Input device

Abstract

To allow an operator to easily perform a small swing operation on an operation member.SOLUTION: The input device includes: a base part material; a strain body fixed to the base part material; a strain sensor provided in the strain body; an operation member provided in the upper side of the strain body; and an elastic body between the operation member and the strain body, the upper end part thereof being engaged with the lower center of the operation member and the lower end part thereof being engaged with the upper center of the strain body. The operation member has a shaft part and is swingably supported by the base member with the shaft part as the center of swinging.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for detecting the amount of movement of a tip operating part in a pointing device having a configuration in which the tip operating part is connected to an elastic plate via an elastic operating shaft, by detecting deformation caused in the elastic plate using a strain detection element when a swing operation is performed on the tip operating part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-197373 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the pivot point of the operating part is at the lower end of the elastic operating shaft extending downward from the tip operating part, so that the amplitude of the tip operating part's swing during the swing operation is large, making it difficult for the operator to perform small swing operations on the tip operating part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An input device according to one embodiment includes a base member, a strain body fixed to the base member, a strain sensor provided on the strain body, an operating member provided above the strain body, and an elastic member provided between the operating member and the strain body, the upper end of which engages with the center of the underside of the operating member and the lower end of which engages with the center of the upper surface of the strain body. The operating member has an axle and is supported by the base member so as to be swingable around the axle as the swing center. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to an input device according to an embodiment, an operator can easily perform a minute rocking operation on an operating member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a controller according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a controller according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of an input device according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a right side view of an input device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an input device according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of four strain sensors in an input device according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] Graph showing an example of output characteristics of a strain sensor during a swing operation in an input device according to an embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a front view of an input device according to a modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment will be described below. For the sake of convenience, in the following description, the X-axis direction in the figure is the front-rear direction, the Y-axis direction in the figure is the left-right direction, and the Z-axis direction in the figure is the up-down direction. However, the positive X-axis direction is the forward direction, the positive Y-axis direction is the rightward direction, and the positive Z-axis direction is the upward direction. These indicate the relative positional relationship within the device, and do not limit the installation direction or operation direction of the device. Anything that has the same relative positional relationship within the device, even if the installation direction or operation direction is different, is included in the scope of the present invention.

[0009] (Overview of Controller 10) Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a controller 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the controller 10 according to an embodiment.

[0010] The controller 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used in, for example, a game machine, and is operated by an operator (that is, a game player).

[0011] 1 and 2, the controller 10 includes a case 20. The case 20 is a resin member that forms the outer shape of the controller 10.

[0012] The case 20 has a central portion 20A, a left grip portion 20B provided to the left of the central portion 20A (negative side of the Y axis), and a right grip portion 20C provided to the right of the central portion 20A (positive side of the Y axis). The left grip portion 20B and the right grip portion 20C are longer in the up-down direction (Z axis direction) than the central portion 20A, and have a shape that protrudes downward beyond the bottom surface of the central portion 20A.

[0013] This allows the case 20 to have a shape that enables an operator to easily grip the left grip portion 20B with the left hand and the right grip portion 20C with the right hand.

[0014] A recess 20D recessed downward (Z-axis negative direction) is formed in the right end of the upper surface of the case 20. The controller 10 includes the input device 100 in the recess 20D of the case 20.

[0015] The input device 100 has an operating member 120, which is provided in the recess 20D so as to be exposed upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the recess 20D. This allows the input device 100 to be operated by swinging the operating member 120 in two directions (rightward (positive direction of the Y axis) and leftward (negative direction of the Y axis)) with the thumb of the operator's right hand.

[0016] The swinging operation of the operating member 120 refers to an operation of pressing an area to the right (positive side of the Y-axis) or to the left (negative side of the Y-axis) of the center of the upper surface 120A of the operating member 120, thereby swinging the operating member 120 downward to the right or downward to the left with the shaft portion 121 of the operating member 120 as the swing center.

[0017] The case 20 has a removable cover 21 on the back side (positive side of the Z axis). As shown in Fig. 1, the cover 21 is attached to the case 20, so that the recess 20D can be covered from the back side (positive side of the Z axis). As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 21 is removed from the case 20, so that the input device 100 can be attached and detached to the recess 20D.

