Measuring and testing – Dynamometers – Responsive to multiple loads or load components
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2002-11-12
Noori, Max (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Dynamometers
Responsive to multiple loads or load components
Reexamination Certificate
active
06477904
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device provided with strain gages to be used in combination with a computer or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 13
, a conventional input device provided with strain gages has control member
51
, formed of a flexible synthetic resin and having an operating part
51
a
formed in a shape resembling a rectangular a solid, three planar base parts, i.e., a first base part
51
b
, a second base part
51
c
and a third base part
51
d
, extending under the operating part
51
a
at right angles to each other, and a joining part
51
e
underlying the operating part
51
a
and joining together the planar base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
. The control member
51
is mounted on a frame member
50
of a keyboard combined with a computer with the lower surfaces of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
in contact with the frame member
50
, and with the free ends of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
pressed against the frame member
50
.
When operating part
51
a
of the control member
51
is tilted in directions X
1
, X
2
, Y
1
or Y
2
, the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
are warped. Strains of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
vary according to the inclination of the operating part
51
a.
A first strain gage
53
and a second strain gage
54
having resistors, and leads
55
,
56
formed by printing a conductive ink containing silver and connected to the strain gages
53
and
54
are placed on one surface of a flexible wiring board
52
.
A portion of the other surface of the flexible wiring board
52
opposite the surface on which the strain gages
53
and
54
are placed is bonded to upper surfaces of the base parts
51
b
and
51
c
extending at right angles to each other with an adhesive. The strain gages
53
and
54
are attached to the base part
51
b
and the
51
c
, respectively.
When the operating part
51
a
of the control member
51
is tilted in the direction X
1
, the first base part
51
b
is warped so that the upper surface thereof is stretched. Consequently, the first strain gage
53
attached to the upper surface of the first base part
51
b
is stretched and its electrical resistance increases. When the operating part
51
a
is tilted in the direction X
2
, the first strain gage
53
attached to the upper surface of the first base part
51
b
is compressed together with the upper surface of the first base part
51
b
and its electrical resistance decreases. Similarly, the electrical resistance of the second strain gage
54
increases when the operating part
51
a
is tilted in the direction Y
1
and the same decreases when the operating part
51
a
is tilted in the direction Y
2
. Changes in the electrical resistances of the strain gages
53
and
54
are converted into voltage changes, the voltage changes are read by a computer, and the computer controls a cursor for movement in vertical and horizontal directions according to the tilting direction of the operating part
51
a
, i.e., the directions X
1
, X
2
, Y
1
and Y
2
.
Since the lower surfaces of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
of the control member are entirely in contact with the frame member
50
, the base parts
51
b
and
51
c
cannot be greatly warped and, the operation of the input device is not satisfactory. Base end parts of the base parts
51
b
and
51
c
of the operating part
51
a
are joined to the joining part
51
e
. Therefore, the second base part
51
c
and the strain gage
54
attached thereto, which should not be strained, are nevertheless strained through the joining part
51
e
by the turning of the operating part
51
a
in the directions X
1
and X
2
to strain the strain gage
53
attached to the first base part
51
b
. Similarly, the first base part
51
b
and the strain gage
53
attached thereto, which should not be strained, are nevertheless strained through the joining part
51
e
by the turning of the operating part
51
a
in the directions Y
1
and Y
2
to strain the strain gage
54
attached to the second base part
51
c
. Thus, the strain gages
53
and
54
are strained and the electrical resistances thereof changes greatly when the same should not be strained.
Since a restriction on the position of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
on the frame member
50
sets limits to the lengths of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
of the control member
51
because the free end parts of is attached to the frame member
50
, the first base part
51
b
and the second base part
51
c
have different lengths, respectively. Consequently, the strain gages
53
and
54
differ greatly from each other in the changing mode of resistance and the functions of the strain gages
53
and
54
do not correspond accurately to the operation of the control member
51
. Since the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
are attached to the frame member
50
, the operation of the keyboard affects the condition of the base parts
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
and causes the cursor to move.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device provided with strain gages and capable of accurately controlling a cursor displayed on a display controlled by a computer.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an input device comprises: a control member having an operating part, and a planar base part having a portion connected to the operating part and extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the operating part; strain gages placed on an upper surface of the base part; and a planar holding member holding the control member; wherein the base part has a plurality of arms having end portions connected to the operating part and extending at an angle of 90° to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the operating part, and connecting parts connecting the adjacent arms. The connecting parts or the holding member is provided with projections to secure spaces between the arms provided with the strain gages, and the holding member, and the control member is held on the holding member.
Preferably, the projections are formed on the connecting parts so as to be in contact with the holding member to secure the spaces between the arms and the holding member.
Preferably, the arms are arranged in a cross-shaped arrangement.
Preferably, the base part has openings defined by the adjacent arms and the connecting parts.
Preferably, the connecting parts of the control member are fastened to the holding member.
Preferably, the holding member has a holding part on which the base part of the control member is mounted, and arms extending from the holding part, and the arms are provided with support portions having a bending strength greater than that of the holding part.
Preferably, the holding member is formed by shaping a metal plate, and the support parts are formed by folding up portions of the metal plate.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an input device comprises: a control member having an operating part, and a planar base part having a portion connected to the operating part and extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the operating part; strain gages placed on an upper surface of the base part; and a holding member holding the control member; wherein the base part has a plurality of arms having inner end portions connected to the operating part and extending at an angle of 90° to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the operating part, and connecting parts connecting the adjacent arms; the strain gages are placed on the arms; and the connecting parts are fastened to the holding member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a plan view of an input device in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a sectional vie
Akahama Takeshi
Kaneo Kazuo
Maeda Ryoichi
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Noori Max
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