Input device

Abstract

To miniaturize an input device where a rotational movable body that changes a direction of a magnetic field is arranged around a circumference of a magnetic sensor.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the present invention, an input device comprises: a fixed body; a rotational movable body that is supported so as to be rotated in a first direction as a rotational center by the fixed body; a main body part; a first extension part that is extended from one end of the main body part; and a second extension part that is extended from the other end of the main body part. The input device comprises: an annular magnetic member that forms a parting space between a first tip end part of the first extension part and a second tip end part of the second extension part that face each other along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, generates a magnetic field that is directed to the second tip end part from the first tip end part, and is attached to the rotational movable body; and a magnetic sensor that is attached to the fixed body, is discharged from one of the first and second extension parts, detects a direction of the magnetic field reaching the other side, and detects rotation of the rotational movable body. The main body part is extended in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device using a magnetic sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hole joystick structure that has a simple layout, reduced power consumption, simple detection calculation, and lower cost. This hole joystick structure includes a reset spring, an interlocking unit, a first housing, a second housing, a joystick, and a stick holder. The reset spring is provided in the stick holder, the first housing is fixed to a first side wall of the stick holder, the second housing is fixed to a second side wall of the stick holder, the first side wall is perpendicular to the second side wall, and the joystick is provided so as to rotate inside the stick holder with a contact point of the stick holder as a rotation center, thereby driving the movement of the interlocking unit. A first rotating disk is provided in the first housing, and a second rotating disk is provided in the second housing. The interlocking unit is provided so as to be driven so that the first rotating disk rotates inside the first housing, and the interlocking unit is provided so as to be driven so that the second rotating disk rotates inside the second housing. Magnets are fixedly provided inside both the first rotating disk and the second rotating disk, a first Hall element is provided inside the first housing, and a second Hall element is provided inside the second housing.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a small-sized magnetic encoder that is easy to manufacture and has high detection accuracy. This magnetic encoder includes a magnetic field generating means that generates a magnetic field perpendicular and uniformly with respect to a rotation axis that rotates together with an object to be detected, a magnetic field detecting means that has directivity and polarity with respect to the direction of the magnetic field and at least one of which is disposed in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means so that the directivity is maximized in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and at least one of which is disposed at a position rotated around the rotation axis, and a waveform processing circuit that converts a signal obtained from the magnetic field detecting means into angle information and position information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-166831 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2002-181588 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 uses a magnetic sensor that detects the strength of the magnetic field, but has the problem of being easily affected by disturbance magnetic fields. Patent Document 2 uses a magnetic sensor that detects the direction of the magnetic field, and is less susceptible to disturbance magnetic fields. However, there is a problem in that the device becomes large in the direction of the rotation axis because the magnetic member consisting of the permanent magnet and the yoke extends in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an input device in which a magnetic member that changes the direction of a magnetic field is disposed around a magnetic sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an input device having a fixed body, a rotatable movable body supported on the fixed body for rotation around a first direction as a center of rotation, a main body, a first extension portion extending from one end of the main body, and a second extension portion extending from the other end of the main body, forming a separated space between a first tip of the first extension portion and a second tip of the second extension portion which face each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, generating a magnetic field from the first tip to the second tip, an annular magnetic member attached to the rotatable movable body, and a magnetic sensor attached to the fixed body that detects the direction of the magnetic field emitted from one of the first extension portion and the second extension portion to the other, thereby detecting rotation of the rotatable movable body, and wherein the main body extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

[0008] According to this configuration, the main body of the annular magnetic member extends in a direction different from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable body, thereby preventing the device from becoming large in size in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0009] In the above input device, the input device may further include an operating stick supported on the fixed body so as to be rotatable together with the rotating movable body with the first direction as a rotation center, the annular magnetic member being installed at a position away from the operating stick in the first direction, the annular magnetic member having a permanent magnet, a first yoke having a first base connected to a first tip and one pole of the permanent magnet, and a second yoke having a second base connected to a second tip and the other pole of the permanent magnet, the first yoke having a first intermediate portion extending along a plane parallel to the second direction and the third direction, and a first bent piece bent from the first intermediate portion in a direction approaching the operating stick along the first direction, the second yoke having a second intermediate portion extending along a plane parallel to the second direction and the third direction, and a second bent piece bent from the second intermediate portion in a direction approaching the operating stick along the first direction, and the permanent magnet may be positioned at a position closer to the operating stick than the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion by having one pole connected to the first bent piece and the other pole connected to the second bent piece.

