Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Ayumu Kobayashi

Ken Shibazaki

Noriyuki Fukushima

Yoshinori Nishiyama

Yoshio Sanpei

Kunihiko Sasaki

Kaiji Nonaka

Hideshi Sasaki

An input assistance device has a rotation support body having a central axis, an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface of a sensor panel so that the central axis is along a direction perpendicular to the panel surface, and a rotational part supported by the rotation support body so as to be rotatable around the central axis. At least the side surface of the rotational part is formed from a conductive material. Conductive areas electrically connected to the side surface are allocated in part of a surface of the rotational part, the surface facing the panel surface.

Input assistance device and input system

An illuminated switch includes an operation knob that includes an operation surface, a light source that emits light beams using a predetermined direction as an optical axis, and a first light guide member that is provided in the operation knob and guides the light beams emitted from the light source to the operation surface. The first light guide member includes a light incident surface formed of inclined surface that refracts light beams entering along the optical axis in a first direction, a reflection surface that reflects light beams refracted at the light incident surface in a second direction different from the first direction, and a light exit surface that transmits light beams reflected by the reflection surface.

Illuminated switch

An annular light guide is provided. The annular light guide is made of optically transparent material, and is provided with an annular body that is an integrated combination of a light inlet and a light outlet. A light source is disposed in a cavity formed in the light inlet. Illumination light is emitted from the front surfaceof the light outlet.

Angular light guide with fringed portion

A code disk rotates around the shaft fixed to a base in a case. A half of the upper surface of the code disk is exposed from the case. The code disk functions as an operating member on which an operator puts his or her finger to rotate it. A transparent body is layered under the code disk and fixed to the shaft. The transparent body is a circular film member including a piezoelectric element and a transparent electrode. A rotation angle of the code disk is detected by a light emitter and a light receiver. According to the rotation angle, alternating-current is applied to the transparent electrode of the transparent body to drive the piezoelectric element. External force is thus applied to the code disk from the transparent body.

Force-feedback input device

A haptic input apparatus includes: a supporting member having a spherical bearing; a lever handle having a spherical portion to be supported by the spherical bearing; an electromagnetic coil arranged opposite to a lower end surface of the lever handle; detection means for detecting an operating state of the lever handle; and control means for taking in an output signal a from the detection means to output a driving signal b of the electromagnetic coil based on the output signal a. The control means reads outs a control signal c from the electromagnetic coil corresponding to an output signal a to be inputted from the detection means from a first storage to output to a first driver circuit. The first driver circuit D/A converts the control signal c outputted from the CPU for amplifying, and outputs a driving signal b from the electromagnetic coil.

Lever handle type haptic input apparatus equipped with electromagnetic brake

When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle &#x3b1; and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.

Force feedback input device

A force feedback input device includes an operation member having a shaft and operated by an operator, detection means, such as a rotary encoder, for detecting an operating status of the operation member, an actuator for providing force feedback to the operation member, control means for controlling the actuator based on a detection signal output from the detection means, and stopper means for restricting displacement of the operation member in a predetermined operational direction. The stopper means includes a ratchet mechanism to disengage ratchets from corresponding gear teeth in response to the detection signal from the detection means.

A stalk switch having a simplified structure and wide general-purpose applicability is provided. The stalk switch comprises an operating levermanually operated by an operator, a supporting memberfor rockably supporting the operating lever, an electromagnetic brakearranged opposite to a base end of the operating lever, an optical image sensorfor detecting the operational state of the operating lever, and controlling meansfor controlling the drive of the electromagnetic brakebased on an output signal a from the optical image sensor, wherein the range of movement of the operating leveris defined by the electromagnetic brake, and a predetermined tactile response corresponding the operational state is given to the operating lever

Stalk switch

A force sense imparting type input apparatus includes an operation portion, an actuator for imparting a force sense to the operation portion, a position sensor for detecting an operating direction and an operating quantity of the operation portion, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the actuator, and a controller for acquiring a position signal and a temperature signal and outputting driving signal of the actuator. A correction control portion provided to the controller determines a calorific value of the actuator from the temperature signal, then a correction value of driving power supplied to the actuator from the calorific value so calculated, adds a correction value of driving power of the actuator at the time of a normal operation and decides driving power of the actuator at the time of over-heat.

Force sense imparting type input apparatus

A lighting device includes a light-condensing device having annular portions of a substantially semi-circular section, formed on a periphery of a convex lens, in which the light-condensing device is disposed in a state that a light-incoming plane of the convex lens and first inner wall surfaces of the annular portions are made to face a light source (lamp). And, lights from the light source falling on the light-condensing device are set to efficiently travel from the light-outgoing plane of the convex lens and second inner wall surfaces of the annular portions toward a small specific area such as a light-incoming end surface of a light-guiding device. Thereby, the lights from the light source can effectively be used for lighting.

Lighting device with light-condensing device

A switch device including a first switch section which is operated to carry out a switching operation by movement of a movable member, and a second switch section with a plurality of operating switches mounted on the movable member. By operating the first switch section to carry out a switching operation, the functions provided by the second switch section can be changed. The switch device of the invention, used for a vehicle steering switch unit or the like, provides many operating switch functions with a small number of operating switches. Therefore, the switch device can be easily operated.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi-ken, Japan

Ayumu Kobayashi