Title: Force sense imparting type input apparatus
Abstract: A force sense imparting type input apparatus includes an exterior decoration plate having an opening, an operation lever supported by a stick controller positioned inside the exterior decoration plate in such a manner as to be capable of rocking, encoders for detecting a rocking amount and a rocking direction of the operation lever, motors for imparting desired external force to the operation lever, and a control unit for controlling driving of the motors on the basis of an output signal outputted from the encoders, wherein an operation knob is provided to an upper end of the operation lever protruding outward from the opening, and can be pushed or pulled in an axial direction of the operation lever with a neutral position of the operation knob as a reference, and the push-pull operation of the operation knob selectively operates first and second push switches.
Patent Number: 6,953,901 Issued on 10/11/2005 to Onodera
| Inventors:
|
Onodera; Mikio (Miyagi-ken, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
684808 |
| Filed:
|
October 14, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Oct 17, 2002[JP] | 2002-303392 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
200/6A; 200/4; 200/5R; 200/17R |
| Intern'l Class: |
H01H 009/00 |
| Field of Search: |
200/6 A,17.R,18,4,5R,6R,1R,329
345/161,156
74/471
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3818154 | Jun., 1974 | Presentey.
| |
| 5107080 | Apr., 1992 | Rosen.
| |
| 5264821 | Nov., 1993 | Vultaggio et al.
| |
| 5473325 | Dec., 1995 | McAlindon.
| |
| 6101893 | Aug., 2000 | Wergen.
| |
| 6160537 | Dec., 2000 | Liu et al.
| |
| 6201196 | Mar., 2001 | Wergen.
| |
| 6429849 | Aug., 2002 | An.
| |
| 6611139 | Aug., 2003 | Jackson.
| |
| 2001/0030658 | Oct., 2001 | Rosenberg et al.
| |
| 2002/0057064 | May., 2002 | Onodera.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 0 628 976 | Apr., 1994 | EP.
| |
| 2002/-189560 | Jul., 2002 | JP.
| |
| WO 93/1847/5 | Sep., 1993 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Lee; K. Richard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Claims
1. An input apparatus comprising:
an exterior decoration plate having an opening;
an operation lever having a support point thereof positioned inside said exterior
decoration plate and so supported as to be capable of rocking;
detection unit to detect an operating condition of said operation lever; and
control unit to control a monitor displaying functions in accordance with an
output signal outputted from said detection unit;
wherein an operation knob is provided to an end part of said operation lever
protruding outward from said opening, a push-pull operation is allowed in an axial
direction of said operation lever with a neutral position of said operation knob
as a reference, the push-pull operation of said operation knob selectively operates
two switches, and said control unit activates or cancels a selected operation of
said functions in accordance with signals received from the two switches.
2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation knob includes
a large diameter portion with said operation lever being a proximal end side, and
a protuberance portion protruding from said large diameter portion.
3. The input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a constriction is defined
at a part of said protuberance portion.
4. The input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a ceiling surface of said
protuberance portion contains knurling.
5. The input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said large
diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.
6. The input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a ceiling surface of said
protuberance portion contains knurling.
7. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said large
diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.
8. The input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said large
diameter portion and said protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape.
9. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two switches are push
switches, said push switches are so arranged on said operation lever as to face
each other, and a pusher is provided to said operation knob at a position between
stems of said push switches.
10. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator
to impart external force to said operation lever.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a force sense imparting type input apparatus having
a force feedback function for imparting external force such as a resistance feeling,
propelling force, etc, to an operator operating and rocking an operation lever
in accordance with an operating condition of the operation lever. More particularly,
the invention relates to a force sense imparting type input apparatus that will
be suitable when used for car-mounted controlling apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A force sense imparting type input apparatus having a force feedback function
has
been proposed in recent years. When adjustment of functions of car-mounted controlling
apparatuses such as an air conditioner, a car audio apparatus, a car navigation
apparatus, etc, is consolidated into one operation lever and selection of the apparatuses
and function adjustment of the selected apparatus are conducted through this operation
lever, the force sense imparting type input apparatus renders an operation feeling
pleasant and makes maneuverability more reliable by imparting external force such
as a resistance feeling, propelling force, etc in accordance with an operation
amount and an operation direction of the operation lever.
