Operation mechanism for electronic device

An operation mechanism is provided, including a fixed ring and a rotating assembly, wherein the rotating assembly is rotatably connected to the fixed ring. The rotating assembly includes a rotating ring and a movable portion. The rotating ring connects to the fixed ring. The rotating ring and the movable portion are fixed to each other. The movable portion is disposed on a surface of the fixed ring and configured to contact a circuit board disposed on the surface. When the rotating assembly is rotated from a first position to a second position relative to the fixed ring, the movable portion moves from a first contact position to a second contact position relative to the circuit board.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 106213668, filed on Sep. 14, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The application relates in general to an operation mechanism for an electronic device, and in particular to an operation mechanism that includes a rotating assembly.

Description of the Related Art

With the development of science and technology, electronic products are progressing day by day, such as digital video cameras, panoramic cameras and virtual reality (VR) cameras. They bring a rich visual experience to people. In general, there are many buttons on the surface of the housing of an electronic product for users to operate. However, these buttons only have one operation instruction (for example, selection, confirmation, etc.), so that the electronic product must have a plurality of buttons, and the configuration of the integrated module buttons cannot easily be adjusted and the feedback touch also not easily to adjust. In addition, some users find that these protruding buttons detract from the aesthetic appearance of the device. Nowadays, it has become a trend to offer products with versatility, beauty, small size, and simple operation. Therefore, it is important to design an electronic product that the user feels convenient, simple, comfortable, and visually aesthetic.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To address the deficiencies of conventional products, an embodiment of the invention provides an operation mechanism, including a fixed ring and a rotating assembly, wherein the rotating assembly is rotatably connected to the fixed ring. The rotating assembly includes a rotating ring and a movable portion. The rotating ring connects to the fixed ring. The rotating ring and the movable portion are fixed to each other. The movable portion is disposed on a surface of the fixed ring and configured to contact a circuit board disposed on the surface. When the rotating assembly is rotated from a first position to a second position relative to the fixed ring, the movable portion moves from a first contact position to a second contact position relative to the circuit board.

In some embodiments, the operation mechanism further comprises a positioning member, and the movable assembly includes a sheet element having a plurality of through holes, wherein the positioning member is disposed on the surface of the fixed ring and extended through one of the through holes, and when the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning member is extended through another one of the through holes.

In some embodiments, the surface of the fixed ring is formed with a recess configured to receive the positioning member.

In some embodiments, the rotating ring and the movable portion are respectively located at two opposite sides of the fixed ring.

In some embodiments, the operation mechanism further comprises a front housing fixed to the fixed ring, and the rotating assembly is rotatably disposed between the front housing and the fixed ring.

In some embodiments, the movable portion has a plurality of sheet elements which are separated from each other, and the sheet elements are disposed on the surface of the fixed ring.

In some embodiments, the operation mechanism further comprises a positioning member, and the movable portion has a first sheet element, a second sheet element, and a third sheet element which are disposed on the surface of the fixed ring and around the central axis of the fixed ring, wherein the second sheet element disposed between the first and third sheet elements has a plurality of through holes, and the positioning member passes through one of the through holes. When the movable portion moves from the first position to second position, the first sheet element moves from the first contact area to the second contact area, and the position member passes through another one of the through holes.

In some embodiments, the rotating ring is formed with a connecting portion, the movable portion includes a sheet element, and the connecting portion passes through the fixed ring and connects to the sheet element.

In some embodiments, the fixed ring has a through slot, and the connecting portion extends through the through slot, and when the rotating assembly rotates relative to the fixed ring, the connecting portion moves within the through slot.

In some embodiments, the two ends of the through slot are formed with a tapered structure, and the connecting portion has an amplification structure, and when the rotating assembly rotates to an end position relative to the fixed ring, the amplification structure engages with the tapered structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an operation mechanism1according to an embodiment of the invention. The operation mechanism1may be disposed in an electronic device (such as a camera device), and a user can control or operate the electronic device via the operation mechanism1, for example, switching the shooting/recoding mode or adjusting the focus of the camera lens. As shown inFIG. 1, a lens module L is disposed on the operation mechanism1, which can be used as an electronic product (such as a camera device). By the operation mechanism1, the user can easily and conveniently operate the electronic device (e.g. switching the camera mode). It should be noted that the aforementioned lens module L can be replaced by other circuit modules/electronic units in the electronic device, which is not limited. The details of the operation mechanism1will be described in detail below.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2, whereinFIG. 2is an exploded-view diagram of the operation mechanism1inFIG. 1. The operation mechanism1primarily comprises a front casing CA, a rear casing CB, a fixed ring10, and a rotating assembly20. The front and rear casings CA and CB are configured to protect the fixed ring10and the rotating assembly20, and they can be used as a decorative housing. The fixed ring10and the rotating assembly20are disposed between the front and rear casings CA and CB, and the rotating assembly20is disposed between the fixed ring10and the front casing CA, wherein the fixed ring10is fixed to the rear casing CB via a plurality of fasteners (such as screws) S1and fixed to the front casing CA via a plurality of fasteners (such as screws) S2. Furthermore, the rotating assembly20can be rotated (is rotatable) with respect to the fixed ring10, front casing CA, and the rear casing CB. By rotating the rotation assembly20, an electronic device can be operated.

