Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2002-09-03
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06445377
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-way input device capable of operating a plurality of electric components by operation of an operating shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional multi-way input device is constructed as in
FIGS. 11
to
13
, in which a first interlocking member
31
curved in an arch shape is disposed in the interior of a frame
30
, the frame
30
being formed in the shape of a box having side plates and which is open on its lower side. The first interlocking member
31
has mounting portions
31
a
formed respectively at both ends thereof. The mounting portions
31
a
are fitted respectively into holes
30
c
and
30
a
formed in side plates of the frame
30
, whereby the first interlocking member
31
is mounted rotatably in the interior of the frame
30
.
A hole
34
is formed in an end face of each mounting portion
31
a
and a rotary shaft
33
of a variable resistor
32
is press-fitted into one of the holes
34
. Further, a slit
35
is formed longitudinally in the arched portion of the first interlocking member
31
.
Below the first interlocking member
31
is disposed a second interlocking member
40
in a direction perpendicular to the first interlocking member
31
. The second interlocking member
40
is centrally provided with a spherical body
41
, and is also provided with right and left arm portions
42
extending horizontally from the spherical body
41
, with circular mounting portions
42
a
being projectingly formed respectively at the ends of the arm portions
42
. The mounting portions
42
a
are inserted respectively into holes
30
b
and
30
d
formed in the frame
30
, whereby the second interlocking member
40
is mounted rotatably in the interior of the frame
30
.
A hole
43
is formed in an end face of each mounting portion
42
a
and the rotary shaft
33
of another variable resistor
32
is press-fitted into one of the holes
43
.
A slot
45
is vertically formed centrally through the spherical body
41
. The first and second interlocking members
31
,
40
are disposed in such a manner that the respective slit
35
and slot
45
are aligned with each other perpendicularly.
An operating shaft
36
is inserted through the slot
45
of the second interlocking member
40
. The operating shaft
36
takes a shape such that an oval-shaped support portion
38
is formed at the center and upper and lower support rods are projected and integral with the support portion
38
. A disc-like spring shoe
47
integral with the operating shaft
36
is formed at a position close to a lower end portion
36
a
of the operating shaft
36
projecting downward.
A small hole
39
is formed in the support portion
38
of the operating shaft
36
. The hole
39
is aligned with a hole
44
formed sideways of the second interlocking member
40
and a round pin
46
is inserted or press-fitted into the thus-aligned holes
39
and
44
, whereby the operating shaft
36
is mounted tiltably to the second interlocking member
40
.
The operating shaft
36
extending upward from the support portion
38
is inserted through the slit
35
of the first interlocking member
36
. By tilting the operating shaft
36
along the slit
35
of the first interlocking member
31
, the second interlocking member
40
can be rotated with its mounting portions
42
a
as fulcrums. A knob
55
is fixed to the upper end of the operating shaft
36
which extends upward from the slit
35
.
An operating member
37
, which is formed dish-like in external form from a resin material, is secured to the lower end portion
36
a
of the operating shaft
36
. A boss portion
37
a
is centrally projected on the operating member
37
and the end portion
36
a
of the operating shaft
36
is inserted into a bore
50
formed in the boss portion
37
a
so that the operating member
37
can move vertically.
A bottom plate
49
is mounted so as to cover the lower opening of the frame
30
. In this state, the operating member
37
is in elastic contact with the bottom plate
49
.
By tilting the operating shaft
36
along the slot
45
of the second interlocking member
40
with the round pin
46
as a fulcrum, the first interlocking member
31
can rotate with its mounting portions
31
a
as support shafts. Likewise, by tilting the operating shaft
36
along the slit
35
of the first interlocking member
31
, the second interlocking member can rotate with its mounting portions
42
a
as support shafts.
The rotary shafts
33
of the variable resistors
32
locked to side plates of the frame
30
are press-fitted in the holes
34
and
43
of the first and second interlocking members so that both interlocking members and the variable resistors operate integrally with each other.
A generally conical return spring
48
is positioned between the spring shoe
47
of the operating shaft
36
and an inside bottom of the operating member
37
. The biasing force of the return spring
48
urges the operating member
37
into elastic contact with the bottom plate
49
, whereby the operating shaft
36
can be held in an upright neutral state.
The operation of the conventional multi-way input device will now be described. First, as shown in
FIG. 12
, the upper end of the operating shaft
36
, when not in operation, projects upright from a hole
56
formed in a top plate of the frame
30
and the operating member
37
is kept in elastic contact with the bottom plate
49
in a horizontal state by means of the return spring
48
, so that the operating shaft
36
is in an upright neutral state.
As shown in
FIG. 13
, by tilting the operating shaft
36
, for example, clockwise along the slot
45
of the second interlocking member
40
, the first interlocking member
31
is rotated, whereby the variable resistor
32
is operated and hence the resistance value thereof can be changed.
As a result of the tilting motion of the operating shaft
36
, the operating member
37
tilts as in FIG.
13
and part of the peripheral edge of the thus-tilted operating member
37
moves in sliding contact with the surface of the bottom plate
49
. Consequently, the operating member
37
moves toward the circular spring shoe
47
, thereby causing the return spring
48
to be compressed and deflected.
Upon release of the operating force applied to the operating shaft
36
, the operating member
37
which has been tilted comes to move in sliding contact with the surface of the bottom plate
49
with the biasing force of the return spring
48
. The operating member
37
moves horizontally with respect to the bottom plate
49
, and in this way, the operating shaft
36
reverts automatically to its upright neutral state as shown in FIG.
12
.
For operating the variable resistor
32
engaged with an arm portion
42
of the second interlocking member
40
, the operating shaft
36
is tilted along the slit
35
of the first interlocking member
31
, whereby the second interlocking member
40
is rotated and this rotation permits operation of the variable resistor
32
.
In the above conventional multi-way input device, however, since the return spring
48
is extended between the spring shoe
47
and the inside bottom of the operating member
37
at a position below the round pin
46
which is a tilting fulcrum of the operating shaft
36
, the distance from the round pin
46
to the operating member
37
is long. That is, the vertical size of the input device becomes large, thus making it difficult to reduce the thickness of the device.
In addition, since the round pin
46
is used for supporting the operating shaft
36
in the second interlocking member
40
, not only are the number of components used increased, but the operation of press-fitting the round pin
46
into the second interlocking member
40
is needed, thus making the assembling process complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a multi-way input device using a reduced number of parts, superior in assembling efficiency an
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Hjerpe Richard
Laneau Ronald
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