阅读说明：本技术 输入装置 (Input device ) 是由 小川敏生 上町孝志 武藤真也 胁田祥嗣 都军安 木村涉 于 2019-02-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供小型化的输入装置。输入装置包括：基座构件；马达,其安装于基座构件；旋转轴,其被马达驱动而旋转；蜗轮,其被旋转轴驱动而旋转,并且以能够沿着旋转轴的轴向移动的方式安装于旋转轴；第一齿轮,其设置为相对于基座构件而旋转自如,且与蜗轮卡合；转子,其具有与第一齿轮卡合的第二齿轮,且由操作者进行旋转操作,第二齿轮设置为相对于基座构件而旋转自如；移动构件,其伴随着蜗轮的轴向的移动而移动；弹性构件,其根据移动构件的移动量而朝向对移动构件的移动进行抑制的方向产生作用力；变化量检测部,其对根据移动构件的移动而发生变化的状态的变化量进行检测；以及控制部,其根据由变化量检测部检测的变化量来进行马达的驱动控制,以使得经由转子而给予操作者的力感发生变化。(The invention provides a miniaturized input device. The input device includes: a base member; a motor mounted on the base member; a rotating shaft that is driven by a motor to rotate; a worm wheel which is driven to rotate by the rotating shaft and is mounted on the rotating shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft; a first gear which is provided to be rotatable with respect to the base member and is engaged with the worm wheel; a rotor having a second gear engaged with the first gear, the rotor being rotated by an operator, the second gear being provided to be rotatable with respect to the base member; a moving member that moves in accordance with the axial movement of the worm wheel; an elastic member that generates an urging force in a direction in which movement of the moving member is suppressed, in accordance with a movement amount of the moving member; a change amount detection unit that detects a change amount of a state that changes in accordance with movement of the moving member; and a control unit that performs drive control of the motor so as to change the force feeling given to the operator via the rotor, based on the amount of change detected by the amount-of-change detection unit.)

1. An input device, comprising:

a base member;

a motor mounted to the base member;

a rotating shaft that is driven to rotate by the motor;

a worm wheel that is rotatably driven by the rotary shaft and is attached to the drive shaft so as to be movable in an axial direction of the rotary shaft;

a first gear that is provided rotatably with respect to the base member and that engages with the worm wheel;

a rotor that has a second gear engaged with the first gear and is rotated by an operator, the second gear being provided to be rotatable with respect to the base member;

a moving member that moves in accordance with the axial movement of the worm wheel;

an elastic member that generates an urging force in a direction that suppresses movement of the moving member in accordance with a movement amount of the moving member;

a change amount detection unit that detects a change amount of a state that changes in accordance with movement of the moving member; and

and a control unit that performs drive control of the motor so as to change a feeling of force given to the operator via the rotor, based on the amount of change detected by the amount-of-change detection unit.

2. The input device of claim 1,

the rotor is hollow, and the second gear is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the rotor along a rotation direction.

3. The input device of claim 2,

the motor, the worm wheel, the first gear, the moving member, the elastic member, and the change amount detection unit are provided inside the rotor.

4. The input device of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the elastic member is a spring that generates a biasing force in a direction that suppresses movement of the moving member, and the movement of the moving member is accompanied by movement of the worm wheel in the first direction and the second direction in the axial direction.

5. The input device of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the change amount detection unit is a linear position sensor that detects a movement amount of the moving member as the change amount.

6. The input device of any one of claims 1 to 4,

the change amount detection unit is a pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to the moving member as the change amount.

7. The input device of any one of claims 1 to 6,

the motor and the rotation shaft are perpendicular to a rotation center axis of the rotor.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an input device.

Background

Conventionally, there is a force sensation generation input device including: a shaft portion that holds the operation knob and is rotatably held by the bearing portion; a motor having a motor shaft; and a rotation detection mechanism that detects rotation of the operation knob, wherein the force sensation generation input device is provided with the shaft portion and the motor shaft in parallel, and the force sensation generation input device includes: a first gear attached to the shaft portion so as to be rotated by the operation knob; and a second gear that is rotated by the first gear and is attached to the motor shaft, wherein the force sensation generation input device transmits a force sensation from the motor to the operation knob via the first and second gears (see, for example, patent document 1).

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional force sensation generation input device, the force sensation transmitted to the operator is generated only by the torque generated by the motor, and therefore, the motor needs to generate a large torque in order to transmit the force sensation to the operator. Therefore, there is a problem that the apparatus is large.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturized input device.

Means for solving the problems

An input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base member; a motor mounted to the base member; a rotating shaft that is driven to rotate by the motor; a worm wheel that is rotatably driven by the rotary shaft and is attached to the drive shaft so as to be movable in an axial direction of the rotary shaft; a first gear that is provided rotatably with respect to the base member and that engages with the worm wheel; a rotor that has a second gear engaged with the first gear and is rotated by an operator, the second gear being provided to be rotatable with respect to the base member; a moving member that moves in accordance with the axial movement of the worm wheel; an elastic member that generates an urging force in a direction that suppresses movement of the moving member in accordance with a movement amount of the moving member; a change amount detection unit that detects a change amount of a state that changes in accordance with movement of the moving member; and a control unit that performs drive control of the motor so as to change a feeling of force given to the operator via the rotor, based on the amount of change detected by the amount-of-change detection unit.

