INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE

• US 20160231832A1
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Hyunseok, JEON, Hoil
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators

Abstract

An input/output device is provided. The input/output device may include an output device having a display surface, on which characters or symbols are displayed, a body rotatably provided above the display surface, a body through-hole formed in the body to allow the display surface to be visible from an outside of the body, a signal generation device configured to generate a control signal according to whether the body is rotated, and a controller configured to control the output device based on the control signal input from the signal generation device.

Claims

1. An input/output device, comprising:

an output device having a display surface on which characters or symbols are displayed;

a body rotatably provided above the display surface;

a body through-hole formed in the body to allow the display surface to be visible from an outside of the body;

a signal generation device configured to generate a control signal according to whether the body is rotated; and

a controller configured to control the output device based on the control signal input from the signal generation device.

2. The input/output device according to claim 1, further including a window provided in the body through-hole to enlarge the characters or symbols displayed on a projection surface formed as the body through-hole is projected onto the display surface.

3. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the output device so that the characters or symbols, displayed on a projection surface formed as the body through-hole is projected onto the display surface, have a different size from a size of characters or symbols displayed outside the projection surface.

4. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the signal generation device includes:

a first generator configured to generate a control signal when the body is rotated; and

a second generator configured to generate a control signal when the body is pushed toward the output device.

5. The input/output device according to claim 1, further including:

a first housing to which the output device is fixed;

a second housing spaced apart from the display surface by a predetermined distance;

a through-hole formed in the second housing so that the body is inserted thereinto; and

a support device provided at the first housing or the second housing to support the body.

6. The input/output device according to claim 5, wherein the support device includes:

a support body located between the body and the output device;

a support body through-hole formed in the support body so as to communicate with the body through-hole; and

a guide provided at the support body to rotatably support the body.

7. The input/output device according to claim 6, wherein the guide includes an accommodation recess configured to accommodate an outer circumferential surface of the body.

8. The input/output device according to claim 6, wherein the guide includes:

a first flange provided at the support body to couple the support body to the second housing and configured to accommodate an outer circumferential surface of the body; and

a second flange provided at the support body so as to be inserted into the body through-hole and spaced apart from the first flange by a predetermined distance.

9. The input/output device according to claim 6, further including a driving gear provided along an outer circumferential surface of the body, wherein the signal generation device includes a driven gear configured to be engaged with the driving gear and a signal generator configured to generate a control signal according to whether the driven gear is rotated.

10. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device includes:

a first display device located inside the body through-hole; and

a second display device located outside the body through-hole.

11. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the body is provided in a direction in which light emitted from the display surface travels.

12. An input/output device, comprising:

a display module having at least a prescribed surface area configured to display at least one of character or symbol;

a rotatable body provided to align with the prescribed surface area;

a body through-hole formed in the rotatable body to allow the at least one of character or symbol generated by the display module to be visible through the body through-hole;

a signal generator configured to generate a control signal based on rotation of the rotatable body; and

a controller configured to control a display of at least one of character or symbol by the display module based on the control signal input from the signal generator.

13. The input/output device according to claim 12, further including a window provided on the body through-hole to enlarge the at least one of character or symbol displayed on the prescribed surface area of the display module.

14. The input/output device according to claim 12;

wherein the controller controls the display so that the at least one of character or symbol provided on the prescribed surface area have a different size from a size of at least one of character or symbol provided outside the prescribed surface area of the display module.