Abstract: A force sense generator includes a rotatable circular plate having a rotation axis at a center of gravity; a motor that drives the circular plate to be rotated; a cam formed at a surface of the circular plate so as to surround the rotation axis; an anchor that is reciprocated along a linear trajectory that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the circular plate; and a follower provided at the anchor and is moved along the cam, the cam being configured to include a first angle range and a second angle range such that the anchor is moved in opposite directions at different accelerations when the follower moves within the first angle range and when the follower moves within the second angle range, respectively, while the circular plate is rotated in one direction.

Abstract: A force sense generator includes a rotatable circular plate having a rotation axis at a center of gravity; a motor that drives the circular plate to be rotated; a cam formed at a surface of the circular plate so as to surround the rotation axis; an anchor that is reciprocated along a linear trajectory that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the circular plate; and a follower provided at the anchor and is moved along the cam, the cam being configured to include a first angle range and a second angle range such that the anchor is moved in opposite directions at different accelerations when the follower moves within the first angle range and when the follower moves within the second angle range, respectively, while the circular plate is rotated in one direction.

Abstract: A heater for fixing devices includes a glass substrate, a heating element, electrode patterns connected to the heating element, a first protective layer, and a second protective layer. The glass substrate is made of an alkali-free glass. The first protective layer is formed by firing a mixture of a first glass powder and a first filler. The first glass powder contains no alkali metal oxide and has a lower softening point than the glass substrate. The first filler has a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the alkali-free glass for the glass substrate. The second protective layer is made of a material that does not contain the first filler contained in the first protective layer.

Abstract: A heater for fixing devices includes a glass substrate, a heating element, electrode patterns connected to the heating element, a first protective layer, and a second protective layer. The glass substrate is made of an alkali-free glass. The first protective layer is formed by firing a mixture of a first glass powder and a first filler. The first glass powder contains no alkali metal oxide and has a lower softening point than the glass substrate. The first filler has a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the alkali-free glass for the glass substrate. The second protective layer is made of a material that does not contain the first filler contained in the first protective layer.

Abstract: A haptic feedback input device includes an operating member having an annular circumferential surface, capable of rotating in a circumferential direction and moving radially, a motor that applies a torque to the operating member, a detecting unit that detects radial movement of the operating member, and housings that have an opening through which a part of the circumferential surface of the operating member is exposed. The operating member and the motor are connected via meshing gears that reduces a rotational speed of a rotating shaft of the motor to transmit an increased torque to the operating member. A common bracket supports the operating member and the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary device that rotatably and movably supports a rotary body, thereby reducing the number of parts, as compared to the related art. A rotary body (and a code member that is supported such that it can be rotated together with the rotary body) is supported so as to be movable in an X1-X2 direction independently from a fixed base and a fixed board. A photo interrupter is fixed to the surface of the fixed base. The interrupter is arranged such that the direction of a straight line linking the center of a light emitting portion in the width direction and the center of a light receiving portion in the width direction is orthogonal to the direction in which the rotary body is moved, and when the rotary body is positioned at the center of the movement direction, the straight line passes through a rotation center.

Abstract: An elevating member is fitted on a rotary shaft of a rotation operating member slidably supported by a base so that it can be elevated, first and second cam members are provided in the rotation operating member, and first and second elastic contact members are provided so as to be elevated. By forming guide grooves, which extend in an oblique direction, in the elevating member, and slidably inserting engaging projections provided in the base into the guide grooves, the sliding operating force on the rotation operating member in a horizontal direction is converted into the elevation operating force of the elevating member in a vertical direction, and the first and second elastic contact members are selectively engaged with any one of the first and second cam members according to the elevated position of the elevating member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a force feedback input device including a cylindrical operating member having an open bottom. A support member that is rotatable supports a central portion of an inner surface of the operating member, and a motor which is held by the support member. A rotary shaft of the motor is arranged to be perpendicular to a central axis of rotation of the operating member. A great portion of the motor is housed in the operating member. A pinion that is fixed to the rotary shaft of the motor meshes with a ring-shaped gear that is provided at a part shifted from the central axis of rotation of the operating member.

Abstract: A multiple operation type input device includes: an operating body that is integrated with a rotating shaft A plurality of permanent magnets are provided on the operating body at the same interval in the circumferential direction thereof. A frame supports the rotating shaft. Sliders support tilting shafts of the frame; holders that supports the sliders such that the sliders can be moved in the vertical direction. A cam member is fixed to the rotating shaft. A steel ball is engaged with or disengaged from the cam member during a rotating operation, and keeps the operating body at an intermittent rotation position when the operating body is not operated. A magnetoresistive element detects a magnetic field intensity of the permanent magnets. A determining unit determines the operational state of the operating body on the basis of signals output from the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A touch operation input device, such as used in an automobile, controls selective manipulation of a functional item from among a plurality of installation devices when an operator cannot see a manipulation surface or a display screen of the input device. The touch operation input device operates by selective detection of the presence of a finger in areas of the manipulation surface corresponding to the plurality of installation devices.