As a force sense imparting type input apparatus of this kind, an apparatus is
known that includes detection means for detecting an operation amount of an operation
lever and its operation direction, an actuator for imparting external force to
the operation lever and control means for controlling driving of the actuator on
the basis of an output signal outputted from the detection means (refer to Patent
Reference 1, for example).
The detection means described above includes a conversion portion for converting
rocking motion of an operation lever to rotary motion of two rotary bodies orthogonally
intersecting each other, and a detection portion such as a rotary encoder for converting
the rotation amounts of these two rotary bodies and their rotary directions into
electric signals. The actuator comprises a motor, or the like. The control means
stores the detection signal outputted from the detection portion of the detection
means, outputs a desired control signal to the actuator on the basis of the detection
signal and displays an operation position (cursor) of the operation lever on a
monitor provided to an instrument panel inside the car. The control signal is a
signal corresponding to an operation feeling imparted to the operation lever, and
the kind of the signal includes generation of vibration and a change of operation
force. Incidentally, an upper end of the operation lever protrudes from an external
decoration surface of a center console box, or the like, inside the car, and a
plurality of key switches for selecting functions of various apparatuses displayed
on the monitor is arranged on this external decoration surface.
In the force sense imparting type input apparatus roughly constituted as described
above, a selection menu representing various apparatuses such as an air conditioner,
an audio apparatus, a car navigation apparatus, etc is displayed as an initial
screen on a monitor. The operator can select a desired apparatus by pushing one
of key switches of a key switch group, and can conduct function adjustment of the
selected apparatus by rocking the operation lever. When, for example, the operator
selects the air conditioner by pushing an arbitrary key switch, the monitor displays
the functions of the air conditioner such as temperature adjustment and wind amount
adjustment. When the inclining the operation lever in an arbitrary direction to
move the cursor on the monitor, the operator can make temperature adjustment and
wind amount adjustment. In this instance, the control means receives the detection
signal outputted from the detection means and outputs a desired control signal
to an actuator on the basis of the detection signal so that external force corresponding
to the operation mount of the operation lever and its operation direction can be
imparted to the operation lever. Therefore, the operator can know through blind
touch that the operation lever is operated in the intended direction. The operation
feeling can be improved and maneuverability can be made more reliable.
Patent Reference 1:
Japanese Unexamined Published Patent Application No. 2002-189560 (pages
4 to 6, FIG. 1)
When the function selection of the desired apparatus is made through the operation
lever in the force sense imparting type input apparatus according to the prior
art described above, the operator must conduct troublesome operations of first
pushing one of key switches of a key switch group arranged in the proximity of
the operation lever to select the apparatus, then moving the hand to the operation
lever and selecting the function of the selected apparatus. Therefore, the force
sense imparting type input apparatus is not easy to operate. The force sense imparting
type input apparatus according to the prior art does not take a cancel operation
of the function selection through the operation lever into account. When one of
the key switches of the key switch group is caused to bear such a cancel operation,
the operator must first operate the operation lever for rocking to select the function
and must then transfer the hand to the key switch group to conduct the cancel operation.
From this point, too, the force sense imparting type input apparatus is not free
from the problem that is not easy to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the prior art technologies described above, the invention aims at
providing
a force sense imparting type input apparatus that makes it possible to conduct
a rocking operation of an operation lever and a push-pull operation of a switch,
has high maneuverability and is easy to operate.
To accomplish the object described above, the invention provides a force sense
imparting type input apparatus comprising an exterior decoration plate having an
opening an operation lever having a support point thereof positioned inside the
exterior decoration plate and so supported as to be capable of rocking, detection
means for detecting an operating condition of the operation lever, an actuator
for imparting external force to the operation lever, and control means for controlling
driving of the actuator on the basis of an output signal outputted from the detection
means, wherein an operation knob is provided to an end part of the operation lever
protruding outward from the opening, a push-pull operation is allowed in an axial
direction of the operation lever with a neutral position of the operation knob
as a reference, and the push-pull operation of the operation knob selectively operates
two switches.
