Input device including a mechanical ratchet system with smart shift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852931-B2
Application number	US-201916590192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Dec 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A knob for an input device includes a knob housing being rotatable on an axis, a shaft extending from the knob housing along the axis, a ratchet wheel axially coupled to the shaft with a toothed perimeter, and a ratchet arm to couple to the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet arm is engaged such that a ratcheted rotation occurs when the knob is rotated, and decouple from the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet arm is disengaged. The knob can further include a resistance wheel axially coupled to the shaft with a substantially smooth perimeter, and a resistance arm to couple to the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel when the resistance arm is engaged such that a friction is provided when the knob is rotated, and decouple from the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel when the resistance arm is disengaged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for an operation of a knob on an input device, the method comprising:
receiving input data, by a processor, corresponding to a selection of one of a:
ratchet-mode of operation for the knob; and
a resistance-mode of operation for the knob;

when the input data corresponds to the ratchet-mode of operation:
controlling a ratchet arm to engage with a toothed perimeter of a ratchet wheel that is axially coupled to the knob that provides a ratcheted rotation when the knob is rotated;

when the input data corresponds to the resistance-mode of operation:
controlling a resistance arm to engage with a substantially smooth perimeter of a resistance wheel that is axially coupled to the knob that provides a frictional resistance to rotation when the knob is rotated.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the ratchet arm includes a first set of compression springs to cause the ratchet arm to be normally engaged with the ratchet wheel, and
wherein the resistance arm includes a second set of compression springs to cause the resistance arm to be normally engaged with the resistance wheel.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:
when the input data corresponds to the ratchet-mode of operation:
controlling the resistance arm to disengage from the resistance wheel; and

when the input data corresponds to the resistance-mode of operation:
controlling the ratchet arm to disengage from the ratchet wheel.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the input data further includes intensity data,
wherein when the input data corresponds to the ratchet-mode of operation: modifying an intensity of the ratcheted rotation based on the intensity data; and
wherein when the input corresponds to the resistance-mode of operation: modifying an intensity of the frictional resistance to rotation based on the intensity data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein modifying the intensity of the ratcheted rotation includes controlling the rotation of a cam shaft such that a first cam on the cam shaft provides a disengaging force to the ratchet arm by an amount corresponding to the intensity data, and
wherein modifying the intensity of the frictional resistance to rotation includes controlling the rotation of the cam shaft such that a second cam on the cam shaft provides a disengaging force to the resistance arm by an amount corresponding to the intensity data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
when the input data corresponds to the ratchet-mode of operation:
controlling a second ratchet arm to engage with a toothed perimeter of a ratchet wheel that is axially coupled to the knob to provide a ratcheted rotation when the knob is rotated;

when the input data corresponds to the resistance-mode of operation:
controlling a second resistance arm to engage with a substantially smooth perimeter of a resistance wheel that is axially coupled to the knob to provide a frictional resistance to rotation when the knob is rotated.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the knob is rotatable on an axis, a shaft extends from the knob along the axis, and wherein a switch is disposed below and substantially in axial alignment with the shaft, and wherein the knob is depressible, the method further comprising: activating the switch when the knob is depressed.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein a second shaft includes:
a first cam protruding therefrom; and
a second cam protruding therefrom,
the method further comprising:
in response to rotating the second shaft to a first position, causing the first cam to contact a portion of the ratchet arm that causes the ratchet arm to disengage the ratchet wheel; and
in response to rotating the second shaft to a second position, causing the second cam to contact a portion of the resistance arm that causes the resistance arm to disengage the resistance wheel.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the first cam and the second cam are configured on the second shaft such that:
when the first cam contacts the ratchet arm, the second cam does not contact the resistance arm; and
when the second cam contacts the resistance arm, the second cam does not contact the ratchet arm.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the input device includes a processor and an electric motor controlled by the processor, the electric motor coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second shaft is rotatable by the electric motor to at least the first position and the second position.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel includes a low friction material, and wherein the substantially smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel includes a high friction material.

Assignees

• Logitech Europe Sa

Inventors

• Merminod Baptiste
• O'Mahony Davin
• Corcoran Fergal
• Mcloughlin Padraig
• Merminod Antoine

Classifications

• G05G1/02

  Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons · CPC title

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• H01H2300/038

  Preselection, i.e. the output of a switch depends on a particular preselection, e.g. a particular position of another switch · CPC title

• G06F3/021

  Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner · CPC title

• H01H2003/008

  with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction · CPC title