Manual input device which provides its control knob with plural modes of operation feeling, and car-mounted apparatus controller based thereon

A manual input device comprising:

• a knob;
• a feeling providing device which has at least two kinds of feeling patterns;
• and
• an actuator which positions at least one of a ball or a pin in contact with the feeling providing device,
• wherein the actuator positions at least one of multiple balls or pins and the feeling providing device comprises one of a disc or a cylinder which has a single feeling pattern (row) and is fixed to a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob;
• at least one of the multiple balls or pins contacts the one of the disc or the cylinder, and
• wherein the actuator linearly reciprocates a selected one of the one of the multiple balls or pins in a direction where the selected one of the one of the multiple balls or pins selectively engages with the feeling pattern.

A manual input device comprising:

• a knob;
• a feeling providing device which has at least two kinds of feeling patterns;
• and
• an actuator which positions at least one of a ball or a pin in contact with the feeling providing device,
• wherein the feeling providing device comprises a rotary polyhedron which bears plural feeling patterns (rows) arranged in parallel along an axial direction of an outer surface, and
• wherein the actuator reciprocally rotates the rotary polyhedron around an axis of the rotary polyhedron, with one end of a control shaft to be manipulated by the knob being in contact with the outer surface of the rotary polyhedron bearing the feeling patterns.

A manual input device comprising:

• a knob;
• a feeling providing device which has at least two kinds of feeling patterns;
• and
• an actuator which positions at least one of a ball or a pin in contact with the feeling providing device;
• a control section for the actuator;
• a detector which detects an operating condition of the knob;
• and
• an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,
• wherein an external signal from an external detector connected at least with the external device is inputted into the control section through the input/output section to generate a control signal for the actuator to match at least the external signal, and wherein the actuator is controlled according to the control signal.

A manual input device comprising:

• a knob;
• a feeling providing device which has at least two kinds of feeling patterns;
• and
• an actuator which positions at least one of a ball or a pin in contact with the feeling providing device;
• a control section for the actuator;
• a detector which detects an operating condition of the knob;
• and
• an input/output section which exchanges signals with an external device controlled by the knob,
• wherein both a detection signal at least from the detector and an external signal from an external detector connected with the external device are inputted into the external device to generate control information for the actuator to match the detection signal and the external signal, wherein the control information is picked up by the control section through the input/output section to generate a control signal for the actuator to match the control information, and wherein the actuator is controlled according to the control signal.