Multi-directional input device

Abstract

To provide a multi-directional input device that can improve detection accuracy and reduce the size of the device.SOLUTION: A multi-directional input device according to the present invention includes: a housing having a storage space; a swinging body swingably supported within the storage space; a first interlocking member rotatably supported about an X direction; a second interlocking member rotatably supported about a Y direction; first detection means for detecting the rotation of the first interlocking member; and second detection means for detecting the rotation of the second interlocking member, wherein the first detection means has a first slider linearly driven in a direction perpendicular to the X direction by a first swing arm and first position detection means for detecting a position of the first slider, the second detection means has a second slider linearly driven in a direction perpendicular to the Y direction by a second swing arm and second position detection means for detecting a position of the second slider, and the first slider is linearly supported on an X1 wall portion, and the second slider is linearly supported on z Y1 wall portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-directional input device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-directional rocker adjustment control device. In this multi-directional rocker adjustment control device, an adjustment control assembly is fitted into an accommodating chamber between a base and a housing. The adjustment control assembly includes a shaft, an upper rocker arm, and a lower rocker arm. A rocker is attached to the lower end of the shaft, the upper end of the rocker is fitted into a shaft mounting hole in the shaft, and a spring is attached between the rocker and the shaft. The upper rocker arm is provided with an upper drive unit and an upper positioning unit, and the upper drive unit drives a first rotary potentiometer. The lower rocker arm is provided with a lower first drive unit and a lower second drive unit, and the lower first drive unit drives a second rotary potentiometer, and the lower second drive unit drives a touch switch. Two opposing locking portions are provided at the lower end of the shaft, each of which is fitted into a locking hole in the lower end rocker arm, and a contact position limiting bump is provided near each locking portion on the outer surface of the lower end of the shaft.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a multi-directional input device with high output accuracy. This multi-directional input device includes a case, an operating shaft that is an operating member that protrudes upward from inside the case to the outside and can be tilted in any direction around it, an upper arm that is a first interlocking member and a lower arm that is a second interlocking member that move in response to tilting of the operating shaft and extend perpendicular to each other and are held within the case, a first variable resistor that is a first detector that detects movement of the upper arm and the lower arm, and a second variable resistor that is a second detector, and has a first spring portion and a second spring portion that urge the upper arm and the lower arm downward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3211625 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-051908 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a multi-directional input device, for example, a rocker supported to be rockable around the X and Y directions as rotation axes is operated, and a detection means detects the amount of change based on the tilt angle of the rocker, thereby obtaining the amount of operation of the rocker around the X and Y axes. Here, in Patent Document 1, the amount of operation is obtained by detecting the change in the rotation angle of the rocker, while in Patent Document 2, the amount of operation is obtained by converting the rotational movement of the rocker into linear movement. It is desirable for such a multi-directional input device to be able to accurately detect the amount of operation of the rocker and to be compact.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-directional input device that can improve detection accuracy and reduce the size of the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention includes a housing having an X1 wall portion and an X2 wall portion arranged opposite each other along the X direction with a storage space therebetween, and a Y1 wall portion and a Y2 wall portion arranged opposite each other along the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction with the storage space therebetween; a swinging body supported within the storage space so as to be swingable around the X direction and the Y direction as a rotation center; a first interlocking member supported by the X1 wall portion and the X2 wall portion so as to be rotatable around a first rotation axis parallel to the X direction as a rotation center and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of the swinging body; a second interlocking member supported by the Y1 wall portion and the Y2 wall portion so as to be rotatable around a second rotation axis parallel to the Y direction as a rotation center and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of the swinging body; a first detection means for detecting the rotation of the first interlocking member; and a second detection means for detecting the rotation of the second interlocking member. the first interlocking member has a first oscillating arm extending radially from the first rotation shaft, the second interlocking member has a second oscillating arm extending radially from the second rotation shaft, the first detection means has a first slider supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the X direction and linearly driven by the first oscillating arm, and first position detection means for detecting the position of the first slider, the second detection means has a second slider supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the Y direction and linearly driven by the second oscillating arm, and second position detection means for detecting the position of the second slider, the first slider being supported so as to be linearly movable on the X1 wall, and the second slider being supported so as to be linearly movable on the Y1 wall.