Effects of the invention

The invention can provide a miniaturized input device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an input device 100 of an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a cross section taken along line a-a in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a B-B direction cross section in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a structure in which the rotor 150 is removed from fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a structure in which the base 110 is removed from fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a cross section parallel to the XY plane including the coil springs 170A and 170B, the base 161, and the fixing portion 121B.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a control system of the input device 100.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an input device to which the present invention is applied will be described.

< embodiment >

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an input device 100 of an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view showing a cross section taken along line a-a in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing a B-B direction cross section in fig. 1. Hereinafter, the common XYZ coordinates will be used in the drawings. The XZ plane is referred to as a plan view.

In the following description, the positive Y-axis direction is sometimes referred to as "up" and the negative Y-axis direction is sometimes referred to as "down", but the general vertical relationship is not shown. For convenience of explanation, the position in the Y direction may be expressed in terms of height. The position on the most positive direction side in the Y-axis direction is the upper portion, and the position on the most negative direction side in the Y-axis direction is the bottom portion.

The input device 100 includes a base 110, a mount 120, a motor 130, a worm gear 135, a gear 140, a rotor 150, a sliding member 160, a coil spring 170, and a linear position sensor 180.

In addition to fig. 1 to 3, the following description will be made with reference to fig. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a view showing a structure in which the rotor 150 is removed from fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view showing a structure in which the base 110 is removed from fig. 4.

Hereinafter, the central axis C (see fig. 1) is a central axis common to the base 110, the pedestal 120, and the rotor 150. These members are circular in plan view such that the central axis C passes through the center. The central axis C is parallel to the Y axis.

The input device 100 is an input device used for remote operation of an operation unit or the like of a GUI (graphical User interface) displayed on a display panel mounted on a vehicle and arranged around an instrument panel, for example, and the GUI is displayed as an operation screen of various devices such as a navigation device and an air conditioner. The input device 100 is disposed at the hand of the driver or the passenger in the front passenger seat, for example, like a center console of a vehicle. However, the use of the input device 100 is not limited to such use.

The base 110 is a part of a base of the input device 100, and is an annular member having a central axis C as a central axis in a plan view. The base 110 has: a cylindrical portion 111 provided on the outermost periphery side in a plan view; and a cylindrical portion 112 which is concentric with the cylindrical portion 111 in a plan view and is provided inside. The cylindrical portions 111 and 112 are cylindrical members having a central axis C as a central axis.

The cylindrical portion 112 is held by a connecting portion 111A extending radially inward from the lower end (end on the negative direction side in the Y-axis direction) of the cylindrical portion 111, and the height of the cylindrical portion 112 is higher than the height of the cylindrical portion 111. Four connection portions 111A are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and a gap is provided between adjacent connection portions 111A.

The base 110 rotatably supports the rotor 150 between the cylindrical portions 111 and 112. The cylindrical portions 111 and 112 allow the rotor 150 to rotate about the central axis C as a rotation central axis. Such a base portion 110 is made of, for example, a molded resin.

The motor 130, the worm wheel 135, the gear 140, the sliding member 160, the coil spring 170, and the linear position sensor 180 are disposed inside the rotor 150 in a plan view. The base 110 is provided around the base 120, and pivotally supports the rotor 150 to be rotatable with respect to the base 120.

The pedestal 120 is disposed inside the base 110 in a plan view, and has a height in the Y-axis direction equal to the bottom of the base 110. The base 120 includes a base plate 121 and an extending portion 122. Such a chassis 120 is made of, for example, a molded resin. The base 120 is an example of a base member. The pedestal 120 may be integrally formed with adjacent peripheral members such as the base 110. The base 120 itself may be formed of a plurality of separate members.

The substrate portion 121 is a disk-shaped member located at the center in a plan view, and has fixing portions 121A and 121B. The motor 130 is fixed to the fixing portion 121A, and the coil spring 170(170A, 170B) is fixed to the fixing portion 121B.

Two extending portions 122 are connected to the base plate portion 121. One extending portion extends out in a plane toward one side of the X-axis positive direction and the Z-axis positive direction with respect to the base plate portion 121. The other extending portion extends out in a plane toward one side of the X-axis negative direction and the Z-axis negative direction with respect to the base plate portion 121.

The extending portions 122 each have two protruding portions 122A protruding in the Y-axis direction at the outermost side in plan view. Therefore, there are four projections 122A. The protruding portion 122A engages with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 112 of the base 110. Thereby, the pedestal 120 is mounted to the base 110. Of the two projections 122A of the other extension 122, the projection 122A located on the X axis has a bearing 122A1 (see fig. 5) that axially supports the rotation shaft 135A of the worm wheel 135. Bearing 122a1 is located on the X-axis.

