Input device

Abstract

The present invention comprises: an enclosure having a bottom plate part; a control member supported so as to pivot about a left-right direction with respect to the enclosure; a first interlocking member which has a left-side shaft part and a right-side shaft part, is supported so as to rotate about the left-right direction with respect to the enclosure, and turns about the left-right direction in conjunction with the pivoting of the control member; a first slide member which has a first main body part, has a first driven arm extending from the first main body part and having at an end portion thereof a first driven part, and is supported on a top surface of the bottom plate part so as to slide freely in a front-back direction; a first detection means that detects the sliding state of the first slide member; and a first drive arm that extends from the left-side shaft part, has at an end portion thereof a first drive part for driving the first driven part, and drives the first slide member in the front-back direction. The first slide member is disposed below the left-side shaft part, the first drive arm extends upward from the left-side shaft part, and the first driven arm extends upward from the first main body part so as to avoid the left-side shaft part.

Description

Input Devices

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, input devices have been disclosed that are used in controllers for game machines and the like, and that include an operating member that can be swung forward and backward and left and right.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a technology for detecting the swinging operation of a lever by rotating an actuator in conjunction with the swinging operation of a lever, and an engagement portion of the actuator sliding a holder that holds a slider.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 listed below discloses a technology for detecting the swinging operation of an operating member by causing an interlocking member to rotate in conjunction with the swinging operation of the operating member, and an engaging protrusion of the interlocking member sliding a slider that holds a contact.

[0005] International Publication No. 2021 / 246003 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-009702

[0006] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the engagement portion of the actuator for sliding the holder is arranged to protrude downward from the actuator's rotation axis, so the height position of the actuator's rotation axis must be set at a relatively high position, making it difficult to reduce the height of the input device.

[0007] Furthermore, in the technology of Patent Document 2, the engaging protrusion and slider are arranged axially outside the rotation axis of the interlocking member, making it difficult to reduce the axial size of the input device, and therefore making it difficult to reduce the area of ​​the input device.

[0008] An input device according to one embodiment includes a housing having a bottom plate portion extending in the left-right and front-rear directions to form a storage space on the upper side, a left support portion disposed on the left side of the storage space, and a right support portion disposed on the right side of the storage space; an operating member having a base portion supported to swing about the left-right direction relative to the housing and a lever portion extending upward from the base; a first interlocking member having a left shaft portion journaled on the left support portion and a right shaft portion journaled on the right support portion, which is supported to swing about the left-right direction relative to the housing and rotates about the left-right direction in response to swinging of the operating member about the left-right direction; The device comprises a first slide member having a first main body portion, a first driven arm extending from the first main body portion and having a first driven portion at its end, and supported on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion so as to be slidable along the front-to-rear direction, a first detection means for detecting the sliding state of the first slide member, and a first drive arm extending from the left side shaft portion and having a first drive portion at its end that drives the first driven portion, thereby driving the first slide member in the front-to-rear direction, wherein the first slide member is positioned below the left side shaft portion, the first drive arm extends upward from the left side shaft portion, and the first driven arm extends upward from the first main body portion so as to avoid the left side shaft portion.

[0009] According to an input device according to an embodiment, it is possible to achieve a low profile and a small area of ​​the input device.

[0010] 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an input device according to an embodiment; 2 is a perspective view of an external appearance of an input device (with the case removed) according to an embodiment; 3 is an exploded perspective view of an input device according to an embodiment; 4 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment, taken along an XZ plane; 5 is a cross-sectional view of an input device according to an embodiment, taken along a YZ plane; 6 is a perspective view of a configuration of a drive mechanism for a first slide member provided in an input device according to an embodiment;

[0011] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience, in the following description, the Z-axis direction is defined as the up-down direction, the X-axis direction as the front-rear direction, and the Y-axis direction as the left-right direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction is defined as the up direction, the positive X-axis direction as the front direction, and the positive Y-axis direction as the right direction.

[0012] (Outline of Input Device 100) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an input device 100 according to an embodiment.