[0008] With this configuration, the oscillation of the oscillator is converted into linear motion by the first slider and the second slider, and the positions of the first slider and the second slider due to this linear motion are detected by the first position detection means and the second position detection means. In this way, the amount of change based on the oscillation of the oscillator is converted into a linear direction and detected, so detection errors are less likely to occur. Furthermore, because the first slider is supported linearly on the X1 wall portion and the second slider is supported linearly on the Y1 wall portion, the first detection means and the second detection means are prevented from expanding outward from the housing.

[0009] In the above multi-directional input device, the first slider may include a sliding contact member that is driven linearly along the X1 wall, and the first position detection means may include a resistor pattern that is linearly laid along the X1 wall and with which the sliding contact member slides. In this way, because the resistor pattern is laid along the first wall, the amount of outward protrusion of the first position detection means from the X1 wall is suppressed.

[0010] In the multi-directional input device, the resistor pattern may be arranged inside a sensor housing attached to the outside of the X1 wall, the sensor housing including a flat plate portion parallel to the X1 wall and a peripheral wall portion extending from the periphery of the flat plate portion in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion, and the sliding contact member may be attached to a slide block supported so as to be linearly slidable inside the sensor housing. This results in a configuration in which the resistor pattern, sliding contact member, and slide block are accommodated inside the sensor housing, and the sensor block is attached along the X1 wall.

[0011] The multi-directional input device may further include a leaf spring attached to the peripheral wall for elastically biasing the slide block toward the resistor pattern, whereby the sliding contact member supported by the slide block is brought into reliable contact with the resistor pattern by the elastic biasing force of the leaf spring.

[0012] In the multi-directional input device, one of the leaf spring member and the slide block may have a convex portion formed to protrude toward the other, and the other of the leaf spring member and the slide block may have a concave portion that can be engaged with or disengaged from the convex portion, so that the slide block returns to a predetermined position when one of the convex portion and the concave portion elastically contacts the other. This makes it easier for the slide block to return to the position where the convex portion and the concave portion engage.

[0013] In the multi-directional input device, the first slider may be supported linearly on the X1 wall via a first sensor housing attached to the X1 wall, and the second slider may be supported linearly on the Y1 wall via a second sensor housing attached to the Y1 wall, whereby the first slider and the second slider are attached to the X1 wall and the Y1 wall, respectively, with the first sensor housing and the second sensor housing as references. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multi-directional input device that can improve detection accuracy and reduce the size of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a multi-directional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a multi-directional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration inside a housing of a multi-directional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 is a perspective view illustrating an engagement state between a first detecting means and a first swing arm portion. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a perspective view illustrating an engagement state between a second detecting means and a second swing arm portion. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7A] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of an engagement state between a convex portion and a concave portion. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of part A shown in FIG. 7A. [Figure 8A] 10 is a side view illustrating an example of an engagement state between a first swing arm and a first protruding pin. FIG. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of part B shown in FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating a detection error of a resistance value due to linear sliding between a resistor pattern and a sliding contact member. [Figure 9B] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating a detection error of a resistance value due to an arcuate sliding movement between a resistor pattern and a sliding contact member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same components will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of components that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

[0017] (Multi-directional input device) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a multi-directional input device according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the multi-directional input device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration inside the housing of the multi-directional input device according to this embodiment. The multi-directional input device 1 according to this embodiment is a device that receives input by swinging (tilting) a swinging body 20, which is an operation member. In the description of the embodiment, a rotation axis parallel to the X1-X2 direction (X direction) and one of the rotation axes in the tilting operation of the oscillator 20 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 (Y direction) and another of the rotation axes is referred to as a second rotation axis AX2. In addition, a direction perpendicular to the X1-X2 direction and the Y1-Y2 direction is referred to as a Z1-Z2 direction.

[0018] The multi-directional input device 1 comprises a housing 10 having a storage space 100, a rocking body 20 supported so as to be rockable within the storage space 100, a first interlocking member 31 and a second interlocking member 32 that rotate in conjunction with the rocking of the rocking body 20, and a first detection means 41 and a second detection means 42 that detect the rotation of the first interlocking member 31 and the second interlocking member 32.

[0019] The housing 10 has an X1 wall 11 and an X2 wall 12 arranged opposite each other in the X1-X2 direction with the storage space 100 in between, and a Y1 wall 13 and a Y2 wall 14 arranged opposite each other in the Y1-Y2 direction with the storage space 100 in between. An opening 10h is provided on the Z2 side of the housing 10 in the Z1-Z2 direction, and a rocking body 20 extends from inside the storage space 100 to the Z2 side in the Z1-Z2 direction through this opening 10h.