[0010] According to this configuration, the permanent magnet can be disposed closer to the operating stick, which further prevents the device from becoming larger in size in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0011] In the above input device, the rotating movable body has a rotating shaft and a rotating disk that rotates in conjunction with the rotating shaft, the fixed body has a housing that rotatably supports the rotating shaft, and a sensing block that is attached to the housing and rotatably supports the rotating disk and has a magnetic sensor attached thereto, and the rotating disk may be a non-magnetic columnar part to which an annular magnetic member is attached and which is rotatably inserted into a cylindrical recess formed in the sensing block. In this way, the magnetic sensor is attached to the sensing block and the rotating disk is rotatably supported by the sensing block, so that by attaching the sensing block to the housing, the magnetic sensor and the rotating disk can be assembled in a space-saving manner. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of an input device in which a rotationally movable body that changes the direction of a magnetic field is disposed around a magnetic sensor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a sensing unit. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a sensor substrate; FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a rotating disk. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of an annular magnetic member. [Figure 7A] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating a rotational operation within the sensing unit. [Figure 7B] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating a rotational operation within the sensing unit. [Figure 8A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modified example. [Figure 8B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same members are given the same reference numerals, and the description of members that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

[0015] (Input Device) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an input device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the input device according to the present embodiment. The input device 1 according to this embodiment is a device that receives an input by tilting an operation stick 50. In the description of the embodiment, a rotation axis parallel to the X1-X2 direction, which is one of the rotation axes in the tilting operation of the operating stick 50, is referred to as a first rotation axis AX1, and a rotation axis perpendicular to the X1-X2 direction and parallel to the Y1-Y2 direction, which is the other rotation axis, is referred to as a second rotation axis AX2. For convenience of description, the first rotation axis AX1 and the second rotation axis AX2 will be referred to collectively without distinction. In addition, a direction perpendicular to the X1-X2 direction and the Y1-Y2 direction is referred to as a Z1-Z2 direction.

[0016] The input device 1 includes a fixed body 10 and a rotatable body 20 rotatably supported by the fixed body 10. The fixed body 10 has a substantially box-shaped housing 11, and an operation stick 50 extends from an opening 11h provided in the housing 11 toward the Z2 side in the Z1-Z2 direction. The operation stick 50 is supported by the fixed body 10 so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis AX1 and a second rotation axis AX2 as rotation centers. This allows the operation stick 50 to be tilted at an angle of 360° when viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction.

[0017] The rotational movement of the operating stick 50 is transmitted to the rotatable body 20 of the sensing unit 25, and the rotation of the rotatable body 20 is detected by a magnetic sensor 30 (see FIG. 3) described below. The rotatable body 20 has a rotating shaft body 21 extending along the rotation axis of the operating stick 50, and a rotating disk 22 having a recess 22a that fits with the rotating shaft body 21. The rotating disk 22 is rotatably attached to a sensing block 31, and by fixing the sensing block 31 to the housing 11, the rotating shaft body 21 and the recess 22a of the rotating disk 22 are fitted together.

[0018] As a result, the rotational motion of the operating stick 50 is transmitted from the rotating shaft body 21 to the rotating disk 22, rotating the rotating disk 22. By detecting the rotation of the rotating disk 22 by the magnetic sensor 30 provided in the sensing block 31, the tilt angle of the operating stick 50 can be detected.

[0019] In this embodiment, the operating stick 50 has two rotation axes, a first rotation axis AX1 and a second rotation axis AX2, and therefore has a first rotation movable body 20A that detects rotation about the first rotation axis AX1 and a second rotation movable body 20B that detects rotation about the second rotation axis AX2. The first rotation movable body 20A is attached to one side of the housing 11 perpendicular to the first rotation axis AX1, and the second rotation movable body 20B is attached to the other side of the housing 11 perpendicular to the second rotation axis AX2. For convenience of explanation, the first rotation movable body 20A and the second rotation movable body 20B will be collectively referred to as the rotation movable body 20 when they are not distinguished from each other.

