A rotary switch with vibration feedback

Abstract

The present invention discloses a rotary knob switch with vibration feedback, which includes a housing, a knob, a circuit board and a potentiometer electrically connected to the circuit board, the potentiometer detects the rotation of the knob, the housing is provided with a cylindrical connection shell, the rotary knob switch with vibration feedback also includes a rotating frame connected to the knob, a ring magnet connected to the rotating frame, a coil fixed to the housing and surrounding the outside of the magnet, and a spring supporting the rotating frame, the knob and the rotating frame are rotatably connected to the connection shell and can move up and down, the coil is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the circuit board can control the coil to be powered on or off according to the signal of the potentiometer. The rotary knob switch of the present invention can energize the coil after the function is triggered, and drive the knob to vibrate up and down through magnetic force, thereby actively giving the user clear tactile feedback.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a knob switch, in particular to a knob switch with vibration feedback. Background Art

[0002] Knob switches are widely used in various industries, including the automotive industry, and have the advantages of easy operation and space saving. However, they still have certain disadvantages. First, the current knob switches are usually only mechanical passive feedback switches (elastic force provides passive feel), and cannot actively provide feedback when the user operates to allow the user to identify whether the function is triggered; although there is a technology that uses a vibration motor to provide vibration feedback in push-buttons, it is difficult to provide vibration feedback by arranging a conventional vibration motor because the knob structure space is small and the knob needs to automatically return to the gear position when released at any position; secondly, the knob of a conventional vibration motor may shift and rotate when vibrating, affecting the customer's tactile feedback experience when using it, especially when the car is driving, it is very dangerous to use the screen on the car to identify whether the function of the knob is triggered, so this defect is particularly prominent in the knob switch on the car. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a knob switch to address the above-mentioned defects in the prior art, which can provide active feedback when in use, so as to facilitate identification of whether a function is triggered.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose of the invention, the present invention proposes a knob switch with vibration feedback, which includes a shell, a knob, a circuit board and a potentiometer electrically connected to the circuit board, the potentiometer detects the rotation of the knob, the shell is provided with a cylindrical connecting shell, the knob switch with vibration feedback also includes a rotating frame connected to the knob, an annular magnet connected to the rotating frame, a coil fixedly connected to the shell and surrounding the outside of the magnet, and a spring supporting the rotating frame, the knob and the rotating frame are rotatably connected to the connecting shell and can move up and down, the coil is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the circuit board can control the power-on status of the coil according to the signal of the potentiometer.

[0005] In addition, the present invention also proposes the following subsidiary technical solutions:

[0006] The knob is provided with an inner hole and a shoulder in the inner hole, and the connecting shell is provided with an outwardly protruding blocking portion, which is located above the shoulder and prevents the shoulder from detaching upward from the connecting shell.

[0007] The shell is provided with an annular groove surrounding the outside of the connecting shell, the rotating frame is arranged in the annular groove, and the bottom surface of the annular groove and the blocking portion cooperate to define the upper and lower positions of the rotating frame and the knob.

[0008] The knob switch with vibration feedback also includes a coil frame located in the shell and fixedly connected to the shell. The coil frame is provided with a coil groove surrounding the outside of the magnet, and the coil is arranged in the coil groove.

[0009] A reset groove is provided at the bottom of the rotating frame, and the knob switch with vibration feedback further comprises a top column, and the spring drives the top column to abut against the reset groove.

[0010] The reset groove includes a top portion and an inclined portion extending from the top portion to both sides.

[0011] The rotating frame includes an upper ring body and a lower ring body connected to the upper ring body, the diameter of the upper ring body is smaller than the diameter of the lower ring body, the knob is snap-connected to the upper ring body, and the magnet is sleeved on the upper ring body and clamped between the knob and the lower ring body.

[0012] The rotary knob switch with vibration feedback further comprises a connecting rod which is arranged in the housing and rotatably connected to the housing, and the connecting rod is connected between the potentiometer and the rotating frame.

