Patent Publication Number: US-8981246-B2

Title: Input device

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-045878 filed on Mar. 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an input device capable of detecting an action position of a pressing operation force imparted to an operation body, and more particularly to an input device having a configuration in which an operation body is positioned and supported on a case via an elastic member. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Input devices, which, when a pressing operation is performed on an operation body, are able to detect an action position of a pressing operation force which is imparted to the operation body, are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-126997 and the like. 
     A touch panel disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-126997 is provided with a transparent panel covering a display which is supported by pressure sensors at the four corners thereof. When any position on the panel is pressed, the force is detected by the four pressure sensors, whereby the position of the panel where the pressing operation force is imparted is computed based on the load detected by the pressure sensors. 
     Since the touch panel disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-126997 has a configuration in which the panel as an operation body is supported from below at the four corners thereof, there is tendency for the panel to be easily moved when vibration is applied from outside. For this reason, there is concern that the pressure sensors may be operated by the movement thereof. Therefore, it is not easily used in an environment where vibration easily acts, such as apparatuses for vehicles. 
     When the input device is used while being inclined with respect to the gravity direction, gravity acts on the panel in a biased direction. Accordingly, a malfunction may easily occur in the pressure sensor, whereby there is concern that incorrect detection output may be obtained. 
     SUMMARY 
     An input device includes an operation body which an operation body which has an operation surface on which a pressing operation is performed, a detection member which detects that the operation surface is operated, and a case having an opening portion on the front side thereof. The operation body is disposed in the case such that the operation surface is exposed through the opening portion. Also, a first elastic support member which elastically supports the operation body from below toward the front side and an abutment portion abutting on an inner surface of the case which is formed in the operation body are provided in the case. 
     In the configuration, since the operation body is pushed against and supported on the case by an elastic member, it is easy to stabilize an attitude of the operation body. Therefore, even when external vibration acts or gravity acts in a biased direction by disposing the operation body as inclined with respect to the gravity direction, the operation body is hardly moved. Thereby, it is easy to prevent an erroneous detection output from being obtained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an exterior appearance of an input device installed on a steering wheel, as an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing components of the input device; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the input device shown in  FIG. 1  taken along the line III-III; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view showing a state in which an operation body is attached to a case by a front supporting plate spring; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation body is attached to the case; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view showing positional relation between the operation body, a detection member and a rear supporting plate spring; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the detection member is mounted on the plate spring and a flexible print substrate; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the detection member; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of an elastic support portion which supports the detection member. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An input device  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is for vehicles and is fixed to a front surface of a support plate  3 , which extends from a steering wheel  2  for vehicles to an inner side thereof. Although a cover, which surrounds the input device  1 , is provided at the inner side of the steering wheel,  FIG. 1  shows a state in which the cover is removed. 
     In the input device  1 , the Z 1  direction and the Z 2  direction are set as forward and rearward respectively, the X 1  direction and the X 2  direction are set as the right direction and left direction respectively, and the Y 1  direction and the Y 2  direction are set as upward and downward respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the input device  1  includes a front case  10  and a rear case  20 . The front case  10  and the rear case  20  are assembled and fixed, and a support space  5  is formed inside thereof. The front case  10  and the rear case  20  are formed by die casting with light metals such as aluminum, or are formed by injection molding with synthetic resin materials. 
     An operation body  30  is supported on the front case  10 , and detection member  70  is supported on the rear case  20 . Also, an illustration of the rear case  20  is omitted in an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the front case  10  includes a front wall portion  11  and a peripheral wall portion  12 . The front case  10  is formed in a rectangular shape, and the peripheral wall portion  12  is continuously formed along the four side surfaces thereof. 
     In the front wall portion  11  of the front case  10 , an opening portion  13  is formed which penetrates in the front-rear direction (the Z 1 -Z 2  direction). The opening portion  13  is formed in a rectangular shape with the long side directed in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction). At each of the four corners of the opening portion  13 , a semicircular penetration portion  14 , which penetrates in the front-rear direction is continuously formed with the opening portion  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , in the rear portion of the front case  10 , a binding surface  15  to bind to the rear case  20  is formed on a rear end surface of the peripheral wall portion  12 . Likewise, in the rear portion of the front case  10 , plate spring attachment surfaces  16 ,  16  are formed at recessed positions disposed in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) and recessed from the binding surface  15  in the frontward (the Z 1  direction). A pair of female thread holes is formed at each of the plate spring attachment surfaces  16 ,  16 . Also, between the two female thread holes, positioning protrusions  17 ,  17  (see  FIG. 4 ) are integrally formed protruding rearward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a rear surface of the front wall portion  11  of the front case  10  is an operation body supporting surface  18 . The operation body supporting surface  18  is formed so as to surround the periphery of the opening portion  13 . The binding surface  15 , the plate spring attachment surfaces  16 ,  16  and the operation body supporting surface  18  are disposed on a plane parallel to the X-Y plane. 
     The operation body  30  includes a front operation body  31  and a rear operation body  32 . The front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  are formed by die casting with light metals such as aluminum, or are formed by injection molding with synthetic resin materials. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front operation body  31  is formed in a rectangular shape with the long side directed in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction). A front surface thereof is an operation surface  31   a . At each of the four corners of the front operation body  31 , a connection portion  33  is integrally formed so as to protrude. Also, each of the connection portion  33  extends longer than a rear surface  31   b  of the front operation body  31  in the rearward (the Z 2  direction). The rear operation body  32  is formed in a rectangular shape the same as the front operation body  31 . At each of the four corners of the rear operation body  32 , a connection portion  34  is integrally formed so as to protrude. Also, attachment holes  33   a  are formed on the connection portions  33  of the front operation body  31  respectively, and female thread holes  34   a  are formed on the connection portions  34  of the rear operation body  32  respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , in the rear operation body  32 , a main body portion  36  which is formed in a rectangular shape and a flange portion  37  which integrally protrudes from the periphery of the main body portion  36  in the rearward (the Z 2  direction) are integrally formed. On the surface of the flange portion  37  toward the frontward, a plurality of abutment protrusions (that is, abutment portions)  38  are integrally formed. The surface of the abutment protrusion  38  is convexed and has an almost hemisphere shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the main body portion  36  of the rear operation body  32  is inserted in the opening portion  13  of the front case  10  from the rearward toward the frontward (the Z 1  direction). The abutment protrusions  38  which are formed on the flange portion  37  meet the operation body supporting surface  18  which is a rear surface of the front wall portion  11  of the front case  10 , in which the meet portions thereof are abutment portions between the front case  10  and the rear operation body  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the abutment portions between the abutment protrusions  38  and the operation body supporting surface  18  are arranged symmetrically in the right direction (the X 1  direction) and in the left direction (the X 2  direction) while interposing an up-down centerline Oy therebetween, in which the up-down centerline Oy passes through a center (that is, the centroid) O 1  of the rear operation body  32 . Also, the abutment portions are arranged symmetrically in the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction) while interposing a right-left centerline Ox therebetween, in which the right-left centerline Ox passes through the center O 1 . 
     The connection portion  33  of the front operation body  31  is inserted into the penetration portion  14  which is formed in the front case  10 , and the connection portion  33  and the connection portion  34  of the rear operation body  32  meet each other. Additionally, each of four attaching screws  35  is inserted into an attaching hole  33   a  of the connection portion  33 , and threadedly fixed to the female thread hole  34   a  of the connection portion  34 . Thereby, the front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  are connected so as to be move integrally. 
     The rear operation body  32  is elastically supported on the front case  10  by a pair of front supporting plate springs  40  (which are first elastic support members). The size of the rear operation body  32  in the Z direction is slightly larger than the size from the rear surface  31   b  of the front operation body  31  to the plate spring attachment surface  16  so as to elastically support the rear operation body  32  by the front supporting plate spring  40 . The two front supporting plate springs  40 ,  40  are the same and are arranged symmetrically in the right-left direction while interposing the up-down centerline Oy therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , each of the front supporting plate springs  40  includes attachment base portions  41 ,  41  and a quadrangular-shaped elastic support portion  42 . Large numbers of holes  43  are formed on the elastic support portion  42  and a frame part of fixed width is formed at the outer periphery thereof. Each of the holes  43  is formed in a square shape and the plurality of holes  43  are regularly arranged in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) and the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction). Also, an attaching hole  41   a  having a circular shape is formed on the attachment base portion  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a positioning regulation portion  32   a  is integrally formed in a rear portion of the rear operation body  32 . The positioning regulation portions  32   a  are provided in four places, in which the positioning regulation portions  32   a  are arranged spaced at the same distances in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) while interposing the up-down centerline Oy and are arranged likewise spaced at the same distances in the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction) while interposing the right-left centerline Ox. 