[0020] (Sensing unit) 3 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the sensing unit 25. The sensing unit 25 is an assembly including a sensing block 31, a rotatable body 20, a rotating disk 22, and a sensor board 35. The sensing block 31 is provided at its center with a cylindrical recess 31a into which the rotating disk 22 is rotatably inserted. The rotating disk 22 is supported so as to be slidable and rotatable while inserted into the cylindrical recess 31a. A sensor board 35 is attached to the side of the sensing block 31 opposite to the side into which the rotating disk 22 is inserted. The magnetic sensor 30 is mounted on the sensor board 35.

[0021] The magnetic sensor 30 is a sensor that detects a change in the direction of a magnetic field. The magnetic sensor 30 is mounted on a sensor substrate 35 on an extension of the rotation center (rotation axis AX) of the rotating disk 22. An annular magnetic member 40 is disposed around the magnetic sensor 30. The annular magnetic member 40 is attached to the rotating disk 22 side and rotates around the rotation axis together with the rotating disk 22. For example, in the first rotating movable body 20A shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic sensor 30 is disposed on an extension of the first rotating axis AX1, and the annular magnetic member 40 is provided so as to be rotatable around the first rotating axis AX1. Also, in the second rotating movable body 20B shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic sensor 30 is disposed on an extension of the second rotating axis AX2, and the annular magnetic member 40 is provided so as to be rotatable around the second rotating axis AX2.

[0022] In this way, the magnetic sensor 30 is attached to the sensing block 31 and the rotating disk 22 is supported on the sensing block 31 so that it can rotate freely. Therefore, by attaching the sensing block 31 to the housing 11 (see Figure 2), the magnetic sensor 30 and the rotating disk 22 can be assembled in a space-saving manner.

[0023] (sensor board) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the sensor substrate. For ease of explanation, FIG. 4 also shows the annular magnetic member 40 together with the sensor board 35. The sensor board 35 is a board on which the magnetic sensor 30 is mounted. The sensor board 35 is provided with a pattern 351 that is electrically connected to the mounted magnetic sensor 30 and a terminal 352 that is electrically connected to the pattern 351. A signal detected by the magnetic sensor 30 is sent to the outside from the terminal 352. Such a sensor board 35 is attached to the sensing block 31 shown in Fig. 3, and the rotating disk 22 incorporating the annular magnetic member 40 is inserted into the cylindrical recess 31a from the opposite side of the sensor board 35, so that the sensor board 35 and the annular magnetic member 40 are in the positional relationship shown in Fig. 4.

[0024] (Annular magnetic member) As shown in FIG. 4, the annular magnetic member 40 has a main body 41, a first extension 42, and a second extension 43. When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis AX, the annular magnetic member 40 is provided in a substantially C-shape with the main body 41 including the permanent magnet 410 as a main part. The first extension 42 extends from one end of the main body 41, and the second extension 43 extends from the other end of the main body 41. A first tip 421 which is a tip of the first extension 42 and a second tip 431 which is a tip of the second extension 43 are provided to face each other in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1, with the direction of the rotation axis AX penetrating the magnetic sensor 30 being the first direction D1. The main body 41 extends in a third direction D3 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. With this configuration, the main body 41 extends in a direction different from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable body 20, and an increase in size of the device in the direction of the rotation axis is suppressed.

[0025] A divided space S is formed between the first tip 421 and the second tip 431. The magnetic sensor 30 is located in this divided space S. A magnetic field is generated in the divided space S from the first tip 421 toward the second tip 431, and the direction of this magnetic field is detected by the magnetic sensor 30 disposed in the divided space S.

[0026] More specifically, the annular magnetic member 40 has a first yoke 401 having a first tip portion 421 and a first base portion connected to one pole of the permanent magnet 410, and a second yoke 402 having a second tip portion 431 and a second base portion connected to the other pole of the permanent magnet 410.

[0027] The first yoke 401 has a first intermediate portion 4011 extending along a plane parallel to the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 (plane perpendicular to the rotation axis AX), and a first bent piece 4012 bent from the first intermediate portion 4011 along the first direction D1 in a direction approaching the operation stick 50 (see FIG. 2). The second yoke 402 has a second intermediate portion 4021 extending along a plane parallel to the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 (plane perpendicular to the rotation axis AX), and a second bent piece 4022 bent from the second intermediate portion 4021 along the first direction D1 in a direction approaching the operation stick 50 (see FIG. 2).