Abstract: A force feedback device comprising an operation unit, an actuator for providing a feel sensation (force) to the operation unit and a control unit for controlling the actuator, wherein the control unit stores a plurality of different unit force patterns, forms composite force patterns by combining the unit force patterns and controls the actuator based on the composite force patterns to provide feel sensations to the operation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a force feedback input device including a cylindrical operating member having an open bottom. A support member that is rotatable supports a central portion of an inner surface of the operating member, and a motor which is held by the support member. A rotary shaft of the motor is arranged to be perpendicular to a central axis of rotation of the operating member. A great portion of the motor is housed in the operating member. A pinion that is fixed to the rotary shaft of the motor meshes with a ring-shaped gear that is provided at a part shifted from the central axis of rotation of the operating member.

Abstract: A force-feedback input device includes a rotatable operating member; a motor which is capable of applying torque to the operating member; a rotary encoder for detecting the rotational angle of the operating member; and a controller for controlling the motor based on the detected rotational angle. The operating member is tubular and is housed in a housing such that the periphery of the operating member is partially uncovered and exposed through an opening provided in the operating surface of the housing. An output shaft of the motor is concentrically fixed to operating member, and the main body of the motor is disposed in the tubular operating member.

Abstract: A changeable operation feeling (tactile sensation) is provided for a user manipulating the knob of manual input device. The manual input device includes a feeling providing device which has plural discs fixed to a control shaft, bearing feeling patterns on their circumferential surfaces and a ball holder which works in conjunction with the discs to provide an operation feeling to the knob. An actuator is driven to move up or down the ball holder to select the feeling pattern to be elastically forced to contact the ball to change an operation feeling as the user rotates the knob. A car-mounted apparatus controller incorporates this type of manual input device for functional control of car-mounted electric apparatuses.

Abstract: A haptic feedback input device includes an operating member having an annular circumferential surface, capable of rotating in a circumferential direction and moving radially, a motor that applies a torque to the operating member, a detecting unit that detects radial movement of the operating member, and housings that have an opening through which a part of the circumferential surface of the operating member is exposed. The operating member and the motor are connected via meshing gears that reduce a rotational speed of a rotating shaft of the motor to transmit an increased torque to the operating member. A common bracket supports the operating member and the motor.

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.

Abstract: There is provided a combined By-wire and Tiptronic type gear shift apparatus capable of improving the operability of a shift lever and thereby accomplishing the practicability of the apparatus. The gear shift apparatus contains a shift lever guide, a fixed shaft, a rotary cylinder, a shift lever movable in a rotating direction of the rotary cylinder and a direction perpendicular to the rotating direction, a solenoid and an actuator for rotating the shift lever, first and second position detection sensors and for detecting a shift position of the shift lever, a rack secured to the shift lever, a pinion secured to a driving shaft of the actuator, and a controller for controlling operation of the solenoid and the actuator.

Abstract: A manual in put device is provided with a spherical bearing, a joystick type knob held swingably on the spherical bearing, a rotary knob disposed coaxially with the joystick type knob, a first actuator for loading an external force on the joystick type knob, a second actuator for loading an external force on the rotary knob, a control unit for controlling these first and second actuators, a guide member for defining an operation direction of the joystick type knob, first detection means for detecting an operation state of the joystick type knob, and second detection means for detecting an operation state of the rotary knob. In an onboard instrument control device, the built-in manual input device is contained in a box and the joystick type knob and the rotary knob and push button switches used for instrument selection are disposed on an upper surface of the box.

Abstract: In an input apparatus of the invention, since driving levers are made to perform seesaw operations, it is not necessary to perform a rotating operation by an arc shape like a conventional interlocking member, a space in the vertical direction can be made small, and the input apparatus which can be miniaturized in the vertical direction can be provided.

Abstract: A force-feedback input device includes a rotatable operating member; a motor which is capable of applying torque to the operating member; a rotary encoder for detecting the rotational angle of the operating member; and a controller for controlling the motor based on the detected rotational angle. The operating member is tubular and is housed in a housing such that the periphery of the operating member is partially uncovered and exposed through an opening provided in the operating surface of the housing. An output shaft of the motor is concentrically fixed to operating member, and the main body of the motor is disposed in the tubular operating member.