US 11,726,518 B2
Operating device
Takayuki Saijo, Miyagi (JP)
Assigned to ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/456,611.
Application 17/456,611 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/010607, filed on Mar. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-114962 (JP), filed on Jun. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0083090 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G05G 1/04 (2006.01); B60N 2/02 (2006.01)
CPC G05G 1/04 (2013.01) [B60N 2/0228 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An operating device comprising:
a control knob provided extending in a first direction, a first side of the control knob in the first direction being pivotally supported to be rotatable about a shaft that protrudes substantially perpendicular to the control knob, and a second side of the control knob in the first direction being rotatable;
an actuator including a spherical portion, wherein rotation of the control knob causes the actuator to tilt in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that the center of the spherical portion serves as a fulcrum, and sliding of the control knob in the first direction causing the actuator to tilt in the first direction, such that the center of the spherical portion serves as the fulcrum;
a first switch configured to be depressed in accordance with the tilting of the actuator in the first direction;
a second switch configured to be depressed in accordance with the tilting of the actuator in the second direction; and
a holder having an accommodating space defined by the outer periphery of the actuator, the holder holding the actuator within the accommodation space,
wherein the actuator includes
a first arm extending from the spherical portion in the first direction, the first arm being configured to depress the first switch in accordance with the tilting of the actuator in the first direction,
a second arm extending from the spherical portion in the second direction, the second arm being configured to depress the second switch in accordance with the tilting of the actuator in the second direction, and
a columnar portion protruding from the spherical portion in a third direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the accommodating space of the holder is defined by
a first accommodating portion extending in the first direction, the first arm being accommodated in the first accommodating portion, and the first accommodating portion being configured to guide the first arm in a depression direction of the first switch, and
a second accommodating portion extending in the second direction, the second arm being accommodated in the second accommodating portion, and the second accommodating portion being configured to guide the second arm in a depression direction of the second switch,
wherein the first arm or the first accommodating portion includes an allowance portion that allows the tilting of the actuator in the second direction, without interference between the first arm and the first accommodating portion, and
wherein the second arm or the second accommodating portion includes an allowance portion that allows the tilting of the actuator in the first direction, without interference between the second arm and the second accommodating portion.