Patent Application
20130257570
This invention relates to a rotary encoder switch.
A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code. There are two main types of rotary encoders, i.e., absolute and incremental (relative). An incremental rotary encoder provides cyclical outputs when the encoder is rotated. Incremental rotary encoders may be either mechanical or optical. The mechanical type is typically used as a digital potentiometer on equipment including consumer devices. For example, most modern home and car stereos use mechanical rotary encoders for volume control. The incremental rotary encoder is the most widely used of all rotary encoders due to its low cost and ability to provide signals that can be easily interpreted to provide motion related information such as position, velocity and RPM. More information regarding incremental rotary encoders may be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_encoder, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
According to one aspect of the invention, a rotary encoder switch assembly comprises a panel having a hole that is defined at least partially through the panel, a recess that is formed along a circumference of the hole, and a bearing surface that is defined either on or adjacent the hole of the panel; a rotary encoder switch, which defines a bearing surface, that is mounted to the hole of the panel such that the encoder switch is configured to translate with respect to the panel, and rotate with respect to the panel until the bearing surface of the rotary encoder switch bears on the bearing surface of the panel; and a spring-loaded plunger that engages with the recess of the panel to provide tactile feedback to a user of the rotary encoder switch assembly when the spring-loaded plunger engages with the recess of the panel.
According to another aspect of the invention, a sealing member is positioned between the rotary encoder switch and the hole of the panel to either limit or prevent the passage of fluid between the rotary encoder switch and the hole at the location of the sealing member.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the rotary encoder switch assembly comprises a magnet connected to the rotary encoder switch; and an encoder chip that is positioned adjacent the magnet that is configured to sense rotational movement and/or translational movement of the magnet of the rotary encoder switch, wherein the encoder chip is not directly connected to the rotary encoder switch.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures:
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which shows exemplary embodiments of the invention selected for illustrative purposes. The invention will be illustrated with reference to the figures. Such figures are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting and are included herewith to facilitate the explanation of the present invention. These drawings are not shown to scale.
Referring specifically to
The front panel assembly 10 includes a front panel 12 defining a top surface 14 which is configured to be connected to a bracket (not shown) extending from a helmet (not shown) that is worn be a user of the night vision optical device, and a central bore 16 in which an optical lens (not shown) is positioned. In use, the top surface 14 of the front panel 12 is indirectly connected to the bracket (not shown) and the optical lens (not shown) in the central bore 16 is positioned before the eye of the user of the night vision optical device.
The front panel 12 is optionally die cast and formed from a metallic material. The front panel 12 includes an interior facing surface 13 that faces the interior region of the optical device and an exterior facing surface 15 that faces the helmet that is worn by the user of the optical device.
As shown in
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6-10, the front panel assembly 10 also includes two rotary encoder switches 20 and 22 that are mounted through holes 24 and 26 (see
The rotary encoder switches 20 and 22 are each capable of rotation and translation with respect to the front panel 12, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The rotary encoder switch 20 includes a switch sub-assembly 30A and a knob 32 that is mounted to the switch sub-assembly 30A. Similarly, the other rotary encoder switch 22 includes a switch sub-assembly 30B and a knob 34 that is mounted to the switch sub-assembly 30B. The switch sub-assemblies 30A and 30B are structurally and functionally equivalent.
The features of rotary encoder switch 20 and the hole 24 of the front panel 12 in which the switch 20 is mounted will be described hereinafter, however, it should be understood that the following description applies equally to the other rotary encoder switch 22 and the hole 26 in which the switch 22 is mounted.
As best shown in
A cylindrical recess 33 is formed on the opposite end of the shaft 36. A magnet 35 is fixedly mounted in the recess 33 such that the magnet 35 rotates along with the shaft 36 of the encoder switch. As best shown in
Unlike some conventional rotary encoder switches, the encoder chip 19A is not directly connected to the rotary encoder switch 20. Thus, if the switch 20 were to fail for any reason, removal and replacement of the expensive encoder chip 19A would be unnecessary.
The interaction between the encoder chip 19A and the magnet 35 should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of rotary encoders. Also, it should be understood that the magnet 35 of the switch sub-assembly 30B of the other rotary encoder switch 22 is positioned adjacent an encoder chip 19B of the circuit board assembly 17, and operates in the same fashion.
A series of O-rings 38 are positioned in annular grooves that are formed in a central region of the shaft 36. As best shown in
Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 8-10, a hole 42 is formed in the shaft 36 at a location between the hole 33 and the annular grooves for the O-rings 38. The longitudinal axis of the hole 42 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 36. In an assembled form of the rotary encoder switch 20, a spring-loaded plunger 40 is fixedly positioned at least partially through the hole 42. The spring-loaded plunger 40 rotates along with the shaft 36. The spring-loaded plunger 40 includes a spring-loaded bearing 44 that protrudes from the side of the switch sub-assembly 30A. The purpose of the plunger 40 will be described later with reference to
Referring now to
A snap ring 37 is coupled to the end of the shaft 36 of the rotary encoder switch 20. As best shown in
In operation, a user pulls the knob 32 of the encoder switch 20 away from the front panel 12 as indicated by the arrows in
Referring now to
In a first terminal position of the encoder switch 20, which is shown in
In a second terminal position of the encoder switch 20, which is not shown, a bearing surface 64 of the switch 20 contacts a bearing surface 66 of the stop 54 of the front panel 12. Once the encoder switch 20 is rotated to the second terminal position, the switch 20 can not be rotated in the same direction any further because the bearing surface 64 bears on the bearing surface 66.
Referring now to
It should be understood that the spring-loaded bearing 44 of the rotary encoder switch 20 does not engage with any recess of the hole 24 in the second terminal position of the switch. However, another recess may be added to the hole 24 at the second terminal position.
Rotating the encoder switch 20 in the opposite direction, i.e., from the first terminal position toward the second terminal position, causes the spring-loaded bearing 44 of the rotary encoder switch 20 to move backward against its own spring force toward the shaft 36 of the switch 20 and disengage from the crescent-shaped recess 46 of the hole 24. The tactile feedback provided by the bearing 44 alerts the user that the rotary encoder switch 20 has moved out of the first terminal position.
In operation, a user rotates the knob 32 of the encoder switch 20 between the first and second terminal positions to either activate or deactivate the optical device or a function of the optical device, or to adjust some setting of the optical device. More particularly, rotating the knob 32 causes the magnet 35 of the switch 20 to rotate with respect to the encoder chip 19A that is fixed in place. The encoder chip 19A senses the rotational movement of the magnet 35 of the encoder switch 20. The encoder chip 19A is configured to communicate this event to a processor of the optical device (not shown). Upon receiving this communication, the processor of the optical device is configured to perform a pre-determined function, e.g., activating a channel, deactivating a channel, or changing the setting of a channel such as the brightness or gain.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
