Operating Device

• US 20080169956A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Masaki Yagisawa, Shinya Matsuyama
• Original Assignee: Masaki Yagisawa, Shinya Matsuyama
• Inventors: Matsuyama, Shinya, Yagisawa, Masaki
• Application Number:
  US11/663,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/026 being inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback

Abstract

An operating device enabling recognition, even in a dark room, that an operation of an operating unit has been detected, whether or not a desired main device is operated by the operating device. The device 1 is connected to a main device 20 via signal lines K and G, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to an operation of an operating unit 2, to the main device 20 via the signal lines, and has: an operation detecting section 5 for detecting operation of the operating unit 2; a tube unit 9 having translucency and covering the signal line G; a tube unit irradiating section 12 disposed to emit light from an end portion side of the tube unit 9; and a tube unit irradiation controlling section 14 for controlling irradiation of the irradiating section 12 as operation of the operating unit 2 is detected by the operation detecting section 5.

Claims

1. An operating device for controlling operation of a main device, comprising:

an operation detecting section for detecting operation of an operating unit;

a tube unit having translucency and covering a signal line that connects the operating device with the main device, through which the operating device outputs to the main device a predetermined operation signal corresponding to an operation of the operating unit;

a tube unit irradiating section disposed so as to emit light from an end portion side of the tube unit; and

a tube unit irradiation controlling section for performing irradiation control of the tube unit irradiating section corresponding to the operation of the operating unit detected by the operation detecting section.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the tube unit irradiation controlling section performs the irradiation control by gradually increasing irradiating light intensity of the tube unit irradiating section according to the operation of the operating unit detected by the operation detecting section.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit comprises a balloon having flexibility and comprising an interior chamber, in which a gas or a liquid is sealed, and

the operation detecting section comprises a pressure detecting section for detecting a pressure in the interior chamber.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein at least one portion of the balloon has translucency, and further comprising:

a balloon irradiating section disposed so as to irradiate the balloon from within; and

a balloon irradiation controlling section for performing irradiation control of the balloon irradiating section corresponding to the operation of the operating unit detected by the operation detecting section.

5. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the balloon has a cylindrical shape, and the tube unit irradiation controlling section is disposed in a column-shaped space formed in a center of the cylindrical balloon.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

7. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit comprises a balloon having flexibility and comprising an interior chamber, in which a gas or a liquid is sealed, and

the operation detecting section comprises a pressure detecting section for detecting a pressure in the interior chamber.

8. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein the balloon has a cylindrical shape, and the tube unit irradiation controlling section is disposed in a column-shaped space formed in a center of the cylindrical balloon.

9. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein the balloon has a cylindrical shape, and the tube unit irradiation controlling section is disposed in a column-shaped space formed in a center of the cylindrical balloon.

10. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

11. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

12. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

13. The operating device according to claim 5, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

14. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

15. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.

16. The operating device according to claim 9, wherein the signal line covered by the tube unit comprises an optical fiber.