Operation switch

• US 6,207,913 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Junichi, Sato, Shinichi, Nakajima, Hirokatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/387,848
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.R, 200/18, 200/13, 200/520, 200/308, 200/310-317, 200/329, 200/341
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence

Abstract

An operation switch is arranged in a manner that switch knobs 1 and 2 each for selecting one of related plural functions is provided, and a display portion for displaying the one of related plural functions selected by the corresponding switch knob is provided for each of the switch knobs 1 and 2. Thus, when the switch knob 1 or 2 is operated, the desired function relating to the switch knob 1 or 2 thus operated can be selected among the plural functions for adjusting the blowing direction and an air flow rate and also the selected function can be displayed at the switch knob 1 or 2 thus operated.

Claims

1. An operation switch, comprising:

at least one switch knob that selects one of related multiple functions; and

a display portion, provided for the at least one switch knob, that displays the one of the multiple functions selected by the at least one switch knob, wherein said at least one switch knob is subjected to a constant operation and each time the at least one switch knob is subjected to a constant operation the related multiple functions are changed sequentially in a predetermined order.

2. An operation switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a switch element that selects the related multiple functions is provided on a rear surface side of said at least one switch knob.

3. An operation switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display portion has a plurality of rooms provided within said at least one switch knob, light sources respectively provided in said plurality of rooms and function displays respectively being positioned so that they may be clearly visible by turning said light sources on, and said display portion is arranged in a manner that, when said switch knob is operated, a desired one of said light sources is turned on to display the one of the related multiple functions selected by an operation of said switch knob.

4. An operation switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said function displays are formed on a transparent or semitransparent plate.

5. An operation switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said function displays are formed on said plate in a manner of paint omitting display and said plate is subjected to light diffusion painting.

6. An operation switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one switch knob is formed by a push knob which selects one of the related multiple functions when being pushed.