[0020] The oscillating body 20 is supported so as to be able to oscillate about a first rotation axis AX1 and a second rotation axis AX2 as the center of rotation within the storage space 100. This allows the oscillating body 20 to tilt in any direction 360° when viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction.

[0021] The swinging motion of the oscillator 20 is transmitted to the first interlocking member 31 and the second interlocking member 32. The first interlocking member 31 is supported by the X1 wall portion 11 and the X2 wall portion 12 so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis AX1 as the center of rotation, and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of the oscillator 20. The second interlocking member 32 is supported by the Y1 wall portion 13 and the Y2 wall portion 14 so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis AX2 as the center of rotation, and rotates in conjunction with the swinging of the oscillator 20. As a result, the tilting motion of the oscillator 20 as viewed in the Z1-Z2 direction is resolved into a swinging motion of the first interlocking member 31 about the first rotation axis AX1 as the center of rotation, and a swinging motion of the second interlocking member 32 about the second rotation axis AX2 as the center of rotation.

[0022] The first interlocking member 31 has a first swing arm 311 extending radially from the first rotation axis AX1 toward the Z1 side in the Z1-Z2 direction, while the second interlocking member 32 has a second swing arm 321 extending radially from the second rotation axis AX2 toward the Z1 side in the Z1-Z2 direction.

[0023] The first swing arm 311 and the second swing arm 321 extend on the opposite side to the swing body 20, centering on the first rotation axis AX1 and the second rotation axis AX2. As a result, when the swing body 20 is rotated around the first rotation axis AX1, the first swing arm 311 swings in the opposite direction to the swing body 20. Furthermore, when the swing body 20 is rotated around the second rotation axis AX2, the second swing arm 321 swings in the opposite direction to the swing body 20.

[0024] The rotational movement of the first interlocking member 31 around the first rotation axis AX1 is detected by the first detection means 41, and the rotational movement of the second interlocking member 32 around the second rotation axis AX2 is detected by the second detection means 42.

[0025] The first detection means 41 has a first slider 411 supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the first rotation axis AX1, and a first position detection means 412 that detects the position of the first slider 411. The first slider 411 is driven linearly in the Y1-Y2 direction in response to the swing movement of the first swing arm 311. The first slider 411 is supported so as to be linearly movable on the X1 wall portion 11 of the housing 10.

[0026] The second detection means 42 has a second slider 421 supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the second rotation axis AX2, and a second position detection means 422 that detects the position of the second slider 421. The second slider 421 is driven linearly in the X1-X2 direction in response to the swing movement of the second swing arm 321. The second slider 421 is supported so as to be linearly movable on the Y1 wall portion 13 of the housing 10.

[0027] In this way, the first detecting means 41 and the second detecting means 42 are attached to the X1 wall portion 11 and the Y1 wall portion 13 of the housing 10, the first slider 411 is supported on the X1 wall portion 11 so as to be linearly movable, and the second slider 421 is supported on the Y1 wall portion 13 so as to be linearly movable, thereby suppressing the first detecting means 41 and the second detecting means 42 from expanding outward from the housing 10. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the multi-directional input device 1.

[0028] (Detection means) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an engagement state between the first detecting means and the first swing arm. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an engagement state between the second detecting means and the second swing arm. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the detection means. Note that the first detection means 41 and the second detection means 42 have the same configuration, and therefore common reference numerals are used in Fig. 6 for the components of the second detection means 42 that are the same as the components of the first detection means 41. Furthermore, the reference numerals in parentheses in Fig. 6 indicate the components of the second detection means 42 that correspond to the components of the first detection means 41.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a first slider 411 of the first detection means 41 is provided with a first protruding pin 411a that protrudes toward the X2 side in the X1-X2 direction. The first protruding pin 411a is provided in the center of the first slider 411 in the Y1-Y2 direction and engages with the first swing arm 311 of the first interlocking member 31. A first slit 311a is provided in the first swing arm 311. The first slit 311a extends in the Z1-Z2 direction and has a width in the Y1-Y2 direction that is approximately equal to the diameter of the first protruding pin 411a. The first protruding pin 411a is fitted into this first slit 311a.

[0030] Changes in the relative position between the first swing arm 311 and the first protruding pin 411a are allowed in the extension direction of the first slit 311a, but are not allowed in the width direction of the first slit 311a. Therefore, when the first interlocking member 31 and the first swing arm 311 swing in conjunction with the swing body 20, the swinging motion of the first swing arm 311 is converted into linear motion of the first slider 411 in the Y1-Y2 direction via the first protruding pin 411a.

