# US 12,112,903 B2 · Mechanical knob apparatus capable of push and rotation operations

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- Number: US 12,112,903 B2
- Document ID: US12112903B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/820,812
- Filed: 2022-08-18
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2022-08-18
- Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kil Pyung Jang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112903B2

## CPC

- G05G 5/06: for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only ({G05G5/005}, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence)
- H01H 19/14: Operating parts, e.g. turn knob
- B60R 16/02: electric {constitutive elements}
- H01H 13/14: Operating parts, e.g. push-button
- H01H 25/06: Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
- G05G 1/02: Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
- G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
- H01H 2231/026: Car
- 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)
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A mechanical knob which may be designed and tuned according to various design conditions (size and the like of the knob) without restriction conditions such as a size, height, and the like, its push and rotation operations may be performed, and many parts are unnecessary unlike the conventional mechanical knobs. The mechanical knob apparatus includes a dial configured to transmit a force at which a user rotates or presses the knob to perform the rotation or push rotation of the knob as an exterior part of the knob exposed to the outside, a push operation unit coupled to the dial through a radial bearing to perform the push operation, and a rotation operation unit coupled to the dial to perform both the push operation and the rotation operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical knob apparatus capable of push and rotation operations, the mechanical knob apparatus comprising:
a dial configured to transmit a force at which a user rotates or presses a knob to perform the rotation or push operation of the knob as an exterior part of the knob;
a push operation unit coupled to the dial through a radial bearing to perform the push operation; and
a rotation operation unit coupled to the dial to perform both the push operation and the rotation operation, wherein the rotation operation unit includes:
a detent housing having one end coupled to the dial, and being configured to accommodate the push operation unit, and being formed with an unevenness guide over a circumference of an inner diameter and with a plurality of slits over a circumference of another end to detect an amount of rotation of the dial in conjunction with a photosensor; and
a detent elastically coupled to the unevenness guide of the detent housing and configured to radially perform an elastic movement upon the rotation operation of the dial and the detent housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 1, wherein one end of the push operation unit is coupled to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and another end is an LCD housing having a terminal for operating a tact switch.

### Claim 3

A mechanical knob apparatus capable of push and rotation operations, the mechanical knob apparatus comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) equipped with a tact switch and a photosensor;
a dial configured to transmit a force at which a user rotates or presses a knob to perform the rotation or push operation of the knob as an exterior part of the knob;
a tact switch push unit coupled to the dial to push the tact switch;
a detent housing having one end coupled to the dial, and being configured to accommodate a tact switch push unit therein, and being formed with an unevenness guide over a circumference of an inner diameter and with a plurality of slits over a circumference of another end to detect an amount of rotation of the dial in conjunction with the photosensor;
a detent elastically coupled to the unevenness guide of the detent housing and configured to radially perform an elastic movement upon the rotation operation of the dial and the detent housing; and
a knob housing coupled to the detent housing and configured to accommodate the detent therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein one end of the tact switch push unit is coupled to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and another end is an LCD housing having a terminal for operating the tact switch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a knob decoration attached to the LCD of the LCD housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a radial bearing inserted between the tact switch push unit and the dial to allow the tact switch push unit to perform only the push operation, and the detent housing to perform both the push and rotation operations.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a ball bearing positioned between the detent housing and the knob housing so that the detent housing rotates in a state of being coupled to the knob housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a front panel positioned between the dial and the detent housing, and being adapted to be assembled to a dash board or a center fascia of a driver seat to be exposed to an interior of a vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein a pair of detents coupled to the unevenness guide of the detent housing are provided, and the pair of detents are installed to radially protrude by an elastic force of a spring included in each detent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ball bearing includes a ring fitted into an outer diameter of the knob housing, and a plurality of balls attached to the ring rotatably toward the detent housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detent includes a body portion inserted into a coil spring and positioned inside the knob housing, a tip portion exposed to outside of an outer diameter of the knob housing, and a locking projection formed on the body portion so as not to be separated from the outside of the outer diameter of the knob housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 11, wherein the knob housing includes a pocket formed therein for receiving the body portion of the detent and the coil spring, and an opening formed in an outer diameter so that the tip portion of the detent is exposed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detent further includes the locking projection configured to prevent the body portion from being separated from the outside of the opening when the tip portion is exposed to the outside of the opening after the body portion is inserted into the pocket of the knob housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 11, wherein shapes of a concave surface and a convex surface of the unevenness guide of the detent housing are the same as a shape of the tip portion of the detent.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 14, wherein a surface other than a concave surface of the unevenness guide of the detent housing and the tip portion of the detent come into point contact with each other.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein the slits of the detent housing detects an amount of rotation by blocking or passing light of the photosensor mounted on the PCB.

### Claim 17 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein a guide protrusion is axially formed on an outer diameter of the tact switch push unit, and a rail coupled to the guide protrusion is axially formed on an inner diameter of the knob housing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein a terminal of the tact switch push unit includes a cross rib configured to press the tact switch.

### Claim 19 (depends on 3)

The mechanical knob apparatus of claim 3, wherein a distance from the PCB to a cut position of the slits of the detent housing is greater than a distance from the PCB to a position of a light beam of the photosensor.