# US 10,768,658 B2 · Multi-directional input device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,768,658 B2
- Document ID: US10768658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/534,222
- Filed: 2019-08-07
- Published: 2020-03-26
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-25
- Assignees: Hosiden Corporation
- Applicants: Hosiden Corporation
- Inventors: Mitsuhiro Asano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768658B2

## CPC

- G05G 9/047: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)}
- H01H 25/04: Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
- H01C 10/16: including plural resistive elements
- H01H 25/008: {Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement}
- G05G 2009/04711: {with substantially hemispherical bearing part forced into engagement, e.g. by a spring}
- G05G 2009/04744: {Switches}
- G05G 2009/04751: {Position sensor for linear movement}
- G05G 2009/04777: {with additional push or pull action on the handle}
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H01C: RESISTORS

## Abstract

In a multi-directional input device, an upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is provided at a lower end of an operation shaft projecting downward of a lower arm, a receiving portion for the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is provided in a case, the receiving portion has a receiving surface configured with a spherical surface having a radius of curvature identical to a radius of curvature of a spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion, the receiving surface against which the spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is pressed downward by a compression coil spring, and the operation shaft is supported to be rotatable around the center of curvature of the receiving surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-directional input device, comprising:
a case having a bottom plate;
a pair of upper and lower arms supported to be movable in two orthogonal directions in the case, the pair of upper and lower arms each having an elongated hole extending in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction;
an operation shaft that is rotatable in a state of penetrating each elongated hole;
an actuating member that is supported to be movable in an axial direction of the operation shaft at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm, and is provided with a downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion whose diameter decreases downward;
a compression coil spring that is provided between the operation shaft and the actuating member, and presses the downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion against the bottom plate to return the operation shaft to a neutral state; and
a plurality of electric components operated via each arm by rotation of the operation shaft, wherein
an upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion whose diameter decreases upward is provided at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm,
a receiving portion for the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is provided in the case,
the receiving portion has a receiving surface that is configured with a spherical surface having a radius of curvature identical to a radius of curvature of a spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion, the receiving surface against which a spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is pressed from downward by the compression coil spring, and
the operation shaft is supported to be rotatable about a center of curvature of the receiving surface.

### Claim 2

A multi-directional input device, comprising:
a case having a bottom plate;
a pair of upper and lower arms supported to be movable in two orthogonal directions in the case, the pair of upper and lower arms each having an elongated hole extending in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction;
an operation shaft that is rotatable in a state of penetrating each elongated hole;
an actuating member that is supported to be movable in an axial direction of the operation shaft at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm, and is provided with a downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion whose diameter decreases downward;
a compression coil spring that is provided between the operation shaft and the actuating member, and presses the downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion against the bottom plate to return the operation shaft to a neutral state; and
a plurality of electric components operated via each arm by rotation of the operation shaft, wherein
the actuating member is supported at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm in a state of reducing rotation around an axis of the operation shaft, and is provided with a protrusion projecting radially outward from an upper end of the downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion, and
the protrusion is inserted to be movable vertically in a guide groove that extends in a vertical direction on an inner wall of the case, so that rotation around an axis of the operation shaft of the actuating member is reduced.

### Claim 3

A multi-directional input device, comprising:
a case having a bottom plate;
a pair of upper and lower arms supported to be movable in two orthogonal directions in the case, the pair of upper and lower arms each having an elongated hole extending in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction;
an operation shaft that is rotatable in a state of penetrating each elongated hole;
an actuating member that is supported to be movable in an axial direction of the operation shaft at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm, and is provided with a downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion whose diameter decreases downward;
a compression coil spring that is provided between the operation shaft and the actuating member, and presses the downward convex spherical trapezoidal portion against the bottom plate to return the operation shaft to a neutral state; and
a plurality of electric components operated via each arm by rotation of the operation shaft, wherein
an upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion whose diameter decreases upward is provided at a lower end of the operation shaft projecting downward of the lower arm,
a receiving portion for the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is provided in the case,
the receiving portion has a receiving surface that is configured with a spherical surface having a radius of curvature identical to a radius of curvature of a spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion, the receiving surface against which a spherical zone of the upward convex spherical trapezoidal portion is pressed from downward by the compression coil spring,
the operation shaft is supported to be rotatable about a center of curvature of the receiving surface,
the lower arm has a curved upper surface provided along a cylindrical surface arranged coaxially on one horizontal axis that passes through the center of curvature of the receiving surface and extends in a moving direction of the lower arm,
the operation shaft is provided with an engaging portion with the lower arm, and
the engaging portion has a downward engaging surface that is curved along the curved upper surface of the lower arm and is movable on the curved upper surface of the lower arm when the operation shaft rotates.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, further comprising:
a pusher that is supported to be vertically movable in the case; and
a pressing switch that detects pressing movement of the operation shaft, wherein
the pusher is moved by the lower arm that is moved downward with pressing movement of the operation shaft, and
the pressing switch is operated via the pusher.