DE102018008345B4 - Rotary selector switch - Google Patents

Abstract

Rotary selector switch (10), comprising: a carrier plate (14); a display unit (12) with a cylindrical display housing (16) which is mounted on the carrier plate (14); a hollow cylindrical rotary knob (30) which rotates around an axis (32) relative to the display unit (12) is rotatable around this, the rotary knob (30) at its end region facing the support plate (14) is provided with an encoder (42), the properties of which change along a circumference of the rotary knob (30); at least a rotation sensor (44) on the carrier plate (14) for detecting the properties of the encoder (42); and a controller (60) which is connected to the rotation sensor (44) and is designed to detect a rotary actuation of the rotary knob (30) on the basis of a measurement signal detected by the rotation sensor (44), characterized in that the rotary knob (30) has a bearing device (34, 36) is rotatably mounted on the display unit (12); the display housing (16) of the display unit (12) is equipped on its outer circumference with a first latching element (38) and the rotary knob (30) on its inner circumference with a second latching element (40) is equipped, wherein the first locking element (38) and the second locking element (40) are in engagement with one another in order to fix the rotary knob (30) in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (32) relative to the display unit (12); the display unit (12) having on its side facing away from the carrier plate (14) a lens (22) which can be moved in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (32) of the rotary knob (30) relative to the display housing (16) r is: the rotary selector switch (10) further includes a push operation sensor (28) for detecting a push operation of the lens (22); andthe lens (22) is provided or connected to at least one pressure actuation pin (24) which extends parallel to the axis of rotation (32) of the rotary knob (30) and is guided through an opening (26) in the display housing (16).

Description

The present invention relates to a rotary selector switch, in particular a rotary selector switch for an operating device of an electronic household appliance.

Rotary selector switches are used to select or set parameters such as washing programs, for example a washing machine. Such rotary selector switches often have a display device in addition to a rotary knob that can be rotated by the user. While the display device is usually mounted non-rotatably on a carrier plate or control panel, the rotary knob usually has a non-rotatably mounted holder and a rotary actuating element mounted rotatably thereon. Such a control element for generating an electrical control signal with a fixed inner part and a handle rotatably mounted around the inner part is from the DE 102 12 992 A1 known.

In the DE 10 2015 117 226 A1 describes a turntable with means for rotating position detection and an electrical display, which is also provided with a foreign body intrusion protection.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved rotary selector switch with a simple structure.

This object is achieved by a rotary selector switch with the features of claim 1. Particularly preferred refinements and developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The rotary selector switch of the invention comprises: a support plate; a display unit with a cylindrical display housing which is mounted on the carrier plate; a hollow cylindrical rotary knob which is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the display unit around the latter, the rotary knob being provided on its end region facing the carrier plate with an encoder, the properties of which change along a circumference of the rotary knob; at least one rotation sensor on the carrier plate for detecting the properties of the encoder; and a controller which is connected to the rotation sensor and is designed to detect a rotary actuation of the rotary knob on the basis of a measurement signal detected by the rotation sensor. According to the invention, the rotary knob is rotatably mounted on the display unit via a bearing device, the display housing of the display unit is equipped on its outer circumference with a first locking element and the rotary knob is equipped on its inner circumference with a second locking element, the first locking element and the second locking element engaging with one another stand to fix the rotary knob in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation relative to the display unit. The display unit on its side facing away from the carrier plate has a lens that can be moved in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary knob relative to the display housing, and the rotary selector switch also has a pressure actuation sensor for detecting a pressure actuation of the lens. Furthermore, the lens is preferably provided or connected with at least one pressure actuating pin, which extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary knob and is guided through an opening in the display housing.

According to the invention, it is proposed that the display unit of the rotary selector switch also serve for rotatable mounting and axial fixing of the rotary knob. As a result, an additional holder for the rotary knob can be dispensed with, so that the number of components can be reduced. As a result, a simple, compact and inexpensive construction of the rotary selector switch can be achieved. In addition, the rotary selector switch has the functionality of a push button.

