Roller device and electronic equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a roller device and electronic equipment. The roller device comprises a fixing assembly; the key is arranged on the fixing assembly, and a pressing direction is limited by the key; the coding switch is connected to the fixing assembly, and the coding switch can move relative to the fixing assembly in the pressing direction; the roller is used for triggering the coding switch, and the roller can move in the pressing direction relative to the fixing assembly so as to trigger the key; and the elastic piece is used for driving the coding switch so as to drive the roller to release the key. The roller device is good in durability and reliable in performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of control device technology, and in particular to roller devices and electronic devices. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic devices often have control devices that generate control signals when operated by the user. Typical control devices include buttons for pressing, but some devices can also perform more complex actions, such as sliding, flicking, and scrolling.

[0003] A roller device may include an encoder switch and a roller, with the rotation of the roller triggering the encoder switch. In more complex devices, the roller also needs to be pressable to trigger a button. Since the roller is connected to the encoder switch, pressing the roller actually relies on the deformation of the encoder switch or the roller shaft itself to achieve the pressing stroke. This deformation can lead to component malfunction, and the roller device risks having a short lifespan.

[0004] Scroll wheels are commonly found in mice, which are typically used indoors. Other electronic devices may also incorporate scroll wheels; for example, some visual electronic devices require scroll wheels to navigate through visual menus. Many electronic devices are designed for use in harsh outdoor environments, where reliable operation is essential. Utility Model Content

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a roller device or electronic device to address at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a roller device comprising: a fixed component; a button disposed on the fixed component and having a pressing direction defined thereon; an coded switch connected to the fixed component and movable relative to the fixed component in the pressing direction; a roller for triggering the coded switch and being movable relative to the fixed component in the pressing direction to trigger the button; and an elastic element for driving the coded switch to actuate the roller to release the button.

[0007] By incorporating a movable encoder switch in conjunction with an elastic element, a stable connection can be maintained between the roller and the encoder switch when the button is triggered by the roller. This prevents deformation of either the roller or the encoder switch, resulting in a longer service life and a sufficient number of operation cycles. The roller mechanism is durable and reliable.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fixing component includes an outer wall and a groove recessed inwardly in the outer wall, the groove including two opposing groove sidewalls; a button, an coded switch, and an elastic element are disposed within the outer wall; the roller includes a roller shaft, a wheel body disposed on the roller shaft, and at least one sealing ring sleeved on the roller shaft, the roller shaft passing through at least one groove sidewall and having a radial distance from the groove sidewall, the sealing ring being used to seal between the corresponding groove sidewall and the roller shaft, and a portion of the wheel body protruding from the groove body from the outer wall.

[0009] This design allows the roller mechanism to be waterproof while ensuring smooth rolling and pressing actions. The embedded roller mechanism also ensures an unobtrusive overall appearance and easy control of the rollers.

[0010] In some embodiments, the outer wall and the tank are an integral structure; the roller passes through the wheel body and achieves a circumferentially limited connection.

[0011] With this design, the overall waterproof performance of the roller device is reliable, and the rollers and wheels are easy to install.

[0012] In some implementations, one end of the roller is connected to an coded switch, and the other end is used to trigger a button.

[0013] With this setup, the roller experiences more balanced force, allowing for sensitive button triggering; when you don't want to trigger the button, it can rotate stably.

[0014] In some embodiments, the fixing component includes an adjustment base, with buttons and coded switches respectively disposed on the adjustment base, which is used to configure the positions of the buttons and coded switches to accommodate the roller.

[0015] This configuration allows for the precise assembly of the scroll wheel, buttons, and encoder switches.

[0016] In some embodiments, the adjustment base includes a first bracket and a second bracket, with a button disposed on the first bracket and an coded switch disposed on the second bracket. The first bracket includes a first adjustment plate extending in the pressing direction, and the second bracket includes a second adjustment plate extending in the pressing direction. The second adjustment plate is connected to the first adjustment plate and its position is adjustable in the pressing direction.

[0017] This configuration allows the first and second adjustment plates to work together to provide stable support, thereby enabling position adjustment and precise adaptation of the rollers.