[0013] The input device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is used as a controller for a game console or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 100 has a columnar tiltable operating member 120 extending upward from an opening 102A in a housing 102. The input device 100 can be tilted using the operating member 120 not only forward (in the direction of arrow D1 in the figure), backward (in the direction of arrow D2 in the figure), leftward (in the direction of arrow D3 in the figure), and rightward (in the direction of arrow D4 in the figure), but also in all directions between these directions. The input device 100 can also output an operation signal corresponding to the tilting operation (tilt direction and tilt angle) of the operating member 120 to the outside via a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 112. The input device 100 can also be pressed downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) using the operating member 120. Furthermore, the input device 100 can output an operation signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the operation member 120 to the outside via an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 112 .

[0014] (Configuration of input device 100) Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the input device 100 (with the housing 102 removed) according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the input device 100 according to one embodiment along the XZ plane. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the input device 100 according to one embodiment along the YZ plane.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the input device 100 includes a housing 102, an operating member 120, a first interlocking member 104, a second interlocking member 106, a shaft 103, a spring 108, a first slide member 105, a second slide member 107, a pressing member 109, a frame 110, an FPC 112, and a metal sheet 113.

[0016] The housing 102 is a resin member having a dome-like shape that protrudes upward. The housing 102 has a storage space 102B inside the dome shape, and each component is installed inside the storage space 102B. The housing 102 also has an opening 102A at the top of the dome shape that is generally rectangular in plan view from above.

[0017] Operating member 120 is a member that is tilted by the operator. Operating member 120 has lever portion 120A and base portion 120B. Lever portion 120A is a generally rectangular prism-shaped portion that extends upward from opening 102A of housing 102 and is the portion that is tilted by the operator. Base portion 120B is a generally cylindrical portion that supports the lower end of lever portion 120A inside housing 102 and rotates in response to the tilting operation of lever portion 120A.

[0018] The operating member 120 is supported by the first interlocking member 104 so as to be swingable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). Specifically, the operating member 120 is pivotally supported so as to be swingable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) about the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) by fitting a pair of front and rear rotation shafts 120E provided on a base 120B of the operating member 120 into a pair of front and rear bearing holes 104E provided in the first interlocking member 104. Furthermore, since the operating member 120 is held by the first interlocking member 104, which is supported by the housing 102 so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), the operating member 120 swings in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) together with the first interlocking member 104.

[0019] The first interlocking member 104 is a frame-shaped member made of resin. The first interlocking member 104 has an elongated hole-shaped opening 104A extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The operating member 120 is inserted through the opening 104A. The first interlocking member 104 has a rotation shaft 104B protruding outward from each of both ends in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The rotation shaft 104B (an example of a "left-side shaft") on the left side (negative side of the Y-axis) of the first interlocking member 104 is fitted into a first bearing hole 102C (an example of a "left-side support portion") formed on the left side (negative side of the Y-axis) of the housing 102, and is thereby supported so as to be rotatable about the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The first interlocking member 104 has a right-side (positive Y-axis) pivot shaft 104B (an example of a "right-side pivot shaft") that is fitted into a bearing space 102E (an example of a "right-side support"), which is a space between the inner wall surface of the right-side (positive Y-axis) of the housing 102 and the upper surface of the pressing member 109, inside the storage space 102B of the housing 102, and is rotatably supported (see FIG. 4 ). As a result, the first interlocking member 104 pivots in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) around the pivot shaft 104B as a rotation center in response to tilting of the operating member 120 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). Note that when the operating member 120 is tilted left-right (Y-axis direction), the first interlocking member 104 is configured to allow the operating member 120 to move left-right (Y-axis direction) within the opening 104A without interfering with the operating member 120.

[0020] The second interlocking member 106 is provided above the first interlocking member 104 and overlaps it. The second interlocking member 106 is a resin member that extends in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) while curving convexly upward. The second interlocking member 106 has an elongated hole-shaped opening 106A that extends in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) along the curved shape. The operating member 120 is inserted through the opening 106A. The second interlocking member 106 has a rotation shaft 106B that protrudes outward from each of its two ends in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). A pair of pivot shafts 106B (one example of a "front shaft" and a "rear shaft") of the second interlocking member 106 are fitted into a pair of second bearing holes 102D (one example of a "front support" and a "rear support") formed on the front (X-axis positive side) and rear (X-axis negative) side surfaces of the housing 102, thereby being supported rotatably about the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) (see FIG. 1). As a result, the second interlocking member 106 pivots in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) around the pivot shafts 106B as a rotation center in response to tilting of the operating member 120 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). When the operating member 120 is tilted in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), the second interlocking member 106 is configured so as not to interfere with the operating member 120, allowing the operating member 120 to move in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) within the opening 106A.

