The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 10, 1994
Dennis K Bironas, Kokomo, IN (US);
James R Bradley, Peru, IN (US);
Wilbur A Robarge, Greentown, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corporation, Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
A digital control device and method are provided for controlling functions such as volume and tuning for an electronic radio in response to a digital rotary switch. The apparatus includes a digital switch movable to a plurality of positions and which has a plurality of digital outputs to represent the positions. Control increments corresponding to an amount of rotation and rate of rotation of the switch are stored in a memory. The rotary switch output is periodically sampled to determine when switch movement occurs and to further determine the direction of switch rotation based on a sequence of the plurality of digital outputs. The rate of rotation of the rotary switch is then determined from counting changes in position of the switch over a sampling time A control increment is looked up in the memory that corresponds to the determined rate. The control increment is then used to change a digital output signal for controlling the electronic device. The digital output signal may control volume for an electronic radio or may include a tuner selector for selecting the tuning frequency of a radio. Accordingly, the present invention enables one to have variable control of radio functions in accordance with predetermined rates of rotation of a digital rotary switch.