Encoder with Switchable Roller Rotation Degrees of Freedom

Abstract

The present invention discloses an encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of a roller, which has an electromagnetic switching component fixed by a bracket. The bracket is fixed on a seat frame, and the electromagnetic switching component is supported by the bracket into the inner cavity of the roller. The electromagnetic switching component can realize the switching of the roller damping when the direction of the supply current is switched, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller. In this application, the electromagnetic switching component realizes the switching of the roller damping when the direction of the supply current is switched, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller. The structural frame is embedded in the assembly cavity of the bracket, and the damping clamping piece is slidably disposed in the memory-type magnet. By adjusting the contact or separation between the convex structure of the damping clamping piece and the inner ring wall of the roller, the freedom of the roller is switched. This solution makes full use of the space inside the roller, reduces the product volume, and is also conducive to product assembly. By cooperating with an optoelectronic or magnetic variable signal generating component to output signals, the structural performance is stable and the feel of switching is convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an encoder device, and more particularly to an encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of a roller. Background Art

[0002] A computer mouse wheel can be used to pan an observation window over an image or document displayed by a computer device in response to rotating the wheel about an axis. Existing mouse wheels can be selectively operated between a freewheel mode and a ratchet mode, each of the above modes corresponding to a respective friction force distribution.

[0003] Patent No. 201910560647.2, titled "Electromagnetic Mode Change of a Peripheral Interface Wheel", discloses a user device capable of more effectively switching between one or more friction force distributions. This mechanism uses electromagnetic changes to alter the resistance change applied to the wheel by an electro-permanent magnet assembly. However, this device requires two sets of electro-permanent magnet assemblies, resulting in an increase in the overall space of the device and an increase in cost. Patent No. 201611084288.0, titled "Roller Assembly and Related Input Device", discloses a roller assembly capable of selecting different modes. This assembly adjusts the distance between the magnet and the roller by rotating the magnet as the lever rotates. However, the lever also increases the overall space of the device, and the lever is prone to wear during long-term use, affecting the service life of the roller assembly. Therefore, in view of the defects of existing rollers, the present application proposes an original encoder capable of switching the freedom of a roller. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an encoder that makes full use of the overall space and has stable operation and can switch the rotational freedom of a roller.

[0005] To achieve the technical objective, the solution of the present invention is: an encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of a roller, comprising a seat frame, an inner cavity roller having a rotating shaft and an inner ring wall, a signal generating assembly. The roller is rotatably mounted on the seat frame through the rotating shaft and can rotate freely. It further includes an electromagnetic switching assembly fixed by a bracket. The bracket is fixed to the seat frame, and the electromagnetic switching assembly is supported by the bracket into the inner cavity of the roller. The electromagnetic switching assembly can switch the damping of the roller when the direction of the supply current is switched, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller.

[0006] Preferably, the electromagnetic switching assembly includes a coil, a memory-type magnet, and a damping clip equipped with a permanent magnet. Among them,

[0007] The memory-type magnet determines its magnetic pole according to the magnetic pole generated by the coil when the coil is energized, and maintains this magnetic pole after the coil is de-energized;

[0008] Under the magnetic force of the memory magnet and the permanent magnet, the damping clip can be pushed towards or away from the inner ring wall of the roller.

[0009] Preferably, the electromagnetic switching component further includes a structural frame. The memory magnet is a hollow columnar body. The damping clip is slidably disposed within the hollow cavity of the memory magnet. The memory magnet is embedded in the structural frame, and the coil is wound around the structural frame.

[0010] Preferably, the damping clip is a long strip, with a concave cavity formed in the middle. The permanent magnet is fixedly assembled in the concave cavity, and the length of the permanent magnet is shorter than that of the memory magnet.

[0011] Preferably, the inner ring wall is provided with a uniformly distributed wavy or toothed structure, and the end of the damping clip facing the inner ring wall of the roller is configured as a convex structure matching the wavy or toothed structure.

[0012] Preferably, an assembly cavity is provided on the bracket, and the structural frame is pluggably embedded in the assembly cavity.

[0013] Preferably, at least one LED lamp bead is further provided on the bracket at the position of the inner cavity of the roller.

[0014] Preferably, there is a clearance perforation on the bracket, and the roller shaft penetrates through the clearance perforation during assembly.

[0015] Preferably, the signal generating component includes a grating turntable installed in the inner cavity of the roller, a PCB board arranged on the bracket, and a light pair tube component surface-mounted on the PCB board. The light pair tube component is composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The rotation of the grating turntable changes the optical path formed by the light pair tube to generate a signal.