[0018] In some embodiments, the roller device further includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board, a button is electrically connected to the first circuit board and the button is fixed to the support column of the first bracket via the first circuit board, an coded switch is disposed on and electrically connected to the second circuit board, and the second circuit board is slidably connected to the second bracket along the pressing direction.

[0019] This configuration ensures proper coordination between the electromechanical systems, reliable mechanical operation, and accurate signal reception by the electronic components.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second support includes a slide column, and the elastic element is a spring sleeved on the slide column.

[0021] With this configuration, the second bracket structure is stable, the encoder switch and the second circuit board are lightweight, and the spring is simple to use and has a long lifespan.

[0022] In some implementations, the second support includes two slides disposed on either side of the coded switch.

[0023] This design provides stable support, balances forces, and ensures smooth sliding.

[0024] In a second aspect, this application provides an electronic device comprising: electronic components; and the aforementioned roller device, wherein an coded switch and a button are electrically connected to the electronic components.

[0025] The electronic device described in this application has a long lifespan and reliable performance. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 A schematic front view of a roller assembly according to one or more embodiments;

[0027] Figure 2 A schematic side view of a roller assembly according to one or more embodiments;

[0028] Figure 3 A schematic exploded view of a roller device according to one or more embodiments;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a relational block diagram of an electronic device according to one or more embodiments.

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Button; 10. First circuit board; 2. Encoding switch; 20. Second circuit board; 3. Elastic element; 4. First bracket; 41. First adjusting plate; 42. Fixing plate; 43. Support column; 5. Second bracket; 51. Second adjusting plate; 52. Sliding column;

[0031] 100. Fixing component; 110. Outer wall; 120. Channel body; 121. Channel side wall; 130. Adjusting seat; 200. Roller; 210. Roller shaft; 220. Wheel body; 230. Sealing ring;

[0032] 1000, Roller assembly; 2000, Electronic equipment; 2100, Electronic components. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application 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 application.

[0035] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. For example, a first support may also be referred to as a second support, and a second support may also be referred to as a first support. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; a flexible connection or a rigid connection along at least one direction; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a direct connection with an intermediate medium present; and they can also refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. The terms "installed," "set," "fixed," etc., can be broadly understood as connection. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] For ease of description, a spatial rectangular coordinate system XYZ is established, but in actual use, the orientation shown in the figure is not limited.

[0039] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 The roller device of this application is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the roller device 1000 includes a fixing component 100, a roller 200, a button 1, an coded switch 2, and an elastic element 3.

[0040] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The fixing component 100 may include multiple parts assembled together.

[0041] Button 1 is directly or indirectly disposed on the fixing component 100. Button 1 may include a key base and a keycap. The key base may be fixed to the fixing component 100, and the keycap is used to be triggered. The pressing direction of the keycap may be approximately parallel to the Z-axis direction; the direction of the applied external force may be tilted, but it is necessary to ensure that there is a component force along the Z-axis direction.

[0042] Encoding switch 2 is connected to fixed component 100. Encoding switch 2 is movable relative to fixed component 100, for example, along the Z-axis.

[0043] The roller 200 is movably mounted on the fixed assembly 100, and the axis of the roller 200 is approximately parallel to the X-axis. The roller 200 is used to trigger the coded switch 2. Figure 2 As shown, for example, the right end of the roller 200 is fitted into the encoder switch 2, and the encoder switch 2 can be triggered when the roller 200 rotates about the axis.

[0044] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the left end of the scroll wheel 200 corresponds to button 1. In other embodiments, button 1 and the coded switch 2 are on the same half of the scroll wheel 200, while the other half of the scroll wheel 200 is left unused. The scroll wheel 200 is movable relative to the fixed component 100 in the pressing direction to trigger button 1, such as... Figure 1As shown, when the roller 200 is subjected to downward pressure along the Z-axis, it can press the trigger button 1; simultaneously, the encoder switch 2 can also be moved downward a certain distance by the roller 200. The movable encoder switch 2, in conjunction with the elastic element 3, ensures that the roller 200 and encoder switch 2 remain relatively fixed and undeformed when the roller 200 triggers the button 1. The roller 200 and encoder switch 2 have a long service life and can achieve a sufficient number of cycles. The roller device 1000 has a long service life and reliable performance.