When the operation knob provided to the end part of the operation lever is pushed
in the force sense imparting type input apparatus having such a construction, one
of the switches is operated and when the operation knob is pulled, another switch
is operated. Therefore, the operator can continuously conduct the rocking operation
of the operation lever and the push/pull operation of the switch, maneuverability
can be improved and the apparatus becomes easier to operate.
When the operation knob has a large diameter portion with the operation lever
being its proximal end side and a protuberance portion protruding from this large
diameter portion, the operator can put his fingers onto these large diameter portion
and protuberance portion and can advantageously and easily conduct the push/pull
operation. In this instance, when a constriction is defined at a part of the protuberance
portion, the operator can easily conduct the push/pull operation while nipping
the constriction of the protuberance portion with fingers. When a roughening surface
treatment is applied to a ceiling surface of the protuberance portion, the operator
can reliably conduct the push operation while putting his finger on the ceiling
surface of the protuberance portion. Furthermore, when at least one of the large
diameter portion and the protuberance portion has a rectangular planar shape, the
operator can know through blind touch the rocking direction of the operation lever
from the outer shape of the operation knob.
In the construction described above, it is possible to use switches of a slide
type in which a moving contact comes close to and away from two sets of fixed contacts
on a substrate as two switches. However, it is preferred to so arrange two push
switches on the operation lever as to face each other and to interpose a pusher
on the operation knob at a position between stems of the push switches. According
to this construction, the operation knob can be stably held at a neutral position
by means of return springs built in the two push switches, and wiring of both push
switches can be made easily.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a structural view of a force sense imparting type input apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stick controller provided to the force sense
imparting type input apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the stick controller;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stick controller;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an internal construction of an operation
knob provided to the force sense imparting type input apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the operation knob;
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are explanatory views useful for
explaining an operation example of the operation knob;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view useful for explaining a display content of a monitor;
FIG. 9 is also an explanatory view useful for explaining a display content of
the monitor;
FIG. 10 is also an explanatory view useful for explaining a display content
of a monitor; and
FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views showing a modified example of the operation knob.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a structural view of a force sense imparting type
input apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective
view of a stick controller provided to the force sense imparting type input apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the stick controller. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal
sectional view of the stick controller. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an internal
construction of an operation knob provided to the force sense imparting type input
apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the operation knob. FIG. 7 is an explanatory
view useful for explaining an operation example of the operation knob. FIGS. 8
to
10 are explanatory views each being useful for explaining a display content
of a monitor.
Referring to FIG. 1, a force sense imparting type input apparatus according
to this embodiment includes mainly an exterior decoration plate
1 having
an opening
1a, a stick controller
2 disposed inside the exterior
decoration plate
1, an operation lever
3 supported by the stick controller
2 in such a manner as to be capable of rocking, an operation knob
4
fitted to an upper end of the operation lever
3, a control unit
5
and a monitor
6. The exterior decoration plate
1 is a panel such
as a center console box inside a car, and the operation lever
3 protrudes
into the car through the opening
1a of the exterior decoration plate
1.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to
4, the stick controller
2 has a box-shaped
casing
7. A pair of rotary bodies
8 and
9 is pivotally supported
inside the casing
7 in such a manner as to intersect each other at right
angles. Motors
10 and
11 as actuators are fitted to two outer side
surfaces of the casing
7 intersecting each other at right angles. The shaft
portions of the rotary bodies
8 and
9 are interconnected to spindles
of the motors
10 and
11, respectively. Rotary encoders
12
and
13 are coaxially fitted to these motors
10 and
11, respectively.