[0018] (Configuration of input device 100) Fig. 3 is a front view of the input device 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a right side view of the input device 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the input device 100 according to an embodiment.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the input device 100 includes a base member 110, an operation member 120, a strain body 130, a fixing metal fitting 140, an FPC 150, a compression coil spring 160, a push switch 170, and a shaft 180.

[0020] The base member 110 is a member that serves as the base of the input device 100 and supports other components. The base member 110 is made of a relatively hard material (for example, metal, hard resin, etc.). The base member 110 has a pair of walls 111 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and a bottom portion 112. Each of the pair of walls 111 has a rectangular and vertical wall shape. The bottom portion 112 is provided at the lower end between the pair of walls 111 and is connected to each of the pair of walls 111. As a result, the base member 110 has a space 110A between the pair of walls 111, and the space 110A has an opening shape that opens upward (Z-axis positive direction) and left-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0021] In addition, each of the pair of walls 111 has a circular opening 111A formed at the middle position in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and at the upper end (the end on the positive side of the Z-axis) that penetrates the wall 111 in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction).

[0022] Furthermore, the base member 110 has a protrusion 113 that protrudes downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) on the left side (the negative Y-axis side, an example of "one side") of the lower surface of the base member 110. On the bottom surface of the base member 110, the protrusion 113 has a semicircular cross-sectional shape and is provided extending in the front-rear direction (the X-axis direction). The top (lower end) of the protrusion 113 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess 20D of the case 20 to become a swing fulcrum, so that the base member 110 can swing downward to the right inside the recess 20D of the case 20.

[0023] The operating member 120 is a resin member that is swung by an operator. The operating member 120 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. In addition, the operating member 120 has a rectangular shape with the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) as the longitudinal direction when viewed in a plan view from above. In addition, the upper surface 120A of the operating member 120 has a gently curved shape such that the central part in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) is the lowest.

[0024] The operating member 120 has a round bar-shaped shaft portion 121 that penetrates the operating member 120 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and protrudes from the operating member 120 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The operating member 120 is disposed in a space 110A between a pair of wall portions 111 of the base member 110. At this time, each of both ends of the shaft portion 121 of the operating member 120 is fitted into each of the openings 111A of the pair of wall portions 111. As a result, the operating member 120 is supported by the base member 110 so as to be swingable around the shaft portion 121 as the swing center.

[0025] The operating member 120 has a cylindrical first protrusion 122 that protrudes downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) from the lower surface of the operating member 120. The first protrusion 122 is inserted into the inside of the upper end portion of the compression coil spring 160.

[0026] The flexure body 130 is a resin member that generates distortion when subjected to an operation load from the operating member 120. In this embodiment, the flexure body 130 has a flat plate shape and a rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) when viewed from above (positive Z-axis direction).

[0027] The flexure body 130 has a flat plate portion 131 and four legs 132. The flat plate portion 131 is a rectangular flat plate portion whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). Each of the four legs 132 is vertically extended downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) from each of the four corners on the lower surface of the flat plate portion 131.

[0028] The strain body 130 has a second protrusion 133 protruding upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) at the center of the upper surface of the flat plate portion 131. The second protrusion 133 is inserted into the inside of the lower end portion of the compression coil spring 160. The second protrusion 133 has a through hole 133A that passes through the second protrusion 133 in the up-down direction (Z axis direction). The lower end portion of the shaft 180 is inserted into the through hole 133A.

[0029] Moreover, the strain body 130 has, in each of the four legs 132, an engagement groove 134 that is cut inward from the side surface of the leg 132.

[0030] The fixing bracket 140 is a metal, flat-plate-like member provided on the lower side (Z-axis negative side) of the flexure body 130. The fixing bracket 140 fixedly supports the flexure body 130 from the lower side (Z-axis negative side). When viewed from above (Z-axis positive direction) in a plan view, the fixing bracket 140 has a rectangular shape with the longitudinal direction extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, when viewed from above (Z-axis positive direction) in a plan view, the fixing bracket 140 has the same shape as the flexure body 130.

