Rotary Knob Structure With Drainage Path for Sensor Protection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotary operating devices require a sealing member to prevent sensors from getting wet, which increases the number of parts and rotational load, making it difficult to provide a light and effortless rotational feeling.

Innovation Solution

The rotary operating device incorporates a design with a case, rotating shaft member, and operation member, where the first gap between the case and rotating shaft member is smaller than the second gap between the rotating shaft member and operation member, allowing liquids to be discharged externally and preventing them from entering the cavity, thus eliminating the need for a seal member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing member is provided between the operation member and case to prevent the sensor from getting wet, then the sensor is protected from water, but the number of parts increases and the rotational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection from waterVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the sealing member from the rotary operating device structure. Instead of adding a sealing component between the operation member and case, the invention uses a different approach: the operation member is designed with a bottom surface that contacts the case directly, and water is diverted away from the sensor through structural design of the operation member's opening and positioning, eliminating the need for a separate sealing member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of preventing water from reaching the sensor through sealing, the invention inverts the approach by providing a drainage path. The operation member's bottom surface and opening are designed to allow water that enters the device to flow down and exit through the opening, rather than blocking water with a seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a sealing member is provided between the operation member and case to prevent the sensor from getting wet, then the sensor is protected from water, but the rotational load increases making it difficult to provide a light rotational feeling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection from waterVSAvoidrotational load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the sealing member from the rotary operating device structure. Instead of adding a sealing component between the operation member and case, the invention uses a different approach: the operation member is designed with a bottom surface that contacts the case directly, and water is diverted away from the sensor through structural design of the operation member's opening and positioning, eliminating the need for a separate sealing member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The operation member's bottom surface acts as an intermediary between the case and the water. Rather than using a sealing member to block water, the bottom surface design guides water flow along its exterior surface and through the opening, using the operation member's own structure as a water management interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the operation member is designed to cover the cavity with a bottom opening, then the structure is simplified, but water may enter the cavity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidwater entry into cavity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of water entry into a beneficial drainage function. The bottom opening of the operation member, which could allow water to enter the cavity, is instead designed as a drainage outlet. Water that enters the device flows down the exterior of the operation member and exits through the opening, protecting the sensor while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of preventing water from reaching the sensor through sealing, the invention inverts the approach by providing a drainage path. The operation member's bottom surface and opening are designed to allow water that enters the device to flow down and exit through the opening, rather than blocking water with a seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11935710B2Rotary operating device

Publication Date: 2024.03.19 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD

AI summary

A rotary operating device includes a case, a rotating shaft member, an operation member, and a sensor. The case has a cavity having an annular shape with an opening at a top. The rotating shaft member is rotatable with respect to the case. The operation member rotates together with the rotating shaft member. The sensor is disposed within the cavity to detect rotation of the rotating shaft member. The case has an inner peripheral wall. The operation member has an inner cylindrical portion. The rotating shaft member has a peripheral wall that extends downward and along an outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall. A first gap between the inner peripheral wall of the case and the peripheral wall of the rotating shaft member is smaller than a second gap between an inner peripheral surface of the rotating shaft member and the inner cylindrical portion of the operation member.