Short-range optical potentiometer module

Abstract

The present invention discloses a short-distance optical potentiometer module, comprising a potentiometer seat body with a key slot and a potentiometer key installed in the key slot and capable of moving up and down. The key slot is also provided with a reset member for resetting the potentiometer key. The potentiometer key is provided with a light-pairing tube composed of a photosensitive element and a light-emitting element, and the light-pairing tube can move up and down with the potentiometer key. A fixed grating is provided in the key seat corresponding to the light-pairing tube. The reset member is mounted on the grating. The grating is configured to change the light flux received by the light-emitting element as the potentiometer key moves up and down, thereby causing the electrical signal generated by the photosensitive element to change as the potentiometer key moves up and down. The module of this solution uses non-contact optoelectronic elements to greatly increase its service life. When adjusting the light flux change at the same distance, the overall height of the module is close to or the same as the height of the potentiometer seat body. The overall structural layout of this module is ingenious, and it is easy to assemble and replace, and has strong practicality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a potentiometer module, in particular to a short-distance optical potentiometer module. Background Art

[0002] Commonly used potentiometer components use varying resistance values ​​to control current flow, thereby adjusting the potential. For example, computer games often use joysticks. A typical joystick structure features an external lever that can be grasped and moved. During operation, the movement of the lever is converted into an electronic signal, which is received by the game interface card and then input into the computer to control the movement of the cursor.

[0003] This type of potentiometer not only seriously affects the lifespan of the variable resistor or potentiometer, but also fails to provide highly precise resistance values. Even the friction between the slide lever's actuator and the carbon resistor can generate significant noise in electronic devices. Consequently, the electronics industry is now adopting optical potentiometers as a replacement, which offer greater sensitivity and are suitable for mass production. Optical potentiometers employ a technology that uses a grating element in conjunction with an optical element to convert light signals into electrical output signals. In another proposal developed by the present inventors at the same time (not the prior art underlying this patent), a novel photoelectric potentiometer module comprising a potentiometer key and a potentiometer holder was designed. This solution employed a grating mounted on a movable potentiometer key, while the optical diode was fixed. Because the grating has a fixed length, the overall height of the potentiometer module (i.e., from the top of the key to the bottom of the holder when not pressed) is relatively high when not pressed, equivalent to the height of the holder plus the length of the grating. However, in some applications, it is necessary to reduce the height of the potentiometer module. Based on this, the present invention develops another new potentiometer module with a short distance (i.e., shortening the distance between the top of the potentiometer key when not pressed and the bottom of the potentiometer seat) to facilitate manufacturing and assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide an optical potentiometer module that can significantly reduce the distance between the top of the potentiometer key and the bottom of the potentiometer seat when the key is not pressed.

[0005] To achieve this technical objective, the present invention provides a short-distance optical potentiometer module, comprising a potentiometer seat body having a key slot and a potentiometer key installed in the key slot and capable of upward and downward displacement. The key slot is also provided with a reset member for resetting the potentiometer key. The potentiometer key is provided with a light-pairing tube composed of a photosensitive element and a light-emitting element, and the light-pairing tube can move up and down with the potentiometer key. A fixed grating is configured in the potentiometer seat body corresponding to the light-pairing tube, and the reset member is mounted on the grating. The grating is configured to cause the light flux received by the light-emitting element by the photosensitive element as the potentiometer key moves up and down to change, thereby causing the electrical signal generated by the photosensitive element to change with the displacement of the potentiometer key.

[0006] Preferably, the grating is a shaft seat protruding from the potential seat body and having a gradient light through hole, the potential key is provided with a guide groove relative to the shaft seat, the gradient light through hole corresponds to the optical path of the light pair tube, and when the potential key is pressed to produce a displacement change, the opening area of ​​the gradient light through hole corresponding to the optical path also changes accordingly, so that the luminous flux received by the photosensitive element to the light-emitting element changes accordingly.

[0007] Preferably, a baffle is further extended from the inner wall of the potential key, and the baffle is located between the light emitting element and the photosensitive element. A light-transmitting hole is provided on the baffle corresponding to the light path of the light emitting element and the photosensitive element.

