Encoder component

Abstract

The present invention discloses an encoder assembly, which includes a bracket and an encoder module provided on the bracket. It further includes a roller for triggering the encoder module to generate a signal. A switching button is also provided on the bracket. The switching button is associated with a pressing wheel assembly mounted on the bracket. The pressing wheel assembly includes a gear set and a linkage rod. The linkage rod has a swing rod end that can closely adhere to the roller. Pressing the switching button causes the gear set to rotate, thereby making the swing rod end move away from or closely adhere to the roller to switch the degree of freedom of the roller rotation. This application is provided with a push-button type switching button, which can switch the state of the roller of the encoder assembly to obtain a ratchet roller or a free rolling mode, meeting different environmental requirements; in addition, the pressing wheel assembly of this application has a simple and reliable structure, the overall structure is easy to assemble, the production cost is low, and it is suitable for industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an encoder assembly. Background Art

[0002] Inputting data and information into a computer or an electronic device is a bridge for communication between the computer and the user or other devices. An input device is one of the main devices for information exchange between the user and the computer system. Keyboards, mice, cameras, scanners, light pens, handwriting input tablets, joysticks, voice input devices, etc. all belong to input devices. An input device is a device for human or external interaction with a computer, and is used to input raw data and programs for processing these data into the computer. A computer can receive various types of data, which can be either numerical data or various non-numerical data, such as graphics, images, sounds, etc., which can be input into the computer through different types of input devices for storage, processing, and output.

[0003] An encoder assembly is one of the hardware modules that generate signals in input devices. Like buttons, it has become a commonly used component in current input devices. Encoder assemblies are widely used in mice. Of course, the scroll wheel is not limited to being used in mice and can also be used in other input devices to achieve the interactive function of scroll wheel operation.

[0004] Most of the existing scroll wheels have fixed damping. Turning one grid makes it scroll once, which cannot provide multiple levels of dialing feel, and at the same time, it cannot be quickly dialed, which is very inconvenient to use in some office or gaming scenarios. Therefore, there appears ZL201910560652.3 "Multi-mode Scroll Wheel of Input Device" on the market, which can provide three operation modes: flywheel mode, constant friction mode, and ratchet mode. However, its structure is too complex, which will greatly increase the production cost of the mouse and at the same time increase the weight of the mouse; due to the complex structure, its anti-shock effect is poor and it is easy to be damaged. Usually, such multi-mode mice are switched mechanically. If electrical, electromechanical, or electromagnetic control is used, it will further increase the structural complexity and greatly increase the production cost. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aiming at the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a novel-structured and easily assembled encoder assembly with a switchable degree of freedom of scroll wheel rotation.

[0006] To achieve the technical purpose, the solution of the present invention is: an encoder assembly, including a bracket and an encoder module arranged on the bracket, and also including a roller that triggers the encoder module to generate a signal. The bracket is also provided with a switching button, and the switching button is associated with a pressure wheel assembly installed on the bracket. The pressure wheel assembly includes a gear set and a linkage rod, and the linkage rod has a rocker end that can be tightly attached to the roller. Pressing the switching button causes the gear set to rotate and thereby causes the rocker end to move away from or close to the roller to switch the freedom of rotation of the roller.

[0007] Preferably, the roller is an annular structure with an inner ring, and the inner ring wall of the roller is a wavy or toothed structure; the gear set includes a top stop gear, and the linkage rod also includes a transmission end located on the other side of the rocker end, and the transmission end abuts against the top stop gear; a pivot hole is provided between the transmission end and the rocker end, and a pivot shaft is provided on the bracket to match the pivot hole; the rocker end extends into the inner ring of the roller; when the switch button is pressed, the top stop gear rotates so that different parts of the gear abut against the transmission end, thereby causing a position change of the transmission end so that the rocker end is tilted up and close to or falls away from the inner ring wall of the roller.