[0031] The fixture 140 has four engagement claws 141. Two of the four engagement claws 141 are provided on the edge of the front side (positive side of the X-axis) of the fixture 140, spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), and protrude upward (positive direction of the Z-axis) from the edge of the front side (positive side of the X-axis) of the fixture 140. The other two of the four engagement claws 141 are provided on the edge of the rear side (negative side of the X-axis) of the fixture 140, spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), and protrude upward (positive direction of the Z-axis) from the edge of the rear side (negative side of the X-axis) of the fixture 140. The fixing bracket 140 is placed on top of the underside of the flexure body 130, and each of the four engagement claws 141 engages with each of the four engagement grooves 134 formed in each of the four legs 132 of the flexure body 130, thereby fixedly supporting the flexure body 130.

[0032] Furthermore, the fixing bracket 140 has a vertical wall-like fixed portion 142 that is provided hanging down from the edge of the front side (positive side of the X-axis) of the fixing bracket 140. The fixing bracket 140 is installed on the upper surface 112A of the bottom portion 112 of the base member 110 in a state in which it supports the flexure body 130. At this time, the fixing bracket 140 has the fixed portion 142 inserted into a groove 112B formed in the bottom portion 112 of the base member 110 and is fixed in the groove 112B. As a result, the fixing bracket 140 is fixed to the base member 110 in a state in which it supports the flexure body 130, that is, the flexure body 130 can be fixed to the base member 110.

[0033] The FPC 150 is an example of a "flexible board" and is a film-like wiring member having flexibility. The FPC 150 has a first plane portion 150A, a second plane portion 150B, and an extraction portion 150C.

[0034] The first flat portion 150A is a band-shaped portion extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), and is fixed to the lower surface of the flat plate portion 131 of the strain body .

[0035] The second flat surface portion 150B is a strip-shaped portion that is provided below the first flat surface portion 150A (the negative side of the Z axis) and extends in the left-right direction (the Y axis direction).

[0036] The lead-out portion 150C is a strip-shaped portion extending forward (in the positive direction of the X-axis) from the left end (negative side of the Y-axis) of the first planar portion 150A, and its tip is electrically connected to the outside (such as a connector).

[0037] Four strain sensors 151 are provided on the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A. Specifically, on the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A, two strain sensors 151 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) on the right side (Y-axis positive side) with the center of the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A in between, and the other two strain sensors 151 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) on the left side (Y-axis positive side).

[0038] That is, each of the four strain sensors 151 is disposed on the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A in each of the four directions with respect to the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A. Each of the four strain sensors 151 is a resistor printed on the lower surface of the first planar portion 150A. Each of the four strain sensors 151 changes its resistance value by deforming in response to the strain generated in the strain body 130. This allows each of the four strain sensors 151 to detect the strain generated in the strain body 130.

[0039] Specifically, the two strain sensors 151 arranged on the right side (positive side of the Y-axis) are connected in series to each other to form a half-bridge circuit. In response to the amount of strain of the strain body 130, the resistance values ​​of the two strain sensors 151 change, causing the voltage at the midpoint between the two strain sensors 151 to change.

[0040] In addition, the other two strain sensors 151 arranged on the left side (negative side of the Y-axis) are connected in series to each other to form a half-bridge circuit, so that the resistance values ​​of the other two strain sensors 151 change in response to the distortion of the strain body 130, thereby changing the voltage at the midpoint between the other two strain sensors 151.

[0041] The FPC 150 can output a strain detection signal (analog signal) that indicates the strain of the strain body 130 detected by each of the four strain sensors 151 to the outside via the lead-out portion 150C.

[0042] The compression coil spring 160 is an example of an "elastic member". The compression coil spring 160 is provided between the operation member 120 and the flexure body 130 so as to be expandable and contractible in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The upper end of the compression coil spring 160 engages with the center of the lower surface of the operation member 120, and the lower end of the compression coil spring 160 engages with the center of the upper surface of the flexure body 130. Specifically, a first convex portion 122 provided at the center of the lower surface of the operation member 120 is inserted into the inside of the upper end of the compression coil spring 160. In addition, a second convex portion 133 provided at the center of the upper surface of the flexure body 130 is inserted into the inside of the lower end of the compression coil spring 160. In addition, a shaft 180 is disposed at the center of the inside of the compression coil spring 160.