[0013] The connecting rod is provided with an extension arm, the extension arm is provided with a slot, the rotating frame is provided with a toggle rod extending into the shell, and the toggle rod is matched in the slot.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0015] 1. The rotary switch with vibration feedback of the present invention is configured such that the rotary knob and the rotating frame can move up and down relative to the housing, and a magnet is arranged on the rotating frame, and a coil surrounding the magnet is arranged on the housing, so that after the knob is rotated into place and the function is triggered, the circuit board can control the coil to be energized, thereby driving the magnet to move up and down, actively giving the user a clear tactile feedback, with a better operating feel, and more convenient and reliable use; in addition, when driving a car, the driver can judge whether the function is triggered by the feedback obtained, without having to identify whether the knob function is triggered by observing the screen, which is safer;

[0016] 2. The knob switch with vibration feedback of the present invention is provided with a reset groove at the bottom of the rotating frame, and is also provided with a top column and a spring driving the top column to abut against the reset groove. The knob can be automatically reset after losing the driving force of the hand, and the knob will not be accidentally rotated or offset due to vibration, bumps, etc., causing the function to be accidentally triggered. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a top view of the knob switch with vibration feedback of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the middle AA section.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the upper shell in the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the knob in the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the rotating frame and the magnet in the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 It is a top view of the upper shell in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 It is a front view of the knob switch with vibration feedback of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Cross-sectional view of the middle BB section.

[0025] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of the connecting rod in the present invention.

[0026] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the position structure of the coil and the magnet in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a rotary knob switch with vibration feedback corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a knob 2 rotatably connected to the housing 1, a rotating frame 3 connected to the knob 2, a circuit board 4 fixed in the housing 1, a potentiometer 5 connected to the circuit board 4, and a connecting rod 6 connected between the potentiometer 5 and the rotating frame 3. The housing 1 comprises an upper housing 10 and a lower housing 11 which are snap-fitted to each other, and an inner cavity 10a is formed between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11 to provide space for accommodating other components. For further reference Figure 3 The upper shell 10 is provided with a connecting shell 100 extending upward. The connecting shell 100 is cylindrical as a whole and is rotatably connected to the rotating frame 3 and the knob 2.

[0029] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the outer periphery of the connection housing 100 is provided with an outwardly protruding blocking portion 101, the knob 2 is provided with an inner hole 20 and a shoulder 21 protruding from the inner wall of the inner hole 20, the connection housing 100 is inserted into the inner hole 20, and the blocking portion 101 is located above the shoulder 21, which can prevent the knob 2 from being separated from the connection housing 100. To facilitate the installation of the knob 2, a first slot 101a is provided on both sides of the blocking portion 101. During installation, the knob 2 only needs to be aligned with the connection housing 100 and then pressed downward, so that the blocking portion 101 is forced to shrink and deform inward, and recover its deformation after the shoulder 21 leaves, thereby clamping the knob 2.

[0030] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the rotating frame 3 includes an upper ring body 30 and a lower ring body 31. The upper ring body 30 and the lower ring body 31 are both in the shape of a circular ring as a whole. In this embodiment, the diameter of the lower ring body 31 is larger than the diameter of the upper ring body 30. The upper ring body 30 is provided with a mounting hole 300 matched with the outer periphery of the connecting shell 100, and can rotate around the axis of the connecting shell 100. The upper ring body 30 is snap-connected with the knob 2. Specifically, a plurality of protruding snaps 301 are provided on the upper ring body 30, and snap holes 22 matched with the snaps 301 are provided on the knob 2. Through the snap connection between the snaps 301 and the snap holes 22, after the snap connection, the upper end face of the rotating frame 3 contacts the lower end face of the shoulder 21, so that the knob 2 and the rotating frame 3 are fixed to each other, and the whole formed by the two can rotate around the axis of the connecting shell 100 at the same time. As shown Figure 6 As shown, a circular annular groove 102 is provided on the upper shell 10 outside the connecting shell 100. The annular groove 102 is coaxial with the connecting shell 100 and is sunk into the inner cavity 10a. The lower ring body 31 of the rotating frame 3 is accommodated in the annular groove 102. The knob 2 and the rotating frame 3 are limited by the blocking portion 101 and the bottom surface of the annular groove 102 as a whole. However, the blocking portion 101 and the bottom surface of the annular groove 102 do not limit the upper and lower positions of the dead knob 2 and the rotating frame 3. The knob 2 and the rotating frame 3 can move up and down between the bottom of the annular groove 102 and the blocking portion 101.

[0031] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the lower ring body 31 is provided with a toggle rod 310 extending downward into the inner cavity 10a. Accordingly, an arc-shaped arc hole 102a is opened on the annular groove 102 to avoid the toggle rod 310. The maximum angle at which the knob 2 can rotate can be determined by the curvature of the arc hole 102a.

