Knob structure

• US 7,211,755 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hu, Ching-Sen, Chiang, Chi-Yen, Wang, Chia-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/485,357
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 200/14, 200 11 R- 11 TW, 200/564, 200/565, 200568-571, 200/336, 200310-317
• US Class Current: 200/336
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/005 Electromechanical pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators

Abstract

A knob structure is disposed on an electronic device to input a preset control signal. The knob structure includes a rotary encoder, a brake wheel, and a rotary wheel. A plurality of ratchets is disposed around the circumference of the brake wheel and locked on the rotary encoder. The rotary wheel is rotatably disposed on the body case of the electronic device and is nested on the brake wheel correspondingly. A block is disposed on the rotary wheel to be embedded between the ratchets, so as to control the rotation of the rotary wheel to generate a preset control signal by causing the brake wheel to drive the rotary encoder to rotate. The rotary wheel and the brake wheel are engaged non-fixedly, so as to prevent the rotary wheel and the body case of the electronic device from interfering with each other.

Claims

1. A knob structure applied in an electronic device to input more than one control signal into the electronic device, wherein the electronic device has at least one round hole, the knob structure comprising:

a rotary encoder rotated to generate the control signal;

a brake wheel fixed on the rotary encoder to drive the rotary encoder to rotate, wherein a plurality of ratchets is disposed around a circumference of the brake wheel; and

a rotary wheel nested on the brake wheel non-fixedly and correspondingly nested on the at least one round hole of the electronic device, wherein a block is disposed in the rotary wheel and embedded between any two of the ratchets, such that the rotary wheel drives the brake wheel to rotate, and

a stop ring is disposed on the rotary wheel and an outer diameter of the stop ring is larger than an inner diameter of the at least one round hole.

2. The knob structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper part and a lower part of the rotary wheel are separated by the stop ring, and the block is disposed on an inner edge of the lower part.

3. The knob structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper part of the rotary wheel has anti-slip stripes.

4. A knob structure applied in an electronic device to input more than one control signal into the electronic device, wherein the electronic device has at least one round hole, the knob structure comprising:

a rotary encoder rotated to generate the control signal;

a brake wheel fixed on the rotary encoder to drive the rotary encoder to rotate, wherein a plurality of ratchets is disposed around a circumference of the brake wheel;

a tray with a hole corresponding to the at least one round hole, wherein the tray is fixedly combined into the at least one round hole of the electronic device; and

a rotary wheel rotatably disposed on the tray and nested on the at least one round hole of the electronic device, wherein the rotary wheel is nested on the brake wheel non-fixedly, and a block is disposed in the rotary wheel and embedded between any two of the ratchets, such that the rotary wheel drives the brake wheel to rotate.

5. The knob structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotary encoder comprises a fixing base and a rotary ring, and the brake wheel is fixedly combined with the rotary ring.

6. The knob structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of locking slots is disposed on the rotary ring and a plurality of wedges corresponding to the locking lots is disposed on the brake wheel.

7. The knob structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein a stop ring is disposed on the rotary wheel and an outer diameter of the stop ring is larger than an inner diameter of the round hole.

8. The knob structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein an upper part and a lower part of the rotary wheel are separated by the stop ring, and the block is disposed on an inner edge of the lower part.

9. The knob structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper part of the rotary wheel has anti-slip stripes.

10. The knob structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein a length difference between the block and the plurality of ratchets define the movement margin of the rotary wheel on the brake wheel.

11. The knob structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein an inner diameter of the at least one round hole is smaller than an outer diameter of a lower part of the rotary wheel.