller apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view (maximum angle position) of the foot controller device shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of an E portion of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 22. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a pedal depression angle (°), and an electric output.

<Embodiment of foot controller device>
Hereinafter, specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described.
[Explanation of prior art]
First, prior to the description of the foot controller device of the present invention, an outline of the conventional non-contact type foot controller device (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a non-contact type foot controller and a foot controller) will be described. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a schematic configuration of a conventional non-contact foot controller device. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of the foot controller device. FIG. 2 is a top view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the foot controller device shown in FIG.

The main parts of the non-contact foot controller device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are a housing 10, a pedal 11, a cable 12, a compression coil spring 13, a shaft 14, a lever 15, a lever pin 16, a lever receiver 17, and a non-contact potentiometer 18. Prepare as. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the wiring connecting the non-contact potentiometer 18 and the cable 12 is omitted.

The pedal 11 and the housing 10 are connected by a shaft 14. The pedal 11 and the shaft 14 are mechanically connected by pinning or the like. As a result, the shaft 14 coupled to the pedal 11 is rotatably coupled to the through holes on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 10 as bearings. That is, the pedal 11 can rotate about the shaft 14. The housing 10 has a role of a stopper that limits the rotation range when the pedal 11 rotates.

Further, two compression coil springs 13 are arranged between the housing 10 and the pedal 11. The compression coil spring 13 always applies pressurization to the pedal 11 in the outward direction (opening direction). Therefore, the pedal 11 returns to a predetermined position (free state) when the pedal is released.

Inside the housing 10, a lever 15 having one end coupled to the shaft 14 and a lever pin 16 attached to the other end is arranged.
Further, a non-contact potentiometer 18 is assembled inside the housing 10 at a position away from the shaft 14 via a mounting plate 19. A lever receiver 17 is attached to the shaft 18a of the non-contact potentiometer 18. The lever receiver 17 has a U-shape, the lever pin 16 is engaged with the tip portion of the U-shape, and the shaft 18a of the non-contact potentiometer 18 is joined to the central portion.

With the above configuration, the shaft 14 of the pedal 11 and the shaft 18a of the non-contact potentiometer 18 are connected via the lever 15, the lever pin 16, and the lever receiver 17. By connecting the shaft 14 of the pedal 11 and the shaft 18a of the non-contact potentiometer 18 in this way, the depression angle of the pedal 11 (pedal depression angle) can be changed to the rotation angle (shaft rotation angle) of the shaft 18a of the non-contact potentiometer 18. ) Can be converted. Thereby, in the non-contact potentiometer 18, the depression angle (depression amount) of the pedal 11 can be converted into an electric output (current, voltage, etc.).

In this connection method, the pedal depression angle and the shaft rotation angle of the non-contact potentiometer 18 do not match, and the shaft rotation angle is larger (accelerated) than the pedal depression angle. However, there is a one-to-one relationship between the pedal depression angle and the electrical output.

Next, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show an example of the relationship between the pedal depression angle and the electrical output in the conventional non-contact foot controller device. FIG. 4 is a side view of the non-contact type foot controller device shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the pedal depression angle is 0 ° (free state). FIG. 5 is a side view of the non-contact type foot controller device shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the pedal depression angle is 20 ° (maximum depression angle position).

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the pedal depression angle (°) and the electrical output. In the graph shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal axis shows the pedal depression angle (°), and the vertical axis shows the output voltage ratio (%). In the example shown in FIG. 6, the electric output in the rotation range of the pedal is set to 10% to 90%. The maximum stepping angle position of 20 °, which is the pedal rotation range, is an example for explanation.

As shown in FIG. 6, a play portion in which the electrical output does not change is provided between the pedal depression angle 0 ° shown in FIG. 4 and the pedal 11 depression angle of 3 °. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the pedal depression angle is converted into an electric output having an output voltage ratio of 10% to 90% between the pedal depression angles of 3 ° and 17 °. The output voltage ratio of this electrical output changes linearly according to the pedal depression angle.

