Patent ID: 7657327

Claim:
A control device for operating electronic equipment comprising: a connection that connects the control device with ma external apparatus to be controlled by the control device; a rotational operation unit that selects a rotational position from a plurality of rotational positions, wherein each rotational position corresponds to a predetermined control process; an operation unit; a display unit that displays information associated with a control process corresponding to the selected rotational position of the rotational operation unit; a control unit that executes said control process corresponding to the selected rotational position when the operation unit is activated, wherein the rotational operation unit, the operation unit, and the connection unit are disposed in proximity at a same end of the control device; an elongated housing which contains said control unit; a display window, wherein the display window is in the form of a curved surface which is adjusted to the outside of the elongated housing; wherein the display window extends approximately 270 degrees around the housing; and wherein the rotational operation unit in conjunction with the operation unit switches the electronic equipment among a plurality of operation modes so that a dedicated set of buttons for the plurality of operation modes are removed from the control device, the operation modes including a display mode, a menu mode, a sound mode, and a play mode, and wherein a selection of an operation mode requires: switching the rotational operation unit to a different rotational position, and pressing the operation unit to provide a confirmation to the control unit.