Multi-direction input device
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorHisato Shimomura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In conventional multi-direction input devices, the operating shaft is formed as a cylinder by machining using a lathe or the like, so that the machining takes a lot of time, resulting in a rather high cost. Disclosed is a multi-direction input device in which the operating shaft 14 is formed of a plate material by stamping using a press or the like, so that the operating shaft has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, where it is possible to produce a large number of operating shafts 14 in a short time and with high dimensional accuracy, therefore achieving a reduction is cost.
Claims13
A multi-direction input device comprising a first interlocking member which is rotatable around a first axis and which has a strip elongated slot, a second interlocking member which is arranged beneath the first interlocking member so as to be perpendicular thereto, which is rotatable around a second axis, and which has a block portion at the center thereof having an elongated groove extending perpendicular to the elongated slot of the first interlocking member, a frame member, the interior of which is bridged by the first and second interlocking members, an operating shaft, a columnar knob of which is passed through the elongated slot of the first interlocking member movably supported in a longitudinal direction of the elongated slot of the first interlocking member, and a flat base portion thereof connected with the knob portion is passed through the elongated groove of the second interlocking member so as to be rotatable supported in the longitudinal direction of the elongated groove of the second interlocking member by a support hole formed in the block of the second interlocking member and a support pin passed through a support hole formed in the base portion and which can be tilted in a number of directions around a rotatably supported portion, and a plurality of rotary type electric parts which are provided on the frame member and which have rotors rotationally driven by engaging with end portions of the first and second interlocking members,
- wherein the operating shaft is formed from sheet metal, wherein when the knob portion of the operating shaft moves within the elongated slot of the first interlocking member in the direction of the elongated slot, the flat base portion allows the second interlocking member to be rotated around the first axis thereof while pressing the block portion of the second interlocking member in accordance with the movement of the knob portion, and when the flat base portion of the operating shaft moves within the elongated groove of the second interlocking member in the direction of the elongated groove, the knob portion allows the first interlocking member to be rotated around the second axis thereof while pressing the portion of the first interlocking member around the elongated slot of the first interlocking member in accordance with the movement of the base portion, whereby the operating shaft is tilted.
A multi-direction input device comprising;
- a first interlocking member which is rotatable and which has a strip elongated slot;
- a second interlocking member which is arranged beneath the first interlocking member so as to be perpendicular thereto, which is rotatable, and which has an elongated groove extending in a direction perpendicular to the elongated slot of the first interlocking member;
- a frame member, an interior of which is bridged by the first and second interlocking members;
- an operating shaft which is passed through the elongated slot of the first interlocking member and rotatably supported by the second interlocking member so as to be rotatable in a longitudinal direction of the elongated groove of the second interlocking member and which can be tilted in a number of directions around a rotatably supported portion;
- and
- a plurality of rotary type electric parts which are provided on the frame member and which have rotors rotationally driven by engaging with end portions of the first and second interlocking members,
- wherein the operating shaft is formed of a plate material so as to have a rectangular sectional configuration such that a longitudinal size is longer than a lateral size, wherein a first pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the rectangular section, are fed to and movably travel along the elongated groove of the second interlocking member and a second pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft, which extend in a lateral direction of the rectangular section, abut against side faces constituting the elongated slot of the first interlocking member to allow the interlocking member to be rotated around the axis thereof in accordance therewith, and the second pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft are fed to and slidably travel along the elongated slot of the first interlocking member and the first pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft press side faces constituting the elongated groove of the second interlocking member to be rotated the axis thereof in accordance therewith,
- wherein the operating shaft has a support hole passing through the first pair of parallel sidewalls, and
- wherein the second interlocking member has a support through hole, and is provided with a support pin passing through the support hole of the operating shaft and the support through hole of the second interlocking member so as to rotatably support the operating shaft on the second interlocking member using the support pin as a swing fulcrum.
A multi-direction input device comprising;
- a first interlocking member which is rotatable and which has a strip elongated slot;
- a second interlocking member which is arranged beneath the first interlocking member so as to be perpendicular thereto, which is rotatable, and which has an elongated groove extending in a direction perpendicular to the elongated slot of the first interlocking member and having a width narrower than a width of the first interlocking member;
- a frame member, an interior of which is bridged by the first and second interlocking members;
- an operating shaft which is passed through the elongated slot of the first interlocking member and rotatably supported by the second interlocking member so as to be swingable in a longitudinal direction of the elongated groove of the second interlocking member and which can be tilted in a number of directions around a rotatably supported portion;
- and
- a plurality of rotary type electric parts which are provided on the frame member and which have rotors rotationally driven by engaging with end portions of the first and second interlocking members,
- wherein the operating shaft is formed from sheet metal so as to have a rectangular sectional configuration such that a longitudinal size is longer than a lateral size, wherein a first pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the rectangular section, are fed to and slidably travel along the elongated groove of the second interlocking member and a second pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft, which extend in a lateral direction of the rectangular section, abut against side faces constituting the elongated slot of the first interlocking member to allow the interlocking member to be rotated around the axis thereof in accordance therewith, and the second pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft are fed to and slidably travel along the elongated slot of the first interlocking member and the first pair of parallel sidewalls of the operating shaft abut against side faces constituting the elongated groove of the second interlocking member to allow the second interlocking member to be rotated the axis thereof in accordance therewith,
- wherein the operating shaft has a support hole passing through the first pair of parallel sidewalls, and
- wherein the second interlocking member has a support through hole, and is provided with a support pin passing through the support hole of the operating shaft and the support through hole of the second interlocking member so as to rotatably support the operating shaft on the second interlocking member using the support pin as a swing fulcrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.