Multi-directional output device

Abstract

To provide a thin, compact multi-directional output device with improved signal accuracy.SOLUTION: A multi-directional output device includes a printed circuit board on which first and second magnetic sensors are arranged, and a direction control unit arranged above the printed circuit board, the direction control unit including first and second rotary drive bodies, first and second sliding drive bodies movably connected to the first and second rotary drive bodies, respectively, first and second magnets fixed to the first and second sliding drive bodies, respectively, and a lower cover provided with first and second sliding grooves. The first and second sliding drive bodies are slidably arranged in the first and second sliding grooves, respectively, and the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are arranged corresponding to the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove, respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 112115700, filed on April 27, 2023, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-directional output device, and more particularly to a thin and small non-contact multi-directional output device driven by magnetic sensing. [Background technology]

[0003] In existing joysticks used as game consoles or wireless joysticks for mobile devices, for example, carbon film resistors are used to provide joystick control, but because the control using carbon film resistors is a contact operation, its practical life is very limited due to the wear problem brought by the brush contact, which cannot meet practical requirements.

[0004] Furthermore, in order to avoid the shortcomings of the contact joystick, a straightforward approach is to use non-contact components to provide the control of the joystick, such as using the magnetic induction principle of the Hall element to control the joystick. However, it is difficult to control the precision of the non-contact joystick, and the structure of the non-contact joystick is complex and large, which makes it impossible to meet the requirements for miniaturization.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to provide an improved multi-directional output device to mitigate and / or eliminate existing disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-directional output device in which a non-contact magnetic sensor is used to eliminate the wear problem caused by brush contact, thereby significantly increasing the service life, increasing the reset accuracy of the operating shaft stick to improve signal accuracy, and miniaturizing to design a thin and small control device.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a multi-directional output device of the present invention includes a printed circuit board on which a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor are arranged, and a direction control unit provided on the printed circuit board, the direction control unit including a first rotation drive body and a second rotation drive body each of which is a rotatable elongated arc-shaped structure and each of which has a central elongated hole arranged at the center of the corresponding elongated arc-shaped structure, the first rotation drive body being arranged above the second rotation drive body such that the central elongated holes are aligned with each other and perpendicularly intersect with the second rotation drive body, a first sliding drive body and a second sliding drive body movably connected to one end of the first rotation drive body and one end of the second rotation drive body, respectively, and a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor provided on one side of the first sliding drive body and one side of the second sliding drive body, respectively. the lower cover having a fixed first magnet and a second magnet, a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove corresponding to the first sliding drive body and the second sliding drive body, respectively, where the first sliding drive body is slidably arranged in the first sliding groove and the second sliding drive body is slidably arranged in the second sliding groove; a shaft stick having an upper end and a lower end, where the upper end passes through a central long hole from a lower portion of the first rotating drive body and the second rotating drive body; a balance washer arranged in contact with the first rotating drive body and the second rotating drive body at a lower portion of the shaft stick; and an annular spring arranged in contact with the balance washer at a lower portion of the balance washer, and the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are arranged to correspond to the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove, respectively.

[0008] Other novel features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-directional output device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a multi-directional output device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows detailed structures of the connection between the first sliding drive body and the first rotary drive body and the connection between the second sliding drive body and the second rotary drive body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a multi-directional output device in which a shaft stick is swung in a first direction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a multi-directional output device with a shaft stick swing in a second direction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a multi-directional output device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-directional output device taken along line AA' in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a change in position of the second magnet when the shaft stick of the multi-directional output device is swung in a second direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates a change in position of a first magnet when a shaft stick of a multi-directional output device is swung in a first direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, which are a perspective view and an exploded view of a multi-directional output device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the multi-directional output device 1 includes an outer frame 11, a directional control unit 10, a pressing drive 12, a switch spring piece 13, a printed circuit board 14, a first magnetic sensor 151, a second magnetic sensor 152, and a flat cable 16. The directional control unit 10 is disposed on the printed circuit board 14, and includes an upper cover 102, a first rotating drive 1031, a second rotating drive 1032, a first sliding drive 1041, a second sliding drive 1042, a first magnet 1051, a second magnet 1052, a shaft stick 106, a balance washer 107, a ring spring 108, and a lower cover 109.

