Abstract: An input apparatus includes a flat input device of a pressure-sensitive type or a capacitive type, and an indicator sheet on which indication marks are formed is fixed on the surface of the flat input device. A tactile-feel-generating unit is provided behind the flat input device. The tactile-feel-generating unit includes dome-shaped inversion plates which are disposed at positions corresponding to the indication marks. When one of the indication marks is pressed setting an input mode, an operation signal is generated in accordance with an item represented by the indication mark, and a tactile feel is generated by a reaction force of the corresponding inversion plate. When an indication mark is touched, while in an input mode, the control unit recognizes the resulting signal to be a coordinate data signal.

Abstract: A coordinate input device includes a housing containing a movable member, a resilient member formed of a coil spring, and first and second detectors for detecting the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. The movable member in an initial position before a sliding operation faces a supporter of a first cover provided in the housing. When the movable member is slid in a certain direction, the resilient member is stretched in the certain direction and the first and second detectors detect the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. When the sliding operation of the movable member is finished, a resilient force of the resilient member stretched in the certain direction forces the movable member to return automatically to the initial position.

Abstract: A variable capacitance unit is formed between one portion of a human body and an opposed electrode facing it through a casing of a robot toy (electronic device) when the one portion of the human body such as a hand or a finger approaches the surface of the casing of the robot. Since the capacitance of the variable capacitance unit varies according to the facing area and the facing distance of the one portion of the human body and the opposed electrode, it is possible to detect the one portion of the human body approaching or touching the robot toy by detecting this change. Since the opposed electrode forming the touch sensor can be provided within the casing, the touch sensor cannot be seen directly from the outside of the robot toy.

Abstract: A heating time period is decreased by that a valve body including a hollow valve shaft is arranged in a slidable manner in a cylindrical part of a casing on which a nozzle body with a valve seat is mounted at a front end thereof, a fuel is introduced from a fuel outlet port opening on a shaft wall of the valve shaft into a fuel path formed by the valve shaft and the cylindrical part, the fuel is heated to be injected from the nozzle body by a heater arranged at an outside of the fuel path of the cylindrical part, and a sleeve is mounted in the fuel path so that a large diameter part thereof closes the fuel path at an upper area of the fuel outlet port, while a fuel inlet port is formed on a small diameter part of the sleeve to introduce the fuel into the fuel path, so that the fuel path is narrowed to decrease an amount of the fuel to be heated by the heater.

Abstract: An input apparatus having a reduced-size electrostatic sensor that can precisely detect an input and then output a signal and, thus, has excellent responsiveness and reliability contains the following: clock signal generating means for generating clock signals; delaying means for generating delayed signals by delaying the signal rise time of the clock signal according to the capacitance detected when a human appendage approaches or contacts the electrostatic sensor; AND means for receiving the clock signal and the delayed signal as input signals and then outputting these signals as an output signal; and smoothing means for smoothing and outputting the output of the analog switch.

Abstract: A multistep switch includes a first input device, a second input device, and a third input device. The first input device is a capacitive type sensor. The second input device is disposed behind the first input device and capable of switching by pressure when the first input device is depressed. The third input device is disposed behind the second input device and capable of switching by pressure when the first input device is depressed and the second input device is depressed.

Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of input keys arranged in a matrix of three or more rows and three or more columns; electrodes facing parts of or all surfaces of the input keys that surround intersection of rows and columns formed by the arrangement of the input keys; and an input key detecting unit that identifies operated input keys among the plurality of input keys by combinations of the electrodes having a change in electrostatic capacitance. With this structure, the number of electrodes can be less than that of the input keys.

Abstract: A multistep switch includes a first input device, a second input device, and a third input device. The first input device is a capacitive type sensor. The second input device is disposed behind the first input device and capable of switching by pressure when the first input device is depressed. The third input device is disposed behind the second input device and capable of switching by pressure when the first input device is depressed and the second input device is depressed.

Abstract: An input device is provided. The input device contains a face sheet, coordinate-inputting means opposing the lower portion of the face sheet, and switching means opposing the lower portion of the coordinate-inputting means. The face sheet, the coordinate-inputting means, and the switching means are laminated in a thickness direction. The coordinate-inputting means has X- and Y-direction electrodes opposing each other and arranged on both surfaces of a base sheet in a grid manner. The switching means has a substrate with a switch contact portions in a grid arrangement. The switch contact portions are switched by the inversion of invertible plates. Projections are disposed between the coordinate-inputting means and the invertible plates.