The cylindrical display housing has an essentially cylindrical basic shape. The hollow cylindrical knob has an essentially hollow cylindrical basic shape. The outer shape of the display housing and the inner shape of the rotary knob are matched to one another, so that the rotary knob can be rotated around the display unit about an axis of rotation which corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the display unit. The outer shape of the rotary knob is basically arbitrary, it preferably offers the user comfortable operation and can be adapted to design requirements. The hollow cylindrical rotary knob can be designed to be either open or closed on its side facing away from the carrier plate, the closed variant being at least partially transparent so that the information provided by the display unit is visible to the user.

The bearing device is preferably designed as a plain bearing or as a roller bearing. In the case of a plain bearing, the inner sliding surface is preferably provided on the outer circumference of the display unit and the outer sliding surface on the inner circumference of the rotary knob. In the case of a roller bearing, the inner ring is preferably provided on the outer circumference of the display unit and the outer ring on the inner circumference of the rotary knob.

The first locking element and the second locking element are preferably designed as an annular projection and as an annular groove, or vice versa. As an alternative embodiment of the Invention, the first locking element and the second locking element can both be designed as an annular groove and receive an O-ring between them. In addition, the locking elements can optionally be provided along the entire circumference or only along one or more sections of the circumference.

The carrier plate is preferably designed as a printed circuit board. The controller can either be mounted on the circuit board or arranged separately from it.

The rotation sensor is preferably an optical (preferably IR radiation), capacitive, inductive or resistive sensor. The encoder preferably has optical, reflecting, magnetic, resistive or mechanical properties which change along the circumferential direction, the mechanical properties in particular including a distance from the rotation sensor, a material thickness and the like. These changing properties are preferably provided on the end face facing the carrier plate and / or on the outer peripheral side of the rotary knob facing away from the display unit; accordingly, the at least one rotation sensor is preferably positioned between the rotary knob and the carrier plate or next to the rotary knob on the carrier plate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the display unit has a lens on its side facing away from the carrier plate. In this embodiment, the rotary knob is preferably rotatably mounted on the display housing and / or the lens of the display unit via the bearing device. The lens is preferably a diffuser.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the display housing of the display unit is equipped with a first toothing element on its outer circumference and the rotary knob is equipped with a second toothing element on its inner circumference, the first toothing element and the second toothing element being in engagement with one another in order to rotate the rotary knob in order to impart a latching resistance relative to the display unit. With this configuration, the user receives haptic feedback when the rotary knob is actuated. Furthermore, the first toothing element and the second toothing element are preferably biased against one another in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotary knob.

In one embodiment of the invention, a display element is arranged in the display housing of the display unit or the display housing of the display unit itself forms a display element. The display element is preferably an electronic display, a backlit mask, an optical graphic or the like. At least one light source for backlighting the display element of the display unit is preferably arranged on the carrier plate.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rotary knob on its side facing away from the carrier plate has a cover which is detachably connected to a part of the rotary knob containing the encoder. With this configuration, the rotary selector switch can be easily adapted to various design requirements by exchanging the cover.

• 1 eine perspektivische Explosionsschnittdarstellung eines Drehwahlschalters gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine vergrößerte Detailansicht einer ersten Ausführungsvariante des Encoders des Drehknopfes;
• 3 eine vergrößerte Detailansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsvariante des Encoders des Drehknopfes; und
• 4 einen Drehwahlschalter mit einer dritten Ausführungsvariante des Encoders und Rotationssensors.

The above and further features and advantages of the invention can be better understood from the following description of preferred, non-limiting exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show, partly schematically:

• 1 a perspective exploded sectional view of a rotary selector switch according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2nd an enlarged detail view of a first embodiment of the encoder of the rotary knob;
• 3rd an enlarged detail view of a second embodiment of the encoder of the rotary knob; and
• 4th a rotary selector switch with a third variant of the encoder and rotation sensor.

1 shows the structure of a rotary selector switch according to a first embodiment of the invention. The rotary selector switch is particularly suitable for use in the operating device of electronic household appliances.

The rotary selector 10th contains a display unit 12th that on a carrier plate 14 is mounted in the form of a printed circuit board. The display unit 12th has an indicator housing 16 with a substantially cylindrical basic shape, which is a display element 18th contains. The display element 18th , for example a display or a symbol mask, is as a separate component in the display housing 16 used or is through the display housing 16 self-educated. On the carrier plate 14 is at least one light source 20 for example in the form of a light emitting diode for backlighting the display element 18th arranged.