[0031] 5 and 6, a second slider 421 of the second detection means 42 is provided with a second protruding pin 421a that protrudes toward the Y2 side in the Y1-Y2 direction. The second protruding pin 421a is provided in the center of the second slider 421 in the X1-X2 direction and engages with the second swing arm portion 321 of the second interlocking member 32. A second slit 321a is provided in the second swing arm portion 321. The second slit 321a extends in the Z1-Z2 direction and has a width in the X1-X2 direction that is approximately equal to the diameter of the second protruding pin 421a. The second protruding pin 421a is fitted into this second slit 321a.

[0032] Changes in the relative position between the second swing arm 321 and the second protruding pin 421a are allowed in the extension direction of the second slit 321a, but are not allowed in the width direction of the second slit 321a. Therefore, when the second interlocking member 32 and the second swing arm 321 swing in conjunction with the swing body 20, the swinging motion of the second swing arm 321 is converted into linear motion of the second slider 421 in the X1-X2 direction via the second protruding pin 421a.

[0033] 6, the first detecting means 41 and the second detecting means 42 each include a sensor housing 400, a resistor pattern 401 provided inside the sensor housing 400, a slide block 402, and a sliding contact member 403. The first sensor housing 400A, which is the sensor housing 400 of the first detecting means 41, has a flat plate portion 400a parallel to the X1 wall portion 11 (see FIG. 1) and a peripheral wall portion 400b extending from the periphery of the flat plate portion 400a in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion 400a. The second sensor housing 400B, which is the sensor housing 400 of the second detecting means 42, has a flat plate portion 400a parallel to the Y1 wall portion 13 (see FIG. 1) and a peripheral wall portion 400b extending from the periphery of the flat plate portion 400a in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion 400a. The sensor housing 400 of the first detecting means 41 is attached to the outside of the X1 wall portion 11, and the sensor housing 400 of the second detecting means 42 is attached to the outside of the Y1 wall portion 13. As a result, the first slider 411 and the second slider 421 are attached to the X1 wall portion 11 and the Y1 wall portion 13, respectively, with the first sensor housing 400A and the second sensor housing 400B as references.

[0034] The resistor pattern 401 is included in the first position detection means 412 and the second position detection means 422. The resistor pattern 401 is connected to, for example, three external connection terminals T. One of the three external connection terminals T is a common terminal and the remaining two are detection terminals, and the resistance value between the common terminal and the two detection terminals changes depending on the contact position of the sliding contact member 403 with the resistor pattern 401.

[0035] The slide block 402 is a part of the first slider 411 and the second slider 421, and is supported inside the sensor housing 400 so as to be linearly slidable. The first protruding pin 411a and the second protruding pin 421a are each provided to protrude from the slide block 402. A slide contact member 403 is attached to the sensor housing 400 side of the slide block 402. When the slide block 402 to which the slide contact member 403 is attached slides linearly relative to the sensor housing 400, the slide contact member 403 slides on the resistor pattern 401. The resistance value changes depending on the contact position of the slide contact member 403 on the resistor pattern 401. The tilt angle of the oscillator 20 is detected based on this resistance value.

[0036] A leaf spring member 404 is attached to the peripheral wall portion 400b of the sensor housing 400. The leaf spring member 404 elastically biases the slide block 402 toward the resistor pattern 401. This presses the slide block 402 to an extent that it can slide relative to the sensor housing 400. In addition, the elastic biasing force of the leaf spring member 404 ensures that the sliding contact member 403 comes into contact with the resistor pattern 401.

[0037] One of the leaf spring member 404 and the slide block 402 has a convex portion 404a formed to protrude toward the other, and the other of the leaf spring member 404 and the slide block 402 has a concave portion 402a that can be engaged with and disengaged from the convex portion 404a. In this embodiment, the leaf spring member 404 is provided with a convex portion 404a that protrudes toward the slide block 402, and the slide block 402 is provided with a concave portion 402a that can be engaged with and disengaged from the convex portion 404a. The convex portion 404a and the concave portion 402a are each provided to extend in the Z1-Z2 direction. The elastic contact between the convex portion 404a and the concave portion 402a makes it easier for the slide block 402 to return to its predetermined position.