[0011] In the above-mentioned directional control unit 10, the upper cover 102 has an opening 1021, and the upper cover 102 is disposed on the lower cover 109, so that the upper cover 102 and the lower cover 109 are coupled together in a snap-fastening or screw-fastening manner, for example, providing an accommodation space therein for accommodating the first rotary drive body 1031, the second rotary drive body 1032, the first sliding drive body 1041, the second sliding drive body 1042, the first magnet 1051, the second magnet 1052, the shaft stick 106, the balance washer 107, the ring spring 108 and other components. The outer frame 11 is disposed above the directional control unit 10 and is coupled to the printed circuit board 14 from top to bottom, and accommodates the directional control unit 10, the pressing drive body 12 and the switch spring piece 13 therebetween.

[0012] Each of the first rotational drive body 1031 and the second rotational drive body 1032 is a rotatable elongated arc-shaped structure, and has a central long hole 10311, 10321 disposed at the center of the elongated arc-shaped structure, and two recesses 10313, 10323 disposed on two faces of the elongated arc-shaped structure, respectively. After assembly, the long side of the elongated arc-shaped structure of the first rotational drive body 1031 extends in the second direction (Y-axis direction), and the long side of the elongated arc-shaped structure of the second rotational drive body 1032 extends in the first direction (X-axis direction). The first rotation drive body 1031 and the second rotation drive body 1032 are disposed in such a manner that the first rotation drive body 1031 is disposed above the second rotation drive body 1032 and the two rotation drive bodies cross each other substantially perpendicularly, so that the central long holes 10311 and 10321 of the two rotation drive bodies cross and are aligned with each other. The second rotation drive body 1032 is engaged in a recess 10313 of the first rotation drive body 1031. Furthermore, the first rotation drive body 1031 is provided with a first engagement portion 10315 at one end of its elongated arc-shaped structure, and the second rotation drive body 1032 is provided with a second engagement portion 10325 at one end of its elongated arc-shaped structure.

[0013] The first sliding drive body 1041 has a first recessed portion 10411 on one surface and a first housing groove 10413 on the opposite surface. The second sliding drive body 1042 has a second recessed portion 10421 on one surface and a second housing groove 10423 on the opposite surface. The first magnet 1051 is fixed to one surface of the first sliding drive body 1041, and the second magnet 1052 is fixed to one surface of the second sliding drive body 1042. Preferably, the first magnet 1051 is accommodated in the first accommodating groove 10413 of the first sliding drive body 1041, and the first magnet 1051 may be fixed to the first accommodating groove 10413 with an adhesive, and the second magnet 1052 is accommodated in the second accommodating groove 10423 of the second sliding drive body 1042, and the second magnet 1052 may be fixed to the second accommodating groove 10423 with an adhesive.

[0014] Furthermore, the first sliding drive body 1041 is movably connected to one end of the first rotation drive body 1031, and the second sliding drive body 1042 is movably connected to one end of the second rotation drive body 1032. Preferably, the first sliding drive body 1031 has a first engagement portion 10315 thereof that is non-fixedly engaged with a first recessed portion 10411 of the first sliding drive body 1041, so that the first sliding drive body 1041 is movably connected to one end of the first rotation drive body 1031 to convert the rotation angle of the first rotation drive body 1031 into a sliding distance of the first sliding drive body 1041. The second sliding drive body 1042 has a second engagement portion 10325 that is non-fixedly engaged with the second recessed portion 10421 of the second sliding drive body 1042 so that the second sliding drive body 1042 is movably connected to one end of the second rotating drive body 1032 to convert the rotation angle of the second rotating drive body 1032 into a sliding distance of the second sliding drive body 1042.

[0015] 3 shows a detailed structure of the connection between the first sliding drive body 1041 and the first rotary drive body 1031 and the connection between the second sliding drive body 1042 and the second rotary drive body 1032 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the first engagement portion 10315 of the first rotary drive body 1031 has an arc-shaped groove 10316, and the first recessed portion 10411 of the first sliding drive body 1041 is provided with a convex cylinder 10412 corresponding to the arc-shaped groove 10316. By engaging the convex cylinder 10412 in the arc-shaped groove 10316, the first engagement portion 10315 of the first rotary drive body 1031 can be non-fixedly engaged in the first recessed portion 10411 of the first sliding drive body 1041. The convex cylinder 10412 and the arc-shaped groove 10316 are rotatably moved toward each other, so that the rotation angle of the first rotary drive body 1031 can be converted into the sliding distance of the first sliding drive body 1041. Similarly, the second engagement portion 10325 of the second rotary drive body 1032 has an arc-shaped groove 10326, and the second recessed portion 10421 of the second sliding drive body 1042 is provided with a convex cylinder 10422 corresponding to the arc-shaped groove 10326. By engaging the convex cylinder 10422 in the arc-shaped groove 10326, the second engagement portion 10325 of the second rotary drive body 1032 can be non-fixedly engaged in the second recessed portion 10421 of the second sliding drive body 1042. The convex cylinder 10422 and the arc-shaped groove 10326 are rotatably moved toward each other, so that the rotation angle of the second rotation drive body 1032 can be converted into a sliding distance of the second sliding drive body 1042.