[0008] Preferably, the light-emitting tube is mounted on a flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board is provided with a U-shaped head, the groove portion of the U-shaped head matches the guide groove to ensure that the U-shaped head can move up and down through the shaft seat, and the light-emitting element and the photosensitive element are separated on both sides of the U-shaped head.

[0009] Preferably, a cover is detachably mounted on the potential key.

[0010] Preferably, the U-shaped head has an assembly positioning hole, the bottom of the cover body is provided with a positioning groove corresponding to the assembly positioning hole, the potential key is provided with a positioning column, the U-shaped head of the flexible circuit board is installed on the positioning column of the potential key through the assembly positioning hole, and the cover body is installed on the positioning column of the potential key through the positioning groove.

[0011] Preferably, the sides of the potential key and the potential seat are both provided with through holes for allowing the flexible circuit board to pass through.

[0012] Preferably, four bottom columns are provided at the four corners of the bottom of the potential key, and the base body is provided with four air-avoiding grooves corresponding to the bottom columns.

[0013] Preferably, the shaft seat is composed of two shaft columns with inclined surfaces that are arranged opposite to each other, and the inclined surfaces of the two shaft columns are staggered to form a V-shaped gradual light through hole.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the optical potentiometer of this scheme adopts a light-pairing tube combined with a potential key to change the light flux to achieve a changing electrical signal output, the generated signal is stable, reliable and highly sensitive, and the module adopts a non-contact photoelectric element to greatly increase the service life; in particular, the grating is fixed and the light-pairing tube is movable, so when adjusting the light flux change of the same distance, the overall height of the module is close to or the same as the height of the potential seat body; the size of the light flux is changed by the gradual light through hole, thereby causing the photosensitive element to output a gradual linear potential signal; the light-pairing tube is designed as an independent body that is easy to plug and unplug relative to the potential key and the potential seat body, and this structure is very convenient for assembly and maintenance and replacement; the overall structural layout of this module is ingenious, assembly and replacement are convenient, it has strong practicality, and huge market potential. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the pressed structure of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 An exploded view of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the potential bond in the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the potential seat in the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of the potential key and the flexible circuit board in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible circuit board in this application;

[0023] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the pressing force to fix the grating moving light to the tube;

[0024] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the pressing method for fixing the movable grating of the optical tube of the present invention.

[0025] Among them, 1. Potentiometer seat body; 11. Keyway; 12. Shaft seat; 13. Gradient light through hole; 14. Air avoidance groove; 2. Potentiometer key; 21. Guide groove; 22. Baffle; 220. Light-transmitting hole; 23. Positioning column; 24. Bottom column; 3. Reset spring; 4. Light-emitting element; 5. Photosensitive element; 6. Flexible circuit board; 61. U-shaped head; 610. Groove part; 611. Assembly positioning hole; 7. Cover body; 71. Positioning groove; 8. Through hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. In order to clearly and completely describe the technical solution, the following embodiments are selected for illustration; the following embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention; based on this application, other embodiments obtained without creative work are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] In the following embodiments, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "top / bottom," and other orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate the clear description of the embodiments. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation and should not be construed as limitations on the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" in the embodiments are used solely for descriptive purposes and do not indicate or imply relative importance.

[0028] like Figure 1-8 As shown, a specific embodiment of the present invention is a short-distance optical potentiometer module, comprising a potentiometer seat body 1 having a key slot 11 and a potentiometer key 2 installed in the key slot 11 and capable of being displaced up and down, a reset member for resetting the potentiometer key 2 is further provided in the key slot 11, a light pair tube composed of a photosensitive element 5 and a light-emitting element 4 is provided in the potentiometer key 2, and the light pair tube can be displaced up and down with the potentiometer key 2; a fixed grating is provided in the potentiometer seat body corresponding to the light pair tube, and the reset member of the present application is preferably a reset spring 3, which is sleeved on the grating, and the top end of the reset spring 3 abuts against the bottom of the potentiometer key 2, and the grating is configured to change the luminous flux received by the light-emitting element 4 by the photosensitive element 5 as the potentiometer key 2 moves up and down, thereby causing the electrical signal generated by the photosensitive element 5 to change with the displacement of the potentiometer key 2. The grating of the present invention is fixed in the potential seat body 1, and the light pair tube is constructed in the potential key 2 and can move up and down with the potential key 2. When the light pair tube moves through the grating, it is adjusted by the grating to generate different photoelectric signals. The advantage of this change is that in order to bring about a sufficient distance of light flux change, the grating is generally longer than the light pair tube. Therefore, Figure 9-10 As shown, when adjusting the luminous flux at the same distance, the module Figure 10 compared to Figure 9 The height can be significantly reduced in this way, so that the overall height of the module is close to or the same as the height of the potential seat.

