Patent ID: 7148880
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: A61B,A63F,G05G,G06F,H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An input control device, comprising: a control part that is manipulated to effect input; a support mechanism for supporting said control part to allow free inclination in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction that are mutually orthogonal; an inclination recovery means for applying force against the direction of inclination to return said control part to the initial position of said X-axis direction and said Y-axis direction; an X-axis detection means for detecting inclination of said control part from its initial position in said X-axis direction; a Y-axis detection means for detecting inclination of said control part from its initial position in said Y-axis direction; a rotating part on which said support mechanism, said inclination recovery means, said X-axis detection means, and said Y-axis detection means are mounted as a single unit; an axial support mechanism on which said rotating part is axially supported to allow free rotation around a Z-axis that is orthogonal to said X-axis direction and said Y-axis direction; a rotation recovery means for applying force against the direction of rotation to return said rotating part to its initial position around the Z-axis; and sensor elements for detecting rotation of said rotating part from an initial position around the Z-axis, wherein one multidirectional switch includes at least said control part, said support mechanism, said inclination recovery means, said X-axis detection means, and said Y-axis detection means; a first circuit substrate, on which this multidirectional switch is mounted, is installed on said rotating part; said rotating part is axially supported rotatably on a base part by said axial support mechanism; said sensor elements are mounted on a second circuit substrate that is installed on said base part; said input control device comprises a detection part secured to said rotating part; said detection part has at least one notch formed at a position so that said at least one notch confronts said sensor elements in accordance with rotation of said rotating part; said sensor elements each configured to detect the presence of said at least one notch; and rotation of said rotating part is detected in a forward and a reverse direction in a plurality of steps by combination of detection results of said at least one notch by said sensor elements.