Patent ID: 7245289

Claim:
A force-applying input device comprising: a joystick operation section; a position sensor to detect an operation state of the operation section; an actuator to apply an external force to the operation section; and a control section to control drive of the actuator based on a position signal output from the position sensor, the control section to compute operation amounts and operation directions of the operation section based on the position signal, and control the drive of the actuator, wherein, when the operation section is operated in one direction from a start position, an external force which increases with an increase in the operation amount is applied in a direction opposite to the operation direction of the operation section until the operation amount of the operation section reaches a predetermined operation amount, when an operation amount of the operation section reaches the predetermined operation amount, an external force corresponding to the predetermined operation amount is applied in the direction opposite to the operation direction of the operation section, when the operation section is stopped, the external force applied to the operation section is reduced with an increase in a returning amount of the operation section from a stopping position of the operation section, when the returning amount of the operation section reaches a predetermined returning amount equal to the predetermined operation amount, the application of the external force to the operation section is stopped, and when the operation direction of the operation section is changed during the operation of the operation section, a direction and amount of application of an external force is repeatedly computed to be applied to the operation section when a predetermined operation amount is reached, wherein the computed external force comprises a resultant having a first component applied in a direction opposite to the operation direction of the operation section prior to changing the operation direction and a second component applied in a direction opposite to the operation direction of the operation section after changing the operation direction, the first component being gradually reduced and the second component being gradually increased with an increase in the operation amount of the operation section after changing the operation direction.