The spindles of the motors
10 and
11 are interconnected to rotors
of the encoders
12 and
13, respectively. Both encoders
12
and
13 constitute detection means for detecting an operation condition of
the operation lever
3. In other words, the lower end of the operation lever
3 is engaged with the intersecting portion between both rotary bodies
8
and
9. When the operation lever
3 is operated for rocking in an arbitrary
direction, the rocking motion is converted to the rotary motion of both rotary
bodies
8 and
9, and both encoders
12 and
13 output
detection signals corresponding to the rocking amount and to the rocking direction
of the operation lever
3. Incidentally, each encoder
12 and
13
has a built-in return spring, and the return springs automatically return the operation
lever
3 to a stand-up state.
As shown in FIG. 5, an accommodation portion
3a is unitarily formed
at the upper end of the operation lever
3 that protrudes from the opening
1a. First and second push switches
14 and
15 are fitted
inside the accommodation portion
3a. The first push switch
14
has a stem
14a. When the stem
14a is pushed against
spring force of the internal return spring, not shown, a moving contact, not shown,
comes into contact with a fixed contact and conducts an ON operation. The second
push switch
15 has a similar construction, too. The stems
14a
and
15a of the first and second push switches
14 and
15
face each other with a predetermined gap between them. Lead wires
16 are
connected to the first and second push switches
14 and
15, pass through
the inside of the hollow operation lever
3 and are connected to a control
unit
5.
The operation knob
4 is fitted from outside to the accommodation portion
3a of the operation lever
3. The operation knob
4 is
allowed to reciprocate in an axial direction of the operation lever
3 by
using the accommodation portion
3a as its slide surface. However,
when a stopper protuberance
4a of the operation knob
4 is
fitted into an engagement hole
3b of the accommodation portion
3a,
the moving distance of the operation knob
4 in the axial direction is limited
to a predetermined range and the operation knob
4 is prevented from falling
off from the operation lever
3, too. The operation knob
4 has therein
a pusher
4b. The pusher
4b is interposed between the
stems
14a and
15a of the first and second push switches
14 and
15. Therefore, when the pusher
4b receives uniform
urging force in the vertical direction from the return springs built in the first
and second push switches
14 and
15, the operation knob
4 is
stably held at a neutral position under a non-load state. When the operation knob
4 is pushed with the neutral position as the reference, the pusher
4b
turns ON the first push switch
14. When push switch
14 and the
operation knob
4 are pulled with the neutral position as the reference,
the pusher
4b turns ON the second push switch
15.
Referring to FIG. 6, the operation knob
4 includes a large diameter
portion
17 positioned outside the accommodation portion
3a of
the operation lever
3 and having a columnar shape, and a protuberance portion
18 protruding upward from the center of the large diameter portion
17.
A constriction
18a is formed at a part of the protuberance
18.
Knurling
17a is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the large
diameter portion
17. Knurling
18b is defined as a roughened
surface on a spherical ceiling surface of the protuberance
18.
The control unit
5 has a CPU and a memory that are built in the control
unit
5. The CPU receives the detection signals outputted from both encoders
12 and
13, decides a first control signal corresponding to the detection
signal on the basis of data and a program stored in the memory and outputs this
first control signal to both motors
10 and
11. The first control
signal is the one that corresponds to an operation feeling imparted to the operation
lever
3 and to the operation knob
4. The kind of the signal includes
generation of vibration and a change of operation force. When the kind of the signal
is the generation of vibration, a first control signal representing the intensity
of vibration, the shape of vibration, a load time, a frequency, etc, is generated.
When the kind of the signal is the change of the operation force, a first control
signal representing the intensity of the operation force, a generation direction
of the operation force (that is, resistance force or propelling force), a load
time, etc, is generated. The ON signal of the first and second push switches
14
and
15 is inputted to the control unit
5. The control unit
5
outputs a second control signal to the monitor
6 in accordance with the
ON signal of the first and second push switches
14 and
15 and the
detection signal of both encoders
12 and
13. The second control signal
is the one that decides or cancels a selecting operation of the kind and the function
of an apparatus displayed on the monitor
6 and displays a cursor corresponding
to the operation position of the operation lever
3 on the monitor
6.
The monitor
6 is fitted to an instrument panel inside a car.
Next, the operation of the force sense imparting type input apparatus having
the construction described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 to
FIG.
