In-vehicle input device

• US 8,546,707 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yorino, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/034,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/5.R, 200/14, 200/17.R, 200/18, 200/61.54, 200/61.57, 341/20, 341/22, 341/35, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 345/184, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/008 other then push button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/01 also rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

An in-vehicle input device includes a housing including a supporting member; an operating knob including a shaft hole (supported part) and supported by the supporting member in such a manner that the operating knob rocks; and a switch (a moving contact of a bulge and a fixed contact of a main substrate) operated by rocking the operating knob, wherein the operating knob has a notch defining an opening intersecting with a rocking axis on a first side intersecting with the rocking axis, and wherein a rotary knob, which is an operating (second operating knob) corresponding to another switch, is disposed in the notch.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle input device comprising:

a housing including;

a supporting member having a pair of bosses; and

a guiding member;

a first operating knob supported by the supporting member and guided by the guiding member in such a manner that the first operating knob rocks around a rocking axis, the first operating knob including;

a supported part having a pair of protruding plates each having a hole provided therethrough, the hole receiving corresponding one of the pair of bosses of the support member;

a guided part engaging with the guiding member; and

a notch provided on a first side of the first operating knob and intersecting with the rocking axis, the guiding member being provided in a vicinity of at least one side of the notch;

a switch operated by rocking the first operating knob; and

a second operating knob corresponding to another switch, the second knob being disposed in an opening defined by the notch.

2. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein one of the guiding member and the guided part has a depression, and the other has a protrusion engaging with the depression.

3. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 2,

wherein another first operating knob is provided and positioned such that the notches of the two first operating knobs face each other, and

wherein the second operating knob is disposed inside the notches.

4. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 3,

wherein the second operating knob comprises a rotary knob, and

wherein a rotation axis of the rotary knob intersects with the first side of the first operating knob.

5. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the guided part is provided in a vicinity of the first side of the first operating knob and the supported part is provided in a vicinity of a second side of the first operating knob opposite to the first side.

6. The in-vehicle input device according to claim 1, wherein the second operating knob includes a rotary knob rotating around a rotation axis,

and wherein the supporting member is provided in a vicinity of a first side of the housing intersecting with the rotation axis, and the guiding member is provided in a vicinity of a second side of the housing not intersecting with the rotation axis.