Patent ID: 8072415
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A control signal input system, comprising: a display device which displays a graphical user interface including plural control items for controlling a device, the control items being displayed in a predetermined layout; and an input device having an input unit operable to make a selection from the control items displayed on the display device, the input unit having a shape, wherein the shape of the input unit corresponds to the layout of the control items, the input unit includes plural circular grooves, a center recess, and plural guide grooves, in which the center recess is surrounded by the plurality of circular grooves, the recess and the circular grooves are arranged so as to be recessed relative to the plural guide grooves, the control items on the graphical user interface are arranged in a positional relationship corresponding to shapes of the grooves, one or more of the circular grooves or the guide grooves enable a user to sense a respective position by touching, and each of the plural circular grooves having a circular shape and being arranged such that one of the circular grooves surrounds another one of the circular grooves and being further arranged so as to be recessed in the input unit relative to an upper surface thereof, and each of the guide grooves being arranged so as to bridge the center recess and each of the circular grooves and extend radially outward from the center recess of the input unit across each of the circular grooves in a straight line so as to divide each of the circular grooves into a plurality of areas each being recessed relative to the upper surface of the input unit.