The display unit 12th also has an optional lens in this embodiment 22 on. The lens is designed, for example, as a diffuser and on that of the carrier plate 14 turned away Side of the display element 18th arranged. In the embodiment of 1 is this lens 22 also in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the carrier plate 14 or parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 the display unit is movable so that the lens 22 also provides the functionality of a pushbutton. For this purpose, the lens 22 for example with a push button 24th provided, which is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 extends and through an opening 26 in the display housing 16 is led. On the carrier plate 14 is at least one pressure actuation sensor 28 arranged of a pressure movement of the lens 22 can capture. The push button 28 is designed, for example, as a push button or an optical sensor. The Lens 22 is by a (not shown) elastic element such as a compression spring in the direction away from the support plate 14 biased.

The rotary selector 10th also has a rotary knob 30th with an essentially hollow cylindrical basic shape. The inside diameter of the knob 30th is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the display housing 16 the display unit 12th so that the rotary knob 30th around the display unit 12th around an axis of rotation 32 is rotatable, the axis of rotation 32 with the longitudinal axis of the display unit 12th matches.

The knob 30th is via a storage device on the display unit 12th , in this embodiment more precisely on the display housing 16 the display unit 12th , rotatably mounted. In the embodiment of 1 this bearing device is designed as a slide bearing, which has a first bearing surface 34 on the outer circumference of the display housing 16 and a second storage area 36 on the inner circumference of the rotary knob 30th having. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the bearing device can also be designed as a roller bearing, for example.

The knob 30th is also parallel to the axis of rotation in the axial direction 32 relative to the display unit 12th fixed. For this purpose, the display housing 16 a first locking element on its outer circumference 38 in the form of an annular projection and has the rotary knob 30th a second locking element on its inner circumference 40 in the form of an annular groove. The two locking elements 38 , 40 are engaged with each other. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the first locking element can also 38 as an annular groove and the second locking element 40 be designed as an annular projection or both locking elements 38 , 40 be designed as annular grooves with an O-ring in between.

To turn the rotary knob 30th The rotary knob indicates that it can be recognized by a user 30th at its the support plate 14 end area facing an encoder 42 on. The encoder 42 is along the circumferential direction of the rotary knob 30th with changing (e.g. optical, magnetic, resistive, etc.) properties. On the carrier plate 14 is at least one (e.g. optical, capacitive, inductive, resistive, etc.) rotation sensor 44 arranged. The rotation sensor 44 is with a controller 60 connected, which depending on the embodiment of encoder 42 and rotation sensor 44 from that of rotation sensor 44 detected measurement signal a rotational movement, a direction of rotation, a rotational position and / or a change in the rotational position of the rotary knob 30th can recognize.

2nd shows a first embodiment of an encoder 42 with which an absolute rotary position of the rotary knob 30th can be recognized. The rotation sensor 44 is as an optical sensor, preferably an IR sensor, with a transmitter 44a and a receiver 44b trained, and the rotation sensor 44 facing end of the encoder 42 has along the circumferential direction of the knob 30th an irregularly variable distance from the rotation sensor 44 .

3rd shows a second embodiment of an encoder 42 with which a change in the rotary position of the rotary knob 30th can be recognized. The rotation sensor 44 is as an optical sensor, preferably an IR sensor, with a transmitter 44a and a receiver 44b trained, and the rotation sensor 44 facing end of the encoder 42 has along the circumferential direction of the knob 30th a regularly variable distance from the rotation sensor 44 .

4th shows a rotary selector switch 10th with a third variant of an encoder 42 , with which a (relative or absolute) rotary operation of the rotary knob 30th can be recognized. The rotation sensor 44 is a capacitive sensor with two electrodes 44c that form a capacitor. The encoder 42 forming end area of the rotary knob 30th protrudes into the distance between the two electrodes 44c into, the end portion being along the circumferential direction of the rotary knob 30th has variable thickness and represents a dielectric, so that the capacitance of the capacitor changes.

