IP Library Granted Patent US 10,802,530
Granted Patent B2
US 10,802,530 · App. 15/981,668 · Granted Oct 13, 2020

Input device

Inventors: Masahiro Mizukami (Fukui, JP); Toshio Tanaka (Fukui, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
G05G5/03F16H59/10G05G5/05G05G5/06F16H2059/0295F16H2061/247F16H2061/326
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,802,530
App. No.
15/981,668
Granted
Oct 13, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes: an operating unit that is operated by a user; a detent pin that is displaceable along with an operation of the operating unit; a columnar detent member where a spiral groove about a predetermined axis A is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the detent member that is contact with the detent pin; and a motor (rotary driving part) that rotates the detent member about axis A.

Claims (28)

1. An input device comprising:

an operating unit;

a detent pin that is displaceable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the detent pin is configured to be displaced by an operation of the operating unit;

a detent member having a columnar shape, the detent member including a spiral groove on an outer peripheral surface of the detent member, the spiral groove having a predetermined axis, the outer peripheral surface being in contact with the detent pin, the spiral groove being continuous along the outer peripheral surface of the detent member and having a plurality of crests along the detent member; and

a rotary driving part coupled to the detent member, the rotary driving part is configured to rotate the detent member about the predetermined axis

wherein when the operating unit is operated in a first state by a user, the detent pin moves slidably so as to traverse a respective crest of the plurality of crests of the spiral groove along the outer peripheral surface of the detent member in the first direction or in the second direction, and a clicking sensation corresponding to a position of the detent pin is imparted, and

wherein when the detent member is rotated in a second state where the operating unit is operated by the rotary driving part, the detent pin moves slidably along the spiral groove, is guided along the spiral groove, and is displaced in the first direction or in the second direction.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the detent member further includes an inclined surface, the inclined surface is part of the spiral groove and is in slide contact with the detent pin, and the inclined surface includes a predetermined angle region about the predetermined axis, the predetermined angle region includes a shape where concentric arcs about the predetermined axis are continuous in a radial direction, and

when the detent pin is at the predetermined angle region of the spiral groove, regardless of a rotation position of the detent member, the position of the detent pin along the predetermined axis is unchanged.

3. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a lock pin that is displaceable in the first direction and the second direction along with an operation of the operating unit;

a lock pin restricting member restricts displacement of the lock pin in the first direction and the second direction; and

a restriction switching part switches a position of the lock pin restricting member between a restricting position where displacement of the lock pin in the first direction and the second direction is restricted and a releasing position where the lock pin is released from the restricting position.

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the input devices is a shift device of a vehicle; and

the operating unit further includes a plurality of range positions, and when the detent member is rotated once about the axis in the second state where the operating unit is operated by the rotary driving part, the detent pin moves slidably along the spiral groove, and is guided to a first range position from a second range position, the first range position being adjacent to the second range position.

5. An input device comprising:

an operating unit;

a detent pin displaceable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the detent pin configured to be displaced by an operation of the operating unit;

a detent member having a columnar shape, an outer peripheral surface, and a spiral groove continuous along the outer peripheral surface of the detent member, the spiral groove includes a plurality of crests and a predetermined axis; and

wherein when the operating unit is operated in a manual state by a user, the detent pin is displaced in the first direction or the second direction and traverses at least one of the plurality of crests of the spiral groove.

6. The input device of claim 5 , further comprises:

a rotary driving part coupled to the detent member, the rotary driving part is configured to rotate the detent member about the predetermined axis of the spiral groove.

7. The input device of claim 6 , wherein when the detent member is rotated in an automatic state by the rotary driving part, the detent pin moves slidably along the spiral groove between the plurality of crests.

8. The input device of claim 7 , wherein:

the detent member includes a plurality of range positions, and when the detent member is rotated once about the predetermined axis in the automatic state, the detect pin moves slidably along the spiral groove from a first range position of the plurality of range positions to a second range position of the plurality of range positions, the first range position being directly adjacent to the second range position.

9. The input device of claim 5 , wherein when the detent pin traverses at least one of the plurality of crests of the spiral groove when the operating unit is operated in the manual state by the user a clicking sensation corresponding to a position of the detent pin is imparted.

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 066703/0177 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2018
From: MIZUKAMI, MASAHIRO; TANAKA, TOSHIO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046577/0725 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-108112 · May 31, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180348808A1 · Dec 6, 2018