JP2663100B2 - Joystick controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joystick controller and, more particularly, to a structure for preventing the joystick from being damaged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the structure of a conventional general joystick controller will be described with reference to FIG. 1 in the figure
Indicates the joystick controller as a whole and 2
Denotes a housing (case), and 3 denotes a mounting panel to which the housing 2 is fixed.

A sphere 4 is held at the center of the housing 2 so as to roll freely, and an operation shaft 5 is supported on the sphere 4. Thus, the operation shaft 5 is attached to the housing 2 so as to be tiltable. A knob 6 is attached to the upper end of the operation shaft 5, and the operation of tilting the operation shaft 5 is performed by holding the knob 6.

[0004] As described above, the casing 2 to which the operating shaft 5 can be tilted is provided with a conversion mechanism for converting the tilting operation of the operating shaft 5 into an electrical output.

That is, a U-shaped swinging member 7 is swingably supported inside the housing 2 via shafts 8 and 9 connected to both ends of the spherical member 4 so as to sandwich the sphere 4. The lower end of the operation shaft 5 is engaged and connected to the swing member 7.

A rotary potentiometer (variable resistor) 10 is fixed to the right side of the housing 2. The rotary shaft of the potentiometer 10 is a shaft 8 that supports the swinging member 7.
Is linked to A micro switch 11 is fixed to the left side of the housing 2 in opposition to this, and a cam plate fixed to the operating portion of the micro switch 11 integrally with the shaft 9 supporting the swing member 7 is provided. 12 are in contact.

In this conversion mechanism, when the operating shaft 5 is tilted with the sphere 4 as a fulcrum, the swinging member 7 swings, and the rotating shaft of the potentiometer 10 is rotated integrally therewith, whereby the potentiometer is rotated. An electric resistance output corresponding to the amount of inclination of the operation shaft 5 is obtained from the output terminal 10, and a switching output is obtained from the output terminal of the micro switch 11 by operating the micro switch 11 by rotating the cam plate 12. .

In this conversion mechanism, another one having the same configuration is provided orthogonally, so that a two-dimensional output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be obtained. I have.

In the joystick controller 1 configured as described above, the operation shaft 5 is located above the sphere 4.
A movable tubular body 13 is slidably fitted to the movable tubular body 13, and a ring-shaped seat plate 14 is provided between the movable tubular body 13 and the housing 2.
Is inserted. The movable cylinder 13 is always biased downward by the force of the spring 15, and the flange 1 at the lower end thereof is moved.
3a is pressed against the seat plate 14, whereby the operating shaft 5 is always returned to the neutral position (upright state).

The operating shaft 5 projecting above the mounting panel 3 is covered by a rubber cover 16 so that the movable cylinder 13 and the spring 15 are hidden.

[0011]

In the joystick controller 1 as described above, when the operating shaft 5 is tilted at a predetermined angle, it hits the stopper 17 of the housing 2 and the further tilting is restricted. If the operating shaft 5 hits the stopper 17 with a strong force, the operating shaft and the stopper may be damaged. In fact, in the field of use of the joystick controller, damages due to violent operation of the operation axis did not end shortly, and countermeasures have been strongly demanded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a joystick controller that can effectively prevent damage due to rough operation.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a joystick controller for tilting an operation shaft with respect to a housing to obtain an output corresponding to the operation shaft. The knob is provided with an electric alarm generating means, and the operating shaft is provided with a pair of contact pieces for operation.
Switch cylinder made of conductive material is slidably fitted to the shaft
The switch cylinder is separated from the pair of contacts by a spring.
In the direction that the operating shaft is tilted.
The switch cylinder comes in contact with the stopper
Move the cylinder so that it contacts the pair of contacts
A switch mechanism for operating the information generating means is provided.

[0014]

In the joystick controller of the present invention configured as described above, when the operating shaft hits the stopper portion of the housing with a strong force, the switch mechanism activates the electric alarm generating means, and an alarm is issued. Therefore, rough operation of the operation shaft can be prevented, and damage to the operation shaft and the stopper can be prevented. So
In particular, in the present invention, an electric alarm is provided on the knob at the tip of the operation shaft.
The alarm generation means is provided, so the operator can be surely warned.
Can be conveyed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The joystick controller shown in the present embodiment has the same basic structure as the joystick controller of FIG. 8 described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the common parts.

The joystick controller according to the present invention is characterized in that an electric alarm generator 20 for preventing an excessive tilting operation of the operation shaft 5 is provided in addition to the above basic structure.

The electric alarm generator 20 is built in the knob 6 at the tip of the operating shaft 5 as is clear from FIG. 1. In FIG. A positive electrode, 23 is a negative electrode, and 24 is a lid for closing the battery housing.

