IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,015,992
Granted Patent B2
US 11,015,992 · App. 16/748,593 · Granted May 25, 2021

Load sensor unit and input device

Inventors: Hisanobu Okawa (Miyagi-ken, JP); Eiji Umetsu (Miyagi-ken, JP)
Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
G01L1/26G06F3/03545G01L5/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,015,992
App. No.
16/748,593
Granted
May 25, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A load sensor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an operating part movable forward and backward in a first direction; a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part; a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and an other end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part. This can prevent a load sensor from being broken by an overload with a simple configuration and fully demonstrate detection accuracy of the load sensor.

Claims (33)

1. A load sensor unit comprising:

an operating part that is movable forward and backward in a first direction;

a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part;

a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and another end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and

an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part, wherein the elastic member is provided on a side of the other end part opposite to the one end part.

2. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a case,

wherein the operating part, the load sensor, the linking part, and the elastic member are arranged in the first direction in the case.

3. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the elastic member is provided between the one end part and the other end part.

4. The load sensor unit according to claim 2 , wherein

the case has a cylindrical shape.

5. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the elastic member is a coil spring; and

the load sensor unit further comprises an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the initial load caused by the coil spring.

6. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the linking part has a connecting part provided between the one end part and the other end part; and

the one end part, the other end part, and the connecting part are provided so as to be integral with one another.

7. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a reference member that has one surface on which the load sensor is mounted and an other surface that serves as a stopper surface in movement of the operating part.

8. The load sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the operating part and the load sensor are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

9. An input device comprising:

a load sensor unit wherein the load sensor unit comprises:

an operating part that is movable forward and backward in a first direction;

a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part;

a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and another end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and

an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part, wherein the elastic member is provided on a side of the other end part opposite to the one end part.

10. The input device according to claim 9 , further comprising a pen-type housing,

wherein the load sensor unit is contained in the housing.

11. A load sensor unit comprising:

an operating part that is movable forward and backward in a first direction;

a load sensor that has a pressure receiving part and outputs a signal according to a load received in the first direction by the pressure receiving part, wherein the operating part and the load sensor are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

a linking part that has one end part linked to the operating part and another end part that causes the pressure receiving part to operate and is movable forward and backward in the first direction in synchronization with the operating part; and

an elastic member that gives biasing force to the other end part of the linking part and gives an initial load to the pressure receiving part through the other end part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: OKAWA, HISANOBU; UMETSU, EIJI
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051695/0638 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-152408 · Aug 7, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2018029315 · Aug 3, 2018
Related Publication 20200158583A1 · May 21, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,241,799