Joystick Handle Switch Pin Guide Structure for Gloved Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handle switches with joysticks in straddled vehicles face challenges in accurately detecting intended operations, especially when riders wear gloves, due to the difficulty in distinguishing between intended and unintended tilt directions, leading to reduced operability.

Innovation Solution

A handle switch design featuring a joystick with a rod-shaped pin, substrate buttons, and a support case that includes arc-shaped inner circumferences and slopes to guide the pin, allowing precise tilt detection in multiple directions, and sliders to facilitate button activation, even with gloves, enhancing operational accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a joystick is used to reduce handle switch size, then device compactness is improved, but operation accuracy deteriorates due to difficulty in detecting intended tilt direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle switch sizeVSAvoidoperation detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support case inner circumference is segmented into multiple arc-shaped inner circumferences (first, second, third, and fourth) corresponding to different tilt directions. Each arc-shaped inner circumference guides the pin in a specific direction, dividing the detection space into distinct directional zones. This segmentation allows accurate detection of the intended tilt direction even when multiple forces are applied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the joystick structure is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but operability deteriorates when riders wear gloves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoystick structure complexityVSAvoidgloved hand operability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support case is designed with locally differentiated features: arc-shaped inner circumferences with specific radii of curvature for each direction, and slopes positioned at specific locations. These local structural qualities provide directional guidance and tactile feedback tailored to each operation direction, making it easier for gloved riders to feel and control the intended tilt direction without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4092706B1Handle switch and straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4092706B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4092706B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4092706B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A joystick (30) includes a stick (40) having a rod-shaped pin (41); and a support case (50) that supports the stick (40) so that the stick (40) can be tilted at least leftward, upward and rightward. The support case (50) is formed with: a pin hole (53) through which the pin (41) is inserted and that has a circumferential central inner circumference (53i); an arc-shaped first inner circumference (53a) that is concaved leftward; an arc-shaped second inner circumference (53b) that is concaved upward; an arc-shaped third inner circumference (53c) that is concaved rightward; a first slope (54a) that extends from the central inner circumference (53i) to the first inner circumference (53a) and is inclined relative to the axial direction of the pin; a second slope (54b) that extends from the central inner circumference (53i) to the second inner circumference (53b) and is inclined relative to the axial direction of the pin; and a third slope (54c) that extends from the central inner circumference (53i) to the third inner circumference (53c) and is inclined relative to the axial direction of the pin.