Rotary knob and input device

Abstract

Rotary knob (120) comprising: a control element (10) consisting of a ring-shaped, conductive element, wherein a rotation operation can be performed on the control element (10); a rotary support element (50) consisting of an annular, non-conductive element and attached to a capacitive control panel (111), wherein the rotary support element (50) rotatably supports the control element (10); an annular concave groove (51) arranged in the rotary support element (50); and a conductive connection part (60) which is electrically connected to the control part (10), wherein the conductive connection part (60) is integrally rotatable with the control part (10) in the concave groove (51) and a position of the conductive connection part (60) can be detected by the control panel (111), wherein the conductive connection part (60) is formed from a plurality of conductive connection parts (60a, 60b, 60c) and at least two of the conductive connection parts (60a, 60b, 60c) differ from each other in areas of their surfaces which are in contact with the concave groove (51).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary knob for operating a control panel and an input device in which the rotary knob is attached to the control panel. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In recent years, many screens with capacitive touch panels (hereinafter referred to as "touch panel-equipped screens") have been adopted in navigation systems, audio systems, central displays, etc., installed in vehicles. Since every touch panel-equipped screen has no uneven contours on its surface, touch panel-equipped screens can only be operated if these contours are visually identifiable.

[0003] JP 2016-45525 A discloses an input device in which a rotary knob is attached to a screen equipped with a control panel to improve the usability of the screen. The rotary knob comprises a grip section, which allows the user to perform an operation, and a terminal section, which serves as a contact surface for the control panel. When the user's finger touches the grip section, current flows through the grip section and the terminal section, and the capacitance of the control panel changes depending on the current. The control panel detects a finger touch based on the difference between the capacitance at the time the finger is not touching and the capacitance at the time the finger is touching.

[0004] A similar device is known from WO 2016 / 041 683 A1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAL PROBLEM

[0005] One problem with the input device disclosed in JP 2016-45525 A is that if the difference between the capacitance at the time of no finger contact and the capacitance at the time of finger contact is small, a failure to detect or a faulty detection of a finger contact on the rotary knob may occur.

[0006] The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problem and it is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a technique to avoid the occurrence of non-detection and erroneous detection of a finger touching a rotary knob. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0007] According to the present invention, a rotary knob is provided comprising: a control element consisting of an annular, conductive element, wherein a rotational operation can be performed on the control element; a rotary support element consisting of an annular, non-conductive element and attached to a capacitive control panel, wherein the rotary support element rotatably supports the control element; an annular, concave groove arranged in the rotary support element; and a conductive connection element electrically connected to the control element, wherein the conductive connection element is integrally rotatable with the control element within the concave groove and the position of the conductive connection element can be detected by the control panel, wherein the conductive connection element is formed from a plurality of conductive connection elements and at least two of the conductive connection elements differ from one another in the areas of their surfaces that are in contact with the concave groove. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present invention, the occurrence of non-detection and incorrect detection of a finger touching the rotary knob can be avoided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an input device according to a first embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a rotary knob according to the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an input device, according to section AA in Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rotary knob (no control panel is shown); and Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram to explain a change in the capacity detected by a control panel. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0009] In order to explain the present invention in detail, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First embodiment.

[0010] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an input device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The input device 100 comprises a screen 110 equipped with a control panel and a rotary knob 120. The screen 110 equipped with the control panel comprises a capacitive control panel 111 (hereinafter referred to as "control panel 111") and a screen (not shown). The screen is integrated into the control panel 111.

[0012] The rotary knob 120 is attached to the control panel 111. The rotary knob 120 is ring-shaped. The rotary knob 120 is designed to point in the direction of the Fig. The double arrow shown in point 1 is rotatable. Since the control panel 111 is exposed within a ring in the rotary knob 120, the information displayed on the screen can be visually recognized.

[0013] Fig. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the rotary knob 120 according to the first embodiment.

[0014] The rotary knob 120 essentially comprises an operating element 10, a conductive connecting element 20, conductive connection parts 60, a rotary element 40 and a rotary support element 50.

[0015] Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the input device 100, according to section AA in Fig. 1.

[0016] The control element 10 is a ring-shaped component. The control element 10 is a component on which a rotational operation is performed. The control element 10 consists of a conductive element. The control element 10 is a component on which, for example, a conductive coating or plating treatment is applied to a resin such as ABS.

[0017] The rotary support element 50 is a ring-shaped component. The rotary support element 50 is made of a non-conductive material. For example, the rotary support element 50 is made of a resin such as ABS. The rotary support element 50 is attached to the control panel 111. This attachment is, for example, adhesion. The rotary support element 50 rotatably supports the control unit 10.

[0018] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the rotary support element 50 has an annular concave groove 51. The concave groove 51 consists of a first wall section 52, which is positioned on an inner circumferential side, and a second wall section 53, which is positioned on an outer circumferential side of the first wall section 52. One bottom surface of the concave groove 51 is designed such that its thickness is reduced. The reduced thickness is, for example, 0.3 mm.

[0019] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the conductive connecting element 20, the conductive connection parts 60 and the rotary element 40 are located between the operating element 10 and the rotary support element 50.

[0020] The conductive connecting element 20 is a ring-shaped component. The conductive connecting element 20 consists of a conductive material. For example, the conductive connecting element 20 is made of stainless steel.

[0021] Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rotary knob 120 according to the first embodiment (the control element 10 is not shown).

[0022] The conductive connecting element 20 incorporates several conductive connecting element flange sections 21. Each conductive connecting element flange section 21 has a radially outwardly projecting shape. A hole through which a screw is inserted is formed in each conductive connecting element flange section 21.

[0023] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the conductive connecting element 20 has a plurality of fastening sections 22 for securing the conductive connection parts 60 described later. The following describes a case in which fastening sections 22 are formed at three locations. The fastening sections 22 at the three locations are designated as "first fastening section 22a, second fastening section 22b, and third fastening section 22c". Holes through which screws are inserted are formed in the first fastening section 22a, the second fastening section 22b, and the third fastening section 22c.

[0024] The conductive connection parts 60 are disc-shaped, conductive components. The conductive connection parts 60 are made, for example, of stainless steel. The conductive connection parts 60 are attached to the mounting sections 22 of the conductive connecting element 20, for example, by screws. The conductive connection parts 60 and the conductive connecting element 20 are in contact with each other and are electrically connected.

[0025] In the following, the conductive terminal 60 attached to the first mounting section 22a is referred to as the "first conductive terminal 60a". Likewise, the conductive terminal 60 attached to the second mounting section 22b is referred to as the "second conductive terminal 60b". Similarly, the conductive terminal 60 attached to the third mounting section 22c is referred to as the "third conductive terminal 60c". Holes through which screws are inserted are formed in the first conductive terminal 60a, the second conductive terminal 60b, and the third conductive terminal 60c.

[0026] The first conductive connection part 60a, the second conductive connection part 60b and the third conductive connection part 60c differ in their diameters and in the areas of their surfaces that are in contact with the concave groove 51 (hereinafter referred to as "contact surfaces").

[0027] For example, the diameter ϕ of the first conductive terminal part 60a is 9 mm and the area of ​​the contact surface of the first conductive terminal part 60a is the largest.

[0028] For example, the diameter ϕ of the second conductive terminal part 60b is 6 mm and the area of ​​the contact surface of the second conductive terminal part 60b is smaller than that of the first conductive terminal part 60a.

[0029] For example, the diameter ϕ of the third conductive terminal part 60c is 3 mm, and the contact area of ​​the third conductive terminal part 60c is smaller than that of the second conductive terminal part 60b.

[0030] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram to explain a change in the capacity 111 detected by the control panel.

[0031] Fig. Figure 5 shows the capacitance detected by the control panel 111 when no finger is touching the control unit 10 (at the time of no finger touch) and the capacitance detected by the control panel 111 when a finger is touching the control unit 10 (at the time of finger touch), for each of the conductive terminal parts.

[0032] A left side (hereinafter referred to as “C”) of Fig. Figure 5 shows a case in which three conductive connection parts are used, the contact areas of which are equal in size to the concave groove 51. A right side (hereinafter referred to as “D”) of Fig. Figure 5, on the other hand, shows a case in which the conductive connection parts 60 are used according to the first embodiment (the first conductive connection part 60a, the second conductive connection part 60b and the third conductive connection part 60c).