The other extension portion 122 has a shaft portion 122B projecting in the positive Y-axis direction. The gear 140 is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 122B.

The motor 130 is fixed to a fixing portion 121A provided on the upper surface (surface on the Y-axis positive direction side) of the substrate portion 121 of the base 120. A drive shaft 130A (see fig. 2 and 5) of the motor 130 extends in the X-axis direction and is connected to a rotary shaft 135A of the worm wheel 135 via a connection portion 131. The rotating shaft 135A has a cross-sectional shape of a substantially D-shape, in which a part of the outer peripheral surface thereof is cut in a planar shape in the longitudinal direction. The connecting portion 131 fixedly engages the drive shaft 130A with the rotary shaft 135A. The drive shaft 130A of the motor 130 is perpendicular to the central axis C.

The worm wheel 135 is a gear having a substantially D-shaped through hole in the center portion thereof, and formed in a spiral shape along the X axis, and the through hole has a cross-sectional shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the rotary shaft 135A, and is slidably fitted to the rotary shaft 135A. That is, the worm wheel 135 is spline-coupled to the rotation shaft 135A extending in the X-axis direction, and therefore, the worm wheel 135 and the rotation shaft 135A rotate integrally with each other with respect to the rotation direction; the worm wheel 135 slides on the rotation shaft 135A in the X-axis direction and can move freely. The rotary shaft 135A may be spline-coupled to the worm wheel 135, and may have a polygonal or double-D cut (double-D cut) shape in cross section. The worm wheel 135 is engaged with the gear 140. Therefore, when the moving speed of the worm wheel 135 in the traveling direction of the worm wheel 135 driven and rotated by the motor 130 and the moving speed of the engaging portion of the gear 140 driven and rotated by the rotational operation of the rotor 150 by the operator in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the worm wheel 135 are completely the same, the relative position of the worm wheel 135 and the gear 140 does not change. That is, the worm wheel 135 is returned in the opposite direction by the gear 140 by the same distance as the distance advanced in the traveling direction by the rotation, and therefore, the worm wheel 135 rotates in a state of staying at the initial position on the rotation shaft 135A. In this case, the worm wheel 135 does not apply any additional rotational torque to the rotation of the gear 140.

On the other hand, when the moving speed of the worm wheel 135 driven and rotated by the motor 130 in the traveling direction is different from the moving speed of the engaging portion of the gear 140 driven and rotated by the rotational operation of the rotor 150 by the operator in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the worm wheel 135, one of the worm wheel 135 and the gear 140 moves to the side where the moving speed is fast, and thus the relative positions therebetween change. For example, when the worm wheel 135 is driven to rotate in the forward direction toward the X axis (the axial direction of the drive shaft 130A) and the gear 140 is driven to rotate in the negative direction toward the X axis, the worm wheel 135 rotates while moving along the rotation shaft 135A toward the positive direction toward the X axis when the worm wheel 135 is driven to rotate at a higher moving speed than the gear 140. Conversely, when the worm wheel 135 is driven to rotate at a speed slower than the speed at which the gear 140 advances in the X-axis negative direction toward the positive X-axis direction, the worm wheel 135 rotates while moving the position in the X-axis negative direction along the rotation shaft 135A. The positive X-axis direction is an example of the first direction and the negative X-axis direction is an example of the second direction for the movement of the worm wheel 135 along the rotation axis 135A. When the worm wheel 135 moves on the X axis, a biasing force of an elastic member described later acts in a direction to return the worm wheel 135 to the initial position, and a biasing force is applied as a rotational torque from the engagement portion to the gear 140 engaged with the worm wheel 135. In the above example, the rotation direction driven by the motor and the rotation direction operated by the operator are both described as an example of one direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The respective rotation directions may be arbitrarily selected from any one of the positive and negative directions, or a combination of the rotation directions may be arbitrarily selected.

The gear 140 is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 122B of the extension portion 122 of the base 120. The gear 140 is an example of a first gear. As shown in fig. 5, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the gear 140 is located outward of the other extending portion 122 in a plan view and is located between the two protruding portions 122A of the other extending portion 122. The gear 140 meshes (engages) with the worm wheel 135 and the gear 152A of the rotor 150. Therefore, the gear 140 is a helical gear capable of meshing with both the worm wheel 135 and the gear 152A. The gear 140 holds a magnet, not shown, that rotates integrally, and constitutes a rotation angle detection mechanism together with a magnetic sensor, also not shown, that is fixed to the substrate portion 121 of the base 120. For example, the rotation angle of the gear 140 may be detected by detecting the magnetic flux of the magnet, which changes as the gear 140 rotates, using a magnetic sensor, and the rotation angle of the rotor 150 that is engaged with and integrally rotated with the gear 140 may be calculated by outputting the detection result to a control unit, which will be described later.

The rotor 150 has cylindrical portions 151 and 152. The central axis of the cylindrical portions 151, 152 is the central axis C. Such a rotor 150 is made of, for example, a molded resin. The diameter of the rotor 150 is about 50 mm. The rotor 150 is a hollow rotor having hollow cylindrical portions 151 and 152.

