Rotary/push button controller

• US 9,557,761 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Snmez, Metin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kyung
• Application Number:
  US14/627,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 200/564, 200/565, 200/336, 200/11.R, 200/17.R, 200341-342
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/025 actuated by sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20468 Sliding rod

Abstract

A rotary/push button controller is provided herein. The controller includes an outer ring being movable, radially at a rotation angle about a rotation axis, and axially along the rotation axis, the outer rings being integrally formed with a centrally disposed shaft, the shaft includes a connection to an electric switch in response to the axial movement of the shaft; an intermediate space between an inner wall of the outer ring and the shaft; an inner ring being disposed in the intermediate space between the inner wall of the outer ring and the shaft coaxially in relation to the shaft and to the outer ring; and a roller bearing having at least two rows of roller bodies, which are situated between the inner wall of the outer ring and the outer wall of the inner ring.

Claims

1. A rotary/push button controller, comprising:

an outer ring being movable, radially at a rotation angle about a rotation axis, and axially along the rotation axis, the outer rings being integrally formed with a centrally disposed shaft, the shaft includes a connection to an electric switch in response to the axial movement of the shaft;

an intermediate space between an inner wall of the outer ring and the shaft;

an inner ring being disposed in the intermediate space between the inner wall of the outer ring and the shaft coaxially in relation to the shaft and to the outer ring;

a roller bearing having at least two rows of roller bodies, which are situated between the inner wall of the outer ring and the outer wall of the inner ring,

a photoelectric element to electrically register a rotation of the outer ring;

wherein the outer ring includes an integrated geometry with a plurality of light-sensitive sensors,

the plurality of light sensors being configured to interact with the photoelectric element, the plurality of light-sensitive sensors each being defined by one of a plurality of teeth that extend in a direction parallel to the rotation axis, and the plurality of teeth having a plurality gaps in between each two of the plurality of teeth,

the photoelectric element is u-shaped, with vertical walls of the photo-electric element defining an opening, and

the plurality of teeth being rotated between the opening.

2. The rotary/push button controller according to claim 1, wherein the outer ring includes an integrated geometry with a plurality of light-sensitive sensor.

3. The rotary/push button controller according to claim 1, further comprising a locking cam disposed on a periphery of the outer ring.

4. The rotary/push button controller according to claim 3, further comprising a spring element to engage the locking cam.

5. The rotary/push button controller of claim 4, wherein the spring element is configured to provide haptic feedback in accordance with an operation of the rotary/push button controller.

6. The rotary/push button controller according to claim 1 wherein the roller bearing is at least two rows of roller bodies, each in a cage.

7. The rotary/push button controller of claim 1, wherein the inner ring is attached to a circuit board, with a hollow portion provided to allow placement of the photo-electric element.