IP Library Granted Patent US 8,659,402
Granted Patent B2
US 8,659,402 · App. 12/885,190 · Granted Feb 25, 2014

Varible operation sensation input device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,659,402
App. No.
12/885,190
Granted
Feb 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable operation sensation input device includes: an operation member slidable along a plane including first and second directions perpendicular to each other; a first driving member including a first engagement portion driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the first direction; a second driving member including a second engagement portion driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the second direction; a first motor connected to the first driving member via a first power transmission section; a second motor connected to the second driving member via a second power transmission section; a first detection section detecting a movement state of the operation member in the first direction; a second detection section detecting a movement state of the operation member in the second direction; and a control section controlling a driving of the motors on the basis of outputs of the first and second detection sections.

Claims (22)

1. A variable operation sensation input device comprising:

an operation member configured to slide within a plane including first and second directions perpendicular to each other;

a first driving member including a first engagement portion configured to engage with the operation member and to be driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the first direction;

a second driving member including a second engagement portion configured to engage with the operation member and to be driven by sliding movement of the operation member in the second direction;

a first motor connected to the first driving member via a first power transmission section;

a second motor connected to the second driving member via a second power transmission section;

a first detection section configured to detect a movement state of the operation member in the first direction;

a second detection section configured to detect a movement state of the operation member in the second direction; and

a control section configured to control the first and second motors on the basis of outputs of the first and second detection sections,

wherein each of the first and second driving members is axially supported so as to be rotatable along the plane around a respective axis perpendicular to the plane.

2. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the operation member and the first driving member includes a first guide portion which extends in the second direction and is formed in a groove shape or an elongated hole shape, and the other of the operation member and the first driving member includes a first protrusion portion which is slidably inserted in the first guide portion, and

wherein the first engagement portion is the first protrusion portion formed in the first driving member or the first guide portion formed in the first driving member.

3. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the operation member and the second driving member includes a second guide portion which extends in the first direction and is formed in a groove shape or an elongated hole shape, and the other of the operation member and the first driving member includes a second protrusion portion which is slidably inserted in the second guide portion, and

wherein the second engagement portion is the second protrusion portion formed in the second driving member or the second guide portion formed in the second driving member.

4. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an assisting driving member axially supported so as to be rotatable along the plane around an axis, the assisting driving member including an assisting engagement portion configured to engage with the operation member and to be driven by the sliding movement of the operation member in the first direction, and

wherein the first engagement portion of the first driving member and the assisting engagement portion of the assisting driving member are configured to move together.

5. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 4 , wherein the first driving member and the assisting driving member mesh with each other at a position thereof equally distanced from respective rotation centers and rotate in opposite directions.

6. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a gear connected to a rotation shaft of the first motor and interposed between the first driving member and the assisting driving member, the gear meshing with both a tooth portion formed in the first driving member and a tooth portion formed in the assisting driving member.

7. The variable operation sensation input device according to claim 4 , wherein one of the operation member and the assisting driving member includes a third guide portion which extends in the second direction and is formed in a groove shape or an elongated hole shape, and the other of the operation member and the first driving member includes a third protrusion portion which is slidably inserted in the third guide portion, and

wherein the assisting engagement portion is the third protrusion portion formed in the assisting driving member or the third guide portion formed in the assisting driving member.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048209/0647 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2010
From: WAKITA, YOSHITSUGU; ISHIKAWA, SHINJI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025033/0917 →