US 12,261,000 B2
Input device
Takayuki Saijo, Miyagi (JP)
Assigned to ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/307,383.
Application 18/307,383 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2021/040339, filed on Nov. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-211595 (JP), filed on Dec. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0260721 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 13/14 (2006.01); G05G 5/03 (2008.04); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); H01H 19/14 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 13/14 (2013.01) [G05G 5/03 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); H01H 19/14 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/854 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/55 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An input device comprising:
a base;
an operation panel provided on the base and having a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion;
a shaft portion provided on the base or the operation panel and configured to swingably support the operation panel with respect to the base;
a first operation knob provided on a peripheral edge portion of the first recessed portion of the operation panel and having a first operation part and a second operation part, the first operation part being configured to swing the operation panel in a first swing direction by a pressing operation, and the second operation part being configured to swing the operation panel in a second swing direction opposite to the first swing direction by a pulling-up operation with a finger inserted into the first recessed portion;
a second operation knob provided on a peripheral edge portion of the second recessed portion of the operation panel and having a third operation part and a fourth operation part, the third operation part being configured to swing the operation panel in the second swing direction by a pressing operation, and the fourth operation part being configured to swing the operation panel in the first swing direction by a pulling-up operation with a finger inserted into the second recessed portion;
a swing detector configured to detect swing of the operation panel in the first swing direction with respect to the base by the pressing operation on the first operation part and the pulling-up operation on the fourth operation part, and swing of the operation panel in the second swing direction opposite to the first swing direction with respect to the base by the pulling-up operation on the second operation part and the pressing operation on the third operation part;
a first capacitance detection electrode provided in the first operation knob and configured to detect contact with the first operation part or the second operation part;
a second capacitance detection electrode provided in the second operation knob and configured to detect contact with the third operation part or the fourth operation part; and
a control unit configured to discriminate between the pressing operation of the first operation part, the pulling-up operation of the fourth operation part, the pulling-up operation of the second operation part, and the pressing operation of the third operation part, based on an output of the swing detector, an output of the first capacitance detection electrode, and an output of the second capacitance detection electrode.