[0045] When the roller 200 is pressed, it needs to overcome a certain amount of elastic force from the elastic element 3. When the pressure on the roller 200 decreases or is removed, the elastic element 3 can drive the encoder switch 2 to release the button 1. The elastic force of the elastic element 3 can be upward along the Z-axis. The roller device 1000 is flexible and reliable in operation. One end of the encoder switch 2 is fixedly fitted to the roller shaft 210 of the roller 200. The encoder switch 2 is set to the fixed component 100 through the elastic element 3. The encoder switch 2 can move downward and is tensioned by the elastic element 3, thus being securely fixed. Both ends of the roller 200 are elastically supported, rather than moving through the deformation of structural components, ensuring the durability and reliability of the combined structure of the roller 200 and the encoder switch 2 after continuous cumulative pressing.

[0046] For example, roller 200 includes roller 210 and wheel body 220. Roller 200 may be a one-piece structure. For example, refer to Figure 3 The roller 210 and the wheel 220 are separate structures. The roller 210 passes through the wheel 220 and is connected in a circumferentially limiting manner, for example, by using a spline structure. The separate roller 210 and wheel 220 are easy to install.

[0047] One end of the roller 210 is connected to the encoder switch 2, and the other end is used to trigger the button 1. The wheel 220 operated by the user is located between the encoder switch 2 and the button 1. The roller 210 is subjected to force at both ends, and the force is relatively balanced; when pressure is applied to the middle position, it is transmitted to the ends, which can sensitively trigger the button 1; when the button 1 is not to be triggered, the roller 210 is supported, and the roller 200 can be stably moved with a lighter force.

[0048] The fixing assembly 100 includes an outer wall 110 and a groove 120 recessed inwardly into the outer wall 110. The outer wall 110 and the groove 120 can be used to form a housing. (Reference) Figure 1 The groove 120 includes two groove sidewalls 121 opposite each other along the X-axis. The groove sidewalls 121 may be thicker or have varying thicknesses. The groove sidewalls 121 may have sealing cavities for the roller 210 to pass through, or the outer wall 110 may also define the sealing cavities.

[0049] Button 1, coded switch 2, and elastic element 3 are disposed within the outer wall 110. The roller 200 includes a wheel body 220 disposed in the groove 120, a portion of which protrudes from the groove 120 from the outer wall 110 for easy access by the operator. The embedded roller device 1000 achieves an unobtrusive overall appearance while allowing for smooth control of the roller 200. The wheel body 220 may be flush with or slightly lower than the outer wall 110, ensuring that the operator can still touch and press it.

[0050] The roller 200 also includes a roller 210 and at least one sealing ring 230. When a portion of the roller 210, for example the right side portion, penetrates a groove sidewall 121 and engages with the button 1 and the coded switch 2, while the left end does not penetrate the groove sidewall 121, only one sealing ring 230 is required.

[0051] refer to Figure 1 The wheel body 220 is located in the middle of the roller 210, and both ends of the roller 210 pass through the corresponding groove sidewalls 121. Two sealing rings 230 are respectively fitted onto the roller 210, which can be spaced apart from the wheel body 220 along the X-axis. The roller 210 and the groove sidewall 121 are radially spaced, that is, the diameter of the sealing cavity of the roller 210 is smaller than that of the groove sidewall 121. The sealing rings 230 can be nested in the sealing ring groove of the roller 210 and seal against the inner wall of the sealing cavity of the groove sidewall 121. The sealing rings 230 are elastic, and when the roller 210 moves relative to the groove body 120 along the Z-axis, the sealing rings 230 can still be used to seal between the corresponding groove sidewall 121 and the roller 210. The two sealing rings 230 provide a radial seal with the sealing cavity of the housing, achieving high-performance waterproofing during the 360° rotation of the roller 200. The elastic deformation of the sealing ring 230 is greater than the trigger stroke of the controlled button 1, ensuring that the controlled button 1 is successfully triggered when the roller 200 is pressed. The roller device 1000 is waterproof and also ensures that the rolling and pressing actions of the roller 200 are performed smoothly.

[0052] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 The outer wall 110 and the groove 120 are an integral structure, and the overall waterproof performance of the roller device 1000 is reliable. The roller 210 and the wheel 220 are separate structures. During installation, the wheel 220 can be placed in the groove 120 first, and then the roller 210 with the sealing ring 230 fitted can be passed through the groove side wall 121 and inserted into the wheel 220.