10.
First, when the system of the force sense imparting type input apparatus is
activated, four kinds of menus
19a to
19d of the apparatus
such as "AUDIO", "A/C", "NAVI" and "TEL" and the cursor
20 representing
the present position of the operation lever
3 are displayed on the monitor
6 as shown in FIG.
8. The starting operation of such a system can
be conducted by pushing a start button, not shown, disposed at a predetermined
position inside the car, or in the interlocking arrangement with an accessory mode
of an ignition key, for example.
When the operation force in the rocking direction is not imparted to the operation
lever
3, the operation lever
3 is kept under the standup state at
the center position through the return springs of both encoders
12 and
13.
When the operator puts his fingers to the operation knob
4 and rocks the
operation lever
3 in an arbitrary direction, the control unit
5 receives
the detection signals outputted from both encoders
12 and
13 of the
stick controller
2 and outputs the second control signal corresponding to
the detection signals to the monitor
6. In consequence, the cursor
20
is moved to the position corresponding to the present position of the operation
lever
3. The rocking operation of the operation lever
3 can be made
by various operation methods as the operator puts his fingers to each part of the
operation knob
4 while keeping his palm on the exterior decoration plate
1. More concretely, the operator may put his finger on the ceiling surface
of the protuberance portion
18 as shown in FIG. 7A or on the side surface
of the protuberance portion
18 as shown in FIG.
7B. Alternatively,
the operator may nip the constriction
18a of the protuberance portion
18 with his two fingers as shown in FIG. 7C or may nip the large diameter
portion
17 with his two fingers as shown in FIG.
7D. Because the
operator can operate the operation knob
4 while keeping the palm on the
exterior decoration plate
1 in all of these cases, the operator can reliably
rock the operation lever
3 in a desired direction.
When the operation lever
3 is rocked in the desired direction in this
way and the cursor
20 is moved in the direction of the kind menu
19a
representing "AUDIO", for example, the control unit
5 receives the detection
signals outputted from both encoders
12 and
13 and outputs the first
control signal corresponding to the detection signals to both motors
10
and
11. In consequence, the desired operation feeling can be imparted to
the operation lever
3. For example, the resistance operation force in the
rocking direction of the operation lever
3 is imparted when the cursor
20
reaches the range of the kind menu
19a, and the operation force for
promoting the rocking direction of the operation lever
3 is imparted when
the cursor
20 enters the range of the kind menu
19a. Consequently,
the operator keeping his fingers put on the operation knob
4 can know through
blind-touch the rocking operation of the operation lever
3 in the intended
direction. In the case of this example, the operator can know through the click
feeling that the cursor
20 reaches the range of the kind menu
19a
and can then acquire the feeling that the cursor
20 is pulled towards
the center of the kind menu
19a. Incidentally, when the display color
of the kind menu
19a is changed in addition to the application of
the external force to the operation lever
3 when the cursor
20 reaches
the range of the menu
19a, the operator can know both haptically
and visually that the operation lever
3 is rocked in the intended direction.
As described above, "AUDIO" corresponding to the kind menu
19a is
selected when the cursor
20 is moved to the central position of the kind
menu
19a. This operation is decided when the operator operates and
pushes the operation knob
4 in the axial direction of the operation lever
3. In other words, when the operator pushes the operation knob
4,
the pusher
4b pushes the stem
14a of the first push
switch
14 and the first push switch
14 is turned ON. The control
unit
5 receives this ON signal and outputs the second control signal to
the monitor
6. In consequence, the display screen of the monitor
6
changes to four kinds of menus
21a to
21d of "RADIO
(AM)", "RADIO (FM)", "CASSETTE" and "CD". Such a push operation of the operation
knob
4 is conducted as the operator pushes the ceiling surface of the protuberance
portion
18 with his finger as shown in FIG. 7A, or nips and pushes the constriction
18a of the protuberance portion
18 with two fingers as shown
in FIG. 7C, or nips and pushes the large diameter portion
17 with two fingers
as shown in FIG.
