System switch

• US 6,636,200 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Masayuki, Kataoka, Ichiro, Takada, Yoshihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US10/179,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161-179, 345/156-158, 200/6.A, 200/5.A, 463/38, 702/37
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0063 Manual parameter input, manual setting means, manual initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/58 Rests or guides for relevant parts of the operator's body
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A system switch comprises an operation switch constituted by a mode switch and low-ranking switches of the mode switch; a display unit; and a control unit. The control unit makes the display unit display the operation switch, interprets the function of the operation switch at that time, and outputs a control signal for executing the function of the operation switch at that time when the operation switch is operated.

Claims

1. A system switch device, comprising:

a flat panel;

a disk-shaped first switch member movably provided on the flat panel; and

a knob member provided on the first switch member, on which a user'"'"'s hand is placed, wherein the first switch member moves on the flat panel in a direction identical with a direction in which the knob member is operated.

2. A system switch device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first switch member is horizontally rotatable on the flat panel, in association with the motion of the knob member.

3. The system switch device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first switch member is horizontally rotatable on the flat panel, and inclinable with respect to a vertical center axis of the first switch member, in association with the motion of the knob member.

4. The system switch device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one second switch member arranged on the flat panel at a position where a user'"'"'s finger is placed when the user'"'"'s hand is placed on the knob member.

5. The system switch device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a resilient member for urging the first switch member toward a neutral position thereof.