Operation input apparatus and operation input detection apparatus

An operation input detection apparatus comprising:

• an operation input apparatus configured to receive a force from an operator;
• and
• a calculation part,
• the operation input apparatus comprising:
• a base part including a placement surface on which plural inductors are placed, the inductors being arranged in a circumferential direction of a circle formed by connecting points apart from a reference point by the same distance;
• a displacement member that is provided in a side where the force is input with respect to the base part, the displacement member including an opposed surface opposed to the placement surface and an operation surface configured to receive an application of the force, and the displacement member being configured to cause an inductance of at least one of the inductors to vary with an approach of the opposed surface to the placement surface due to the application of the force on the operation surface:
• a support member configured to support the displacement member such that an interval between the opposed surface and the placement surface elastically changes;
• and
• an output part configured to output an output signal generated by variations of the inductance,
• the calculation part being configured to calculate a vector of the force by detecting a change of an X direction component of inductance and a change of a Y direction component of inductance based on the output signal for each of the plural inductors, wherein a plane perpendicular to a straight line connecting the reference point and the center portion of the circle is defined to be an XY plane.

An operation input detection apparatus comprising:

• an operation input apparatus configured to receive a force from an operator;
• a calculation part;
• and
• a determination part,
• the operation input apparatus comprising:
• a base part including a placement surface on which plural inductors are placed, the inductors being arranged in a circumferential direction of a circle formed by connecting points apart from a reference point by the same distance;
• a displacement member that is provided in a side where the force is input with respect to the base part, the displacement member including an opposed surface opposed to the placement surface and an operation surface configured to receive an application of the force, and the displacement member being configured to cause an inductance of at least one of the inductors to vary with an approach of the opposed surface to the placement surface due to the application of the force on the operation surface;
• a support member configured to support the displacement member such that an interval between the opposed surface and the placement surface elastically changes;
• an output part configured to output an output signal generated by variations of the inductance;
• an elastic member provided at a center portion of the circle;
• a pressing part provided between the displacement member and the elastic member, the pressing part including an exposed surface that is exposed on the operation surface on a line connecting the reference point and the center portion, the pressing part being configured to deform the elastic member when the force is applied to at least one of the operation surface and the exposed surface;
• and
• a detection part configured to output a deformation detection signal caused by deformation of the elastic member,
• the calculation part being configured to calculate a vector of the force by detecting a change of an X direction component of inductance and a change of a Y direction component of inductance based on the output signal for each of the plural inductors, wherein a plane perpendicular to a straight line connecting the reference point and the center portion of the circle is defined to be an XY plane;
• and
• the determination part being configured to determine that the force is input according to the deformation detection signal.