Dial input device

Abstract

A rotary input device includes a base, a rotating component, a rotating index, and a rotation detector. The rotating component is rotatably mounted on the base. The rotating index is mounted on the rotating component and rotates with it, and the rotating index is at least partially made of metal. The rotation detector is mounted on the base and includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged induction coils. The rotation detector is configured to detect changes in the magnetic field caused by the movement of the rotating index using the induction coils, and to provide a signal based on the changes in the magnetic field, the signal indicating the direction of rotation of the rotating component.

Claims

1. A rotary input device, comprising: a base; a rotating member rotatably disposed on the base and including at least one convex structure, the at least one convex structure being slidably engaged with the base; at least one rotation indicator disposed on the rotating member and rotating together with the rotating member, the at least one rotation indicator being at least partially made of metal; and a rotation detector disposed on the base and including a plurality of circumferentially arranged and radially equidistant induction coils, the rotation detector being configured to detect a change in magnetic field caused by movement of the at least one rotation indicator using the induction coils, and to provide a signal based on the change in magnetic field, the signal indicating a rotation direction of the rotating member. The base includes a central portion and an outer ring portion. The outer ring portion is disposed along the outer edge of the central portion. The rotating component is annular and sleeved on the central portion of the base. The rotating component has an inner circumferential surface and a bottom surface. The inner circumferential surface faces the central portion of the base, and the bottom surface faces the outer ring portion of the base. At least one convex circular structure is disposed on the bottom surface of the rotating component.

2. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating component includes an annular non-metallic housing having a bottom surface, the rotation detector is disposed corresponding to the bottom surface of the non-metallic housing, and the at least one rotation indicator includes at least one metal plate attached to the bottom surface of the non-metallic housing.

3. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating component includes a metal housing, the metal housing includes an annular body and at least one bending structure, the annular body having a central opening, the at least one bending structure being connected to the annular body and bent toward the central opening, the at least one bending structure serving as the at least one rotation indicator.

4. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one rotational auxiliary element disposed on the rotating component and slidingly or rollingly engaged with the base, wherein the at least one rotational auxiliary element is at least partially made of metal and serves as the at least one rotational indicator.

5. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rotary index is a plurality of rotary indexes, which are separated from each other and arranged circumferentially on the rotary component.

6. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rotary index comprises a non-permanent magnet metal conductor.

7. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one convex structure extends circumferentially.

8. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are multiple convex structures and multiple rotary indicators, and the convex structures and the rotary indicators are arranged alternately.

9. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed between the at least one convex structure of the rotating component and the base.

10. The knob input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one rotational auxiliary element disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating component and slidingly or rollingly engaged with the base.

11. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the central portion of the base has at least one groove that receives at least a portion of the at least one rotary auxiliary element.

12. The rotary input device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rotary auxiliary element comprises at least one of the following: a roller, a spring ball, and a fixed structure having an arcuate surface.

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