Multi-directional input device

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a lower base (111) which has a bottom surface (111Ba); an upper cover (112) which is disposed above the lower base (111) and forms a housing (110) together with the lower base (111); a sliding member (140) which is supported so as to be slidable in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction inside the housing (110); a rocking member (120) which has four drive arms (121) that are each provided extending in one of the front, rear, left, and right directions, which is disposed below the sliding member (140), and which rocks with the sliding of the sliding member (140); a support means (150) which supports the rocking member (120) so as to be rockable in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction; and four rebounding parts (131) which are installed on the bottom surface (111Ba) of the lower base (111) and are respectively driven by the four drive arms (121). The support means (150) includes an integrated support (151) which is integrally provided extending from the lower base (111) in the front, rear, left, and right directions of the rocking member (120), and which has a receiving part with which the side edges of the rocking member (120) are in contact in the front, rear, left, and right directions and against which the side edges can slide downward.

Description

Multi-directional input device

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

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, in a switch device, a holding member that can slide in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions is slid to swing a drive member held by the holding member, and one arm of the drive member presses one switch.

[0003] Patent No. 7356589

[0004] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that a support member must be provided separately from the underpanel as a configuration for slidably supporting the holding member, which increases the number of parts in the switch device.

[0005] A multi-directional input device according to one embodiment comprises a lower base having a bottom surface, an upper cover disposed above the lower base and forming a housing together with the lower base, a sliding member supported within the housing so as to be slidable in left-right and front-rear directions, a swinging member disposed below the sliding member and having four drive arms extending in each of the front-rear and left-right directions, and swinging in conjunction with the sliding of the sliding member, a support means for supporting the swinging member so as to be swingable in the front-rear and left-right directions, and four repulsion portions installed on the bottom surface of the lower base and each driven by the four drive arms, the support means including an integral support portion extending integrally from the lower base in the front-rear and left-right directions of the swinging member and having receiving portions against which side edges of the swinging member abut in the front-rear and left-rear directions so as to be slidable downward.

[0006] According to the multi-directional input device according to one embodiment, the number of parts of the multi-directional input device can be reduced.

[0007] 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment; 2 is an exploded perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment; 3 is a cross-sectional view of a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment; 4 is a perspective view of a lower base provided in a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment; 5 is a perspective view of a lower base (with a swinging member arranged) provided in a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment; 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment when cut along a vertical plane; 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment when cut along a horizontal plane; 8 is a perspective view of an operating unit and a swinging member provided in a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment when viewed from above; 9 is a perspective view of an operating unit and a swinging member provided in a multidirectional input device according to one embodiment when viewed from below;

[0008] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience, in the following description, the Z-axis direction in the drawings is the up-down direction, the Y-axis direction in the drawings is the left-right direction, and the X-axis direction in the drawings is the front-rear direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction is the up direction, the positive Y-axis direction is the right direction, and the positive X-axis direction is the front.

[0009] (Overview of Multidirectional Input Device 100) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multidirectional input device 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 , the multidirectional input device 100 has a housing 110 composed of a lower base 111 and an upper cover 112 disposed above the lower base 111. A circular opening 112A is formed in the center of the upper cover 112. A portion of a slide member 140 (operation unit 141 and protrusion 142A), which is slidable in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), protrudes upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis) from the opening 112A. This allows the multidirectional input device 100 to receive, from an operator, slide operations in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and a downward pressing operation (in the negative direction of the Z-axis) using the operation unit 141 of the slide member 140.

[0010] (Configuration of multi-directional input device 100) Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the multi-directional input device 100 includes a lower base 111, a sliding member 140, a swinging member 120, four first rubber dome members 131, a second rubber dome member 132, and an upper cover 112.

[0011] The lower base 111 is a container-like member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The lower base 111 has a substantially square shape in top view. The lower base 111 has a recess 111B that is recessed downward from an upper surface 111A. In top view, the recess 111B has a substantially square shape that is slightly smaller than the substantially square shape of the upper surface 111A. The recess 111B accommodates four first rubber dome members 131, a second rubber dome member 132, a swing member 120, and a slide member 140. The lower base 111 is formed by insert molding using, for example, a relatively hard insulating material (such as a hard resin).

