IP Library Granted Patent US 9,931,933
Granted Patent B2
US 9,931,933 · App. 15/200,090 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Input device and steering input device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,931,933
App. No.
15/200,090
Granted
Apr 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The input device includes a press switch configured to be pressed in a direction of a predetermined axis, a first operation member configured to be moved along the predetermined axis to press the press switch, a second operation member disposed circularly around the first operation member and configured to be tilted relative to the predetermined axis to press the press switch, a first touch sensor disposed on the first operation member and configured to detect contact of a finger of a right hand with the first operation member, and a second touch sensor disposed on the second operation member and configured to detect contact of the finger of the right hand with the second operation member.

Claims (27)

1. An input device comprising:

a press switch configured to be pressed in a direction of a predetermined axis;

a first operation member configured to be moved in the predetermined axis to press the press switch;

a second operation member disposed circularly around the first operation member and configured to be tilted relative to the predetermined axis to press the press switch;

a first touch sensor disposed on the first operation member and configured to detect contact of an operating object with the first operation member; and

a second touch sensor disposed on the second operation member and configured to detect contact of the operating object with the second operation member.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to determine that execution of a predetermined operation is instructed by a user when the press switch is pressed,

wherein when the press switch is pressed and the first touch sensor detects contact of the operating object, the controller determines that execution of a first operation associated with the first operation member is instructed, and

when the press switch is pressed and the second touch sensor detects contact of the operating object, the controller determines that execution of a second operation associated with the second operation member is instructed.

3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein when the press switch is pressed and the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor both detect contact of the operating object, the controller determines that execution of one of the first operation and the second operation is instructed, based on a comparison of strengths of detection signals from the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor with a threshold.

4. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein

the second operation member is tiltable relative to the predetermined axis in a plurality of directions and includes a plurality of operation regions disposed for the respective directions,

the second touch sensor detects contact of the operating object with any of the operation regions, and

when the press switch is pressed and the second touch sensor detects the contact of the operating object, the controller determines that execution of the second operation associated with any of the operation regions is instructed.

5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first operation member includes:

a first pressing part configured to press the press switch; and

a first contact part which is disposed on the first pressing part at an end opposite to the press switch, and which the operating object contacts, and

the first touch sensor is disposed between the first pressing part and the first contact part.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second operation member includes:

a second pressing part configured to press the press switch; and

a second contact part disposed on the second pressing part at an end opposite to the press switch, and which the operating object contacts, and

the second touch sensor is disposed between the second pressing part and the second contact part.

7. A steering input device comprising:

a steering wheel; and

the input device according to of claim 1 disposed on the steering wheel.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0113 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2016
From: SHIMADA, RYO; ETO, HIDEAKI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039138/0859 →