Rotary knob with a display

• US 20080023309A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Montalvo, Juan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/332
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

A knob assembly comprising a rotary knob, a rotary actuated potentiometer and an electronic display. The rotary knob has a central opening and is configured to rotate. The rotary actuated potentiometer is actuated by rotation of the rotary knob. The electronic display is located within the central opening of the rotary knob. The electronic display does not rotate with rotation of the rotary knob.

Claims

1. A knob assembly comprising:

a rotary knob having a central opening, the rotary knob being configured to rotate;

a rotary actuated potentiometer actuated by rotation of the rotary knob; and

an electronic display located within the central opening of the rotary knob;

wherein the electronic display does not rotate with rotation of the rotary knob.

2. The knob assembly of claim 1, further including:

a circuit board having the rotary actuated potentiometer connected thereto.

3. The knob assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the circuit board has a connector thereon, the connector including a plurality of electronic contacts located within openings in the connector; and

the electronic display includes a plurality of pins inserted into the opening of the circuit board to power the electronic display.

4. The knob assembly of claim 1, further including:

a transfer gear transferring the rotary motion of the rotary knob to the rotary actuated potentiometer.

5. The knob assembly of claim 1, further including:

a knob shell having the rotary knob therein, the knob shell not rotating with rotation of the rotary shell.

6. The knob assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the electronic display is connected to the knob shell.

7. The knob assembly of claim 5, further including:

a cap connected to the knob shell, the cap having a central aperture wherein the electronic display can be viewed through the central aperture.

8. The knob assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.

9. The knob assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic display is a vacuum florescence display.

10. The knob assembly of claim 1, further including:

a protective applique in front of the electronic display to protect the electronic display.

11. A method of displaying and controlling an electronic component comprising:

providing a rotary knob having a central opening therein, the rotary knob being configured to rotate;

rotating a rotary actuated potentiometer by rotating the rotary knob; and

providing an electronic display within the central opening of the rotary knob;

wherein the electronic display does not rotate with rotation of the rotary knob.

12. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, further including:

connecting the rotary actuated potentiometer to a circuit board.

13. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 12, wherein:

the circuit board has a connector thereon, the connector including a plurality of electronic contacts located within openings in the connector; and

the electronic display includes a plurality of pins;

and further including inserting the pins into the opening of the circuit board to power the electronic display.

14. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, further including:

transferring rotary motion of the rotary knob to the rotary actuated potentiometer with a transfer gear.

15. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, further including:

a knob shell having the rotary knob therein, the knob shell not rotating with rotation of the rotary shell.

16. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 15, further including:

connecting the electronic display to the knob shell.

17. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 15, further including:

connecting a cap to the knob shell, the cap having a central aperture wherein the electronic display can be viewed through the central aperture.

18. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, wherein:

the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.

19. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, wherein:

the electronic display is a vacuum florescence display.

20. The method of displaying and controlling an electronic component of claim 11, further including:

placing a protective applique in front of the electronic display to protect the electronic display.