Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Yukiharu Hayashi

Hiroshi Ushimaru

Hiroshi Wakuda

Shigeru Furuki

Shinji Ishikawa

Takuya Maeda

Hajime Suzuki

Tomohiro Shiine

Hiroshi Hashira

Masaki Sato

Yoshiyuki Iwazaki

Yoshiyuki Iwasaki

Tomoaki Nakai

Kazumiki Yoshitake

A rotary input device includes a first annular magnetic body in which a plurality of outward protrusions protruding toward an outside in a radial direction are disposed along a circumferential direction, a second annular magnetic body in which a plurality of inward protrusions formed to oppose the outward protrusions of the first magnetic body are disposed along a circumferential direction, and a rotary knob configured to relatively rotate the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body. The first magnetic body includes a magnet in which opposing surfaces facing each other are vertically disposed and which is magnetized to two poles of an upper pole and a lower pole including the opposing surfaces, a pair of yokes that interposes the opposing surfaces of the magnet vertically, and the outward protrusion formed on the pair of yokes.

Rotary input 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 fixed shaft mounted to a lower casing holds a tiltable component used for operating tilt-detecting switches. At the upper portion of the tiltable component, a tilt-operation feel providing member including a first slider unit being slidable by the tiltable component, driving bars in contact with the first slider unit, and springs urging the driving bars toward the first slider unit is arranged. First operational-feel providing portions arranged like flowers are formed on the bottom of the first slider unit. When the tiltable component is tilted, the first slider unit is slid. The driving bars are then moved on recesses constituting the first operational-feel providing portions.

Joystick switching device

A joystick input device includes a casing having a tiltable-component supporter, a tiltable component held in the tiltable-component supporter, tilt-detecting means for detecting a state of tilting of the tiltable component, a pushable component held in the tiltable component, push-detecting means for detecting a state of pushing of the pushable component, and an operation component for performing a tilt operation of the tiltable component and a push operation of the pushable component. The tiltable-component supporter has a pushable-component through-hole through which the leading edge of the pushable component can pass. The tiltable-component supporter regulates a tilt operation of the tiltable component when the leading edge of the pushable component passes through the pushable-component through-hole. A pushable-component stopping portion is formed around the pushable-component through-hole to regulate a push operation of the pushable component when the tiltable component is tilted.

Joystick input device

A code disc is spline-connected to an operation unit supported such that it can rotate and move vertically and sandwiched between a center cylinder and a return spring. Rotation of the operation unit is detected by photointerruptors through the code disc and vertical movement of the operation unit is detected by a photointerruptor through a cylinder.

Composite operation type input device for carrying out pressing and rotation operations with common operation unit

A rotary push switch device includes a cylindrical rotary push knob, which is subjected to push and rotary operations, a rotary drive plate, which is rotated by the rotary push knob, a push knob, which is disposed inwardly of the rotary push knob and pushed, and a push rubber contact element which is pressed by pushing the push knob. When the push knob is subjected to the push operation, the rotary push knob is also pushed in association with the push knob, and when the rotary push knob is subjected to the rotary operation, the push knob is prevented from being rotated in association with the rotary push knob.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi-ken, Japan

Yukiharu Hayashi