Operating knob device and electronic equipment including the same

• US 6,356,045 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otari, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Otari, Inc.
• Inventors: Rayna, David, Walker, Saul Adam, Newton, Scott Michael, Overocker, James Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US09/617,889
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 318/560, 318/561, 318/563, 318/566, 318/568.1, 318/569, 318/578, 318/579, 318/600-608, 318/615-618, 318/652, 318/687
• US Class Current: 318/561
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23053 Knob with tactile feedback, representing clicks, detents programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23057 Position of knob, pedal detected by encoder, addresses memory for functions

Abstract

An operating knob device has: a position detection portion for detecting a position of a set numerical value of an object to be set; an operating portion for changing and operating the set numerical value; a drive portion for driving the operating portion; and a control portion for controlling the drive portion on the basis of a detection result of the position detection portion. The control portion includes: a first position calculation portion for calculating a first set numerical value that is a current set numerical value of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of the position detection portion; a second position calculation portion for calculating one or a plurality of second set numerical values that are set numerical values before change of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of the position detection portion; and a drive control portion for controlling the drive portion to be driven and changing and controlling a drive parameter of the drive portion when an absolute value of a difference between the first set numerical value and at least one of second set numerical values falls within an allowable range. Thus, the operator may reset the position of the operating portion only in accordance with a finger feel without visually confirming the position.

Claims

1. An operating knob device comprising:

a position detection portion for detecting a position of a set numerical value of an object to be set;

an operating portion for changing and operating the set numerical value;

a drive portion for driving said operating portion; and

a control portion for controlling said drive portion on the basis of a detection result of said position detection portion;

wherein said control portion includes;

a first position calculation portion for calculating a first set numerical value that is a current set numerical value of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion;

a second position calculation portion for calculating one or a plurality of second set numerical values that are set numerical values before change of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion; and

a drive control portion for controlling said drive portion to be driven and changing and controlling a drive parameter of said drive portion when an absolute value of a difference between the first set numerical value and at least one of said second set numerical values falls within an allowable range.

2. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion changes and controls a torque of said drive portion.

3. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent.

4. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical stop.

5. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent in the case where at least one of said second set numerical values is selected out of said plurality of second set numerical values, and to simulate a mechanical stop in the case where the other second set numerical value is selected.

6. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to change at least one of said second set numerical values into any desired value.

7. The operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that said plurality of second set numerical values are present in a variable range.

8. An operating knob device according to claim 1, wherein said position detection portion comprises a rotary encoder.

9. The operating knob device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection portion for detecting whether or not an operator contacts with said operating portion,

wherein said drive control portion is controlled to drive said drive portion when said detection portion detects the contact condition.

10. The operating knob device according to claim 2, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that a torque of said drive portion is increased as said first set numerical value approaches at least one of said second set numerical values within the allowable range and the torque of said drive portion is decreased when the first set numerical value is in the vicinity of at least one said second set numerical value.

11. The operating knob device according to claim 2, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that respective torque changes in response to said plurality of second set numerical values become changes which are different from each other within the allowable range.

12. Electronic equipment having one or a plurality of operating knob devices each according to claim 1.

13. An operating knob device comprising:

a position detection portion for detecting a position of a set numerical value of an object to be set;

a rotary operating portion for changing and operating the set numerical value;

a drive portion for rotatively driving said rotary operating portion; and

a control portion for controlling said drive portion on the basis of a detection result of said position detection portion;

wherein said control portion includes;

a first position calculation portion for calculating a first set numerical value that is a current set numerical value of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion;

a second position calculation portion for calculating one or a plurality of second set numerical values that are set numerical values before change of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion; and

a drive control portion for controlling said drive portion to be rotatingly driven and changing and controlling a drive parameter of said drive portion when an absolute value of a difference between the first set numerical value and at least one said second set numerical value falls within an allowable range.

14. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion changes and controls a torque of said drive portion.

15. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent.

16. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical stop.

17. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent in the case where at least one of said second set numerical values is selected out of said plurality of second set numerical values, and to simulate a mechanical stop in the case where the other second set numerical value is selected.

18. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to change at least one of said second set numerical values into any desired value.

19. The operating knob device according to claim 13, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that said plurality of second set numerical values are present in a variable range.

20. The operating knob device according to claim 13, further comprising a detection portion for detecting whether or not an operator contacts with said operating portion,

wherein said drive control portion is controlled to drive said drive portion when said detection portion detects the contact condition.

21. The operating knob device according to claim 14, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that a torque of said drive portion is increased as said first set numerical value approaches at least one of said second set numerical values within the allowable range and the torque of said drive portion is decreased when the first set numerical value is in the vicinity of at least one of said second set numerical values.

22. The operating knob device according to claim 14, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that respective torque changes in response to said plurality of second set numerical values become changes which are different from each other within the allowable range.

23. Electronic equipment having one or a plurality of operating knob devices each according to claim 13.

24. An operating knob device comprising:

a position detection portion for detecting a position of a set numerical value of an object to be set;

a linear operating portion for changing and operating the set numerical value;

a drive portion having a rotary portion for rotatingly driving and a power translating portion for converting the rotational motion of said rotary portion into a linear motion for moving said operating portion; and

a control portion for controlling said drive portion on the basis of a detection result of said position detection portion;

wherein said control portion includes;

a first position calculation portion for calculating a first set numerical value that is a current set numerical value of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion;

a second position calculation portion for calculating one or a plurality of second set numerical values that are set numerical values before change of the object to be set, on the basis of the detection result of said position detection portion; and

a drive control portion for controlling said drive portion to be driven and changing and controlling a drive parameter of said drive portion when an absolute value of a difference between the first set numerical value and at least one of said second set numerical values falls within an allowable range.

25. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion changes and controls a torque of said drive portion.

26. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent.

27. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical stop.

28. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to simulate a mechanical detent in the case where at least one of said second set numerical values is selected out of said plurality of second set numerical values, and to simulate a mechanical stop in the case where the other second set numerical value is selected.

29. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion is controlled to change at least one of said second set numerical values into any desired value.

30. The operating knob device according to claim 24, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that said plurality of second set numerical values are present in a variable range.

31. The operating knob device according to claim 24, further comprising a detection portion for detecting whether or not an operator contacts with said operating portion,

wherein said drive control portion is controlled to drive said drive portion when said detection portion detects the contact condition.

32. The operating knob device according to claim 25, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that a torque of said drive portion is increased as said first set numerical value approaches at least one of said second set numerical values within the allowable range and the torque of said drive portion is decreased when the first set numerical value is in the vicinity of at least one of said second set numerical values.

33. The operating knob device according to claim 25, wherein said drive control portion is controlled so that respective torque changes in response to said plurality of second set numerical values become changes which are different from each other within the allowable range.

34. Electronic equipment having one or a plurality of operating knob devices each according to claim 24.