Detent device and rotation operation device

Abstract

To provide a moderation device capable of switching moderation feeling by simple processing, and a rotation operation device.SOLUTION: The detent device 20 includes a coil 8 through which a current intermittently flows, a plurality of first teeth 21 provided on the stator 3, and a plurality of second teeth 22 provided on the rotor 4. The second tooth part 22 has the number of teeth different from that of the first tooth part 21, and can be opposed to the first tooth part 21. When a current flows through the coil 8, the coil 8 generates a magnetic flux that attracts the opposing teeth to each other, thereby generating a click in the rotation operation of the rotor 4. The plurality of first teeth 21 and the plurality of second teeth 22 are formed so as to have a plurality of combination patterns of tooth shapes when facing each other in the process of rotation of the rotor 4. When the rotor 4 is rotated, a current is supplied to the coil 8 every time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on a detection signal of a detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a detent device capable of generating a plurality of detents, and a rotary operation device. [Background technology]

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a device capable of changing the tactile sensation generated by a control button that is rotated by utilizing magnetic interaction is well known. This device includes a cylindrical first structure with teeth that is rotated by a user, a second structure with teeth disposed inside the first structure, and a magnet at least partially surrounded by a coil. This device changes the magnetization of the magnet depending on the direction and magnitude of a current flowing through the coil, thereby setting whether or not the control button has a tactile sensation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2022-509688 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, in order to change the tactile sensation, it is necessary to change the direction and magnitude of the current flowing through the coil. Therefore, when changing the tactile sensation, it is necessary to control the direction and magnitude of the current flowing through the coil, which makes the processing complicated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The moderation device that solves the above problem is a device that applies moderation to the rotational operation of rotating a rotor relative to a stator, and includes a plurality of first tooth portions arranged circumferentially on one of the stator and the rotor, a plurality of second tooth portions arranged circumferentially on the other of the stator and the rotor with a different number of teeth than the plurality of first tooth portions and that can face the plurality of first tooth portions, a coil that generates a magnetic flux that attracts the facing teeth together when a current is passed through it, thereby generating moderation in the rotational operation of the rotor, and a control unit that passes the current through the coil intermittently, wherein the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions are formed so that there are a plurality of combination patterns of tooth shapes when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor, and the control unit passes the current through the coil each time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on a detection signal from a detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor during the rotational operation of the rotor.

[0006] A rotation operation device that solves the above problem is a device that includes a stator and a rotor that can rotate relative to the stator, and includes a plurality of first tooth portions that are arranged circumferentially on one of the stator and the rotor, a plurality of second tooth portions that are arranged circumferentially on the other of the stator and the rotor with a different number of teeth than the plurality of first tooth portions and that can face the plurality of first tooth portions, a coil that, when current is passed through it, generates a magnetic flux that attracts the facing teeth to each other, thereby generating a moderation in the rotation operation of the rotor, and a control unit that intermittently passes the current through the coil, wherein the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions are formed so that there are a plurality of combination patterns of tooth shapes when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor, and the control unit passes the current through the coil every time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on a detection signal from a detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor during the rotation operation of the rotor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention can switch the moderation feeling with a simple process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a moderation device and a rotary operation device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of a moderation device and a rotary operation device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the path of magnetic flux generated in the moderation device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detent device that generates a first detent pattern. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the detent device that generates the second detent pattern. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of a moderation device and a rotary operation device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of detent switching of the detent device. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a detent device that generates a first detent pattern according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the detent device that generates the second detent pattern. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. (Rotational operation device 1) 1 and 2, the rotary operation device 1 has an operation unit 2 that is rotated by a user. The operation unit 2 has, for example, a stator 3 and a rotor 4 that rotates relative to the stator 3. The rotary operation device 1 is, for example, for use in a vehicle. The operation unit 2 of the in-vehicle rotary operation device 1 is disposed, for example, on the steering wheel, instrument panel, center cluster, center console, etc. of the vehicle.