[0012] Claws 111C protruding outward are formed on each of a pair of parallel side surfaces of the lower base 111. When the upper cover 112 is attached to the top surface 111A of the lower base 111, the claws 111C are fitted into openings of the hooks 112B of the upper cover 112, thereby latching the hooks 112B and fixing the upper cover 112 to the lower base 111.

[0013] Four first switches 113 and a second switch 114 are provided on a bottom surface 111Ba of the recess 111B of the lower base 111.

[0014] The second switch 114 is provided in the center of the bottom surface 111Ba and includes a fixed contact embedded in the bottom surface 111Ba and a dome-shaped metallic movable contact member provided above the fixed contact.

[0015] The four first switch units 113 are provided in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction) with respect to the center of the bottom surface 111Ba. Each of the four first switch units 113 includes a fixed contact embedded in the bottom surface 111Ba and a tongue-shaped metallic movable contact member provided above the fixed contact.

[0016] The slide member 140 is disposed above the swing member 120 inside the recess 111B of the lower base 111, and is provided so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction). The slide member 140 is configured to have an operating portion 141 and a base portion 142.

[0017] The operating unit 141 is a columnar member made of resin that accepts sliding and pressing operations by the operator. The operating unit 141 is provided at the center of the slide member 140, passing through a through-hole 142B formed in a protrusion 142A of the base 142, and is movable in the up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction). The bottom surface of the operating unit 141 is provided with a protrusion 141A with a hemispherical tip that protrudes downward (in the negative Z-axis direction). An operating knob (not shown) can be attached to the upper end of the operating unit 141.

[0018] The base 142 is a horizontal, flat (disk-shaped) resin member that is provided around the operating unit 141 and supports the operating unit 141. The base 142 has a cylindrical convex portion 142A in the center that protrudes upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis). A through-hole 142B is formed on the top surface of the convex portion 142A. By inserting the operating unit 141 into the through-hole 142B, the base 142 supports the operating unit 141 so that it can move up and down (in the Z axis direction) and also slidably together with the operating unit 141 in the front-to-back direction (in the X axis direction) and left-to-right direction (in the Y axis direction).

[0019] The slide member 140 is disposed below the upper cover 112, but the protrusion 142A of the base 142 and the operating portion 141 penetrate through the opening 112A of the upper cover 112 and protrude upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) beyond the upper cover 112. This allows the slide member 140 to receive sliding and pressing operations by the operator.

[0020] The oscillating member 120 is a resin member having a generally cross shape in a plan view from above (positive direction of the Z axis). The oscillating member 120 has four drive arms 121 extending from a central portion 120A in the front-to-rear direction (X axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y axis direction). The oscillating member 120 is disposed below the slide member 140 (negative side of the Z axis) inside the recess 111B of the lower base 111. The oscillating member 120 is provided so as to be oscillating in the front-to-rear direction (X axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y axis direction) with the central portion 120A as the center of oscillation.

[0021] The swinging member 120 has a cylindrical central support portion 122 that protrudes upward from a central portion 120A, and a convex portion 141A provided on an operating portion 141 of the sliding member 140 is engaged with a convex portion 141A provided on the operating portion 141 of the sliding member 140 by a convex mortar-shaped concave portion 122A provided on the upper end of the central support portion 122. As a result, when the operating portion 141 of the sliding member 140 is slid, the swinging member 120 swings in the same direction as the sliding direction of the sliding member 140, as the convex portion 141A of the operating portion 141 runs up the slope of the concave portion 122A as the sliding member 140 slides. As a result, the swinging member 120 can press one first rubber dome member 131 provided in the swinging direction by the tip end of one drive arm portion 121 provided in the swinging direction.

[0022] Furthermore, although the swinging member 120 is swingably provided as described above, when the operating portion 141 of the slide member 140 is pressed down, the swinging member 120 is pushed downward by the convex portion 141A provided on the operating portion 141, and is therefore also able to move downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) while maintaining a horizontal position. As a result, the swinging member 120 can press the second rubber dome member 132 by the pressing surface 123 provided on the bottom surface of the central portion 120A.