[0021] The first slide member 105 is a resin member having a longitudinal shape extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The first slide member 105 is provided on the base 112A of the FPC 112 and on the left side (Y-axis negative side) of the first interlocking member 104 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction).

[0022] The second slide member 107 is a resin member having a longitudinal shape extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The second slide member 107 is provided on the base 112A of the FPC 112 and on the front side (positive side of the X-axis) of the second interlocking member 106 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0023] The shaft 103 has a shaft portion 103A and a bottom plate portion 103B. The shaft portion 103A is a round bar-shaped portion extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The bottom plate portion 103B is a disk-shaped portion integrally formed at the lower end of the shaft portion 103A. The shaft 103 is incorporated into the interior of the operating member 120 by being inserted from a bottom opening 120D (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) formed at the bottom of the operating member 120 into an insertion hole 120C extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) inside the operating member 120, and is tiltable integrally with the operating member 120.

[0024] The spring 108 is disposed in a bottom opening 120D (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) provided at the bottom of the operating member 120, with the axial portion 103A of the shaft 103 inserted therethrough. The spring 108 urges the operating member 120 upward and urges the bottom plate portion 103B of the shaft 103 downward. As a result, when the operator releases the tilting operation of the operating member 120, the spring 108 presses the bottom plate portion 103B of the shaft 103 against the upper surface and center of the frame 110, restoring the bottom plate portion 103B to a horizontal state and returning the operating member 120 to a neutral state. Furthermore, when the operator releases the pressing operation of the operating member 120, the spring 108 urges the operating member 120 upward, thereby returning the operating member 120 to its initial height position.

[0025] The pressing member 109 is provided below (negative side of the Z axis) the pivot shaft 104B on the right side (positive side of the Y axis) of the first interlocking member 104 and above (positive side of the Z axis) a metal sheet 113 provided on the FPC 112. When the operating member 120 is pressed downward by a pressing operation, the pressing member 109 is pressed downward by the pivot shaft 104B on the right side (positive side of the Y axis) of the first interlocking member 104, thereby pressing downward the metal sheet 113 provided on the FPC 112 and elastically deforming the metal sheet 113, thereby bringing a switch circuit formed on the FPC 112 into a conductive state. As a result, a switch-on signal indicating that the operating member 120 has been pressed down is output from the FPC 112.

[0026] The frame 110 is a flat, metallic member that constitutes the bottom plate of the housing 102. The frame 110 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above (positive Z-axis direction). The frame 110 is attached to the bottom of the housing 102 to close off the storage space 102B of the housing 102. For example, the frame 110 may be formed by various processing methods (e.g., punching, bending, etc.) on a metal plate. The frame 110 has a pair of left and right claws 110A extending upward (positive Z-axis direction) on each of its front (positive X-axis) and rear (negative X-axis) edges, with the upper ends bent inward at a right angle. As shown in FIG. 1 , the claws 110A engage with the edges of the housing 102, thereby securely connecting the frame 110 to the housing 102.

[0027] The FPC 112 is an example of a "substrate" and is a flexible film-like wiring member. The FPC 112 has a base 112A, an extension 112B, and a connection 112C. The base 112A is a rectangular portion when viewed from above (positive Z-axis direction) and is placed on the upper surface of the frame 110. The extension 112B is a strip-shaped portion extending rightward (positive Y-axis direction) from the base 112A. The connection 112C is provided at the tip of the extension 112B and is a portion that is connected to the outside. The FPC 112 transmits operation signals corresponding to the operation (tilting operation and pressing operation) of the operating member 120 to the outside. The FPC 112 is formed by covering both surfaces of a strip-shaped conductive wiring (for example, copper foil) with a flexible, insulating film-like material (for example, polyimide resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc.).

[0028] (Configuration of drive mechanism of first slide member 105) Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism of the first slide member 105 included in the input device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the input device 100 with the housing 102 removed.