The rotor 150 is a rotor that is directly touched by an operator of the input device 100 to be operated. Therefore, the rotor 150 is a member used as a knob. Here, although the description is given of the mode in which the operator directly contacts the rotor 150 to operate, a cover-shaped member that covers the rotor 150 may be provided, and in this case, the operator indirectly operates the rotor 150 by contacting the cover-shaped member.

The cylindrical portion 151 is located above the cylindrical portion 152 (on the positive Y-axis direction side), and has an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than the cylindrical portion 152. The cylindrical portion 151 is connected to the upper side of the cylindrical portion 152. The cylindrical portion 151 is a portion of the rotor 150 that is directly contacted by an operator.

The outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 152 is larger than the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 151 and smaller than the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 151. The thickness of the cylindrical portion 152 is substantially the same as that of the cylindrical portion 151. In a cross-sectional view, there is a step between the cylindrical portion 152 and the cylindrical portion 151.

The cylindrical portion 152 is fitted into the gap between the cylindrical portions 111 and 112, and is pivotally supported rotatably with respect to the base portion 110. When the cylindrical portion 152 is fitted into the gap between the cylindrical portions 111 and 112, the engaging portion 112A provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 112 engages with the step between the cylindrical portion 152 and the cylindrical portion 151, and the rotor 150 is fitted into the base 110.

A gear 152A is formed in a circumferential (rotational) range at a lower end of an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 152. The gear 152A is provided on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 152 within one rotation. The gear 152A is an example of a second gear.

The gear 152A is exposed between the four protruding portions 122A when viewed from the inside of the cylindrical portion 112 of the base portion 110. The gear 152A is a helical gear that meshes (engages) with the helical gear 140. Therefore, when the operator applies a force to rotate the rotor 150, the rotational force is transmitted from the gear 152A to the gear 140, and the moving force in the X-axis direction is transmitted to the worm wheel 135.

The slide member 160 includes a base 161, a support 162, and a holding portion 163 (see fig. 5). Such a slide member 160 is made of, for example, a molded resin. The slide member 160 is an example of a moving member.

The base 161 is attached at both ends thereof to the fixing portion 121B of the base 120 via coil springs 170A and 170B. The base 161 can be moved in the X-axis direction by extending and contracting in the X-axis direction by the coil springs 170A and 170B.

The support portion 162 is integrally molded with the base portion 161, and extends from the base portion 161 toward the worm wheel 135. A holding portion 163 is provided at the tip of the support portion 162 when viewed from the base portion 161.

The holding portion 163 has two sets of projections 163A and 163B from the front end of the support portion 162, and rotatably holds the rotary shaft 135A at both ends of the worm wheel 135. The projections 163A and 163B are provided on the positive X-axis direction side and the negative X-axis direction side of the worm wheel 135, respectively, and the distance between the projections 163A and 163B matches the length of the worm wheel 135 in the X-axis direction, so that the worm wheel 135 is rotatably fitted between the projections 163A and 163B. In other words, the distance between the projections 163A and 163B is set so that the worm wheel 135 does not displace in the X-axis direction in a state sandwiched by the projections 163A and 163B.

The coil spring 170 has a pair of coil springs 170A and 170B. Here, the description will be made using the cross-sectional view of fig. 6 in addition to fig. 1 to 5. Fig. 6 is a view showing a cross section parallel to the XY plane including the coil springs 170A and 170B, the base 161, and the fixing portion 121B. The coil spring 170 is an example of an elastic member.

The base 161 has hole portions 161A and 161B. The hole 161A is a hole formed from the side surface of the base 161 on the positive X-axis side toward the negative X-axis direction, and the hole 161B is a hole formed from the side surface of the base 161 on the negative X-axis side toward the positive X-axis direction. A wall 161C is present between the hole 161A and the hole 161B, and blocks the hole 161A and the hole 161B. The fixing portion 121B has a protruding portion 121B 1.

The coil springs 170A, 170B are compression coil springs. The coil spring 170A has an end on the X-axis negative direction side inserted into the hole 161A, and an end on the X-axis positive direction side engaged with the protrusion 121B1 of the fixing portion 121B on the X-axis positive direction side. The coil spring 170A is provided between the wall portion 161C and the protruding portion 121B1 of the fixing portion 121B on the X-axis positive direction side in a state compressed from the natural length.

Similarly, the coil spring 170B has an end portion on the X-axis positive direction side inserted into the hole 161B, and an end portion on the X-axis negative direction side engaged with the protrusion 121B1 of the fixing portion 121B on the X-axis negative direction side. The coil spring 170B is provided between the wall 161C and the projection 121B1 of the fixing portion 121B on the X-axis negative direction side in a state compressed from the natural length.

The linear position sensor 180 is fixed to the substrate portion 121 of the base 120, and detects a displacement of the base 161 of the slide member 160 in the X axis direction from the initial state. When the coil spring 170A and the coil spring 170B that urge the base portion 161 are in a state of balance with each other, the base portion 161 is in an initial state. The data indicating the displacement detected by the linear position sensor 180 is output to a control unit described later. The linear position sensor 180 is an example of a change amount detection unit, and the displacement of the base 161 in the X axis direction is an example of a change amount.