Further, a play portion of 3 ° in which the electrical output does not change is provided between the pedal depression angle of 17 ° slightly before the pedal 11 hits the housing 10 and the pedal depression angle of 20 ° shown in FIG. There is. Such a configuration in which a play portion in which the electrical output does not change between the start and end of pedal depression is provided is one of the features of the foot controller. The angle (3 °) of the play portion is an example for explanation.

[Foot controller device configuration]
Next, the configuration of the foot controller device of this embodiment will be described. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a schematic configuration of the non-contact type foot controller device of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic external view of the foot controller device. FIG. 8 is a top view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a front view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the foot controller device shown in FIG. 7. 11 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the foot controller device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion C shown in FIG.

The foot controller device shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 includes a housing 20, a pedal 21, a cable 22, a compression coil spring 23, a shaft 24, a magnet 26, an analog board 27, and a switch board 28 as main components. In FIGS. 8 to 12, the cable 22 for connecting to the outside, the analog board 27 inside the housing 20, and the lead wire for wiring and connecting the switch board 28 and the cable 22 are omitted. ..

The pedal 21 has a flat plate-shaped tread 21a and a shaft through hole 35 of the side plate connected to the side surface of the tread 21a. The pedal 21 is connected to the housing 20 by a shaft 24 inserted into the shaft through hole 35. The pedal 21 and the shaft 24 are mechanically connected by pinning or the like. As a result, the shaft 24 coupled to the pedal 21 is rotatably coupled to the housing 20 in a state of being opposed to the housing 20 by using through holes on the left and right sides of the housing 20 as bearings. That is, the pedal 21 can rotate about the shaft 24 as an axis. The housing 20 has a role of a stopper that limits the rotation range when the pedal 21 rotates.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, two compression coil springs 23 are arranged between the housing 20 and the pedal 21. The compression coil spring 23 always applies pressurization to the pedal 21 in the outward direction (opening direction). Therefore, the pedal 21 returns to a predetermined position (free state) when the pedal is released.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a protruding member 25 is provided on the housing 20 side of the pedal 21. The projecting member 25 is provided between the connecting portion of the shaft 24 and the compression coil spring 23. Further, the projecting member 25 is arranged at a position where it does not interfere (contact) with other configurations such as the shaft 24 and the bearing portion of the shaft 24 of the housing 20 when the pedal 21 rotates and moves.

A recess 30 is formed at a predetermined depth on the tip end side (housing 20 side) of the protruding member 25 of the pedal 21. A magnet 26 is held in the recess 30 of the protruding member 25 of the pedal 21. The recess is formed according to the shape of the magnet 26. Further, the recess 30 is formed to a depth at which the held magnet 26 does not protrude toward the housing 20. For example, the recess 30 is located at a depth where the tip portion of the projecting member 25 and the end portion of the magnet 26 coincide with each other, or the end portion of the magnet 26 is located inside the recess 30 slightly more than the tip portion of the projecting member 25. Formed to depth.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, inside the housing 20, a first detection unit and a second detection unit are provided as detection units for detecting changes in the magnetic flux of the magnet 26 moved by the pedal 21. The foot controller device shown in FIG. 12 includes an analog board 27 as a first detection unit that detects a change in the magnetic flux of the magnet 26 that moves due to the rotation of the pedal 21. Further, the foot controller device shown in FIG. 12 includes a switch board 28 as a second detection unit for detecting a predetermined predetermined rotation amount of the pedal 21. The analog board 27 is mounted in the analog board mounting recess 44. The switch board 28 is mounted in the switch board mounting recess 45.

The analog board 27 is mounted with a magnetic detection sensor that outputs an analog signal (analog output). In the foot controller device shown in FIG. 12, the hall IC 38 is mounted on the analog board 27 as a magnetic detection sensor for analog output. Further, the switch board 28 is mounted with a magnetic detection sensor that outputs an H level / L level switch signal (switch output). In the foot controller device shown in FIG. 12, the hall IC 39 is mounted on the switch board 28 as a magnetic detection sensor for the switch output. In this example, the configuration in which the Hall IC 38 and the Hall IC 39 are used as the magnetic detection sensor is described, but the Hall IC is not limited to the range that does not deviate from the intention of the present technology.
In the analog board 27 and the switch board 28, both magnetic detection sensors operate by sensing the magnetic flux density of the magnet 26 and output an electric signal.

