Multi-channel input device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-input device, comprising: a first interlocking member; a second interlocking member; a hollow frame; an operating shaft; wherein: - the second interlocking member is rotatably mounted within the hollow frame about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; - the second interlocking member is pivotally mounted within the hollow frame about a third axis parallel to the first axis; - the operating shaft is rotatably supported by the second interlocking member about a fourth axis; the multi-input device includes a first (magnetic) sensing component and a second (magnetic) sensing component, and a third sensing component, characterized in that, - the multi-input device includes a hinge member rotatably supported by the hollow frame about the second axis; - the second interlocking member is supported by the hinge member to form a moving unit capable of rotating about the second axis; - and the second interlocking member is pivotally mounted on the hinge member about the third axis.

Description

Background Art 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-input device capable of operating a plurality of sensing components by operating an operating shaft.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Technologies

[0004] The present invention relates to a multi-input device of the type disclosed, for example, in US6,445,377B.

[0005] According to the teachings of this document, such a device includes:

[0006] A first interlocking member having a longitudinal slit and being rotatable;

[0007] A second interlocking member disposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first interlocking member; the second interlocking member having a slot and being rotatable;

[0008] A hollow frame within which the first and second interlocking members are mounted; the first interlocking member being rotatably supported by the hollow frame about a first geometric axis;

[0009] An operating shaft inserted through both the slit of the first interlocking member and the slot of the second interlocking member;

[0010] Wherein:

[0011] - The second interlocking member is rotatably mounted within the hollow frame about a second geometric axis orthogonal to the first axis;

[0012] - The second interlocking member is pivotally mounted within the hollow frame about a third geometric axis parallel to the first axis;

[0013] - The operating shaft is rotatably supported by the second interlocking member about a fourth geometric axis;

[0014] And such a device includes a first sensing component or sensor and a second sensing component (or sensor) attached to the hollow frame and operable respectively by the first and second interlocking members when rotated by operation of the operating shaft, and a third sensing or switching component attached to the hollow frame and operable by the second interlocking member when pivoted by operation of the operating shaft.

[0015] According to various examples, each sensing component is a resistor element.

[0016] The use of Hall effect sensors is known from GB2091423A which relates to a transducer device associated with a joystick control lever.

[0017] The third sensing member is an electrical component such as a pushbutton switch.

[0018] When no operating force is applied to the operating shaft, that is, the operating shaft assumes its vertically upright neutral position under the biasing force of the return spring.

[0019] When an operating tilting force is applied to the operating shaft, the operating shaft tilts about the second axis, and the second interlocking member rotates about the second axis and operates the second sensing element, and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes.

[0020] When the operating force applied to the operating shaft is released, the operating member automatically returns to its neutral position or state due to the biasing force of the return spring.

[0021] When another operating tilting force is applied to the operating shaft, the operating shaft tilts in another orthogonal direction; the first interlocking member rotates about the first axis and operates the first sensing element, and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes.

[0022] When the operating force applied to the operating shaft is released, the operating member automatically returns to its neutral position due to the biasing force of the return spring.

[0023] To operate the pushbutton switch, a global vertically downward switching force or load is applied to the operating shaft to push the operating shaft downward along the generally vertical orientation of the operating shaft.

[0024] As a result, the side arm portion of the second interlocking member moves vertically together with the operating shaft 40 and pushes the rod portion of the pushbutton switch. In this way, the pushbutton switch can be opened and closed.

[0025] Not only when the operating shaft is in its neutral angular state, but also after the operating shaft has tilted and after a predetermined resistance value of the variable resistor has been obtained, the operating shaft can be pushed along the direction of the main axis of the operating shaft.

[0026] However, in the above-described conventional multi-input device, the switch actuating force applied to the operating shaft may not be precise enough to activate the switch to control the selection function.

[0027] In addition, the switching actuating force may have an effect on the angular position of the potentiometer or on the Hall effect sensor magnet. Summary of the Invention

[0028] An object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above and to provide a multi-input device with high efficiency, high precision and low cost.