[0023] The four first rubber dome members 131 are dome-shaped members made of an elastic material and provided on the bottom surface 111Ba of the recess 111B of the lower base 111, from the center, in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction). Each of the four first rubber dome members 131 is provided above each of the four first switch units 113 provided on the bottom surface 111Ba and below each of the four drive arms 121 of the swinging member 120. When the operating unit 141 of the sliding member 140 is slid, one of the first rubber dome members 131 provided in the sliding direction is pressed by the tip of one of the drive arms 121 provided in the sliding direction and elastically deforms, thereby pressing one of the first switch units 113 provided in the sliding direction and switching the one of the first switch units 113 to the on state. The four first rubber dome members 131 are an example of the "four repulsion portions."

[0024] The second rubber dome member 132 is a dome-shaped member made of an elastic material and provided in the center of the bottom surface 111Ba of the recess 111B of the lower base 111. The second rubber dome member 132 is provided above the second switch unit 114 provided on the bottom surface 111Ba and below the pressing surface 123 of the swinging member 120. When the operating unit 141 of the sliding member 140 is pressed down, the second rubber dome member 132 is pressed by the pressing surface 123 of the swinging member 120 and elastically deforms, thereby pressing the second switch unit 114 and switching the second switch unit 114 to the on state. At this time, the four first rubber dome members 131 are pressed simultaneously by the four drive arms 121 of the oscillating member 120, but because the stroke amount of the second switch unit 114 is smaller than the stroke amount of each of the four first rubber dome members 131, each of the four first rubber dome members 131 is not pressed completely, and therefore each of the four first switch units 113 does not switch to the on state.

[0025] The upper cover 112 is a horizontal, flat, metallic member. The upper cover 112 is fixedly attached to the upper surface 111A of the lower base 111, thereby closing the recess 111B of the lower base 111. The upper cover 112 is formed, for example, by processing a metal plate using a processing method such as press working. When viewed from above, a circular opening 112A is formed in the center of the upper cover 112 to allow part of the slide member 140 (the operating portion 141 and the protrusion 142A) to protrude upward.

[0026] Additionally, a pair of parallel sides of the outer periphery of the upper cover 112 are provided with downwardly hanging hooks 112B. The hooks 112B have rectangular openings into which claws 111C provided on the side surfaces of the lower base 111 are fitted (see FIG. 1). This allows the hooks 112B to be hooked onto the claws 111C, thereby securing the upper cover 112 to the lower base 111.

[0027] (Configuration of lower base 111) Fig. 4 is an external perspective view of the lower base 111 provided in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the lower base 111 (with the swinging member 120 arranged) provided in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, a second rubber dome member 132 is provided in the center of the bottom surface 111Ba of the recess 111B of the lower base 111, and first rubber dome members 131 are provided in each of the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) and left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the oscillating member 120 is arranged in the recess 111B of the lower base 111 so that the central portion 120A of the oscillating member 120 is placed on the second rubber dome member 132 and the tip end of each of the four drive arms 121 of the oscillating member 120 is placed on each of the four first rubber dome members 131.

[0030] As a result, in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, when a sliding operation is performed on the operating portion 141 of the sliding member 140, the swinging member 120 swings in the same direction as the sliding operation direction, and the tip of one of the driving arms 121 arranged in the swinging direction can press one of the first rubber dome members 131 arranged in the swinging direction.

[0031] Furthermore, in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, when the operating portion 141 of the slide member 140 is pressed down, the swinging member 120 moves downward while remaining horizontal, and the pressing surface 123 provided on the bottom surface of the central portion 120A of the swinging member 120 presses the second rubber dome member 132.

[0032] 4 and 5, four columnar supports 151 are provided on the bottom surface 111Ba of the recess 111B of the lower base 111. The four columnar supports 151 constitute a support means 150 that supports the swinging member 120 so that it can swing in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0033] Each of the four columnar support portions 151 extends upward from the bottom surface portion 111Ba integrally with the bottom surface portion 111Ba. Each of the four columnar support portions 151 is provided at an interior angle (i.e., an internal corner) between two adjacent drive arms 121 of the oscillating member 120, and is capable of abutting against each of the side edges 121A of the two adjacent drive arms 121 of the oscillating member 120 by means of two abutment surfaces 151A (i.e., receiving portions) that form an L shape when viewed from above.

[0034] As a result, the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment can regulate misalignment of the swinging member 120 in the horizontal and rotational directions by the four columnar support parts 151, and can also guide the swinging of the swinging member 120 in each of the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction). In particular, the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment has the four columnar support parts 151 integrally provided on the lower base 111, which allows for a reduction in the number of parts of the multi-directional input device 100.

