Rotary Input Device and Electronic Equipment

• US 20100271340A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fukoku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Pro-Tech Design Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kazuhiro, Sako, Nobuyuki, Tsubota, Hirono, Kodaira, Takeshi, Suzuki, Takahiko, Nagashima, Kenji
• Application Number:
  US12/764,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components

Abstract

Disclosed is a rotary input device including: a rotary operation device; a detection section; a display control section; a rotation driving section to apply a rotary force to the rotary operation device; a first force sense presenting section to present a first force sense by a combination of at least any two of applying a rotary force in a normal rotation direction, applying a rotary force in a reverse rotation direction, and stopping applying when the detected rotation angle reaches a predetermined switching angle corresponding to the displayed predetermined display information; a second force sense presenting section to present a second force sense different from the first force sense by applying the rotary force in the normal rotation direction when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within a first range, and in the reverse rotation direction when the angle is within a second range.

Claims

1. A rotary input device, comprising:

a rotary operation device rotatable around a shaft by receiving a rotation operation of an operator;

a detection section to detect a rotation angle of the rotary operation device;

a display control section to make a display section display predetermined display information and switch a display state of the predetermined display information in conjunction with rotation of the rotary operation device;

a rotation driving section to apply a rotary force to the rotary operation device;

a first force sense presenting section to present a first force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by a combination of at least any two of applying a rotary force in a normal rotation direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section, applying a rotary force in a reverse rotation direction to the rotary operation device, and stopping applying the rotary force to the rotary operation device when the rotation angle detected by the detection section reaches a predetermined switching angle corresponding to the predetermined display information displayed on the display section;

a second force sense presenting section to present a second force sense different from the first force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by applying the rotary force in the normal rotation direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within a first range situated on a reverse rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle, and by applying rotary force in the reverse rotation direction to the rotary operation device the by the rotation driving section when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within a second range situated on a normal rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angel.

2. The rotary input device according to claim 1, wherein the second force sense presenting section enlarges the rotary force in the normal rotation direction to be applied to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section as the rotation angle detected by the detection section approaches the predetermined switching angle when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within the first range situated on the reverse rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle, and the second force sense presenting section lessens the rotary force in the reverse rotation direction to be applied to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section as the rotation angle detected by the detection section becomes more distant from the predetermined switching angle when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within the second range situated on the normal rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle.

3. The rotary input device according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of the predetermined switching angles is provided, and

the first force sense presenting section and/or the second force sense presenting section changes ways of presenting the first force sense and/or the second force sense by a first predetermined switching angle and a second predetermined switching angle among the plurality of predetermined switching angles.

4. The rotary input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second display control section to make the display section display a predetermined route from a start point to an end point and a point showing a current position; and

a third force sense presenting section to present a third force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by applying a rotary force in a clockwise direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a rightward direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on a branch point, by applying a rotary force in a counterclockwise direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a leftward direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on the branch point, and by applying to the rotary operation device a rotary force in a direction of repelling any rotation in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a direct advance direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on the branch point.

5. Electronic equipment, comprising:

the rotary input device according to claim 1; and

the display section.

6. Electronic equipment, comprising:

a rotary input device; and

a display section, wherein

the rotary input device including;

a rotary operation device rotatable around a shaft by receiving a rotation operation of an operator;

a detection section to detect a rotation angle of the rotary operation device;

a first display control section to make the display section display predetermined display information and switch a display state of the predetermined display information in conjunction with rotation of the rotary operation device;

a rotation driving section to apply a rotary force to the rotary operation device;

a first force sense presenting section to present a first force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by a combination of at least any two of applying a rotary force in a normal rotation direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section, applying a rotary force in a reverse rotation direction to the rotary operation device, and stopping applying the rotary force to the rotary operation device when the rotation angle detected by the detection section reaches a predetermined switching angle corresponding to the predetermined display information displayed on the display section;

a second force sense presenting section to present a second force sense different from the first force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by applying the rotary force in the normal rotation direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within a first range situated on a reverse rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle, and by applying the rotary force in the reverse rotation direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within a second range situated on a normal rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angel;

a second display control section to make the display section display a predetermined route from a start point to an end point and a point showing a current position; and

a third force sense presenting section to present a third force sense to the operator through the rotary operation device by applying a rotary force in a clockwise direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a rightward direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on a branch point, by applying a rotary force in a counterclockwise direction to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a leftward direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on the branch point, and by applying to the rotary operation device a rotary force in a direction of repelling any rotation in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction by the rotation driving section if the route displayed on the display section is in a direct advance direction when the point displayed on the display section is situated on the branch point, wherein

the second force sense presenting section enlarges the rotary force in the normal rotation direction to be applied to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section as the rotation angle detected by the detection section approaches the predetermined switching angle when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within the first range situated on the reverse rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle, and the second force sense presenting section lessens the rotary force in the reverse rotation direction to be applied to the rotary operation device by the rotation driving section as the rotation angle detected by the detection section becomes more distant from the predetermined switching angle when the rotation angle detected by the detection section is within the second range situated on the normal rotation direction side of the predetermined switching angle; and

the first force sense presenting section and/or the second force sense presenting section changes ways of presenting the first force sense and/or the second force sense by a first predetermined switching angle and a second predetermined switching angle among the plurality of predetermined switching angles.