[0008] Preferably, the switch button includes a key cover and a reset spring for resetting the key cover, and the reset spring has an extension arm at the end close to the key cover; the gear set also includes a ratchet that is concentric with the top stop gear, and the extension arm extends to the ratchet; pressing the key cover causes the reset spring and the extension arm to move downward, and the extension arm drives the ratchet to rotate and then drives the top stop gear to rotate.

[0009] Preferably, the pressure wheel assembly also includes a torsion spring, a limit platform is provided on the bracket, one end of the torsion spring is fixed to the limit platform, and the other end of the torsion spring abuts against the rocker end of the linkage rod to provide downward pressure for the rocker end.

[0010] Preferably, the portion where the transmission end of the linkage rod contacts the top stop gear is an arc surface structure, the top stop gear has a plurality of tooth protrusions and tooth grooves, and the tooth protrusions of the top stop gear all have positioning grooves matching the arc surface structure of the transmission end.

[0011] Preferably, the bracket is provided with a keyway, the key cover and the return spring are arranged in the keyway, and a clearance groove is provided on a side of the keyway close to the gear set to allow the extension arm to move up and down.

[0012] Preferably, a rotating shaft is provided at the center of the roller. The encoder module includes a fixing bracket, a coding turntable, and a PCB board. An optical pair tube assembly composed of a light-emitting element and a photosensitive element is surface-mounted on the PCB board. The coding turntable is a hollow circular ring cover made of light-impermeable material. The coding turntable is inserted into the roller through the rotating shaft. A light path switch is provided on the outer ring wall of the coding turntable. When the light path switch on the coding turntable rotates to the light path of the optical pair tube, the photosensitive element can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element.

[0013] Preferably, the light path switch is a plurality of light through holes evenly distributed on the outer ring wall of the coding turntable, and the outer ring wall of the coding turntable is located between the light-emitting element and the photosensitive element.

[0014] Preferably, LED lamp beads are surface-mounted on the PCB board.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The present application is provided with a button-type switching key, which can switch the roller state of the encoder component to obtain a ratchet roller or a free rolling mode, meeting different environmental requirements; in addition, the pressing wheel component of the present application has a simple and reliable structure, the overall structure is easy to assemble, the production cost is low, and it is suitable for industrial production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the roller and the linkage rod in the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the pressing wheel component in the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the roller and the encoder module in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the coding turntable in the present invention.

[0023] Wherein:

[0024] 1, bracket; 11, fixing column; 12, limiting platform; 13, pivot shaft; 14, clearance groove; 15, key groove;

[0025] 2, roller; 21, rotating shaft; 22, anti-slip rubber ring; 23, inner ring wall;

[0026] 3. Encoder module; 31. Fixed bracket; 32. Encoding turntable; 321. Optical path switch; 33. PCB board; 34. Optical pair tube assembly;

[0027] 4. Switching button; 41. Key cover; 42. Reset spring; 421. Extension arm;

[0028] 5. Pressing wheel assembly; 51. Gear set; 511. Ratchet wheel; 512. Top stop gear; 5121. Tooth convex; 5122. Tooth groove; 52. Linking rod; 521. Driving end; 522. Swing rod end; 523. Pivoting hole; 53. Torsion spring;

[0029] 6. LED lamp beads. Detailed implementation mode

[0030] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] As Figure 1-7 shown, a specific embodiment of the present invention is an encoder assembly, which can be configured as a mouse in combination with a housing and a button, including a bracket 1 and an encoder module 3 provided on the bracket 1, and further including a roller 2 for triggering the encoder module 3 to generate a signal. A switching button 4 is also provided on the bracket 1. The switching button 4 is associated with a pressing wheel assembly 5 installed on the bracket 1. The pressing wheel assembly 5 is composed of a gear set 51, a linking rod 52 and a torsion spring 53. The linking rod 52 has a swing rod end 522 that can closely adhere to the roller 2. Pressing the switching button 4 causes the gear set 51 to rotate, thereby causing the swing rod end 522 to move away from or closely adhere to the roller 2 to switch the degree of freedom of rotation of the roller 2, so that the roller 2 is configured in a ratchet rolling or free rolling mode.

