Electronic box with rotary knob and two-position detection switch

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic housing comprising a rotatable wheel, a printed circuit board (108) having an edge (108a), a switch (110) with a body (110a) fixed to the printed circuit board (108), a lever (110b) rotatable on the body (110a) between two activation positions where the switch (110) is fixed so as to present its body (110a) on the printed circuit board (108) below the edge (108a) and its lever (110b) beyond the edge (108a), and a transmission system (112) comprising a hub (112a) integral with the wheel and a toothed plate (112b) integral with the hub (112a) and having first teeth (112c) that mesh successively with the lever (110b), and wherein the hub (112a) is disposed, relative to the printed circuit board (108), so that that the toothed plate (112b) is beyond the edge (108a).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic housing comprising a rotary knob and a lever-operated detection switch with two activation positions where the movement of the lever is controlled by the knob. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In many fields, such as home automation, a user controls devices using electronic control units. To do this, the electronic control unit includes buttons, screens, dials, etc.

[0003] A dial is a rotating, movable device operated by the user. The dial rotates around its axis and, in turn, actuates a rotary switch that is attached to the dial and mounted on the same axis. The rotary switch is itself mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0004] The various components are therefore stacked along the axis, consisting successively of the printed circuit board, the rotary switch, and the knob. This stacking means that the thickness of the electronic enclosure must accommodate all these components, making it relatively thick.

[0005] Documents DE-T-11 2010 005298 and EP-A-1 276 123 disclose prior art enclosures.

[0006] It is therefore necessary to find a different arrangement that allows the thickness of the electronic housing to be reduced. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic housing comprising a rotary knob and a lever-operated detection switch with two activation positions where the movement of the lever is controlled by the knob and where the position of the switch is offset relative to the knob.

[0008] For this purpose, an electronic device is proposed, comprising: a housing comprising a cover, a knob mounted for rotation on the cover about an axis of rotation, a printed circuit board fixed to the housing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and having an edge, a switch with a body fixed to the printed circuit board, a lever for rotation on the body between two activation positions which are on either side of a zero position, and a return system which returns the lever to the zero position when it is moved away from it, wherein the lever is movable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein the switch is fixed so as to present its body on the printed circuit board below the edge and its lever beyond the edge, and a transmission system transforming the movement of the knob into a movement of the lever, and comprising a hub fixed to the knob and movable for rotation about the axis of rotation, and a toothed plate fixed to the hub and coaxial with the axis of rotation,where the toothed plate has first teeth distributed angularly and regularly around the axis of rotation, where the hub is arranged, relative to the printed circuit board, so that during the rotation of the toothed plate, each first tooth engages successively with the lever, and where the hub is arranged, relative to the printed circuit board, so that the toothed plate is beyond the edge.

[0009] Advantageously, the hub takes the form of a coaxial shaft with the axis of rotation which projects through the hood which has a coaxial ring with the axis of rotation and whose inner diameter is sized to receive the shaft.

[0010] Advantageously, the electronic housing includes a stop system comprising a plurality of second teeth where the second teeth are fixed to the hub and distributed angularly and regularly around the hub, and at least one pawl fixed to the cover and arranged to engage between two successive second teeth at each stop position of the wheel, and where when the pawl is engaged between two second teeth, the lever is no longer in contact with a first tooth.

[0011] Advantageously, the electronic unit includes an electrical circuit comprising: the switch comprising a neutral line and, for each activation position, an activation terminal, a control unit, for each activation terminal, an electrically connected activation line between the activation terminal and an interrupt input of the control unit, switching means controlled by the control unit and adapted to alternately assume a supply position in which each activation line is under a non-zero voltage and a non-supply position in which each activation line is under a zero voltage, where the control unit is configured to command the switching means to switch to the non-powering position for a standby period, then switch back to the powering position for a wake-up period, where during the wake-up period the control unit is configured to analyze the logic level of each activation line; if during the wake-up period any of the logic levels remains at logic level 0, then the control unit is configured to command the switching means to switch to the non-powering position for the standby period. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of an electronic housing according to the invention, [ Fig. 2 ] is a perspective view of the interior of the electronic housing according to the invention, [ Fig. 3 ] is a cross-sectional view through an axial plane of the electronic housing according to the invention and viewed from below, [ Fig. 4 ] is a perspective view from below of a cover of the electronic housing according to the invention along arrow IV of the Fig. 3 , [ Fig. 5 ] is a cross-sectional view along line VV of the Fig. 3 , [ Fig. 6 ] is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit implemented in the electronic housing according to the invention, and [ Fig. 7 ] is a schematic representation of an example of a control unit configured to handle information delivered by the switch. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0013] There Fig. 1 shows an example of an electronic housing 100 according to the invention. In the invention presented here, the electronic housing 100 comprises a housing 102 and a dial 104, but it may include other elements such as buttons, screens, etc.

