Patent US6854352B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6854352B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Input apparatus with rotary type electrical component
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 2002-07-03
•
Granted: 2005-02-15
•
Expires: 2022-07-03
Abstract
Abstract In an input apparatus of the invention, since driving levers are made to perform seesaw operations, it is not necessary to perform a rotating operation by an arc shape like a conventional interlocking member, a space in the vertical direction can be made small, and the input apparatus which can be miniaturized in the vertical direction can be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Mikio Onodera
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:57
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04748; G05G2009/04766; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
An input apparatus, comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body provided to the operating member in an axial line direction; at least one pair of first and second driving levers which can perform a seesaw operation in response to a tilt operation of the operating member and include attachment portions and arm portions coupled with each other; and first and second rotary electrical components operated by the first and the second driving levers, respectively, wherein the attachment portions are orthogonal to each other, and are coupled with lateral face sides of the driving body, the arm portions crossover each other, when the operating member tilts, the attachment portions move up and down in the axial line direction and each of the arm portions performs a seesaw operation with a shaft support portion as a center, each of end sides of the arm portions positioned at a side opposite to the attachment portion with the shaft support portion between the end sides is moved up and down, the first and the second rotary electrical components are respectively operated by movement of the end sides of the arm portions, the driving body includes first and second driving bodies rotatably attached to the operating member, the attachment portions are held by first shaft portions to the first and second driving bodies, each of the first and the second driving bodies is formed in an L shape having a first portion through which a hole passes and a second portion, the first portions overlap, and the operating member is inserted through the holes to couple the operating member and the first and second driving bodies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
An input apparatus, comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body provided to the operating member in an axial line direction; at least one pair of first and second driving levers which can perform a seesaw operation in response to a tilt operation of the operating member and include attachment portions and arm portions coupled with each other; and first and second rotary electrical components operated by the first and the second driving levers, respectively, wherein the attachment portions are orthogonal to each other, and are coupled with lateral face sides of the driving body, the arm portions crossover each other, when the operating member tilts, the attachment portions move up and down in the axial line direction and each of the arm portions performs a seesaw operation with a shaft support portion as a center, each of end sides of the arm portions positioned at a side opposite to the attachment portion with the shaft support portion between the end sides is moved up and down, the first and the second rotary electrical components are respectively operated by movement of the end sides of the arm portions, the driving body includes first and second driving bodies rotatably attached to the operating member, the attachment portions are held by first shaft portions to the first and second driving bodies, each of the first and the second driving bodies is formed in an L shape having a first portion through which a hole passes and a second portion, the first portions overlap, and the operating member is inserted through the holes to couple the operating member and the first and second driving bodies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first portions are plate-like and disposed perpendicular to the axial line direction, each of the second portions has a flat surface extending in the axial line direction, and the second portions are directed towards each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein tooth portions engaging with gears provided in the first and the second rotary electrical components are provided at the end sides of the first and the second driving levers, the arm portions of the first and the second driving levers are supported between the first shaft portion and the tooth portion by a second shaft portion to a support member to which the first and the second driving levers are attached, the first and the second driving levers can perform a seesaw operation with the second shaft portion as a center, and at a time of the tilt operation of the operating member, the first and the second driving levers perform the seesaw operation correspondingly to the tilt operation of the first and the second driving bodies, the gear is rotated by the tooth portion, and the first and the second rotary electrical components are operated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the attachment portions of the first and the second driving levers are respectively formed by bending the arm portion perpendicularly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a motor for transmitting an inner force sense to the operating member is disposed correspondingly to each of the first and the second driving levers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein a rotating shaft of the rotary electrical component and a rotating shaft of the motor are coaxially integrally formed, and a gear is attached to the rotating shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the motors respectively provided correspondingly to the first and the second driving levers are disposed on a same plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein at least one of the motors is disposed in a state where an axial line of the motor is positioned above or below a position passing a tilt center of the driving body and in a direction perpendicular to the axial line direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the motor is disposed in a state where an axial line of the motor is perpendicular to a direction in which the arm extends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the arm portions crossover each other at right angles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein: the attachment portions are disposed along a plane orthogonal to the axial line direction and are coupled with the lateral face sides of the driving body in the axial line direction, and the arm portions are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the axial line direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
213 words
An input apparatus comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body provided to the operating member in an axial line direction; at least one pair of first and second driving levers which can perform a seesaw operation in response to a tilt operation of the operating member and include attachment portions and arm portions coupled with each other; and first and second rotary electrical components operated by the first and the second driving levers, respectively, wherein the attachment portions of the first and second driving levers are coupled with lateral face sides of the driving body in the axial line direction, the arm portions are one of orthogonal to each other and are parallel with each other, when the operating member is tilted, the attachment portions move up and down in the axial line direction and each of the arm portions performs a seesaw operation with a shaft support portion as a center, each of end sides of the arm portions positioned at a side opposite to the attachment portion with the shaft support portion between the end side is moved up and down, the first and second rotary electrical components are operated by movement of the end sides of the arm portions, and the arm portions crossover each other at right angles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
213 words