[0032] The roller 2 of the present application is a ring-shaped structure with an inner ring. The inner ring wall 23 of the roller 2 is a wave or tooth-shaped structure; in addition to the swing rod end 522, the linking rod 52 further includes a driving end 521 located on the other side of the swing rod end 522. As the gear set 51 for driving the driving end 521, the gear set 51 mainly includes a top stop gear 512, and the driving end 521 abuts against the top stop gear 512; there is a pivoting hole 523 between the driving end 521 and the swing rod end 522. A pivoting shaft 13 matching the pivoting hole 523 is provided on the bracket 1, and the swing rod end 522 extends into the inner ring of the roller 2; when pressing the switching button 4, the top stop gear 512 rotates, causing the position where it abuts against the driving end 521 to change, thereby causing the swing rod end 522 to tilt and closely adhere to or fall away from the inner ring wall 23 of the roller 2.

[0033] As the switching button 4 of the present application, the switching button 4 mainly includes a key cover 41 and a return spring 42 for resetting the key cover 41. There is a key groove 15 on the bracket 1. The key cover 41 and the return spring 42 are arranged in the key groove 15. The return spring 42 is sleeved on the fixed column 11 of the bracket 1. An avoidance groove 14 is provided on one side of the key groove 15 close to the gear set to allow the extension arm 421 to move up and down. The end of the return spring 42 close to the key cover 41 has an extension arm 421. The gear set 51 further includes a ratchet wheel 511 concentrically integrated with the top stop gear 512. The extension arm 421 extends to the ratchet wheel 511. Pressing the key cover 41 causes the return spring 42 and the extension arm 421 to move downward. The extension arm 421 drives the ratchet wheel 511 to rotate, thereby driving the top stop gear 512 to rotate. After releasing the key cover 41, the return spring 42 drives the extension arm 421 to rise and return to its original position.

[0034] The top stop gear 512 has a plurality of tooth protrusions 5121 and tooth grooves 5122. The relationship between the ratchet wheel 511 and the top stop gear 512 is that every time the key cover is pressed once, the ratchet wheel 511 drives the top stop gear 512 to rotate by one quadrant, so that the transmission end 521 is located below the tooth protrusion 5121 or the tooth groove 5122 of the top stop gear. When the transmission end 521 is located below the tooth protrusion 5121 of the top stop gear 512, the transmission end 521 abuts against the tooth protrusion 5121, and the tooth protrusion 5121 presses down the transmission end 521 to make the swing rod end 522 tilt upward and leave the inner ring wall 23 of the roller 2. At this time, the roller 2 is in the free flywheel mode. A limiting platform 12 is provided on one side of the bracket 1. One end of the torsion spring 53 is fixed in the limiting platform 12, and the other end abuts against the swing rod end 522 of the linkage rod. Press the switching button 4 again. When the transmission end 521 is located below the tooth groove 5122 of the top stop gear 512, the transmission end 521 returns upward, and the swing rod end 522 returns downward under the action of the torsion spring 53. In order to ensure smooth operation between the top stop gear 512 and the transmission end 521, the contact part between the transmission end 521 of the linkage rod 52 and the top stop gear 512 is an arc surface structure. The tooth protrusions 5121 of the top stop gear 512 all have positioning grooves matching the arc surface structure of the transmission end, reducing the wear between the top stop gear 512 and the transmission end 521 and extending the service life.

[0035] The encoder component of the present application has an optoelectronic function. A rotating shaft 21 is provided at the center of the roller 2. The encoder module 3 includes a fixing frame 31, a coding turntable 32, and a PCB board. An optical pair tube assembly 34 composed of a light-emitting element and a photosensitive element is surface-mounted on the PCB board. The coding turntable 32 is a hollow circular ring cover made of light-impermeable material. The coding turntable 32 is inserted into the roller 2 through the rotating shaft 21. A light path switch 321 is provided on the outer ring wall of the coding turntable 32. When the light path switch 321 on the coding turntable 32 rotates to the light path of the optical pair tube, the photosensitive element can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element. The light path switch 321 is a plurality of light through holes evenly distributed on the outer ring wall of the coding turntable 32. The outer ring wall of the coding turntable 32 is located between the light-emitting element and the photosensitive element.