Abstract: A controller is provided with an artificial retina chip. The artificial retina chip is connected to a display unit via a game machine body. Before starting the game, the artificial retina chip is instructed to recognize an image of frame of the display unit to store such image as the reference image. After starting the game, the controller is moved to recognize the image of frame of the display unit in order to detect the designated position by comparing the coordinate position data after the movement and the coordinate position data of the reference image.

Abstract: An operation unit is provided with an operation body operated by hand, a first detection unit for detecting the inclination operation of the operation body, and a second detection unit for detecting the pushing-down operation of the operation body. Any of 26 alphabetical characters “A, B, C, . . . , X, Y, and Z” is selected corresponding to the inclination direction of the operation body. The displayed character is changed successively by rotating the operation body in X-Y coordinate plane. The selected character is finalized by pushing down the operation unit in Z-direction.

Abstract: A capacitive input device, capable of stably adjusting the sensitivity of a counter electrode to improve the operability of the input device, and of improving the appearance of an electric apparatus is provided. In the input device, a conductive material is arranged between a counter electrode and an inner surface of a casing.

Abstract: A coordinate input device includes a housing containing a movable member, a resilient member formed of a coil spring, and first and second detectors for detecting the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. The movable member in an initial position before a sliding operation faces a supporter of a first cover provided in the housing. When the movable member is slid in a certain direction, the resilient member is stretched in the certain direction and the first and second detectors detect the sliding direction and the sliding distance of the movable member. When the sliding operation of the movable member is finished, a resilient force of the resilient member stretched in the certain direction forces the movable member to return automatically to the initial position.

Abstract: A thin input device is disclosed that is capable of simultaneously inputting rotational information and switching information. If a part of the human body H is rotated around a plurality of operating portions capacitance C is generated between the human body H and the respective electrodes, which are opposite to the human body H, in sequence. Therefore, a variation of the capacitance C corresponding to the respective operating portions is detected so as to obtain information on the rotational operation. In addition, if the operating portions are simultaneously tapped, the capacitances C of the electrodes are varied in sequence. Thus, simultaneous contact with the operating portions can be detected by detecting the variation of capacitance C.

Abstract: An input apparatus having a reduced-size electrostatic sensor that can precisely detect an input and then output a signal and, thus, has excellent responsiveness and reliability comprises the following: clock signal generating means for generating clock signals; delaying means for generating delayed signals by delaying the signal rise time of the clock signal according to the capacitance detected when a human appendage approaches or contacts the electrostatic sensor; AND means for receiving the clock signal and the delayed signal as input signals and then outputting these signals as an output signal; and smoothing means for smoothing and outputting the output of the analog switch.

Abstract: A variable capacitance unit is formed between one portion of a human body and an opposed electrode facing it through a casing of a robot toy (electronic device) when the one portion of the human body such as a hand or a finger approaches the surface of the casing of the robot. Since the capacitance of the variable capacitance unit varies according to the facing area and the facing distance of the one portion of the human body and the opposed electrode, it is possible to detect the one portion of the human body approaching or touching the robot toy by detecting this change. Since the opposed electrode forming the touch sensor can be provided within the casing, the touch sensor cannot be seen directly from the outside of the robot toy.

Abstract: An input device includes a pressure-sensitive or capacitive planar input unit with an indicator sheet which has input sections being secured to the surface of the planar input unit. A tactile feedback generator is provided at the back side of the planar input unit. The tactile feedback generator includes dome-shaped inversion plates that are separately provided at locations corresponding to the input sections and provide feedback to the operator. When an input section is pressed, an operation signal in accordance with what is indicated at the pressed input section is generated.

Abstract: An input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, including: at least one control member projecting to the outside of a casing; a movement-transmitting member formed around the control member and operatively associated with the movement of an operating point of the control member, the movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of conductive elastic members; and a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon resistors corresponding to the conductive elastic members, the conductive elastic members changing the area of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors according to a direction of movement and a tilt angle of the operating point of the control member so as to vary the amount of resistance; wherein, by moving the operating point of the control member, analog signals corresponding to the movement are input to the game machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input device (controller) for inputting signals to a game apparatus using a computer. The input device includes a vibration generating device, the vibration state of which can be set in correspondence with the frequency.

Abstract: A casing includes a first ten-key input section and a second ten-key input section independently. The first ten-key input section has ten-keys and the second ten-key input section has cursor keys. Thus, even during normal Japanese entry, the entry operations of the ten-keys and the cursor keys are possible in parallel and operability is not reduced.