Patent ID: 6062749
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A dial input device, comprising:a support member;a dial rotatably arranged on said support member and having a plurality of kinds of characters circumferentially allocated thereto;n (n.gtoreq.1) first contact member(s) arranged in a manner concentric with said dial, each of which is circumferentially divided into s (s.gtoreq.2) divisional parts and formed by electrically conductive portions and electrically non-conductive portions arranged in a mixed manner;a second contact member arranged in a manner concentric with said dial and circumferentially divided into m (m.gtoreq.2) divisional parts each of which is formed by an electrically conductive portion alone;n.times.s first brushes arranged on said dial in a manner circumferentially corresponding to said s divisional parts of each of said n first contact member(s); anda second brush arranged on said dial in a manner corresponding to said second contact member,wherein said characters are expressed by k (k.ltoreq.2.sup.(n.times.s) .times.m) identifying patterns out of 2.sup.(n.times.s) .times.m identifying patterns formed by a combination of bit patterns of n.times.s bits generated by contact between said electrically conductive portions and said electrically non-conductive portions of each of said divisional parts of said first contact member and said n.times.s first brushes and m grouping patterns generated by contact between said m parts of said second contact member and said second brush.