Multidirectional Input Device Spherical Support Face
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multidirectional input devices face challenges in downsizing while maintaining operational feel and detection accuracy, as reduced size leads to decreased tilt and rotation radius, making it difficult to detect operations accurately.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an operation lever that slides on a generally spherically convex support face, with interlocking members that move in an arc-like manner, allowing for longer rotation radii and improved detection accuracy, while maintaining a compact dimension through orthogonal placement and guided movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the multidirectional input device is downsized, then the device size is reduced, but the tilt amount and rotation radius of the operation lever are reduced, making it difficult to provide desirable operational feel and detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spherical support face that enables the operation lever to move in multiple directions (tilting in various angles) rather than being constrained to a single rotation axis. This dimensional change allows the lever to achieve sufficient movement range even in a compact device footprint, maintaining detection accuracy while enabling downsizing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support face is designed with a spherical convex shape, allowing the operation lever to rock freely in multiple directions along the curved surface. This spherical geometry provides a longer effective rotation radius compared to conventional flat or single-axis pivot designs, enabling adequate tilt amplitude and detection precision even when the overall device size is reduced.
2Volume of moving object
If the multidirectional input device is downsized, then the device size is reduced, but the rotation radius of the rotary members is reduced, making it difficult for the detectors to detect the rotation accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system transitions from detecting rotation around a single fixed axis to detecting the position of the operation lever on a spherical surface. The detectors measure the lever's angular position in multiple directions, providing reliable detection even when the physical rotation radius is small due to downsizing.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical support face acts as an intermediary between the operation lever and the detectors. It translates the lever's tilting motion into positional changes that can be accurately measured by the detectors, maintaining detection reliability regardless of the device's compact dimensions.
3Ease of operation
If the operation lever is supported to allow tilting, then operational feel is provided, but the amount of tilt is reduced in downsized devices, making it difficult to provide desirable operational feel
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical support face provides a curved surface that allows the operation lever to rock with a larger angular range compared to flat-pivot designs. This curvature enables the lever to achieve sufficient tilt amplitude for desirable operational feel even when the device is downsized, as the spherical geometry naturally provides a longer arc for the same radial distance.
Data Source
AI summary
A multidirectional input device includes a mount, an operation lever, first and second interlocking members, and first and second detectors. The mount includes a support face of generally spherical convex shape. The operation lever is slidably supported on the support face. The first interlocking member receives the operation lever therethrough and is movable in a first direction in an arc-like manner in accordance with movement in the first direction of the operation lever. The second interlocking member crosses the first interlocking member, receives the operation lever therethrough, and is movable in a second direction in an arc-like manner in accordance with movement in the second direction of the operation lever, the second direction crossing the first direction. The first detector can detect a direction and an amount of movement of the first interlocking member. The second detector can detect a direction and an amount of movement of the second interlocking member.