In particular, please refer toFIGS. 2 and 3A, whereinFIG. 3Ashows a schematic diagram of the operation mechanism1inFIG. 2after assembly (the rear casing CB is omitted). The rotating assembly20includes a rotating ring21, a movable portion22, and a plurality of fasteners (such as screws) S3. It can be seen fromFIG. 3Athat the rotating ring21is sandwiched between the fixed ring10and the front casing CA, and the movable portion22is connected to and disposed on a surface101of the fixed ring10. The movable portion22is pressed by the fasteners S3against the fixed ring10, and the movable portion22and the rotating ring21are disposed on opposite sides of the fixed ring10. A circuit board F, such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), is disposed on the surface101of the fixed ring10and electrically connected to the lens module L (FIG. 1) through one or more wires (not shown), and the movable portion22(has metal material) is configured to be in contact with this circuit board F.

By the rotation of the rotating assembly20, the relative position of the movable portion22and circuit board F will be changed (the rotating assembly20moves with respect to the circuit board F) so that the rotating assembly20will be in contact with the different area of the circuit board F. Specifically, the movable portion22includes a first sheet element M1, a second sheet element M2, and a third sheet element M3. The first sheet element M1has an extending structure M11. When the rotating assembly20rotates relative to the fixed ring10, as shown inFIG. 3B(in direction R1), the movable portion22disposed on the surface101of the fixed ring10moves relative to the circuit board F from a first position (FIG. 3A) to a second position (FIG. 3B). In other words, the first sheet element M1would contact different areas of the circuit board F. Referring toFIG. 4A, there are a plurality of “contact areas” on the circuit board F: the first contact area A1, the second contact area A2, and the third contact area A3. When the extending structure M11(having metal material) of the first sheet element M1touches (or is in contact with) different contact areas (i.e. when in the first position (FIG. 3A), only the first contact area A1is touched; when in the second position (FIG. 3B), both the first contact area A1and the second contact area A2are touched), the circuit board F transmits different signals to the lens module L (the signal may be, for example, a signal for switching the shooting mode in the electronic device or a signal for adjusting the long shot/close up, or a signal for other selection instructions). Therefore, the user can easily operate the electronic device by rotating the operation mechanism1.FIG. 6shows that the rotating assembly20can be rotated in the direction R1or in the opposite direction R2(in other perspective). In an embodiment, the first sheet element M1is in contact with/touches only the first contact area A1(FIG. 3A), and the circuit board F transmits a first signal. In an embodiment, the first sheet element M1simultaneously is in contact with (touches) the first contact area A1and the second contact area A2(FIG. 3B), and the circuit board F transmits a second signal. In an embodiment, the first sheet element M1simultaneously is in contact with/touches the first contact area A1and the third contact area A3(FIG. 3C), and the circuit board F transmits a third signal.

In some embodiments, the plurality of contact areas of the circuit board F may also be defined as the first, second and third contact areas A4, A5and A6, as shown inFIG. 4B. When the movable portion22in the first position (FIG. 3A), the first contact area A4is touched by the movable portion22and the circuit board F transmits a first signal. When the movable portion22is in the second position (FIG. 3B), the first contact area A5is touched and the circuit board F transmits a second signal. When the movable portion22is in the third position (FIG. 3C), the third contact area A6is touched and the circuit board F transmits a third signal.

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the movable portion22has three sheet elements (M1, M2and M3) which are arranged around the central axis C (FIG. 2) of the fixed ring10and disposed on the surface101, wherein those sheet elements (M1, M2and M3) are arranged in a separated manner (i.e. there are gaps formed between the adjacent sheet elements). With this configuration, the weight of the movable portion22can be dispersed, so that the rotation mechanism1can be more balanced, whereby a user can easily and comfortably operate it.