In the input device 100 having the above-described configuration, when the operator applies a force to rotate the rotor 150, the rotational force is transmitted from the gear 152A to the gear 140, and the moving force in the X-axis direction is transmitted to the worm wheel 135.

The worm wheel 135 does not rotate even if a rotational force is applied from the gear 140 side due to a so-called self-locking effect of the worm to the worm wheel, but the worm wheel 135 is spline-coupled to the rotation shaft 135A, so that when an operator applies a force to rotate the rotor 150, the worm wheel 135 is moved in the X-axis positive direction or the X-axis negative direction along the rotation shaft 135A by the gear 140. Meanwhile, when the worm wheel 135 is driven to rotate by the motor 130, the worm wheel 135 moves in the X-axis positive direction or the X-axis negative direction according to the rotation direction thereof. Therefore, if the movement of the worm wheel 135 in the positive X-axis direction is defined as a positive movement and the movement in the negative X-axis direction is defined as a negative movement, the final movement of the worm wheel 135 in the X-axis direction is the sum of the movement caused by the gear 140 and the movement caused by the rotation thereof.

When the worm wheel 135 moves in the X-axis positive direction or the X-axis negative direction, the slide member 160 slides in the X-axis positive direction or the X-axis negative direction along with the movement, and therefore, the restoring force in the X-axis negative direction or the X-axis positive direction acts on the base 161 toward returning the base 161 to the initial position by contraction of the coil spring on one side of the direction in which the base 161 moves and extension of the coil spring on the other side in the opposite direction among the coil springs 170A and 170B. At this time, the linear position sensor 180 detects the amount of movement of the slide member 160, thereby controlling the driving of the motor 130. The restoring force is an example of the acting force.

Therefore, when the operator applies a force to rotate the rotor 150, the force based on the restoring force of the coil springs 170A and 170B according to the amount of movement of the base 161 from the initial state acts as a rotational torque applied to the rotor 150 via the slide member 160, the worm wheel 135, the gear 140, and the gear 152A, and a force feeling is given to the hand of the operator who rotates the rotor 150.

At this time, the control unit drives the motor 130 in a direction to assist the restoring force of the coil springs 170A and 170B, that is, in a direction to decrease the moving amount of the slide member 160, or in a direction to limit the restoring force, that is, in a direction to increase the moving amount of the slide member 160, thereby changing the magnitude, orientation, timing, and the like of the applied rotational torque, and providing various senses of force to the hand of the operator who operates the rotor 150.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a control system of the input device 100. Fig. 7 shows the host apparatus 10 in addition to the control unit 190, the motor 130, and the linear position sensor 180 of the input apparatus 100.

In fig. 7, the structure between the motor 130 and the linear position sensor 180 (the worm wheel 135, the gear 140, and the rotor 150) is omitted, but when the operator applies a force to rotate the rotor 150, the rotation angle detection means (not shown) detects the rotation of the rotor 150, and the driving of the motor 130 is started. Further, when the drive motor 130 rotates, the slide member 160 slides along with the movement of the worm wheel 135, and the amount of movement of the slide member 160 is detected by the linear position sensor 180.

The host device 10 is an ECU (electronic control Unit) of various devices such as a navigation device and an air conditioner mounted in a vehicle, for example. The host device 10 is implemented by a computer including a cpu (central Processing unit), a ram (random Access memory), a rom (read Only memory), an hdd (hard Disk drive), an input/output interface, an internal bus, and the like.

The host device 10 stores data indicating a force sense command corresponding to a force sense provided when the input device 100 is operated according to the input mode of the input device 100 in the memory, and the host device 10 outputs the force sense command corresponding to the selected input mode to the control unit 190. The input mode is, for example, a mode in which any one of the navigation device and the air conditioner is operated, and the display content of the display provided on the instrument panel is switched to the navigation device and the air conditioner by the input mode. The force sense commands corresponding to these input modes provide a strong click sense, a weak click sense, or a continuous predetermined rotational load torque, for example.

The control unit 190 includes a force pattern generation unit 191, a torque control unit 192, and an angle tracking control unit 193.

The force pattern generating unit 191 generates a torque command based on the movement amount detected by the linear position sensor 180, the force command input from the higher-level device 10, and the angle of the rotor 150 detected by the rotation angle detecting means, and outputs the torque command to the torque control unit 192.

The Force-sense pattern generating unit 191 converts the Force-sense command into a torque command for a predetermined angle of the rotor 150, using FS (Force-Stroke) characteristics of a predetermined elastic member. The force sense pattern generating unit 191 converts the torque of a predetermined angle with respect to the rotor 150 according to the type of the force sense command into a stroke of the elastic member, and converts the converted stroke into a movement amount detected by the linear position sensor 180, thereby generating the torque command.

