Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.

Yasuji Hagiwara

Kunio Hosono

Tetsuo Muranaka

Sadayuki Yaginuma

Shoji Sakurai

Masahiro Takata

Daisuke Takai

Hiroshi Shigetaka

Toshiki Nakamura

Kunio Sato

Keigo Wakana

Shun Miyazaki

Masahiro Ishida

Takashi Sasaki

Naoyuki Hatano

Hiroshi Izumi

Heishiro Fudo

Takeshi Masaki

Masaru Komatsu

Masaki Ota

Keitaro Uchida

Koichi Miura

Masahiro Soma

Yo Tahara

Hirofumi Kuga

A multi-way input device includes a strain-generating element, strain detection elements, and a tilt operation unit including an operation shaft configured to tilt. The strain-generating element includes a base portion, detection arms extending in respective directions from the base portion, support legs, and locking arms each of which is provided to extend from the base portion, each of the locking arms having an upper surface and being situated between adjacent detection arms among the detection arms. The upper surface of each of the locking arms contacts a lower surface of the tilt operation unit, and each of the detection arms does not contact the lower surface of the tilt operation unit.

Multi-way input device

An input device includes a housing and a strain-generating body including a cylindrical portion with an upper end surface, the strain-generating body being secured to the housing. The input device includes four strain sensors, the four strain sensors being secured around the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body. The input device includes an operation panel having a lower surface, the operation panel including a shaft, the shaft being situated on the lower surface and at a central portion of the operation panel, and the shaft being inserted into the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body to be secured to the strain-generating body. The upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body and the lower surface of the operation panel are in contact with each other.

Input device

An input device includes a touch panel having an operation surface and configured to receive a touch input and a hover input by an operation body; a display device configured to display a plurality of selection items; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to highlight a selection item, a selection of the selection item being made by the hover input from the plurality of selection items, confirm the selection of the selection item by the hover input in a case where a duration during which the selection item is selected by the hover input reaches a first predetermined threshold, and confirm a selection of the selection item by the touch input in a case where the touch input is detected on the selection item before the duration reaches the first predetermined threshold.

Input device adapted to receive a touch input and a hover input

An input device includes a display that displays buttons visible through an operation surface of a top panel, a detector that detects a center position of a finger facing the operation surface, and a distance from the operation surface to the finger, and a controller that controls the display based on a detector output and determines an input with respect to a button. The controller displays a cursor image on the display at a finger opposing position based on the finger center position, varies a cursor size according to the above described distance, determines a selected button based on the finger center position, and offsets a cursor center position from the finger center position, and surrounds the selected button with the cursor, in a case where the selected button protrudes from the cursor when the cursor center position is aligned to match the finger center position.

A multidirectional input device includes an operation input part, a base, and a load detector. The operation input part includes an operation stick, two coupled parts configured to convert a tilt of the operation stick into two rotation angles orthogonal to each other, at least one return spring configured to return the operation stick to an upright position, and a frame accommodating the two coupled parts, the at least one return spring, and a part of the operation stick. The base has a plate shape and is provided below the frame. The load detector is provided on the frame or the base and is configured to detect a load applied to the frame.

Multidirectional input device

There is provided a sensor unit for detecting a proximity state of an object at N detection positions, generating a composite detection signal in conformity with the sum of N detection signals obtained as a result of detection for N detection positions, and controlling a positive or negative polarity of the detection signal having a signal level in conformity with the proximity state at each of N detection positions, a sensor control unit for controlling the sensor unit for generating M composite detection signals having N polarity patterns set at N detection signals different from each other, and a signal regeneration unit for regenerating the signal level of the N detection signal based on the M composite detection signals generated by the sensor unit.

Input device, control method for controlling input device, and recording medium in which program for causing computer to perform control method for controlling input device

An operation device includes a housing, an operation member, and a detector. The housing includes an electrically conductive portion on a surface thereof. The operation member is supported by the housing such that the operation member is movable in response to an operation by an operation body, and is configured to be capacitively coupled to the operation body and to the electrically conductive portion. The detector is configured to detect whether the operation body is in proximity to the operation member based on a change in capacitance at the electrically conductive portion.

Operation device and operation member

A multidirectional input apparatus with a switch includes a strain generating body including at least a cylindrical portion and a first plate portion; a plurality of strain sensors; a wiring substrate; a contact rubber configuring the switch together with an electrode on the wiring substrate; and a button. The contact rubber includes a base portion, a movable portion, and a deformable portion. The movable portion is movable to a first position when the deformable portion is not deformed, and to a second position when the deformable portion is deformed. A center of a lower surface of the button contacts an upper surface of the movable portion when the movable portion is at the first and second positions. When the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position and contacts the electrode, a protruding portion on the lower surface of the button presses the wiring substrate.

Multidirectional input apparatus with switch and multidirectional input system with switch

A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.

A piezoelectric device includes a substrate that is flexible and thermally deformable, and a composite piezoelectric body disposed on the substrate. Output in accordance with deformation of the composite piezoelectric body is obtained. The composite piezoelectric body includes a piezoelectric layer containing an organic binder containing piezoelectric particles, a first electrode layer stacked on a first surface side of the piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode stacked on a second surface side of the piezoelectric layer. The substrate is insert molded and integrated with a molded resin body having a curved shape.

Piezoelectric device

A movement member which reciprocates includes a thick portion and a thin portion, a bearing portion formed in the thick portion is slidingly supported by the guide shaft, and a sliding portion formed in the thin portion is slidingly guided by the sliding guide portion. Power of the motor is transmitted to a pinion gear via a speed reduction gear and a speed reduction mechanism inside a gear box, and a movement reaction force is applied from the pinion gear to the rack portion. Since the rack portion is positioned on an axis Os, a force is effectively applied to the movement member by the power from the motor.

Operation device

An operating device includes a moving member that reciprocates, a motor that applies a force for moving forward and a force for moving rearward to the moving member, a position sensing unit that detects a position to which the moving member is moved, and a control device that varies a load applied to the motor in accordance with an output signal from the position sensing unit. According to the operating device, a reaction force that acts on a finger or the like can be changed in accordance with the position of the moving member that is operated by using a hand or the finger.

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Miyagi, Japan

Yasuji Hagiwara