[0028] One pole of the permanent magnet 410 is connected to the first bent piece 4012 which is the first base, and the other pole of the permanent magnet 410 is connected to the second bent piece 4022 which is the second base, so that the permanent magnet 410 is disposed at a position closer to the operating stick 50 (see FIG. 2) than the first intermediate portion 4011 and the second intermediate portion 4021. With this configuration, it is possible to further suppress the increase in size of the device in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0029] (Rotating disk) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the rotating disk. FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the rotating disk 22 as viewed from the side of the sensing block 31 shown in FIG. The rotating disk 22 is a non-magnetic cylindrical part. An annular recess 22b is provided in the rotating disk 22. The annular magnetic member 40 is fitted into the annular recess 22b. Hooks or crush ribs may be provided on the edge of the annular recess 22b. This makes it possible to easily fix the permanent magnet 410, the first yoke 401, and the second yoke 402 fitted into the annular recess 22b.

[0030] When the annular magnetic member 40 is fitted into the annular recess 22b of the rotating disk 22, the first bent piece 4012 and the second bent piece 4022 (see FIG. 4) of the annular magnetic member 40 are embedded inside the rotating disk 22 and do not protrude outside the rotating disk 22.

[0031] A space forming portion 22c is provided in the center of the rotating disk 22. The space forming portion 22c is provided on the opposite side of the recess 22a (see FIG. 2) of the rotating disk 22 that fits with the rotating shaft body 21 (see FIG. 2). When the annular magnetic member 40 is fitted into the annular recess 22b of the rotating disk 22, the divided space S of the annular magnetic member 40 is located in the space forming portion 22c. When the rotating disk 22 is inserted into the cylindrical recess 31a (see FIG. 3) of the sensing block 31 (see FIG. 3), the magnetic sensor 30 (see FIG. 3) is disposed in the space forming portion 22c, i.e., in the divided space S. By disposing the magnetic sensor 30 in the divided space S, there is no difference in height between the first extension portion 42 and the second extension portion 43 of the annular magnetic member 40 and the magnetic sensor 30 in the direction of the rotation axis AX, and the device can be made smaller in size in the direction of the rotation axis AX.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the annular magnetic member. FIG. 6 shows the relative positions of the annular magnetic member 40 and the magnetic sensor 30. As shown in FIG. The annular magnetic member 40 is disposed around a rotation axis AX that passes through the magnetic sensor 30 disposed in the divided space S. The magnetic sensor 30 is mounted on a sensor substrate 35 (see FIG. 4) and is fixed (does not rotate). The annular magnetic member 40 rotates around the magnetic sensor 30 as the rotating disk 22 rotates.

[0033] The main body 41 of the annular magnetic member 40 extends in a direction different from the direction of the rotation axis AX. In this embodiment, the main body 41 extends in a third direction D3 perpendicular to the first direction D1, which is the rotation axis AX, and rotates in a plane parallel to the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. This configuration prevents the annular magnetic member 40 from becoming large in the direction of the rotation axis AX.

[0034] 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams illustrating a rotational operation within the sensing unit. Fig. 7A shows the position of the annular magnetic member 40 in the sensing block 31 when the operating stick 50 (see Fig. 2) is not tilted. Fig. 7B shows the position of the annular magnetic member 40 in the sensing block 31 when the operating stick 50 is tilted (tilt angle θ) around the rotation axis AX as the center of rotation.

[0035] When the operating stick 50 is tilted, the annular magnetic member 40 rotates around the rotation axis AX with the center of the divided space S as the rotation center in accordance with the tilt angle θ of the operating stick 50. Since the main body 41 of the annular magnetic member 40 extends in a plane (a plane along the second direction D2 and the second direction D2) perpendicular to the rotation axis AX (first direction D1), the annular magnetic member 40 rotates along the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis AX.

[0036] The rotation angle of the annular magnetic member 40 changes depending on the tilt angle θ of the operating stick 50. This changes the direction of the magnetic field that is emitted from one of the first tip portion 421 of the first extension portion 42 and the second tip portion 431 of the second extension portion 43 in the separated space S of the annular magnetic member 40 and reaches the other. This change in the direction of the magnetic field is detected by the magnetic sensor 30 arranged in the separated space S. Based on the change in the direction of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor 30, the tilt angle θ of the operating stick 50 can be obtained.