The analog board mounting recess 44 is arranged on the side surface side of the projecting member 25 in the housing 20. Specifically, the analog board mounting recess 44 is formed along the moving direction of the magnet 26 accompanying the rotation of the pedal 21, and is provided at a position substantially parallel to the protruding member 25 of the pedal 21.
Further, when the analog board 27 is mounted in the analog board mounting recess 44, the mounting surface of the hall IC 38 and the facing surface of the magnet 26 are parallel to each other at an intermediate position of the rotation amount (stepping angle) of the pedal 21. It is provided. As a result, the analog output value from the analog board 27 at the intermediate position becomes 50%.

The switch board mounting recess 45 is provided in the housing 20 at a position where the tip portion of the protruding member 25 is close to the pedal 21 when the pedal 21 is closest to the housing 20 side. Further, the switch board 28 is provided on an extension line in the moving direction of the protruding member 25 accompanying the rotation of the pedal 21. Further, on the extension line in the moving direction of the protruding member 25 accompanying the rotation of the pedal 21, the mounting surface of the hole IC 39 of the switch board 28 is provided at a position facing the tip end portion (end portion on the housing 20 side) of the magnet 26. Has been done. As a result, the hole IC 39 of the switch board 28 detects the proximity of the magnet 26 provided on the pedal 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a bottom lid 29 is attached to the bottom of the housing 20 via a rubber packing 31.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the bottom lid 29 is attached to the housing 20 by the bottom lid fixing screw 33. A housing mounting hole 34 for fixing the foot controller device to the floor or the like is provided at the side end portion of the housing 20 on the bottom side. Two housing mounting holes 34 are provided in the front-rear direction of both side ends of the housing 20 on the bottom side.
Inside the housing 20, a cable (not shown) for outputting the connected electrical signal to the outside of the foot controller device is connected to the analog board 27 and the switch board 28. A cable clamp 32 for pulling out the cable to the outside is provided at an end portion of the housing 20 opposite to the assembly position of the shaft 24.

As described above, the foot controller device has an analog output that outputs a voltage corresponding to the pedal depression angle as an electrical output, and an H level (or L level) at a predetermined position slightly before the maximum pedal depression position. It has two output mechanisms, a switch output that outputs a signal. The analog output and the switch output are independent of each other, and one output does not affect the other output.

Therefore, the foot controller device having the above configuration detects the movement of the magnet 26 attached to the pedal 21 on the analog board 27 and the switch board 28. That is, in the hall IC 38 of the analog board 27, the depression angle of the pedal 21 (pedal depression angle) can be detected as a change in the magnetic flux due to the movement of the magnet 26. Further, in the switch board 28, it is possible to detect that the magnet 26 is close to the switch board 28 due to the change in the pedal depression angle. Thereby, in the analog board 27, the rotation amount of the pedal 21 can be converted into an electric output (current, voltage, etc.) and output. Then, the switch board 28 can detect and output a predetermined rotation amount of the preset pedal 21.

[Assembly order of foot controller device]
Next, the structure of the foot controller device will be described along with the assembly order. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, and FIG. 17 show an exploded perspective view for explaining the assembly order of the foot controller device. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall configuration of the foot controller device. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion D shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the foot controller device on the opposite side of FIG. 13. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the pedal 21 on the housing 20 side. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the bottom surface side of the foot controller device. The exploded perspective views shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 have the same configuration as the foot controller device shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to those in FIGS. 7 to 11, and duplicate description will be omitted.

First, the magnet 26 is inserted into the recess 30 of the protruding member 25 provided in the pedal 21. Then, the longitudinal surface of the magnet 26 is brought into close contact with the side surface of the recess 30 and temporarily fixed with an adhesive. Further, the adhesive is poured into the entire recess 30 of the projecting member 25 to seal it, and the adhesive is cured.