[0043] The push switch 170 is configured to switch from an OFF state to an ON state when the pressing portion 171 is pressed. The push switch 170 is provided on the right side (the Y-axis positive side, an example of the "other side") of the lower surface of the base member 110 so that the pressing portion 171 faces downward, i.e., so that the pressing portion 171 faces the bottom surface of the recessed portion 20D of the case 20. When the operating member 120 is pressed and the base member 110 swings downward to the right with the protrusion portion 113 as the swing fulcrum, the pressing portion 171 is pressed by the bottom surface of the recessed portion 20D of the case 20, and the push switch 170 switches to the ON state. This allows the push switch 170 to detect the pressing operation on the operating member 120.

[0044] The shaft 180 is a round bar-shaped member extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) between the operating member 120 and the flexure body 130 and inside the compression coil spring 160. The upper end of the shaft 180 is inserted into the cylinder of the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120. As shown in FIG. 5, a gap is generated between the outer periphery of the upper end of the shaft 180 and the inner periphery of the first convex portion 122. The lower end of the shaft 180 is inserted into the through hole 133A of the second convex portion 133 of the flexure body 130. For example, the shaft 180 is formed using a resin material or a metal material. The shaft 180 may be a rigid body or an elastic body.

[0045] (Operation of input device 100) In one embodiment of the input device 100, when a rocking operation is performed on the operating member 120, the shaft portion 121 of the operating member 120 is supported by the base member 110, so that the operating member 120 rocks downward to the right or downward to the left with the shaft portion 121 as the rocking center.

[0046] In this case, since the input device 100 according to one embodiment is provided with a compression coil spring 160 between the operating member 120 and the strain body 130, the rocking force corresponding to the rocking operation of the operating member 120 can be transmitted to the strain body 130 via the compression coil spring 160, thereby causing distortion in the strain body 130.

[0047] Specifically, the first protrusion 122 of the operating member 120 is tilted inside the upper end of the compression coil spring 160, so that the first protrusion 122 presses the upper end of the compression coil spring 160 from the inside. This causes the compression coil spring 160 to bend. Then, due to the elastic force of the compression coil spring 160, the lower end of the compression coil spring 160 presses the side of the second protrusion 133 of the strain body 130 that is disposed inside the lower end. This causes distortion in the strain body 130.

[0048] The input device 100 according to the embodiment detects the distortion of the strain body 130 by the four distortion sensors 151, and can thus detect the swing operation (swing direction and swing angle) of the operating member 120 with high accuracy.

[0049] Moreover, the input device 100 according to the embodiment further includes the shaft 180 between the operation member 120 and the strain body 130, so that the swinging force of the operation member 120 can be transmitted more directly to the strain body 130 via the shaft 180, thereby generating a distortion in the strain body 130. As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can detect the swinging operation (swing direction and swing angle) with high accuracy by the four strain sensors 151, even when a minute swinging operation is performed on the operation member 120.

[0050] Furthermore, since the input device 100 according to one embodiment can transmit the swinging force of the operating member 120 to the strain body 130 via the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180, the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during swinging operation can be adjusted in a variety of ways by adjusting the parameters of the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180.

[0051] In the input device 100 according to an embodiment, when a pressing operation is performed on the center of the upper surface 120A of the operating member 120, the shaft portion 121 of the operating member 120 is supported by the base member 110, so that the base member 110 moves downward (Z-axis negative direction) together with the operating member 120. Then, the top (lower end) of the protrusion portion 113 provided on the left side (X-axis negative side) of the lower surface of the base member 110 abuts on the bottom surface of the recessed portion 20D of the case 20 and becomes a swing fulcrum, so that the base member 110 swings downward to the right. At this time, the pressing portion 171 of the push switch 170 provided on the right side (X-axis positive side) of the lower surface of the base member 110 is pressed by the bottom surface of the recessed portion 20D of the case 20, so that the push switch 170 is switched to an on state. As a result, the input device 100 according to an embodiment can detect a pressing operation on the operating member 120.

[0052] (Arrangement of four strain sensors 151) Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of four strain sensors 151 in an input device 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the strain body 130, the FPC 150, and the fixing bracket 140 in an assembled state, viewed from above (positive direction of the Z axis).

[0053] 7, of the four strain sensors 151 provided on the lower surface of the first flat portion 150A of the FPC 150, two strain sensors 151 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) on the right side (Y-axis positive side) of the second convex portion 133 of the strain generating body 130. That is, the two strain sensors 151 are provided near the right front corner and the right rear corner of the second convex portion 133.

