Multi-directional Input Device Fulcrum Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-directional input devices face challenges in ensuring the rigidity of swinging members, leading to potential strength issues and inability to prevent torsional rotation of the operating member.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a configuration where the operating member's fulcrum portion engages with the swinging members' fitting portions without through holes, allowing independent swinging and enhanced rigidity, with detection mechanisms using sliders and sliding resistors to sense tilts and prevent rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If through holes are disposed in interlocking members to enable coupling with the operating member, then the operating member can be engaged with the interlocking members, but the rigidities of the interlocking members cannot be sufficiently ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling capabilityVSAvoidrigidity of interlocking members

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking members are segmented into a body portion and a protruding portion, where the body portion maintains rigidity and the protruding portion provides coupling functionality. This segmentation allows the coupling function to be separated from the load-bearing structure, resolving the contradiction between coupling capability and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism transitions from a through-hole design (3D penetration) to a surface engagement design where the fulcrum portion engages with the protruding portion. This dimensional change eliminates the need for through holes while maintaining coupling functionality, thereby preserving the rigidity of the interlocking members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the operating member is coupled with both first and second interlocking members, then multi-directional operation is enabled, but the product strength is compromised due to reduced rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-directional operationVSAvoidproduct strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking members are segmented into a body portion and a protruding portion, where the body portion maintains rigidity and the protruding portion provides coupling functionality. This segmentation allows the coupling function to be separated from the load-bearing structure, resolving the contradiction between coupling capability and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism transitions from a through-hole design (3D penetration) to a surface engagement design where the fulcrum portion engages with the protruding portion. This dimensional change eliminates the need for through holes while maintaining coupling functionality, thereby preserving the rigidity of the interlocking members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If through holes are used for engagement, then the operating member can be coupled with the interlocking members, but torsional rotation cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling capabilityVSAvoidprevention of torsional rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking members are segmented into a body portion and a protruding portion, where the body portion maintains rigidity and the protruding portion provides coupling functionality. This segmentation allows the coupling function to be separated from the load-bearing structure, resolving the contradiction between coupling capability and rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism transitions from a through-hole design (3D penetration) to a surface engagement design where the fulcrum portion engages with the protruding portion. This dimensional change eliminates the need for through holes while maintaining coupling functionality, thereby preserving the rigidity of the interlocking members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3086349B1Multi-directional input device

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 NINTENDO CO LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

An operating member 3 has a shaft portion 31 and a fulcrum portion 32. A first swinging member 4 has a concave fitting portion 42. Inside the fitting portion, engaging surfaces and guide surfaces 45, 46 are included. The engaging surfaces are formed to be engageable with the fulcrum portion. The guide surfaces allow the fulcrum portion to swing with respect to the first swinging member. The second swinging member 5 includes an engaging portion 63 which includes a long hole, and which covers the fulcrum portion while passing the shaft portion through the long hole in a manner that the shaft portion is movable in the longitudinal direction of the long hole, in such a manner that the engaging portion and the fitting portion cooperate to sandwich the fulcrum portion. The engaging portion is coupled with the second swing shaft, and configured to be engageable with the shaft portion.