Optical Dial Structure for Multi-Mode Press and Rotation Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dial devices are limited in operation modes, primarily offering pressing and rotating inputs, which do not fully meet the diverse needs of users, limiting their functionality and convenience.
Innovation Solution
An optical dial device with a base and a rotatable drum featuring optical sensing elements, a high reflective structure, and a spiral structure, allowing for various operation inputs such as normal pressing, off-center pressing, clockwise, and counterclockwise rotation by varying light reflection signals received by the optical sensing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional pressing and rotating operation modes are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the functionality and user convenience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dial device is designed to perform multiple functions using a single integrated structure. The drum can be pressed normally, pressed off-center, rotated clockwise, or rotated counterclockwise, with each action detected by the optical sensing elements. This multi-functionality approach allows the device to accept various operation inputs (pressing, rotating) without adding separate input devices, thereby improving versatility while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical sensing elements are used to detect multiple operation inputs, then the functionality is improved, but the measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drum surface is designed with different local optical properties: a high reflective structure and a spiral structure with varying reflectivity. The high reflective structure reflects light strongly when the drum is pressed normally, while the spiral structure creates varying light reflection patterns during rotation. This local quality differentiation allows optical sensing elements to distinguish between different operation types (pressing vs. rotating) and directions with high precision by detecting the specific light reflection signal patterns from each region.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a range of operation inputs, enhancing the functionality and convenience of the dial device, allowing users to define additional functions like going back a step through off-center pressing, and accurately detecting rotation directions.
Implementation Method 1
The drum includes an opening, a reflective structure, and a spiral structure. The high reflective structure is disposed along the circumference of an inner wall surface of the drum... When the entire drum and the base are close to each other based on an operation input received by the optical dial device, the reflective structure is moved to the predetermined height, such that the plurality of optical sensing elements simultaneously receive light reflection signals having high intensities
Implementation Method 2
The spiral structure is disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a second distance away from the opening. The spiral structure continuously varies the distance between the inner wall surface of the drum and the side surface of the base along the circumference... when the drum rotate relative to the base based on an operation input received by the optical dial device, light reflection signals received by the plurality of optical sensor elements are continuously raised or lowered
Data Source
AI summary
An optical dial device includes a base and a drum. In the base, optical sensing elements are disposed at a predetermined height along the circumference of the side surface of the base. The drum covers the base in a manner that is movable and rotatable relative to the base. The drum includes an opening and a reflective structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a first distance away from the opening. There is a spiral structure disposed along the circumference of the inner wall surface of the drum and located a second distance away from the opening. The spiral structure causes the distance between the inner wall surface of the drum and the side surface of the base to vary continuously along the circumference.