7D. In either case, the push operation can be continuously
conducted while the operation lever
3 is operated for rocking.
In this case, too, the operation is conducted in the same way as described above.
When the operation lever
3 is operated for rocking in such a manner as to
move the cursor
20 on the menu
21a, for example, and when
the operation knob
4 is pushed under this state, "RADIO (FM)" is selected
and the display screen of the monitor
6 changes to "NHK 1ST", "NHK 2ND",
"COMMERCIAL STATIONS 1 TO 10", etc, as shown in FIG.
10. When the operation
lever
3 is rocked to select "NHK 1ST", for example, and the operation knob
4 is pushed to decide the menu, the operator can listen to the NHK 1st program
from the car radio.
When the operator desires to cancel the menu selected by rocking the operation
lever
3 in the menu selection operation described above, the operator pulls
the operation knob
4 in the axial direction of the operation lever
3
and can thus cancel the selected menu. For example, when the operation knob
4
is pulled under the state where the menu shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the monitor
6 and the cursor
20 is moved to select "NHK 1ST", the pusher
4b
pushes the stem
15a of the second push switch
15 and the
second push switch
15 is turned ON. The control unit
5 receives this
ON signal and outputs the second control signal to the monitor
6. In consequence,
the selection of "NHK 1ST" is cancelled and the display screen of the monitor
6
returns to the state shown in FIG.
10. The operator can conduct the pull
operation of the operation knob
4 by nipping and lifting up the constriction
18a of the protuberance portion
18 with two fingers as shown
in FIG. 7C or nipping and lifting up the large diameter portion
17 with
two fingers as shown in FIG.
7D. In either case, the pull operation can
be continuously conducted while the operation lever
3 is rocked.
The explanation given above represents the case of "selection of radio stations"
from an audio apparatus, but the selection operation of functions of other apparatuses
is basically the same with the exception that the display of the monitor
6
changes. For example, it is possible to select temperature adjustment and wind
quantity adjustment of an air conditioner when "A/C" is selected from the kind
menus
19a to
19d shown in FIG.
8.
In the force sense imparting type input apparatus according to this embodiment,
the first push switch
14 is turned ON when the operation knob
4 fitted
to the end part of the operation lever
3 is pushed, and the second push
switch
15 is turned ON when the operation knob
4 is pulled. Therefore,
the operations of selecting and deciding the menu or canceling the menu can be
continuously conducted through the rocking operation of the operation lever
3
and the push/pull operation of the operation knob
4, and maneuverability
can be remarkably improved. The operation knob
4 has the large diameter
portion
17 and the protuberance portion
18, and the constriction
18a is defined at a part of the protuberance portion
18. Therefore,
the operator can easily conduct the push/pull operation by nipping the large diameter
portion
17 or the constriction
18a of the protuberance portion
18 with two fingers, or putting the finger onto the ceiling surface of the
protuberance portion
18. Furthermore, because knurling
17a and
18b is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter
portion
17 and on the ceiling surface of the protuberance portion
18,
slip of the fingers can be prevented and in this point, too, maneuverability can
be improved.
Incidentally, the shape of the operation knob
4 is not particularly
limited to the shape in the embodiment described above. For example, the large
diameter portion
17 may have a prismatic shape as shown in FIG. 11A, the
protuberance portion
18 may have a prismatic shape as shown in FIG. 11B
or both large diameter portion
17 and protuberance portion
18 may
have a prismatic shape. When the planar shape of at least one of the large diameter
portion
17 and the protuberance portion
18 has a rectangular shape,
the operator can know through blind touch the rocking direction of the operation
lever
3 from the outer shape of the operation knob
4 when the operator
puts his finger to each part of the operation knob
4.
The invention is practiced in the form explained above and provides the following effects.
When the operation knob provided to the end part of the operation lever is pushed,
one of the switches is operated and when the operation knob is pulled, the other
switch is operated. Therefore, the operator can continuously conduct the rocking
operation of the operation lever and the push-pull operation for switching, and
a force sense imparting type input apparatus that is easy-to-operate and is excellent
in an operation factor can be accomplished.
*