[0035] In addition, each of the four drive arms 121 of the oscillating member 120 is provided between two columnar support portions 151 (i.e., between two abutment surfaces 151A), and the oscillation of the drive arm 121 is guided by both side edge portions 121A abutting against the two abutment surfaces 151A.

[0036] The four pillar-like support portions 151 are an example of an “integral support portion.” The “integral support portion” is provided to extend integrally from the lower base 111 in the front-rear and left-right directions of the oscillating member 120, and has a receiving portion against which the side edge portions of the oscillating member 120 abut in the front-rear and left-right directions and which can slide downward.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, taken along a vertical plane. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, two of the four columnar supports 151, namely, columnar supports 151-1 and 151-2, have horizontal sliding support surfaces 151B at their upper ends. As shown in Fig. 6, the base 142 of the sliding member 140 is slidably supported between the upper cover 112 and the sliding support surfaces 151B of the two columnar supports 151-1 and 151-2.

[0038] In this way, in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, the two columnar support parts 151-1, 151-2 that are integrally formed on the lower base 111 further have the function of supporting the slide member 140 slidably from below by the sliding support surface 151B, so there is no need to provide a separate support member that supports the slide member 140, and therefore the number of parts of the multi-directional input device 100 can be reduced.

[0039] 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, taken along a horizontal plane. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two of the four columnar supports 151, namely, columnar supports 151-3 and 151-4, have guide protrusions 151C at their upper ends.

[0040] 7, the base 142 of the slide member 140 has, on its bottom surface, two cross-shaped grooves 143 extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). As shown in FIG. 7, the guide protrusions 151C of the two columnar supports 151-3 and 151-4 are inserted into the two cross-shaped grooves 143, so that the slide member 140 is supported so as to be slidable only in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the left-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0041] In this way, in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, the two columnar support parts 151-3, 151-4 that are integrally formed on the lower base 111 further have the function of guiding the sliding of the slide member 140 in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction) by the guide protrusion 151C, so there is no need to provide a separate support part that guides the sliding of the slide member 140, and therefore the number of parts of the multi-directional input device 100 can be reduced.

[0042] Fig. 8 is an external perspective view of the operation unit 141 and the swinging member 120 included in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, as viewed from above. Fig. 9 is an external perspective view of the operation unit 141 and the swinging member 120 included in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, as viewed from below.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 8, the central support part 122 of the swinging member 120 has a groove part 161 that is cut downward from the upper end, extends horizontally around a mortar-shaped recessed part 122A, and has a cross shape when viewed from above. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9, the bottom surface part of the operating part 141 of the sliding member 140 is provided with a plate-like part 162 that extends horizontally around a hemispherical protruding part 141A and has a cross shape when viewed from below.

[0044] When the slide member 140 is positioned between the oscillating member 120 and the upper cover 112 and engages with the central support portion 122 of the oscillating member 120, the plate-shaped portion 162 of the operating portion 141 is inserted into the groove portion 161 provided in the central support portion 122 of the oscillating member 120.

[0045] As a result, the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment can slidably support the slide member 140 by the swing member 120, and can prevent rotation of the operation unit 141 around the central axis thereof.

[0046] Here, the recess 122A of the swinging member 120 and the protrusion 141A of the sliding operating unit 141 are pivotally connected to each other to form a transmission unit 160 that transmits power in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction) of the operating unit 141 to the swinging member 120. The transmission unit 160 has a rotation prevention unit 160A that is made up of the groove 161 of the swinging member 120 and the plate-shaped portion 162 of the operating unit 141.

[0047] Contrary to this embodiment, the groove portion 161 may be provided in the operating portion 141 and the plate-like portion 162 may be provided in the swinging member 120 .

[0048] The four grooves of the groove portion 161 and the four plates of the plate-shaped portion 162 extend in a direction offset by 45° (i.e., in a diagonal direction) from the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) and the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0049] As a result, in the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, the inclination of the plate-shaped portion 162 can be reduced when the swinging member 120 swings, and therefore the clearance between the plate-shaped portion 162 and the groove portion 161 can be reduced.

[0050] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the multi-directional input device 100 according to one embodiment, taken along a vertical plane.