[0054] 7, of the four strain sensors 151 provided on the lower surface of the first flat surface portion 150A of the FPC 150, the other two strain sensors 151 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) on the left side (Y-axis negative side) of the second convex portion 133 of the strain generating body 130. That is, the other two strain sensors 151 are provided near the left front corner and the left rear corner of the second convex portion 133.

[0055] As described above, the input device 100 according to one embodiment has four strain sensors 151 provided near the second convex portion 133 of the strain body 130, which is a position where distortion is relatively likely to occur in the strain body 130. This allows the input device 100 according to one embodiment to cause greater deformation of the four strain sensors 151, and therefore to detect the rocking operation of the operating member 120 with higher accuracy.

[0056] In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, each of the four strain sensors 151 is provided at a position overlapping with the outer edge portion 133B of the second protrusion 133, which is a position in the strain generating body 130 where strain is more likely to occur.

[0057] Specifically, two of the four strain sensors 151 are provided at positions overlapping with a right side (i.e., a side that is closer to the swing direction of the operating member 120 than the second convex portion 133) of the rectangular outer edge portion 133B of the second convex portion 133. The two strain sensors 151 are also provided with the detection direction (long side direction) of the strain sensor 151 parallel to the swing direction of the operating member 120 (Y-axis direction).

[0058] The other two of the four strain sensors 151 are provided at positions overlapping with the left side (i.e., the side that is closer to the swing direction of the operating member 120 than the second convex portion 133) of the rectangular outer edge portion 133B of the second convex portion 133. The other two strain sensors 151 are provided with the detection direction of the strain sensor 151 parallel to the swing direction of the operating member 120 (the Y-axis direction).

[0059] As a result, the input device 100 according to one embodiment can cause each of the four strain sensors 151 to deform more greatly along the detection direction (Y-axis direction) of the strain sensor 151, and can therefore detect the rocking operation of the operating member 120 with even higher accuracy.

[0060] (An example of the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation) 8 is a graph showing an example of the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation in the input device 100 according to one embodiment. In Figs. 8(a) to 8(c), the horizontal axis indicates the stroke amount of the operating member 120 during the swing operation of the operating member 120. The vertical axis indicates the output of the strain sensor 151 during the swing operation of the operating member 120. The solid line indicates the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 when the compression coil spring 160 is provided but the shaft 180 is not provided. The dotted line indicates the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 when the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180 are provided.

[0061] As shown in Figures 8(a) to 8(c), in the input device 100, there is a gap between the outer periphery of the upper end of the shaft 180 and the inner periphery of the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120 (see Figure 5), so that the shaft 180 is not involved in the transmission of the oscillation force from the operating member 120 until the stroke amount of the operating member 120 reaches a predetermined stroke amount.

[0062] In the example shown in FIG. 8(a), the input device 100 is configured such that a compression coil spring 160 is involved in the transmission of the swinging force from the operating member 120 until the stroke amount of the operating member 120 reaches a stroke amount S1.

[0063] In the example shown in FIG. 8(a), the input device 100 is configured such that, when the stroke amount of the operating member 120 reaches the stroke amount S1, the output of the strain sensor 151 becomes the output P1, and the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180 intervene in the transmission of the oscillation force from the operating member 120.

[0064] For this reason, in the example shown in FIG. 8(a), when the stroke amount of the operating member 120 is less than the stroke amount S1, a load is applied from the compression coil spring 160 to the strain body 130, and as the stroke amount of the operating member 120 increases, the strain amount of the strain body 130 increases, and the output of the strain sensor 151 increases.

[0065] In the example shown in FIG. 8(a), when the stroke amount of the operating member 120 is equal to or greater than the stroke amount S1, a load is applied to the strain body 130 from both the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180, and as the stroke amount of the operating member 120 increases, the strain amount of the strain body 130 increases at a greater rate than when the stroke amount is less than S1, and the output of the strain sensor 151 increases.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 8(b), the input device 100 is configured such that when the stroke amount of the operating member 120 reaches a stroke amount S2 which is smaller than the stroke amount S1, the output of the strain sensor 151 becomes an output P2 which is smaller than the output P1, and the shaft 180 intervenes in the transmission of the oscillation force from the operating member 120.

