US 12,088,986 B2
Input device
Sadayuki Yaginuma, Miyagi (JP); Kunio Hosono, Fukushima (JP); Tetsuo Muranaka, Miyagi (JP); and Yasuji Hagiwara, Miyagi (JP)
Assigned to ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/047,769.
Application 18/047,769 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2021/016213, filed on Apr. 21, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-084772 (JP), filed on May 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0065480 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); G06F 3/0338 (2013.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G06F 3/038 (2013.01)
CPC H04R 1/1041 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0338 (2013.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G06F 3/038 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An input device comprising:
a housing;
a strain-generating body including a cylindrical portion with an upper end surface, the strain-generating body being secured to the housing; and
four strain sensors, the four strain sensors being secured around the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body; and
an operation panel having a lower surface, the operation panel including a shaft, the shaft being situated on the lower surface and at a central portion of the operation panel, and the shaft being inserted into the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body to be secured to the strain-generating body,
wherein the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body and the lower surface of the operation panel are in contact with each other, and
wherein the shaft has a top end that protrudes from the cylindrical portion, and the top end of the shaft faces the housing so as not to contact the housing.