Rotary and push type input device

• US 6,809,275 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, David W., Cheng, Wendy H. W., Desabilla, Don Rupert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US10/145,353
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/9, 200/11, 200/14, 200/18
• US Class Current: 200/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

The disclosure describes a button wheel. The button wheel comprises a support frame including a pair of parallel opposed inner surfaces. A platform is nestably mounted in the support frame. The platform includes a pair of parallel opposed outer surfaces forming a pair of linear bearings with the parallel opposed inner surfaces of the support frame to allow the platform to translate from a biased rest position in a direction parallel to the opposed inner surfaces and the opposed outer surfaces. The button wheel also includes first and second spaced apart mounts fixed to one of the support frame and said platform. The button wheel includes a shaft disposed along an axis and including a first end rotatably engaged in the first mount and a second end rotatably engaged in the second mount. A wheel is mounted on the shaft and a rotation sensor is in operative communication with the wheel. The button wheel also includes a translation sensor coupled between the support frame and the platform.

Claims

1. A button wheel comprising:

a support frame including a first region and a second region, said first region being a spring region;

a first mount disposed on said first region of said support frame;

a second mount spaced apart from said first mount and disposed on said support frame at said second region;

a translation sensor mounted at a fixed position with respect to said support frame;

a shaft disposed along an axis and including a wheel mounted thereon, said shaft including a first end rotatably engaged in said first mount and a second end rotatably and translatably engaged in said second mount so as to allow said shaft to translate with respect to said support frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis to actuate said translation sensor upon the application of mechanical force to said wheel having a component substantially along said direction; and

a rotation sensor in operative communication with said wheel.

2. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pushbutton switch, a snap dome switch, a breakbeam sensor, a strain gauge and a proximity sensor.

3. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said first region of said support frame is configured with a spiral pattern geometry.

4. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said first region of said support frame is formed as an L shaped region.

5. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said first region of said support frame is formed as a straight region.

6. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said support frame includes an aperture formed thereon and wherein said wheel is at least partially disposed in said aperture when said wheel is translated.

7. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said support frame includes an aperture formed thereon and wherein said wheel is at least partially disposed in said aperture when said wheel is at rest.

8. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said first region is a flat-spring region.

9. The button wheel of claim 1 further comprising at least one biasing member coupled to said support frame.

10. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor includes a biasing member.

11. The button wheel of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional translation sensor.

12. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor includes a button mounted proximate to said support frame.

13. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor is comprises at least one strain gauge integral with said support fame.

14. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor is configured to provide a signal that varies as a function of the extent of translation from a rest position in said direction.

15. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said second region is a fixed region.

16. The button wheel of claim 1 further comprising:

a first translation limiter disposed on said shaft proximate said first end and adjacent to said first mount to limit the translation of said shaft along said axis;

a second translation limiter disposed on said shaft proximate said second end and adjacent to said second mount to limit the translation of said shaft along said axis.

17. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor senses extent of translation.

18. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor is configured to estimate position of an input force.

19. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a distal extension on one of said first end and said second end, and said translation sensor is disposed in operative communication with said shaft at a location proximate to said distal extension.

20. The button wheel of claim 1 wherein said translation sensor is configured to sense at least three discrete translation positions of said wheel.

21. A button-wheel comprising:

a base;

a shaft rotatably coupled to said base about an axis of rotation and translatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation;

a wheel fixedly mounted on said shaft;

a translation sensor in operative communication with said wheel and configured to sense at least three discrete translation positions of said wheel in said direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation.