Input device, electronic device including the same, and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252979-A1
Application number	US-201615054912-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for entering an input through a rotary motion, including a rotating body, and a fixed body to which the rotating body is coupled and rotates, wherein a first magnetic material and a second magnetic material are disposed on the rotating body and the fixed body, respectively, such that a clicking sensation to the rotation of the rotating body is generated by a magnetic force between the first and second magnetic materials, and an optical sensor and one or more magnetic sensors are disposed on the fixed body such that an amount, a direction, or a speed of rotation of the rotating body is recognized by the optical sensor, and wherein the one or more magnetic sensors detect the magnetic force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a rotating body; and a fixed body to which the rotating body is coupled and rotates, wherein a first magnetic material and a second magnetic material are disposed on the rotating body and the fixed body, respectively, such that a clicking sensation to the rotation of the rotating body is generated by a magnetic force between the first and second magnetic materials, and an optical sensor and one or more magnetic sensors are disposed on the fixed body such that an amount, a direction, or a speed of rotation of the rotating body is recognized by the optical sensor, and wherein the one or more magnetic sensors detect the magnetic force.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a value of the amount, direction or speed of rotation recognized by the optical sensor is corrected by using the magnetic force of the first magnetic material that is detected by the magnetic sensors.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second magnetic materials are disposed to face each other, and the optical sensor is disposed on the fixed body along a vicinity of a rotational path of the rotating body.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support structure that has an optical sensor, one or more magnetic sensors disposed separate from the optical sensor, and a plurality of second magnetic materials provided along an outer circumferential direction of the support structure, the rotating body being coupled to the support structure and rotatable about the support structure,

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the rotating body is a ring-shaped bezel that has upper and lower surfaces and has a uniform optical pattern imprinted on the lower surface, and the plurality of first magnetic materials are accommodated in the rotating body and are uniformly or non-uniformly spaced apart from each other.

6 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the support structure further comprises:
a first structure that has a central portion that is open at a top and a bottom and an outer peripheral portion on which the rotating body is placed; and a second support structure that is coupled to the first support structure, wherein the optical sensor and the one or more magnetic sensors are disposed on the second structure.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein a display is accommodated in the central portion of the first support structure and is exposed outside of the electronic device while being mounted on the second support structure.

8 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed on opposite sides of the optical sensor and are used to detect the magnetic forces generated from the first magnetic materials and to correct the value of the amount and direction of the rotation recognized by the optical sensor.

9 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the rotating body is directly mounted on the first support structure, or is indirectly mounted on the first support structure through a resilient member or a metal member with a gap between the rotating body and the first support structure.

10 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a ceramic cover is integrally coupled to the rotating body.

11 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device is a wearable device that is worn on a wrist of a user by using a strap.

12 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device is a wearable device, and the wearable device comprising:
a main body; and a connecting part connected to the main body and worn on a human body, wherein the main body comprises: a rotating body provided with an optical pattern and a first magnetic material; a support structure provided with a second magnetic material, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor and disposed to face the rotating body; a display mounted on the support structure and disposed to be exposed outside of the wearable device; a power supply unit disposed in the support structure; and a lower cover coupled to a bottom of the support structure.

13 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support structure rotatably disposed to face the rotating body and comprising an optical module that is disposed to face the optical pattern, wherein a plurality of balls are disposed in and are resiliently supported by an outer peripheral region of the support structure, and a plurality of recesses, in which each of the plurality of balls are positioned when the rotating body rotates, are formed in a surface of the rotating body and a clicking sensation to the rotation of the rotating body is generated by engagement or disengagement between the balls and the recesses when the rotating body rotates.

14 . A device for controlling an electronic device, comprising:
an optical sensor that receives an optical signal reflected from a rotating body in a rotary motion; a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic force of at least one magnet attached to the optical sensor and that generates a magnetic force signal using the detected magnetic force; and a controller that estimates a rotation value of the rotating body based on the optical signal, estimates an auxiliary rotation value of the rotating body based on the magnetic force signal, determines a final rotation value by reflecting the auxiliary rotation value in the rotation value, and determines a mode of the electronic device according to the final rotation value.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the final rotation value comprises an amount and direction of rotation of the rotating body.

16 . A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:
estimating a rotation value of a rotating body based on an optical signal reflected from the rotating body in a rotary motion; estimating an auxiliary rotation value of the rotating body based on a signal obtained by detecting a magnetic force of at least one magnet attached to the rotating body; determining a final rotation value by reflecting the auxiliary rotation value in the rotation value; and controlling the electronic device according to the final rotation value.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the final rotation value comprises an amount and direction of rotation of the rotating body.

18 . An electronic device comprising:
an outer housing that has a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; an opening formed in the first surface; a bezel that surrounds an outer periphery of the opening and is rotatably supported by the first surface; and at least one electronic component accommodated in the outer housing, wherein the bezel comprises one or more magnets disposed separate from each other and a pattern formed on a surface of the bezel that is directed towards the outer housing, and wherein the outer housing comprises a part adjacent to the bezel, the part including at least one magnetic force detection sensor that detects the one or more magnets and an optical sensor that optically detects the pattern.

19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the electronic component comprises:
a processor electrically connected to the at least one magnetic force detection sensor and the optical sensor; a display electrically connected to the processor and disposed in the opening; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that causes the processor to change an image that is displayed on the d

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yun Hee-Young
• Lee Junhui
• Park Hyung-Jin

Classifications

• G01D7/007

  Indication of measured value by tactile means · CPC title

• G01D5/58

  using optical means, i.e. using infrared, visible or ultraviolet light · CPC title

• G01D5/28

  with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication (G01D5/40 takes precedence; {mechanical adjustment G01D5/264}) · CPC title

• G01D5/145

  influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06) · CPC title

• G06F3/0362 Primary

  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