A knob controller

Abstract

This invention discloses a knob controller, which includes a light-transmitting panel, a middle housing, a control circuit board, a display screen, a knob decoder, and a lower housing. The middle housing has first connecting holes around its perimeter. The control circuit board has second connecting holes around its perimeter and also has four push-button switches evenly spaced circumferentially on its circumference. The bottom of the light-transmitting panel has a second latch, which movably passes through the first and second connecting holes and engages with the control circuit board. The bottom of the light-transmitting panel also has four trigger rods that movably pass through the middle housing and contact the four push-button switches respectively. The knob decoder is mounted on the bottom of the control circuit board and electrically connected to it. The lower housing is detachably latched onto the knob decoder to drive it. This invention has the advantages of convenient installation, stable overall structure, and independent and convenient operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of knob controllers, and in particular to a knob controller. Background Technology

[0002] A knob controller is a rotary device installed on electronic devices to operate them. It has both rotary and button control functions. Common applications include: the on / off and brightness adjustment knobs of desk lamps, the on / off and temperature adjustment knobs of air conditioners, the on / off and speed adjustment knobs of treadmills, the on / off and temperature adjustment knobs of water heaters, and other electronic devices that require switching, mode switching, and knob adjustment operations.

[0003] Existing knob controllers typically include a base, a control circuit board, a knob decoder, and an operation knob. The control circuit board is installed inside the base and has a push-button switch. The knob decoder is mounted on the control circuit board, and the operation knob is mounted on the knob decoder to drive it. The operation knob must also cooperate with the push-button switch to press it. The base, control circuit board, knob decoder, and operation knob are all assembled by tightening small screws. Observation revealed that this design suffers from inconvenient installation, frequent wobbling, and overall structural instability. Furthermore, existing knob controllers often experience misoperation during rotation or button operation; that is, when pressing a button, the knob may be rotated instead of rotated, leading to operational inconvenience.

[0004] In view of this, the inventors, in order to address the numerous shortcomings and inconveniences caused by the imperfections in the design of the aforementioned knob controller structure, have deeply conceived, actively researched, and experimented with improvements to develop and design this invention. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a knob controller that has the advantages of easy installation, stable overall structure, and independent and convenient operation.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the solution of the present invention is:

[0007] A knob controller, the knob controller comprising a light-transmitting panel, a middle housing, a control circuit board, a display screen, a knob decoder, and a lower housing;

[0008] The middle housing has a first connecting hole around its perimeter, a first claw around its bottom perimeter, and a mounting post in the center of its bottom. The mounting post passes through the control circuit board, the knob decoder, and the lower housing and extends to the outside. The mounting post has a wire-passing hole.

[0009] The control circuit board is detachably snapped onto the first claw. The connecting wires of the control circuit board extend to the outside after passing through the wire hole. The control circuit board is provided with a second connecting hole around its perimeter. The control circuit board is also provided with four push-button switches that are equally spaced on the circumference.

[0010] The display screen is mounted on the upper part of the middle housing and is electrically connected to the control circuit board;

[0011] The bottom of the light-transmitting panel is provided with a second claw. The second claw moves through the first connecting hole and the second connecting hole and then engages with the control circuit board. The bottom of the light-transmitting panel is also provided with four trigger rods that move through the middle housing and contact the four push-button switches respectively.

[0012] The knob decoder is mounted on the bottom of the control circuit board and is electrically connected to the control circuit board.

[0013] The lower housing is detachably snapped onto the knob decoder to drive the knob decoder.

[0014] Preferably, the outer periphery of the middle housing is provided with a first annular baffle, and the control circuit board is installed inside the first annular baffle; the diameter of the light-transmitting panel is larger than the diameter of the middle housing; the outer periphery of the lower housing is provided with a second annular baffle, and the lower housing is also provided with heat dissipation holes, wherein the light-transmitting panel, the middle housing, the control circuit board, the display screen and the knob decoder are all fitted inside the second annular baffle, and the upper end surface of the light-transmitting panel is flush with the upper end surface of the second annular baffle.

[0015] Preferably, the outer wall of the knob decoder is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove and a rotating groove, the middle part of the lower housing is provided with a through hole for the mounting post to pass through, and a third snap-fit ​​claw and a rotating push block located at the edge of the through hole. The third snap-fit ​​claw is detachably snapped into the snap-fit ​​groove, and the rotating push block is inserted into the rotating groove to drive the knob decoder.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom of the middle housing is provided with two plug-in posts, and the control circuit board is provided with two plug-in holes, with the two plug-in posts respectively inserted into the two plug-in holes.

[0017] Preferably, the middle housing is provided with a switch hole, the button switch is fitted into the switch hole, and the trigger rod is movably fitted into the switch hole in a T-shape.

[0018] Preferably, the push-button switch is a spring-loaded or sheet-type push-button switch.

[0019] Preferably, the control circuit board has a button light next to the button switch.

[0020] Preferably, the control circuit board is also provided with a ring light group that works in conjunction with the knob decoder.

[0021] Preferably, the edge of the inner shell is provided with a positioning notch, and the bottom edge of the light-transmitting panel is provided with a positioning block, which is inserted into the positioning notch.

[0022] Preferably, the bottom of the lower housing is provided with an annular rib, which abuts against the mounting surface of the electronic device.

[0023] By adopting the above solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. During installation, the control circuit board with the knob decoder installed is snapped onto the first claw of the middle housing. The display screen is installed on the middle housing and electrically connected to the control circuit board. The light-transmitting panel is passed through the second claw and movably snapped onto the control circuit board. Finally, the lower housing is snapped onto the knob decoder, thus completing the installation of the knob controller. No screws are required for fastening, which has the advantage of convenient installation.

[0025] 2. The rotary controller of the present invention is fixed to the electronic device by the mounting post of the middle housing, the control circuit board is fixed to the bottom of the middle housing, the rotary decoder is fixed to the bottom of the control circuit board, and the lower housing that performs the rotation operation of the rotary decoder is also snapped and fixed on the rotating ring of the rotary decoder. Except for the light-transmitting panel that serves as the button panel and the control circuit board, the connections between all components of the rotary controller are fixed, so shaking can be avoided and the overall structure is stable.

[0026] 3. The light-transmitting panel of the present invention is movably mounted on the middle housing and the control circuit board via the first claw, and then controls the four button switches on the control circuit board via four trigger rods respectively; in addition, the lower housing, which is attached to the knob decoder, controls the knob decoder; the light-transmitting panel and the lower housing are independent of each other, so the button operation and the rotation operation are independent of each other and do not affect each other, thereby avoiding misoperation when performing rotation operation or button operation, and has the advantage of convenient operation. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0029] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light-transmitting panel in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the shell structure in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the control circuit board in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0034] In the diagram: 1. Transparent panel; 11. Second claw; 12. Trigger rod; 13. Positioning block; 2. Middle housing; 21. First connecting hole; 22. First claw; 23. Mounting post; 231. Wire hole; 24. First annular baffle; 25. Insertion post; 26. Switch hole; 27. Positioning notch; 3. Control circuit board; 31. Second connecting hole; 32. Push button switch; 33. Insertion hole; 34. Push button light; 35. Annular light group; 4. Display screen; 5. Knob decoder; 51. Snap-fit ​​groove; 52. Rotating groove; 6. Lower housing; 61. Second annular baffle; 62. Heat dissipation hole; 63. Through hole; 64. Third claw; 65. Rotating push block; 66. Annular rib. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To further explain the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below through specific embodiments.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0037] like Figures 1 to 6As shown, this is a preferred embodiment of a knob controller according to the present invention. The knob controller includes a light-transmitting panel 1, a middle housing 2, a control circuit board 3, a display screen 4, a knob decoder 5, and a lower housing 6. The middle housing 2 has first connecting holes 21 around its perimeter, and first latches 22 around its bottom perimeter. A mounting post 23 is located in the center of the bottom of the middle housing 2. The mounting post 23 passes through the control circuit board 3, the knob decoder 5, and the lower housing 6 and extends to the outside. A wire-passing hole 231 is provided on the mounting post 23. The control circuit board 3 is detachably latched onto the first latches 22, and the connecting wires of the control circuit board 3 pass through the wire-passing hole 231 and extend to the outside. The control circuit board 3 has first connecting holes 21 around its perimeter. The control circuit board 3 is equipped with two connecting holes 31 and four push-button switches 32 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. The display screen 4 is installed on the upper part of the middle housing 2 and is electrically connected to the control circuit board 3. The bottom of the light-transmitting panel 1 is provided with a second claw 11, which moves through the first connecting hole 21 and the second connecting hole 31 and engages with the control circuit board 3. The bottom of the light-transmitting panel 1 is also provided with four trigger rods 12 that move through the middle housing 2 and contact the four push-button switches 32 respectively. The knob decoder 5 is installed on the bottom of the control circuit board 3 and is electrically connected to the control circuit board 3. The lower housing 6 is detachably engaged with the knob decoder 5 to drive the knob decoder 5.