[0010] (Stator 3) As shown in FIG. 1, the stator 3 has an electromagnet 6 that generates a magnetic flux when current is applied. The electromagnet 6 has, for example, a core 7 arranged on the axis of the stator 3 and a coil 8 wound around the core 7. The coil 8 is wound around, for example, a bobbin 9 attached to the outer periphery of the core 7 in multiple windings. A hole 10 that accommodates the core 7 is formed in the center of the bobbin 9. The coil 8 is wound around the bobbin 9 in multiple windings so as to surround the core 7 from the periphery. The core 7 is an iron core.

[0011] The stator 3 has a tooth-forming plate 12 at an end in the axial direction of the stator 3. The tooth-forming plate 12 is generally disk-shaped, with a plurality of teeth arranged in the circumferential direction on its outer peripheral surface. The tooth-forming plates 12 are arranged in pairs on both sides in the axial direction of the stator 3 (only one side is shown in FIG. 1). A shaft hole 12a is formed in the center of the tooth-forming plate 12, into which the shaft (not shown) of the rotor 4 is fitted. The rotor 4 rotates around a rotation axis L1 at the center of the shaft hole 12a.

[0012] The tooth-forming plate 12 has slits 14 that engage with the protrusions 13 of the bobbin 9 to position the bobbin 9. A plurality of slits 14 (four in this example) are provided so as to be aligned in the circumferential direction, and are formed so as to form pairs with the plurality of protrusions 13. The plurality of slits 14 are formed, for example, in the shape of elongated holes, and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0013] (Rotor 4) As shown in FIG. 1 , the rotor 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a housing portion 16 that houses the stator 3. Specifically, the rotor 4 has a cylindrical rotor body 17 and an annular tooth-forming portion 18 arranged at the axial end of the rotor body 17. The rotor 4 rotates along the outer periphery of the stator 3, which is housed in the housing portion 16. The tooth-forming portion 18 is formed so that a plurality of teeth are arranged circumferentially on its inner circumferential surface. The tooth-forming portions 18 are arranged in pairs on both axial sides of the rotor 4. The rotor 4 is preferably made of, for example, metal.

[0014] (moderation device 20) 1 and 2, the rotation operation device 1 includes a moderation device 20 that applies moderation to the rotation operation of rotating the rotor 4 relative to the stator 3. The moderation device 20 includes the coil 8 described above, a plurality of first teeth 21 arranged circumferentially on one of the stator 3 and the rotor 4, and a plurality of second teeth 22 arranged circumferentially on the other of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 with a different number of teeth than the first teeth 21 and capable of facing the plurality of first teeth 21. The first teeth 21 are formed on the stator 3, specifically, on the outer periphery of the tooth-forming plate 12. The second teeth 22 are formed on the rotor 4, specifically, on the inner circumferential surface of the tooth-forming portion 18.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 3, the detent device 20 generates a magnetic flux that attracts the opposing first tooth portion 21 and second tooth portion 22 by passing a current I through the coil 8, thereby generating a detent in the rotation of the rotor 4. Specifically, when the rotor 4 is rotated, the current I is passed through the coil 8 at a timing when the teeth corresponding to the selected detent face each other, thereby generating a magnetic flux attraction force between the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22, thereby adding a detent to the rotational feel. As shown by the dashed-dotted arrow in Fig. 3, the magnetic flux of the coil 8 follows a path that, for example, passes through one of the two pairs of the tooth plate 12 and the tooth portion 18, passes through the rotor 4, and returns to the coil 8 from the other of the two pairs of the tooth plate 12 and the tooth portion 18.

[0016] (Tooth shape of moderation device 20) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are formed so that there are multiple tooth shape combinations when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor 4. As such, in this example, the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are formed so that there are multiple combinations when they face each other due to the attraction of magnetic flux. In this example, the multiple tooth shape combination patterns are set by combining different gaps W between the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22. In this example, the first tooth portion 21 includes large protruding tooth portions 21a with large protruding amounts and small protruding tooth portions 21b with small protruding amounts. The large protruding tooth portions 21a and the small protruding tooth portions 21b are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotor 4. The first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are formed in a quadrangular shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotor 4.