[0029] According to a first arrangement adopted by the present invention for solving the foregoing problems, a multi-input device is provided, the multi-input device comprising: a first interlocking member having a longitudinal slit and being rotatable; a second interlocking member disposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first interlocking member, the second interlocking member having a slot and being rotatable; a hollow frame within which the first interlocking member and the second interlocking member are mounted, the first interlocking member being rotatably supported by the hollow frame about a first axis; an operating shaft inserted through both the slit of the first interlocking member and the slot of the second interlocking member; wherein: the second interlocking member is rotatably mounted within the hollow frame about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the second interlocking member is pivotally mounted within the hollow frame about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and the operating shaft is rotatably supported by the second interlocking member about a fourth axis; and the multi-input device includes a first (magnetic) sensing component and a second sensing component disposed relative to the hollow frame and capable of being operated by the first interlocking member and the second interlocking member respectively when rotated by an operation of the operating shaft, and a third sensing component attached to the hollow frame and capable of being operated by the second interlocking member when pivoted by an operation of the operating shaft,

[0030] Characterized in that: the multi-input device includes a hinge member rotatably supported by the hollow frame about the second axis; the second interlocking member is supported by the hinge member to form a moving unit capable of rotating about the second axis; and the second interlocking member is pivotally mounted on the hinge member about the third axis.

[0031] The hinge member is a hollow member defining an inner cavity, and the second interlocking member is disposed in the inner cavity.

[0032] The first sensing component is a magnetic sensing component, and the second sensing component is a magnetic sensing component.

[0033] The first sensing component is a Hall effect sensor, and the second sensing component is a Hall effect sensor.

[0034] The second interlocking member includes a longitudinal end branch pivotally mounted on an associated end branch of the hinge member about the third axis, and includes another opposite end branch for actuating the third sensing component.

[0035] The third sensing component is a button touch switch.

[0036] The second interlocking member is mounted in the articulated member with a small free play, and the operation of the operating shaft along the main axis of the operating shaft does not cause any rotation of the first interlocking member about the first axis, nor does it cause any rotation of the second interlocking member about the second axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for an understanding of which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multi-input device embodying the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a perspective view of the multi-input device, with the upper part of the hollow frame of the multi-input device not shown;

[0040] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-input device embodying the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0041] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the multi-input device through a vertical and longitudinal intermediate plane Figure 1 ;

[0042] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a top view of some components of the multi-input device, with some components exploded;

[0043] Figure 6 is a sectional view of two parts of the hollow frame of the multi-input device through a vertical and transverse intermediate plane Figure 1 ;

[0044] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second interlocking member of a moving unit of the multi-input device supported by an articulated member to form a rotatable Figure 1 about the second axis;

[0045] Figure 8 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the second interlocking member and the articulated member of a moving and rotatable unit of the multi-input device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] For the description of the present invention and the understanding of the claims, vertical, longitudinal, and transverse orientations will be adopted according to the references V, L, T shown in the figures, without reference to the earth's gravity, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes of the figures extending in a horizontal plane.

[0047] By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from right to left, and the vertical axis V is oriented from bottom to top.

[0048] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0049] Reference will be made below to Figures 1 to 8 describe the multi-input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In the multi-input device 1, as Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown in, the two-part hollow frame 10 is provided with vertical side walls or plates 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d. The hollow frame 10 includes an upper part 11 and a lower part 13 and has a hollow interior. The bottom of the hollow frame is closed by the bottom wall 10e of its lower part 13. The external form of the hollow frame is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The top of the hollow frame 10 is closed by the horizontal top wall 10f of its upper part 11, and an operation hole 12 is formed at the central position in the top wall 10f.

[0051] Four cylindrical support and guide holes 14a to 14d are respectively formed in the four side walls 10a to 10d. Two cylindrical apertures 16c and 16a for rotatably receiving the magnetic members 100c and 100a are formed in the side walls 10a and 10c.

[0052] Each aperture 16c and 16a is coaxial with and adjacent to the associated cylindrical hole 14c and 14a respectively.

[0053] A support and guide cylindrical hole 14b is formed in the side wall 10b opposite to the side wall 10a, and the support and guide cylindrical hole is coaxial with the relative support and guide cylindrical hole 14a formed in the side wall 10a.

[0054] A support and guide cylindrical hole 14d is formed in the side wall 10d opposite to the side wall 10c, and the support and guide cylindrical hole is coaxial with the relative support and guide cylindrical hole 14c formed in the side wall 10c.

[0055] Legs 18 for mounting and clamping the upper part 11 to the complementary lower part 13 are formed at each of the four corners of the upper part 11 of the hollow frame 10.

[0056] A first interlocking member 20 is provided inside the hollow frame 10. The first interlocking member 20 is bent upward in an arched shape, and a slit 20a is formed transversely in the arched portion 20b.