After the adhesive is cured, the shaft 24 is inserted into the shaft through hole 35 and the bearing portion 37 with the shaft through hole 35 of the pedal 21 and the bearing portion 37 of the housing 20 aligned. As a result, the pedal 21 is assembled to the housing 20 using the shaft 24. In this assembly, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the compression coil spring 23 is sandwiched between the compression coil spring counterbore hole 42 provided in the pedal 21 and the compression coil spring convex portion 41 provided in the housing 20. conduct.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the shaft 24 has O-ring grooves 43 at both ends, and O-rings 36 are attached to the O-ring grooves 43, respectively. The O-ring 36 is provided to ensure the sealing property inside the housing 20.

After inserting the shaft 24 and assembling the pedal 21 and the housing 20, the pedal 21 and the shaft 24 are mechanically connected by pinning (not shown). As a result, the shaft 24 coupled to the pedal 21 can rotate with the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20 as bearings, that is, the pedal 21 can rotate. Further, the housing 20 has a role of a stopper that limits the rotation range of the pedal 21.

Further, the two compression coil springs 23 arranged between the pedal 21 and the housing 20 always apply pressure to the pedal 21 in the outward direction (opening direction). Therefore, when the pedal 21 is depressed, the depression of the pedal 21 becomes heavier according to the depression amount. Further, when the pedal 21 is released, the pedal 21 returns to a predetermined position (free state).

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the analog board 27 and the switch board 28 are mounted in the analog board mounting recess 44 and the switch board mounting recess 45 of the housing 20, respectively. Then, the analog substrate 27 and the switch substrate 28 are brought into close contact with the mounting surface and temporarily fixed with an adhesive. Further, an adhesive is poured into the analog board mounting recess 44 and the switch board mounting recess 45 to cure the adhesive and seal the analog board 27 and the switch board 28. By this sealing, the analog substrate 27 and the switch substrate 28 are securely fixed. When the material of the housing 20 is metal, the electrical insulation between the analog board 27 and the switch board 28 and the housing 20 is improved.
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, after the adhesive sealing the analog substrate 27 and the switch substrate 28 is cured, the cable is passed through the cable clamp 32 assembled to the housing 20, and the analog substrate 27 and the switch substrate 28 are passed. , The lead wire connected to each of the switch board 28 (the lead wire of the switch board is not shown) and the cable 22 (see FIG. 7) are connected.

Next, the bottom lid 29 is fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 20 with the bottom lid fixing screw 33 so as to sandwich the rubber packing 31. The cable clamp 32 is arranged to secure the root of the cable 22 and to secure the sealing property inside the housing 20. Further, the rubber packing 31 is also provided to ensure the sealing property inside the housing 20.

After the foot controller device is assembled by the above steps, writing is performed to the hall IC 38 (analog output) of the analog board 27 so that the electrical output corresponding to the depression angle of the pedal 21 is intended.
Further, in the hole IC 39 of the switch board 28, the switch board 28 is preset so that the magnet 26 becomes the H level (or L level) at the intended position. Further, the hole IC 39 of the switch board 28 can also be written by using the hole IC 39 of the same program type as the hole IC 38 for analog output.

[Relationship between pedal depression angle and electrical output]
Next, the relationship between the pedal depression angle and the electrical output in the foot controller device will be described. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 show an example of the relationship between the pedal depression angle and the electrical output in the foot controller device.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the non-contact type foot controller device shown in FIG. 11, showing a state in which the pedal depression angle is 0 ° (free state). FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the E portion shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a side view of the non-contact type foot controller device shown in FIG. 11 and shows a state in which the pedal depression angle is 10 ° (intermediate depression position). FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the E portion shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is a side view of the non-contact type foot controller device shown in FIG. 11, showing a state in which the pedal depression angle is 20 ° (maximum depression angle position). FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the E portion shown in FIG. 20.
FIG. 24 is a graph showing the relationship between the pedal depression angle (°) and the electrical output. In the graph shown in FIG. 24, the horizontal axis shows the pedal depression angle (°), and the vertical axis shows the output voltage ratio (%). In the example shown in FIG. 24, the electric output in the rotation range of the pedal is set to 10% to 90%. The maximum stepping angle position of 20 °, which is the pedal rotation range, is an example for explanation.

