Input apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10020137-B2
Application number	US-201515301865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

An input apparatus includes a pressing part, a spacer, a rotating cam, and a sensor. The pressing part is capable of reciprocating along a first direction. The spacer is disposed in the first direction with respect to pressing part and is capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part. The rotating cam is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer. The sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input apparatus comprising:
a pressing part capable of reciprocating along a first direction;
a spacer disposed in the first direction with respect to the pressing part, and capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part;
a rotating cam that is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer;
a sensor that detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
a rotating manipulation unit at least partially disposed inside the pressing part, wherein
either
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the spacer facing the rotating cam, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the rotating cam at locations facing the plurality of projections of the spacer,

or
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the rotating cam facing the spacer, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the spacer at locations facing the plurality of projections of the rotating cam,

each of the plurality of recesses has a slope, and
pressing of the pressing part causes the spacer to be pressed, and at least one of the plurality of projections presses the slope so that the rotating cam rotates and the sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
wherein the rotating manipulation unit is configured in such a manner that:
when the pressing part is pressed, the rotating manipulation unit presses the spacer by a bottom surface of the rotating manipulation unit, and
when the pressing part is rotated, the rotating manipulation unit rotates in conjunction with rotation of the pressing part.

2. The input apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a click spring disposed between the rotating manipulation unit and the spacer, wherein
a first protrusion is provided on the bottom surface of the rotating manipulation unit,
a second protrusion is provided on a side of the click spring facing the rotating manipulation unit, and
when the rotating manipulation unit rotates by a predetermined degree, the first protrusion contacts the second protrusion.

3. An input apparatus comprising:
a pressing part capable of reciprocating along a first direction;
a spacer disposed in the first direction with respect to the pressing part, and capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part;
a rotating cam that is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer;
a sensor that detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
a base disposed at a side of the rotating cam opposite to the spacer, wherein
either
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the spacer facing the rotating cam, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the rotating cam at locations facing the plurality of projections of the spacer,

or
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the rotating cam facing the spacer, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the spacer at locations facing the plurality of projections of the rotating cam,

each of the plurality of recesses has a slope, and
pressing of the pressing part causes the spacer to be pressed, and at least one of the plurality of projections presses the slope so that the rotating cam rotates and the sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
wherein the base includes a base portion, and a guide portion disposed around the rotating cam and projecting from the base portion toward the spacer,
the spacer is guided by the guide portion,
the base includes a detection mechanism projecting from the guide portion toward an outer periphery of the base portion,
the detection mechanism includes a first pressing spring and a first contact body disposed at a front end of the first pressing spring,
the rotating cam includes an uneven portion in an outer peripheral portion of the rotating cam, and
in an initial state, the first contact body is engaged with the uneven portion, and rotation of the rotating cam causes the first contact body to be released from the uneven portion.

4. An input apparatus comprising:
a pressing part capable of reciprocating along a first direction;
a spacer disposed in the first direction with respect to the pressing part, and capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part;
a rotating cam that is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer;
a sensor that detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
a base disposed at a side of the rotating cam opposite to the spacer, wherein
either
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the spacer facing the rotating cam, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the rotating cam at locations facing the plurality of projections of the spacer,

or
a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of the rotating cam facing the spacer, whereas a plurality of recesses are provided in the spacer at locations facing the plurality of projections of the rotating cam,

each of the plurality of recesses has a slope, and
pressing of the pressing part causes the spacer to be pressed, and at least one of the plurality of projections presses the slope so that the rotating cam rotates and the sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam, and
wherein the base includes a base portion, and a guide portion disposed around the rotating cam and projecting from the base portion toward the spacer,
the spacer is guided by the guide portion,
the base includes a return mechanism projecting from the guide portion toward an outer periphery of the base portion,
the return mechanism includes a second pressing spring and a second contact body disposed at a front end of the second pressing spring,
the rotating cam includes an outer protrusion portion in an outer peripheral portion of the rotating cam, and
pressing of the second contact body by the outer protrusion portion restricts rotation of the rotating cam.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shitanaka Hitokazu
• Eto Hideaki
• Matsui Naoaki

Classifications

• H01H25/06

  Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement · CPC title

• H01H13/20 Primary

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H13/585

  wherein the movable contact rotates around the axis of the push button · CPC title

• H01H13/58

  with contact-driving member rotated step-wise in one direction · CPC title