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:
Oct. 23, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 09, 2004
Isao Sato, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Isao Sato, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co. Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An input device includes contacts having resistive elements and low-resistance elements opposing the respective resistive elements, an operating unit varying the contact areas between the low-resistance elements and the resistive elements, and detecting means for switching an operation mode of the input device in response to the operation of a supporting leg provided on the operating unit. When the operating unit is not operated, the detecting means switches the operation mode to a sleep mode while the resistive elements and the low-resistance elements are kept in contact with each other. When the operating unit is operated, the detecting means switches the operation mode and the sleep mode is disabled.