[0029] 6, the first slide member 105 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 110 so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). The first slide member 105 has a first main body portion 105A extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and a first driven arm 105B extending upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis) from the first main body portion 105A. The first driven arm 105B has a first driven portion 105C at its upper end.

[0030] Meanwhile, the first interlocking member 104 has a first drive arm 104C extending upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from a rotation shaft 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). The first drive arm 104C has a first drive portion 104D at its upper end that drives a first driven portion 105C of the first slide member 105. The first drive arm 104C rotates together with the rotation shaft 104B to drive the first slide member 105 in the front-to-rear direction (X axis direction). This causes the first slide member 105 to slide in the front-to-rear direction (X axis direction).

[0031] 6 , the first slide member 105 holds, at its bottom surface, a first sliding contact member 151 made of metal and shaped like a leaf spring. The front end (positive side of the X-axis) of the first sliding contact member 151 contacts a first linear portion 117A of the resistor pattern 117 provided on the base portion 112A of the FPC 112, and the rear end (negative side of the X-axis) contacts a resistor pattern 115 provided on the base portion 112A of the FPC 112. That is, the first sliding contact member 151 is disposed across the first linear portion 117A of the resistor pattern 117 and the resistor pattern 115. The first linear portion 117A of the resistor pattern 117 and the resistor pattern 115 are provided along the left edge (negative side of the Y axis) of the base 112A of the FPC 112, and are formed in a strip shape extending linearly in the front-rear direction (X axis direction). They are made of a conductive material (e.g., copper, carbon fiber, etc.). As the first sliding member 105 slides in the front-rear direction (X axis direction), the resistance between the terminal connected to the resistor pattern 117 and the terminal connected to the resistor pattern 115 changes depending on the amount of movement of the first sliding contact member 151 (i.e., the tilt angle of the operating member 120). Therefore, an external device can detect the tilt operation and tilt angle of the operating member 120 in the front-rear direction (X axis direction) based on the change in the resistance between the two terminals.

[0032] In this embodiment, the "first detection means" for detecting the sliding state of the first slide member 105 consists of a first sliding contact member 151 attached to the first slide member 105 and resistor patterns 115, 117 with which the first sliding contact member 151 slides.

[0033] However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the "first detection means" that detects the sliding state of the first slide member 105 may consist of a magnet attached to the first slide member 105 and a magnetic detection means that is attached to the housing 102 and detects the magnetic field generated by the magnet.

[0034] 6, the first main body 105A of the first slide member 105 is disposed below (in the negative direction of the Z axis) the pivot shaft 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). The first drive arm 104C of the first interlocking member 104 extends upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the pivot shaft 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). The first driven arm 105B of the first slide member 105 extends upward from the first main body 105A of the first slide member 105 so as to avoid the pivot shaft 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis).

[0035] As a result, in one embodiment of the input device 100, the first drive unit 104D that drives the first slide member 105 is located above (in the positive direction of the Z axis) the rotation axis 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis), so that the rotation axis 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis) (i.e., the rotation center of the first interlocking member 104) can be located further downward (in the negative direction of the Z axis) so as to be closer to the first main body unit 105A, thereby making it possible to reduce the height of the input device 100.

[0036] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the first drive unit 104D that drives the first slide member 105 is provided above (in the positive direction of the Z axis) the pivot axis 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis), and the first slide member 105 is provided below (in the negative direction of the Z axis) the pivot axis 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). This prevents the first drive unit 104D and the first slide member 105 from protruding further to the left (negative side of the Y axis) than the pivot axis 104B on the left side (negative side of the Y axis). This allows the size of the input device 100 in the left-right direction (in the Y axis direction) to be reduced, thereby enabling the input device 100 to have a smaller surface area.

[0037] Specifically, the first driven arm 105B of the first slide member 105 has a front driven arm portion 105Ba extending upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the front (positive X-axis direction) of the first main body portion 105A, and a rear driven arm portion 105Bb extending upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the rear (negative X-axis direction) of the first main body portion 105A.

[0038] The first driving portion 104D of the first interlocking member 104 is formed at the upper end of the first driving arm 104C. The first driven portion 105C of the first slide member 105 has a front contact portion 105Ca provided at the top of the front driven arm portion 105Ba and against which the front side of the first driving portion 104D abuts, and a rear contact portion 105Cb provided at the top of the rear driven arm portion 105Bb and against which the rear side of the first driving portion 104D abuts. In other words, the first driving portion 104D is sandwiched from the front and rear by the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb of the first driven portion 105C.