[0038] This invention is installed on an electronic device, allowing the device to be controlled via rotation or button operation.

[0039] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0040] 1. During installation, the control circuit board 3 with the knob decoder 5 is snapped onto the first claw 22 of the middle housing 2, the display screen 4 is installed on the middle housing 2 and electrically connected to the control circuit board 3, the light-transmitting panel 1 is passed through the second claw 11 through the middle housing 2 and the control circuit board 3 and movably snapped onto the control circuit board 3, and finally the lower housing 6 is snapped onto the knob decoder 5, thus completing the installation of the knob controller. No screws are required for fastening, which has the advantage of convenient installation.

[0041] 2. The knob controller of the present invention is fixed to the electronic device by the mounting post 23 of the middle housing 2, the control circuit board 3 is fixed to the bottom of the middle housing 2, the knob decoder 5 is fixed to the bottom of the control circuit board 3, and the lower housing 6, which performs the rotation operation of the knob decoder 5, is also snapped and fixed to the rotating ring of the knob decoder 5. Except for the light-transmitting panel 1, which serves as the button panel, and the control circuit board 3, which are movably snapped together, all the connections between the components of the knob controller are fixed, so shaking can be avoided and the overall structure is stable.

[0042] 3. The light-transmitting panel 1 of the present invention is movably mounted on the middle housing 2 and the control circuit board 3 via the first claw 22, and then controls the four button switches 32 on the control circuit board 3 via four trigger rods 12 respectively; in addition, the lower housing 6, which is attached to the knob decoder 5, controls the knob decoder 5; the light-transmitting panel 1 and the lower housing 6 are independent of each other, so the button operation and the rotation operation are independent of each other and do not affect each other, thereby avoiding misoperation when performing rotation operation or button operation, and has the advantage of convenient operation.

[0043] The outer periphery of the aforementioned middle housing 2 is provided with a first annular baffle 24, and the control circuit board 3 is installed inside the first annular baffle 24; the diameter of the light-transmitting panel 1 is larger than the diameter of the middle housing 2; the outer periphery of the lower housing 6 is provided with a second annular baffle 61, and the lower housing 6 is also provided with heat dissipation holes 62. The light-transmitting panel 1, the middle housing 2, the control circuit board 3, the display screen 4, and the knob decoder 5 are all fitted inside the second annular baffle 61, and the upper end surface of the light-transmitting panel 1 is flush with the upper end surface of the second annular baffle 61.

[0044] Thus, the control circuit board 3 is first installed inside the first annular baffle 24 of the middle housing 2, which protects the control circuit board 3. Then, the light-transmitting panel 1 covers the middle housing 2. Since the light-transmitting panel 1, the middle housing 2, the control circuit board 3, the display screen 4, and the knob decoder 5 are all fitted inside the second annular baffle 61 of the lower housing 6, and the upper surface of the light-transmitting panel 1 is flush with the upper surface of the second annular baffle 61, if water is accidentally spilled on the knob controller, the water will only seep into the knob controller through the gap between the lower housing 6 and the light-transmitting panel 1. Because the gap is small, very little water seeps in, and the water will only flow down along the gap between the lower housing 6 and the light-transmitting panel 1 and the outer wall of the first annular baffle 24, and then drain out through the heat dissipation hole 62 at the bottom of the lower housing 6, thus preventing the control circuit board 3 from coming into contact with water. Therefore, it has the advantage of excellent waterproof performance.