In the free state in which the pedal is not depressed as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the magnet 26 provided on the pedal 21 is located at the position farthest from the analog board 27 and the switch board 28. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, in the foot controller device, in the free state (FIGS. 18 and 19) in which the pedal is not depressed, the hole of the analog board 27 is set so that the electric output becomes 10% of the lower limit value. Write to IC38 (analog output).

Further, in the graph shown in FIG. 24, the section from 0 ° to 3 ° in the free state is a play section in which the analog output value does not change. Therefore, the electric output maintains 10% of the lower limit value during the stepping angle of 0 ° to 3 °. When the stepping angle exceeds 3 °, the electrical output increases, and the voltage corresponding to the stepping angle is output in analog form.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, at the intermediate position where the pedal depression angle is half of the maximum angle, the mounting surface of the hall IC 38 with the analog board 27 attached and the facing surface of the magnet 26 are at the intermediate position. It is provided so as to be parallel to each other. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, writing is performed to the hall IC 38 (analog output) of the nalog board 27 so that the analog output value at the intermediate position of the pedal depression angle is 50%.

When the pedal depression angle shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is at the maximum position (20 °), the tip of the protruding member 25 of the pedal 21 is in contact with the housing 20 serving as a stopper. At this time, as shown in FIG. 24, writing is performed to the hall IC 38 (analog output) of the nalog board 27 so that the analog output value at the maximum position of the pedal depression angle is 90% of the upper limit value. Further, in the section from the maximum position of the pedal stepping angle to 3 ° before, that is, the pedal stepping angle of 17 ° to 20 ° is set as a play section in which the analog output value is maintained at 90%.

Next, the positional relationship between the magnetic flux sensing element inside the hall IC 38 and the magnet 26, which is related to the linearity accuracy of the analog output output from the analog substrate 27, will be described.
The sensitive surface of the magnetic flux sensing element of the Hall IC 38 and the facing surface of the magnet 26 are parallel at the intermediate positions (FIGS. 20 and 21). However, since the pedal 21 rotates about the shaft 24, the magnet 26 moves in an arc. Therefore, as the pedal 21 moves from the intermediate position (FIGS. 20 and 21) to the free state (FIGS. 18 and 19) or the maximum angle position (FIG. 22 and 23), the sensitive surface of the magnetic flux sensing element And the facing surface of the magnet 26 will have an angle.

When high accuracy is required for the linearity of the analog output from the analog substrate 27, it is preferable that the positional relationship between the sensitive surface of the magnetic flux sensitive element of the Hall IC 38 and the magnet 26 is always parallel. However, in most cases, the foot controller device operated by the foot does not require high-precision linearity, so that there is no practical problem that the magnet 26 moves in an arc shape. Further, when high-precision linearity is required, it is possible to improve the linearity accuracy by using a hole IC 38 having a linearity correction function.

Next, the relationship between the depression angle of the pedal 21 and the switch output from the switch board 28 will be described.
The switch output from the switch board 28 functions as a safety device in order to prevent the pedal 21 (protruding member 25) from vigorously hitting the housing 20 when the pedal 21 is excessively depressed. Specifically, the switch output switches from L level to H level (or from H level to L level) just before the maximum depression angle position of the pedal 21. In FIG. 24, 17 ° at which the analog output is 90% is set as a switching point where the switch output from the switch board 28 is switched. As a result, when the depression angle of the pedal 21 becomes 17 °, the hole IC 39 of the switch board 28 detects the proximity of the magnet 26, and the switch output changes from L level to H level (or from H level to L level). Switch. As a result, the switch board 28 can transmit to the control side of the foot controller device that the pedal 21 is extremely close to the housing 20.