[0039] As a result, in one embodiment of the input device 100, when the operating member 120 swings forward (positive direction of the X-axis), the first drive unit 104D of the first interlocking member 104 rotates forward (positive direction of the X-axis), and the first drive unit 104D pushes the front abutment portion 105Ca forward (positive direction of the X-axis), thereby driving the first slide member 105 forward (positive direction of the X-axis).

[0040] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, when the operating member 120 swings backward (in the negative direction of the X-axis), the first drive unit 104D of the first interlocking member 104 rotates backward (in the negative direction of the X-axis), and the first drive unit 104D pushes the rear abutment portion 105Cb backward (in the negative direction of the X-axis), thereby driving the first slide member 105 backward (in the negative direction of the X-axis).

[0041] The first drive unit 104D has curved front (positive side of the X-axis) and rear (negative side of the X-axis) surfaces so that the distance between the position where the front contact portion 105Ca contacts and the position where the rear contact portion 105Cb contacts is constant regardless of the rotation angle of the first drive arm 104C.

[0042] The front driven arm 105Ba extends from the first main body 105A at a position where it does not interfere with the left side (negative side of the Y axis) of the rotation shaft 104B when the first main body 105A moves rearward (negative side of the X axis). The rear driven arm 105Bb extends from the first main body 105A at a position where it does not interfere with the left side (negative side of the Y axis) of the rotation shaft 104B when the first main body 105A moves forward (positive side of the X axis).

[0043] In particular, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, a semicircular notch 105D is formed on the rear edge (negative side of the X axis) of the front driven arm portion 105Ba and the front edge (positive side of the X axis) of the rear driven arm portion 105Bb at a position facing the left (negative side of the Y axis) pivot shaft 104B. As a result, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, whether the first main body portion 105A slides forward (positive direction of the X axis) or backward (negative direction of the X axis), the notch 105D prevents interference with the left (negative side of the Y axis) pivot shaft 104B. Therefore, the front driven arm portion 105Ba and the rear driven arm portion 105Bb can be positioned closer to the left (negative side of the Y axis) pivot shaft 104B. Therefore, the input device 100 according to one embodiment can achieve a smaller first driven arm 105B.

[0044] Note that when the first drive unit 104D is not sandwiched between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb, the distance between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb is slightly smaller than the width of the first drive unit 104D in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the input device 100 according to one embodiment can sandwich the first drive unit 104D between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb by slightly widening the distance between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb while slightly elastically deforming the front driven arm portion 105Ba and the rear driven arm portion 105Bb. As a result, in one embodiment of the input device 100, the clearance between the front abutment portion 105Ca and the rear abutment portion 105Cb and the first drive unit 104D is zero, thereby eliminating any play in the first drive unit 104D between the front abutment portion 105Ca and the rear abutment portion 105Cb, and therefore the sliding state of the first slide member 105 can be detected with high accuracy by the first detection means.

[0045] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the distance between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb is slightly larger than the diameter of the left (negative Y-axis) rotation shaft 104B. Therefore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, when the first interlocking member 104 is assembled from above, the left (negative Y-axis) rotation shaft 104B can be easily disposed between the front driven arm portion 105Ba and the rear driven arm portion 105Bb simply by passing the left (negative Y-axis) rotation shaft 104B from above between the front contact portion 105Ca and the rear contact portion 105Cb.

[0046] (Configuration of drive mechanism of second slide member 107) Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism of the second slide member 107 included in the input device 100 according to one embodiment. Fig. 7 shows the input device 100 with the housing 102 removed. Also, Fig. 7 does not show the frame 110.

[0047] 7, the second slide member 107 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 110 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). The second slide member 107 has a second main body portion 107A extending linearly in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and a second driven arm 107B extending upward (in the positive direction of the Z-axis) from the second main body portion 107A. The second driven arm 107B has a second driven portion 107C at its upper end.