[0067] In the example shown in FIG. 8(c), the input device 100 is configured such that when the stroke amount of the operating member 120 reaches a stroke amount S3 that is greater than the stroke amount S1, the output of the strain sensor 151 becomes an output P3 that is greater than the output P1, and the shaft 180 intervenes in the transmission of the oscillation force from the operating member 120.

[0068] In this way, the input device 100 according to one embodiment has a gap between the outer periphery of the upper end of the shaft 180 and the inner periphery of the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120 (see FIG. 5), and by adjusting the width of the gap, the timing of intervention of the shaft 180 in the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation can be variably adjusted.

[0069] In addition, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, a gap may be provided between the outer periphery of the lower end of the shaft 180 and the inner periphery of the second convex portion 133 of the strain body 130. In this case, by adjusting the width of the gap, it is possible to variably adjust the intervention timing of the shaft 180 in the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation.

[0070] In the example shown in Figures 8(a) to 8(c), the gap between the inner circumference of the upper end of the compression coil spring 160 and the outer circumference of the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120 is set to zero, so that the timing of intervention of the compression coil spring 160 is simultaneous with the timing of start of the rocking operation. However, by making the gap larger than zero, the timing of intervention of the compression coil spring 160 can be delayed from the timing of start of the rocking operation.

[0071] (effect) As described above, the input device 100 according to one embodiment includes a base member 110, a flexure body 130 fixed to the base member 110, a strain sensor 151 provided on the flexure body 130, an operating member 120 provided above the flexure body 130, and an elastic member provided between the operating member 120 and the flexure body 130, the upper end of which engages with the center of the lower surface of the operating member 120 and the lower end of which engages with the center of the upper surface of the flexure body 130. The operating member 120 has an axis portion 121 and is supported by the base member 110 so as to be swingable around the axis portion 121 as the swing center.

[0072] As a result, in the input device 100 of one embodiment, the operating member 120 has an axis portion 121 and swings around the axis portion 121 as the swing center, so that the position of the operating member 120 (axis portion 121) can be fixed and the movable range of the operating member 120 can be reduced, allowing the operator to easily perform small swing operations on the operating member 120.

[0073] Furthermore, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can generate distortion in the strain body 130 in response to the swinging force of the operating member 120 and detect the distortion by the strain sensor 151, so that the swinging operation of the operating member 120 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0074] In addition, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the operating member 120 has an axis portion 121 and swings around the axis portion 121 as the swing center, so that the movable range of the operating member 120 can be reduced, thereby enabling the input device 100 to be made compact.

[0075] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the swinging force of the operating member 120 can be transmitted to the strain body 130 via the elastic body, and therefore the operating load of the swinging operation can be easily adjusted by adjusting the elastic constant of the elastic body.

[0076] In the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the elastic member is a compression coil spring 160, the operation member 120 has a first convex portion 122 that protrudes downward from the center of the lower surface and is inserted into the inside of the upper end portion of the compression coil spring 160, and the strain body 130 has a second convex portion 133 that protrudes upward from the center of the upper surface and is inserted into the inside of the lower end portion of the compression coil spring 160.

[0077] As a result, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the swinging force of the operating member 120 can be transmitted to the strain body 130 via the compression coil spring 160, and the operating load of the swinging operation can be easily adjusted by adjusting the spring constant of the compression coil spring 160.

[0078] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the upper end of the compression coil spring 160 can be held by the first convex portion 122, and the lower end of the compression coil spring 160 can be held by the second convex portion 133, thereby simplifying the configuration for holding the compression coil spring 160.

[0079] In addition, the input device 100 according to one embodiment has a gap at least one of between the inner circumference of the upper end of the compression coil spring 160 and the outer circumference of the first convex portion 122, and between the inner circumference of the lower end of the compression coil spring 160 and the outer circumference of the second convex portion 133.

[0080] As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can diversify the intervention timing of the compression coil spring 160 in the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation by adjusting the gap width of the gap.

[0081] Moreover, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the strain body 130 has a flat plate portion 131, four legs 132 provided at the four corners of the flat plate portion 131, and a second convex portion 133 provided at the center of the upper surface of the flat plate portion 131, and the strain sensor 151 is provided on an FPC 150 fixed to the lower surface of the flat plate portion 131 at a position overlapping the outer edge of the second convex portion 133.

