The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2011
Shinji Ishikawa, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Hajime Suzuki, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Shinji Ishikawa, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Hajime Suzuki, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
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.