Input Device Rotor Friction Plate Thrust Direction Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation feeling imparting type input devices require a significant length in the thrust direction for elastic members, leading to increased size and potential damage from excessive operational forces, which compromises durability and convenience.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a rotation shaft with a rotor member and friction plate, utilizing a rotation transmission mechanism with engagement protrusions and elastic portions to absorb frictional forces, allowing relative rotation while maintaining size constraints and preventing excessive deformation or breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an elastic member is provided between the operating knob and the electromagnetic brake to allow detection of rotation direction after locking, then flexible control is realized, but the device size in the thrust direction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible controlVSAvoiddevice size in thrust direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member is positioned within the clearance between the friction plate and the rotation shaft, utilizing the existing space rather than adding external components. This nesting approach allows the elastic member to function within the device's internal volume, reducing the overall thrust direction length while maintaining flexible control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a linear elastic member arrangement to a radial clearance utilization approach. By using the radial clearance between the friction plate and rotation shaft, the elastic member can provide the necessary flexibility without extending the device in the thrust direction, effectively changing the spatial dimension used for elastic deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the elastic member is made shorter to reduce device size, then the thrust direction length is reduced, but the elastic member may be damaged by excessive operational forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrust direction lengthVSAvoiddurability against excessive force
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member acts as a pre-positioned cushioning element within the clearance space, designed to absorb excessive operational forces before they can damage other components. By utilizing the available radial clearance, the elastic member can be optimized for strength-to-length ratio, providing adequate force absorption capability in a compact form

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the elastic member by positioning it radially within the clearance rather than axially. This parameter change allows the elastic member to have a shorter thrust direction length while maintaining sufficient cross-sectional area and material properties to withstand excessive operational forces without damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a clearance is provided between the friction plate and rotation shaft to allow free displacement, then the friction plate can be freely displaced in the thrust direction, but the structural rigidity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefree displacement of friction plateVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The clearance is provided locally between the friction plate and rotation shaft, allowing free displacement only where needed for operational flexibility. The rest of the structure maintains full rigidity through direct connections and fixed mounting, achieving a balance between operational ease and structural strength by applying the clearance feature selectively rather than throughout the entire structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration reduces the device's size in the thrust direction without sacrificing functionality, enhances durability, and prevents part damage from excessive operation, while maintaining excellent operational convenience and durability.

Implementation Method 1

rotation regulation means configured to absorb the friction plate in the thrust direction of the rotor member and to regulate the rotation of the friction plate by a frictional force due to the absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

rotation elasticity imparting means configured to impart an elastic force in a rotation direction to the rotation transmission mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2161644B1Operation feeling imparting type input device
Publication Date: 2012.12.26 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
  • EP2161644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2161644B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2161644B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is an operation feeling imparting type input device capable of realizing a reduction in size in a thrust direction. A rotor member (20) is provided at a rotation shaft (14) of an operation feeling imparting type input device (10) to be spread in a radial direction of the rotation shaft (14). A friction plate (22) is provided close to the rotor member (20), and the friction plate (22) is freely displaced in a thrust direction of the rotor member (20) without being fixed to the rotation shaft (14). While the rotation of the rotor member (20) is transmitted to the friction plate (22) by a transmission mechanism, in a state where the friction plate (22) is absorbed by an electromagnetic brake (24), a clip-shaped member (30) which constitutes the transmission mechanism is elastically deformed in the rotation direction so as to permit the rotation of the rotor member (20). The clip-shaped member (30) in which elastic deformation is generated is not provided on a central axis line (CL), so an increase in size in the thrust direction is suppressed by as much.