[0016] Preferably, one side of the grating turntable facing the light pair tube component is a reflective surface, and a plurality of light-transmitting holes are uniformly distributed on the grating turntable. A light-blocking structure is arranged between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.

[0017] Preferably, a plurality of reflective strips are uniformly distributed on one side of the grating turntable facing the light pair tube component, and a light-blocking structure is arranged between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.

[0018] Preferably, the grating turntable is made of light-blocking material, and a plurality of light-transmitting holes are evenly distributed on the grating turntable. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are respectively located on both sides of the grating turntable.

[0019] As an optimization, the signal generation component includes a magnetic turntable installed in the inner cavity of the roller, a PCB board arranged on the bracket, and a Hall element surface-mounted on the PCB board. The rotation of the magnetic turntable generates magnetic field pulses to generate signals via the Hall element.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: In this application, the electromagnetic switching component realizes the switching of the roller damping when the direction of the supply current is switched, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller. The structural frame is embedded in the assembly cavity of the bracket, and the damping clamping part is slidably disposed inside the memory-type magnet. By adjusting the contact or separation between the convex structure of the damping clamping part and the inner ring wall of the roller, the freedom of the roller is switched. This solution makes full use of the space inside the roller, reduces the product volume, and is also conducive to product assembly. By matching with an optoelectronic or magnetic change signal generation component to output signals, the structural performance is stable and the feel of switching is convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the bracket in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the signal generation component in the first specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 is an exploded view of the electromagnetic switching component in the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the opto-coupler component in the first specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Wherein: 1, base frame; 2, roller; 21, rotating shaft; 22, inner ring wall; 23, inner cavity; 3, signal generation component; 31, grating turntable; 311, light transmission hole; 32, PCB board; 33, opto-coupler component; 331, light-emitting element; 332, light-receiving element; 333, light-blocking structure; 4, bracket; 41, assembly cavity; 42, clearance through hole; 5, electromagnetic switching component; 51, coil; 52, memory-type magnet; 521, hollow cavity; 53, permanent magnet; 54, damping clamping part; 541, concave cavity; 542, convex structure; 55, structural frame; 6, LED lamp bead. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. In order to describe the technical solution clearly and completely, the following embodiments are selected for illustration; the following embodiments are some embodiments of the present invention; all other embodiments obtained based on this application without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] In the following embodiments, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationships such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "top / bottom", etc. are all based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of clearly describing this embodiment, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, so it should not be construed as a limitation to this application. At the same time, "first" and "second" in the embodiments are only used for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions, and do not represent indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] As Figure 1-6 shown, a specific embodiment of the present invention is an encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of a roller 2, including a base frame 1, a roller 2 with an inner cavity 23 having a rotating shaft 21 and an inner ring wall 22, and a signal generating component 3. The roller 2 is installed on the base frame 1 through the rotating shaft 21 and can rotate freely. It further includes an electromagnetic switching component 5 fixed by a bracket 4. The bracket 4 is fixed to the base frame 1, and the electromagnetic switching component 5 is supported by the bracket 4 to the inner cavity 23 of the roller 2. The electromagnetic switching component 5 can switch the damping of the roller 2 when the direction of the supply current to it is switched, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller 2. In the actual use process of the encoder involved in the present invention, three buttons, namely left, middle, and right, can be provided at the bottom of the base frame 1.

[0031] The electromagnetic switching component 5 of the present application includes a coil 51, a memory magnet 52, and a damping clip 54 equipped with a permanent magnet 53. The memory magnet described in the present invention is a magnet made of a magnetic memory material. The characteristic of this magnet is that it can be magnetized by the coil and maintain its magnetic poles. Specifically, when the coil 51 is energized, the memory magnet 52 determines its magnetic poles according to the magnetic poles generated by the coil 51, and maintains these magnetic poles after the coil 51 is de-energized; when the magnetic poles of the coil 51 change after being re-energized, the magnetic poles of the memory magnet 52 change accordingly and maintain the changed magnetic poles after the coil 52 is de-energized; under the magnetic force between the memory magnet 52 and the permanent magnet 53, the damping clip 54 can be pushed to abut against the inner ring wall 22 of the roller 2 or pushed away from the inner ring wall 22 of the roller 2. Specifically, when the memory magnet 52 and the permanent magnet 53 repel each other magnetically, the damping clip 54 is pushed by the magnetic force to abut against the inner ring wall 22 of the roller 2. At this time, the inner ring wall 22 of the roller is damped, and the rolling freedom of the roller is limited. The user can feel a sense of touch when turning the roller and cannot achieve a free spin; when the memory magnet 52 and the permanent magnet 53 attract each other magnetically, the damping clip 54 is pushed away (moved away from) the inner ring wall 22 of the roller 2 under the action of the magnetic force. At this time, the inner ring wall 22 of the roller is not damped, and the rolling freedom of the roller is not limited. The user has no sense of touch when turning the roller, but can achieve a free spin.