Back to 1 is the rotary selector switch 10th optionally equipped with a locking mechanism that allows the user to turn the rotary knob 30th gives haptic feedback. The locking is by a toothing 46 on the inner circumference of the rotary knob 30th (second tooth element of the invention) and at least one ball 48 (First gear member of the invention) between the outer periphery of the display case 16 and the gearing 46 educated. The bullet 48 is in a recess 52 in the outer circumference of the display housing 16 stored and with a compression spring 50 that are also in the recess 52 is recorded in the radial direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation 32 for interlocking 46 the rotary knob 30th biased.

The knob 30th can optionally also have a (not shown) cover on its the carrier plate 14 be facing away. This cover is at least partially translucent, so that the information of the display element 18th are visible to the user. In addition, the cover is preferably detachable on the rotary knob 30th attached so that it is easily interchangeable. In this way, the rotary selector 10th can be easily adapted to various design requirements.

Reference list

10th

Rotary selector switch

12th

Display unit

14

Carrier plate

16

Display housing

18th

Display element

20

Light source

22

lens

24th

Push button

26

Breakthrough

28

Push button

30th

Rotary knob

32

Axis of rotation

34

first storage area

36

second storage area

38

first locking element

40

second locking element

42

Encoder

44

Rotation sensor

44a

optical transmitter

44b

optical receiver

44c

Electrodes

46

Gearing

48

Bullet

50

Compression spring

52

Recess

60

control

Claims (6)

Rotary selector switch (10), comprising: a carrier plate (14); a display unit (12) with a cylindrical display housing (16) which is mounted on the carrier plate (14); a hollow cylindrical rotary knob (30) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (32) relative to the display unit (12), the rotary knob (30) being provided with an encoder (42) on its end region facing the carrier plate (14), the properties of which change along a circumference of the rotary knob (30); at least one rotation sensor (44) on the carrier plate (14) for detecting the properties of the encoder (42); and a controller (60) which is connected to the rotation sensor (44) and is designed to detect a rotary actuation of the rotary knob (30) on the basis of a measurement signal detected by the rotation sensor (44), characterized in that the rotary knob (30) is above a bearing device (34, 36) is rotatably mounted on the display unit (12); the display housing (16) of the display unit (12) is equipped on its outer circumference with a first latching element (38) and the rotary knob (30) is equipped on its inner circumference with a second latching element (40), the first latching element (38) and that second locking elements (40) are in engagement with one another in order to fix the rotary knob (30) in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (32) relative to the display unit (12); wherein the display unit (12) has on its side facing away from the carrier plate (14) a lens (22) which is movable in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation (32) of the rotary knob (30) relative to the display housing (16); the rotary selection switch (10) further comprises a pressure actuation sensor (28) for detecting a pressure actuation of the lens (22); and the lens (22) is provided or connected with at least one pressure actuating pin (24) which extends parallel to the axis of rotation (32) of the rotary knob (30) and is guided through an opening (26) in the display housing (16). Rotary selector switch after Claim 1 , in which the display unit (12) has a lens (22) on its side facing away from the carrier plate (14); and the rotary knob (30) is rotatably mounted on the display housing (16) and / or the lens (22) of the display unit (12) via the bearing device (34, 36). Rotary selector switch according to one of the preceding claims, in which the display housing (16) of the display unit (12) is equipped on its outer circumference with a first toothing element (48) and the rotary knob (30) is equipped on its inner circumference with a second toothing element (46), wherein the first toothing element (48) and the second toothing element (46) are in engagement with one another in order to impart a locking resistance to a rotary movement of the rotary knob (30) about the axis of rotation (32) relative to the display unit (12). Rotary selector switch according to one of the preceding claims, in which a display element (18) is arranged in the display housing (16) of the display unit (12) or the display housing (16) of the display unit (12) itself forms a display element (18). Rotary selector switch after Claim 4 , in which at least one light source (20) for backlighting the display element (18) of the display unit (12) is arranged on the carrier plate (14). Rotary selector switch according to one of the preceding claims, in which the rotary knob (30) has on its side facing away from the carrier plate (14) a cover which is detachably connected to a part of the rotary knob (30) containing the encoder (42).

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