INPUT DEVICE INCLUDING A RATCHET SYSTEM WITH AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATOR

• US 20180166235A1
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• 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: Merminod, Baptiste, O'Mahony, Davin, Merminod, Antoine
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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

In certain embodiments, an electronic input device includes a knob assembly defining an annular cavity and including a magnetically attractable armature. The electronic input device also includes a ratchet assembly disposed within the annular cavity and includes a ring magnet. The electronic input device includes a clutch mechanism that has a friction disc assembly, and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field that shifts the friction disc assembly between a first position in which the friction disc assembly prevents rotation of the ratchet assembly and a second position in which the ratchet assembly is free to rotate with the knob assembly. The ring magnet of the ratchet assembly interacts with the magnetically attractable armature to generate a ratcheting feedback in response to rotation of the knob assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the first position.

Claims

1. An electronic input device, comprising:

a knob assembly defining an annular cavity and comprising a magnetically attractable armature;

a ratchet assembly disposed within the annular cavity and comprising a ring magnet; and

a clutch mechanism, comprising;

a friction disc assembly, and

an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field that shifts the friction disc assembly between a first position in which the friction disc assembly engages the ratchet assembly and a second position in which the friction disc assembly is disengaged from the ratchet assembly,

wherein the ring magnet interacts with the magnetically attractable armature to generate a ratcheting feedback in response to rotation of the knob assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the first position.

2. The electronic input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetically attractable armature comprises a plurality of axially protruding teeth that interact with radially protruding teeth of the ratchet assembly to generate the ratcheting feedback.

3. The electronic input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic field emitted by the electromagnet is a first magnetic field and the ring magnet is a first ring magnet wherein the clutch mechanism further comprises a second ring magnet that emits a second magnetic field and wherein the friction disc assembly is configured to complete a magnetic circuit when the friction disc assembly is in the second position that shifts the second magnetic field towards the ratchet assembly.

4. The electronic input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a spring that biases the friction disc assembly towards the first position.

5. The electronic input device as recited in claim 4, wherein when the friction disc assembly is engaging the ratchet assembly in the first position the spring pushes the friction disc assembly against the ratchet assembly to oppose rotation of the ratchet assembly when the knob assembly is rotated.

6. An electronic input device, comprising:

a ratchet assembly comprising a first ring magnet;

a friction disc assembly movable between a first position and a second position, the friction disc assembly engaging the ratchet assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the first position and disengaging from the ratchet assembly when the friction disc assembly moves towards the second position;

a spring applying a first force that biases the friction disc assembly towards the first position;

a second ring magnet emitting a first magnetic field that generates a second force that biases the friction disc assembly towards the second position;

an electromagnetic actuator configured to emit a second magnetic field that reduces the magnitude of the second force when current is applied to the electromagnetic actuator in a first direction and increases the magnitude of the second force when current is applied to the electromagnetic actuator in a second direction; and

a knob enclosing the ratchet assembly, the friction disc assembly, the spring, the second ring magnet and the electromagnetic actuator within an annular cavity.

7. The electronic input device as recited in claim 6, wherein when the electromagnetic actuator is de-energized and the friction disc assembly is in the first position the first force is greater than the second force.

8. The electronic input device as recited in claim 7, wherein when the electromagnetic actuator is de-energized and the friction disc assembly is in the second position the second force is greater than the first force.

9. The electronic input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the friction disc assembly forms a portion of a magnetic circuit that shifts the first magnetic field towards the friction disc assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the second position.

10. The electronic input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the friction disc assembly comprises:

a friction disc; and

a clutch control armature coupled to the friction disc, the clutch control armature completing a magnetic circuit when the friction disc assembly is in the second position.

11. The electronic input device as recited in claim 10, further comprising an electrical switch, wherein the knob is configured to translate axially in response to receiving an axial user input, the translation of the knob imparting a force that actuates the switch.

12. The electronic input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the electronic input device is configured to receive user input by way of rotation of the knob.

13. The electronic input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the knob is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation that extends through a first opening defined by the first ring magnet and a second opening defined by the second ring magnet.

14. An electronic input device, comprising:

a ratchet assembly, comprising;

a first armature having a first plurality of radially protruding teeth,

a second armature having a second plurality of radially protruding teeth, the first plurality of teeth being aligned with the second plurality of teeth, and

a ring magnet disposed between the first armature and the second armature and emitting a magnetic field; and

a knob assembly, comprising;

a knob enclosing the ratchet assembly within an annular cavity, and

an armature ring coupled to an interior facing surface of the knob and including a plurality of axially protruding teeth, the magnetic field establishing magnetic circuits that flow through the first and second armatures and each of the axially protruding teeth,

wherein magnetic flux flowing through the magnetic circuits generates resistance to rotation of the knob assembly.

15. The electronic input device as recited in claim 14, wherein the resistance to rotation of the knob assembly is caused by a changing distance between the axially protruding teeth and the radially protruding teeth.

16. The electronic input device as recited in claim 14, wherein the axially protruding teeth are arranged at the same radial interval as the radially protruding teeth of the first and second armatures.

17. The electronic input device as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a sensor magnet coupled to the knob and emitting a sensor magnetic field;

a magnetic sensor proximate the sensor magnet, the magnetic sensor being configured to detect the rotation of the sensor magnetic field; and

a processor configured to translate the detected rotation of the sensor magnetic field into an electrical signal representative of an amount of rotation of the knob.

18. The electronic input device as recited in claim 14, further comprising a clutch mechanism configured to remove the varying amount of resistance by allowing the ratchet assembly to rotate with the knob assembly.

19. The electronic input device as recited in claim 18, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a friction disc configured to oppose rotation of the ratchet assembly.

20. The electronic input device as recited in claim 19, further comprising a touch sensor disposed within the knob and configured to receive touch input along at least one of a top surface of the knob and lateral surfaces of the knob.