Manual input device which provides its control knob with plural modes of operation feeling, and car-mounted apparatus controller based thereon

• US 20020080114A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Numata, Hidetaka, Onodera, Mikio, Seino, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,987,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/065 using a spring-loaded ball
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/11 with indexing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0043 for modifying the number or type of operating positions, e.g. momentary and stable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20262 Rotary control shaft

Abstract

This invention provides a manual input device by which the operation feeling (tactile sensation) provided to the user manipulating its knob can be changed as appropriate, and also a car-mounted apparatus controller which uses this type of manual input device. A manual input device comprises: a housing; a control shaft which is rotatably supported by the housing; a knob fixed to one end of the control shaft; and feeling providing means, actuator and first and second position sensors which are all housed in the housing. The feeling providing means comprises: plural discs fixed to the control shaft, bearing first to third 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. The 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. The car-mounted apparatus controller incorporates this type of manual input device as means for functional control of car-mounted electric apparatuses.

Claims

1. A manual input device comprising:

a knob;

feeling providing means which have at least two kinds of feeling patterns; and

an actuator which activates the feeling providing means and changes an operation feeling given to the knob.

2. The manual input device according to claim 1, wherein the knob is manipulated by linear movement.

3. The manual input device according to claim 1, wherein the knob is manipulated by rotation.

4. The manual input device according to claim 1, wherein the knob is manipulated by rotation in at least two directions.

5. The manual input device according to claim 1,

wherein the feeling providing means comprises a disc or cylinder which bears plural feeling patterns (rows) and is fixed to a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob;

and a ball or pin elastically f forced to contact the disc or cylinder, and

wherein the actuator linearly reciprocates the ball or pin in a direction where the plural feeling patterns are arranged.

6. The manual input device according to claim 1,

where in the feeling providing means comprises a disc or cylinder which has a single feeling pattern (row) and is fixed to a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob;

and plural balls or pins elastically forced to contact the disc or cylinder, and

wherein the actuator linearly reciprocates one of the plural balls or pins in a direction where it selectively engages with the feeling pattern.

7. The manual input device according to claim 1,

wherein the feeling providing means comprises a rotary polyhedron which bears plural feeling patterns (rows) arranged in parallel along an axial direction of its outer surface, and

wherein the actuator reciprocally rotates the rotary polyhedron around its axis, with one end of a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob being in contact with the outer surface of the rotary polyhedron bearing the feeling patterns.

8. A manual input device comprising:

a knob;

feeling providing means which provides the knob with an operation feeling;

an actuator which activates the feeling providing means;

detecting means which detects an operating condition of the knob; and

an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,

wherein the actuator is controlled according to a control signal generated based on an external signal from external detecting means connected at least with the external device.

9. The manual input device according to claim 8, wherein the knob is manipulated by linear movement.

10. The manual input device according to claim 8, wherein the knob is manipulated by rotation.

11. The manual input device according to claim 8, wherein the knob is manipulated by rotation in at least two directions.

12. The manual input device according to claim 8,

wherein the feeling providing means comprises a disc or cylinder which bears plural feeling patterns (rows) and is fixed to a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob;

and a ball or pin elastically forced to contact the disc or cylinder, and

wherein the actuator linearly reciprocates the ball or pin in a direction where the plural feeling patterns are arranged.

13. The manual input device according to claim 8,

wherein the feeling providing means comprises a disc or cylinder which bears a single feeling pattern (row) and is fixed to a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob;

and plural balls or pins elastically forced to contact the disc or cylinder, and

wherein the actuator linearly reciprocates one of the plural balls or pins in a direction where it selectively engages with the feeling pattern.

14. The manual input device according to claim 8,

wherein the feeling providing means comprises a rotary polyhedron which bears plural feeling patterns (rows) arranged in parallel along an axial direction of its outer surface, and

wherein the actuator reciprocally rotates the rotary polyhedron around its axis, with one end of a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob being in contact with the outer surface of the rotary polyhedron bearing the feeling patterns.

15. A manual input device comprising:

a knob;

feeling providing means which provides the knob with an operation feeling;

an actuator which activates the feeling providing means;

a control section for the actuator;

detecting means which detects an operating condition of the knob; and

an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,

wherein an external signal from external detecting means connected at least with the external device is inputted into the control section through the input/output section to generate a control signal for the actuator to match at least the external signal, and wherein the actuator is controlled according to the control signal.

16. A manual input device comprising:

a knob;

feeling providing means which provides the knob with an operation feeling;

an actuator which activates the feeling providing means;

a control section for the actuator;

detecting means which detects an operating condition of the knob; and

an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,

wherein both a detection signal at least from the detecting means and an external signal from external detection means connected with the external device are inputted into the external device to generate control information for the actuator to match the detection signal and the external signal, wherein the control information is picked up by the control section through the input/output section to generate a control signal for the actuator to match the control information, and wherein the actuator is controlled according to the control signal.

17. A manual input device comprising:

a knob;

feeling providing means which provides the knob with an operation feeling;

an actuator which activates the feeling providing means;

detecting means which detects an operating condition of the knob; and

an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,

wherein both a detection signal at least from the detecting means and an external signal from external detection means connected with the external device are inputted into the external device to generate a control signal for the actuator to match the detection signal and the external signal, and wherein the actuator is controlled according to the control signal.

18. A car-mounted apparatus controller comprising:

a function selection switch for selecting one function among various functions to be controlled; and

a manual input device for controlling the function selected by the function selection switch,

the manual input device comprising;

a knob;

feeling providing means having at least two kinds of feeling patterns; and

an actuator for activating the feeling providing means and changing an operation feeling given to the knob.

19. A car-mounted apparatus controller comprising:

an electric apparatus selection switch for selecting an electric apparatus to be controlled;

a function selection switch for selecting one of various functions of the electric apparatus selected by the apparatus selection switch; and

a manual input device for controlling a function selected by the function selection switch,

the manual input device comprising;

a knob;

feeling providing means for providing the knob with an operation feeling;

an actuator for activating the feeling providing means;

detecting means for detecting an operating condition of the knob; and

an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob, p2 wherein the actuator is controlled according to a control signal generated based on both a detection signal at least from the detecting means and an external signal from external detecting means connected with the external device.