[0048] Meanwhile, the second interlocking member 106 has a second drive unit 106D that protrudes forward (in the positive direction of the X axis) above (in the positive direction of the Z axis) the pivot shaft 106B on the front side (positive side of the X axis). The second drive unit 106D drives the second slide member 107 in the left-right direction (in the positive direction of the Y axis) by rotating together with the pivot shaft 106B. This causes the second slide member 107 to slide in the left-right direction (in the positive direction of the Y axis). In a modified example, the second interlocking member 106 may have a "second drive arm" that extends upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the pivot shaft 106B on the front side (positive side of the X axis), and the second drive unit 106D may be provided at the upper end of the "second drive arm."

[0049] 7 , the second slide member 107 holds, at its bottom surface, a second sliding contact member 152 made of metal and shaped like a leaf spring. The left end (negative side of the Y axis) of the second sliding contact member 152 contacts the second linear portion 117B of the resistor pattern 117 provided on the base portion 112A of the FPC 112, and the right end (positive side of the Y axis) contacts the resistor pattern 116 provided on the base portion 112A of the FPC 112. In other words, the second sliding contact member 152 is disposed across the second linear portion 117B of the resistor pattern 117 and the resistor pattern 116. The second linear portion 117B of the resistor pattern 117 and the resistor pattern 116 are provided along the front edge (positive side of the X axis) of the base 112A of the FPC 112, and are formed as strips extending linearly in the left-right direction (Y axis direction). They are made of a conductive material (e.g., copper, carbon fiber, etc.). As the second slide member 107 slides left-right (Y axis direction), the resistance between the terminal connected to the resistor pattern 117 and the terminal connected to the resistor pattern 116 changes depending on the amount of movement of the second sliding contact member 152 (i.e., the tilt angle of the operating member 120). Therefore, an external device can detect the tilt operation and tilt angle of the operating member 120 in the left-right direction (Y axis direction) based on the change in resistance between the two terminals.

[0050] In this embodiment, the "second detection means" for detecting the sliding state of the second slide member 107 comprises a second sliding contact member 152 attached to the second slide member 107 and resistor patterns 116, 117 with which the second sliding contact member 152 slides.

[0051] However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the "second detection means" that detects the sliding state of the second slide member 107 may consist of a magnet attached to the second slide member 107 and a magnetic detection means that is attached to the housing 102 and detects the magnetic field generated by the magnet.

[0052] 7, the second main body 107A of the second slide member 107 is disposed below (in the negative direction of the Z axis) the rotation shaft 106B on the front side (positive side of the X axis). The second drive unit 106D of the second interlocking member 106 is disposed above (in the positive direction of the Z axis) the rotation shaft 106B on the front side (positive side of the X axis). The second driven arm 107B of the second slide member 107 extends upward from the second main body 107A of the second slide member 107 so as to avoid the rotation shaft 106B on the front side (positive side of the X axis).

[0053] As a result, in the input device 100 of one embodiment, the second drive unit 106D that drives the second slide member 107 is provided above (in the positive Z-axis direction) the rotation axis 106B on the front side (positive X-axis side), so that the rotation axis 106B on the front side (positive X-axis side) (i.e., the rotation center of the second interlocking member 106) can be provided further downward (in the negative Z-axis direction) so as to be closer to the second main body unit 107A, thereby making it possible to reduce the height of the input device 100.

[0054] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the second drive unit 106D that drives the second slide member 107 is provided above (in the positive Z-axis direction) the rotation axis 106B on the front side (positive X-axis side), and the second slide member 107 is provided below (in the negative Z-axis direction) the rotation axis 106B on the front side (positive X-axis side). This prevents the second drive unit 106D and the second slide member 107 from protruding further forward (positive X-axis side) than the rotation axis 106B on the front side (positive X-axis side). This makes it possible to reduce the size of the input device 100 in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction), and therefore makes it possible to reduce the area of ​​the input device 100.

[0055] Specifically, the second driven arm 107B of the second slide member 107 has a right-side driven arm portion 107Ba extending upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the right side (positive Y-axis direction) of the second main body portion 107A, and a left-side driven arm portion 107Bb extending upward (positive Z-axis direction) from the left side (negative Y-axis direction) of the second main body portion 107A.

