Input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901451-B2
Application number	US-202016994719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

An input device includes a base member, a motor, a rotation shaft, a worm gear, a first gear, a rotor, a movement member, an elastic member, a change amount detection unit, and a controller. The rotation shaft is rotated by the motor. The worm gear is rotated by the rotation shaft. The first gear is rotatable and engaged with the worm gear. The rotor is rotatable relative to the base member, includes a second gear engaged with the first gear, and is rotated by an operator. The movement member is moved as the worm gear is moved. The elastic member generates urging force. The change amount detection unit detects a change amount of a state that is changed in accordance with the movement of the movement member. The controller performs drive control for the motor to change a sense of force applied to the operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device comprising:
a base member;
a motor attached to the base member;
a rotation shaft configured to be rotated by the motor;
a worm gear that is configured to be rotated by the rotation shaft and that is attached to the rotation shaft so as to be movable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft;
a first gear that is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the base member and that is engaged with the worm gear;
a rotor that is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the base member, that includes a second gear engaged with the first gear, and that is configured to undergo rotation operation performed by an operator;
a movement member configured to be moved as the worm gear is moved in the axial direction;
an elastic member configured to generate urging force in a direction in which the movement of the movement member is suppressed in accordance with a movement amount of the movement member;
a change amount detection unit configured to detect a change amount of a state that is changed in accordance with the movement of the movement member; and
a controller configured to perform drive control for the motor to change a sense of force applied to the operator via the rotor in accordance with the change amount detected by the change amount detection unit.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein
the rotor is hollow, and
the second gear is provided in a rotation direction in an inner circumferential surface of the rotor.

3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein
the motor, the worm gear, the first gear, the movement member, the elastic member, and the change amount detection unit are provided inside the rotor.

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic member is a spring configured to generate the urging force in directions in which the movement of the movement member due to the movement of the worm gear in a first direction and a second direction in the axial direction is suppressed.

5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein
the change amount detection unit is a linear position sensor configured to detect the movement amount of the movement member as the change amount.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein
the change amount detection unit is a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure applied to the movement member as the change amount.

7. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein
the motor and the rotation shaft are perpendicular to a rotation central axis of the rotor.

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Uenomachi Takashi
• Ogawa Toshio
• Muto Shinya
• Wakita Yoshitsugu
• Miyako Ikuyasu
• Kimura Wataru

Classifications

• G05G5/03 Primary

  Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) · CPC title

• G05G1/08

  Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels · CPC title

• F16H1/203

  with non-parallel axes (F16H1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title