[0045] The outer wall of the aforementioned knob decoder 5 is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove 51 and a rotating groove 52. The middle part of the lower housing 6 is provided with a through hole 63 for the mounting post 23 to pass through, and a third snap-fit ​​claw 64 and a rotating push block 65 located at the edge of the through hole 63. The third snap-fit ​​claw 64 is detachably snapped into the snap-fit ​​groove 51, and the rotating push block 65 is inserted into the rotating groove 52 to drive the knob decoder 5. In this way, by providing a through hole 63, the mounting post 23 can pass through the lower housing 6, and water that seeps in can also be discharged from the through hole 63. In addition, the present invention uses the cooperation of the third snap-fit ​​claw 64 and the snap-fit ​​groove 51 to install the lower housing 6 onto the knob decoder 5, and further uses the cooperation of the rotating push block 65 and the rotating groove 52 to drive the knob decoder 5. While ensuring that the lower housing 6 can effectively rotate the knob decoder 5, it also improves the reliability of the connection between the lower housing 6 and the knob decoder 5, and avoids breakage during excessive rotation due to the small structure of the third snap-fit ​​claw 64.

[0046] The bottom of the aforementioned housing 2 is provided with two insertion posts 25, and the control circuit board 3 is provided with two insertion holes 33. The two insertion posts 25 are respectively inserted into the two insertion holes 33. In this way, the control circuit board 3 is positioned for installation, and the structure of the control circuit board 3 installed on the housing 2 is more robust and stable.

[0047] The aforementioned housing 2 is provided with a switch hole 26. Within the switch hole 26, which mates with the push-button switch 32, a trigger rod 12 is movably fitted in a T-shape. This provides a large contact area between the T-shaped trigger rod 12 and the push-button switch 32, effectively pressing the push-button switch 32 and ensuring that the user can effectively operate the push-button switch 32 via the trigger rod 12 at the bottom of the light-transmitting panel 1. Furthermore, the switch hole 26 guides and limits the trigger rod 12, thereby enabling stable up-and-down movement of the light-transmitting panel 1.

[0048] The aforementioned push-button switch 32 is a spring-loaded or sheet-type push-button switch 32. In this way, the push-button switch 32 can lift the light-transmitting panel 1 upward and reset it under the action of the spring or sheet. Furthermore, the four push-button switches 32, which are equally spaced on the circumference, simultaneously lift the light-transmitting panel 1, making the light-transmitting panel 1 horizontal.

[0049] The control circuit board 3 has a button light 34 next to the push-button switch 32. In this way, a corresponding mark for the push-button switch 32 can be set on the light-transmitting panel 1. Under the illumination of the button light 34, it is convenient for the user to determine the button position, and it also makes the knob controller more aesthetically pleasing.

[0050] The aforementioned control circuit board 3 is also equipped with a ring light group 35 that works in conjunction with the knob decoder 5. Thus, when the user rotates the knob controller, the ring light group 35 produces corresponding lighting effects, making it easy for the user to determine the rotation status and also giving the knob controller an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0051] The edge of the aforementioned housing 2 is provided with a positioning notch 27, and the bottom edge of the light-transmitting panel 1 is provided with a positioning block 13, which is inserted into the positioning notch 27. In this way, when the light-transmitting panel 1 is installed on the housing 2 and the control circuit board 3, quick positioning is achieved through the cooperation of the positioning block 13 and the positioning notch 27, which has the advantage of convenient installation.

