Mechanical ratchet system for a knob

• US 10,140,008 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: O'Mahony, Davin, Mcloughlin, Padraig, Merminod, Baptiste, Merminod, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Okebato, Sahlu
• Application Number:
  US15/466,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20180164901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/06 for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only G05G5/005, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/14 Operating parts, e.g. turn knob
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/01 Spiral spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/038 Preselection, i.e. the output of a switch depends on a particular preselection, e.g. a particular position of another switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

A knob for an input device may include a knob housing being rotatable on an axis, a shaft coupled to and extending from the knob housing along the axis, a ratchet wheel axially coupled to the shaft and including a toothed perimeter, and a resistance wheel axially coupled to the shaft and including a smooth perimeter, where the ratchet wheel and the resistance wheel are rotatable on the axis in correspondence with a rotation of the knob housing. A biasing mechanism provides a force on its first end to cause a roller to engage with the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel such that a ratcheted rotation occurs when the knob housing is rotated, and further provides a force on its second end to cause the second end to engage with the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel such that a friction is provided when the knob housing is rotated.

Claims

1. A knob for an input device, the knob comprising:

a knob housing being rotatable on an axis;

a shaft coupled to and extending from the knob housing along the axis;

a ratchet wheel axially coupled to the shaft and including a toothed perimeter;

a resistance wheel axially coupled to the shaft and including a smooth perimeter,

wherein the ratchet wheel and the resistance wheel are rotatable on the axis in correspondence with a rotation of the knob housing; and

a biasing mechanism including;

a first end coupled to a roller, wherein the biasing mechanism provides a first force causing the roller on the first end to engage with the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel such that a ratcheted rotation occurs when the knob housing is rotated; and

a second end, wherein the biasing mechanism provides a second force causing the second end to engage with the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel such that a friction is provided when the knob housing is rotated.

2. The knob of claim 1 further comprising:

a lever coupled to the biasing mechanism, the lever to switch between a first position and a second position,

wherein when in the first position, the lever causes the second end of the biasing mechanism to disengage with the resistance wheel, and

wherein when in the second position, the lever causes the roller on the first end of the biasing mechanism to disengage with the ratchet wheel.

3. The knob of claim 2 further comprising:

a gear system coupled to the lever;

a processor; and

an electric motor controlled by the processor and coupled to the gear system to cause the lever to switch between the first position and the second position.

4. The knob of claim 3 wherein the gear system includes a protrusion that stops the lever from rotating past the first position and the second position.

5. The knob of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch disposed below and substantially in axial alignment with the shaft,

wherein the knob is depressible, and

wherein the switch is activated when the knob is depressed.

6. The knob of claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism is a helicoidal spring.

7. The knob of claim 1 wherein the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel includes a low friction material, and wherein the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel includes a high friction material.

8. The knob of claim 1 wherein the ratchet wheel and the resistance wheel share a common body.

9. The knob of claim 1 wherein the first and second forces provided by the biasing mechanism are adjustable and controlled by a processor.

10. The knob of claim 9 wherein the first force causing the roller on the first end to engage with the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel is adjustable by the processor to vary an intensity of the ratcheted rotation, and

wherein the second force causing the second end to engage with the resistance wheel is adjustable by the processor to vary an intensity of the friction.

11. A computer-implemented method for the operation of a knob on an input device, the method comprising:

receiving input data, by a processor, corresponding to a selection of one of a;

ratchet-mode of operation for the knob; and

a resistance-mode of operation for the knob,

when the input data corresponds to the selection of the resistance-mode of operation;

controlling, by the processor, a first end of a biasing mechanism to disengage with a toothed perimeter of a wheel that is axially coupled to a shaft extending from the knob; and

controlling, by the processor, a second end of the biasing mechanism to engage with a smooth perimeter of the wheel, the second end configured to provide a frictional resistance to rotation when the knob is rotated; and

when the input data corresponds to the selection of the ratchet-mode of operation;

controlling, by the processor, the first end of a biasing mechanism to engage with the toothed perimeter of the wheel, the first end configured to provide a ratcheted rotation when the knob is rotated; and

controlling, by the processor, the second end of the biasing mechanism to disengage with the smooth perimeter of the wheel.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein a lever controls the first end and second end of the biasing mechanism, the method further comprising:

when the input data corresponds to the selection of the resistance-mode of operation;

moving the lever to a first position to cause the second end of the biasing mechanism to disengage with the smooth perimeter of the wheel; and

when the input data corresponds to the selection of the ratchet-mode of operation;

moving the lever to a second position to cause the first end of the biasing mechanism to disengage with the toothed perimeter of the wheel.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein an electric motor controls the moving the lever to the first position and the moving the lever to the second position.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the biasing mechanism is a helicoidal spring.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the toothed perimeter of the wheel includes a low friction material, and wherein the smooth perimeter of the wheel includes a high friction material.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the toothed perimeter and the smooth perimeter are on separate wheels and separated by the shaft.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the input data further includes intensity data,

wherein when the input data corresponds to the ratchet-mode of operation:

modifying an intensity of the ratcheted rotation based on the intensity data; and

wherein when the input data corresponds to the resistance-mode of operation;

modifying an intensity of the frictional resistance to rotation based on the intensity data.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a knob housing being rotatable on an axis;

a shaft coupled to and extending from the knob housing along the axis;

a wheel axially coupled to the shaft and including;

a toothed perimeter; and

a smooth perimeter,

wherein the wheel is rotatable on the axis in correspondence with a rotation of the knob housing;

a wheel contacting interface including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a roller; and

a lever coupled to the wheel contacting interface, the lever configured to switch between a first position and a second position,

wherein when in the first position, the lever causes the roller on the first end to engage with the toothed perimeter of the wheel such that a ratcheted rotation occurs when the knob housing is rotated, and

wherein when in the second position, the lever causes the second end to engage with the smooth perimeter of the wheel such that a friction is provided when the knob housing is rotated.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a gear system coupled to the lever;

a processor; and

an electric motor controlled by the processor and coupled to the gear system to cause the lever to switch between the first position and the second position.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

an actuator disposed below and substantially in axial alignment with the shaft,

wherein the knob is depressible, and

wherein the actuator is activated when the knob is depressed.