[0036] As a preferred solution of this specific embodiment, an anti-slip rubber ring 22 is sleeved on the roller 2, and an LED lamp bead 6 is surface-mounted on the PCB board, which can bring a colorful lighting effect to the roller 2.

[0037] The present application is provided with a button-type switching key, which can switch the roller state of the encoder component to obtain a ratchet roller or a free rolling mode to meet different environmental requirements; in addition, the pressing wheel component of the present application has a simple and reliable structure, the overall structure is easy to assemble, the production cost is low, and it is suitable for industrial production.

[0038] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any minor modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An encoder assembly, comprising a bracket and an encoder module provided on the bracket, further comprising a roller for triggering the encoder module to generate a signal, characterized in that: The bracket is further provided with a switching button, and the switching button is associated with a pressing wheel assembly mounted on the bracket. The pressing wheel assembly includes a gear set and a linkage rod. The linkage rod has a swing rod end that can be in close contact with the roller. Pressing the switching button causes the gear set to rotate, thereby causing the swing rod end to move away from or close to the roller to switch the rotational freedom of the roller. The roller is an annular structure with an inner ring, and the inner ring wall of the roller is a wavy or toothed structure. The gear set includes a stop gear. The linkage rod further includes a transmission end located on the other side of the swing rod end, and the transmission end abuts against the stop gear. There is a pivot hole between the transmission end and the swing rod end, and the bracket is provided with a pivot shaft matching the pivot hole. The swing rod end extends into the inner ring of the roller. When the switching button is pressed, the stop gear rotates so that different parts of the gear abut against the transmission end, thereby causing a change in the position of the transmission end and causing the swing rod end to tilt up and close to or fall away from the inner ring wall of the roller. The switching button includes a key cap and a return spring for resetting the key cap. The end of the return spring close to the key cap has an extension arm. The gear set further includes a ratchet wheel concentric and integral with the stop gear, and the extension arm extends to the ratchet wheel. Pressing the key cap causes the return spring and the extension arm to move downward, and the extension arm drives the ratchet wheel to rotate, thereby driving the stop gear to rotate.

2. The encoder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressing wheel assembly further includes a torsion spring. The bracket is provided with a limiting platform. One end of the torsion spring is fixed to the limiting platform, and the other end of the torsion spring abuts against the swing rod end of the linkage rod to provide a downward pressure for the swing rod end.

3. The encoder assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The part of the transmission end of the linkage rod in contact with the stop gear has an arc-shaped structure. The stop gear has a plurality of tooth protrusions and tooth grooves, and the tooth protrusions of the stop gear all have positioning grooves matching the arc-shaped structure of the transmission end.

4. The encoder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket is provided with a key groove, and the key cap and the return spring are arranged in the key groove. An avoidance groove is provided on one side of the key groove close to the gear set to allow the extension arm to move up and down.

5. The encoder assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A rotating shaft is provided at the center of the roller. The encoder module includes a fixing frame, a coding turntable, and a PCB board. The PCB board is surface-mounted with a light pair tube assembly composed of a light-emitting element and a light-sensitive element. The coding turntable is a hollow circular ring cover made of light-impermeable material. The coding turntable is inserted into the roller through the rotating shaft. The outer ring wall of the coding turntable is provided with a light path switch. When the light path switch on the coding turntable rotates to the light path of the light pair tube, the light-sensitive element can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting element.

6. The encoder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The light path switch is a plurality of light through holes evenly arranged on the outer ring wall of the coding turntable, and the outer ring wall of the coding turntable is located between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element.

7. The encoder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: LED lamp beads are surface-mounted on the PCB board.

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