[0057] Both side end portions 20c and 20d of the arcuate portion 20b of the first interlocking member 20 are bent downwardly.

[0058] Each side end portion 20c, 20d is provided with an associated laterally and outwardly projecting cylindrical support and guide shaft 22c, 22d. Respectively, the support and guide shafts 22c, 22d are rotatably received in associated complementary cylindrical support and guide holes 14c, 14d.

[0059] Thus, the first interlocking member 20 is supported by the hollow frame 10 and is rotatably mounted about a first lateral geometric axis A1.

[0060] The support and guide shaft 22c is provided with a plug 24c which is inserted into a rectangular hole 102c of an associated magnetic member 100c to rotatably drive the associated magnetic member about the first lateral axis A1.

[0061] The multi-input device 1 includes a central operating shaft 40 of generally cylindrical shape extending along a central geometric axis A5. At Figures 1 to 5 other positions of the operating shaft 40 shown, the operating shaft extends vertically, its central axis a5 being orthogonal to the bottom wall 10e of the lower portion 13 of the hollow frame 10.

[0062] The operating shaft 40 includes an upper knob portion 41, a lower hollow cylindrical portion 42 and an intermediate connecting portion 43.

[0063] The knob portion 41 of the operating shaft 40 is inserted into a slit 20a of the first interlocking member 20. The knob portion 41 of the operating shaft 40 is capable of moving along the slit 20a.

[0064] The lower hollow cylindrical portion 42 is formed by a peripheral wall and an opening in its lower side. A hollow container space 44 is formed inside the cylindrical portion 42 for receiving therein a generally coil-shaped compression return spring 90.

[0065] As Figure 3 shown, two flat portions 45c and (45d) are formed opposite to each other on the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 42, and on a part of the flat portions 45c, (45d), cylindrical shaft portions 46c, (46d) are formed respectively with a predetermined diameter and height.

[0066] The two cylindrical shaft portions 46c, (46d) are coaxial and laterally opposite.

[0067] A hollow cylindrical operating member 60 capable of moving in the axial direction of the operating shaft 40 is slidably disposed inside the hollow container space 44 of the operating shaft 40.

[0068] The operating member 60 has a base portion 62 on its lower side, and the base portion 62 has a spherical outer form that projects vertically upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 10e toward its lower portion 13 inside the hollow frame 10.

[0069] The biasing force of the return spring 90 pushes the operating member 60 downward to elastically contact the upper surface of the bottom wall 10e, whereby the operating shaft 40 can return and remain in its upright neutral state.

[0070] The operating shaft 40 allows its shaft portions 46c and 46d to be supported by the second interlocking member 50, and thereby can be tilted in two directions of the arrow A-A and the arrow B-B as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5 .

[0071] The second interlocking member 50 is provided below the first interlocking member 20 and extends in a longitudinal direction substantially orthogonal to the substantially lateral direction of the first interlocking member 20.

[0072] As shown in Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 , a substantially rectangular support portion 51 is formed almost at the center position of the second interlocking member 50. The support portion 51 includes long-side vertical walls 52c and 52d and short vertical side walls 52a and 52b that define an internal space, and a substantially rectangular opening or slot 53 is formed through the vertical walls.

[0073] A pair of axially aligned opposing cylindrical holes 54c and 54d for respectively engaging with the pivot shaft cylindrical shaft portions 46c and 46d of the operating shaft 40 are formed at predetermined positions on the long side walls 52c and 52d of the support portion 51.

[0074] As shown in Figures 2 to 5 and Figure 7 , a first branch portion 55a and a second branch portion 55b extend longitudinally left and right from the central support portion 51.

[0075] The first branch portion 55a extending on one side is formed by a thin plate 56a centered and longitudinally extending in a vertical plane.

[0076] The second branch portion 55b extending on the other side is first formed with a thin plate portion 56b centered and longitudinally extending in a vertical plane, and secondly formed with a cylindrical end portion 57b, which is a component operating portion 57b having a horizontal flat lower actuating surface 59 and extends longitudinally and horizontally from the support portion 51.

[0077] The component operation part 57b of the second branch part 55b is positioned on the rod part 71 of an electrical component, which is, for example, attached here to a pushbutton switch 70 that also supports the multiplexing device 1 on a printed circuit board PCB.

[0078] For example, the pushbutton switch 70 is a normally open NO type tactile switch.

[0079] In addition to the multiplexing input device 1 and the switch 70, the printed circuit board PCB also supports two Hall effect sensors 103a and 103c.