[0016] One end (upper end) of the shaft stick 106 passes through the central long holes 10311, 10321 of the first rotary drive body 1031 and the second rotary drive body 1032 from the lower part of the two rotary drive bodies and the opening 1021 of the upper cover 102 so as to enable the user to control it. The other end (lower end) of the shaft stick 106 has two faces, each of which has a protrusion 1062. After assembly, the protrusion 1062 is coupled with the recess 10323 of the second rotary drive body 1032 to prevent the shaft stick 106 from rotating unintentionally. The balance washer 107 is disposed below the shaft stick 106 and may contact both the lower ends of the first rotary drive body 1031 and the second rotary drive body 1032. The ring spring 108 is disposed on the lower cover 109 and disposed below the balance washer 107 in contact with the balance washer 107. The lower cover 109 has a first sliding groove 1091 and a second sliding groove 1092 provided on a surface facing the upper cover 102. The first sliding groove 1091 extends along a first direction (X-axis direction) and corresponds to the first sliding drive body 1041. The second sliding groove 1092 extends along a second direction (Y-axis direction) and corresponds to the second sliding drive body 1042. After assembly, the first sliding drive body 1041 is slidably disposed in the first sliding groove 1091, and the second sliding drive body 1042 is slidably disposed in the second sliding groove 1092.

[0017] According to the direction control unit 10, the shaft stick 106 can be operated by the user to swing in the 360-degree direction of a plane formed by a first direction (X-axis direction) and a second direction (Y-axis direction). The first direction and the second direction are approximately perpendicular to each other. When the shaft stick 106 is swung in the first direction (X-axis direction), referring also to FIG. 4A, the shaft stick 106 drives the first rotation drive body 1031 to rotate slightly counterclockwise, and at this moment, the rotation of the first rotation drive body 1031 pulls the first sliding drive body 1041 to slide a predetermined distance in the first sliding groove 1091 in the first direction (X-axis direction). Furthermore, the shaft stick 106 is moved in contact with the central long hole 10321 of the second rotation drive body 1032, and at this moment, the second rotation drive body 1032 does not rotate, so the second sliding drive body 1042 does not slide. When the shaft stick 106 is swung in the second direction (Y-axis direction), referring to Fig. 4B, the shaft stick 106 drives the second rotation drive body 1032 to rotate slightly in the clockwise direction, and at this moment, the rotation of the second rotation drive body 1032 pulls the second sliding drive body 1042 to slide a predetermined distance in the second sliding groove 1092 in the second direction (Y-axis direction). Furthermore, the shaft stick 106 is moved in contact with the central long hole 10311 of the first rotation drive body 1031, and at this moment, the first rotation drive body 1031 does not rotate, so the first sliding drive body 1041 does not slide.

[0018] The above is an example of the shaft stick 106 that swings in the first direction and the second direction, and is intended to facilitate the explanation of the shaft stick 106 driving and rotating the first rotation drive body 1031 and the second rotation drive body 1032 in order to further pull and slide the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042. Meanwhile, in the present invention, the shaft stick 106 can be swung in any direction at the intersection of the axis in the first direction (X-axis direction) and the axis in the second direction (Y-axis direction). For example, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in a direction that does not completely match the first direction (X-axis direction), in addition to driving the first rotation drive body 1031 to rotate it and then pulling the first sliding drive body 1041 to slide it a predetermined distance in the first direction (X-axis direction), the second rotation drive body 1032 is further driven to rotate it and then the second sliding drive body 1042 is pulled to slide it a predetermined distance in the second direction (Y-axis direction). In another example, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in a direction that does not completely coincide with the second direction (Y-axis direction), in addition to driving the second rotation drive body 1032 to rotate and then pulling the second sliding drive body 1042 to slide a predetermined distance in the second direction (Y-axis direction), the shaft stick 106 further drives the first rotation drive body 1031 to rotate and then pulls the first sliding drive body 1041 to slide a predetermined distance in the first direction (X-axis direction). That is, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in a 360-degree direction on a plane formed by the first direction and the second direction, the shaft stick 106 selectively drives the first rotation drive body 1031 and the second rotation drive body 1032 to rotate simultaneously, and then pulls the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042 to slide. Furthermore, the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042 are slidably arranged in the first sliding groove 1091 and the second sliding groove 1092, respectively. As a result, the configuration of the first sliding groove 1091 and the second sliding groove 1092 can limit the sliding of the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042, and prevent the first magnet 1051 and the second magnet 1052 from falling off the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042.