[0017] The attractive force of the magnetic flux generated between the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 when the coil 8 is energized is inversely proportional to the size of the gap W. Therefore, when the large protruding tooth portion 21a and the second tooth portion 22 face each other during rotation of the rotor 4, the gap W becomes a small gap "W1" (state in FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the small protruding tooth portion 21b and the second tooth portion 22 face each other during rotation of the rotor 4, the gap W becomes a large gap "W2" (state in FIG. 5).

[0018] When a strong click feeling is to be imparted to the rotation operation of the rotor 4, the coil 8 is energized each time the second tooth portion 22 faces the large protruding tooth portion 21a, thereby generating a stronger attractive force between the stator 3 and the rotor 4 than when the small protruding tooth portion 21b faces. In other words, by energizing the coil 8 when the large protruding tooth portion 21a faces, a stronger click feeling is generated than when the small protruding tooth portion 21b faces.

[0019] On the other hand, when a small click feeling is to be imparted to the rotation operation of the rotor 4, the coil 8 is energized each time the small protruding tooth portion 21b of the second tooth portion 22 faces the second tooth portion 22, thereby generating a smaller attractive force between the stator 3 and the rotor 4 than when the large protruding tooth portion 21a faces. In other words, by energizing the coil 8 when the small protruding tooth portion 21b faces, a smaller click feeling is generated than when the large protruding tooth portion 21a faces. In this way, the click device 20 generates multiple click feelings in the rotation operation of the rotor 4.

[0020] (Electrical configuration of moderation device 20) 6, the moderation device 20 includes a control unit 24 that controls the operation of the moderation device 20. The control unit 24 is configured, for example, by a microprocessor, a memory, etc. The microprocessor is configured, for example, by a CPU, an MPU, a GPU, an ASIC, etc.

[0021] The control unit 24 receives a detent selection signal Sa used to determine which pattern to apply from a plurality of combinations of tooth shapes of the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22. The detent selection signal Sa is input from any in-vehicle device. The detent selection signal Sa may be a signal indicating the type of detent to be generated, a signal notifying which in-vehicle device has been selected, or a signal notifying the mode of any in-vehicle device.

[0022] The control unit 24 receives a detection signal Sb corresponding to the rotation of the rotor 4 from a detection unit 25 that detects the rotation of the rotor 4. The detection unit 25 may be, for example, a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor. When the rotor 4 is rotated, the control unit 24 causes a current I to flow through the coil 8 each time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on the detection signal Sb from the detection unit 25. Specifically, the control unit 24 generates the desired detent by intermittently causing the current I to flow through the coil 8 at a timing based on the detection signal Sb so that the detent specified by the detent selection signal Sa is generated.

[0023] The control unit 24 is connected to a display device 26, the display of which is switched based on the operation of the rotary operation device 1. In the case of an in-vehicle use, the display device 26 is, for example, a touch panel or a multi-information display arranged in a center console. The display device 26 displays a screen corresponding to the rotation operation of the rotor 4 based on the detection signal Sb input from the detection unit 25. It is preferable that the display of the display device 26 be switched in response to the detent generated in the rotary operation device 1. As an example, if a scale is displayed on the display device 26, it is preferable that the scale display be switched one by one each time detent is generated in the operating unit 2 that is rotated.

[0024] (Operation of the embodiment) Next, the operation of the moderation device 20 (rotation operation device 1) of this embodiment will be described. (First moderation pattern occurrence) 7, when the control unit 24 receives a detent selection signal Sa (first detent selection signal Sa1) that generates a first detent pattern with a strong detent feeling, the control unit 24 controls the current I that flows through the coil 8 so that an attractive force of magnetic flux is generated at the timing when the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the large protruding tooth portion 21 a of the stator 3. In other words, when the control unit 24 receives the first detent selection signal Sa1, the control unit 24 intermittently drives the coil 8 so that the current I flows every time the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the large protruding tooth portion 21 a of the stator 3, thereby causing the detent device 20 to generate the first detent pattern.