[0052] The bottom of the lower housing 6 is provided with an annular rib 66, which abuts against the mounting surface of the electronic device. In this way, the annular rib 66 can maintain the flatness of the knob controller and prevent the entire bottom surface of the lower housing 6 from touching the mounting surface of the electronic device, thus preventing the bottom surface of the lower housing 6 and the mounting surface of the electronic device from rubbing against each other and scratching each other.

[0053] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention is for illustrative and explanatory purposes. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many changes and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to implement and utilize various different exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various different choices and variations. Any appropriate changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art should be considered as not departing from the patent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A knob controller, characterized in that: The knob controller includes a light-transmitting panel (1), a middle housing (2), a control circuit board (3), a display screen (4), a knob decoder (5), and a lower housing (6). The middle housing (2) is provided with a first connection hole (21) around its perimeter, and a first claw (22) is provided around the bottom perimeter of the middle housing (2). A mounting post (23) is provided in the middle of the bottom of the middle housing (2). The mounting post (23) extends to the outside after passing through the control circuit board (3), the knob decoder (5) and the lower housing (6). A wire hole (231) is provided on the mounting post (23). The control circuit board (3) is detachably snapped onto the first claw (22). The connecting wire of the control circuit board (3) extends to the outside after passing through the wire hole (231). The control circuit board (3) is provided with a second connecting hole (31) around its perimeter. The control circuit board (3) is also provided with four push-button switches (32) that are equally spaced on the circumference. The display screen (4) is mounted on the upper part of the middle housing (2) and electrically connected to the control circuit board (3); The bottom of the light-transmitting panel (1) is provided with a second claw (11). The second claw (11) moves through the first connecting hole (21) and the second connecting hole (31) and then engages with the control circuit board (3). The bottom of the light-transmitting panel (1) is also provided with four trigger rods (12) that move through the middle housing (2) and contact the four push-button switches (32) respectively. The knob decoder (5) is mounted on the bottom of the control circuit board (3) and is electrically connected to the control circuit board (3); The lower housing (6) is detachably snapped onto the knob decoder (5) to drive the knob decoder (5).

2. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the middle housing (2) is provided with a first annular baffle (24), and the control circuit board (3) is installed inside the first annular baffle (24); the diameter of the light-transmitting panel (1) is larger than the diameter of the middle housing (2); the outer periphery of the lower housing (6) is provided with a second annular baffle (61), and the lower housing (6) is also provided with heat dissipation holes (62). The light-transmitting panel (1), the middle housing (2), the control circuit board (3), the display screen (4) and the knob decoder (5) are all fitted inside the second annular baffle (61), and the upper end surface of the light-transmitting panel (1) is flush with the upper end surface of the second annular baffle (61).

3. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the knob decoder (5) is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove (51) and a rotating groove (52). The middle part of the lower housing (6) is provided with a through hole (63) for the mounting post (23) to pass through, as well as a third snap-fit ​​claw (64) and a rotating push block (65) located at the edge of the through hole (63). The third snap-fit ​​claw (64) is detachably snapped into the snap-fit ​​groove (51), and the rotating push block (65) is inserted into the rotating groove (52) to drive the knob decoder (5).

4. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the middle housing (2) is provided with two plug-in posts (25), and the control circuit board (3) is provided with two plug-in holes (33), with the two plug-in posts (25) respectively inserted into the two plug-in holes (33).

5. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The middle housing (2) is provided with a switch hole (26), the button switch (32) is fitted in the switch hole (26), and the trigger rod (12) is movably fitted in the switch hole (26) and is in a T-shape.

6. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The push button switch (32) is a spring-loaded or sheet-type push button switch (32).

7. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The control circuit board (3) has a button light (34) next to the button switch (32).

8. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The control circuit board (3) is also provided with a ring light group (35) that works in conjunction with the knob decoder (5).

9. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The edge of the middle shell (2) is provided with a positioning notch (27), and the bottom edge of the light-transmitting panel (1) is provided with a positioning block (13), which is inserted into the positioning notch (27).

10. A knob controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the lower housing (6) is provided with an annular rib (66), which abuts against the mounting surface of the electronic device.

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