[0037] (Modification) 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams illustrating a modified example. 8A and 8B show the positional relationship between the first extension portion 42, the second extension portion 43, and the magnetic sensor 30. As shown in FIG. 8A, the magnetic sensor 30 is disposed between the first tip 421 of the first extension portion 42 and the second tip 431 of the second extension portion 43, i.e., in the divided space S. In this case, a magnetic field directed from one of the first tip 421 and the second tip 431 to the other penetrates the magnetic sensor 30.

[0038] 8B, the magnetic sensor 30 is not disposed between the first tip 421 of the first extension portion 42 and the second tip 431 of the second extension portion 43, i.e., in the divided space S, but is disposed near the divided space S. In this case, the distance between the first tip 421 and the second tip 431 can be shortened, and the magnetic flux density in the divided space S can be increased. The magnetic sensor 30 detects the direction of the magnetic field around the divided space S.

[0039] According to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the input device 1 in which the rotatable body 20 that changes the direction of the magnetic field is disposed around the magnetic sensor 30.

[0040] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, in the present embodiment, the operation stick 50 is supported so as to be rotatable about each of the first rotation axis AX1 and the second rotation axis AX2 as the rotation center, but it may be supported so as to be rotatable about either one of the rotation axes as the rotation center. In addition, those in which a person skilled in the art appropriately adds, deletes, or modifies components of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, or those in which the features of the configuration examples of each embodiment are appropriately combined, are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they include the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Input device 10...Fixed body 11. Housing 11h…Aperture 20... Rotating movable body (rotating shaft body 21, rotating disk 22) 20A…First rotating movable body 20B...Second rotating movable body 21...Rotating shaft 22...Rotating disk 22a…recess 22b...Annular recess 22c...Space forming part 25…Sensing unit 30...Magnetic sensor 31…Sensing block 31a...Cylindrical recess 35…Sensor board 40...Annular magnetic member 41…Main body 42...1st extension section 43…Second extension section 50…Control stick 351...Pattern 352...Terminal 401…1st York 402…2nd York 410...Permanent magnet 421...First tip 431…Second tip 4011…First intermediate section 4012…1st folded piece 4021…Second intermediate section 4022…Second bent piece AX...rotation axis AX1: First rotation axis AX2: Second rotation axis D1…first direction D2…Second direction D3…Third direction S: Divided space θ…Tilt angle

Claims

1. A fixed body; a rotation movable body supported by the fixed body so as to be rotatable about a first direction; a ring-shaped magnetic member having a main body, a first extension portion extending from one end of the main body, and a second extension portion extending from the other end of the main body, forming a separation space between a first tip portion of the first extension portion and a second tip portion of the second extension portion which face each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, generating a magnetic field from the first tip portion toward the second tip portion, and attached to the rotatable body; a magnetic sensor attached to the fixed body, the magnetic sensor detecting a direction of a magnetic field emitted from one of the first extension portion and the second extension portion and reaching the other, thereby detecting rotation of the rotatable body; The input device, wherein the main body portion extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

2. The movable body further includes an operating stick supported on the fixed body so as to be rotatable together with the movable body with the first direction as a rotation center, the annular magnetic member is disposed at a position spaced apart from the operation stick in the first direction, the annular magnetic member includes a permanent magnet, a first yoke having a first base connected to the first tip and one pole of the permanent magnet, and a second yoke having a second base connected to the second tip and the other pole of the permanent magnet; the first yoke has a first intermediate portion extending along a plane parallel to the second direction and the third direction, and a first bent piece bent from the first intermediate portion along the first direction in a direction approaching the operation stick, the second yoke has a second intermediate portion extending along a plane parallel to the second direction and the third direction, and a second bent piece bent from the second intermediate portion along the first direction in a direction approaching the operation stick, 2. The input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the permanent magnet is positioned closer to the operating stick than the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion, with one pole connected to the first bent piece and the other pole connected to the second bent piece.

3. The rotary movable body includes a rotary shaft and a rotary disk that rotates in conjunction with the rotary shaft, the fixed body includes a housing that rotatably supports the rotating shaft body, and a sensing block that is attached to the housing, rotatably supports the rotating disk, and has the magnetic sensor attached thereto; 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating disk is a non-magnetic columnar part to which the annular magnetic member is attached and which is rotatably inserted into a cylindrical recess formed in the sensing block.

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