[0014] The wheel 104 is mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation X.

[0015] There Fig. 3 shows the electronic housing 100 seen in section by a plane containing the axis of rotation X and seen from below.

[0016] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the housing 102 comprises a bottom tank 102a and a cover 102b which covers the bottom tank 102a. The bottom tank 102a and the cover 102b are fixed to each other to delimit an internal volume 106. The bottom tank 102a and the cover 102b are fixed by any known means such as screws, clips, etc.

[0017] The knob 104 is mounted to rotate freely on the cover 102b.

[0018] The electronic housing 100 also includes a printed circuit board 108, a switch 110 and a transmission system 112.

[0019] The printed circuit board 108 is fixed to the housing 102 inside the latter, that is to say inside the internal volume 106 and is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation X.

[0020] The switch 110 is fixed to the printed circuit board 108 inside the internal volume 106 and is a toggle-type, two-position activation switch like the one from AlpsAlpine © known as "SSCM110100". The switch 110 has a body 110a with a mounting face (here, the underside) that is against the printed circuit board 108 when fixed to it. The lever 110b is mounted to rotate freely on the body 110a between two activation positions that are on either side of a zero position. The lever 110b moves in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board 108 and is movable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis X and therefore perpendicular to the printed circuit board 108. The switch 110 also includes a return mechanism that returns the lever 110b to the zero position when it is moved away from the switch.

[0021] The transmission system 112 transforms the rotational movement of the wheel 104 into a rotational movement of the lever 110b.

[0022] There Fig. 2 This specifically shows the transmission system 112, which includes a hub 112a located inside the internal volume 106 and integral with the wheel 104. The hub 112a is mounted coaxially with the axis of rotation X and is free to rotate about the axis of rotation X. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the wheel 104 and the hub 112a are fixed to each other by a clamping screw 114, sandwiching the cover 102b between them. Fig. 4 shows a view from below of the hood 102b without the hub 112a.

[0023] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, to ensure the rotation of the wheel 104 relative to the housing 102, the hub 112a takes the form of a shaft 116 coaxial with the axis of rotation X, which projects through the cover 102b. The cover has a ring 118 coaxial with the axis of rotation X and whose inner diameter is sized to receive the shaft 116 and guide its rotation. The shaft 116 is shown in ghost lines on the Fig. 4 The fit between the shaft 116 and the inner diameter of the ring 118 is preferably of the sliding fit type. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the ring 118 consists of three arched portions distributed angularly around the axis of rotation X.

[0024] The printed circuit board 108 has an edge 108a, along which the switch 110 is fixed so that its body 110a is positioned on the printed circuit board 108 below the edge 108a and its lever 110b is positioned beyond the edge 108a, i.e., unsupported relative to the printed circuit board 108. The transmission system 112 also includes a toothed plate 112b fixed to the hub 112a and coaxial with the axis of rotation X. The toothed plate 112b has first teeth 112c distributed angularly and regularly around the axis of rotation X.

[0025] The hub 112a is arranged, relative to the printed circuit board 108, so that, during the rotation of the toothed plate 112b, each first tooth 112c engages successively with the lever 110b to move it to one or the other of the activation positions according to the direction of rotation.

[0026] The hub 112a is arranged, with respect to the printed circuit board 108, so that the toothed plate 112b is not opposite the printed circuit board 108, that is to say it is beyond the edge 108a.

[0027] Since there is no printed circuit board 108 opposite the toothed plate 112b and therefore the hub 112a, the toothed plate 112b is not hindered by the components that could be placed on the printed circuit board 108, and it can be lowered to practically the same height as the printed circuit board 108, which will allow the height of the hub 112a to be reduced parallel to the axis of rotation X and therefore that of the electronic housing 100.

[0028] In addition, with such a position of the switch 110, it is possible to change the diameter of the toothed plate 112b by moving the rotation axis X without being hindered by the printed circuit board 108 which is not present beyond the edge 108a, and the same printed circuit board 108 can then be used for different electronic housings 100 and different toothed plates 112b.

[0029] The rotation of the wheel 104 by a user causes the rotation of the toothed plate 112b and therefore the actuation of the lever 110b in one direction or the other to reach one or the other of the activation positions.

[0030] To recognize the user's action on the dial 104, the electronic housing 100 also includes a control unit 120 mounted on the printed circuit board 108 and connected to the switch 110. This control unit includes means for recognizing the activation position reached and sending information representative of that position to the control unit 120. Based on this position, the control unit 120 activates an associated system. For example, the associated system is a thermostat, and rotating the dial 104 controls the setpoint temperature.