The electric alarm generator 20 includes alarm means capable of clearly transmitting an alarm by appealing to the operator's five senses (visual, auditory, olfactory, taste, and tactile sensations), for example, a sound such as a buzzer. Sound emitting device that emits light, light emitting device that emits various light, or vibrator that generates vibration,
A magnetic generator that generates magnetism is used.

In the case where a sound generator is used as the electric alarm generator 20, the knob 6 is provided with a hole 25 for sound missing as shown in FIG. In the case of a light emitting device, the knob 6 is entirely or partially made transparent so that light generation can be confirmed from the outside. In the case of a vibrator that generates vibration, it is not particularly necessary to provide a hole in the knob or make the knob transparent. In the case of a magnetic generator, the operator wears a special glove on his hand and senses the magnetism emitted from the magnetic generator with the glove.

In the joystick controller 1 of this embodiment in which the electric alarm generator 20 is incorporated in the knob 6 as described above, a switch mechanism for operating the electric alarm generator 20 when the operation shaft 5 is excessively operated. 26 are provided.

The switch mechanism 26 includes a pair of contact pieces 28 a provided on an insulator 27 fixed to the movable cylinder 13.
28b and the movable cylinder 1 located below the insulator 27.
3 and a switch cylinder 29 slidably fitted to the switch cylinder 3.

The contact pieces 28a and 28b are connected to the lead wires 30 respectively.
The electric alarm generator 20 is connected to the electric alarm generator 20 via a and 30b, and the electric alarm generator 20 is operated by conducting between the contact pieces 28a and 28b.

The switch cylinder 29 is entirely made of a conductive material (metal) having abrasion resistance, and has a tapered surface 29a at the lower end edge thereof. The tapered surface 29a is the housing 2
Is brought into contact with the stopper portion 17.

A spring 31 is interposed between the switch cylinder 29 and the insulator 27, and the force of the spring 31 always moves the switch cylinder 29 downward, that is, in a direction away from the contact pieces 28a and 28b. And is stopped while being pressed against a step 13b formed on the movable cylinder 13. The spring 31 for the switch cylinder 29 is stronger than the spring 15 for returning the operation shaft 5 to the neutral position.

Next, the operation of the joystick controller 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
First, the operating shaft 5 is maintained at the neutral position by the force of the spring 15 in the normal state, that is, at the time of non-operation, as described above. In this state, the switch cylinder 29 of the switch mechanism 26 is connected to the spring 31 as shown in FIG. Contact piece 2 by force
8a, 28b are held away from the
There is no conduction between 8a and 28b.

When the operation shaft 5 is largely tilted against the force of the spring 15, the tapered surface 29a of the switch cylinder 29 is moved to the stopper portion 1 of the housing 2 as shown in FIG.
When the operating shaft 5 is further tilted in this state, the switch cylinder 29 is pushed up against the force of the spring 31 as shown in FIG.
8b.

In this operation, since the force of the spring 31 for the switch housing 29 is stronger than the force of the spring 15 for returning the neutral position of the operating shaft 5 as described above, the operating shaft 5 is tilted and the switch cylinder body is tilted. 29 is the stopper 1
7, the switch housing 29 is not immediately pushed up, so that a sense of contact between the switch cylinder 29 and the stopper portion 17 is clearly transmitted to the operator, and thereafter the operating shaft 5 is further tilted with a strong force. As a result, the switch cylinder 29 is pushed up and operates so as to come into contact with the contact pieces 28a and 28b.

When the switch cylinder 29 is brought into contact with the contacts 28a and 28b in this manner, the contact 28
a and 28b are electrically connected to each other to generate an electric alarm 2
Current flows to zero, which activates the electrical alarm generator 20, which issues a sound, light, vibration, magnetism, etc. alarm.

When the operator releases the operating shaft 5, the operating shaft 5 returns to the neutral position by the force of the spring 15, and accordingly, the switch cylinder 29 is pushed down by the force of the spring 31 and is released from the contact pieces 28a, 28b. As a result, the conduction state between the contact pieces 28a and 28b is released, and the operation of the electric alarm generator 20 is stopped.

As described above, according to the joystick controller of this embodiment, when the operating shaft 5 hits the stopper portion 17 of the housing 2 with a strong force, the electric alarm generator 20 outputs sound, light,
Since an alarm such as vibration is issued, the operator can be alerted, and thus rough operation of the operation shaft 5 is prevented.
Damage to the operation shaft 5 and the stopper 17 can be prevented.

Moreover, in this joystick controller, the electric alarm generator 20 is built in the knob 6 at the tip of the operation shaft 5, so that an alarm can be reliably transmitted to the operator. Such an effect is remarkable when the alarm issued from 20 is vibration or magnetism.

