Encoder with tri-color LED

• US 8,440,925 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forward Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Forward Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Chung, Pei-Tung, Chung, Ching-Hao, Li, Hsiu-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/064,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20120175231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 200/37.R, 200/336, 200/11.R, 200/11.B, 200/11.C, 200/11.G, 200308-317, 200520-536
• US Class Current: 200/316
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5805 Connections to printed circuits for slide switches H01H15/005; for tumbler switches H01H23/006
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/005 Electromechanical pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/08 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/11 with indexing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/164 the light emitting elements being incorporated in and movable with the operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/006 being rotation direction sensitive, e.g. the generated pulse or code depends on the direction of rotation of the operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement

Abstract

An encoder with a tri-color LED includes an insulating base, five terminals, a conductive elastic piece, a tri-color LED assembly, an encoder substrate assembly, a conductive wiper assembly, and an insulated light shaft. The five terminals and the insulating base are formed integrally. The conductive elastic piece is received in a receiving chamber of the insulating base. The tri-color LED assembly is disposed in the receiving chamber. The encoder substrate assembly covers on both the conductive elastic piece and the tri-color LED assembly. The conductive wiper assembly is received in the encoder substrate assembly. The insulated light shaft passes through a through hole of the conductive wiper assembly and a through hole of the encoder substrate assembly. Thereby, through voltage variation of an independent tri-color LED loop, color mixing can be controlled, and that to combine the same with the encoder a function of lighting and marking can be achieved.

Claims

1. An encoder with a tri-color LED, comprising:

an insulating base, having an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is recessed with a receiving chamber having a receiving hole;

five terminals, including a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal which are not in contact with one another, wherein the five terminals each has an insertion portion and a contact portion which are in connection with one another, and the first terminal further includes an abutting portion in connection with the contact portion, and the abutting portion of the first terminal and the contact portion of the third terminal are received in the receiving hole of the insulating base, and the terminals each has its insertion portion extended out of the insulating base, where the five terminals and the insulating base are formed integrally;

a conductive elastic piece, being received in the receiving chamber of the insulating base, and being located above the abutting portion of the first terminal, and being disposed on the contact portion of the third terminal;

a tri-color LED assembly, being disposed in the receiving chamber of the insulating base, and having four outer pins in contact with the contact portions of the first, the second, the fourth, and the fifth terminals;

an encoder substrate assembly, covering on the insulating base, and covering on both the conductive elastic piece and the tri-color LED assembly, wherein the encoder substrate assembly is recessed downward with a receiving chamber on which a through hole is provided;

an conductive wiper assembly, being received in the receiving chamber of the encoder substrate assembly, and being provided with a through hole; and

an insulated light shaft, passing through the through hole of the encoder and the through hole of the encoder substrate assembly, and abutting on the tri-color LED assembly.

2. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tri-color LED assembly includes an insulating support base, four conductive elements, a tri-color LED chip, and a cover;

and wherein the insulating support base has an upper surface recessed with a receiving chamber, and the four conductive elements include a first conductive element, a second conductive element, a third conductive element, and a fourth conductive element which are not in contact with one another, and the four outer pins of the tri-color assembly are each formed by a first end of the four conductive elements, respectively, whereas a second end of each of the four conductive elements is formed as a contact portion, and the contact portions are received in the receiving chamber of the insulating support base, and the outer pins extend out of the insulating support base such that the four conductive elements and the insulating support base are formed integrally; and

wherein the tri-color LED chip is disposed in the receiving chamber of the insulating support base, and has four pins in contact with the contact portions of the four conductive elements respectively; and

wherein the cover covers on the receiving chamber of the insulating support base, and has a through hole sleeved to the tri-color LED chip correspondingly.

3. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the insulating support base has at least one pillar, and the cover has at least one positioning hole such that the pillar is inserted into the positioning hole.

4. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate which covers on the conductive elastic piece, the tri-color LED assembly, the encoder substrate assembly, and the conductive wiper assembly;

and which is provided with a through hole such that the insulated light shaft passes through the through hole of the mounting plate, the through hole of the conductive wiper assembly, and the through hole of the encoder substrate assembly.

5. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an elastic plate interposed between the mounting plate and the conductive wiper assembly.

6. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting plate is provided, downward, with a plurality of engaging elements which are engaged at the insulating base.

7. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting plate is provided, downward, with a plurality of pins for being inserted on a circuit board.

8. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is at least one pillar provided at an upper surface of the encoder substrate assembly, and the mounting plate is provided with at least one positioning hole such that the at least one pillar is inserted into the at least one positioning hole.

9. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive elastic piece is a circular conductive elastic piece.

10. The encoder with a tri-color LED as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insertion portion of each terminal of the insulating base is perpendicular to the insulating base.