[0080] To operate the pushbutton switch 70, as Figure 4 shown, a downward load is indirectly applied in the direction of arrow C to the operation part to push the rod part 71.

[0081] This load is indirectly applied through the operation shaft 40, which is rotatably supported by the second interlocking member 50 about a transverse and horizontal geometric axis A4.

[0082] For this purpose, the second interlocking member 50 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal and transverse geometric axis A3 relative to the hollow frame 10, which horizontally and transversely passes through the first branch part 55a formed by a thin plate 56a centered and longitudinally extending in a vertical plane.

[0083] Thus, when the knob part 41 of the operation shaft 40 is pushed downward, the second interlocking member 50 pivots about the axis A3 in the Figure 4 counterclockwise direction of reference, such that the component operation part 57b moves substantially vertically downward.

[0084] The operation shaft 40 is permanently pushed upward by a spring 70 and is held upward in its rest position by being mounted on the support part 51 of the second interlocking member 50.

[0085] The upward rest position of the second interlocking member 50 is defined by the second branch part 56b and is defined by the first branch parts 55a, 56a, which passes through a slot-shaped housing 89b, mates with a facing part of the upper part 11 of the hollow frame 10, and the first branch part is hinged on a hinge member 80 and mates with another facing part of the upper part 11 of the hollow frame 10.

[0086] According to the present invention, the multiplexing input device 1 includes a hinge member 80 rotatably supported by the hollow frame 10 about a longitudinal and horizontal geometric axis A2, and the second interlocking member 50 is supported by the hinge member 80 to form a moving unit 82 rotatable about a second axis A2.

[0087] In addition, the second interlocking member 50 is pivotally mounted on the hinge member about a third geometric axis A3 parallel to the first axis A1.

[0088] As Figures 2 to 5 and Figure 7 shown in, the articulated member 80 is disposed around the second interlocking member 50 and extends in a longitudinal direction substantially orthogonal to the lateral direction of the first interlocking member 20.

[0089] The support portion 81 of the support portion 51 of the second interlocking member 50 having a substantially rectangular shape is formed almost at the central position of the articulated member 80. The support portion 81 includes long side vertical walls 84c and 84d and short vertical side walls 84a and 84b that define an inner cavity 83, and the support portion 51 of the second interlocking member 50 is disposed in this inner cavity.

[0090] The first branch portion 85a and the second branch portion 85b extend longitudinally rightward and leftward from the central support portion 81.

[0091] The second branch portion 85b is a longitudinally outwardly projecting cylindrical support and guide shaft, which is rotatably received in an associated complementary cylindrical support and guide hole 14b of the hollow frame 10.

[0092] In its upper portion, the upper portion of the support and guide shaft 85b and the short vertical side wall 84b are slotted to define a vertical and longitudinal slot-shaped housing 89b, which receives the thin plate portion 56b of the second branch portion 55b of the second interlocking member 50 with a slight clearance.

[0093] The first branch portion 85a extending on the other side is first formed with a centered and longitudinally extending cylindrical portion 86a, and secondly formed with a plug 87a, which is inserted into a rectangular hole 102a of an associated magnetic member 100c to rotatably drive the associated magnetic member about the longitudinal axis A2.

[0094] The portion 86a is an outwardly projecting cylindrical support and guide shaft 86a, which is rotatably received in an associated complementary cylindrical support and guide hole 14a of the hollow frame 10.

[0095] Through the shafts 86a and 85b, the articulated member 80 is rotatably supported by the hollow frame 10 to rotate about the second longitudinal axis A2.

[0096] The upper portion of the support and guide shaft 86a and the short vertical side wall 84a are slotted to define a vertical and longitudinal slot-shaped housing 89a, which receives the thin plate portion 56a of the second branch 55a of the second interlocking member 50 with a slight clearance.

[0097] Thus, the articulated member 80 is received in the second interlocking member 50 and can move relative to the second interlocking member 50 in an intermediate vertical and longitudinal plane due to the guidance of the thin plate portion 56b in the slot-shaped housing 89b and the first branch portion 55a in the slot-shaped housing 89a.

[0098] Due to the position of the central support portion 81 inside the central support portion 83, the operating shaft 40 is inserted through the slit 20a of the first interlocking member 20, the slot 53 of the second interlocking member 50, and the cavity 83 of the articulated member.