[0032] To facilitate the assembly of the memory magnet 52 and the damping clip 54, the electromagnetic switching component 5 further includes a structural frame 55. The memory magnet 52 is a hollow columnar body. The damping clip 54 is slidably disposed within the hollow cavity 521 of the memory magnet 52. The memory magnet 52 is embedded in the structural frame 55. The coil 51 is wound around the structural frame 55. The coil 51 is electrically connected to the PCB board 32. The damping clip 54 of the present application is a long strip-shaped body, and a concave cavity 541 is configured in the middle. The permanent magnet 53 is fixedly assembled within the concave cavity 541. The length of the permanent magnet 53 is shorter than the length of the memory magnet 52. By disposing the damping clip 54 within the memory magnet 52, the occupied space of the electromagnetic switching component 5 is reduced, enabling the signal generating component 3 to be more optimally arranged within the roller 2. To facilitate the assembly of the entire electromagnetic switching component 5, an assembly cavity 41 is provided on the bracket 4. The structural frame 55 is pluggably embedded within the assembly cavity 41. The assembly cavity 41 is opened at the bottom of the bracket 4. The structural frame 55 is embedded within the assembly cavity 41 and the damping clip 54 is slidably disposed within the memory magnet 52 to achieve the operation of switching the freedom of the roller 2.

[0033] To create a feel for the roller 2 and provide more effective damping, the inner ring wall 22 is configured as a uniformly distributed wavy or toothed structure, and the end of the damping clip 54 facing the inner ring wall 22 of the roller 2 is configured as a convex structure 542 that matches the wavy or toothed structure.

[0034] When the bracket 4 is combined with the roller 2, there is a clearance perforation 42 on the bracket 4. During assembly, the rotating shaft 21 of the roller 2 penetrates through the clearance perforation 42. The bottom of the bracket 4 has an arc-shaped structure adapted to the inner cavity 23 of the roller 2. The bracket 4 extends outward and is provided with a fastening foot to be combined with the seat frame 1, and the seat frame 1 is provided with an assembly groove matching the fastening foot.

[0035] As a first specific embodiment of the present application, the signal generation component 3 of the present application includes a grating turntable 31 installed in the inner cavity 23 of the roller 2, a PCB board arranged on the bracket 4, and a light pair tube component 33 surface-mounted on the PCB board. The light pair tube component 33 is composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The rotation of the grating turntable 31 changes the optical path formed by the light pair tube to generate a signal. A through hole is provided in the middle of the grating turntable 31, and the middle through hole of the grating turntable 31 is installed in the roller 2 through the rotating shaft 21. In a specific embodiment of the present application, the PCB board 32 is a flexible circuit board. One end of the flexible circuit board is installed on the bracket 4, and the other end pins extend outside the bracket 4. At least one LED lamp bead 6 is also provided at the part of the bracket 4 located in the inner cavity 23 of the roller 2, and the LED lamp bead 6 is electrically connected to the flexible circuit board.

[0036] As Figure 3 shown, the side surface of the grating turntable 31 facing the light pair tube component 33 is a reflective surface. A plurality of light-transmitting holes 311 are evenly distributed on the grating turntable 31. A light-blocking structure 333 is provided between the light-emitting element 331 and the light-receiving element 332. The light-blocking structure 333 prevents the light-receiving of light in the horizontal position between the light-emitting element 331 and the light-receiving element 332, and only reflection reception is possible. When the light emitted by the light-emitting element 331 passes through the reflective surface of the grating turntable 31, it is reflected to the light-receiving element 332 to output a photoelectric signal. Preferably, the number of light-receiving elements 332 is two. According to the order of the light reaching the light-receiving element 332, the rotation direction of the grating turntable 31 can also be distinguished to output photoelectric signals in different directions.

