IN-VEHICLE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20110220480A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: YORINO, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,546,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/008 other then push button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/01 also rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

An in-vehicle input device includes a housing including a supporting member; an operating knob including a shaft hole (supported part) and supported by the supporting member in such a manner that the operating knob rocks; and a switch (a moving contact of a bulge and a fixed contact of a main substrate) operated by rocking the operating knob, wherein the operating knob has a notch defining an opening intersecting with a rocking axis on a first side intersecting with the rocking axis, and wherein a rotary knob, which is an operating (second operating knob) corresponding to another switch, is disposed in the notch.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle input device comprising:

a housing including a supporting member;

a first operating knob including a supported part and supported by the supporting member in such a manner that the first operating knob rocks; and

a switch operated by rocking the first operating knob,

wherein the first operating knob has a notch defining an opening intersecting with a rocking axis on a first side intersecting with the rocking axis, and

wherein a second operating knob corresponding to another switch is disposed in the notch.

2. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 1,

wherein the housing has a guiding member guiding the first operating knob in such a manner that the first operating knob rocks near a section on at least one of two sides of the notch in the first operating knob, and

wherein the first operating knob has a guided part engaging with the guiding member.

3. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 2, wherein one of the guiding member and the guided part has a depression, and the other has a protrusion engaging with the depression.

4. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 3,

wherein another first operating knob is provided and positioned such that the notches of the two first operating knobs face each other, and

wherein the second operating knob is disposed inside the notches.

5. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 4,

wherein the second operating knob comprises a rotary knob, and

wherein the rotation axis of the rotary knob intersects with the first side of the first operating knob.