Patent ID: 7124648

Claim:
An input device comprising: a knob to be operated by turning; turning angle detecting means for detecting a turning angle and for outputting a turning angle signal corresponding to the turning angle of the knob; locking means for locking the knob and for stopping rotation of the knob; a controller for driving the locking means in accordance with the turning angle signal and for determining whether an operating force is applied to the knob in a predetermined turning direction while the knob is locked; and turning direction detecting means for detecting a turning direction of an operating force applied to the knob when the knob is locked and the rotation of the knob is stopped by the locking means; wherein the controller drives the locking means to continue locking the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is applied in the predetermined turning direction, and the controller drives the locking means to release the locking of the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is not applied in the predetermined turning direction.