Abstract: A display control device for a remote control device is disclosed. The display control device is configured to have connection with a display device and a remote control device spaced apart from each other. The display device is configured to display an operation screen having multiple icons for accepting an operation directed to a control target apparatus. When display is switched from a first operation screen to a second operation screen having a different icon arrangement, the display control means shifts an icon selection state from one icon selected on the first operation screen to an initial selection icon pre-set on the second operation screen and causes the display device to display a visual effect indicative of a direction from position of the selected one icon to position of the initial selection icon.

Abstract: An input device having a manipulation member is disclosed. The input device has an absolute input mode and a relative input. In the absolute input mode, the input device determines a coordinate of a pointed point on a window of a display unit based on a coordinate of the manipulation member. In the relative input mode, the input device determines the pointed point on the window in a relative manner based on a two-dimensional displacement of the manipulation member with respect to a reference position, which is set when an input mode is switched into the relative input mode. When the manipulation member receives a load that causes the manipulation member to move beyond a predetermined range, the input device generates and applies a force corresponding to the load to the manipulation member.

Abstract: An indication unit indicates arranged selective areas on a display surface for accepting input. A move unit moves an instructed position on the display surface according to an operation quantity of an operation unit. A selected-state determination unit determines a selected-state area from the selective areas according to the instructed position. A width determination unit determines a width of the selected-state area in each of an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction of the display surface. A moving speed set unit sets a moving speed of the instructed position variably at least when the instructed position passes through the selected-state area such that: a velocity component in the x-axis direction becomes larger as the determined width in the x-axis direction becomes larger, and a velocity component in the y-axis direction becomes larger as the determined width in the y-axis direction becomes larger.

Abstract: An operation knob of an operating device for a vehicle is movably supported by an X-direction sliding unit and a Y-direction sliding unit. A push switch is interposed between the operation knob and the X-direction sliding unit, which is arranged above the Y-direction sliding unit. A ball bearing having a through-hole, through which an axial rod of a joystick device passes, is movably supported by the axial rod in an axial direction thereof. According to such a structure, the operation knob can be moved to a desired position, and the push switch can be surely operated to be turned-on or turned-off.

Abstract: An on-vehicle manipulating system includes a manipulating device having a housing, a first side pushbutton switch disposed at one side of the housing, a second side pushbutton switch disposed at the other side of the housing and an additional switch disposed at a prescribed portion of the housing and a control unit for setting a first function to one of the first and second pushbutton switches and a second function to the other pushbutton switch. In this manipulating system, the control unit changes the function of the first or second side pushbutton switch from the first function such as an ENTER key to the second function, such as a RETURN key, and the function of the other pushbutton switch, such as a MENU key, from the second function to the first function when one of the pushbutton switches being set to change the function is operated subsequent to the other pushbutton switch that has been set the second function is operated in a prescribed period after the additional switch is operated.

Abstract: An indication unit indicates arranged selective areas on a display surface for accepting input. A move unit moves an instructed position on the display surface according to an operation quantity of an operation unit. A selected-state determination unit determines a selected-state area from the selective areas according to the instructed position. A width determination unit determines a width of the selected-state area in each of an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction of the display surface. A moving speed set unit sets a moving speed of the instructed position variably at least when the instructed position passes through the selected-state area such that: a velocity component in the x-axis direction becomes larger as the determined width in the x-axis direction becomes larger, and a velocity component in the y-axis direction becomes larger as the determined width in the y-axis direction becomes larger.

Abstract: A display control device for a remote control device is disclosed. The display control device is connected with a display device for displaying an operation screen having multiple icons and a remote control device spaced apart form the display device. The display control device performs display control in the following way. The display control device displays an identification display mark in association with one icon in a selection state. When an instruction of an operation direction is inputted, the display control device displays a visual presentation indicative of the operation direction on the operation screen by making a change in display manner of the identification display mark, with the identification display mark being displayed in association with the one icon in the selection state.

