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:
Dec. 20, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 15, 2002
Kaiji Nonaka, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Kaiji Nonaka, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The multifunctional input device is configured of an operating unit; a first detector and a second detector for detecting an operating state of the operating unit; an actuator for providing an external force to the operating unit; a controller for exchanging signals with a host computer, which controls a plurality of electrical apparatuses, and controlling driving of the actuator in accordance with instructions from the host computer; and a function/feel library in which are stored actuator driving data matching first detection signals and second detection signals supplied from the first detector and the second detector, and data for manipulating the electrical apparatuses by way of the host computer. In the function/feel library are stored a plurality of actuator drive characteristics, feel number information including numbers identifying combinations of actuator drive characteristics and detection signals, and function number information including numbers identifying the first detection signals supplied from the first detector and the second detection signals supplied from the second detector.