[0031] To mark stable stopping positions for the wheel 104, the electronic housing 100 includes a stopping system 140, one embodiment of which is shown in Fig. 5 The stop system 140 comprises a plurality of second teeth 142, where the second teeth 142 are fixed to the hub 112a and distributed angularly and regularly around the hub 112a and the axis of rotation X.

[0032] The stop system 140 also includes at least one ratchet 144 attached to the cover 102b and arranged to engage between two successive second teeth 142 at each stop position of the wheel 104. The ratchet 144 takes the form of an elastically flexible arm which moves away from the X axis during the rotation of the wheel 104 to pass beyond a second tooth 142 and moves towards the X axis to position itself between the two second teeth 142.

[0033] In the embodiment of the invention presented to the Fig. 5 , there are three pawls 144 distributed around the axis of rotation X and each pawl 144 engages between two successive second teeth 142.

[0034] Depending on the shape of the second teeth 142 and each ratchet 144, the rotational movement of the wheel 104 can be limited to one direction of rotation or be allowed in both directions of rotation.

[0035] In addition, the stable positions of the wheel 104 are synchronized with the zero position of the lever 110b, that is to say that when the pawl 144 is engaged between two second teeth 142, the lever 110b is no longer in contact with a first tooth 112c and can freely return to its zero position under the effect of the return system.

[0036] There Fig. 6 shows an electrical circuit 600 including the switch 110 and the control unit 120. The switch 110 has a neutral line 602 and for each activation position, an activation terminal 602a-b.

[0037] The electrical circuit 600 comprises, implemented on the printed circuit board 108, for each activation terminal 602a-b, an activation line 604a-b electrically connected between the activation terminal 602a-b and an interrupt input of the control unit 120. Each activation line 604a-b is energized through a pull-up resistor 606a-b, for example, to 5V, where the state of each pull-up resistor 606a-b is controlled via a control line 605 of the control unit 120. When the lever 110b is in the zero position, there is no contact between an activation terminal 602a-b and the neutral line 602; each activation line 604a-b is at logic level 1, allowing the control unit 120 to determine that the lever 110b is in the zero position. When lever 110b tilts in the first direction, contact is made between an activation terminal 602a and the neutral line 602.There is then a voltage drop in the corresponding activation line 604a, which goes to logic level 0. The corresponding interrupt input of the control unit 120 is then activated, and the control unit 120 receives the information that the lever 110b has moved in the first direction. When the lever 110b moves in the second direction, contact is made between the other activation terminal 602b and the neutral line 602. There is then a voltage drop in the other corresponding activation line 604b, the corresponding interrupt input of the control unit 120 is then activated, and the control unit 120 receives the information that the lever 110b has moved in the second direction. Thus, depending on the direction of the tilting of lever 110b, the control unit 120 is informed of the direction by the information delivered by the activation line 604a-b associated with said tilting direction.

[0038] In normal operation, lever 110b always returns to the zero position, and control unit 120 is therefore only subjected to very moderate load, thus limiting its power consumption. Control unit 120 can then be put into standby mode and is woken up when one of its interrupt inputs is activated.

[0039] However, it can happen that the knob 104 remains stuck so that the lever 110b remains in contact with a first tooth 112c. One of the activation lines 604a-b then remains permanently at logic level 0. This state induces continuous current consumption through the pull-up resistor 606a-b associated with this activation line 604a-b.

[0040] According to a particular embodiment, the electrical circuit 600 includes switching means adapted to alternately assume a power-on position in which each activation line 604a-b is under a non-zero voltage (5V) and a non-power-on position in which each activation line 604a-b is under a zero voltage (0V). The switching means are controlled by the control unit 120. The switching means consist, for example, in the non-power-on position of not supplying power to the pull-up resistors 606a-b through the control line 605 and, in the power-on position, of supplying power to the pull-up resistors 606a-b through the control line 605.

[0041] According to another embodiment not shown, it is possible to install a switch on each 604a-b activation line, said switch constituting breaking means which are open in the non-power position.

[0042] When lever 110b remains in contact with the first tooth 112c, the control unit 120 commands the switching means to switch to the non-energized position (de-energizing the return resistors 606a-b) for a standby time of approximately 100 ms, then return to the energized position (energizing the return resistors 606a-b) for a minimum wake-up time allowing the control unit 120 to detect a change in the position of lever 110b. This time depends on the desired maximum rotational speed of the switch and the distance between two teeth 112c.

