Communications: electrical – Tactual indication – With input means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-10-23
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Tactual indication
With input means
C345S167000, C345S162000, C345S157000, C345S156000, C345S163000, C250S221000, C250S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06307465
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an input device that an operator operates to enter the desired command.
The input devices shown in FIG.
15
and
FIG. 16
have been known as input devices to which an operator enters a command through operation.
In the conventional input device shown in
FIG. 15
, key tops
1001
and
1002
are provided in a hole of a case
1000
, and the key tops
1001
and
1002
are disposed correspondingly to a slide switch
1003
and a press switch
1004
respectively. The slide switch
1003
and the press switch
1004
are connected electrically to a substrate
1005
. The operator slides the key top
1001
in the arrow direction to turn on/off the slide switch
1003
. Similarly, the operator presses the key top
1002
in the arrow direction to turn on/off the press switch
1004
.
In the conventional input device shown in
FIG. 16
, a sheet switch
1010
is provided on the case
1011
. Electrodes
1012
of the sheet switch
1010
are connected electrically to a connector
1015
of the substrate
1014
though a flexible member
1013
. The sheet switch
1010
has emboss-like projections
1016
. A projection
1016
is pressed to on/off to operate the corresponding electrode
1012
.
In the case of the conventional input device shown in
FIG. 15
, it is required that a key top
1001
or
1002
be provided on the case
1000
, and a key top
1001
or
1002
and a slide switch
1003
or a press switch
1004
are provided between the substrate
1005
and the case
1000
. Therefore, it is difficult to make the input device thin and small.
In the case of the conventional input device showing
FIG. 16
, it is possible to make the input device thin because the sheet switch
1010
is used, but it is difficult to give an operational tactile sensation and a luxurious appearance.
The present invention has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is the object of the present invention to provides an input device that can be made thin and small and that can give a tactile operational sensation and luxurious appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device into which an operator enters desired commands by operating with a finger that is comprised of a case, a switch contact provided in the inside of the case, a rotatable operation member for being pressed by an operator provided rotatably corresponding to the switch contact and disposed partially projecting from a hole of the case, and a support member that supports the rotatable operation member by pressing it onto the case side and that operates the switch contact against the pressing force when the operator presses the support member.
According to the aspect, the rotatable operation member is provided rotatably corresponding to the switch contact and disposed partially projecting from the hole of the case.
The support member supports the rotatable operation member by pressing it onto the case side and operates the switch contact against the pressing force when the operator presses the support.
As the result, the input device can be made thin and small, and good tactile operational sensation is given to the operator because the rotatable operation member is rotated when the operator presses it. In particular, because rotatable members are rotated when the operator moves a finger slidingly to operate a plurality of rotatable members, good tactile operation sensation is given to the operator. Because the operation rotatable member is projected partially from the hole of the case, the input device gives a luxurious appearance.
If the contacts are sealed, it is rendered reliable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which a slit is formed on the case, and the rotatable operation member is disposed in the slit.
According to the aspect, the slit is disposed along the rotatable operation members in the case, and the operator can successively touch and press the rotatable operation members only by moving a finger along the slit. At that time, because the rotatable operation members are rotated when a finger touches the rotatable operation members, the input device gives the operator a good tactile operational sensation and gives a luxurious appearance.
If the contacts are sealed, it is rendered reliable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which the input device has a plurality of the switch contacts, a plurality of the rotatable operation members and a microcomputer for selecting an operational mode from among different operational modes by operating an arbitrary switch selectively from among the plurality of switch contacts.
According to the aspect, a different operational mode can be selected by operating an arbitrary switch selectively from among a plurality of switches, and the total number of switches can be reduced. In detail, the computer selects an arbitrary mode from among the plurality of operational modes based on a combination of arbitrary switches.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which the operator moves a finger along the slit thereby to operate an arbitrary switch contact selectively from among a plurality of switch contacts for activating a desired operational mode.
According to the aspect, the operator moves a finger along the slit to select an arbitrary switch for activating a desired operational mode.
Thereby, only by moving a finger along the slit, the operator can select a desired operational mode simply.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which each switch is assigned to one type of operation.
According to the aspect, each switch can be assigned to one type of operation.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which the moving direction of a finger of the operator is the first direction along the longitudinal direction of the slit or the second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
According to the aspect, the operational mode can be selected by moving in the first direction along the longitudinal direction of the slit and the second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device described above in which when the switch is operated a plurality of times in a predetermined time, the device is operated in an operational mode corresponding to the number of repeated operations.
According to the aspect, by operating one switch two or more times in a predetermined time, the device is operated in the operational mode corresponding to the number of repeated operations.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5008528 (1991-04-01), Duchon
patent: 5298919 (1994-03-01), Chang
patent: 5543821 (1996-08-01), Marchis et al.
patent: 5751275 (1998-05-01), Bullister
patent: 6031518 (2000-03-01), Adams et al.
patent: 6097372 (2000-08-01), Suzuki
patent: 6104969 (2000-08-01), Beeks
Kataoka Yasuhiro
Kayama Shun
Munekata Kenji
Hofsass Jeffery
Kananen Ronald P.
Nguyen Tai T.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
Sony Corporation
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