Multi-way operation switch, input device and input unit

• US 7,310,084 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shitanaka, Hitokazu, Santo, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jennifer T
• Application Number:
  US11/167,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345163-184
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob

Abstract

A multi-way operation switch of the present invention includes an operation unit that is horizontally movable and rotatable; a plurality of first switch contacts for turning on and off the electrical coupling by horizontally moving the operation unit; and a second switch contact for turning on and off the electrical coupling by rotating the operation unit. This configuration allows the user to hold a single operation unit and operate multiple electronic apparatuses and setting modes by simply horizontally moving and rotating the operation unit. Accordingly, a smaller multi-way operation switch that is less prone to erroneous operation and which is easier to operate is achievable.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a multi-way operation switch including

a case,

an operation unit mounted to said case so as to be rotatable relative to said case,

a rotation-detection arrangement, including a rotation-detection switch contact, configured to detect rotation of said operation unit relative to said case,

a lateral-movement-detection arrangement including a plurality of lateral-movement-detection switch contacts mounted to said case,

wherein said operation unit comprises an operating portion, and a working member including a rotation shaft having a rotation axis, said working member further including a switch-contact-pressing part fixed with said rotation shaft and protruding laterally away from said rotation shaft,

wherein said operation unit is mounted in said case in a rockable manner so that said rotation shaft and said switch-contact-pressing part are pivotally tilted relative to said case upon application of a lateral force to said operating portion, and

wherein said switch-contact-pressing part is arranged so as to selectively operate one of said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts when said rotation shaft and said switch-contact-pressing part are pivotally tilted relative to said case due to application of the lateral force to said operating portion of said operation unit in a selected direction; and

a controller operably coupled to said rotation-detection arrangement and said lateral-movement-detection arrangement and configured to select an electronic apparatus corresponding to the one of said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts selectively operated by said switch-contact-pressing part, and to control the selected electronic apparatus based on the rotation of said operation unit relative to said case as detected by said rotation-detection arrangement.

2. The input device as defined in claim 1, wherein

said switch-contact-pressing part comprises a plurality of arms fixed to and extending laterally away from said rotation shaft to selectively operate said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts.

3. The input device as defined in claim 2, wherein

said lateral-movement-detection arrangement further includes a first detector, operably coupled to said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts and to said controller, for detecting an operated switch from among said lateral-movement-detection switch contacts and outputting a detection signal to said controller;

and

said rotation-detection arrangement further includes a second detector, operably coupled to said rotation-detection switch contact and to said controller, for detecting a rotation of said operation unit and outputting a detection signal to said controller.

4. The input device as defined in claim 3, wherein

said rotation shaft of said working member of said operation unit protrudes from within said case;

and

said operating portion of said operation unit comprises a knob exposed outside of said case and operably coupled to said rotation shaft.

5. The input device as defined in claim 3, wherein

said operation unit of said multi-way operation switch further includes a button;

and

said multi-way operation switch further includes a push detector, operably coupled to said button and said controller, for detecting a pushing pressure of said button and outputting a detection signal to said controller.

6. An input unit comprising:

an input device as defined in claim 3; and

a panel provided around said operation unit of said multi-way switch of said input device, said panel including a plurality of displays around said operation unit.

7. The input unit as defined in claim 6, further comprising

a lighting device provided behind said displays and arranged to selectively light said displays;

and

wherein said lighting device is operably coupled to said controller such that said controller is operable to light a predetermined one of said displays corresponding to the selected one of the electronic apparatuses.

8. The input device as defined in claim 2, wherein

said rotation shaft of said working member of said operation unit protrudes from within said case;

and

said operation unit further includes a knob exposed outside of said case and operably coupled to said rotation shaft.

9. The input device as defined in claim 2, wherein

said operation unit of said multi-way operation switch further includes a button;

and

said multi-way operation switch further includes a push detector, operably coupled to said button and said controller, for detecting a pushing pressure of said button and outputting a detection signal to said controller.

10. An input unit comprising:

an input device as defined in claim 2; and

a panel provided around said operation unit of said multi-way switch of said input device, said panel including a plurality of displays around said operation unit.

11. The input unit as defined in claim 10, further comprising

a lighting device provided behind said displays and arranged to selectively light said displays;

and

wherein said lighting device is operably coupled to said controller such that said controller is operable to light a predetermined one of said displays corresponding to the selected one of the electronic apparatuses.

12. The input device as defined in claim 1, wherein

said rotation shaft of said working member of said operation unit protrudes from within said case;

and

said operating portion of said operation unit comprises a knob exposed outside of said case and operably coupled to said rotation shaft.

13. The input device as defined in claim 1, wherein

said operation unit of said multi-way operation switch further includes a button;

and

said multi-way operation switch further includes a push detector, operably coupled to said button and said controller, for detecting a pushing pressure of said button and outputting a detection signal to said controller.

14. An input unit comprising:

an input device as defined in claim 1; and

a panel provided around said operation unit of said multi-way switch of said input device, said panel including a plurality of displays around said operation unit.

15. The input unit as defined in claim 14, further comprising

a lighting device provided behind said displays and arranged to selectively light said displays;

and

wherein said lighting device is operably coupled to said controller such that said controller is operable to light a predetermined one of said displays corresponding to the selected one of the electronic apparatuses;

a panel provided around said operation unit of said multi-way switch of said input device, said panel including a plurality of displays around said operation unit.