[0043] During the wake-up phase, the control unit 120 switches the switching means to the energized position (powering the pull-up resistors 606a-b), then analyzes the logic level of each enable line 604a-b, i.e., the interrupt inputs. If the levels of both enable lines 604a and 604b indicate that lever 110b has returned to its initial position, i.e., that both enable lines 604a and 604b are at logic level 1, then the blockage has been resolved and the control unit 120 can resume normal operation. If either of the logic levels of the two enable lines 604a-b remains at logic level 0, then the blockage persists, and the control unit 120 again commands the switching means to switch to the de-energized position for the duration of standby, and so on to conserve energy.

[0044] There Fig. 7schematically illustrates an example of a control unit 120 (“processing system” in English), in the form of electronic circuitry, which is adapted and configured to manage the information delivered by the switch 110.

[0045] The control unit 120 comprises, connected by a communication bus 701: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) 702; a RAM (Read-Only Memory) 703; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 704, for example of type ROM (Read Only Memory) or EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM); a storage unit 705, such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a storage media reader, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader; and a communication interface 706 allowing, among other things, communication with the switch 120 via the activation lines 604a-b. The 702 processor is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM 703 from ROM 704, external memory, storage media (such as an SD card), or a communication network.When the control unit 120 is powered on, the processor 702 is able to read instructions from RAM 703 and execute them. These instructions form a computer program causing the processor 702 to implement all or part of the steps and operations described herein.

[0046] All or part of the steps and operations described here can be implemented in software by a programmable machine, such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller, by executing a set of instructions. Alternatively, they can be implemented in hardware by a dedicated machine or electronic component (chip) or a dedicated set of electronic components (chipset), such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally, the hardware platform includes electronic circuitry adapted and configured to implement the operations and steps described here.

Claims

1. Electronic box (100) comprising: - a casing (102) comprising a lid (102b), - a knob (104) rotatively mounted on the lid (102b) around a rotation axis (X), - a printed circuit (108) fixed to the casing (102) in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis (X) and featuring an edge (108a), - a switch (110) with a body (110a) fixed to the printed circuit (108), a lever (110b) moving rotatively on the body (110a) between two activation positions on both sides of a zero position, and a return system that returns the lever (110b) back to the zero position when it is moved aside, wherein the lever (110b) moves rotatively around an axis parallel to the rotation axis (X), the switch (110) being fixed so that it shows its body (110a) onto the printed circuit (108) not beyond the edge (108a), - a drive system (112) that turns the movement of the knob (104) to a movement of the lever (110b) and comprising a hub (112a) solidary with the knob (104) and moving rotatively around the rotation axis (X), and a toothed plate (112b) solidary with the hub (112a) and coaxial with the rotation axis (X), wherein the toothed plate (112b) features first teeth (112c) angularly and regularly distributed around the rotation axis (X), wherein the hub (112a) is located relatively to the printed circuit (108) so that, when the toothed plate (112b) rotates, each first tooth (112c) successively meshes with the lever (110b), the electronic box (100) being characterised in that the lever (110b) is beyond the edge (108a), and in that the hub (112a) is located, relatively to the printed circuit (108), so that the toothed plate (112b) is beyond the edge (108a).

2. Electronic box (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the hub (112a) is shaped as a barrel (116) that is coaxial with the rotation axis (X) through the lid (102b), which features a gear (118) that is coaxial with the rotation axis (X), and whose inner diameter is sized to receive the barrel (116).

3. Electronic box (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a shut-off system (140) featuring a plurality of second teeth (142), wherein the second teeth (142) are solidary with the hub (112a) and angularly and regularly distributed around the hub (112a), and at least one retaining pawl (144) solidary with the lid (102b) and distributed to gear between two successive second teeth (142) at each stop position of the knob (104), and wherein, when the retaining pawl (144) is geared between two second teeth (142), the lever (110b) is no more in contact with a first tooth (112c).

4. Electronic box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises an electric circuit (600) featuring: - the switch (110) comprising a neutral lead (602) and, for each activation position, an activation terminal (602a-b), - a control unit (120), - for each activation terminal (602a-b), an activation line (604a-b) electrically connected between the activation terminal (602a-b) and an interrupt input of the control unit (120), - disconnect devices monitored by the control unit (120) and adapted for alternatively a power supply position, where each activation line (604a-b) is under a not null voltage, and a no power supply position, where each activation line (604a-b) is under a null voltage, wherein the control unit (120) is configured to monitor the shut-off means, so that they switch to the no power supply position during a standby period, then switch back to power supply position during an active period, wherein for the active period, the control unit (120) is configured to analyse the logical level of each activation line (604a-b). If during the active period, one of the logical levels remains at the 0 logical level, then the control unit (120) is configured to monitor the shut-off means, so that they switch to no power supply during the standby period.

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