IP Library Granted Patent US 8,820,179
Granted Patent B2
US 8,820,179 · App. 13/692,381 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Pressing force input device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,820,179
App. No.
13/692,381
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An operation body is oscillatably supported by a fulcrum member. One side of the operation body is in contact with a projection of an actuator of a pressing force sensor, and a preload is applied to another side of the operation body by a compression coil spring as a preloading elastic member. By the preload, a detection output of the pressing force sensor is set at a neutral point. An operating force by which the one side of the operation body is pressed and an operating force by which the other side of the operation body is pressed can be distinctly detected with the single pressing force sensor.

Claims (17)

1. A pressing force input device comprising:

a pressing force sensor including an actuator and a detection portion whose output changes when the actuator is pressed; and

an operation body configured to cause the pressing force sensor to operate,

wherein the operation body is pressed against the actuator by an elastic member, and a preload is thereby applied to the pressing force sensor,

an output of the pressing force sensor when the operation body is not operated is set at a neutral point between a starting point and an end point in a detection operation range of the detection portion, and

a detection output showing changes in different directions across the neutral point when the operation body is operated toward one direction and when the operation body is operated toward another direction is obtained from the detection portion.

2. The pressing force input device according to claim 1 , wherein a detection output corresponding to a change of a force when the actuator is pressed is obtained from the detection portion.

3. The pressing force input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the operation body is oscillatably supported via a fulcrum,

the operation body is in contact with the actuator at one side thereof with respect to the fulcrum,

the elastic member configured to press the operation body against the actuator is provided to another side of the operation body with respect to the fulcrum, and

a detection output showing changes in different directions across the neutral point when the operation body is pressed at the one side thereof with respect to the fulcrum and when the operation body is pressed at the other side thereof with respect to the fulcrum is obtained from the detection portion.

4. The pressing force input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the operation body is oscillatably supported via a fulcrum,

the operation body is in contact with the actuator at one side thereof with respect to the fulcrum,

the elastic member configured to press the operation body against the actuator is provided to the same side, and

a detection output showing changes in different directions across the neutral point when the operation body is pressed at the one side thereof with respect to the fulcrum and when the operation body is pressed at the other side thereof with respect to the fulcrum is obtained from the detection portion.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048209/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2012
From: UMETSU, EIJI; ISHIZONE, MASAHIKO; GORAI, YUKIHIRO; HIRAYAMA, MOTOKI; GOCHOU, HIDEKI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029393/0596 →