Information input device, and electronic apparatus using same

Abstract

An information input device is provided which is to make input of information by operating a disk-shaped rotating member. The device includes the rotating member ( 36 ) which is rotatable with one main side thereof being operated, rotation detecting means ( 23, 32 ) for detecting a rotation of the rotating member ( 36 ), a central switch activator ( 26 ) provided at the center of rotation of the rotating member ( 36 ), a central switch ( 270 ) which is activated by operating the central switch activator ( 26 ), and a plurality of peripheral switches ( 27 ) which are turned on when a portion, apart from the center of rotation, of the rotating member ( 36 ) is pressed. Rotating the rotating member and pressing the apart portion makes input of information, and operating the central switch activator sets the information thus entered.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An information input device comprising:
 a rotating member rotatable in forward and backward directions with a force applied in the direction of the plane thereof;   a magnet having a plurality of sets of N and S poles and disposed at a constant angular pitch on the circumference of a circle taking, as the center thereof, the center of rotation of the rotating member;   a base supporting the rotating member while allowing the latter to rotate; and   a hall element provided on at least a part of the base to detect a strength of a magnetic field developed by each set of N and S poles of the magnet, passing over that part as the rotating member is rotated,   at least a rotated extent of the rotating member being detected on the basis of an output from the hall element.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The device as set forth in  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of switches which are turned on or off or make a shift between on and off states when the portion, apart from the center of rotation, of the rotating member is pressed. 
     
     
         23 . The device as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the base having the switch provided thereon is covered over the upper side thereof including the side having the switches provided thereon with a sheet having a projection in a position corresponding to each of the switches. 
     
     
         24 . The device as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein there is formed directly or indirectly on the base a wiring pattern, which leads output from the hall element to outside the apparatus and/or a wiring pattern which leads output from the switches to outside. 
     
     
         25 . The device as set forth n  claim 20 , wherein a plurality of hall elements is disposed in positions displaced an integral multiple of the pole pitch from the magnet poles and a rotated direction of the rotating member is detected on the basis of the phase relation between output waveforms from the hall elements. 
     
     
         26 . The device as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein:
 the hall element is provided in one place;   the output provided from the hall element when the rotating member is rotated has a sawtooth waveform of which the leading and trailing edges incline at different angles, respectively; and   a rotated direction of the rotating member is detected on the basis of a result of comparison between a time from an intersection of the hall element output with a reference value until a time when the hall element output attains a positive or negative peak value and a time from a time when the hall element output attains the positive or negative peak value until the intersection of the hall element output with the reference value.   
     
     
         27 . The device as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein a detent magnet magnetically acting upon the pole is provided on at least a part of a portion other than the portion where a strength of the magnetic field developed by a magnet pole is detected, at the side where the rotating member is rotatably supported. 
     
     
         28 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . An electronic apparatus comprising an information input device including a rotating member rotatable in forward and backward directions with a force applied in the direction of the plane thereof; a magnet having a plurality of sets of N and S poles and disposed at a constant angular pitch on the circumference of a circle taking, as the center thereof, the center of rotation of the rotating member; a base supporting the rotating member while allowing the latter to rotate; and a hall element provided on at least a part of the base to detect a strength of a magnetic field developed by each set of N and S poles of the magnet, passing over that part as the rotating member is rotated,
 at least a rotated extent of the rotating member being detected on the basis of an output from the hall element; and   the entire upper side of the rotating member being exposed for operability of the rotating member from at least outside the apparatus.