Abstract: A display control device for a remote control device is disclosed. The display control device is configured to have connection with a display device and a remote control device spaced apart from each other. The display device is configured to display an operation screen having multiple icons for accepting an operation directed to a control target apparatus. When display is switched from a first operation screen to a second operation screen having a different icon arrangement, the display control means shifts an icon selection state from one icon selected on the first operation screen to an initial selection icon pre-set on the second operation screen and causes the display device to display a visual effect indicative of a direction from position of the selected one icon to position of the initial selection icon.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of an operation device controls the operation device in the following manner. That is, when a pointer on a display screen is controlled by the operation device, the operation of the operation device is regarded as an equivalent of a press operation of an OK button that affirms a certain decision, or as an equivalent of a press operation of a switch button that switches a current screen to the next one, upon detecting an exit of the pointer from a wall area of the screen.

Abstract: An input device having a manipulation member is disclosed. The input device has an absolute input mode and a relative input. In the absolute input mode, the input device determines a coordinate of a pointed point on a window of a display unit based on a coordinate of the manipulation member. In the relative input mode, the input device determines the pointed point on the window in a relative manner based on a two-dimensional displacement of the manipulation member with respect to a reference position, which is set when an input mode is switched into the relative input mode. When the manipulation member receives a load that causes the manipulation member to move beyond a predetermined range, the input device generates and applies a force corresponding to the load to the manipulation member.

Abstract: An operation knob of an operating device for a vehicle is movably supported by an X-direction sliding unit and a Y-direction sliding unit. A push switch is interposed between the operation knob and the X-direction sliding unit, which is arranged above the Y-direction sliding unit. A ball bearing having a through-hole, through which an axial rod of a joystick device passes, is movably supported by the axial rod in an axial direction thereof. According to such a structure, the operation knob can be moved to a desired position, and the push switch can be surely operated to be turned-on or turned-off.

Abstract: In a force-feedback input device, when the cursor moves on a line parallel to a line between a center of a first button and a center of a second button, an area is determined between a first position, which corresponds to the center of the first button, and a second position, which corresponds to the center of the second button, such that the area extends a distance W on both sides of a mid-point between the first and second positions. In this area, the first and second external-force generation portions are controlled so that a scalar value |F| of an attractive force exerted on an operating portion is decreased according to the equation |F|=d/W·|F| as the cursor moves closer to the mid-point, where d is a distance between the cursor and the mid-point.

Abstract: A display device is provided in a central position of an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment, and an operation device is provided in a center console. The operation device is formed with a case body having a palm rest, with is provided with a pointing device and four finalizing switches. A menu display window showing an array of multiple function selection items or a list display screen is displayed on a screen of the display device. The user selects a desired function selection item by moving a cursor by operation of an operation knob of the pointing device. In this state, the user ON operates any one of the finalizing switches, thereby performing finalize-designation. A user can thus operate the operation device from any one of multiple directions without uncomfortable feeling.

Abstract: An on-vehicle manipulating system includes a manipulating device having a housing, a first side pushbutton switch disposed at one side of the housing, a second side pushbutton switch disposed at the other side of the housing and an additional switch disposed at a prescribed portion of the housing and a control unit for setting a first function to one of the first and second pushbutton switches and a second function to the other pushbutton switch. In this manipulating system, the control unit changes the function of the first or second side pushbutton switch from the first function such as an ENTER key to the second function, such as a RETURN key, and the function of the other pushbutton switch, such as a MENU key, from the second function to the first function when one of the pushbutton switches being set to change the function is operated subsequent to the other pushbutton switch that has been set the second function is operated in a prescribed period after the additional switch is operated.

Abstract: In a force-feedback input device, when the cursor moves on a line parallel to a line between a center of a first button and a center of a second button, an area is determined between a first position, which corresponds to the center of the first button, and a second position, which corresponds to the center of the second button, such that the area extends a distance W on both sides of a mid-point between the first and second positions. In this area, the first and second external-force generation portions are controlled so that a scalar value |F| of an attractive force exerted on an operating portion is decreased according to the equation |F|=d/W·|F| as the cursor moves closer to the mid-point, where d is a distance between the cursor and the mid-point.