[0053] The fixed assembly 100 may include other components. The housing may be sealed together with other components; for example, the housing may be generally cylindrical in shape, and its ends may be sealed with caps. The roller assembly 1000 may be integrated into the overall device, and thus the housing may also refer to a part of the overall device.

[0054] The fixing assembly 100 may further include an adjusting seat 130, which can be fixed to the outer wall 110. The adjusting seat 130 and the outer wall 110 can be an integral structure, for example, the adjusting seat 130 can be slidably installed into the outer wall 110 along the X-axis direction. The button 1 and the encoder switch 2 are respectively disposed on the adjusting seat 130. The adjusting seat 130 is used to configure the positions of the button 1 and the encoder switch 2 to accommodate the roller 200. The adjusting seat 130 can be used to precisely assemble the roller 200, the button 1, and the encoder switch 2 together.

[0055] In other embodiments, the coded switch 2 may be connected to the outer wall 110. The elastic element 3 is configured, for example, as a tension spring between the outer wall 110 and the coded switch 2.

[0056] The adjustment seat 130 may include a first bracket 4 and a second bracket 5. The first bracket 4 and the second bracket 5 are connected in an adjustable manner, for example, by sliding connection along the Z-axis. A button 1 is disposed on the first bracket 4, and an coded switch 2 is disposed on the second bracket 5. Exemplarily, the first bracket 4 includes a first adjustment plate 41 extending along the pressing direction, and the second bracket 5 includes a second adjustment plate 51 extending along the pressing direction. The second adjustment plate 51 can abut against the first adjustment plate 41 along the X-axis direction, and the two can be locked or loosened by screws. The cooperation of the first adjustment plate 41 and the second adjustment plate 51 facilitates stable support. The second adjustment plate 51 is connected to the first adjustment plate 41 and its position is adjustable along the pressing direction. Specifically, at least one of the second adjustment plate 51 and the first adjustment plate 41 has an elongated slot extending along the Z-axis direction. When the first bracket 4 is fixed to the outer wall 110, the second bracket 5 can move relative to the outer wall 110 along the Z-axis direction, and the elongated slot can be formed in the second adjustment plate 51, making the adjustment seat 130 compact and small in size. The position of button 1 and encoder switch 2 can be adjusted using the adjustment base 130 to precisely match the roller 200, ensuring that the triggering of encoder switch 2 and button is completed within the movement space of roller 200.

[0057] The first bracket 4 may include a fixed plate 42 and a support column 43. The fixed plate 42 is connected to the first adjusting plate 41 and also to the support column 43. In other embodiments, the support column 43 and the first adjusting plate 41 are respectively fixed to the outer wall 110. The length of the support column 43 is used to control the button 1 to be in the appropriate position relative to the roller 200.

[0058] The roller device 1000 further includes a first circuit board 10 and a second circuit board 20. A button 1 is electrically connected to the first circuit board 10. The button 1 is fixed to the support column 43 of the first bracket 4 via the first circuit board 10, for example, by using screws to fix the first circuit board 10 to the support column 43. An encoder switch 2 is disposed on the second circuit board 20 and electrically connected to the second circuit board 20. The second circuit board 20 is slidably connected to the second bracket 5 along the pressing direction. The roller device 1000 achieves electromechanical system coordination, reliable mechanical action, and accurate signal reception by the electronic component 2100.

[0059] The second bracket 5 includes a slide post 52, and the elastic element 3 is a spring sleeved on the slide post 52. The spring is simple to use, has a long lifespan, and the assembled structure is simple and compact. The second circuit board 20 is fixed to the slide post 52 by bolts, with a gap between the bolt nut and the slide post 52, allowing the second circuit board 20 to move between the bolt nut and the slide post 52. The second bracket 5 has a stable structure, and the encoder switch 2 and the second circuit board 20 are lightweight. For example, the second circuit board 20 can slide along the slide post 52.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown and referenced Figure 2 The second bracket 5 includes two sliding columns 52 disposed on both sides of the encoder switch 2. The second bracket 5, together with two springs, can stably support the second circuit board 20 and the encoder switch 2 on it. When the encoder switch 2 moves under the pressure of the roller 200, it is balanced by the force to ensure smooth sliding.

