Rotatively-operated switch apparatus and communication terminal apparatus

• US 6,534,730 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Haraguchi, Yuji, Mitsuma, Satoshi, Ohmoto, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kyung S.
• Application Number:
  US09/843,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/5.R, 200/6.R, 200/11.R, 200/11.TW, 200/17.R, 200/18
• US Class Current: 200/4
• 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: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A communication terminal apparatus includes a disc member that is supported such that a portion thereof protrudes outside the body case, and that is rotated to output a signal corresponding to its rotation direction and rotation angle; first switch operated by pressing the disc member toward the body case; second and third switches separately operated by pivoting the disc member about a pivot axis parallel to the rotation plane and orthogonal to the pressing direction; a storage device storing a plurality of items; a display device displaying a cursor and a plurality of items read from the storage device; and a control device for moving the cursor displayed in the display device and for selecting and executing the displayed items or other items required for communications in accordance with the operations of the disc member and the first, second, and third switches.

Claims

1. A switch apparatus comprising:

a rotating operation unit for accepting a rotating operation and a pressing operation in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of said rotating operation, said rotating operation unit outputting a signal corresponding to a rotation movement of said rotating operation;

a first push switch operated by said pressing operation of said rotating operation unit in said direction orthogonal to said rotation axis; and

a second push switch and a third push switch disposed, respectively, on opposite sides and parallel to a rotation plane of said rotating operation unit, said second and said third push switches being operated by pivoting said rotating operation unit about a pivot axis perpendicular to said rotation plane of said rotating operation unit.

2. The switch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotating operation unit comprises:

a base member;

a disc member attached to said base member such that said disc member is allowed to rotate and to be pressed in a direction orthogonal to said rotation axis of said rotating operation; and

a detection circuit for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of said disc member.

3. An electronic device including:

a housing member;

a rotating operation unit supported such that a portion of said rotating operation unit protrudes into said housing member, for accepting a rotating operation and a pressing operation in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of said rotating operation, said rotating operation unit outputting a signal corresponding to a rotation movement of said rotating operation;

a first push switch disposed within said housing member and operated by said pressing operation of said rotating operation unit in said direction orthogonal to said rotation axis; and

a second push switch and a third push switch disposed, respectively, on opposite sides and parallel to a rotation plane of said rotating operation unit within said housing member, said second and said third push switches being operated by pivoting said rotating operation unit about a pivot axis perpendicular to said rotation plane of said rotating operation unit.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein

said rotating operation unit comprises:

a base member;

a disc member attached to said base member such that said disc member is allowed to rotate and to be pressed in a direction orthogonal to said rotation axis of said rotating operation; and

a detection circuit for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of said disc member.

5. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a housing member;

a rotating operating unit supported such that a portion of said rotating operating unit protrudes into said housing member, for accepting a rotating operation and a pressing operation in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of said rotating operation, said rotating operation unit outputting a signal corresponding to a rotation movement of said rotating operation;

a first push switch disposed within said housing member and operated by said pressing operation of said rotating operation unit in said direction orthogonal to said rotation axis;

a second push switch and a third push switch disposed, respectively, on opposite sides and parallel to a rotation plane of said rotating operation unit within said housing member, said second and said third push switches being operated by pivoting said rotating operation unit about a pivot axis perpendicular to said rotation plane of said rotating operation unit;

storage means for storing a plurality of items;

display means for displaying a plurality of said items read from said storage means; and

control means for selecting and executing one of said items displayed on said display means and for selecting and executing a function require for communication corresponding to said rotation of said rotation operation unit and said operations of said first push switch, said second push switch, and said third push switch.

6. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotating operation unit comprises:

a base member;

a disc member attached to said base member such that said disc member is allowed to rotate and to be pressed in a direction orthogonal to said rotation axis of said rotating operation; and

a detection circuit for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of said disc member.