An input apparatus comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body provided to the operating member in an axial line direction; at least one pair of first and second driving levers which can perform a seesaw operation in response to a tilt operation of the operating member and include attachment portions and arm portions coupled with each other; and first and second rotary electrical components operated by the first and the second driving levers, respectively, wherein the attachment portions of the first and second driving levers are coupled with lateral face sides of the driving body in the axial line direction, the arm portions are one of orthogonal to each other and are parallel with each other, when the operating member is tilted, the attachment portions move up and down in the axial line direction and each of the arm portions performs a seesaw operation with a shaft support portion as a center, each of end sides of the arm portions positioned at a side opposite to the attachment portion with the shaft support portion between the end side is moved up and down, the first and second rotary electrical components are operated by movement of the end sides of the arm portions, and the arm portions crossover each other at right angles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein tooth portions engaging with gears provided in the first and the second rotary electrical components are provided at the end sides of the first and the second driving levers, the arm portions of the first and the second driving levers are supported between a first shaft portion and the tooth portion by a second shaft portion to a support member to which the first and the second driving levers are attached, the first and the second driving levers can perform a seesaw operation with the second shaft portion as a center, and at a time of the tilt operation of the operating member, the first and the second driving levers perform the seesaw operation correspondingly to the tilt operation of first and the second driving bodies, the gear is rotated by the tooth portion, and the first and the second rotary electrical components are operated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the attachment portions of the first and the second driving levers are respectively formed by bending the arm portion perpendicularly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein a motor for transmitting an inner force sense to the operating member is disposed correspondingly to each of the first and the second driving levers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 15 , wherein a rotating shaft of the rotary electrical component and a rotating shaft of the motor are coaxially integrally formed, and the gear is attached to the rotating shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the motors respectively provided correspondingly to the first and the second driving levers are disposed on a same plane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the motors is disposed in a state where an axial line of the motor is positioned one of above and below a position passing a tilt center of the driving body and in a direction perpendicular to the axial line direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the motor is disposed in a state where the axial line of the motor is perpendicular to a direction in which the arm extends.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein: the attachment portions are disposed along a plane orthogonal to the axial line direction and are coupled with the lateral face sides of the driving body in the axial line direction, and the arm portions are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the axial line direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
An input apparatus, comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body having faces, the operating member extending from the driving body in a predetermined direction: driving levers having attachment portions connected with the faces of the driving body, the driving levers having arm portions that crossover each other without contacting each other, the driving levers having protrusions extending from ends of the arm portions; shaft support portions connected with the arm portions and around which the driving levers are cantilevered such that the protrusions move in a plane formed by directions of extension of the driving levers when the operating member is tilted; rotary electrical components detecting motion of the driving levers; and motors connected with the rotary electrical components to provide force feedback to the driving levers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
An input apparatus, comprising: a tiltable operating member; a driving body having faces, the operating member extending from the driving body in a predetermined direction: driving levers having attachment portions connected with the faces of the driving body, the driving levers having arm portions that crossover each other without contacting each other, the driving levers having protrusions extending from ends of the arm portions; shaft support portions connected with the arm portions and around which the driving levers are cantilevered such that the protrusions move in a plane formed by directions of extension of the driving levers when the operating member is tilted; rotary electrical components detecting motion of the driving levers; and motors connected with the rotary electrical components to provide force feedback to the driving levers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the protrusions are arc shaped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the driving body comprises overlapping driving bodies rotatably attached to the operating member, the driving bodies have L shapes extending in orthogonal directions, and each attachment portion is connected with one of the driving bodies.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein at least one of the motors does not contact a support plate on which the shaft support portions are mounted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the driving levers are mounted to the driving body using shaft portions and a center of at least one of the motors is more distal to a support plate on which the shaft support portions are mounted than a plane passing through a center of the shaft portions that is parallel to the support plate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the driving levers are mounted to the driving body using shaft portions and a center of at least one of the motors is more proximate to a support plate on which the shaft support portions are mounted than a plane passing through a center of the shaft portions that is parallel to the support plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein at least one of the driving levers is L shaped when viewed in the predetermined direction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the attachment portion of the at least one of the driving members is orthogonal to the arm portion of the at least one of the driving members, thereby forming the L shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the arm portion of the at least one of the driving members contains a first portion extending parallel with the attachment portion of the at least one of the driving members and a second portion from which the protrusion of the at least one of the driving members extends and that is orthogonal to the first portion of the at least one of the driving members, thereby forming the L shape.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the rotary electrical components contain engaging portions that engage with the protrusions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 30 , wherein the engaging portions contain gears and the protrusions contain tooth portions engaging with the gears.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the attachment portions, arm portions, and protrusions of the driving levers form substantial hook shapes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
An input apparatus as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the arm portions extend from the attachment portions in directions orthogonal to the predetermined direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3870161A
Cited
US6004134A
Cited
US6154198A
Cited
US6400352B1
Cited
WO1998033136A1
Cited
US6104382A
Cited
US6573885B1
Cited
GB2350170A
Cited
EP1069488A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-15 | 2008-08-16 | 2009-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-15 | 2012-08-16 | 2013-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-15 | 2016-08-16 | 2017-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |