Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20050024327?dq=6263352
Timestamp: 2017-02-28 12:57:43
Document Index: 528567501

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 25']

Patent US20050024327 - Coordinate input device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA coordinate input device includes a housing containing a movable member, a resilient member formed of a coil spring, and first and second detectors for detecting the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. The movable member in an initial position before a sliding operation...http://www.google.com/patents/US20050024327?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20050024327 - Coordinate input deviceAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20050024327 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/896,595Publication dateFeb 3, 2005Filing dateJul 22, 2004Priority dateJul 28, 2003Also published asCN1279559C, CN1577676A, DE602004010749D1, DE602004010749T2, EP1503277A2, EP1503277A3, EP1503277B1, US7310083Publication number10896595, 896595, US 2005/0024327 A1, US 2005/024327 A1, US 20050024327 A1, US 20050024327A1, US 2005024327 A1, US 2005024327A1, US-A1-20050024327, US-A1-2005024327, US2005/0024327A1, US2005/024327A1, US20050024327 A1, US20050024327A1, US2005024327 A1, US2005024327A1InventorsYasuji Hagiwara, Masahiro Soma, Masahiro TakataOriginal AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (5), Referenced by (10), Classifications (4), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCoordinate input device
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0068] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coordinate input device 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relevant section of the coordinate input device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a relevant section of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the coordinate input device 1 in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a relevant section of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relevant section of a coordinate input device 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a relevant section of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the coordinate input device 11 in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a relevant section of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relevant section of a coordinate input device 21 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the coordinate input device 21 in FIG. 11. [heading-0069] First Embodiment [0070] The coordinate input device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. [0071] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the coordinate input device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with a housing 4 whose profile is substantially rectangular. The housing 4 includes a first cover 2 and a second cover 3 which face each other. [0072] Referring to FIG. 3, the first cover 2 has a circular supporter 2 a protruding downward towards the interior of the first cover 2 to a predetermined height. The central portion of the supporter 2 a is provided with an opening 2 b having predetermined dimensions. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 4, the second cover 3 has an inner surface 3 a provided with a T-shaped recess 3 b in which a first detector 7 and a second detector 8, which will be described later, are embedded. [0073] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 3, the first cover 2 and the second cover 3 have a cavity 4 a therebetween. [0074] A circular-plate movable member 5 having a predetermined thickness is disposed in the cavity 4 a such that the movable member 5 has the same diameter as the circular supporter 2 a and faces the supporter 2 a. [0075] The central portion of the movable member 5 is provided with a knob 5 a which protrudes upward through the opening 2 b of the first cover 2 to a predetermined height. Referring to FIG. 3, the movable member 5 having the knob 5 a positioned within the opening 2 b is capable of sliding along the first and second covers 2 and 3 in any direction within the cavity 4 a. [0076] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, the movable member 5 is provided with a first supporting slit 5 b at the left side of the knob 5 a. The first supporting slit 5 b extends in the y-axis direction indicated by an arrow A. Moreover, the movable member 5 is also provided with a second supporting slit 5 c at the right side of the knob 5 a. The second supporting slit 5 c extends in the x-axis direction indicated by an arrow B. Thus, the first supporting slit 5 b and the second supporting slit 5 c are orthogonal to each other and have the knob 5 a therebetween. [0077] Furthermore, a resilient member 6 is disposed around the outer circumference of the supporter 2 a such that the inner periphery of the resilient member 6 is supported by the outer periphery of the supporter 2 a. Specifically, the resilient member 6 is a coil spring formed by winding a wire having a predetermined wire diameter into a coil. The resilient member 6 is endless since its two tips are connected together. [0078] When the movable member 5 is in its initial state, i.e. before the sliding operation, the outer periphery of the movable member 5 is resiliently biased against the resilient member 6 such that the movable member 5 is aligned with the supporter 2 a. [0079] Furthermore, as mentioned previously, the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 are disposed in the surface of the second cover 3 facing the movable member 5. The first detector 7 and the second detector 8 detect the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member 5. [0080] In detail, the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 are known slidable variable-resistors and have operating shafts 7 a and 8 a, respectively. The first detector 7 and the second detector 8 operate based on sliding of the respective operating shafts 7 a and 8 a such that the resistance is variable. [0081] The operating shafts 7 a and 8 a of the first detector 7 and the second detector 8, respectively, each have a sliding element attached thereto. The operating shaft 7 a of the first detector 7 is engaged with the first supporting slit 5 b of the movable member 5, and the operating shaft 8 a of the second detector 8 is engaged with the second supporting slit 5 c of the movable member 5. [0082] Furthermore, an operating part 9 is mounted on the knob 5 a of the movable member 5. The operating part 9 is slidable above a top plate 2 c of the first cover 2 while being in contact with a protrusion 2 d provided on the top plate 2 c. [0083] Accordingly, this prevents the movable member 5 from tilting when the operating part 9 is being slid. The movable member 5 can thus slide along the first cover 2 and the second cover 3 so as to properly achieve a smooth sliding operation. [0084] The operation of the coordinate input device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an example in which the operating part 9 is slid in a direction indicated by an arrow C by an operator so that the movable member 5 is similarly slid in the direction of the arrow C. This direction of the arrow C will be referred to as direction C. [0085] In this example, the resilient member 6, i.e. the coil spring, stretches in the direction C, and the operating shaft 7 a engaged with the first supporting slit 5 b slides in the direction C. Thus, the resistance of the first detector 7 changes by a certain amount. [0086] On the other hand, the resistance of the second detector 8 does not change since only the second supporting slit 5 c moves in the direction C while the operating shaft 8 a stays put. [0087] A controller, which is not shown in the drawings, calculates the amount of change in resistance of the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 (zero in this case) so as to determine that the movable member 5 is slid in the direction C. [0088] On the other hand, when the movable member 5 is slid in any other direction, the operating shaft 7 a and the operating shaft 8 a slide along the respective first supporting slit 5 b and second supporting slit 5 c by a certain distance. This changes the resistance of the respective first detector 7 and second detector 8 so that the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member 5 can be determined. [0089] Furthermore, when the operational force applied to the operating part 9 is released to stop the sliding operation of the movable member 5, the resilient member 6 tries to restore its initial state from the stretched state. Thus, the biasing force of the resilient member 6 allows the movable member 5 to return automatically to the initial position, i.e. the original position before the sliding operation. [0090] The coordinate input device 1 of the first embodiment can be used in, for example, a video game unit. In such a case, a character displayed on a display screen, for example, can be moved in any direction in accordance with the sliding operation of the movable member 5. [0091] Although the supporter 2 a supporting the resilient member 6 is provided in the first cover 2 in the first embodiment, an alternative supporter (not shown in the drawings) may be provided on the inner surface 3 a of the second cover 3 in a section where the recess 3 b holding the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 is not provided. [0092] In other words, a supporter for supporting the inner periphery of the resilient member 6 may be provided on either the first cover 2 or the second cover 3. [heading-0093] Second Embodiment [0094] The coordinate input device 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Components equivalent to those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those components will thus be omitted. [0095] Referring to FIG. 7, the coordinate input device 11 of the second embodiment is provided with a housing 14 having a first cover 12 and a second cover 13 which face each other. The first cover 12 has a top plate 12 a whose central portion is provided with an opening 12 b having predetermined dimensions. [0096] On the other hand, the second cover 13 has a circular supporter 13 b protruding from the central portion of an inner surface 13 a of the second cover 13 to a predetermined height. The supporter 13 b supports the inner periphery of the resilient member 6. [0097] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the central portion of the supporter 13 b is provided with a recess 13 c in which the first detector 7 is embedded. The recess 13 c extends longitudinally in a direction indicated by an arrow B. [0098] The operating shaft 7 a of the first detector 7 in the recess 13 c is slidable in the x-axis direction, i.e. the direction of the arrow B. [0099] Furthermore, the first cover 12 and the second cover 13 have a cavity 14 a therebetween. The cavity 14 a contains a movable member 15 which is circular in plan view and which has a larger diameter than the supporter 13 b of the second cover 13. [0100] The movable member 15 is provided with a knob 15 a protruding upward from the center of the top surface of the movable member 15. The knob 15 a is disposed in the opening 12 b of the first cover 12. Moreover, the bottom surface of the movable member 15 is provided with a biased part 15 b which protrudes downward to a predetermined height and has the same diameter as the circular supporter 13 b of the second cover 13. The resilient member 6, which is supported by the supporter 13 b, resiliently biases against the biased part 15 b. [0101] The central portion of the biased part 15 b is provided ith a recess 15 c in which the second detector 8 is embedded. The recess 15 c extends longitudinally in a direction indicated by an arrow A. [0102] Referring to FIG. 8, the second detector 8 mounted in the recess 15 c crosses the first detector 7 mounted in the second cover 13. Thus, the total occupied area by the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 in the second embodiment is smaller than that of the first embodiment. [0103] The operating shaft 7 a and the operating shaft 8 a of the respective first detector 7 and second detector 8 are disposed opposite to each other. [0104] Furthermore, a space 16 having predetermined dimensions is formed between the first detector 7 and the biased part 15 b of the movable member 15. [0105] The opposing operating shafts 7 a and 8 a are positioned in the space 16 and are coupled together by a coupler 17 to form a single unit. [0106] Accordingly, when the movable member 15 slides, both operating shafts 7 a and 8 a are simultaneously operated. [0107] The operation of the coordinate input device 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. An operating part, which is not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is mounted on the knob 15 a. For example, by sliding the operating part in a direction indicated by an arrow C, the movable member 15 is similarly slid in the direction of the arrow C. This direction of the arrow C will be referred to as direction C. [0108] When the movable member 15 is slid in the direction C, the second detector 8 similarly slides in the direction C. At the same time, the resilient member 6 supported by the supporter 13 b stretches in the direction C, and the operating shaft 7 a of the first detector 7 combined with the operating shaft 8 a also slides in the direction C. Thus, the resistance of the first detector 7 changes by a certain amount. [0109] On the other hand, the resistance of the second detector 8 does not change since the operating shaft 8 a stays put while the second detector 8 slides with the movable member 15. [0110] A controller, which is not shown in the drawings, calculates the amount of change in resistance of the first detector 7 and the second detector 8 so as to determine that the movable member 15 is slid in the direction C by a certain distance. [0111] On the other hand, when the movable member 15 is slid in any other direction by a certain distance, the operating shaft 7 a and the operating shaft 8 a slide by the corresponding distance. This changes the resistance of the respective first detector 7 and the second detector 8, whereby the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member 15 can be determined. [0112] Similar to the first embodiment, when the operational force is released to stop the sliding operation of the movable member 15, the resilient member 6 tries to restore its initial state from the stretched state. Thus, the biasing force of the resilient member 6 allows the movable member 15 to return automatically to the initial position, i.e. the original position before the sliding operation, so that the supporter 13 b and the biased part 15 b become aligned with each other. [heading-0113] Third Embodiment [0114] The coordinate input device 21 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. Components equivalent to those in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those components will thus be omitted. [0115] Referring to FIG. 11, the coordinate input device 21 of the third embodiment is provided with a housing 24 having a first cover 22 and a second cover 23 which face each other. The first cover 22 has a top plate 22 a whose central portion is provided with an opening 22 b having predetermined dimensions. [0116] On the other hand, the central portion of an inner surface 23 a of the second cover 23 is provided with a recess 23 b which extends downward to a predetermined depth. The first cover 22 and the second cover 23 have a cavity 24 a therebetween. [0117] The cavity 24 a contains a movable member 25 which is slidable in any direction while being in contact with the inner surface of the top plate 22 a of the first cover 22. [0118] The movable member 25 includes a biased part 25 a which is circular in plan view and has a predetermined thickness, and a knob 25 b protruding upward from the center of the biased part 25 a. [0119] The knob 25 b is positioned within the opening 22 b of the first cover 22. [0120] The bottom surface of the circular biased part 25 a of the movable member 25 faces a supporting member 26. The supporting member 26 has a predetermined thickness and has the same diameter as the biased part 25 a. Moreover, the central portion of the supporting member 26 corresponding to the biased part 25 a is provided with an engagement opening 26 a having predetermined dimensions. [0121] The outer peripheries of the movable member 25 and the supporting member 26 facing each other are surrounded by the resilient member 6, i.e. the coil spring. [0122] The recess 23 b below the supporting member 26 contains a detector 27 which includes a plurality of distortion sensors. The detector 27 detects the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member 25. [0123] The detector 27 includes a sensor substrate 27 a formed of, for example, a ceramic that exhibits only a small deformation with respect to temperature change; and an operating shaft 27 b which is attached to the center of the sensor substrate 27 a with, for example, an adhesive, such that the sensor substrate 27 a and the operating shaft 27 b form a single unit. [0124] Furthermore, the top surface or the bottom surface of the sensor substrate 27 a is provided with distortion sensors (not shown in the drawings) formed of, for example, resistive elements. Such distortion sensors are formed by, for example, printing. [0125] The outer periphery of the sensor substrate 27 a is mounted on the bottom surface of the recess 23 b of the second cover 23 with, for example, screws. Furthermore, the engagement opening 26 a is engaged with the operating shaft 27 b such that the supporting member 26 is supported by the detector 27. Moreover, a section of the bottom surface of the supporting member 26 near the outer periphery is supported by a height-regulating member 28. [0126] Referring to FIG. 12, when the biasing force of the resilient member 6 is applied to the supporting member 26, the operating shaft 27 b of the detector 27 is deflected by a certain angle, thus deflecting the sensor substrate 27 a. Consequently, the distortion sensors detect the degree of distortion of the sensor substrate 27 a so as to determine the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member 25. [0127] Accordingly, the coordinate input device 21 according to the third embodiment requires only one detector 27 and thus reduces the number of components as well as contributing to easier assembly. [0128] Furthermore, the resilient member 6 described in each of the above embodiments is not limited to a coil spring, and may alternatively be, for example, a ring-shaped rubber belt. [0129] As a further alternative, the second covers 3, 13, and 23 according to the first, second, and third embodiments, respectively, may each be provided with a switch circuit (not shown in the drawings). In such a case, the contact of the switch circuit may be switched on and off by pressing the corresponding movable member 5, 15, or 25. [0130] Such coordinate input devices provided with a switch circuit allow various types of coordinate input due to the sliding operation and the pressing operation of the movable member 5, 15, or 25. This contributes to a more versatile coordinate input device. [0131] As a further alternative, the first cover 2, 12, and 22 according to the first, second, and third embodiments, respectively, may each be provided with a typical switch circuit provided with a button switch (not shown in the drawings). In such a case, the button switch may be switched on and off by pressing the corresponding movable member 5, 15, or 25. 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Ltd.Re-centering mechanism for an input deviceUS8077165 *Aug 2, 2006Dec 13, 2011Fujitsu Component LimitedOperation device, electronic book device and electronic apparatusUS8469512May 31, 2011Jun 25, 2013Gunnar Optiks, LlcComputer eyewear with spectral filteringUS9170658 *Jun 6, 2012Oct 27, 2015Joytact Pte LtdSelf-centering tactile thumb joystick for use on a touch screenUS9250451Sep 14, 2012Feb 2, 2016Gunnar Optiks, LlcEyewear for reducing symptoms of computer vision syndromeUS9417460Sep 14, 2012Aug 16, 2016Gunnar Optiks, LlcEyewear for reducing symptoms of computer vision syndromeUS20070033541 *Aug 2, 2006Feb 8, 2007Fujitsu Component LimitedOperation device, electronic book device and electronic apparatusUS20070247423 *Apr 19, 2006Oct 25, 2007Harley Jonah ARe-centering mechanism for an input deviceUS20110095976 *Oct 20, 2010Apr 28, 2011Yongjin HwangMobile terminalUS20130249830 *Jun 6, 2012Sep 26, 2013Joo Hai QuekSelf-Centering Tactile Thumb Joystick For Use On A Touch Screen* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification345/156International ClassificationG06F3/0354Cooperative ClassificationG06F3/03548European ClassificationG06F3/0354SLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 22, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HAGIWARA, YASUJI;SOMA, MASAHIRO;TAKATA, MASAHIRO;REEL/FRAME:015613/0967Effective date: 20040712May 23, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 26, 2015FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services