[0099] When the operating shaft 40 is tilted along the arrow B, the second articulated member 50 drives the articulated member 80 and the magnetic member 100a to be rotatably driven about the longitudinal axis A2.

[0100] According to the present invention, the right end or the end of the second interlocking member 50 is pivotally mounted relative to the right end or the end of the articulated member 80 about the geometric pivot axis A3.

[0101] The pivotal mounting of the first branch portions 55a, 56a in the slot-shaped housing 89a of the support and guide shaft 86a is not shown in detail in the drawings.

[0102] For example, a transverse rod is inserted through the correspondingly aligned through holes formed in the thin plate portion 56a of the second branch 55a of the second interlocking member 50 and formed by the support and guide shaft 86a of the second articulated member 80.

[0103] According to another example, a complementary device can be manufactured by molding two components and a snap fit that cooperate during the assembly of the two components 50 and 80.

[0104] After the pivotal assembly of the second interlocking member 50 in the articulated member 80, the two components form a moving unit that is rotatably mounted relative to the hollow frame 10 about the geometric longitudinal axis A2.

[0105] Due to the large longitudinal offset between the geometric axis and the functional portion of the actuating surface 59 that cooperates with the rod 71 of the switch 70, any slight angular pivot of the second interlocking member about the axis A3 indeed corresponds to a slight linear and vertical displacement of the actuating surface relative to the rod 71 of the switch 70.

[0106] Since the articulated member 80 mounts the second interlocking member 50 with a small free play, the selection or verification action of the operating shaft along the main axis A5 of the operating shaft 40 is smooth and easy, and does not cause any parasitic rotational displacement about the transverse and / or longitudinal axes A1 and / or A2.

Claims

1. A multi-channel input device (1), the multi-channel input device comprising: a first interlocking member (20) having a longitudinal slit (20a) and being rotatable; a second interlocking member (50) disposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first interlocking member (20); the second interlocking member (50) having a slot (53) and being rotatable; a hollow frame (10) within which the first interlocking member (20) and the second interlocking member (50) are mounted; the first interlocking member (20) is rotatably supported by the hollow frame (10) about a first axis (A1); an operating shaft (40) inserted through both the slit (20a) of the first interlocking member (20) and the slot (53) of the second interlocking member (50); wherein: - the second interlocking member (50) is rotatably mounted within the hollow frame (10) about a second axis (A2) orthogonal to the first axis (A1); - the second interlocking member (50) is pivotally mounted within the hollow frame (10) about a third axis (A3) parallel to the first axis (A1); - the operating shaft (40) is rotatably supported by the second interlocking member (50) about a fourth axis (A4); and the multi-channel input device includes a first sensing member (103c) and a second sensing member (103a) arranged relative to the hollow frame (10) and operable respectively by the first interlocking member (20, 100c) and the second interlocking member (50, 100a) during an operating rotation of the operating shaft (40), and a third sensing member (70) arranged relative to the hollow frame and operable by the second interlocking member (50, 57b) during a pivoting operation of the operating shaft (40), characterized in that - the multi-channel input device (1) includes a hinge member (80) rotatably supported by the hollow frame (10) about the second axis (A2); - the second interlocking member (50) is supported by the hinge member (80) to form a moving unit (82) capable of rotating about the second axis (A2); - and the second interlocking member (50) is pivotally mounted on the hinge member about the third axis (A3).

2. The multi-channel input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge member (80, 81) is a hollow member defining an inner cavity (83), and the second interlocking member (50, 51) is disposed in the inner cavity.

3. The multi-channel input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensing member (103c) is a magnetic sensing member, and the second sensing member (103a) is a magnetic sensing member.

4. The multi-channel input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sensing member (103c) is a Hall effect sensor, and the second sensing member (103a) is a Hall effect sensor.

5. The multi-input device according to claim 1, wherein, the second interlocking member (50) includes a longitudinal end branch (55a) pivotally mounted on a relevant end portion branch (86a) of the articulated member (80) about the third axis (A3), and includes another opposite end branch (55b) for actuating the third sensing member (70).

6. The multi-input device according to claim 5, wherein, the third sensing member (70) is a button touch switch.

7. The multi-input device according to claim 1, wherein, the second interlocking member (50) is mounted in the articulated member (80) with a small free play, and the operation of the operating shaft along the main axis (A5) of the operating shaft (40) does not cause any rotation of the first interlocking member (20) about the first axis (A1) nor any rotation of the second interlocking member about the second axis (A2).

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