# US 10,372,154 B2 · Multi-function appliance knob incorporating multiple rotation modulating mechanisms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,154 B2 - Document ID: US10372154B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/455,177 - Filed: 2017-03-10 - Published: 2017-06-29 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-13 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Benjamin Edinger; Casey L. McCuan; Leif A. Norland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372154B2 ## CPC - G05G 9/02: the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only - F16H 1/28: with gears having orbital motion - F16H 19/001: {for conveying reciprocating or limited rotary motion} - F24C 3/124: {Control panels} - F24C 7/08: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - G05G 1/00: Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members (joysticks G05G9/04; steering wheels for motor vehicles B62D) - G05G 1/015: Arrangements for indicating the position of a controlling member (means for continuously detecting pedal position G05G1/38; means for detecting position through tactile feedback G05G5/03) - G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels - G05G 1/10: Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} - H03K 17/965: Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch - F24C 3/126: {on ranges} - F24C 7/082: {on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination} - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - F16H: GEARING - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A control knob for an appliance includes an outer control ring, a stationary hub, a rotation modulating mechanism coupled to the outer control ring and engaged with an outer surface of the stationary hub, wherein the outer control ring is rotationally operable about the stationary hub at a first rate, an indicial ring positioned around the stationary hub, wherein the indicial ring engages a portion of the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein rotation of the outer control ring at the first rate causes the rotation modulating mechanism to rotate the indicial ring about the stationary hub at a second rate, the second rate being different than the first rate and an encoder shaft positioned within the stationary hub, wherein an inner gearing mechanism extends between an exterior surface of the encoder shaft and one of the outer control ring and the indicial ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control knob for an appliance, the control knob comprising: a rotation modulating mechanism coupled to a control ring and a stationary hub, wherein the control ring is rotationally operable relative to the stationary hub at a first rate; an indicial ring coupled to the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein rotation of the control ring at the first rate causes rotation of the indicial ring at a second rate via the rotation modulating mechanism, the second rate being different than the first rate; an encoder shaft positioned within the stationary hub; and an inner gearing mechanism that extends between an exterior surface of the encoder shaft and one of the control ring and the indicial ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control knob of claim 1, wherein when the inner gearing mechanism extends between the encoder shaft and the control ring, the first rate is slower than the second rate, and wherein when the inner gearing mechanism extends between the encoder shaft and the indicial ring, the first rate is faster than the second rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control knob of claim 1, wherein the inner gearing mechanism extends between the encoder shaft and the control ring, and wherein the rotation modulating mechanism includes planetary gears that rotationally engage outer cogs defined within an outer surface of the stationary hub and inner cogs defined within an inner surface of the indicial ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control knob of claim 3, wherein the control ring extends at least from the planetary gears to the inner gearing mechanism, and wherein the inner gearing mechanism extends through a portion of the stationary hub to engage the control ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The control knob of claim 4, wherein the inner gearing mechanism includes a cluster gear having first and second gear portions, wherein the first gear portion engages the control ring, and wherein the second gear portion engages the encoder shaft to transfer the rotation of the control ring to the encoder shaft, and wherein the rotation of the control ring in a first rotational direction causes the encoder shaft to rotate in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control knob of claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary control ring positioned proximate the control ring, wherein the auxiliary control ring rotates independently of the control ring, and wherein the auxiliary control ring is in communication with a function encoder; and an appliance control that includes a temperature control and a function control, wherein the temperature control is in communication with the encoder shaft and the function control is in communication with the function encoder. ### Claim 7 A control knob for an appliance, the control knob comprising: a rotation modulating mechanism having an external portion and an internal portion, wherein rotation of the external portion at a first angular distance causes the internal portion to rotate a second angular distance, the first angular distance being different than the second angular distance; a transfer mechanism that engages the internal portion of the rotation modulating mechanism to place a portion of the rotation modulating mechanism in communication with an appliance control; and an auxiliary control ring positioned proximate the external portion of the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein the auxiliary control ring rotates independently of the external portion, and wherein the auxiliary control ring is in communication with a function encoder that operates a function control of the appliance control. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control knob of claim 7, further comprising: a stationary hub that is in a fixed position relative to the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein the rotation modulating mechanism rotates about the stationary hub. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control knob of claim 8, wherein the transfer mechanism is at least partially within an interior volume defined by the stationary hub. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The control knob of claim 8, wherein the stationary hub includes a perimetrical wall that defines an interior volume of the stationary hub, and wherein the transfer mechanism extends through an aperture defined within the perimetrical wall to engage the external portion of the rotation modulating mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The control knob of claim 7, wherein the external portion of the rotation modulating mechanism includes planetary gears that extend between a stationary central sun gear and the internal portion of the rotation modulating mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control knob of claim 11, wherein the external portion of the rotation modulating mechanism extends from at least the planetary gears to the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control knob of claim 12, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a cluster gear having first and second gear portions, wherein the first gear portion engages the external portion of the rotation modulating mechanism and wherein the second gear portion engages an encoder shaft to transfer rotation of the external portion to the encoder shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control knob of claim 13, wherein the first and second gear portions define an inner reduction mechanism, wherein the first gear portion has a first diameter and the second gear portion has a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. ### Claim 15 An appliance knob comprising: a hub extending from a wall of an appliance and having a hub flange; a rotation modulating mechanism in rotational engagement with the hub; an indicial ring in rotational engagement with the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein rotation of the rotation modulating mechanism relative to the hub at a first rate causes the indicial ring to rotate relative to the hub at a second rate; and a transfer mechanism extending between an encoder shaft and the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein the encoder shaft and the transfer mechanism place an appliance control in communication with the rotation modulating mechanism, and wherein the hub flange positions the indicial ring at a predetermined distance from the wall of the appliance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The appliance knob of claim 15, further comprising: an outer control ring that rotates about the hub and is in communication with the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein the outer control ring rotates about the hub at the first rate, and wherein the first rate is different than the second rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The appliance knob of claim 16, wherein the first rate is slower than the second rate, and wherein the transfer mechanism extends through a portion of the hub to engage the outer control ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The appliance knob of claim 16, further comprising: an auxiliary control ring positioned proximate the outer control ring, wherein the auxiliary control ring rotates independently of the outer control ring, and wherein the auxiliary control ring is in communication with a function control.