Flywheel structural member having tactile feeling, and input device

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a flywheel structural member having a tactile feeling, comprising a holder and a flywheel that is mounted on the holder by means of a rotating shaft and can freely and axially rotate, wherein with an annular cavity is formed in the flywheel; an annular rotor made of a magnetically attractive metal material is fixedly mounted in the annular cavity; a plurality of slots are formed in the inner annular wall of the annular rotor at intervals; a permanent magnet stator is further fixedly provided on the holder; the permanent magnet stator is arranged in the annular rotor; the end portion of the permanent magnet stator close to the inner wall of the annular rotor is a magnetic pole portion. The present invention can provide an obvious tactile feeling for a user, effectively avoids the problem that the performance and the service life of a product are limited due to electronic components; in particular, the structural design of the present solution is ingenious, the magnetic force of a permanent magnet is utilized to the maximum extent, assembly is convenient, the structure is stable, the same flywheel structural member can be compatible with optical and Hall components, the cost-performance ratio advantage is significant, and the high market competitiveness is achieved.

Description

A flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation and an input device Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of input, and in particular to a flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation and an input device. Background Art

[0002] The mouse wheel is an important component of the mouse, and its performance and user experience have a significant impact on the overall evaluation of the mouse.

[0003] Most existing undamped rollers are grating rollers, which count by blocking light through a wheel with "spokes." These "spokes" also provide the sense of movement in grating rollers. Simply place a small wire against the spokes, and as the roller rotates, it scrapes against the wire, creating the sense of movement. When a button is pressed, a small lever pushes the wire away, breaking contact with the spokes, allowing the spokes to roll freely.

[0004] This type of scroll wheel will wear out over time, so a new design has emerged that utilizes the properties of an electromagnet. The inner ring of the roller is lined with ferromagnetic material. Inside the roller, there's a pair of magnets: one permanent magnet and the other an electromagnet. When current is applied to the electromagnet, the magnetic field strength is similar to that of the permanent magnet, but the polarity of the electromagnet can be adjusted by controlling the direction of the current. In paragraph scrolling mode, the electromagnet and the permanent magnet have the same polarity, acting as a single large magnet. At each end of the electromagnet and the permanent magnet is a small piece of ferromagnetic material with a similar spiny structure as the inner ring of the roller. When the two protrusions come close together, the magnetic force creates a "paragraph" effect. When the scroll wheel is switched to its undamped state, the current in the electromagnet reverses direction, creating opposite polarities between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet. This confines the magnetic field lines to the roller's core, eliminating any magnetic force on the outer ferromagnet, allowing the outer ring to scroll freely.

[0005] However, because this existing technology involves permanent magnets and electromagnets, its internal structure is extremely complex, resulting in high component and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the lifespan of the electronic components can easily affect the overall performance and lifespan of the product. Therefore, the present invention focuses on simplifying the components and creating a completely new structural design to ensure a smooth, user-friendly flywheel rotation while reducing costs and extending the product's lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a flywheel structure and input device with a sense of segmentation.

[0007] To achieve this technical purpose, the solution of the present invention is: a flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation, including a bracket and a flywheel installed on the bracket through a rotating shaft and capable of free axial rotation, the flywheel has an annular cavity, a ring-shaped rotor made of a magnetic metal material is fixedly installed in the annular cavity, and the inner ring wall of the annular rotor is configured with a plurality of grooves at intervals; a permanent magnet stator is also fixedly provided on the bracket, and the permanent magnet stator is built into the annular rotor, and the end of the permanent magnet stator close to the inner wall of the annular rotor is the magnetic pole portion.

[0008] Preferably, the permanent magnet stator includes a first magnetic block, a second magnetic block, and a magnetizer, a through hole is formed in the middle of the magnetizer to allow the rotating shaft to pass through, the first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are separated on both sides of the magnetizer, and the magnetic poles of the first magnetic block in contact with the magnetizer are opposite to the magnetic poles of the second magnetic block in contact with the magnetizer.

[0009] Preferably, the magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor in an arc-shaped structure, which are connected to each other to form a middle through hole, and the first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are respectively abutted against two sides of the magnetic conductor.

[0010] Preferably, the magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor of an Ω-shaped structure, which are connected to form a middle through hole. The first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are clamped between the two magnetic conductors and are respectively located on both sides of the magnetic conductor.

[0011] Preferably, the flywheel component further includes a stator frame fixedly mounted on the bracket, and the permanent magnet stator is mounted in the stator frame.