[0032] refer to Figures 5 to 8A plurality of reset grooves 311 are provided at the bottom of the lower ring body 31. The rotary switch of the present invention further comprises a top column 7 and a spring 70. A guide hole 71 for accommodating the top column 7 and the spring 70 is formed in cooperation between the upper shell 10 and the lower shell 11. The guide hole 71 is connected from the inner cavity 10a to the top of the annular groove 102, so that the top column 7 can pass through the annular groove 102 and abut against the reset groove 311. The two ends of the spring 70 abut against the top column 7 and the bottom surface 71a of the guide hole 71, respectively, to push the top column 7 to abut against the reset groove 311, so that under normal circumstances, that is, in the initial position, the annular shoulder 21 of the knob 2 abuts against the blocking portion 101.

[0033] The reset groove 311 is used to press the top column 7 downward during the rotation of the knob 2, and the elastic force of the spring 70 drives the knob 2 to reset when the driving force for rotating the knob 2 is lost. The reset groove 311 includes a narrow top 311a and an inclined portion 311b extending from the top 311a to both sides. The top 311a is used to locate the initial position, and is preferably an arc surface matching the top end surface of the top column 7. When the top column 7 is pressed against the top 311a, the rotating frame 3 is in a stable state, and the knob 2 will not rotate or deviate under vibration, thereby preventing malfunctions caused by bumps and vibrations. The inclined portion 311b can be a straight inclined surface or a curved arc surface or a combination of the two, and the overall shape is V-shaped.

[0034] refer to Figure 2 and Fig. 9 , the circuit board 4 is a PCBA board, which is fixed on the lower shell 11. The potentiometer 5 is arranged on the circuit board 4. A fixed shaft 110 protruding upward is arranged on the lower shell 11, and the connecting rod 6 is provided with an axial hole 60 matched with the fixed shaft 110. A connecting column 61 coaxial with the axial hole 60 is also arranged on the connecting rod 6. The connecting column 61 is connected to the potentiometer 5 to drive the brush in the potentiometer 5 to rotate. The connecting rod 6 is also provided with an extension arm 63 extending to one side and a notch 62 arranged at the end of the extension arm 63. The toggle rod 310 of the rotating frame 3 is inserted into the notch 62. When the rotating frame 3 rotates, the connecting rod 6 can be driven to rotate by the toggle rod 310, thereby changing the resistance value of the potentiometer 5. The circuit board 4 is electrically connected to the potentiometer 5, and the chip thereon can issue corresponding control instructions according to the signal change of the potentiometer 5.

[0035] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Fig.10As shown, an annular magnet 32 ​​is arranged on the upper ring body 30 of the rotating frame 3, and a coil frame 8 connected to the upper shell 10 is also arranged in the inner cavity 10a. The coil frame 8 is provided with a circular coil groove 80 surrounding the outside of the magnet 32, and a coil 81 is arranged in the coil groove 80, and the coil 81 also surrounds the outside of the magnet 32. The coil 81 is electrically connected to the circuit board 4, and the circuit board 4 controls the power-on status of the coil 81, such as power on, power off, change of current direction, etc. When the knob 2 is selected to trigger the corresponding function, the coil 81 is energized, and the circuit board 4 drives the magnet 32 ​​to move up and down by changing the current flow direction in the coil 81, thereby driving the rotating frame 3 to compress the spring 70, so that the human hand can feel a clear vibration force, thereby intuitively getting a prompt that the function is triggered.

[0036] In one embodiment of controlling the movement of the magnet 32, the coil 81 can be energized intermittently, that is, a reciprocating cycle of power-on-power-off. During the power-on process, the magnet 32 ​​is affected by the magnetic force of the coil 81, and the compression spring 70 moves downward. During the power-off process, the magnet 32 ​​loses the influence of the magnetic force and is driven to rise by the spring 70. This reciprocating cycle can cause the knob 2 to vibrate. In another embodiment of controlling the movement of the magnet 32, a current in the opposite direction can be passed through the coil 81. For example, a positive voltage is first applied to the coil 81 to make the magnet 32 ​​move in one direction, and then the power is turned off, and then a reverse voltage is applied to make the magnet 32 ​​move in the opposite direction. The knob 2 can be vibrated by controlling the power-on frequency.

[0037] The magnet 32 ​​is fixed on the upper ring body 30. The fixing method is not limited. In this embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, after the knob 2 is connected to the connecting housing 100 , the knob 2 and the lower ring body 31 respectively abut against the upper and lower ends of the magnet 32 ​​, thereby fixing the position of the magnet 32 ​​.