[0082] As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can cause the strain sensor 151 to deform more greatly, and therefore the strain sensor 151 can detect the swing operation on the operating member 120 with higher accuracy.

[0083] Furthermore, the input device 100 according to one embodiment has four strain sensors 151, each of which is provided in the swing direction (Y-axis direction) of the operating member 120 further from the second convex portion 133 and provided at a position overlapping with the outer edge portion 133B of the second convex portion 133, and is provided with the detection direction of the strain sensor 151 parallel to the swing direction (Y-axis direction) of the operating member 120.

[0084] As a result, the input device 100 of one embodiment can cause each of the four strain sensors 151 to deform more greatly along the detection direction (Y-axis direction) of the strain sensor 151, thereby enabling the four strain sensors 151 to detect the rocking operation of the operating member 120 with higher accuracy.

[0085] As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can firmly fix the strain body 130 to the base member 110, and therefore can detect the strain of the strain body 130 caused by a swing operation with high accuracy.

[0086] Moreover, the input device 100 according to one embodiment includes a shaft 180 provided between the operating member 120 and the flexure body 130, the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120 having a cylindrical shape, the second convex portion 133 of the flexure body 130 having a cylindrical shape, the upper end of the shaft 180 being inserted into the cylindrical shape of the first convex portion 122 of the operating member 120, and the lower end of the shaft 180 being inserted into the cylindrical shape of the second convex portion 133 of the flexure body 130.

[0087] As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can transmit the swinging force of the operating member 120 more directly to the strain body 130 via the shaft 180, thereby generating a distortion in the strain body 130. Therefore, even when a minute swinging operation is performed on the operating member 120, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can detect the swinging operation with high accuracy.

[0088] Furthermore, since the input device 100 according to one embodiment can transmit a swinging force to the strain body 130 via the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180, the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swinging operation can be adjusted in a variety of ways by adjusting the parameters (material, size, elastic constant, gap between other components, etc.) of both the compression coil spring 160 and the shaft 180.

[0089] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the upper and lower ends of the shaft 180 are not fixed, and therefore a gap is provided between the upper end of the shaft 180 and the first convex portion 122 and / or between the lower end of the shaft 180 and the second convex portion 133, and the width of the gap is adjusted, thereby making it possible to diversify the timing of intervention of the shaft 180 in the output characteristics of the strain sensor 151 during a swing operation.

[0090] Furthermore, the input device 100 according to the embodiment includes a push switch 170 on the lower side of the base member 110 .

[0091] As a result, the input device 100 according to the embodiment can detect not only a swing operation on the operating member 120 but also a pressing operation on the operating member 120.

[0092] In addition, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the shaft portion 121 of the operating member 120 is supported by the base member 110, and when the operating member 120 is pressed, the base member 110 moves downward together with the operating member 120. This makes it difficult for a pressing force to be applied to the strain body 130, and therefore makes it possible to suppress erroneous detection of a rocking operation.

[0093] Moreover, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the base member 110 has a swing fulcrum (the top of the protrusion 113) on one side (the negative Y-axis side) of the underside of the base member 110, and the push switch 170 is provided on the other side (the positive Y-axis side) of the underside of the base member 110.

[0094] As a result, in the input device 100 according to the embodiment, the base member 110 has a swing fulcrum and thus can swing stably, so that the push switch 170 can be pressed stably by the base member 110.

[0095] (Modification) 9 is a front view of an input device 100-2 according to a modified example of the embodiment. The input device 100-2 shown in FIG. 9 is different from the input device 100 in that the input device 100-2 further includes a substrate 190 on the lower side (Z-axis negative side) of the base member 110 and that the push switch 170 is provided on an upper surface 190A of the substrate 190 facing upward.

[0096] The substrate 190 is a flat plate-shaped member made of resin. In the input device 100-2, the substrate 190 is provided on the bottom surface of the recess 20D of the case 20.

[0097] In the input device 100-2 according to a modification of the embodiment, when a pressing operation is performed on the center of the upper surface 120A of the operation member 120, the apex (lower end) of the protrusion 113 provided on the left side (negative side of the X-axis) of the lower surface of the base member 110 abuts against the upper surface 190A of the substrate 190 and becomes a swing fulcrum, causing the base member 110 to swing downward to the right. At this time, the pressing portion 171 of the push switch 170 provided on the right side (positive side of the X-axis) of the upper surface 190A of the substrate 190 is pressed by the lower surface of the base member 110, so that the push switch 170 is switched to an on state. As a result, the input device 100-2 according to a modification of the embodiment can detect a pressing operation on the operation member 120.

[0098] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0099] For example, the input device 100 may not have the shaft 180. In other words, the input device 100 may be configured to transmit the oscillation force to the strain body 130 via the compression coil spring 160, not via the shaft 180.

[0100] Furthermore, the input device 100 uses the compression coil spring 160 as the "elastic member", but is not limited to this, and an elastic member other than the compression coil spring 160 (for example, a leaf spring, rubber, etc.) may be used as the "elastic member". [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10 Controller 20 cases 20A Center 20B Left grip part 20C Right grip part 20D recess 21 Cover 110 Base member 110A space 111 Wall 111A opening 112 Bottom 112A Top 112B Groove 113 Protrusion 120 Operating member 120A top 121 Shaft 122 First protrusion 130 Strain body 131 Flat plate part 132 Legs 133 Second protrusion 133A Through hole 133B Outer edge 134 Engagement groove 140 Fixture 141 Engagement claw 142 Fixed part 150 FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 150A First Planar Section 150B Second Planar Section 150C Drawer 151 Strain Sensor 160 Compression coil spring (elastic member) 170 Push Switch 171 Pressing part 180 Shaft 190 Substrate 190A top

Claims

1. A base member; A strain body fixed to the base member; A strain sensor provided on the strain generating body; An operating member provided on an upper side of the strain generating body; an elastic member provided between the operating member and the strain body, the upper end of which engages with the center of the lower surface of the operating member and the lower end of which engages with the center of the upper surface of the strain body; Equipped with The operating member is The base member has a shaft portion and is supported by the base member so as to be swingable about the shaft portion as a swing center.

1. An input device comprising:

2. The elastic member is a compression coil spring. the operating member has a first protrusion at the center of the lower surface, the first protrusion protruding downward and inserted into the inside of the upper end of the compression coil spring, The strain generating body has a second protrusion at the center of the upper surface, protruding upward and inserted into the inside of the lower end of the compression coil spring.

2. The input device according to claim 1 .

3. A gap is provided between the inner periphery of the upper end of the compression coil spring and the outer periphery of the first protrusion, or between the inner periphery of the lower end of the compression coil spring and the outer periphery of the second protrusion.

3. The input device according to claim 2.

4. The strain body is A flat plate portion; Four legs provided at four corners of the flat plate portion; the second protrusion provided at the center of the upper surface of the flat plate portion; having The strain sensor includes: The flexible substrate is fixed to the lower surface of the flat plate portion at a position overlapping an outer edge of the second protrusion.

3. The input device according to claim 2.

5. Four of the strain sensors are provided, Each of the four strain sensors has The strain sensor is provided in a swing direction of the operating member further than the second protrusion, and is provided at a position overlapping with the outer edge of the second protrusion, and is provided such that a detection direction of the strain sensor is parallel to the swing direction of the operating member.

5. The input device according to claim 4.

6. a metal plate-shaped fixing fitting for fixing the strain body to the base member, The fixing bracket is A fixed portion fixed to the base member; A plurality of engaging claws having In a state where the engaging claws are provided overlapping the lower surface of the flexure body, the engaging claws engage with the engaging grooves formed in the flexure body, respectively, thereby fixedly supporting the flexure body.

6. The input device according to claim 5.

7. a shaft provided between the operation member and the strain body, The first protrusion of the operating member has a cylindrical shape, The second protrusion of the strain generating body has a cylindrical shape, An upper end of the shaft is inserted into a cylinder of the first protrusion of the operating member, The lower end of the shaft is inserted into the cylinder of the second protrusion of the strain generating body.

7. The input device according to claim 6.

8. A push switch is provided on the underside of the base member.

8. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a first input device.

9. The base member is A pivot point is provided on one side of the lower surface of the base member, The push switch is The other side of the lower surface of the base member is provided 9. The input device according to claim 8.

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