[0012] Preferably, the flywheel component further includes a stator frame fixedly mounted on the bracket, and the permanent magnet stator is mounted in the stator frame.

[0013] Preferably, the annular rotor is formed by stacking a number of stamped annular sheets, and each annular sheet is stamped with the groove.

[0014] Preferably, the flywheel component also includes a grating component mounted on the flywheel and capable of rotating with the flywheel, the grating component extending a plurality of light-blocking protrusions at evenly spaced intervals from a side away from the flywheel, and the grating component extending a plurality of positioning feet at evenly spaced intervals from a side toward the flywheel, the positioning feet being plugged into and matched with the grooves of the annular rotor.

[0015] Preferably, the flywheel component further includes a radial magnetized ring fixed on the flywheel and capable of rotating with the flywheel.

[0016] The present invention also includes the following scheme: an input device, the flywheel structure is the flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation as described above, the electronic component is a light-pair tube composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and the light-pair tube is arranged at a position corresponding to the grating component. The rotation of the flywheel drives the grating component to rotate, thereby causing the light-blocking protrusion to affect the light path between the light-pair tubes to trigger the output signal.

[0017] The present invention also includes the following scheme: an input device, the flywheel structure is the flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation as described above, the electronic component is a Hall angle sensor, and the Hall angle sensor is arranged in a position adjacent to the radial magnetized ring. The rotation of the flywheel drives the radial magnetized ring to rotate, thereby causing the magnetic pole to change and trigger the Hall angle sensor to output a signal.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: without the use of electromagnetic components, only the simple combination of a permanent magnet stator and grooves on the inner wall of the annular rotor can provide the user with a clear sense of segmentation during the free rotation of the flywheel, effectively avoiding the problem of limited product performance and life due to electronic components; in particular, the structural design of this solution is ingenious, while maximizing the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, it also makes assembly convenient and the structure stable, and makes the same flywheel structure compatible with optical and Hall components, with significant cost-effectiveness advantages and strong market competitiveness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an input device according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG2 is a second structural diagram of the input device of the present invention;

[0021] FIG3 is an exploded view of the flywheel structure of the present invention;

[0022] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a grating element in the present invention;

[0023] FIG5 is an exploded view of the annular rotor of the present invention;

[0024] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of the combination of the annular rotor and the grating element in the present invention;

[0025] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a permanent magnet stator according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG8 is a second structural diagram of the permanent magnet stator in the present invention;

[0027] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the permanent magnet stator and the stator frame in the present invention;

[0028] FIG10 is a second structural diagram of the combination of the permanent magnet stator and the stator frame in the present invention;

[0029] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a structure of an input device using a light-pairing tube according to the present invention;

[0030] FIG12 is a second structural diagram of an input device using an optical tube in the present invention;

[0031] FIG13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the input device of the present invention using a Hall angle sensor.

[0032] In the figure: 1. bracket; 2. flywheel; 21. annular cavity; 3. rotating shaft; 4. annular rotor; 401. annular plate; 402. groove; 5. permanent magnet stator; 501. first magnetic block; 502. second magnetic block; 503. first magnetic conductive member; 504. second magnetic conductive member; 6. stator frame; 7. grating member; 701. light-blocking protrusion; 702. positioning foot; 8. light-pairing tube; 9. radial magnetizing ring; 10. Hall angle sensor; 11. flexible circuit board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. In order to clearly and completely describe the technical solution, the following embodiments are selected for illustration; the following embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention; based on this application, other embodiments obtained without creative work are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] In the following embodiments, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "top / bottom," and other orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate the clear description of the embodiments. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation and should not be construed as limitations on the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" in the embodiments are used solely for descriptive purposes and do not indicate or imply relative importance.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1-13, the specific embodiment of the present invention is a flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation, including a bracket 1 and a flywheel 2 mounted on the bracket 1 through a rotating shaft 3 and capable of free axial rotation. The flywheel 2 has an annular cavity 21, in which an annular rotor 4 made of magnetic metal is fixedly mounted. The inner ring wall of the annular rotor 4 is provided with a plurality of grooves 402 at intervals; a permanent magnet stator 5 is also fixedly provided on the bracket 1, and the permanent magnet stator 5 is built into the annular rotor 4. The end of the permanent magnet stator 5 close to the inner wall of the annular rotor 4 is the magnetic pole portion. The grooves 402 on the inner wall of the annular rotor 4 are configured so that the flywheel 2 has an obvious sense of segmentation during rotation. When the grooves 402 pass through the permanent magnet stator 5, due to the action of the magnetic poles, the flywheel 2 will pause briefly, resulting in a staggered segment feel, thereby enhancing the user experience; due to the adoption of a non-contact structure, the flywheel structure has almost no friction resistance during the rolling process, so the flywheel structure has lower power consumption and a longer service life.