[0038] 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an engagement state between the protrusion and the recess, taken along the XY plane at the center of the leaf spring member 404 in the Z1-Z2 direction and viewed in the Z1 direction. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of part A shown in FIG. 7A. 7A and 7B show the slide block 402 and leaf spring member 404 of the first detection means 41, and the second detection means 42 is similar except for the mounting direction. The leaf spring member 404 applies an elastic biasing force to the slide block 402. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, the elastic biasing force from the leaf spring member 404 presses the slide block 402 toward the X1 side in the X1-X2 direction (see arrow F1 shown in FIG. 7B).

[0039] The slide block 402 can slide linearly in the Y1-Y2 direction, but when the projection 404a starts to fit into the recess 402a while the slide block 402 is sliding, a force is applied to the slide block 402 in the sliding direction (see arrow F2 in FIG. 7B), and the projection 404a is pulled into the recess 402a and fits in. This makes it easier for the slide block 402 to return to the position where the projection 404a fits into the recess 402a.

[0040] By aligning the position of the slide block 402, where the convex portion 404a and the concave portion 402a fit together, with the neutral position of the oscillator 20, the return of the slide block 402 due to the fit of the convex portion 404a and the concave portion 402a can support the return of the oscillator 20 to the neutral position. The oscillator 20 is provided with a mechanism (such as a spring) for returning to the neutral position, but the elastic biasing force from the leaf spring member 404 applies resistance to the sliding of the slide block 402. Therefore, even if a mechanism for returning the oscillator 20 is provided, this can be a force that prevents the oscillator 20 from returning to the neutral position. In addition, contact resistance of the oscillator 20 and various parts that are linked to the oscillation of the oscillator 20 also prevents the oscillator 20 from returning to the neutral position. By providing the convex portion 404a and the concave portion 402a as described above, the fit of these components assists the return force of the oscillator 20 to the neutral position, allowing the oscillator 20 to be returned to the neutral position reliably and stably.

[0041] (Regarding position detection errors) FIG. 8A is a side view illustrating an example of an engagement state between the first swing arm and the first protruding pin. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of part B shown in FIG. 8A. Note that Figures 8A and 8B show the engagement state between the first oscillating arm portion 311 of the first interlocking member 31 and the first protruding pin 411a, but the engagement state between the second oscillating arm portion 321 of the second interlocking member 32 and the second protruding pin 421a is similar.

[0042] A first slit 311a extending in the Z1-Z2 direction is provided in the first swing arm 311. A first protruding pin 411a is fitted into the first slit 311a of the first swing arm 311. As a result, changes in the relative positional relationship between the first swing arm 311 and the first protruding pin 411a are permitted in the extension direction of the first slit 311a (see arrow C in FIG. 8B), but are not permitted in the X1-X2 direction.

[0043] 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams illustrating the resistance detection error caused by the sliding of the resistor pattern and the sliding contact member. Fig. 9A shows the case of linear sliding, and Fig. 9B shows the case of circular sliding. The resistance value of the resistor pattern 401 varies depending on the position of the sliding contact member 403 that contacts the resistor pattern 401 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, a sliding contact member 403 slides linearly relative to a resistor pattern 401 to change the resistance value.

[0044] On the other hand, the example shown in FIG. 9B is used in a rotary type detection means as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which a sliding contact member 503 moves along an arc relative to a resistor pattern 501 to change the resistance value. 8A and 8B, in this embodiment, the engagement between the first swing arm 311 of the first interlocking member 31 and the first protruding pin 411a suppresses misalignment of the slide block 402 (see FIG. 6) in the sliding direction (X1-X2 direction). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, misalignment of the sliding contact member 403 in the sliding direction relative to the resistor pattern 401 is suppressed. However, misalignment of the sliding contact member 403 in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction may occur (see arrow D in FIG. 9A). However, the resistance value is determined by the contact position of the sliding contact member 403 with the resistor pattern 401 in the sliding direction, and misalignment in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction has little effect on the resistance value.

[0045] 9B, in a rotary detection means, the tolerance of the axis of the rotating part occurs in a circular area centered on the axis, and therefore an error in the contact point between sliding contact member 503 and resistor pattern 501 can also occur in the circular area (see area S shown in FIG. 9B). For this reason, if an error in the contact point between sliding contact member 503 and resistor pattern 501 occurs in a position that deviates from the line passing through the center of the arc of the sliding movement, it will appear as a deviation in the angle of the contact point, which will result in an error in the resistance value.

[0046] In this embodiment, the sliding contact member 403 slides in a straight line relative to the resistor pattern 401, and the engagement between the first oscillating arm portion 311 of the first interlocking member 31 and the first protruding pin 411a suppresses positional deviation of the slide block 402 in the sliding direction (X1-X2 direction), thereby enabling accurate detection of the resistance value.