[0019] Furthermore, the configuration of the ring spring 108 and the balance washer 107 provides a force to reset the shaft stick 106, so that the shaft stick 106 can return to its original upright state after swinging. The ring spring 108 arranged at the lower part of the balance washer 107 urges the balance washer 107 upward with its elastic force to further urge the first rotary drive body 1031 and the second rotary drive body 1032, so that the balance washer 107 becomes flush with the contact surfaces at both lower ends of the first rotary drive body 1031 and the second rotary drive body 1032, thereby resetting the shaft stick 106 to the upright state. Therefore, after the user swings the shaft stick 106 from the upright state in the first direction or the second direction, the shaft stick 106 can automatically return to its original upright state.

[0020] 2 again, the lower cover 109 has a pressing hole 1093 disposed at the center of the lower cover 109 and corresponding to the lower end of the shaft stick 106, and a first sliding groove 1091 and a second sliding groove 1092 disposed at positions adjacent to two adjacent sides of the lower cover 109 and corresponding to the first sliding drive body 1041 and the second sliding drive body 1042, respectively. The switch spring piece 13 is provided on the printed circuit board 14, and the pressing drive body 12 is provided on the switch spring piece 13 and corresponds to the lower end of the shaft stick 106 through the pressing hole 1093 of the lower cover 109. Therefore, to illustrate the operation of the multi-directional output device 1 used as a press switch, FIG. 5 shows a top view of the multi-directional output device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-directional output device along line AA' in FIG. 5, in which the user presses the shaft stick 106, and the elastic force of the annular spring 108 urges the lower end of the shaft stick 106 downward against the press driver 12 through the press hole 1093 of the lower cover 109, so that the press driver 12 can press the switch spring piece 13 to perform a press switch operation on the circuit components of the printed circuit board 14.

[0021] The first magnetic sensor 151 and the second magnetic sensor 152 are disposed on the printed circuit board 14, and are disposed adjacent to two adjacent surfaces of the printed circuit board 14, and correspond to the first sliding groove 1091 and the second sliding groove 1092 of the lower cover 109 above the printed circuit board 14, respectively. Therefore, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in the second direction (Y-axis direction), for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the second magnet 1052 in the second sliding drive body 1042 also moves in the second direction (Y-axis direction) to cause a position change, and the second magnetic sensor 152 can detect the change in the magnetic field of the second magnet 1052 as a position change. Similarly, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in a first direction (X-axis direction), for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first magnet 1051 in the first sliding drive body 1041 also moves in the first direction (X-axis direction) resulting in a position change, and the first magnetic sensor 151 can detect the change in the magnetic field of the first magnet 1051 as a position change. Therefore, when the shaft stick 106 is swung in any direction in the plane formed by the first direction and the second direction, the first magnetic sensor 151 and the second magnetic sensor 152 will detect the change in the magnetic field of the first magnet 1051 and the second magnet 1052, respectively, with the change in angle, and the signals of the magnetic field and the magnetic field change acquired by the first magnetic sensor 151 and the second magnetic sensor 152 are converted into corresponding electrical signals through the circuit of the printed circuit board 14 for output through the flat cable 16, thereby calculating data regarding the speed, force, direction, distance, etc. applied by the user to swing the shaft stick 106, thereby realizing non-contact control.

[0022] With the above design, the present invention utilizes two magnetic sensors to detect the change in the magnetic field of two magnets that can slide according to the swing of the shaft stick, thereby performing the operation in a non-contact manner without the wear problem brought by the brush contact, thereby greatly increasing the service life and enhancing the reset precision and improving the signal precision when operating the shaft stick. Moreover, since the shaft stick can be used as a button, there is no need to install an additional button, which can realize further miniaturization for designing a thin and small control device.