[0036] Specifically, the permanent magnet stator 5 includes a first magnetic block 501, a second magnetic block 502, and a magnetizer. A through-hole is formed in the center of the magnetizer to allow the shaft to pass through. The first magnetic block 501 and the second magnetic block 502 are located on either side of the magnetizer. The poles of the first magnetic block 501 in contact with the magnetizer are opposite to the poles of the second magnetic block in contact with the magnetizer. The combination of the first magnetic block 501 and the second magnetic block 502 can generate a stable magnetic field in the flywheel structure. Furthermore, the magnetizer not only acts as a magnetizer but also ensures the relative position of the first magnetic block 501 and the second magnetic block 502 is stable, preventing them from shifting during use by limiting the position of the magnetizer.

[0037] As shown in FIG8 and FIG10, the magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor 503 and a second magnetic conductor 504 of an arc structure, which are connected to form a middle through hole, and the first magnetic block 501 and the second magnetic block 502 are respectively abutted on both sides of the magnetic conductor.

[0038] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor 503 and a second magnetic conductor 504 with an Ω-shaped structure, which are connected to form a middle through hole. The first magnetic block 501 and the second magnetic block 502 are clamped between the two magnetic conductors and are respectively located on both sides of the magnetic conductor.

[0039] The hollow magnet structure design described above is intended to create a hollow space between the magnetic components, thereby allowing the shaft 3 to pass through. Other similar hollow structures are also within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. Furthermore, the structural design of the magnet of the present invention facilitates assembly and optimizes the distribution of magnetic lines of force. The annular structure makes the magnetic lines of force more concentrated and orderly, further improving the interaction efficiency between the flywheel 2 and the annular rotor 4.

[0040] During installation, the flywheel structure also includes a stator frame 6 fixedly mounted on the bracket 1, and the permanent magnet stator 5 is installed in the stator frame 6. The stator frame 6 is fixedly mounted on the bracket 1 to enhance the stability of the entire flywheel structure and protect the permanent magnet stator 5 from external impact and wear.

[0041] In order to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency, the annular rotor 4 is composed of a plurality of stamped annular sheets 401 stacked together, and each annular sheet 401 is stamped with a groove 402. Since the annular rotor 4 requires a certain thickness, if a high-thickness annular rotor 4 is directly stamped, not only will the cost of the required magnets be high, but the difficulty of stamping will also be greatly increased. The present invention adopts multiple annular sheets 401 stacked together, which not only reduces the cost of the magnets, but also reduces the difficulty of stamping. After stamping, the strength and rigidity of the rotor can be guaranteed, and mass production and automated production can be easily realized.

[0042] This flywheel structure is also equipped with a grating 7 and a radial magnetizing ring 9, and is suitable for various types of mice. It can be customized and optimized according to different needs and has strong adaptability, as shown below:

[0043] The flywheel structure of the present invention includes a grating member 7 mounted on a flywheel 2 and capable of rotating with the flywheel 2. A plurality of light-blocking protrusions 701 are evenly spaced apart and extend from a side of the grating member 7 away from the flywheel 2. The grating member 7 is capable of rotating with the flywheel 2. The light-blocking protrusions 701 cooperate with a light-transmitting tube 8 to detect the rotation direction and angle of the flywheel 2 and output a corresponding electrical signal. A plurality of positioning pins 702 are evenly spaced apart and extend from a side of the grating member 7 facing the flywheel 2. The positioning pins 702 are plugged and matched with the grooves 402 of the annular rotor 4. The positioning pins 702 facilitate the superimposed positioning of the annular plates 401 of the annular rotor 4 and, on the other hand, serve to assemble and fix the grating member 7 together with the annular rotor 4 to the flywheel 2, thereby simplifying the operation process.

[0044] The present invention provides a photoelectric input device, wherein the flywheel structure is a flywheel structure as described above with a grating component 7, and the electronic component is a light-pairing tube 8 composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-pairing tube 8 is patched on a flexible circuit board 11, and the light-pairing tube 8 is arranged at a position corresponding to the grating component 7. The rotation of the flywheel 2 drives the grating component 7 to rotate, thereby causing the light-blocking protrusion 701 to affect the light path between the light-pairing tube 8 to trigger an output signal.