[0029] In the first specific embodiment of the present application, the grating is an axis seat 12 protruding from the potential seat body and having a gradient light through hole 13. The potential key 2 is provided with a guide groove 21 relative to the axis seat 12. The gradient light through hole 13 corresponds to the optical path of the light-pair tube. When the potential key 2 is pressed to produce a displacement change, the opening area of ​​the gradient light through hole 13 corresponding to the optical path also changes accordingly, so that the luminous flux received by the photosensitive element 5 to the light-emitting element 4 changes accordingly.

[0030] Among them, a baffle 22 is extended from the inner wall of the potential key 2, and the baffle 22 is located between the light-emitting element 4 and the photosensitive element 5. A light-transmitting hole 220 is opened on the baffle 22 corresponding to the light path of the light-emitting element 4 and the photosensitive element 5. When there is no obstruction, the light pulse radiated by the light-emitting element 4 passes through the light-transmitting hole 220 and is received by the photosensitive element 5. The present application also has an axis seat 12 for adjusting the luminous flux, and the axis seat 12 has a gradient light through hole 13. The light-transmitting hole 220 corresponds to the gradient light through hole 13. When the potential key 2 is pressed, the light flux received by the photosensitive element 5 from the light-emitting element 4 is adjusted by the gradient light through hole 13, resulting in changes, thereby outputting different potential signals.

[0031] The light-pairing tube is installed on a flexible circuit board 6, which is provided with a U-shaped head. The groove portion 610 of the U-shaped head matches the guide groove 21 to ensure that the U-shaped head can move up and down through the shaft seat 12. The light-emitting element 4 and the photosensitive element 5 are separated on both sides of the U-shaped head. The light-emitting element 4 and the photosensitive element 5 are located on both sides of the shaft seat 12. The light-pairing tube can be adjusted by the shaft seat 12 when following the potential key 2 to move up and down.

[0032] To facilitate pressing, a removable cover 7 is attached to the potentiometer key 2, which also serves as a dust and light barrier. The U-shaped head has an assembly positioning hole 611, and the bottom of the cover 7 has a positioning groove 71 corresponding to the assembly positioning hole 611. The potentiometer key 2 is provided with a positioning post 23. The U-shaped head of the flexible circuit board 6 is mounted on the positioning post 23 of the potentiometer key 2 through the assembly positioning hole 611, and the cover 7 is mounted on the positioning post 23 of the potentiometer key 2 through the positioning groove 71.

[0033] During assembly, the sides of both the potential key 2 and the potential holder 1 are provided with through-holes 8 through which the flexible circuit board 6 can pass. After the U-shaped head of the flexible circuit board 6 is fixed to the potential key 2, its tail passes through the side through-holes 8 of the potential key 2 and the potential holder 1. In addition, during the design, four bottom pillars 24 are provided at the four corners of the bottom of the potential key 2, so that the bottom of the potential key 2 has sufficient space to accommodate the reset spring 3. The reset spring 3 abuts the bottom of the potential key 2 and is located between the bottom pillars 24, which is more stable. The potential holder 1 has four air-avoidance grooves 14 corresponding to the bottom pillars 24.

[0034] As a second specific embodiment of the present application, the shaft seat 12 is composed of two shaft columns with inclined surfaces that are arranged opposite to each other. The inclined surfaces of the two shaft columns are staggered with each other to form a V-shaped gradient light hole 13. Correspondingly, when the light pair tube is located at the top of the V-shaped structure, the light flux received by the photosensitive element 5 through the light-transmitting hole 220 is large. During the gradual pressing process, through the bottom of the V-shaped structure, the light flux received by the photosensitive element 5 through the light-transmitting hole 220 gradually becomes smaller, and the output potential signal produces a linear change.