The torque control unit 192 generates an angle command by performing conversion processing for converting the rotation amount of the worm wheel 135, which is the movement amount of the base 161 from the initial position, indicated by the torque command input from the force pattern generation unit 191, into the rotation angle of the drive shaft 130A of the motor 130. The torque control unit 192 outputs the angle command to the angle tracking control unit 193. The torque control unit 192 generates an angle command in a direction to assist the restoring force of the coil springs 170A and 170B or in a direction to move the base 161 so as to limit the restoring force.

The angle tracking control unit 193 obtains the current rotation angle of the drive shaft 130A of the motor 130, which is the rotation shaft 135A, from the current movement amount detected by the linear position sensor 180. The angle tracking control unit 193 performs feedback control based on the target rotation angle and the current rotation angle of the angle command input from the torque control unit 192, thereby generating a drive signal for controlling the drive of the motor 130. The drive signal is, for example, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, and the angle tracking control unit 193 determines the duty ratio by feedback control.

For example, in the case where the force feeling command from the air conditioner is a request for a force feeling pattern accompanied by strong click feeling repeated a plurality of times in the rotation operation for selecting the air volume, it is necessary to repeatedly change the rotation torque in the direction opposite to the operation direction (hereinafter also simply referred to as an additional torque) applied at the time of the rotation operation between a large value and a small value in the torque command inputted from the force feeling pattern generating unit 191. Therefore, the coil springs 170A and 170B for generating the additional torque need to be repeatedly changed between a large contraction amount (large additional torque) and a small contraction amount (small additional torque). Therefore, the torque control unit 192 generates an angle command of the drive shaft 130A of the motor 130 so that the amount of movement of the base 161 detected by the linear position sensor 180 repeatedly changes between large (large contraction amount of the coil spring 170) and small (small contraction amount of the coil spring 170). That is, an angle command in a direction to assist the restoring force of the coil spring 170 (to reduce the amount of contraction of the coil spring 170) or in a direction to limit the restoring force (to maintain the amount of contraction of the coil spring 170 large) is generated and output to the angle tracking control unit 193. Thereafter, the current rotation angle of the drive shaft 130A is obtained from the target rotation angle of the drive shaft 130A of the angle command input from the torque control unit 192 and the current movement amount of the base 161 detected by the linear position sensor 180, and the feedback control of the motor 130 is performed based on the current rotation angle of the drive shaft 130A, whereby the additional rotational torque for the predetermined angle of the rotor 150 is controlled, and the desired force feeling is obtained.

In the input device 100 of the present embodiment, when the rotation operation by the operator and the drive control of the motor 130 with respect to the rotor 150 as described above are terminated, the worm wheel 135 and the base 161 are set to always return to the initial state by the restoring force of the coil spring 170, and therefore, the control with respect to the input device 100 can be always performed from the initial state.

Other force sensing modes can be controlled by the same method as described above.

As described above, the input device 100 includes: a gear 140 and a worm wheel 135 that rotate as the rotor 150 rotates; and a coil spring 170 generating a restoring force that suppresses sliding of the sliding member 160 that moves along with movement of the worm wheel 135, and the input device 100 includes a motor 130, and the motor 130 drives the worm wheel 135 in a direction that assists or restricts the restoring force.

When the rotor 150 is rotated, an additional rotational torque is generated in the rotor 150 via the gear 140 in a direction to assist or restrict the restoring force of the coil springs 170A and 170B according to the amount of movement of the worm wheel 135.

The feeling of force applied to the hand of the operator by the input device 100 having such a configuration is realized by the restoring force of the coil springs 170A and 170B. Since the motor drives the worm wheel 135 to assist or limit the restoring force, the driving torque of the motor 130 can be significantly reduced as compared with a case where the motor is directly connected and the force feeling is realized only by the torque of the motor itself as in the conventional device.

Further, since the rotation control is performed by the linear position sensor provided at a location other than the motor, a rotation angle detection mechanism or the like having high accuracy is not required for the motor itself, and therefore, a structure required for torque control of the motor does not need to be provided for the motor, and the structure of the motor can be simplified. Therefore, the input device 100 can provide a force feeling by using a structure of the small motor 130 having a lower torque and a simpler structure than the conventional device.

Therefore, according to the embodiment, the miniaturized input device 100 can be provided.

Further, since the worm wheel 135 is used, when the motor 130 generates a torque for limiting or holding the restoring force, the torque of the motor 130 may be small by utilizing the self-locking effect of the worm wheel 135 which cannot be driven from the worm wheel side and rotates. From such a viewpoint, the motor 130 can be downsized, and the input device 100 can be downsized.

The worm wheel 135 is connected to a gear 152A of the rotor 150 via a gear 140. Therefore, a large reduction ratio can be obtained when viewed from the worm wheel 135 side, and therefore, even if the additional rotational torque generated by the worm wheel 135 with respect to the gear 140 is small, since it is enlarged with respect to the rotor 150, a sufficient force feeling can be provided. From such a viewpoint, the motor 130 can be downsized, and the input device 100 can be downsized. Further, since the motor 130, the worm wheel 135, the gear 140, the sliding member 160, the coil spring 170, and the linear position sensor 180 are disposed in the space surrounded by the rotor 150 and the base 120, improvement of space efficiency and miniaturization can be achieved at the same time by miniaturization of the motor 130.

