Control dial having multiple torque and detent profiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9922784-B2
Application number	US-201615200903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2016
Priority date	Jul 1, 2016
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A rotary dial assembly including a dial portion and a base portion. The dial portion has a knob extending from a first side of the dial portion. An outer detent profile and an inner detent profile are on a second side of the dial portion that is opposite to the first side. The inner detent profile is closer to a center of the dial portion than the outer detent profile. The outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents, and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents. The base portion includes an outer detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the outer detent profile, and an inner detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the inner detent profile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary dial assembly comprising:
a dial portion including a knob extending from a first side of the dial portion;
an outer detent profile and an inner detent profile on a second side of the dial portion that is opposite to the first side, the inner detent profile is closer to a center of the dial portion than the outer detent profile, the outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents, and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents; and
a base portion including an outer detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the outer detent profile, and an inner detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the inner detent profile;
wherein:
the outer detent engaging member is movable in response to activation of an outer electromagnet; and
the inner detent engaging member is movable in response to activation of an inner electromagnet.

2. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein the dial portion includes more of the plurality of outer detents than the plurality of inner detents.

3. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein each one of the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile is circular.

4. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein each one of the outer and inner detent engaging members are plungers.

5. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer detent engaging member is configured to selectively engage the outer detent profile at varying degrees of pressure to vary how much torque is required to turn the knob; and
the inner detent engaging member is configured to selectively engage the inner detent profile at varying degrees of pressure to vary how much torque is required to turn the knob.

6. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile are coplanar.

7. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile are non-coplanar.

8. The rotary dial of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate detent profile between the inner and outer detent profiles; and
an intermediate detent engaging member of the base portion movable to selectively engage the intermediate detent profile.

9. The rotary dial of claim 1 , wherein the rotary dial is configured to control multiple functions of at least one of a vehicle entertainment system and a vehicle heating, ventilation, and cooling system.

10. A method for changing a torque and detent profile of a rotary dial assembly comprising:
moving one of an outer or inner detent engaging member of a base portion of the rotary dial assembly into cooperation with an outer or inner detent profile respectively of an inner side of a dial portion, a knob extends from an outer side of the dial portion, the outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents, more of the plurality of outer detents are included as compared to the plurality of inner detents; and
moving the outer or inner detent engaging member with an electromagnet.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising varying pressure of cooperation between the outer detent engaging member and the outer detent profile, and varying pressure of cooperation between the inner detent engaging member and the inner detent profile, to vary how much torque is required to turn the knob.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
moving an intermediate detent engaging member of the base portion into cooperation with an intermediate detent profile located between the inner and outer detent profiles, the intermediate detent profile having a plurality of intermediate detents, a number of which is greater than the plurality of inner detents and less than the plurality of outer detents.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein each one of the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile are circular.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile are coplanar.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outer detent profile and the inner detent profile are non-coplanar.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling with the rotary dial multiple functions of at least one of a vehicle entertainment system and a vehicle heating, ventilation, and cooling system.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc
• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Levay Christopher
• Guzman Christopher
• Webb Gareth
• Horvath Cary
• Arceo Marc
• Lozano Michael

Classifications

• B60H1/0065 Primary

  Control members, e.g. levers or knobs (B60H1/00985 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H19/54

  the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions · CPC title

• H01H19/08 Primary

  Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• B60N99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title