[0025] In this example, the control unit 24 raises the current I when the clockwise edge of the second tooth portion 22 approaches the counterclockwise edge of the large protruding tooth portion 21a. The control unit 24 then continues to apply a constant current I while the large protruding tooth portion 21a and the second tooth portion 22 face each other. The control unit 24 lowers the current I when the counterclockwise edge of the second tooth portion 22 moves away from the clockwise edge of the large protruding tooth portion 21a. By passing the current I through the coil 8 in this manner every time the second tooth portion 22 approaches the large protruding tooth portion 21a, the control unit 24 generates a first detent pattern in the detent device 20.

[0026] When the large protruding tooth portion 21a faces the second tooth portion 22, the gap W therebetween becomes a narrow gap W1. The attractive force of the magnetic flux generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4 is inversely proportional to the square of the gap W. Therefore, if the gap W is small, the attractive force of the magnetic flux becomes large accordingly, and a large detent load is generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4. Therefore, the detent device 20 in which the large protruding tooth portion 21a is effective can apply a large detent load to the rotational operation of the rotor 4.

[0027] (The second moderation pattern occurs) 7, when the control unit 24 receives a detent selection signal Sa (second detent selection signal Sa2) that generates a second detent pattern having a small detent feeling, the control unit 24 controls the current I that flows through the coil 8 so that an attractive force of magnetic flux is generated at the timing when the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the small protruding tooth portion 21b of the stator 3. In other words, when the control unit 24 receives the second detent selection signal Sa2, the control unit 24 intermittently drives the coil 8 so that the current I flows every time the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the small protruding tooth portion 21b of the stator 3, thereby causing the detent device 20 to generate the second detent pattern.

[0028] In this example, the control unit 24 raises the current I when the clockwise edge of the second tooth portion 22 approaches the counterclockwise edge of the small protruding tooth portion 21b. The control unit 24 continues to apply a constant current I while the small protruding tooth portion 21b faces the second tooth portion 22, and lowers the current I when the counterclockwise edge of the second tooth portion 22 moves away from the clockwise edge of the small protruding tooth portion 21b. By passing the current I through the coil 8 in this manner every time the second tooth portion 22 approaches the small protruding tooth portion 21b, the control unit 24 generates a second detent pattern in the detent device 20.

[0029] When the small protruding tooth portion 21b faces the second tooth portion 22, the gap W therebetween becomes a wide gap W2. The attractive force of the magnetic flux generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4 is inversely proportional to the square of the gap W. Therefore, if the gap W is large, the attractive force of the magnetic flux becomes small accordingly, and a small detent load is generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4. Therefore, the detent device 20 in which the small protruding tooth portion 21b is effective can apply a small detent load to the rotation operation of the rotor 4.

[0030] (Effects of the embodiment) According to the configuration of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1.1) The moderation device 20 of the present disclosure applies moderation to the rotational operation of rotating the rotor 4 relative to the stator 3. The moderation device 20 includes a plurality of first tooth portions 21, a plurality of second tooth portions 22, a coil 8, and a control unit 24. The plurality of first tooth portions 21 are arranged in the circumferential direction on one of the stator 3 and the rotor 4. The plurality of second tooth portions 22 are arranged in the circumferential direction on the other of the stator 3 and the rotor 4 with a different number of teeth than the plurality of first tooth portions 21, and are capable of facing the plurality of first tooth portions 21. When a current I is passed through the coil 8, the coil 8 generates a magnetic flux that attracts opposing teeth to each other, thereby generating moderation in the rotational operation of the rotor 4. The control unit 24 intermittently passes the current I through the coil 8.

[0031] The first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are formed so that there are a plurality of tooth shape combination patterns when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor 4. When the rotor 4 is rotated, the control unit 24 causes a current I to flow through the coil 8 every time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other, based on a detection signal Sb from the detection unit 25 that detects the rotation of the rotor 4.

[0032] According to this configuration, when switching the degree of detent applied to the rotation operation of the rotor 4, it is only necessary to change the timing of the current I that is intermittently passed through the coil 8. Therefore, no complicated current control is required when switching the degree of detent applied to the rotation operation of the rotor 4. Therefore, the degree of detent can be switched with simple processing.

