INPUTTING DEVICE

• US 20090115748A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: TANAKA, Tsuyoshi, TANAKA, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/184
• 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 inputting device includes an actuator that can move and rotate, a rotation sensor for detecting a rotation of the actuator, a movement sensor for detecting that the actuator moves to a predetermined position, and a rotation suppressor for preventing the actuator from rotating when the actuator moves to the predetermined position and for allowing the actuator to rotate when the actuator is not positioned at the predetermined position. This input device prevents erroneous operation and performs various operations.

Claims

1. An inputting device comprising:

an actuator that can move and rotate;

a rotation sensor for detecting a rotation of the actuator;

a movement sensor for detecting that the actuator moves to a predetermined position; and

a rotation suppressor for preventing the actuator from rotating when the actuator moves to the predetermined position and for allowing the actuator to rotate when the actuator is not positioned at the predetermined position.

2. The inputting device of claim 1, wherein

the movement sensor detects that the actuator moves to a plurality of predetermined positions, and

the rotation suppressor prevents the actuator from rotating when the actuator moves to the plurality of the predetermined positions and allows the actuator to rotate when the actuator is not positioned at the plurality of the predetermined positions.