[0056] The second driven portion 107C of the second slide member 107 has a right contact portion 107Ca provided on the upper portion of the right driven arm portion 107Ba and against which the right side of the second driving portion 106D abuts, and a left contact portion 107Cb provided on the upper portion of the left driven arm portion 107Bb and against which the left side of the second driving portion 106D abuts. In other words, the second driving portion 106D is sandwiched from the left and right by the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb of the second driven portion 107C.

[0057] As a result, in one embodiment of the input device 100, when the operating member 120 swings to the right (positive direction of the Y axis), the second drive unit 106D of the second interlocking member 106 rotates to the right (positive direction of the Y axis), and the second drive unit 106D pushes the right-side abutment portion 107Ca to the right (positive direction of the Y axis), thereby driving the second slide member 107 to the right (positive direction of the Y axis).

[0058] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the input device 100, when the operating member 120 swings to the left (negative direction of the Y axis), the second drive unit 106D of the second interlocking member 106 rotates to the left (negative direction of the Y axis), and the second drive unit 106D pushes the left-side abutment portion 107Cb to the left (negative direction of the Y axis), thereby driving the second slide member 107 to the left (negative direction of the Y axis).

[0059] In addition, the second drive unit 106D has curved surfaces on both the right side (positive side of the Y axis) and the left side (negative side of the Y axis) so that the distance between the position where the right abutment portion 107Ca abuts and the position where the left abutment portion 107Cb abuts is constant regardless of the rotation angle of the second drive unit 106D.

[0060] The right driven arm 107Ba extends from the second main body 107A at a position where it does not interfere with the front (positive X-axis) rotation shaft 106B when the second main body 107A moves to the left (negative Y-axis side). The left driven arm 107Bb extends from the second main body 107A at a position where it does not interfere with the front (positive X-axis) rotation shaft 106B when the second main body 107A moves to the right (positive Y-axis side).

[0061] In particular, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, a semicircular notch 107D is formed on the left edge (negative side of the Y axis) of the right driven arm 107Ba and the right edge (positive side of the Y axis) of the left driven arm 107Bb, respectively, at a position facing the front (positive side of the X axis) pivot shaft 106B. As a result, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, whether the second main body 107A slides to the right (positive direction of the Y axis) or left (negative direction of the Y axis), the notch 107D prevents interference with the front (positive side of the X axis) pivot shaft 106B. Therefore, the right driven arm 107Ba and the left driven arm 107Bb can be positioned closer to the front (positive side of the X axis) pivot shaft 106B. Therefore, the input device 100 according to one embodiment can achieve a smaller second driven arm 107B.

[0062] When the second drive unit 106D is not sandwiched between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb, the distance between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb is slightly smaller than the width of the second drive unit 106D in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). Therefore, the input device 100 according to one embodiment can sandwich the second drive unit 106D between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb by slightly widening the distance between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb while slightly elastically deforming the right driven arm portion 107Ba and the left driven arm portion 107Bb. As a result, in the input device 100 of one embodiment, the clearance between the right-side abutment portion 107Ca and the left-side abutment portion 107Cb and the second drive portion 106D is zero, thereby eliminating any play in the second drive portion 106D between the right-side abutment portion 107Ca and the left-side abutment portion 107Cb, and therefore the sliding state of the second slide member 107 can be detected with high accuracy by the second detection means.

[0063] Furthermore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, the distance between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb is slightly larger than the diameter of the front (positive side of the X-axis) rotation shaft 106B. Therefore, in the input device 100 according to one embodiment, when the second interlocking member 106 is assembled from above, the front (positive side of the X-axis) rotation shaft 106B can be easily positioned between the right driven arm portion 107Ba and the left driven arm portion 107Bb simply by passing the front (positive side of the X-axis) rotation shaft 106B from above between the right contact portion 107Ca and the left contact portion 107Cb.

[0064] 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.

