Operating device

• US 7,436,398 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Masaki, Takeda, Keiji, Konishi, Yasuhiro, Yuasa, Go, Iwamoto, Morihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Jennifer T
• Application Number:
  US10/787,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/184
• US Class Current: 345/184
• 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: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• 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 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

An operating device for controlling a display screen, which includes a rotatable operating member of cylindrical shape, and a slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of the rotatable operating member. The diameter of an upper surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of the cylindrical tip portion, and the diameter of the lower surface of the slidable operating member cylindrical tip portion is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of the rotatable operating member. An operating device is provided which prevents a misoperation in slide operation and rotation operation and improves operability.

Claims

1. An operating device for controlling a display screen, comprising:

a rotatable operating member of cylindrical shape; and

a slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of said rotatable operating member, said rotatable operating member and said slidable operating member being separate pieces and being used for controlling said display screen,

wherein a diameter of an upper surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion, and said diameter of said lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of said rotatable operating member,

wherein the rotatable operating member allows only rotating operation,

wherein an outer circumference side of the upper surface of the rotatable operating member is exposed from below the lower surface of the slidable operating member to provide a relief portion.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a height of said rotatable operating member is greater than a height of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said diameter of said lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is less than said diameter of said upper surface of said rotatable operating member to provide the relief portion on said upper surface of said rotatable operating member.

4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable operating member is provided on a projection such that a side surface of said rotatable operating member is contiguous to said projection.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said diameter of said upper surface of said rotatable operating member is also reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of said rotatable operating member.

6. An operating device comprising:

a rotatable operating member according to claim 1 that is rotated to make a selection among menus displayed on a screen; and

a slidable operating member according to claim 1 that is depressed to make a decision on said menus,

wherein a deleting feature is allocated to slide operation of said slidable operating member.

7. An operating device for controlling a display screen, comprising:

a rotatable operating member of cylindrical shape; and

a slidable operating member having a tip portion located above an upper end of said rotatable operating member, said rotatable operating member and said slidable operating member are separate pieces and being used for controlling said display screen,

wherein a diameter of an upper surface of said rotatable operating member is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of said rotatable operating member to provide an inclined side surface,

wherein said tip portion of said slidable operating member is located inwardly of an imaginary line extending from said inclined side surface of said rotatable operating member, and

wherein the rotatable operating member allows only rotating operation,

wherein an outer circumference side of the upper surface of the rotatable operating member is exposed from below the lower surface of the slidable operating member to provide a relief portion.

8. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein said rotatable operating member is provided on a projection such that said inclined side surface of said rotatable operating member is contiguous to said projection.

9. An operating device comprising:

a rotatable operating dial that is only rotated and makes a selection among menus displayed on a screen; and

a slidable operating member that is depressed to make a decision on said menus, the slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of said rotatable operating member, wherein the slidable operating member and the rotatable operating dial are separate pieces, a diameter of an upper surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion, and said diameter of said lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of said rotatable operating member,

wherein a deleting feature is allocated to slide operation of said slidable operating member,

wherein an outer circumference side of the upper surface of the rotatable operating member is exposed from below the lower surface of the slidable operating member to provide a relief portion.

10. An operating device comprising:

a rotatable operating member of a cylindrical shape that is only rotated and makes a selection among menus displayed on a screen; and

a slidable operating member that is depressed to make a decision on said menus, the slidable operating member having a cylindrical tip portion located above an upper end of said rotatable operating member, wherein the slidable operating member and the rotatable operating dial are separate pieces, a diameter of an upper surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is reduced relative to a diameter of a lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion, and said diameter of said lower surface of said cylindrical tip portion of said slidable operating member is equal to or less than a diameter of an upper surface of said rotatable operating member,

wherein a deleting feature is allocated to slide operation of said slidable operating member,

wherein an outer circumference side of the upper surface of the rotatable operating member is exposed from below the lower surface of the slidable operating member to provide a relief portion.