[0061] refer to Figure 1 The second adjusting plate 51 in the second bracket 5 is located on the far right, which facilitates the operation of the screws passing through the long slot. The sliding column 52 can be positioned further to the left than the first adjusting plate 41, and the adjusting seat 130 has a compact structure and good structural rigidity under stress.

[0062] refer to Figure 4 This application provides an electronic device 2000, which includes an electronic component 2100 and the aforementioned roller device 1000. An coded switch 2 and a button 1 are electrically connected to the electronic component 2100. The electronic component 2100 can be a controller, actuator, or display. The electronic device 2000 has a long lifespan and reliable performance.

[0063] By configuring a waterproof roller device 1000, the electronic device 2000 can achieve a high level of protection, such as an IP67 waterproof rating, and can be used in outdoor and field environments.

[0064] The electronic device 2000 may include other buttons 1, which can be pressed via sealed soft keys or the like located on the outer wall 110. The electronic device 2000 has a wide range of control functions.

[0065] The technical features of the above-disclosed embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0066] In the embodiments disclosed above, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the execution order of each step is not restricted. For example, they can be executed in parallel or sequentially in different orders. The sub-steps of each step can also be executed alternately. Various forms of processes described above can be used, and steps can be reordered, added, or deleted, as long as the desired result of the technical solution provided in this application can be achieved, and this application does not impose any restrictions here.

[0067] The embodiments disclosed above merely illustrate several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of patent protection of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of patent protection claimed by this application. Therefore, the scope of patent protection of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roller device, characterized in that The application relates to a roller device. The roller device comprises: a fixed assembly; a key arranged in the fixed assembly, the key being defined with a pressing direction; an encoding switch connected to the fixed assembly, the encoding switch being movable relative to the fixed assembly along the pressing direction; a roller for triggering the encoding switch, the roller being movable relative to the fixed assembly along the pressing direction to trigger the key; and a resilient member for driving the encoding switch to drive the roller to release the key.

2. The roller device of claim 1, wherein The fixed assembly comprises an outer wall and a groove recessed inwardly in the outer wall, the groove comprising two opposite groove sidewalls; the key, the encoding switch and the resilient member are arranged in the outer wall; The roller comprises a roller shaft, a wheel body arranged on the roller shaft and at least one sealing ring sleeved on the roller shaft, the roller shaft being arranged through at least one of the groove sidewalls and being radially spaced from the groove sidewall, the sealing ring being used for sealing between the corresponding groove sidewall and the roller shaft, and a part of the wheel body protruding from the groove to the outer wall.

3. The roller arrangement of claim 2, wherein The outer wall and the groove are of an integrated structure; the roller shaft is arranged through the wheel body and is connected in a circumferential limiting mode.

4. The roller device of claim 2, wherein One end of the roller shaft is connected to the encoding switch, and the other end is used for triggering the key.

5. The roller arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The fixed assembly comprises an adjusting seat, the key and the encoding switch are arranged in the adjusting seat respectively, and the adjusting seat is used for configuring the positions of the key and the encoding switch to adapt to the roller.

6. The roller arrangement of claim 5, wherein The adjusting seat comprises a first support and a second support, the key is arranged in the first support, the encoding switch is arranged in the second support, the first support comprises a first adjusting plate extending along the pressing direction, the second support comprises a second adjusting plate extending along the pressing direction, the second adjusting plate is connected to the first adjusting plate and is position-adjustable along the pressing direction.

7. The roller arrangement of claim 6, wherein The roller device further comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board, the key is electrically connected to the first circuit board, and the key is fixed to a support column of the first support through the first circuit board, the encoding switch is arranged in and electrically connected to the second circuit board, and the second circuit board is slidably connected to the second support along the pressing direction.

8. The roller device of claim 7, wherein, The second support comprises a slide column, and the resilient member is a spring sleeved on the slide column.

9. The roller device of claim 8, wherein, The second support comprises two slide columns arranged on both sides of the encoding switch.

10. An electronic device, characterized by The application relates to an electronic component and a roller device. The roller device comprises: an electronic component; and The encoding switch and the key are electrically connected to the electronic component respectively.

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