[0035] As a third specific embodiment of the present application, the shaft seat 12 is composed of two shaft columns with stepped surfaces that are arranged opposite to each other. The stepped surfaces can be designed to be stepped upward or downward. The stepped surfaces of the two shaft columns are staggered with each other. When the light-pair tube moves with the potential key 2, the luminous flux received by the photosensor 5 and the potential signal output by the flexible circuit board 6 when passing through the stepped surface change accordingly.

[0036] As a fourth specific embodiment of the present application, the shaft seat 12 is composed of two shaft columns with arc-shaped surfaces that are arranged opposite to each other. The arc surfaces of the two shaft columns are staggered with each other. When the light-pair tube moves with the potential key 2, the luminous flux received by the photosensor 5 and the potential signal output by the flexible circuit board 6 when passing through the stepped surface change accordingly.

[0037] It should be emphasized that the reason why the grating in the scheme of the present invention adopts the aforementioned mutually opposed axis columns is to facilitate the design of the injection mold. If a closed frame structure is used to design the grating, it is almost impossible to achieve it when producing the injection-molded potential seat body 1. Therefore, the present invention adopts this type of structure to effectively solve the technical problem, thereby reducing the mold design and manufacturing costs and having the credibility of implementation.

[0038] In addition, it should be noted that the potentiometer module of the present invention is not a keyboard key, and the potentiometer key in the potentiometer module is pressed not by the user's finger, but by a mechanical structure. The potentiometer module can generally be used in game controllers, joysticks or other fields that require the output of continuously changing electrical signals. This is common knowledge among technicians in this field.

[0039] The above description is merely 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 scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A short-throw optical potentiometer module comprising a potentiometer base having a keyway and a potentiometer key mounted in the keyway for vertical displacement, wherein a reset member for resetting the potentiometer key is further provided in the keyway, characterized in that: A light-pairing tube consisting of a photosensitive element and a light-emitting element is provided in the potential key, and the light-pairing tube can move up and down with the potential key; a fixed grating is constructed in the potential seat body corresponding to the light-pairing tube, and the reset member is sleeved on the grating. The grating is constructed so that the light flux received by the light-emitting element by the photosensitive element that moves up and down with the potential key changes, thereby causing the electrical signal generated by the photosensitive element to change with the displacement of the potential key.

2. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The grating is a shaft seat protruding from the potential seat body and having a gradient light through hole. The potential key is provided with a guide groove relative to the shaft seat. The gradient light through hole corresponds to the optical path of the light-pair tube. When the potential key is pressed to produce a displacement change, the opening area of ​​the gradient light through hole corresponding to the optical path also changes accordingly, causing the luminous flux received by the photosensitive element to the light-emitting element to change accordingly.

3. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 2, characterized in that: A baffle extends from the inner wall of the potential key and is located between the light emitting element and the photosensitive element. A light-transmitting hole is provided on the baffle corresponding to the light path of the light emitting element and the photosensitive element.

4. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The light-emitting tube is installed on a flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board is provided with a U-shaped head. The groove of the U-shaped head matches the guide groove to ensure that the U-shaped head can move up and down through the shaft seat. The light-emitting element and the photosensitive element are separated on both sides of the U-shaped head.

5. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 4, characterized in that: A cover is detachably mounted on the potential key.

6. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The U-shaped head has an assembly positioning hole, the bottom of the cover body is provided with a positioning groove corresponding to the assembly positioning hole, the potential key is provided with a positioning column, the U-shaped head of the flexible circuit board is installed on the positioning column of the potential key through the assembly positioning hole, and the cover body is installed on the positioning column of the potential key through the positioning groove.

7. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sides of the potential key and the potential seat are both provided with through holes for the flexible circuit board to pass through.

8. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to claim 5, characterized in that: Four bottom columns are provided at the four corners of the bottom of the potential key, and the base body is provided with four air-avoiding grooves corresponding to the bottom columns.

9. The short-distance optical potentiometer module according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: The shaft seat is composed of two shaft columns with inclined surfaces that are arranged opposite to each other. The inclined surfaces of the two shaft columns are staggered to form a V-shaped gradual light through hole.

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