Rotary input apparatus

Abstract

A rotary input apparatus is disclosed. With a rotary input apparatus comprising a wheel in the center of which is formed an insertion hole and along the edge of which is formed in a wheel light transmission portion; a center key, inserted into the insertion hole, along the edge of which is formed a center light transmission portion; a magnet, joined to a surface of the wheel to co-operate with the wheel, which is magnetized to have alternating N- and S-poles; a detection element, positioned facing the magnet, which detects the rotation of the magnet; a light emission part, which diffuses light to the exterior through the wheel and the center key; a printed circuit board, on which are mounted the detection element and the light emission part; a base having the printed circuit board secured to its surface; and a holder joined to the base and interposed between the wheel and the base to rotatably support the wheel, the wheel and center key are illuminated by a light emission part, to provide improved convenience and greater aesthetic value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary input apparatus in an unassembled state according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary input apparatus in an assembled state across line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary input apparatus in an assembled state across line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a magnified cross-sectional view of portion “B” in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which a logo marked on the surface of the center key is not rotated even with the rotation of the wheel, in a mobile terminal having a rotary input apparatus according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary input apparatus having a light emission part attached on the printed circuit board, according to a second disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary input apparatus across line III-III′ of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary input apparatus according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary input apparatus according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a rotary input apparatus according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the forms of signals in a rotary input apparatus according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A rotary input apparatus, comprising: a wheel having an insertion hole in a center thereof and having a wheel light transmission portion formed along an edge thereof;a center key inserted into the insertion hole and having a center light transmission portion formed along an edge thereof;a magnet joined to a surface of the wheel to co-operate with the wheel and magnetized to have alternating N- and S-poles;a detection element positioned to face the magnet and configured to detect a rotation of the magnet;a light emission part configured to diffuse light to the exterior through the wheel and the center key;a printed circuit board having the detection element and the light emission part mounted thereon;a base having the printed circuit board secured to a surface thereof; anda holder joined to the base and interposed between the wheel and the base to rotatably support the wheel.

2. The rotary type input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder has at least one ledge and the wheel has at least one securing protrusion protruding downwards,a washer having at least one rotation hole is inserted onto the center hole,the at least one securing protrusion is rotatably inserted in the at least one rotation hole, and light generated by the light emission part is reflected by a surface of the washer and diffused.

3. The rotary type input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the washer comprises a light reflective material.

4. The rotary type input apparatus of claim 1, wherein a reflective sheet is stacked on the printed circuit board, andthe light emission part protrudes to the exterior of the reflective sheet.

5. The rotary type input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emission part is mounted on the printed circuit board in an area corresponding to an inner portion of the wheel.

6. The rotary type input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel or the center key is manufactured from a light transmissive material.

7. A rotary input apparatus comprising: a rotatable wheel;a magnet joined to a surface of the wheel to co-operate with the wheel and magnetized to have alternating N- and S-poles;a detection element positioned to face the magnet and configured to detect changes in magnetism of the magnet;a printed circuit board having the detection element mounted thereon;a light emission part mounted on the printed circuit board;a control part configured to receive an external signal and control an operation of the light emission part correspondingly; anda base having the printed circuit board secured thereto.

8. The rotary input apparatus of claim 7, wherein the base is joined to a mobile terminal, andthe control part is configured to receive an incoming call received by the mobile terminal.

9. The rotary input apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control part outputs a control signal that makes the light emission part maintain a lighting operation when the incoming call is received, andoutputs a control signal that makes the light emission part perform a blinking operation when the incoming call is not received.

10. The rotary input apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wheel comprises a transparent material, and the light emission part is mounted on the printed circuit board in an area covered by the wheel.

11. The rotary input apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light emission part comprises at least one of an LED (light emitting diode) and organic EL (organic electroluminescence).