Directional Input Mechanism With Curved Slides to Suppress Wobble
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Solution Overview
Problem
The multi-direction input device described in PTL 1 has a large number of components due to the inclusion of an upper arm, a lower arm, a first spring portion, and a second spring portion, which leads to unnecessary complexity and potential wobbling issues.
Innovation Solution
A direction input device with an input portion, a base, a first slide portion, and a second slide portion, utilizing a biasing portion to stabilize the components, and a guide portion to suppress wobbling, while reducing the number of components through a design that allows stable sliding on curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple spring portions and arm components are used to suppress wobbling, then stability is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple spring portions into a single integrated biasing portion that provides biasing forces in multiple directions. The upper component integrates the functions of multiple arms and springs into one piece, eliminating the need for separate arm components and multiple spring portions, thus reducing component count while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The upper component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support, integrates the biasing mechanism, provides sliding surfaces for the slide portions, and maintains positional stability. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, resolving the contradiction between stability and component complexity
2Device complexity
If a single biasing portion is used instead of multiple spring portions, then the number of components is reduced, but stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single biasing portion is strategically positioned and configured to exert biasing forces on multiple slide portions simultaneously. By integrating the biasing function into one component that interacts with multiple sliding surfaces, the design achieves stable operation with fewer components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved sliding surfaces (first and second slid surfaces) that work in conjunction with the biasing portion to guide and stabilize the sliding motion. The curvature of these surfaces provides natural guidance and stability, compensating for the reduced number of biasing components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses wobbling and reduces the number of components, enhancing operational stability and intuitively guiding the user with varying recovery forces based on tilt direction.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing portion is provided between the upper component and the lower component and biases the upper component and the lower component in a direction in which the upper component and the lower component are distant from each other
Implementation Method 2
The first slide portion slides over the first slid surface as being pressed against the first slid surface from below by the upper component biased upward by the biasing portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A direction input device includes an input portion, a base, a first slide portion, a second slide portion, a first slid surface, and a second slid surface. The input portion includes an upper component, a lower component, and a biasing portion. The input portion is pressed against the base from above. The first slide portion slides in a first direction with tilting of the input portion from an initial position in the first direction. The first slide portion is provided with a first hole through which the input portion passes, the first hole extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second slide portion slides in the second direction with tilting of the input portion from the initial position in the second direction. The second slide portion is provided with a second hole through which the input portion passes above the first slide portion, the second hole extending in the first direction. The first slide portion slides over the first slid surface as being pressed against the first slid surface from below. The first slid surface is in a shape curved convexly upward. The second slide portion slides over the second slid surface as being pressed against the second slid surface from below. The second slid surface is in a shape curved convexly upward.