As described above, in the foot controller device of this embodiment, one or more magnets 26 are attached to the pedal 21. Then, one or more sets of two sets of the hall IC 38 and the hole IC 39 are attached to the housing 20 as magnetic detection sensors. Then, the magnetic detection sensor is attached to a position along the moving direction of the magnet 26 and a position facing the movable end of the projecting member 25 in which the magnet 26 is held. That is, the foot controller device of the present embodiment has one set (two or more) of magnetic detection sensors having an analog output (Hall IC38) and a switch output (Hall IC39) for one magnet 26 attached to the pedal 21. Has a mechanism to control at the same time.

The foot controller device having the above configuration does not require a potentiometer for detecting the pedal depression angle and various connecting mechanisms for transmitting the rotation of the shaft to the potentiometer as in the conventional foot controller device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts in the foot controller device. Further, since the potentiometer is not provided, the adjustment for obtaining the intended electrical output and the adjustment of the connecting mechanism portion, which are required when mounting the potentiometer, are not required. Therefore, in the foot controller device, the adjustment work can be reduced.

In the above-mentioned foot controller device, one set of each of an analog output magnetic detection sensor (first detection unit) and a switch output magnetic detection sensor (second detection unit) is detected for one magnet. It is configured to be controlled as a unit. However, it is also possible to increase the number of output systems by mounting two or more Hall ICs on the substrate. For example, by making the Hall IC (analog output) mounted on the analog board a double output type and mounting two Hall ICs (switch output) on the switch board, one magnet can be used for two analog outputs and two. The switch output can also be controlled at the same time.

In the above-mentioned foot controller device, the shape of the magnet is not limited. A magnet can be applied without limiting the configuration and shape as long as the configuration allows simultaneous control of the above-mentioned magnetic detection sensor. Further, the pedal may be provided with two or more magnet holding portions (protruding portions), and may be provided with two or more magnets. In this case, each magnet may be associated with a set of magnetic detection sensors.
Further, the configurations of the first detection unit and the second detection unit are not limited to the above-mentioned analog board and switch board, and if the change in magnetic flux due to the movement of the above-mentioned magnet can be detected, the configuration is not limited. be able to.

In the above description, the output voltage ratio of the analog output is set to 10% to 90%, but the range of the output voltage ratio is arbitrary. The output voltage ratio of the analog output may have a reverse inclination in which the analog output decreases as the pedal depression angle is increased.
Further, in the above description, the analog output is a linear change, but it may be a function output that changes like a switch output, a square wave output, or a parabola.
Further, in the above description, the play section provided in the analog output may not be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the configuration of the present invention.

10,20 chassis, 11,21 pedals, 12,22 cables, 13,23 compression coil springs, 14,18a, 24 shafts, 15 levers, 16 lever pins, 17 lever holders, 18 non-contact potentiometers, 19 mounting plates, 21a tread, 25 protrusions, 26 magnets, 27 analog boards, 28 switch boards, 29 bottom lids, 30 recesses, 31 rubber packings, 32 cable clamps, 33 bottom lid fixing screws, 34 housing mounting holes, 35 shaft through holes, 36 O-ring, 37 bearing part, 38, 39 hole IC, 41 convex part for compression coil spring, 42 counterbore hole for compression coil spring, 43 O-ring groove, 44 analog board mounting recess, 45 switch board mounting recess

Claims (5)

With the housing
A flat plate-shaped pedal that is rotatably supported while facing the housing,
A magnet held on the housing side of the pedal and
A foot controller device including a detection unit that detects the amount of rotation of the pedal.
The detector is
A first detection unit provided in the housing, which detects a change in the magnetic flux of the magnet arranged at a position facing the magnet moved by the rotation of the pedal, and a preset predetermined rotation amount of the pedal. A foot controller device including a second detection unit for detecting a magnet. The foot controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a projecting member formed on the pedal so as to project toward the housing, and holding the magnet on the tip end side of the projecting member. The foot controller device according to claim 2, wherein the second detection unit is provided on the housing side in the direction in which the protruding member moves due to the rotation of the pedal. The foot controller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first detection unit is a switch board that controls a switch output by detecting a predetermined rotation amount. The foot controller device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second detection unit is an analog substrate that controls an analog output due to a change in the magnetic flux of the magnet.

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