[0038] When the knob 2 is turned, the rotating frame 3 will be driven to rotate, and the connecting rod 6 will drive the potentiometer 5. At the same time, the reset groove 311 of the rotating frame 3 will press down the spring 70. After the circuit board 4 detects that the signal of the potentiometer 5 reaches the set value, the circuit board 4 controls the coil 81 to be energized, so that the coil 81 attracts the magnet 32 ​​downward, thereby giving the human hand a clear control feedback. After the human hand releases the knob 2, the spring 70 drives the rotating frame 3 and the knob 2 to reset, and the coil 81 loses power.

[0039] The rotary switch with vibration feedback of the present invention has at least the following advantages:

[0040] 1. The rotary switch with vibration feedback of the present invention is configured such that the rotary knob and the rotating frame can move up and down relative to the housing, and a magnet is arranged on the rotating frame, and a coil surrounding the magnet is arranged on the housing, so that after the knob is rotated to the right position and the function is triggered, the circuit board can control the coil to be energized, thereby driving the magnet to move downward, actively giving the user a clear tactile feedback, with a better operating feel, and more convenient and reliable use; in addition, when driving a car, the driver can judge whether the function is triggered by the feedback obtained, without having to identify whether the knob function is triggered by observing the screen, which is safer;

[0041] 2. The knob switch with vibration feedback of the present invention is provided with a reset groove at the bottom of the rotating frame, and is also provided with a top column and a spring driving the top column to abut against the reset groove. The knob can be automatically reset after losing the driving force of the hand, and the knob will not be accidentally rotated or offset due to vibration, bumps, etc., causing the function to be accidentally triggered.

[0042] It should be pointed out that the above preferred embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable people familiar with the technology to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rotary knob switch with vibration feedback, comprising a housing (1), a rotary knob (2), a circuit board (4), and a potentiometer (5) electrically connected to the circuit board (4), wherein the potentiometer (5) detects the rotation of the rotary knob (2), and is characterized in that: The housing (1) is provided with a cylindrical connecting housing (100); the rotary knob switch with vibration feedback further comprises a rotating frame (3) connected to the knob (2), an annular magnet (32) connected to the rotating frame (3), a coil (81) fixedly connected to the housing (1) and surrounding the outside of the magnet (32), and a spring (70) supporting the rotating frame (3); the knob (2) and the rotating frame (3) are rotatably connected to the connecting housing (100) and can move up and down; the coil (81) is electrically connected to the circuit board (4); and the circuit board (4) can control the power-on status of the coil (81) according to the signal of the potentiometer (5); The knob (2) is provided with an inner hole (20) and a shoulder (21) located in the inner hole (20); the connection housing (100) is provided with an outwardly protruding blocking portion (101); the blocking portion (101) is located above the shoulder (21); the blocking portion (101) prevents the shoulder (21) from detaching upward from the connection housing (100).

2. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (1) is provided with an annular groove (102) surrounding the outside of the connecting shell (100); the rotating frame (3) is arranged in the annular groove (102); the bottom surface of the annular groove (102) and the blocking portion (101) cooperate to define the upper and lower positions of the rotating frame (3) and the knob (2).

3. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a coil frame (8) located in the shell (1) and fixedly connected to the shell (1), the coil frame (8) is provided with a coil groove (80) surrounding the outside of the magnet (32), and the coil (81) is arranged in the coil groove (80).

4. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 2, characterized in that: A reset groove (311) is provided at the bottom of the rotating frame (3); the rotary knob switch with vibration feedback further comprises a top column (7); and the spring (70) drives the top column (7) to abut against the reset groove (311).

5. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 4, characterized in that: The reset groove (311) comprises a top portion (311a) and an inclined portion (311b) extending from the top portion (311a) to both sides.

6. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating frame (3) comprises an upper ring body (30) and a lower ring body (31) connected to the upper ring body (30); the diameter of the upper ring body (30) is smaller than the diameter of the lower ring body (31); the knob (2) is snap-connected to the upper ring body (30); and the magnet (32) is sleeved on the upper ring body (30) and clamped between the knob (2) and the lower ring body (31).

7. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: It also includes a connecting rod (6) which is arranged in the housing (1) and rotatably connected to the housing (1); the connecting rod (6) is connected between the potentiometer (5) and the rotating frame (3).

8. The rotary switch with vibration feedback according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connecting rod (6) is provided with an extension arm (63), and the extension arm (63) is provided with a notch (62). The rotating frame (3) is provided with a toggle rod (310) extending into the housing (1), and the toggle rod (310) is fitted into the notch (62).

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