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:
Jan. 07, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 13, 2000
Katsuya Mitsuzuka, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An in-car-device controller permits a switch unit to be easily replaced. Switch units formed by control switches and keytops are installed to unit mounts. The types of the switch units are identified by the unit mounts by detecting the different shapes of switching driving portions formed at the distal ends of the keytops. The unit mounts are provided with detection switches for detecting the presence of the keytops. A control unit detects detection switch signals from the detection switches thereby to determine the presence of the key tops. If the control unit decides that any one of the keytops has been removed from the unit mounts, then the control unit turns OFF at least the control function associated with the removed keytop.