[0023] The above specific embodiments are to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

Claims

1. 1. A multi-directional output device, comprising: a printed circuit board on which the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are disposed; a directional control unit provided on the printed circuit board, the directional control unit comprising: a first rotary drive and a second rotary drive, each being a rotatable elongated arc-shaped structure, each having a central slot disposed at the center of the corresponding elongated arc-shaped structure, the first rotary drive being disposed above the second rotary drive and perpendicularly intersecting the second rotary drive such that the central slots are aligned with each other; a first sliding drive body and a second sliding drive body movably connected to one end of the first rotation drive body and one end of the second rotation drive body, respectively; a first magnet and a second magnet fixed to one surface of the first sliding drive body and one surface of the second sliding drive body, respectively; a lower cover having a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove corresponding to the first sliding drive body and the second sliding drive body, respectively, the first sliding drive body being slidably disposed in the first sliding groove, and the second sliding drive body being slidably disposed in the second sliding groove; a shaft stick having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end passing through the central slot from below the first rotary drive body and the second rotary drive body; a balance washer disposed at a lower portion of the shaft stick in contact with the first rotary drive body and the second rotary drive body; an annular spring disposed below the balance washer in contact with the balance washer; Including, A multi-directional output device, wherein the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are disposed to correspond to the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove, respectively.

2. 2. The multi-directional output device according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding drive body has a first accommodation groove for accommodating the first magnet, and the second sliding drive body has a second accommodation groove for accommodating the second magnet.

3. 2. The multi-directional output device according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding drive body has a first recessed portion, the first rotation drive body has a first engagement portion non-fixedly engaged with the first recessed portion so as to convert a rotation angle of the first rotation drive body into a sliding distance of the first sliding drive body, and the second sliding drive body has a second recessed portion, and the second rotation drive body has a second engagement portion non-fixedly engaged with the second recessed portion so as to convert a rotation angle of the second rotation drive body into a sliding distance of the second sliding drive body.

4. 4. The multi-directional output device according to claim 3, wherein the first engagement portion has an arc-shaped groove, and a convex cylinder corresponding to the arc-shaped groove is provided in the first recessed portion to be engaged with the arc-shaped groove, and the second engagement portion has an arc-shaped groove, and a convex cylinder corresponding to the arc-shaped groove is provided in the second recessed portion to be engaged with the arc-shaped groove.

5. 2. The multi-directional output device of claim 1, wherein when the shaft stick is swung in a first direction, the shaft stick drives the first rotating drive body to rotate it and pulls the first sliding drive body to slide in the first sliding groove in the first direction, the shaft stick moves in contact with the central long hole of the second rotating drive body, and when the shaft stick is swung in a second direction, the shaft stick drives the second rotating drive body to rotate it and pulls the second sliding drive body to slide in the second sliding groove in the second direction, the shaft stick moves in contact with the central long hole of the first rotating drive body, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

6. 6. The multi-directional output device according to claim 5, wherein when the shaft stick is swung in any direction on a plane formed by the first direction and the second direction, the shaft stick selectively drives the first rotation drive body and the second rotation drive body to rotate simultaneously, and pulls the first sliding drive body and the second sliding drive body to slide in the first direction and the second direction, respectively.

7. The multi-directional output device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a switch spring piece disposed on the printed circuit board; and a pressing driver disposed on the switch spring piece and corresponding to the lower end of the shaft stick.

8. 2. The multi-directional output device of claim 1, wherein each of the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive has two recesses respectively disposed on two faces of the corresponding elongated arc-shaped structure, and the second rotary drive is engaged within the two recesses of the first rotary drive.

9. 9. The multi-directional output device according to claim 8, wherein the lower end of the shaft stick has two faces each having a protrusion, and the two protrusions are coupled to the two recesses of the second rotary drive body.

10. The multi-directional output device according to claim 2 , wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are respectively attached to the first receiving groove and the second receiving groove with an adhesive.

11. The multi-directional output device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower cover further has a pressing hole disposed at the center of the lower cover and corresponding to the lower end of the shaft stick.

12. 12. The multi-directional output device according to claim 11, further comprising an upper cover disposed above the lower cover and having an opening, the upper cover being coupled to the lower cover to provide an accommodation space for accommodating the first rotational drive body, the second rotational drive body, the first sliding drive body, the second sliding drive body, the first magnet, the second magnet, the shaft stick, the balance washer and the annular spring, and the upper end of the shaft stick passes through the opening of the upper cover.

13. 8. The multi-directional output device according to claim 7, further comprising an outer frame disposed above the directional control unit and coupled to the printed circuit board from top to bottom to accommodate the directional control unit, the pressing actuator and the switch spring piece.

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