Input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018233302-A1
Application number	US-201615751572-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 16, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an input device that puts signals into equipment in response to turning action and that can come down in thickness along an axis of a rotary shaft. The input device includes a knob configured to be turned, a rotary shaft configured to turn together with the knob, and a flange disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. The flange is designed to regulate turning of the rotary shaft. The input device further includes an elastic component that is disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and is fastened to the flange, a rotation controller that permits or inhibits turning of the elastic component, and a detector that detects a rotational state of the rotary shaft.

First claim

1 . An input device comprising:
a knob configured to be turned by a human hand; a rotary shaft connected to the knob, the rotary shaft being configured to turn together with the knob; a flange disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, the flange being configured to turn together with the rotary shaft;
an elastic component being disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and being fastened to the flange, the elastic component having flexibility;
a rotation controller that permits or inhibits turning of the elastic component around the rotary shaft; and

a detector that detects a rotational state of the rotary shaft.

2 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the flange and the elastic component are each annular.

3 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation controller comprises:
an armature being disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and being fastened to a side of the elastic component opposite the flange; an electromagnet disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft; and a yoke disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft, the yoke being configured to permit or inhibit turning of the armature around the rotary shaft in accordance with magnetic attraction of the electromagnet.

4 . The input device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the rotary shaft and the flange has a first groove extending along an axis of the rotary shaft, and the other of the rotary shaft and the flange is provided with a first protrusion fitting into the first groove and being slidable along the first groove.

5 . The input device according to claim 4 , wherein
the elastic component has any one of a second groove that is disposed so as to fit onto the first protrusion provided on the rotary shaft and a second protrusion that is disposed so as to fit into the first groove provided on the rotary shaft, and the second groove or the second protrusion has a dimension such that a predetermined extent of allowance exists between the second groove and the first protrusion or between the second protrusion and the first groove in a circumferential direction of the rotary shaft.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Arakawa Toru
• Ono Takatoshi
• Mizukami Masahiro

Classifications

• H01H9/20 Primary

  Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H19/60

  Angularly-movable actuating part carrying no contacts · CPC title

• H01F7/081

  Magnetic constructions · CPC title

• H01H19/14 Primary

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

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title