ROTARY ACTUATOR AND INPUT DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20090096641A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: INOUE, Hiroto, YAMAMOTO, Tamotsu
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/14 using magnetic induction damping
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• 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: H03K 2217/94068 with magnetic detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1836 Rotary to rotary

Abstract

A rotary actuator includes a roller having a center shaft protruding along a center axis, a bearing for supporting the center shaft of the roller to allow the roller to rotate about the center axis, a ring magnet fixed to the center shaft of the roller, an elastic member having a ring shape provided between the center shaft of the roller and the bearing, and a fixed magnet facing the ring magnet. The ring magnet is alternately magnetized to an S-pole and an N-pole with predetermined angular intervals. This rotary actuator has a simple structure and operates with a preferable operation feeling.

Claims

1. A rotary actuator comprising:

a roller having a center axis, the roller having a center shaft protruding along the center axis;

a bearing for supporting the center shaft of the roller to allow the roller to rotate about the center axis;

a ring magnet fixed to the center shaft of the roller, the ring magnet being alternately magnetized to an S-pole and an N-pole with predetermined angular intervals;

an elastic member provided between the center shaft of the roller and the bearing, the elastic member having a ring shape; and

a fixed magnet facing the ring magnet.

2. An input device comprising:

a roller having a center axis, the roller having a center shaft protruding along the center axis;

a bearing for supporting the center shaft of the roller to allow the roller to rotate about the center axis;

a ring magnet fixed to the center shaft of the roller, the ring magnet being alternately magnetized to an S-pole and an N-pole with predetermined angular intervals;

an elastic member provided between the center shaft of the roller and the bearing, the elastic member having a ring shape;

a fixed magnet facing the ring magnet, and

a magnetic detector facing the ring magnet.