Rotary actuator and input device using the same

• US 8,130,123 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth, Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/235,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 first center shaft protruding along the center axis;

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

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

a first elastic member provided between the first center shaft of the roller and the first bearing, the first elastic member having a ring shape which surrounds the first center shaft and which has a first inner circumferential surface and a first outer circumferential surface opposite to the first inner circumferential surface; and

a first fixed magnet facing the first ring magnet,

wherein the first inner circumferential surface of the first elastic member elastically contacts the first center shaft to urge the first center shaft toward the center axis, and

wherein the first outer circumferential surface of the first elastic member elastically contacts the first bearing to urge the first bearing away from the center axis.

2. The rotary actuator of claim 1, wherein the first center shaft is an integral portion of the roller and rotates with the roller, and wherein the first elastic member is disposed on the roller.

3. The rotary actuator of claim 1, wherein the first elastic member is made of fluorine rubber.

4. The rotary actuator of claim 3, further comprising fluorine powder attached on surfaces of the first elastic member contacting the first center shaft and the first bearing.

5. The rotary actuator of claim 1, wherein an elastic force with which the first elastic member elastically contacts the first bearing is larger than an elastic force with which the first elastic member elastically contacts the first center shaft.

6. The rotary actuator of claim 1, wherein the roller further has a second center shaft protruding along the center axis in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first center shaft protrudes, said rotary actuator further comprising:

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

a second elastic member provided between the second center shaft of the roller and the second bearing, the second elastic member having a ring shape which surrounds the second center shaft and which has a second inner circumferential surface and a second outer circumferential surface opposite to the second inner circumferential surface,

wherein the second inner circumferential surface of the second elastic member elastically contacts the second center shaft to urge the second center shaft toward the center axis, and

wherein the second outer circumferential surface of the second elastic member elastically contacts the second bearing to urge the second bearing away from the center axis.

7. The rotary actuator of claim 6, wherein the second elastic member is made of fluorine rubber.

8. The rotary actuator of claim 7, further comprising fluorine powder attached on surfaces of the second elastic member contacting the second center shaft and the second bearing.

9. The rotary actuator of claim 6, further comprising:

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

a second fixed magnet facing the second ring magnet.

10. The rotary actuator of claim 1, wherein an elastic force with which the second elastic member elastically contacts the second bearing is larger than an elastic force with which the second elastic member elastically contacts the second center shaft.

11. An input device comprising:

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

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

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

a first elastic member provided between the first center shaft of the roller and the first bearing, the first elastic member having a ring shape which surrounds the first center shaft and which has a first inner circumferential surface and a first outer circumferential surface opposite to the first inner circumferential surface;

a first fixed magnet facing the first ring magnet, and

a magnetic detector facing the first ring magnet,

wherein the first inner circumferential surface of the first elastic member elastically contacts the first center shaft to urge the first center shaft toward the center axis, and

wherein the first outer circumferential surface of the first elastic member elastically contacts the first bearing to urge the first bearing away from the center axis.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the first elastic member is made of fluorine rubber.

13. The input device of claim 12, further comprising fluorine powder attached on surfaces of the first elastic member contacting the first center shaft and the first bearing.

14. The input device of claim 11, wherein an elastic force with which the first elastic member elastically contacts the first bearing is larger than an elastic force with which the first elastic member elastically contacts the first center shaft.

15. The input device of claim 11, wherein the roller further has a second center shaft protruding along the center axis in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first center shaft protrudes, said rotary actuator further comprising:

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

a second elastic member provided between the second center shaft of the roller and the second bearing, the second elastic member having a ring shape which surrounds the second center shaft and which has a second inner circumferential surface and a second outer circumferential surface opposite to the second inner circumferential surface,

wherein the second inner circumferential surface of the second elastic member elastically contacts the second center shaft to urge the second center shaft toward the center axis, and

wherein the second outer circumferential surface of the second elastic member elastically contacts the second bearing to urge the second bearing away from the center axis.

16. The input device of claim 15, wherein the first center shaft is an integral portion of the roller and rotates with the roller, and wherein the first elastic member is disposed on the roller, and

wherein the second center shaft is an integral portion of the roller and rotates with the roller, and wherein the second elastic member is disposed on the roller.

17. The input device of claim 15, wherein the second elastic member is made of fluorine rubber.

18. The input device of claim 17, further comprising fluorine powder attached on surfaces of the second elastic member contacting the second center shaft and the second bearing.

19. The input device of claim 15, further comprising:

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

a second fixed magnet facing the second ring magnet.

20. The input device of claim 15, wherein an elastic force with which the second elastic member elastically contacts the second bearing is larger than an elastic force with which the second elastic member elastically contacts the second center shaft.