Further, since the sliding member 160 is biased by the two coil springs 170A and 170B, the restoring force generated by the expansion and contraction of one coil spring (170A or 170B) and the restoring force generated by the expansion and contraction of the other coil spring (170A or 170B) can be obtained regardless of the direction in which the rotor 150 moves, and a uniform force feeling can be easily provided regardless of the rotational direction.

Further, by changing the rotational torque applied by driving the motor 130 in time series according to the rotation angle of the rotor 150, various force sensations can be realized. For example, if the driving mode of the motor 130 is set so that the feeling of force differs depending on the kind and the operation content of various devices such as a navigation device and an air conditioner, the operator can perceive the confirmation of the operation content and the end of the operation only by the feeling of force.

Although the motor 130 and the rotary shaft 135A are described above as being perpendicular to the central axis C, the motor 130 and the rotary shaft 135A may not be perpendicular to the central axis C.

Further, although the embodiment in which the input device 100 includes the worm wheel 135, the gear 140, and the gear 152A has been described above, the configuration of the gears or the teeth is not limited to the above configuration, and other configurations may be adopted.

Further, although the compression coil springs are used as the coil springs 170A and 170B described above, they may be modified as shown in fig. 8 to 12. Fig. 8 to 12 are views showing a base portion, a coil spring, and a fixing portion of a slide member according to a modification of the embodiment.

As shown in fig. 8, a base 161M1 having a T-shape in side view, tension-type coil springs 170M1A and 170M1B having a length longer than a natural length, and a fixing portion 121M1A may be used. The base 161M1 has a protrusion 161M1A protruding downward.

The tension-type coil springs 170M1A and 170M1B are fixed between both side surfaces of the protruding portion 161M1A and the fixing portions 121M1A on both sides, and in a state of being stretched from the natural length, both ends are fixed to the respective opposite surfaces by a fixing hook shape not shown. When the rotor 150 rotates, the projection 161M1A moves in the positive X-axis direction or the negative X-axis direction, and therefore, one of the coil springs 170M1A and 170M1B contracts and the other expands, and a restoring force is generated as compared with the state in which the balance is obtained as shown in fig. 8.

By using the base 161M1 and the fixing portion 121M1A, a force feeling can be provided in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotor 150 by the restoring force of the coil springs 170M1A and 170M1B in a state of being extended from the natural length.

As shown in fig. 9, conical springs 170M2A, 170M2B, a base 161M1, and a fixing portion 121M1A may be used. Both ends of the conical springs 170M2A and 170M2B are fixed between both side surfaces of the protrusion 161M1A and the fixing portions 121M1A on both sides. The conical springs 170M2A and 170M2B may be compression type conical springs or tension type springs that are stretched from their natural lengths. The operation of this modification is the same as that of fig. 1 to 6 or fig. 8.

As shown in fig. 10, two torsion springs 170M3A, 170M3B, a base 161M1, and a base plate 121M3 may be used. Each of the torsion springs 170M3A and 170M3B has one end abutting against the surface of the base plate 121M3 and the other end engaging with the protrusion 161M1A of the base 161M 1. In this state, with the torsion springs 170M3A, 170M3B, both ends thereof are closer than in a natural state, thereby generating restoring force toward the opening direction.

When the rotor 150 rotates, the protrusion 161M1A moves in the positive X-axis direction or the negative X-axis direction, and therefore one of the torsion springs 170M3A and 170M3B is compressed, while the other is expanded.

By using such a base 161M1 and the base plate portion 121M3, a force feeling can be provided by the restoring force of the torsion springs 170M3A, 170M3B in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotor 150.

As shown in fig. 11, one torsion spring 170M4, base 161M1, and base plate 121M4 may be used. The substrate portion 121M4 includes a cylindrical holding portion 121M4A extending in the Z-axis direction and a plate-shaped stopper 121M4B positioned above the holding portion 121M 4A. The holding portion 121M4A and the stopper 121M4B are fixed at the height shown in fig. 11 by a support member not shown in the figure above the upper surface of the base plate portion 121M 4.

In the torsion spring 170M4, in a state where the winding portion is wound around the holding portion 121M4A and the adjacent portions at both ends are in contact with the stopper 121M4B, both ends of the torsion spring 170M4 are in contact with both side surfaces of the protruding portion 161M1A of the base portion 161M 1. In this state, with the torsion spring 170M4, both ends thereof are opened as compared with the natural state, thereby generating a restoring force toward the closed (both-end approaching) direction.

When the rotor 150 rotates, the protrusion 161M1A moves in the positive X-axis direction or the negative X-axis direction, and thus one of the opposite ends of the torsion spring 170M4 is opened to generate a restoring force.

By using such a base 161M1 and the base plate portion 121M4, a force feeling can be provided by the restoring force of the torsion spring 170M4 in matching with the rotational movement of the rotor 150.

As shown in fig. 12, one plate spring 170M5, a base 161M1, and a base plate 121M5 may be used. The substrate portion 121M5 has a protrusion 121M5A on the upper surface. The plate spring 170M5 is bent in a triangular shape in side view, and has an opening at the bottom through which the protrusion 121M5A passes in top view. The plate spring 170M5 is fixed to the upper surface of the substrate portion 121M5 by inserting the protrusion 121M5A into the opening at the bottom.

In this state, the plate spring 170M5 has its both ends opened from the natural state, and generates a restoring force in the closing (both ends approaching) direction.

When the rotor 150 rotates, the protrusion 161M1A moves in the positive X-axis direction or the negative X-axis direction, and thus one of the opposite ends of the plate spring 170M5 is opened to generate a restoring force.

By using such a base 161M1 and the base plate portion 121M5, a force feeling can be provided by the restoring force of the plate spring 170M5 in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotor 150.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the embodiment. In fig. 13, the base 120M6 is included instead of the base 120 shown in fig. 1 to 5, the gear 140M6 is included instead of the gear 140, the slide member 160M6 is included instead of the slide member 160, and the pressure sensor 180M6 is included instead of the coil springs 170A, 170B and the linear position sensor 180. Fig. 13 shows the base 120M6, the motor 130, the worm wheel 135, the gear 140M6, the slide member 160M6, the pressure sensor 180M6, and the rubber member 181M6, and other components are omitted.

The base 120M6 has a base plate 121M6 and an extension 122M 6. The base plate portion 121M6 includes fixing portions 121M6A and 121M6B, the motor 130 is fixed to the fixing portion 121M6A, and the slide member 160M6 is attached to the fixing portion 121M6B via two pressure sensors 180M6 and two rubber members 181M 6. The extension 122M6 has a protrusion 122M6A and a shaft portion 122M 6B. The protrusion 122M6A is similar to the protrusion 122A (see fig. 5), and the gear 140M6 is rotatably supported by the shaft 122M 6B.

Gear 140M6 has gear 141M6 and gear 142M 6. The gear 141M6 is a spur gear corresponding to the gear 140 shown in fig. 1 to 5, and the gear 142M6 is a spur gear fixedly provided coaxially with the gear 141M6 and having a smaller diameter than the gear 141M 6. The gear 141M6 engages with the gear 152A of the rotor 150, and the gear 142M6 engages with the worm wheel 135.

The slide member 160M6 has a base 161M6 and projections 162M6A, 162M 6B. The base 161M6 is a rectangular parallelepiped member, and is attached to the fixing portion 121M6A via a pressure sensor 180M6 and a rubber member 181M6 provided on each of both sides in the X axis direction. At both ends of the base 161M6 in the X axis direction, projections 162M6A and 162M6B extending in the negative Z axis direction are provided. The projections 162M6A and 162M6B rotatably hold the rotating shaft 135A at both ends of the worm wheel 135, similarly to the projections 163A and 163B shown in fig. 5.

The pressure sensor 180M6 is a sensor that detects pressure (stress or load). The two pressure sensors 180M6 hold the base 161M6 of the slide member 160M6 via the two rubber members 181M6 in a state of being fixed to the fixing portions 121M6A and 121M 6B. When a load in the X axis direction is applied to the base 161M6, the rubber member 181M6 can deform in the X axis direction, and the pressure sensor 180M6 detects the pressure. As such a pressure Sensor 180M6, for example, a Sensor commercially available as Force Sensor can be used. The rubber member 181M6 may not be rubber, and may be an elastomer resin, for example, as long as it is a member having elasticity and capable of deforming by about 0.3mm in the X-axis direction, for example.

When the rotor 150 rotates and the motor 130 is driven, the slide member 160M6 moves in the positive X-axis direction or the negative X-axis direction, and one of the two rubber members 181M6 is pressed to generate a restoring force. At this time, the pressure sensor 180M6 detects the pressing force.

By driving the motor 130 according to the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 180M6, the restoring force from the worm wheel 135 can be transmitted to the gear 152A via the gear 140M6, thereby providing a force feeling in accordance with the rotational movement of the rotor 150.

For example, the pressure sensor 180M6 may be used when attempting to operate at a torque smaller than the spring constant of the coil springs 170A and 170B.

Although the input device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is noted that the international application claims priority based on japanese patent application 2018-051380 applied on 3/19/2018, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Description of the reference numerals

100 input device

110 base

120. 120M6 base (base component)

130 motor

130A drive shaft

131 connecting part

135 worm wheel

135A rotary shaft

140. 140M6 Gear

150 rotor

151. 152 cylindrical part

152A gear

160. 160M6 sliding member

161. 161M1, 161M6 basal part

162 support part

163 holding part

170. 170A, 170B, 170M1A, 170M1B coil spring

170M2A, 170M2B spring

170M3A, 170M3B spring

170M4 torsion spring

170M5 leaf spring

180 linear position sensor

180M6 pressure sensor

190 a control unit.