[0033] (1.2) The rotor 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a housing portion 16 that houses the stator 3, and rotates along the outer periphery of the stator 3 relative to the stator 3 housed in the housing portion 16. With this configuration, the diameter of the rotor 4 that is held by fingers or the like during rotation operation becomes relatively large. This improves operability when rotating the rotor 4.

[0034] (1.3) The multiple tooth shape combination patterns are set by combining different gaps W between the multiple first tooth portions 21 and the multiple second tooth portions 22. According to this configuration, when multiple moderation patterns are provided between the stator 3 and the rotor 4, a simple configuration can be achieved by simply changing the gaps W between the first tooth portions 21 and the second tooth portions 22.

[0035] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is an example in which the shape of the first tooth portion 21 of the first embodiment is changed. Therefore, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described in detail.

[0036] (Tooth shape of moderation device 20) 8 and 9, a plurality of combination patterns of the tooth shapes of the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are set by combining different opposing areas R between the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22. In this example, the first tooth portion 21 includes large-area tooth portions 21c having a large opposing area R relative to the second tooth portion 22, and small-area tooth portions 21d having a small opposing area R relative to the second tooth portion 22. The large-area tooth portions 21c and the small-area tooth portions 21d are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the rotor 4.

[0037] In this example, the large area tooth portion 21c is formed, for example, in a quadrangular shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotor 4. Therefore, the surface of the large area tooth portion 21c facing the second tooth portion 22 is flat. The small area tooth portion 21d is formed, for example, in a substantially semicircular shape when viewed from the axial direction of the rotor 4. Therefore, the surface of the small area tooth portion 21d facing the second tooth portion 22 is curved.

[0038] The attractive force of the magnetic flux generated between the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 when the coil 8 is energized is proportional to the magnitude of the opposing area R. Therefore, when the large area tooth portion 21c and the second tooth portion 22 face each other during rotation of the rotor 4, the opposing area R becomes a large area "R1" (the state shown in FIG. 8). At this time, a strong sense of click is felt when rotating the rotor 4. On the other hand, when the small area tooth portion 21d and the second tooth portion 22 face each other during rotation of the rotor 4, the opposing area R becomes a small area "R2" (the state shown in FIG. 9). At this time, a weak sense of click is felt when rotating the rotor 4.

[0039] (Switching sense of moderation) As shown in Fig. 8, when the control unit 24 receives a first detent selection signal Sa1 that generates a first detent pattern with a strong detent feeling, it controls the current I flowing through the coil 8 so that an attractive force of magnetic flux is generated at the timing when the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the large area tooth portion 21c of the stator 3. If the opposing area R is large, the attractive force of the magnetic flux increases accordingly, and a large detent load is generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4. Therefore, it is possible to apply a large detent load to the rotation operation of the rotor 4 by the detent device 20 in which the large area tooth portion 21c is effective.

[0040] As shown in Figure 9, when the control unit 24 receives a second detent selection signal Sa2 that generates a second detent pattern with a small detent feeling, it controls the current I flowing through the coil 8 so that an attractive force of magnetic flux is generated when the second tooth portion 22 of the rotor 4 faces the small-area tooth portion 21d of the stator 3. If the facing area R is small, the attractive force of the magnetic flux is correspondingly smaller, and a small detent load is generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4. Therefore, a small detent load can be applied to the rotation operation of the rotor 4 by the detent device 20 in which the small protruding tooth portion 21b is effective.

[0041] (Effects of the embodiment) According to the configuration of the above embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0042] (2.1) The multiple tooth shape combination patterns are set by combining different opposing areas R between the multiple first tooth portions 21 and the multiple second tooth portions 22. According to this configuration, when multiple moderation patterns are provided between the stator 3 and the rotor 4, a simple configuration can be achieved in which the opposing areas R of the first tooth portions 21 and the second tooth portions 22 are changed.

[0043] (Other embodiments) This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0044] In each embodiment, the rotary operation device 1 may have the rotor 4 disposed radially inside and the stator 3 disposed radially outside. In this way, the rotor 4 may be rotatable radially inside the stator 3.