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a multi-directional input device 1 that can improve detection accuracy and also reduce the size of the device.

[0048] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, in the present embodiment, the oscillator 20 is supported so as to be oscillating about each of the first rotation axis AX1 and the second rotation axis AX2 as the center of rotation. However, the oscillator 20 may be supported so as to be oscillating about either one of the rotation axes as the center of rotation. Furthermore, the position detection by the first position detection means 412 and the second position detection means 422 may be performed using a method other than resistance (e.g., magnetic or optical). Furthermore, those skilled in the art may appropriately add, delete, or modify components of the above-described embodiments, or appropriately combine features of the configuration examples of the embodiments, as long as they comply with the gist of the present invention. These modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...Multi-directional input device 10...Housing 10h…Opening 11…X1 wall section 12…X2 wall section 13…Y1 wall section 14...Y2 wall section 20...Oscillator 31...First interlocking member 32...Second interlocking member 41...First detection means 42...Second detection means 100...Storage space 311...First swing arm 311a...First slit 321...Second swing arm 321a...Second slit 400...Sensor housing 400A…First sensor housing 400B...Second sensor housing 400a...Flat plate part 400b…peripheral wall part 401...Resistor pattern 402...Slide block 402a...recess 403...Sliding contact member 404... Leaf spring member 404a...Convex part 411...First slider 411a...First protruding pin 412...First position detection means 421...Second slider 421a...Second protruding pin 422...Second position detection means 501...Resistor pattern 503...Sliding contact member AX1: First rotation axis AX2: Second rotation axis S…area T...External connection terminal

Claims

1. a housing having an X1 wall portion and an X2 wall portion disposed opposite each other along an X direction with a storage space therebetween, and a Y1 wall portion and a Y2 wall portion disposed opposite each other along a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction with the storage space therebetween; a swinging body supported within the storage space so as to be swingable about a rotation center in the X direction and the Y direction; a first interlocking member supported by the X1 wall portion and the X2 wall portion so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis parallel to the X direction as a rotation center, and which rotates in conjunction with the oscillation of the oscillator; a second interlocking member supported by the Y1 wall portion and the Y2 wall portion so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis parallel to the Y direction as a rotation center, and which rotates in conjunction with the oscillation of the oscillator; a first detection means for detecting the rotation of the first interlocking member; a second detection means for detecting the rotation of the second interlocking member; Equipped with the first interlocking member has a first swing arm portion extending radially from the first rotation shaft, the second interlocking member has a second swing arm portion extending radially from the second rotation shaft, the first detection means includes a first slider that is supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the X direction and is linearly driven by the first swing arm, and a first position detection means that detects a position of the first slider; the second detection means includes a second slider that is supported so as to be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the Y direction and is linearly driven by the second swing arm portion, and a second position detection means that detects the position of the second slider, the first slider is supported by the X1 wall portion so as to be linearly movable; The multi-directional input device, wherein the second slider is supported on the Y1 wall portion so as to be capable of linear movement.

2. the first slider includes a sliding contact member that is linearly driven along the X1 wall portion, 2. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, wherein the first position detecting means includes a resistor pattern that is linearly laid along the X1 wall portion and with which the sliding contact member slides.

3. the resistor pattern is comprised of a flat plate portion parallel to the X1 wall portion and a peripheral wall portion extending from the periphery of the flat plate portion in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion, and is laid inside a sensor housing attached to the outside of the X1 wall portion; 3. The multi-directional input device according to claim 2, wherein the sliding contact member is attached to a slide block that is supported so as to be linearly slidable inside the sensor housing.

4. 4. The multi-directional input device according to claim 3, further comprising a leaf spring member attached to the peripheral wall portion for elastically biasing the slide block toward the resistor pattern.

5. One of the leaf spring member and the slide block has a protrusion formed to protrude toward the other, the other of the leaf spring member and the slide block has a recess that can be engaged with and disengaged from the protrusion, 5. The multi-directional input device according to claim 4, wherein one of the convex portion and the concave portion elastically contacts the other, thereby causing the slide block to return to a predetermined position.

6. the first slider is supported by the X1 wall portion via a first sensor housing attached to the X1 wall portion so as to be linearly movable; 2. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, wherein the second slider is supported by the Y1 wall portion so as to be linearly movable via a second sensor housing attached to the Y1 wall portion.

Images