FIGS. 5A to 5Billustrate schematic views of the movable portion22and the fasteners S1, S2, and S3omitted inFIGS. 3A-3Bto clearly show a plurality of connecting portions211and through slots13. The rotating ring21is formed with the plurality of connecting portions211which extend toward the fixed ring10and pass (extend) through the plurality of through slots13of the fixed ring10, and corresponding to the first, second, and third sheet elements M1, M2, and M3(FIGS. 2 and 3A). The connecting portions211also pass through the first, second and third sheet elements M1, M2and M3and engage with them (i.e., the sheet elements M1, M2and M3mounted around the connecting portions211). Then, those sheet elements are pressed onto the surface101through the aforementioned fastener S3to prevent these sheet elements from falling off the connecting portions211. When the rotating assembly20is rotated, as shown inFIGS. 3A-3B, 5A-5B, and 7, each connecting portion211of the rotating ring21can move within each through slot13and can be restricted (limited) by the two ends of the through slot13, so that the range of movement of each connecting portion211is limited.

It should be noted that both ends of the through slot13have a tapered structure V, and both ends of the connecting portion211have an amplification structure W. When the rotating assembly20rotates relative to the fixed ring10to an end position, (as shown inFIGS. 3B and 5B), the amplification structure W engages with the tapered structure V, so that the rotating ring21in the second position can be stably engaged with the fixed ring10to avoid or reduce the swinging or shaking that occurs, thereby providing a good operating experience.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, the rotating mechanism1further comprises a positioning member P (for example, is a rolling ball) disposed on a recess G of the surface101. In this embodiment, the recess G is configured to receive the positioning member P, and about one-third of the volume the positioning member P is disposed in the recess G. The second sheet element M2of the movable portion22has a plurality of through holes T1, T2and T3. When the rotating assembly20is at (in) the first position (FIGS. 3A and 5A), the positioning member P passes through the through hole T2to engage with the second sheet element M2; when the rotating assembly20rotates from the first position to the second position (FIGS. 3B and 5B), since the second sheet element M2of the rotating assembly20is rotated relative to the fixing ring10, the positioning member P is changed from passing through the through hole T1to passing through the through hole T2and engages with the second sheet element M2. In this way, when the user rotates the operation mechanism1for signal switching, a feedback touch is generated through the engagement between the positioning member P and the through holes T1, T2and T3, so that the user can know that the rotating assembly20has rotated to reach a correct position, to increase operational convenience.

Furthermore, the user may also rotate the rotating assembly20in the direction R2(opposite to the direction R1) to move it from the second position to the first position (as shown inFIGS. 3B-3A), so that the first sheet element M1returns to only in contact with the first contact area A1. The rotating assembly20can be further rotated in the R2direction to reach the third position (as shown inFIGS. 3C and 5C), so that the first sheet element M1contacts the first contact area A1and the third contact area A3, and the positioning member P is located in the through hole T3.

In another embodiment, the circuit board F may be provided with more contact areas for the first sheet element M1to touch to transmit more different signals to the lens module L. The second sheet element M2may also be provided more through holes for the positioning member P to engage, so that the operation mechanism1can have more switching operation functions.

In another embodiment, the movable portion22may also include only one sheet element. The sheet element has an extending structure M11for being in contact with different contact areas of the circuit board F, and is formed with a plurality of through holes T1. T2and T3, for the positioning member P disposed therein to engage with the sheet element.

In summary, an operation mechanism is provided, comprising a fixed ring and a rotating assembly, wherein the rotating assembly is rotatably connected to the fixed ring. The rotating assembly includes a rotating ring and a movable portion. The rotating ring connects to the fixed ring. The rotating ring and the movable portion are fixed to each other. The movable portion is disposed on a surface of the fixed ring and configured to contact a circuit board disposed on the surface. When the rotating assembly is rotated from a first position to a second position relative to the fixed ring, the movable portion moves from a first contact position to a second contact position relative to the circuit board. Therefore, by rotating the rotating assembly, the position where the movable portion contacts the circuit board can be changed to transmit different signals, for example, transmitting a signal to a lens module (or other circuit module) to switch the shooting mode, thereby the electronic device can be easily operated. In this way, it is not necessary to provide a physical button protruding from the housing of the electronic device, so as to improve the aesthetics and to improve the usability by operating in a rotating manner. In addition, the operation mechanism further comprises a positioning member engaging with the through hole of the movable portion. When the rotating assembly rotates from the first position to the second position, the positioning member engages with the other one through hole. The engagement of the positioning member and the through hole provides a feedback touch so that the user has a good user experience.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention. It is intended that the standard and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.