[0045] In each embodiment, the first teeth portion 21 may be formed on the rotor 4 instead of the stator 3. In this case, the second teeth portion 22 is formed on the stator 3 instead of the rotor 4. In each embodiment, the teeth of the plurality of second tooth portions 22 do not necessarily have to all be the same shape, but may be different shapes. In this case, it becomes possible to provide many combination patterns of tooth shapes with the first tooth portions 21, thereby generating a variety of click sensations.

[0046] In each embodiment, the first tooth portions 21 may all have the same shape, and the second tooth portions 22 may have a shape having a pattern of multiple tooth shapes. In each embodiment, the first tooth portion 21 and the second tooth portion 22 are not limited to having a rectangular shape when viewed in the axial direction of the rotor 4, and may have a trapezoidal shape, for example.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the shape of the small-area toothed portions 21d is not limited to a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the axial direction of the rotor 4. For example, the small-area toothed portions 21d may have a shape that is the same height as the large-area toothed portions 21c but has a smaller tooth width in the circumferential direction. Also, the small-area toothed portions 21d may have a substantially triangular shape with a pointed tip.

[0048] In each embodiment, the rotation operation device 1 and the moderation device 20 may be used in devices and equipment other than vehicles. The control unit 24 may be configured as [1] one or more processors operating according to a computer program (software), or [2] a combination of such a processor and one or more dedicated hardware circuits, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), that execute at least some of the various processes. The processor includes a CPU and memory, such as RAM and ROM, that stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute the processes. The memory (computer-readable medium) includes any available medium accessible by a general-purpose or dedicated computer. Alternatively, instead of a computer including the processor, a processing circuit configured by one or more dedicated hardware circuits that execute all of the various processes may be used.

[0049] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or structures. The present disclosure also encompasses various modifications and equivalent modifications. In addition, various combinations and forms, including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element, are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...rotation operation device, 3...stator, 4...rotor, 8...coil, 16...accommodation section, 20...moderating device, 21...first tooth section, 22...second tooth section, 24...control section, 25...detection section, I...current, Sb...detection signal, W...gap, R...opposing area.

Claims

1. A moderation device that applies moderation to a rotation operation of rotating a rotor relative to a stator, a plurality of first teeth arranged in a circumferential direction on one of the stator and the rotor; a plurality of second tooth portions arranged in a circumferential direction on the other of the stator and the rotor, the second tooth portions having a different number of teeth than the plurality of first tooth portions, and capable of opposing the plurality of first tooth portions; a coil that generates a magnetic flux that attracts opposing teeth when a current is passed through it, thereby generating a moderation in the rotational operation of the rotor; a control unit that causes the current to flow intermittently through the coil, the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions are formed so as to form a plurality of tooth shape combination patterns when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor, The control unit, when operating the rotor to rotate, passes the current through the coil each time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on a detection signal from a detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor.

2. The moderation device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor is formed in a cylindrical shape having a housing portion that houses the stator, and rotates along an outer periphery of the stator relative to the stator housed in the housing portion.

3. The detent device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of combination patterns are set by different combinations of gaps between the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions.

4. The detent device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of combination patterns are set by combining the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions in different opposing areas.

5. A rotary operating device including a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, a plurality of first teeth arranged in a circumferential direction on one of the stator and the rotor; a plurality of second tooth portions arranged in a circumferential direction on the other of the stator and the rotor, the second tooth portions having a different number of teeth than the plurality of first tooth portions, and capable of opposing the plurality of first tooth portions; a coil that generates a magnetic flux that attracts opposing teeth when a current is passed through it, thereby generating a moderation in the rotational operation of the rotor; a control unit that causes the current to flow intermittently through the coil, the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions are formed so as to form a plurality of tooth shape combination patterns when they face each other during the rotation of the rotor, The control unit, when operating the rotor to rotate, causes the current to flow through the coil each time the teeth of the selected combination pattern face each other based on a detection signal from a detection unit that detects the rotation of the rotor.

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