Patent Application
20250147539
Portable radios commonly include rotatable control knobs (e.g., volume control knobs and other knobs) for controlling one or more features on the portable radios. These knobs are typically located along a top or side of the portable radio.
In the accompanying figures similar or the same reference numerals may be repeated to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. These figures, together with the detailed description, below are incorporated in and form part of the specification and serve to further illustrate various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of concepts that include the claimed subject matter, and to explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments, examples, aspects, and features.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the examples, aspects, and features presented in this disclosure.
The system, apparatus, and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding of the various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
Control knobs often have a particular rotational position, such as an OFF position for a volume control knob, that is intended to be avoided in certain environments or situations (e.g., in a military environment). In these environments or situations, it is not desirable for the control knob to be accidentally turned to this rotational position, unless intended so. However, accidental activation of the control knob may take place if a user accidentally brushes up against and/or otherwise rotates the control knob to the rotational position. Thus, there exists a need for an improved technical method, device, and system for a portable communication device with a knob rotation locking mechanism to inhibit or prevent a control knob from moving to the rotational position.
One example provides a portable communication device having a main housing, and a knob coupled to the main housing. The knob is rotatable about a first axis that extends into the main housing, and the knob includes a channel that extends partially circumferentially about the first axis. The portable communication device also includes a button coupled to the main housing. The button is moveable linearly along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, and the button includes a projection that is sized and shaped to extend into the channel. The button is movable between a first position in which the projection is within the channel, and a second position in which the projection is outside of the channel.
Further advantages and features consistent with this disclosure will be set forth in the following detailed description, with reference to the figures.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular
The portable communication device 10 includes a main housing 14 that houses at least one component therein (e.g., at least one electronic component), and defines an exterior of the portable communication device 10. In the illustrated example, the main housing 14 includes a first (e.g., lower) housing 18, and a second (e.g., upper) housing 22 coupled to an exterior of the first housing 18. The first housing 18 defines an upper wall 26, a first side wall 30 extending from the upper wall 26, and a second side wall 34 extending from the upper wall 26. The upper wall 26 includes a first opening 38, and a second opening 42.
The second housing 22 is a bezel, and extends over at least a portion of the upper wall 26. The second housing 22 includes a third opening 46, and a fourth opening 50. The second housing 22 is sized and shaped such that the third opening 46 is positioned over the first opening 38, and the fourth opening 50 is positioned over the second opening 42. In other examples, the main housing 14 includes only a single housing (e.g., the first housing 18), or includes more than two housings (e.g., more than one bezel).
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The portable communication device 10 also includes at least one rotatable knob for controlling a feature or features on the portable communication device 10. In the illustrated example, the portable communication device 10 includes a first knob 70 positioned above the second housing 22, and a second knob 74 positioned above the second housing 22. The first knob 70 is a volume control knob, and the second knob 74 is a presets control knob. Other examples include different types of knobs than that illustrated, as well as different numbers and positions of knobs than that illustrated.
With continued reference to
The second knob 74 is also coupled to the main housing 14, and is rotatable about an axis A2 that extends into the main housing 14. The second knob 74 includes a second shaft opening 82 (e.g., a central shaft opening) that is sized and shaped to receive the second encoder shaft 66. The axis A2 extends (e.g., centrally) through the second shaft opening 82 and the second encoder shaft 66. The second knob 74 may be rotationally fixed to the second encoder shaft 66, such that rotation of the second knob 74 about the axis A2 generates corresponding rotation of the second encoder shaft 66, thereby permitting detection of a degree of rotation of the second knob 74. As noted above, various other mechanisms (e.g., a rotary switch, potentiometer, and the like) may alternatively be used to detect a degree of rotation of the second knob 74.
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The description provided below focuses further on the first button 126 and its operation with the first knob 70. However, it is understood that the second button 130 may operate in an identical manner with the second knob 74, and that the portable communication device 10 may include any number of knobs and corresponding buttons as described herein.
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Overall, the use of the first button 126 and the second button 130 allows for selective control of rotational positions of the first knob 70 and the second knob 74, and inhibits or prevents the user from accidentally moving the first knob 70 and the second knob 74 to predetermined, protected positions (e.g., locks the user from accidentally activating the first knob 70 and the second knob 74 to undesired positions).
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments, examples, aspects, and features have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises.” “comprising.” “has.” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing.” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. Unless the context of their usage unambiguously indicates otherwise, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” should not be interpreted as meaning “one” or “only one.” Rather these articles should be interpreted as meaning “at least one” or “one or more.” Likewise, when the terms “the” or “said” are used to refer to a noun previously introduced by the indefinite article “a” or “an,” “the” and “said” mean “at least one” or “one or more” unless the usage unambiguously indicates otherwise.
The terms “substantially.” “essentially.” “approximately,” “about.” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “one of,” without a more limiting modifier such as “only one of,” and when applied herein to two or more subsequently defined options such as “one of A and B” should be construed to mean an existence of any one of the options in the list alone (e.g., A alone or B alone) or any combination of two or more of the options in the list (e.g., A and B together).
A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The terms “coupled.” “coupling.” or “connected” as used herein can have several different meanings depending on the context in which these terms are used. For example, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected can have a mechanical or electrical connotation. For example, as used herein, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected can indicate that two elements or devices are directly connected to one another or connected to one another through intermediate elements or devices via an electrical element, electrical signal or a mechanical element depending on the particular context.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various examples and embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
