Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-02
2004-12-07
Nguyen, Jimmy H. (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
C345S184000, C362S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06828957
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a haptic-sense-generation input device that is particularly suitable for use in vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8
shows a conventional haptic-sense-generation input device in which the main part is shown in cross section.
FIG. 9
is a sectional view taken along line
9
—
9
in FIG.
8
.
A body
51
is a generally rectangular parallelepiped box made of a synthetic resin and is formed by molding. The body
51
is composed of a circumferential side wall
51
a
, a top wall
51
b
that is provided above the side wall
51
a
, a circular opening
51
c
that is formed in the top wall
51
b
, a first holding portion
51
d
that projects inward from the top wall
51
b
, a bottom wall
51
e
that is provided below the side wall
51
a
, and a generally cylindrical second holding portion
51
f
that extends inward from the bottom wall
51
e.
The opening
51
c
and the second holding portion
51
f
are opposed to each other. The body
51
has a relatively large volume.
A motor
52
has a generally cylindrical base portion
52
a
and a motor shaft
52
b
that projects from the base portion
52
a
. The motor
52
is provided in such a manner that a rear portion of the base portion
52
a
is housed in and held by the second holding portion
51
f
and the motor shaft
52
b
projects outward through the opening
51
c
. The motor
52
is of a large size because it is required to generate a prescribed, relatively high torque.
A manipulation knob
53
is made of a synthetic resin and is formed by molding. The manipulation knob
53
is composed of a generally cylindrical manipulating portion
53
a
, a cylindrical fixing portion
53
b
that is provided inside the manipulating portion
53
a
and projects from the center of the manipulating portion
53
a
, an annular brim
53
c
that extends outward from the bottom of the manipulating portion
53
a
perpendicularly to the axis of the fixing portion
53
b
, and a cylindrical first pulley
53
d
that extends from a radial position, close to its outer periphery, of the brim
53
c
so as to be concentric with the fixing portion
53
b.
The motor shaft
52
b
of the motor
52
is directly inserted in the cylindrical fixing portion
53
b
of the manipulation knob
53
, and the motor shaft
52
b
is fixed to the fixing portion
53
b
by press fitting or screwing, for example.
When the manipulation knob
53
is attached, the manipulating portion
53
a
and the brim
53
c
are located outside the body
51
and the first pulley
53
d
is located inside the body
51
.
A coding member
54
is composed of a disc-shaped rotator
54
a
, a support shaft
54
b
that penetrates through the center of the rotator
54
a
and extends in the vertical direction that is perpendicular to the rotator
54
a
, a plurality of slits
54
c
that are formed in the rotator
54
a
so as to be arranged concentrically with the support shaft
54
b
, and a disc-shaped second pulley
54
d
that expends from a prescribed position of the support shaft
54
b
parallel with the rotator
54
a.
One end portion of the support shaft
54
b
of the coding member
54
is rotatably attached to the first holding portion
51
d
of the body
51
, whereby the rotator
54
a
can rotate. In this state, the support shaft
54
b
of the coding member
54
is parallel with the motor shaft
52
b
of the motor
52
and the second pulley
54
d
of the coding member
54
is flush with the first pulley
53
d
of the manipulation knob
53
.
A photointerrupter
56
has a light-emitting element
56
a
and a photodetector
56
b
, and has a function that light that is emitted by the light-emitting element
56
a
is detected by the photodetector
56
b
. The photointerrupter
56
is provided in such a manner that the rotator
54
a
having the slits
54
c
is interposed between the light-emitting element
56
a
and the photodetector
56
b
. As the rotator
54
a
rotates, the photodetector
56
a
intermittently detects light that is emitted by the light-emitting element
56
a.
That is, the photointerrupter
56
and the coding member
54
constitute a rotation detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of the manipulation knob
53
.
A belt
55
is made of elastic rubber or a metal and has a ring shape. The belt
55
is wound on the first pulley
53
d
and the second pulley
54
d
, whereby the first pulley
53
d
and the second pulley
54
d
rotate in link with each other. That is, the belt
55
causes the motor shaft
53
b
of the motor
52
and the rotator
54
a
of the coding member
54
to rotate in link with each other.
A push-button switch
57
is composed of a base portion
57
a
and a push button
57
b
that projects from the base portion
57
a
. The push-button switch
57
is provided close to the motor
52
at such a position that the push button
57
b
is opposed to a tip portion of the first pulley
53
d
of the manipulation knob
53
. When the first pulley
53
d
is manipulated in the axial direction, the push-button switch
57
is pushed (manipulated) by the tip portion of the first pulley
53
d
. That is, when the manipulation knob
53
is depressed in the axial direction, it is moved in the axial direction together with the motor shaft
52
b
, whereby the push-button switch
57
is manipulated.
A controller
58
, which is a central processing unit (CPU), for example, produces a prescribed output signal when receiving a prescribed input signal. The output signal is used for controlling a haptic sense that is generated by the motor
52
.
For example, when a proper output signal is output from the controller
58
, the motor shaft
52
b
of the motor
52
is driven so as to produce a desired haptic sense. The haptic sense that is transmitted to the manipulation knob
53
can be changed depending on how the motor shaft
52
b
is driven.
Function selection switches
59
are a plurality of push-button switches, for example. A desired function can be selected by manipulating one of the push-button switches.
Output signals of the respective function switches
59
are input to the controller
58
. For example, by using the function selection switches
59
, selection can be made among such functions as tuning of a radio receiver, song selection of a compact disc (CD) player, and route setting of a navigation system. The function selection switches
59
are provided at prescribed locations.
The motor
52
generates a prescribed haptic sense based on an output signal of each of the function selection switches
59
.
A monitor
60
is a liquid crystal display device, for example, and has a display screen. The monitor
60
is provided at a prescribed location and performs display that relates to a desired function based on a control signal for the desired function that is supplied from the controller
58
.
Next, the operation of the above-configured conventional haptic-sense-generation input device will be described. A control signal for generating a haptic sense corresponding to a function that has been selected by manipulating one of the function selection switches
59
is input to the motor
52
. Based on the control signal, the motor
52
generates a prescribed haptic sense, which is transmitted to the manipulation knob
53
that is directly attached to the motor shaft
52
b
of the motor
52
.
A more specific operation of the conventional haptic-sense-generation input device that is performed in tuning in to a radio broadcast will be described below. First, one of the function selection switches
59
that is provided for a function of tuning in to a radio broadcast is manipulated.
In response, the controller
58
inputs, to the motor
52
, a control signal for generating a haptic sense that corresponds to the function of tuning in to a radio broadcast. Based on the control signal, the motor
52
generates a prescribed haptic sense that corresponds to the function of tuning in to a radio broadcast.
Then, when the manipulation knob
53
is manipulated, the haptic sense is transmitted to the manipulation knob
53
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Nguyen Jimmy H.
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