[0033] In the case of “C”, the capacitances detected at the conductive terminal parts by the control panel 111 at the time when no finger is touched are the same, and the capacitances detected at the conductive terminal parts by the control panel 111 at the time a finger is touched are the same.

[0034] In the case of “D”, the capacitances detected by the control panel 111 at the time of no finger contact at the first to third conductive terminal parts 60a, 60b and 60c differ, and the capacitances detected by the control panel 111 at the time of finger contact at the third conductive terminal part 60c differ from each other.

[0035] The capacitance detected by the control panel 111 at the third conductive terminal 60c at the time of no finger contact is relatively small compared to the capacitances detected by the control panel 111 at the first and second conductive terminal 60a and 60b at the time of no finger contact.

[0036] Furthermore, the capacitance detected at the first conductive terminal 60a by the control panel 111 at the time of touching a finger is relatively large compared to the capacitances detected at the second and third conductive terminal 60b and 60c by the control panel 111 at the time of touching a finger.

[0037] As mentioned above, in case “D”, the difference (the amount of the capacitance change) between the capacitance detected at the third conductive terminal 60c by the control panel 111 at the time of no finger contact and the capacitance detected at the first conductive terminal 60a by the control panel 111 at the time of finger contact is large. Therefore, the accuracy with which a finger contact is detected at the control panel 10 can be improved compared to case “C”.

[0038] The above explanation describes the case in which the first conductive terminal part 60a, the second conductive terminal part 60b and the third conductive terminal part 60c are designed such that they differ from each other in the areas of their contact surfaces that are in contact with the concave groove 51.

[0039] However, it is not limited to this case; likewise, only one conductive terminal part 60 (e.g., the first conductive terminal part 60a) can differ from the other conductive terminal parts in the areas of their contact surfaces, and the two remaining conductive terminal parts 60 (e.g., the second conductive terminal part 60b and the third conductive terminal part 60c) can be identical in the areas of their contact surfaces.

[0040] In addition, two conductive connection parts 60 can be included and the two conductive connection parts 60 can be designed such that the areas of their contact surfaces differ.

[0041] In addition, four or more conductive connection parts 60 can be included and at least two of the four or more conductive connection parts 60 can be designed in such a way that the surfaces of their contact surfaces differ from each other.

[0042] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the rotating element 40 is a ring-shaped component. The rotating element 40 is made of a non-conductive material.

[0043] For example, the rotating element 40 is made of a resin such as ABS. The rotating element 40 is rotatably supported by the rotating support element 50. A plurality of rotating element flange sections 41 are formed on the rotating element 40. Each rotating element flange section 41 has a radially outwardly projecting form. The rotating element flange sections 41 are formed in positions opposite the conductive connecting element flange sections 21. A hole through which a screw is inserted is formed in each rotating element flange section 41.

[0044] The conductive connecting element 20 and the rotating element 40 are attached to the control unit 10 via the conductive connecting element flange sections 21 and the rotating element flange sections 41. This attachment is achieved, for example, by screwing. The conductive connecting element 20 and the control unit 10 are in contact with each other and are electrically connected. Furthermore, the conductive connecting element 20 and the rotating element 40 rotate integrally with the control unit 10. At this point, the conductive connecting parts 60, which are attached to the conductive connecting element 20, slide within the concave groove 51 in the rotating support element 50.

[0045] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the first mounting section 22a, the second mounting section 22b, and the third mounting section 22c have shapes that project radially inwards. The first mounting section 22a, the second mounting section 22b, and the third mounting section 22c can be elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the control panel 111.

[0046] The first fastening section 22a presses the first conductive connector 60a onto the surface of the control panel 111. Similarly, the second fastening section 22b presses the second conductive connector 60b onto the surface of the control panel 111. Likewise, the third fastening section 22c presses the third conductive connector 60c onto the surface of the control panel 111. This prevents the first conductive connector 60a, the second conductive connector 60b, and the third conductive connector 60c from floating relative to the bottom surface of the concave groove 51, thus stabilizing finger touch detection and the detection of the positions of the conductive connectors 60.

