Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.

Hajime Suzuki

Hiroshi Wakuda

Shinji Ishikawa

Kunio Sato

Tetsu Numata

Ko Owada

Tomohiro Shiine

Shinichi Sagawai

Yukiharu Hayashi

I Ka

Toshiki Tachioka

Takao Igarashi

Yoshiyuki Iwasaki

Kazuhiro Yokoyama

An input apparatus includes an operating unit on which an input operation is performed by an operator, a detecting unit configured to detect the input operation performed on the operating unit, an actuator configured to impart vibration to the operating unit, and a control unit configured to supply a drive signal to the actuator according to a result of detection performed by the detecting unit. The control unit supplies, as the drive signal, a single pulse signal including a triangular wave or a sine wave and having a signal waveform in which a rising interval and a falling interval are asymmetric about a peak position to the actuator.

Input apparatus

A switch to be attached to a panel having an opening in a surface includes: a stationary member to be attached to the panel; a movable member to be placed at a distance from the panel, the movable member having a manipulation surface separated from the panel in the opening with a gap intervening between the manipulation surface and the panel, the manipulation surface being exposed from the opening; and a vibration element disposed between the stationary member and the movable member, the vibration element vibrating the movable member.

Switch, switch module, and method of manufacturing switch module

An input device and an input module are provided that vibrate in a direction along the surface of a cantilevered operation unit. The input device includes a fixed member rotatably supporting a rotation shaft, an operation unit having an end rotatably supported by the rotation shaft and being rotatable relative to the fixed member, and a vibrating element that generates vibration of the operation unit in the axial direction of the rotation shaft in response to a rotation operation performed on the operation unit.

Input device and input module

An input apparatus includes a casing including an opening, a knob exposed to outside along a virtual central axis, a first support member that supports the knob so as to be capable of a first operation, a second support member that supports the first support member so as to be capable of a second operation of the knob, a first detection member that detects the first operation, a second detection member that detects the second operation, and a detachable regulating member that regulates movement of the second detection member. The second support member includes a groove extending parallel to the virtual central axis. When the second operation is to be disabled, the regulating member including a rib to be fitted in the groove is attached. When the second operation is to be enabled, the regulating member not including a rib to be fitted in the groove is attached.

Disclosed is controlling a vibration of a vibration generating device configured to reciprocatively vibrate an operating body movably supported in a first direction and a second direction which are opposite to each other, a driving signal being transmitting to a first interval and a second interval in which vibration frequencies of acceleration during movement of the operating body are different from each other, the first interval being an initial motion interval when the operating body moves toward the first direction, the second interval being an initial motion interval when the operating body moves toward the second direction. The vibration frequency of the second interval is smaller than the vibration frequency of the first interval which is equal to or smaller than 250 Hz, and the vibration frequency of the second interval is greater than the vibration frequency of the first interval which is equal to or greater than 250 Hz.

Electronic apparatus and vibration control method

A pressing operation device is configured such that a base and an operating body are linked to each other by a link member. A support-side shaft of the link member is rotatably supported by a bearing of the base. The bearing of the base includes a first regulation portion that regulates movement of the support-side shaft of the link member in an ascending direction of the operating body and a second regulation portion that regulates movement of the support-side shaft in a direction intersecting the ascending direction, and is provided with a flat spring portion that presses the support-side shaft against the second regulation portion and the first regulation portion.

Pressing operation device

The input apparatus with force feedback includes an operating unit that includes an operating surface, a detecting unit that detects an operation performed on the operating surface, a drive member that drives the operating unit, an elastic member that elastically supports the operating unit, and a base unit that holds the drive member. The drive member includes a solenoid that vertically drives an actuator connected to the operating unit and a casing member that holds the solenoid and the actuator. The actuator vertically penetrates through the casing member. The actuator includes a first damping member able to be brought into contact with a lower surface of the operating unit and a second damping member disposed between a lower surface of the casing member and part of the actuator. The second damping member is brought into contact with the actuator and the casing member as the actuator is driven.

Input apparatus with force feedback

A force-feedback multidirectional input device includes a slider slidably supported by a support base and an operation knob joined to the slider. In a sliding operation, the slider operates in conjunction with actuating members included in a force-feedback unit. Therefore, a sense of force based on the sliding is fed back to the operation knob. Furthermore, the slider is elastically urged by coil springs toward an inner bottom surface of a housing space defined in the support base. In a depressing operation, the operation knob presses the support base downward against the urging force of coil springs. Therefore, a vertically movable member joined to the support base is moved downward along guide portions (convex rails and concave grooves). Thus, a push switch provided on a pedestal (circuit board) is pressed and activated by the vertically movable member.

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Miyagi-ken, Japan

Hajime Suzuki