The switch mechanism 26 of the joystick controller is configured such that the tilted operation shaft 5 is connected to the housing 2.
The operator operates the electric alarm generator 20 when the operating shaft 5 is further strongly tilted thereafter.
7 is once alerted by the sense of contact, and then further alerted by an alarm issued from the electrical alarm generator 20, i.e., a two-stage alert is given, Damage can be reliably prevented.

In the switch mechanism 26 of the joystick controller according to the present embodiment, the switch cylinder 29 is not limited to the one formed entirely of a wear-resistant conductive material, but as shown in FIG. A conductor (metal portion) 33 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the body 32.

FIG. 6 shows a switch cylinder 29 in which a conductor 33 and a resistor 3 are mounted on an outer peripheral surface of a wear-resistant insulating cylinder 32.
4 so that the resistance between the contact pieces 28a and 28b gradually decreases as the contact portions of the contact pieces 28a and 28b move downward.

Further, in the switch cylinder 29 shown in FIG. 7, a conductor portion 33 and a resistor portion 34 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of a wear-resistant insulating cylinder 32 in the same manner as in the example of FIG. Piece 28
a, 28b, the lower the contact portion, the lower the contact pieces 28a and 28
Although the resistance value between b is reduced,
This is an example of a structure that changes stepwise.

The switch cylinder 2 shown in FIGS.
By adopting the structure of No. 9, the electric resistance between the contact pieces 28a and 28b decreases as the strength of the operation shaft 5 hitting the stopper portion 17 of the housing 2 increases and the switch cylinder 29 is pushed up. The alarm issued from the electric alarm generator 20 changes greatly.

As described above, the alarm greatly changes as the strength of the operation shaft 5 hitting the stopper portion 17 of the housing 2 increases, so that the operator can be more effectively alerted to the alarm. This can prevent breakage.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the electric alarm generator 20 is built in the knob 6 attached to the tip of the operation shaft 5, but this may be provided outside the joystick controller 1. Further, the operating power source of the electric alarm generator 20 is not limited to a battery, and a current applied to the potentiometer 10 or the like can be used. Further, the alarm issued from the electric alarm generator is not limited to the above-described sound, light, vibration, magnetism, etc., and any other alarm may be used as long as it appeals to the human senses.

[0039]

As is apparent from the embodiments described above, the present invention relates to a joystick controller for tilting an operation shaft with respect to a housing to obtain an output corresponding to the operation shaft, and a knob provided at a tip of the operation shaft. provided with a electrical alarm generating means, a pair of contact pieces to the operation shaft is provided in the operation
Switch cylinder made of conductive material is slidably fitted to the shaft
The switch cylinder is separated from the pair of contacts by a spring.
In the direction that the operating shaft is tilted.
The switch cylinder comes in contact with the stopper
Move the cylinder so that it contacts the pair of contacts
A switch mechanism for operating the information generating means is provided. In the joystick controller, when the operation axis is tilted excessively, an alarm is issued from the electric alarm generation means to alert the operator, and thus rough operation of the operation axis is prevented. The damage of the operation shaft and the like can be prevented. In particular, in the present invention, since the electric alarm generating means is provided at the knob at the tip of the operation shaft, the alarm can be reliably transmitted to the operator, so that the above-described damage prevention effect is remarkable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a joystick controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in partial cross section of a switch mechanism.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a switch mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a switch mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the switch cylinder in the switch mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the switch cylinder in the switch mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the switch cylinder in the switch mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional side view of a conventional joystick controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Joystick controller 2 Housing 5 Operation axis 6 Knob 17 Stopper part 20 Electric alarm generator 26 Switch mechanism 27 Insulator 28a, 28b Contact piece 29 Switch cylinder

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A joystick controller for tilting an operation shaft with respect to a housing to obtain an output corresponding to the operation shaft, comprising: a knob provided at a tip of the operation shaft; Is provided with a pair of contact pieces,
Sliding the switch cylinder made of conductive material with respect to the operation shaft
The switch cylinder is fitted with a spring
It is urged away from the pair of contact pieces, and the operation shaft tilts.
When folded down, the stopper provided on the housing
The switch cylinder abuts, and the switch cylinder is
The electrical alarm generating means is moved so as to come into contact with the contact piece.
Joystick controller provided with a switch mechanism that activates 2. The electric alarm generating means emits a sound.
Sound emitting device, light emitting device that emits light, vibrator that generates vibration
Joystick controller of claim 1 is any one of the aerator. 3. The switch cylinder is an outer peripheral surface of an insulating cylinder.
The upper portion is formed of a conductor portion and a resistor portion, and the pair of contact pieces and
Of the switch cylinder in the direction of the contact piece of the switch cylinder.
The resistance value between the pair of contact pieces is configured to be small.
Joystick controller of claim 1 comprising Te.