[0051] 10, both side edge portions 121A of the driving arm portion 121 have contact inclined portions 121Aa, where the distance to the contact surface 151A of the opposing columnar support portion 151 is shorter on the lower side and longer on the upper side. Note that the four driving arms 121 have the same shape, and therefore both side edge portions 121A of each driving arm portion 121 have the contact inclined portions 121Aa.

[0052] As a result, in one embodiment of the multi-directional input device 100, when the oscillating member 120 oscillates in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction), each of the two drive arms 121 extending in the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction) rotates around an axis in the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction).At this time, both side edge portions 121A of each of the two drive arms 121 extending in the left-to-right direction (Y-axis direction) have abutment slope portions 121Aa, which suppresses interference with the abutment surface 151A of the columnar support portion 151 and prevents the oscillating member 120 from being hindered from oscillating in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction).

[0053] Similarly, in one embodiment of the multi-directional input device 100, when the oscillating member 120 oscillates in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), each of the two drive arms 121 extending in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) rotates around an axis in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). At this time, both side edge portions 121A of each of the two drive arms 121 extending in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) have abutment slope portions 121Aa, which suppresses interference with the abutment surface 151A of the columnar support portion 151 and prevents the oscillating member 120 from being hindered from oscillating in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions (Y-axis direction).

[0054] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0055] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-047173, filed on March 22, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] 100 Multi-directional input device 110 Housing 111 Lower base 111A Top surface 111B Recess 111Ba Bottom surface 111C Claw portion 112 Upper cover 112A Opening 112B Hook 113 First switch portion 114 Second switch portion 120 Swing member 120A Central portion 121 Drive arm portion 121A Side edge portion 121Aa Abutment slope portion 122 Central support portion 122A Recess 123 Pressing surface 131 First rubber dome member 132 Second rubber dome member 140 Slide member 141 Operation portion 141A Convex portion 142 Base portion 142A Convex portion 142B Through hole 143 Cross-shaped groove portion 150 Support means 151, 151-1, 151-2, 151-3, 151-4: columnar support portion 151A: contact surface 151B: sliding support surface 151C: guide projection 160: transmission portion 160A: rotation prevention portion 161: groove portion 162: plate-shaped portion

Claims

1. A multi-directional input device comprising: a lower base having a bottom surface; an upper cover arranged above said lower base and forming a housing together with said lower base; a sliding member supported within said housing so as to be slidable in left-right and front-rear directions; a swinging member having four drive arms extending in each of the front-rear and left-right directions and arranged below said sliding member, which swings as said sliding member slides; support means for supporting said swinging member so as to be swingable in the front-rear and left-rear directions; and four repulsion parts installed on the bottom surface of said lower base and driven by the four drive arms, respectively; wherein said support means includes an integral support part extending integrally from said lower base in the front-rear and left-right directions of said swinging member, and having receiving parts against which side edges of said swinging member abut in the front-rear and left-rear directions so as to be slidable downward.

2. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated support portion includes four columnar support portions that extend upward integrally from the bottom surface of the lower base at four corners defined by two adjacent drive arms, and against which the side edges of the drive arms can respectively abut.

3. The multi-directional input device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the four columnar support parts has a sliding support surface at its upper end, and the sliding member is supported slidably between the upper cover and the sliding support surface.

4. A multi-directional input device as described in claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the four columnar support parts has a guide protrusion at its upper end, the slide member has cross-shaped groove parts extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, and the slide member is supported so as to be slidable only in the front-rear and left-right directions by inserting the guide protrusion into the cross-shaped groove parts.

5. The multi-directional input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the side edge of at least one of the four drive arms has an abutment slope portion whose distance to at least one of the columnar support portions is short on the lower side and long on the upper side.

6. A multi-directional input device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a transmission part which comprises a convex part provided on one of the sliding member and the swinging member and a concave part provided on the other and pivotally attached to the convex part, and which transmits power in the left-right and front-back directions of the sliding member to the swinging member, and the transmission part comprises a groove part which extends from one of the convex part and the concave part in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and a plate-like part which extends from the other in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and is inserted into the groove, and has a rotation prevention part which prevents rotation of the sliding member about the up-down direction.

7. The multi-directional input device according to claim 6, wherein the groove and the plate-like portion extend in a diagonal direction between the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

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