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:
Mar. 06, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 09, 2007
Satoru Aimi, Iwaki, JP;
Yoshinobu Hosaka, Iwaki, JP;
Satoru Aimi, Iwaki, JP;
Yoshinobu Hosaka, Iwaki, JP;
Alpine Electronics, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An input apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an operation member that is rotatable and is movable in a direction along a rotation axis between an extended position and a pushed-in position. When a user rotates the operation member without pushing in it, a detection output of a predetermined number of pulses can be obtained from a first detection unit each time the operation member is rotated at a predetermined angle. When a user pushes in the operation member and rotates it at a predetermined angle, detection outputs can be continuously obtained from a second detection unit. Consequently, a user can perform a rough retrieval operation on a data set-by-data set basis and a fine data selection operation on a data-by-data basis using a single operation member without repositioning the user's hand.