Input control device
First Claim
1. An input control device comprising:
- a fixed first insulation surface and a second insulation surface disposed in opposed position to the first insulation surface so as to be movable toward selective portions of the first insulation surface;
M arcuate grouping contacts arranged selectively on said first and second insulation surfaces in an annular array, M being an integer equal to or greater than 2;
M groups of strip contacts disposed in opposed relation to said corresponding M arcuate grouping contacts, respectively, and arranged selectively on said first and second insulation surfaces, each group containing a plurality of said strip contacts extending radially and electrically separated from one another when said strip contacts are out of contact with corresponding ones of said M arcuate grouping contacts;
a control key means disposed in opposed relation to said annular array on the side of said second insulation surface opposite from said first insulation surface;
retaining means for retaining said control key means for tilting movements generally on the center of said annular array with respect to said first insulation surface; and
elastic means disposed between said control key means and said second insulation surface in opposing relation to said annular array for providing an elastic force in opposition to an operating force applied to the control key means, said elastic force acting to press a portion of said second insulation surface in said annular array against said first insulation surface, an area of said portion being dependent on deformation of said elastic means caused by said operating force, whereby one of said M arcuate grouping contacts corresponding to the direction of the operating force applied to said control key means is brought into contact with one or more of said strip contacts depending on the magnitude of the operating force.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of arcuate grouping contacts and a plurality of strip contacts are formed in an annular array in opposed spaced relation with each other on two insulation layers. A control key is disposed in opposed position to the annular array of contacts on the side of one of the insulation layers opposite from the other of the layers, and an annular elastic member is interposed between the undersurface of the control key and the annular array of contacts whereby a portion of one of the insulation layers is displaced toward the other of the insulation layers depending upon the direction and magnitude of a force applied to the control key to bring the grouping contacts corresponding to the direction of the force into contact with one or more of the strip contacts.
126 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An input control device comprising:
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a fixed first insulation surface and a second insulation surface disposed in opposed position to the first insulation surface so as to be movable toward selective portions of the first insulation surface; M arcuate grouping contacts arranged selectively on said first and second insulation surfaces in an annular array, M being an integer equal to or greater than 2; M groups of strip contacts disposed in opposed relation to said corresponding M arcuate grouping contacts, respectively, and arranged selectively on said first and second insulation surfaces, each group containing a plurality of said strip contacts extending radially and electrically separated from one another when said strip contacts are out of contact with corresponding ones of said M arcuate grouping contacts; a control key means disposed in opposed relation to said annular array on the side of said second insulation surface opposite from said first insulation surface; retaining means for retaining said control key means for tilting movements generally on the center of said annular array with respect to said first insulation surface; and elastic means disposed between said control key means and said second insulation surface in opposing relation to said annular array for providing an elastic force in opposition to an operating force applied to the control key means, said elastic force acting to press a portion of said second insulation surface in said annular array against said first insulation surface, an area of said portion being dependent on deformation of said elastic means caused by said operating force, whereby one of said M arcuate grouping contacts corresponding to the direction of the operating force applied to said control key means is brought into contact with one or more of said strip contacts depending on the magnitude of the operating force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. The input control device of 2, 3 or 4, including an arithmetic processor connected to said wiring means, said processor being adapted to detect one or more switches of said switch matrix and to thereby determine the direction and magnitude of an operating force applied to said control key means and generate corresponding direction and velocity signals.
Specification