Switching device and remote control transmitter using the switching device

• US 7,166,810 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanahara, Tetsuro, Nakamura, Takaya
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US11/357,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 200/11.R, 200/14, 200 11 A- 11 DA, 200/11.TW
• US Class Current: 200/11.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/62 Contacts actuated by radial cams
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A switching device and a remote control transmitter using the switching device are provided. In the switching device, a driving body rotating in conjunction with an operation body is provided. This rotation of the driving body provides an electrical contact or separation of a switch. A rotation of the operation body causes a great number of electrical contacts and separations of the switch. The operation as described above provides fine detection of an operation angle of the operation body to provide detection of the operation position with a high accuracy.

Claims

1. A switching device comprising:

an operation body arranged to rotate about a first rotary axis;

a driving body arranged to rotate about a second rotary axis in conjunction with rotation of said operation body about said first rotary axis; and

a switch for providing an electrical contact or separation in accordance with rotation of said driving body;

wherein said switching device detects an operation position of said operation body based on the electrical contact or separation of said switch;

wherein said first rotary axis is offset from said second rotary axis; and

wherein said operation body and said driving body are arranged so that rotation of said operation body through a first rotational angle results in rotation of said driving body through a second rotational angle greater than said first rotational angle.

2. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein

said switch is provided within an inner periphery of said driving body;

and

a plurality of cam units are provided at a side face of an inner edge of said inner periphery of said driving body.

3. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein

said switch comprises a movable lever movable between first and second positions to cause the electrical contact and separation, respectively;

and

said cam units are engagable with said lever upon rotation of said driving body to cause movement of said moveable lever between said first and second positions.

4. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein

said cam units are engagable with said switch upon rotation of said driving body to cause the electrical contact and separation of said switch.

5. A remote control transmitter comprising:

a switching device including

an operation body arranged to rotate about a first rotary axis,

a driving body arranged to rotate about a second rotary axis in conjunction with rotation of said operation body about said first rotary axis, and

a switch for providing an electrical contact or separation in accordance with rotation of said driving body,

wherein said switching device detects an operation position of said operation body based on the electrical contact or separation of said switch,

wherein said first rotary axis is offset from said second rotary axis, and

wherein said operation body and said driving body are arranged so that rotation of said operation body through a first rotational angle results in rotation of said driving body through a second rotational angle greater than said first rotational angle;

a control apparatus connected to said switch of said switching device; and

wherein said control apparatus is operable to cause transmission of a remote control signed based on the electrical contact or separation of said switch.

6. The remote control transmitter according to claim 5, wherein

said switch is provided within an inner periphery of said driving body;

and

a plurality of cam units are provided at a side face of an inner edge of said inner periphery of said driving body.

7. The remote control transmitter according to claim 6, wherein

said switch comprises a movable lever movable between first and second positions to cause the electrical contact and separation, respectively;

and

said cam units are engagable with said lever upon rotation of said driving body to cause movement of said moveable lever between said first and second positions.

8. The remote control transmitter according to claim 6, wherein

said cam units are engagable with said switch upon rotation of said driving body to cause the electrical contact and separation of said switch.

9. The remote control transmitter according to claim 6, further comprising

a transmission apparatus operably coupled to said control apparatus to transmit the remote control signal.

10. The remote control transmitter according to claim 5, further comprising

a transmission apparatus operably coupled to said control apparatus to transmit the remote control signal.