# US 2018/0024649 A1 · Operating tool, input device, and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024649 A1 - Document ID: US20180024649A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/556,266 - Filed: 2015-04-13 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-13 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Masahiko UNO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024649A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0362: with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts - G06F 3/0338: with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks - G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 2203/0381: Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer - G06F 2203/04808: Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In a rotary switch (1), a rotation unit (2) is rotatably supported by a holder unit (3). The holder unit (3) is fixed onto a detection surface of a touch panel (7). Contact points (4) make contact with the detection surface of the touch panel (7) with their positional relationship corresponding to a function of the rotary switch (1). A contact point (5) rotates while making contact with the detection surface of the touch panel (7), as the rotation unit (2) rotates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An operating tool comprising: a holder unit to be fixed onto a detection surface of a touch panel; a movable unit movably supported by the holder unit; a movable-unit-side contact point that is provided on the movable unit, and that moves, while making contact with the detection surface of the touch panel, as the movable unit moves; and multiple holder-unit-side contact points that are provided on the holder unit, and that are to be in contact with the detection surface of the touch panel in a positional relationship of the holder-unit side contact points, the positional relationship corresponding to a function of the operating tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The operating tool of claim 1, wherein the touch panel is a capacitance-type touch panel, the movable unit, the movable-unit-side contact point and the holder-unit-side contact points are formed of electrically-conductive members, and the holder-unit-side contact points are electrically connected to the movable unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The operating tool of claim 1, comprising an operation unit that, upon receiving operation, causes a contact point for switching the function of the operating tool, to make contact with the detection surface of the touch panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An input device comprising: a display; a touch panel provided on a screen of the display in an overlapping manner; the operating tool of claim 1 fixed onto a detection surface of the touch panel; a function determination unit to determine a function of the operating tool, on a basis of the positional relationship of the multiple holder-unit-side contact points in contact with the detection surface of the touch panel; an operation detection unit to detect, with respect to the function determined by the function determination unit, operation corresponding to a movement of the movable-unit-side contact point; and a display control unit to control display by the display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the display control unit causes the display to display an operation unit to order switching of the function of the operating tool, and the function determination unit switches the function of the operating tool in response to operation of the operation unit with the respect to the touch panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the display control unit causes the display to display an operation unit to order switching of the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness, and the function determination unit switches the operating tool between the effectiveness and ineffectiveness in response to operation of the operation unit with respect to the touch panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the function determination unit switches the function of the operating tool in accordance with displayed content on the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the function determination unit switches the function of the operating tool in accordance with a state of a moving object that moves together with the input device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the function determination unit switches the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness in accordance with displayed content on the display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the function determination unit switches the operating tool between effectiveness and ineffectiveness in accordance with a state of a moving object that moves together with the input device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein, when a user makes contact with the operating tool, the display control unit causes the display to display content related to the function of the operating tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The input device of claim 4, wherein the operating tool is formed of a translucent member, so that displayed content on the display can be seen through the operating tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) An electronic device, comprising: the input device of claim 4; and a function execution unit that executes a function corresponding to operation received by the input device.