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. 18, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2003
Akira Senzui, Tokyo, JP;
Kota Yamazaki, Tokyo, JP;
Akira Senzui, Tokyo, JP;
Kota Yamazaki, Tokyo, JP;
Polymatech Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel input operation device in which multi-functionality corresponding to higher functionality of electrical equipment can be achieved along with tactile functionality suitable as a man-machine interface. An input operation device () is provided with a switching portion () under a coordinate operation portion () that has dome-shaped coordinate operation portions () and () that are deformable due to operation press forces. An operator can perceive the deformation of the coordinate operation portion () during a coordinate operation as tactile operational feel. Further, an input operation of the switching portion () is performed if a large operational press force is applied, and therefore it is possible for the operator to perform the coordinate operation and the input operation while perceiving differences in the operation feel, which correspond to differences in an operation press force, and an erroneous input operation in the switching portion () can also be reliably prevented. The coordinate operation can be performed provided that the operation of pressing spherical surface similar to trackball operation is imparted to the dome-shaped coordinate operation portions () and (), and it therefore extremely superior in functionality as well.