Input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12424396-B2
Application number	US-202318306501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2023
Priority date	Jun 28, 2022
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

An input device includes a substrate, a case configured to accommodate the substrate, an operation knob swingably engaged to the case and operated by an operator, and a panel member having an opening allowing swing of the operation knob, at least a part of the opening being closed by the operation knob. The operation knob includes a swing end formed at a predetermined distance from a rotation axis that serves as a rotation center. The panel member includes a fixed end that defines one end of the opening and that faces the swing end in a neutral state in which no operation is performed, and a gap is formed between those ends. The case includes a protrusion, and at least a part of the protrusion overlaps the gap when viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the substrate in the neutral state in plan view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device comprising:
a substrate;
a case configured to accommodate the substrate;
an operation knob swingably supported by the case and configured to be operated by an operator; and
a panel member having an opening allowing swing of the operation knob, at least a part of the opening being closed by the operation knob,
wherein the operation knob includes a swing end formed at a predetermined distance from a rotation axis that serves as a rotation center when the operation knob is swung,
wherein the panel member includes a fixed end that defines one end of the opening and that faces the swing end of the operation knob in a neutral state in which no operation is performed by the operator,
wherein the swing end and the fixed end form a gap therebetween,
wherein the case includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the gap on a lower side of the gap, at least a part of the protrusion overlaps the gap when viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the substrate in the neutral state in plan view, and said at least the part of the protrusion is located closer to the fixed end relative to the swing end,
wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval when viewed from the first direction in plan view, and
wherein the operation knob includes a plurality of ribs arranged to face the plurality of protrusions.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a plate shape, and a plane formed by the plate shape is parallel to the first direction and intersects with the gap.

3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes an upper end portion facing the gap on the lower side of the gap.

4. The input device according to claim 3 , wherein the upper end portion is orthogonal to the first direction.

5. The input device according to claim 3 , wherein a distance from an upper side of the gap to the upper end portion in the first direction is smaller than 16.25 mm.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined interval is greater than 0.5 mm and smaller than 16.25 mm.

7. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs is disposed at a same position as a corresponding protrusion of the plurality of protrusions in an axial direction of the rotation axis.

8. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs is arranged to be offset from a corresponding protrusion of the plurality of protrusions in the axial direction of the rotation axis.

9. The input device according to claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs is configured to enter between at least two protrusions of the plurality of protrusions in a driving state in which the operation knob is swung.

10. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein a second gap is provided between a facing surface of the protrusion and the swing end in a driving state in which the operation knob is swung, and the second gap has a width smaller than 1.5 mm.

11. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least the part of the protrusion continuously extends from the fixed end to the swing end in plan view.

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Konno Satoru

Classifications

• H01H19/14

  Operating parts, e.g. turn knob · CPC title

• H01H9/04 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings · CPC title

• H01H23/30

  with stable centre positions and one or both end positions unstable · CPC title

• H01H23/02

  Details · CPC title

• H01H23/06 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings · CPC title