[0047] When a finger touches the control unit 10, the current flows along a path that is in Fig. 3 is represented by an arrow Z. Since the rotary support element 50 is a non-conductive element, but the bottom surface of the concave groove 51 has a thin thickness, the current causes a change in capacitance in the control panel 111. The control panel 111 detects a touch of a finger and recognizes the positions of the conductive connection parts 60 based on the change in capacitance.

[0048] As in Fig.As shown in Figure 4, several contact sections 23 are formed in the conductive connecting element 20 in contact with the second wall section 53 in the rotary support element 50. It is assumed that the contact sections 23 are formed at three locations and are referred to as the "first contact section 23a", the second contact section 23b, and the third contact section 23c". The first contact section 23a, the second contact section 23b, and the third contact section 23c have shapes that project towards the control panel 111 and can be elastically deformed in the radial direction.

[0049] The first contact section 23a, the second contact section 23b, and the third contact section 23c exert a force on the second wall section 53 in the rotating support element 50 in the direction of the center of rotation. This design of the contact sections creates a frictional force between the conductive connecting element 20 and the rotating support element 50 when the control unit 10 rotates. By adjusting the magnitude of the frictional force, the feel when operating the rotary knob 120 can be customized.

[0050] As mentioned above, the rotary knob 120 according to the first embodiment comprises: the control element 10, consisting of an annular, conductive material, wherein a rotational operation can be performed on the actuating section; the rotary support element 50, consisting of an annular, non-conductive material and attached to the capacitive control panel 111 to rotatably support the control element 10; the annular, concave groove 51, which is arranged in the rotary support element 50; and the conductive connection element 60, which is electrically connected to the control element 10 and rotates integrally with the control element 10 within the concave groove 51, wherein the position of the conductive connection element is detected by the control panel 111, and the conductive connection element 60 consists of a plurality of conductive connection elements, and at least two of the conductive connection elements 60 differ from each other in the areas of their surfaces that are in contact with the concave groove 51.This prevents the occurrence of non-detection and incorrect detection of a finger touching the rotary knob.

[0051] It is understood that any component can be modified according to the embodiment, and any component of the embodiment can be omitted within the scope of the present invention. COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

[0052] Since the rotary knob according to the present invention can prevent the occurrence of non-recognition and faulty recognition of a touch of a finger on the rotary knob, the rotary knob is suitable for mounting on a screen that is installed in a vehicle and equipped with a capacitive control panel. REFERENCE MARK LIST 10 Control unit, 20 conductive connecting element, 21 conductive connecting element flange section, 22 Fastening section, 22a first fastening section, 22b second fastening section, 22c third fastening section, 23 Contact section, 23a first contact section, 23b second contact section, 23c third contact section, 40 rotating elements, 41 Rotary element flange section, 50 rotary support element, 51 concave grooves, 52 first wall section, 53 second wall section, 60 conductive connection part, 60a first conductive connection part, 60b second conductive connection part, 60c third conductive connection part, 100 input devices, 110 screen equipped with control panel, 111 Control panel, 112 screen, and 120 rotary knobs.

Claims

[1] Rotary knob (120) comprising: a control element (10) consisting of a ring-shaped, conductive element, wherein a rotation operation can be performed on the control element (10); a rotary support element (50) consisting of an annular, non-conductive element and attached to a capacitive control panel (111), wherein the rotary support element (50) rotatably supports the control element (10); an annular concave groove (51) arranged in the rotary support element (50); and a conductive connection part (60) which is electrically connected to the control part (10), wherein the conductive connection part (60) is integrally rotatable with the control part (10) in the concave groove (51) and a position of the conductive connection part (60) can be detected by the control panel (111), wherein the conductive connection part (60) is formed from a plurality of conductive connection parts (60a, 60b, 60c) and at least two of the conductive connection parts (60a, 60b, 60c) differ from each other in areas of their surfaces which are in contact with the concave groove (51). [2] Rotary knob according to claim 1, which further comprises a conductive connecting element (20) which is electrically connected to the control element (10) and rotates integrally with the control element (10), wherein the conductive connecting element (20) presses the conductive connecting parts (60) against the concave groove (51) and applies a force in a direction of a center of rotation to the rotary support element (50). [3] comprising input device (100): the rotary knob (120) according to claim 1 or 2; a capacitive control panel (111) to which the rotary knob (120) is attached; and a screen (112) integrated into the control panel (111) for displaying information.

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