[0037] Of course, it is also possible to evenly distribute a plurality of reflective strips on the side surface of the grating turntable facing the light pair tube component 33. The reflective strips can reflect the light emitted by the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element. Similarly, a light-blocking structure is provided between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. In addition, the grating turntable can also be an annular structure made of light-blocking material. When the grating turntable 31 is an annular structure made of light-blocking material, a plurality of light-transmitting holes are evenly distributed on the annular structure. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are respectively located on both sides of the grating turntable. When the light emitted by the light-emitting element passes through the light-transmitting hole to reach the light-receiving element, a photoelectric signal is output.

[0038] As the second specific embodiment of the present application (not shown in the figure), the signal generation component 3 includes a magnetic turntable installed in the inner cavity 23 of the roller 2, a PCB board arranged on the bracket 4, and Hall elements surface-mounted on the PCB board. A through hole is provided in the middle of the magnetic turntable, and the middle through hole of the magnetic turntable is installed in the roller 2 through the rotating shaft 21. The rotation of the magnetic turntable generates magnetic field pulses to generate signals via the Hall elements.

[0039] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are 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 within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An encoder capable of switching the rotational degree of freedom of a roller, comprising an encoder base frame, an inner cavity roller having a rotating shaft and an inner ring wall, and a signal generating assembly. The roller is mounted on the base frame through the rotating shaft and can rotate freely to trigger the signal generating assembly to generate a signal output. It is characterized in that The encoder further includes an electromagnetic switching component fixed by a bracket. The bracket is fixed on the seat frame, and the electromagnetic switching component is supported by the bracket into the inner cavity of the roller. The electromagnetic switching component can realize the switching of the roller damping when the direction of the supply current changes, thereby changing the rotational freedom of the roller. The electromagnetic switching component includes a coil, a memory magnet, and a damping clip equipped with a permanent magnet. Among them, the magnetic poles of the memory magnet are determined by the magnetic poles generated when the coil is energized and are maintained after the coil is powered off. When the magnetic poles of the coil change after being re-energized, the magnetic poles of the memory magnet will change again and be maintained after the coil is powered off. Under the magnetic force of the memory magnet and the permanent magnet, the damping clip can be pushed against the inner wall of the roller or pushed away from the inner wall of the roller. The electromagnetic switching component further includes a structural frame. The memory magnet is a hollow columnar body. The damping clip is slidably disposed in the hollow cavity of the memory magnet. The memory magnet is embedded in the structural frame, and the coil is wound around the structural frame. The inner wall is configured with uniformly distributed wave or tooth-shaped structures, and the end of the damping clip facing the inner wall of the roller is configured as a convex structure matching the wave or tooth-shaped structures. The bottom of the bracket is an arc structure adapted to the inner cavity of the roller.

2. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 1, wherein The damping clip is a strip-shaped body, and a concave cavity is configured in the middle. The permanent magnet is fixedly assembled in the concave cavity, and the length of the permanent magnet is shorter than the length of the memory magnet.

3. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 2, characterized in that, An assembly cavity is provided on the bracket, and the structural frame is inserted into the assembly cavity in a pluggable manner.

4. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 3, characterized in that, A PCB board is further provided at the part of the bracket located in the inner cavity of the roller, and at least one LED lamp bead is surface-mounted on the PCB board.

5. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bracket has a clearance perforation, and the roller shaft penetrates through the clearance perforation during assembly.

6. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The signal generating component includes a grating turntable installed in the inner cavity of the roller, a PCB board provided on the bracket, and a photo-coupler component surface-mounted on the PCB board. The photo-coupler component is composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The rotation of the grating turntable changes the optical path formed by the photo-coupler to generate a signal.

7. The encoder capable of switching the rotational degree of freedom of the roller according to claim 6, characterized in that, One side of the grating turntable facing the photo-coupler component is a reflective surface, and a plurality of light-transmitting holes are uniformly distributed on the grating turntable. A light-blocking structure is provided between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.

8. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 6, characterized in that, One side of the grating turntable facing the photo-coupler component is uniformly provided with a plurality of reflective strips, and a light-blocking structure is provided between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element.

9. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to claim 6, characterized in that, The grating turntable is made of light-blocking material, and a plurality of light-transmitting holes are evenly distributed on the grating turntable. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are respectively located on both sides of the grating turntable.

10. The encoder capable of switching the rotational freedom of the roller according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The signal generating component includes a magnetic turntable installed in the inner cavity of the roller, a PCB board provided on the bracket, and a Hall element surface-mounted on the PCB board. The rotation of the magnetic turntable generates a magnetic field pulse to generate a signal through the Hall element.

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