[0065] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-147328, filed on August 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0066] 100 Input device 102 Housing 102A Opening 102B Storage space 102C First bearing hole 102D Second bearing hole 102E Bearing space 103 Shaft 103A Shaft portion 103B Bottom plate portion 104 First interlocking member 104A Opening 104B Rotating shaft 104C First driving arm 104D First driving portion 104E Bearing hole 105 First slide member 105A First main body portion 105B First driven arm 105B 105Ba Front driven arm portion 105Bb Rear driven arm portion 105C First driven portion 105Ca Front contact portion 105Cb Rear contact portion 105D Notch portion 106 Second interlocking member 106A Opening 106B Rotating shaft 106D Second driving portion 107 Second slide member 107A Second main body portion 107B Second driven arm 107Ba Right side driven arm portion 107Bb Left side driven arm portion 107C Second driven portion 107Ca Right side contact portion 107Cb Left side contact portion 107D Notch portion 108 Spring 109 Pressing member 110 Frame 110A Claw portion 112 FPC 112A Base portion 112B Extension portion 112C Connection portion 113 Metal sheet 115, 116, 117 Resistor pattern 117A First straight portion 117B Second straight portion 120 Operation member 120A Lever portion 120B Base portion 120C Insertion hole 120D Bottom opening 120E Rotating shaft 151 First sliding contact member 152 Second sliding contact member

Claims

1. A housing having a bottom plate portion extending in the left-right and front-rear directions to form a storage space on the upper side, a left support portion located on the left side of the storage space, and a right support portion located on the right side of the storage space; an operating member having a base portion supported so as to swing about the left-right direction relative to the housing and a lever portion extending upward from the base; a first interlocking member having a left shaft portion journaled on the left support portion and a right shaft portion journaled on the right support portion, the first interlocking member being supported so as to swing about the left-right direction relative to the housing and rotating about the left-right direction as the operating member swings about the left-right direction; a first slide member having a first main body portion and a first driven arm extending from the first main body portion and having a first driven portion at its end, the first slide member being supported on the top surface of the bottom plate portion so as to be slidable along the front-rear direction; first detection means for detecting the sliding state of the first slide member; and a first drive arm extending from the left shaft portion and having a first drive portion at its end for driving the first driven portion, the first slide member being driven in the front-rear direction, an input device, characterized in that the first slide member is disposed below the left side shaft portion, the first drive arm extends upward from the left side shaft portion, and the first driven arm extends upward from the first main body portion so as to avoid the left side shaft portion.

2. An input device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first driven arm has a front driven arm portion extending upward from the front of the first main body portion, and a rear driven arm portion extending upward from the rear of the first main body portion.

3. An input device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the first driving part is formed at the end of the first driving arm, and the first driven part has a front contact part provided on the upper part of the front driven arm part and against which the front side of the first driving part contacts, and a rear contact part provided on the upper part of the rear driven arm part and against which the rear side of the first driving part contacts.

4. An input device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the front driven arm portion extends from the first main body portion at a position where it does not interfere with the left side shaft portion when the first main body portion moves rearward, and the rear driven arm portion extends from the first main body portion at a position where it does not interfere with the left side shaft portion when the first main body portion moves forward.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the base of the operating member is pivotally supported by the first interlocking member so as to be swingable around the front-rear direction.

6. An input device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first detection means comprises a sliding contact member attached to the first slide member and a resistor pattern laid on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion and with which the sliding contact member slides.

7. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said first detection means comprises a magnet attached to said first slide member and a magnetic detection means attached to said housing for detecting the magnetic field generated by said magnet.

8. An input device as described in claim 3, characterized in that when the first drive unit is not sandwiched between the front contact portion and the rear contact portion, the distance between the front contact portion and the rear contact portion is smaller than the width of the first drive unit in the front-to-rear direction.

9. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the distance between said front contact portion and said rear contact portion is greater than the diameter of said left shaft portion.

10. The housing has a front support part arranged at the front side of the storage space and a rear support part arranged at the rear side of the storage space, a second interlocking member having a front shaft part journaled on the front support part and a rear shaft part journaled on the rear support part, which is rotatably supported on the housing around the front-to-rear direction and rotates around the front-to-rear direction as the operating member swings around the front-to-rear direction, a second slide member having a second main body part and a second driven arm extending from the second main body part and having a second driven part at its end, which is supported on the upper surface of the bottom plate part so as to be slidable along the left-to-right direction, second detection means for detecting the sliding state of the second slide member, and a second drive part for driving the second driven part to drive the second slide member in the left-to-right direction, the second slide member being arranged below the front shaft part, and the second drive part being arranged above the front shaft part, 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second driven arm extends upward from the second main body portion so as to avoid the front shaft portion.

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