     A tip portion of the elastic support portion  42  of the front supporting plate spring  40  is inserted between a pair of the positioning regulation portions  32   a , which are arranged in the up-down direction. The two sheets of front supporting plate spring  40  and the rear operation body  32  are firmly connected in a state in which the attitude thereof is stable without relatively moving in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) and in the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction) as well as without looseness in the front-rear direction (the Z 1 -Z 2  direction). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , base portions of the two sheets of front supporting plate spring  40  are disposed on the plate spring attachment surfaces  16  of the peripheral wall portion  12  of the front case  10  toward the rearward respectively. The positioning protrusion  17  protruding from the plate spring attachment surface  16  are fitted into one of holes  43  which are formed on the front supporting plate spring  40 , whereby the front supporting plate spring  40  is positioned at a rear portion of the front case  10 . Attaching screws  45  are inserted into attaching holes  41   a  of the attachment base portion  41  of the front supporting plate spring  40  respectively and is threadedly fixed to the female thread hole which is formed on the plate spring attachment surface  16 . Thereby, the base portion of the front supporting plate spring  40  is positioned on and fixed to the plate spring attachment surface  16  of the front case  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the rear operation body  32  of the operation body  30  is elastically biased to the front case  10  by the pair of front supporting plate springs  40 ,  40 . Thereby, the rear operation body  32  is supported so as not to be moved in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) and the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction). Moreover, the plurality of abutment protrusions  38  which are provided on the rear operation body  32  meet the operation body supporting surface  18  of the front case  10  due to the elastic force of the elastic support portions  42  of the pair of front supporting plate springs  40 . Subsequently, when external force is not applied to the operation body  30 , the operation body  30  is connected in a state in which the attitude thereof is stable without looseness with respect to the front case  10  in the front-rear direction (the Z 1 -Z 2  direction). 
     In the operation body  30 , the rear operation body  32  is pressed to and supported on a rear surface of the front case  10 , however the front operation body  31  is exposed through the opening portion  13  of the front case  10 . Therefore, it is possible to move the front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  together by operating the operation surface  31   a  of the front operation body  31 . 
     When any location of the operation surface  31   a  having been pressed rearward (the Z 2  direction) by user&#39;s finger, the elastic support portion  42  of the front supporting plate spring  40  is elastically deformed. Thereby, it is possible for the rear operation body  32  to be moved around the abutment portion between the abutment protrusion  38  and the operation body supporting surface  18  of the front case  10  as a fulcrum. Since the size of the operation surface  31   a  of the front operation body  31  is larger than the size of the tip of a user&#39;s finger, the attitude of the operation body  30  is changed corresponding to the position on the operation surface  31   a  where user&#39;s finger presses. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a bottom wall portion  21  and a side wall portion  22  which covers four side surfaces thereof are integrally formed in the rear case  20 . The end surface of the side wall portion  22  toward the frontward (the Z 1  direction) is a plate spring supporting surface  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a rear supporting plate spring  50  is disposed in the rearward (the Z 2  direction) of the rear operation body  32 . Moreover, a flexible print substrate  60  is superimposed on the rear supporting plate spring  50  (that is, a second elastic support member) in the frontward. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear supporting plate spring  50  and the flexible print substrate  60  are superimposed, and the front case  10  and the rear case  20  are bonded to each other in a state in which the superimposed rear supporting plate spring  50  and flexible print substrate  60  is mounted on the plate spring supporting surface  23  of the rear case  20 . At this time, a peripheral portion  51  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  and a peripheral portion  61  of the flexible print substrate  60  are interposed between the plate spring supporting surface  23  of the front case  20  and the binding surface  15  of the front case  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , on a part of the binding surface  15  of the front case  10 , female thread holes  19  are formed in four places. On the rear case  20 , attaching holes are formed at positions corresponding to the female thread holes  19  respectively. The front case  10  and the rear case  20  are assembled and then a fixing screw, which is inserted into the attaching hole of the rear case  20 , is threadedly fixed to the female thread hole  19  of the front case  10 . Thereby, the front case  10  and the rear case  20  are fixed to each other. By the fixing force thereof, the peripheral portion  51  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  and the peripheral portion  61  of the flexible print substrate  60  are interposed and firmly fixed between the front case  10  and the rear case  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , an opening portion  52  is formed at the center of the rear supporting plate spring  50 . On a right side portion  51   a  of the peripheral portion  51  of the rear supporting plate spring  50 , a pair of first elastic support portions  53  are integrally formed at up and down side with an interval therebetween. Also, a second elastic support portion  54  is integrally formed between the two up and down first elastic support portions  53 ,  53 . Likewise, on a left side portion  51   b  of the peripheral portion  51 , the pair of first elastic support portions  53 ,  53  and the second elastic support portion  54  are integrally formed. 
     All of the first elastic support portions  53  which are formed in four places have the same shape and the same size. The first elastic support portions  53  are arranged symmetrically in the right-left direction on the right side portion  51   a  and the left side portion  51   b  and extend toward the opening portion  52 . The second elastic support portions  54  which are formed in two places have the same shape and the same size. Also, the second elastic support portions  54  are arranged symmetrically in the right-left direction in the right side portion  51   a  and the left side portion  51   b  and extend toward the opening portion  52 . Therefore, the elastic modulus of the front supporting plate spring  40  and the rear supporting plate spring  50  can be set independently, whereby it is possible to set an amount of deformation of the rear supporting plate spring  50  of when the pressing operation force imparted to the operation surfaces is the maximum within the maximum operating range of an actuator of the detection member. Subsequently, it is possible for the detection member to not be broken by the pressing operation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an appearance of the flexible print substrate  60  is almost the same as the rear supporting plate spring  50 . On the flexible print substrate  60 , first deformable pieces  63  are arranged symmetrically in the right-left direction in four places in total of two right places and two left places. The first deformable piece  63  is deformable in the front-rear direction (the Z 1 -Z 2  direction) through a slit, which is formed on the flexible print substrate  60  except the base portion thereof. At the position where the first elastic support portion  53  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  is superimposed thereon the first deformable pieces  63  which is provided in four places are formed in almost the same size of the first elastic support portion  53 . 
     On the flexible print substrate  60 , second deformable pieces  64  are arranged at two right and left places symmetrically in the right-left direction. Likewise, the first deformable piece  63 , the second deformable piece  64  is deformable in the front-rear direction (the Z 1 -Z 2  direction) through a slit, which is formed in the flexible print substrate  60  except the base portion thereof. The second deformable pieces  64  disposed in two places are formed at the position where the second elastic support portion  54  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  is superimposed on. 
     Each of the first deformable pieces  63  are superimposed on a surface of the first elastic support portion  53  toward frontward (the Z 1  direction). Likewise, each of the second deformable pieces  64  is superimposed on a surface of the second elastic support portion  54  toward frontward. The first elastic support portion  53  and the first deformable piece  63  are fixed to each other using an adhesive agent, and the second elastic support portion  54  and the second deformable piece  64  are fixed to each other using adhesive agent. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , in the flexible print substrate  60 , the detection members  70  are attached on four surfaces of the first deformable pieces  63  toward the frontward (the Z 1  direction) and on two surfaces of the second deformable pieces  64  toward the frontward respectively. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-section of the detection member  70 . In the detection member  70 , a pressure sensor  72  is supported on the quadrangular-shaped base part  71 . Here, the pressure sensor  72  is a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor with a fine structure. In the schematic structure thereof, an operation space  74  is formed inside a fine housing  73  which is formed by laminating silicon wafers. A movable layer  75 , which is an upper layer of the fine housing  73 , is flexibly deformable, and a protrusion-shaped actuator  76  is formed on the upper surface of the movable layer  75 . On an inner surface of the movable layer  75 , a detecting element  77  such as a piezoelectric element is attached. When the actuator  76  is pressed, the movable layer  75  is flexibly deformed. The amount of flexible deformation thereof is detected by the detecting element  77 . 
     The pressure sensor  72  is also called a force detecting sensor (a force sensor). The pressure sensor  72  not only detects the existence or nonexistence of force imparted to the actuator  76 , but also outputs variable outputs corresponding to a magnitude of the imparted force. The width size W of the pressure sensor  72  of a MEMS sensor is approximately 1 to 2 mm. The diameter of the actuator  76  is approximately 0.2 mm, and the maximum stroke thereof is 10 to 30 μm. That is, when the operation surface  31   a  has been pressed by user&#39;s finger, the maximum operating range of the actuator  76  of the pressure sensor  72  is sufficiently shorter than the maximum stroke of when the operation body  30  is moved toward rearward (the Z 2  direction). 
     A wiring pattern is formed on a surface of the flexible print substrate  60  toward frontward (the Z 1  direction), and each of detecting terminals of the detection member  70  is conducted to the wiring pattern. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the pressing protrusion  39  protruding rearward is integrally formed on the rear operation body  32 . The pressing protrusions  39  are disposed in six places in the same numbers as the detection members  70 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the detection member  70  mounted on a surface of the flexible print substrate  60 , the actuator  76  is disposed toward frontward (the Z 1  direction). As shown in  FIG. 3 , in a state in which the front case  10  and the rear case  20  are assembled, each of pressing protrusions  39  abuts on the actuator  76  of the detection member  70  and the actuator  76  is pushed against a tip surface of the pressing protrusion  39  by the first elastic support portion  53  and the second elastic support portion  54  which are provided on the rear supporting plate spring  50  with initial pressure (that is, initial suppress strength). 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of the input device  1  seen from the rearward of the rear supporting plate spring  50 . In  FIG. 6 , in the first elastic support portion  53  of the rear supporting plate spring  50 , a center point of the support portion where the pressure sensor  72  is supported is designated as (a). The center point (a) is a center point of the actuator  76  shown in  FIG. 8 . Also, the center point (a) is an abutment point between the pressing protrusion  39  of the rear operation body  32  and the actuator  76 . Moreover, in the second elastic support portion  54 , a center point of the support portion where the pressure sensor  72  is supported is designated as (b). Likewise, the center point (b) is a center point of the actuator  76  and is an abutment point between the actuator  76  and the pressing protrusion  39 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the center points (a) in four places and the center points (b) in two places are positioned along an imaginary perfect circle φ of which the center of curvature thereof is the center (the centroid) O 1  of the rear operation body  32 . 
     Since the rear supporting plate spring  50  has a rectangular shape, each of two distances L 2  which is a distance from a base end portion  54   a  of the second elastic support portion  54  to the center point (b) is shorter than each of four distances L 1  which is a distance from a base end portion  53   a  of the first elastic support portion  53  to the center point (a). Meanwhile, the second elastic support portion  54  includes a first deformation portion  54   b  which extends from the base end portion  54   a  toward a free end  54   c  and a second deformation portion  54   d  which is formed on the first deformation portion  54   b  and extends from the free end  54   c  toward the base end portion  54   a . The center point (b) where the pressure sensor  72  is supported is positioned on the second deformation portion  54   d.    
     Although the distance L 2  is shorter than the other, the second elastic support portion  54  includes the first deformation portion  54   b  and the second deformation portion  54   d . Thereby, the practical free length from the base end portion  54   a  to the center point (b) can be extended so as to be able to lower the elastic modulus. Subsequently, the elastic modulus thereof can be set to a value closer to the elastic modulus of the first elastic support portion  53 . More preferably, the elastic modulus thereof can be set to the same value of the first elastic support portion  53 . As a result, when the center point (a) and the center point (b) are pressed in the rearward (the Z 2  direction) by the same distance, the amount of the elastic reaction force which is applied from the first elastic support portion  53  to the center point (a) can be closer to the amount of the elastic reaction force which is applied from the second elastic support portion  54  to the center point (b). More preferably, it is possible to be set to the same value. 
     When the operation surface  31   a  of the front operation body  31  has been pressed, a stroke of when the rear operation body  32  is moved to the rearward is sufficiently longer than the operation stroke of the actuator  76  of the pressure sensor  72 . Therefore, when the rear operation body  32  is moved in the rearward and the actuator  76  is pressed in the rearward by the pressing protrusion  39 , the first elastic support portion  53  and the second elastic support portion  54  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  are elastically deformed. Thereby, in the pressure sensor  72 , the actuator  76  is pushed by the reaction force of the elastic deformation such that the movable layer  75  is deformed. Therefore, a detection output of a magnitude corresponding to the force, which is applied to the actuator  76 , is obtained from the detecting element  77 . 
     At this time, in the flexible print substrate  60 , the first deformable piece  63  and the second deformable piece  64 , which support the detection member  70 , are freely deformable. Thereby, an unnecessary bearing resistance force may not be imparted to the pressure sensor  72 . Subsequently, there is no concern that the pressure sensor  72  is to be broken by excessive pressure being applied. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a bearing capacity adjustment member  25  may be provided in the rear case  20 . Also, a male thread  25  is formed around the bearing capacity adjustment member  25  such that the bearing capacity adjustment member  25  is threadedly fixed to a female thread hole  21   a , which is formed on the bottom wall portion  21  of the rear case  20 . In a head portion of the bearing capacity adjustment member  25 , a slit  25   b  to apply rotation thereto using a tool is formed. A press ball  26  of a press member is held in a tip portion of a hollow portion  25   c  of the bearing capacity adjustment member  25 , and a helical compression spring  27  is accommodated inside the hollow portion  25   c.    
     The bearing capacity adjustment member  25  is formed in six places of the rear case  20 . The press balls  26  are disposed at the same positions of the center point (a) and (b) of the support portion of the pressure sensor  72  where the rear suppressing plate spring  50  supports thereof respectively, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, each of the press balls  26  abuts on a rear surface of the rear supporting plate spring  50 . Therefore, the pressure sensor  72  pushed against the pressing protrusion  39  is sustained by both elastic reaction forces of which one is the elastic reaction force of the first elastic support portion  53  or the second elastic support portion  54  of the rear supporting plate spring  50  and the other is the elastic force of the helical compression spring  27  of the bearing capacity adjustment member  25 . That is, an elastic support portion includes both of the first elastic support portion  53  or the second elastic support portion  54  and the helical compression spring  27 . 
     Each of screwing quantities of the bearing capacity adjustment members  25  to the female thread hole  21   a  is adjusted such that the support reaction forces of the pressure sensors  72  which are pushed against the pressing protrusions  39  can be adjusted individually. Each of the screwing quantities of the bearing capacity adjustment members  25  is adjusted individually such that it is possible to implement adjustment work which makes initial detecting outputs of the pressure sensors  72  provided in six places identical in an initial state in which external force is not applied to the operation surface  31   a.    
     Next, an input operation of the input device  1  will be described. 
     The rear operation body  32  is pushed against the front case  10  in a state of being biased elastically by the front supporting plate springs  40 ,  40 . Thereby, when the front operation body  31  is not operated, the entire operation body  30  is held on the front case  10  in a stable attitude. Subsequently, even when vehicle body vibration acts or gravity acts in an inclined direction, the input device  1  is hardly moved. However, when any place of the operation surface  31   a  of the front operation body  31  has been pressed, it is possible for the front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  to be integrally moved toward the rearward (the Z 2  direction). At this time, it is possible to move the rear operation body  32  through bending deformation or torsional deformation of the pair of elastic support portions  42 ,  42  of the front supporting plate spring  40 ,  40 . 
     The elastic support portion  42  is formed in a quadrangular shape with a predetermined size. Also, the elastic support portion  42  is positioned in and firmly fixed to the rear operation body  32 . Moreover, the elastic support portion  42  pushes the rear operation body  32  against the front case  10  in an elastically biased manner. Thereby, it is difficult for the rear operation body  32  to be moved in the right-left direction (the X 1 -X 2  direction) and in the up-down direction (the Y 1 -Y 2  direction) which are the in-plane direction of the elastic support portion  42 . However, large numbers of holes  43  open on the elastic support portion  42  such that rigidity of the bending deformation and the torsional deformation can be adjusted to an optimum state. Thereby, when the operation surface  31   a  is pressed by user&#39;s finger, it is possible to move the front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  in the rearward (the Z 2  direction) by suitable reaction force. Moreover, the frame part is formed in the periphery of the elastic support portion  42  and large numbers of the holes  43  are formed in a square shape such that stiffness of the elastic support portion  42  are maintained highly in the in-plane direction thereof. 
     Since the operation surface  31   a  of the front operation body  31  has a sufficiently wide size compared to that of user&#39;s finger, an attitude of the operation body  30  of when being pressed differ in accordance with a position of the operation surface  31   a  having been pressed. When the operation surface  31   a  has been pressed, the rear operation body  32  is moved in the rearward around abutment portion between two of the abutment protrusions  38  and the operation body supporting surface  18  of the front case  10  as a fulcrum. For example, the rear operation body  32  is moved rotationally around two of the abutment protrusions  38  which are disposed on a support line S 1  shown in  FIG. 6  as a fulcrum as well as around the support line S 1  as a center thereof or is moved rotationally around two of the abutment protrusions  38  which are positioned on a support line S 2  or on a support line S 3  as a fulcrum. Also, the rear operation body  32  may be moved around one of the abutment protrusions  38  as a supporting depending on a pressed position of the operation surface  31   a , and all of the abutment protrusions  38  may be moved in the rearward (the Z 2  direction) by separating from the operation body supporting surface  18  together when the center O 1  has been pressed. 
     Any of the actuators  76  of the pressure sensors  72  provided in six places are pressed by operation of the rear operation body  32 , whereby detection outputs corresponding to a pressing force are obtained from the pressure sensors  72  respectively. In a computing unit (not shown), the position of the operation surface  31   a  pressed is computed as a position in the X-Y coordinate through the detection outputs from the pressure sensors  72 . 
     In a main control unit, control operation is carried out corresponding to a press coordinate position of the operation surface  31   a  based on the computing result of the position of the operation surface  31   a  pressed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the six pressure sensors  72  are arranged on the imaginary perfect circle φ of which the center of curvature is the center O 1  of the rear operation body  32 . That is, all of the pressure sensors  72  are arranged symmetrically with respect to the right-left centerline Ox and the up-down centerline Oy and are disposed spaced at equal distances from the center O 1 . Thereby, for example, when a pressed position is shifted from a state in which the center O 1  of the operation surface  31   a  pressed by user&#39;s finger to a position in any direction thereon, it is easy to obtain output changes corresponding to movement distances from the center O 1 . Also, it is possible to uniformly apply a pressing force to each of the pressure sensors. 
     Furthermore, the number of the pressure sensor  72  may be four. Also, a plurality of detection members respectively adopting strain gauges may be equipped as a detection member to detect an operation position of the operation surface  31   a . Likewise, a detection member detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance may be used as well. 
     The flexible print substrate  60  may be mounted in a rear surface of the rear operation body  32 . Thereby, the detection members  70  may be attached on surfaces of the first deformable pieces  63  and the second deformable pieces  64  of the flexible print substrate  60  which are toward the Z 2  side such that the pressing protrusions  39  may abut on the surfaces of the first deformable piece  63  and the second deformable piece  64  which are toward the Z 1  side. Subsequently, the actuators  76  may meet the first elastic support portion  53  and the second elastic support portion  54  on the rear supporting plate spring  50 . 
     Although, the plate spring  40  has been adopted so as to elastically support the rear operation body  32 , an elastically deformable elastic member such as an elastomer may be used as well. Also, the front operation body  31  and the rear operation body  32  may be integrally formed in the operation body  30 . 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims of the equivalents thereof.