[0045] The flywheel structure of the present invention includes a radial magnetized ring 9 fixed on the flywheel 2 and capable of rotating with the flywheel 2. The radial magnetized ring 9 rotates with the flywheel 2. By installing a Hall angle sensor 10, the rotation direction and angle of the flywheel 2 can be detected and a corresponding electrical signal can be output.

[0046] The present invention provides an electromagnetic input device. The flywheel structure is a flywheel structure as described above with a radial magnetizing ring 9. The electronic component is a Hall effect angle sensor 10. The Hall effect angle sensor 10 is mounted on a flexible circuit board 11 and positioned adjacent to the radial magnetizing ring 9. Rotation of the flywheel 2 drives the radial magnetizing ring 9, causing a magnetic pole reversal that triggers the Hall effect angle sensor 10 to output a signal. The radial magnetizing ring 9 and the Hall effect angle sensor 10 are arranged parallel to each other and can generate a magnetic field in any direction of the angle sensor. When the flywheel 2 rotates, driving the radial magnetizing ring 9 and causing the angle of the applied magnetic field to change, the angle sensor is triggered to generate a signal output.

[0047] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any minor modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation, comprising a bracket and a flywheel mounted on the bracket through a rotating shaft and capable of free axial rotation, characterized in that: The flywheel has an annular cavity, in which an annular rotor made of a magnetic metal material is fixedly installed, and the inner ring wall of the annular rotor is provided with a plurality of grooves at intervals; a permanent magnet stator is also fixedly arranged on the bracket, and the permanent magnet stator is built into the annular rotor, and the end of the permanent magnet stator close to the inner wall of the annular rotor is the magnetic pole portion.

2. The flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The permanent magnet stator includes a first magnetic block, a second magnetic block, and a magnetizer. A through hole is formed in the middle of the magnetizer to allow the rotating shaft to pass through. The first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are separated on both sides of the magnetizer. The magnetic poles of the first magnetic block in contact with the magnetizer are opposite to the magnetic poles of the second magnetic block in contact with the magnetizer.

3. The flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph according to claim 2, characterized in that: The magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor in an arc-shaped structure, which are connected to each other to form a middle through hole, and the first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are respectively abutted against two sides of the magnetic conductor.

4. The flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph according to claim 2, characterized in that: The magnetic conductor is composed of a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor with an Ω-shaped structure, which are connected to each other to form a middle through hole. The first magnetic block and the second magnetic block are clamped between the two magnetic conductors and are respectively located on both sides of the magnetic conductor.

5. The flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flywheel component also includes a stator frame fixedly mounted on the bracket, and the permanent magnet stator is installed in the stator frame.

6. The flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph according to claim 1, characterized in that: The annular rotor is formed by stacking a plurality of stamped annular sheets, and each annular sheet is stamped with the groove.

7. The flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The flywheel component also includes a grating component installed on the flywheel and capable of rotating with the flywheel. The grating component extends a plurality of light-blocking protrusions at even intervals from a side away from the flywheel, and the grating component extends a plurality of positioning feet at even intervals from a side toward the flywheel, and the positioning feet are plugged and matched with the grooves of the annular rotor.

8. The flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The flywheel component also includes a radial magnetizing ring fixed on the flywheel and capable of rotating with the flywheel.

9. An input device, comprising an electronic component capable of being triggered to output a signal and a flywheel structure for triggering the electronic component, characterized in that: The flywheel structure is a flywheel structure with a sense of paragraph as described in claim 7, and the electronic component is a light-pair tube composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-pair tube is arranged at a position corresponding to the grating element. The rotation of the flywheel drives the grating element to rotate, and then the light-blocking protrusion affects the light path between the light-pair tubes to trigger the output signal.

10. An input device, comprising an electronic component capable of being triggered to output a signal and a flywheel structure for triggering the electronic component, characterized in that: The flywheel structure is a flywheel structure with a sense of segmentation as described in claim 8, and the electronic component is a Hall angle sensor. The Hall angle sensor is arranged near the radial magnetization ring. The rotation of the flywheel drives the radial magnetization ring to rotate, thereby causing the magnetic pole change to trigger the Hall angle sensor to output a signal.

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