Patent Publication Number: US-2023135190-A1

Title: Knob structure of user interface device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application 10-2021-0146566, filed on Oct. 29, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The disclosure relates to a knob structure of a user interface device, and more particularly, to a knob structure of a user interface device that is easily detachable using a magnet. 
     In general, vehicles have a center fascia, which is provided with various systems that may be controlled by a user. For example, such various systems provided in a center fascia of a vehicle include navigation, radio, and air conditioning control system, and the like. To control such various systems, an input device for receiving a user&#39;s input may be provided. 
     Meanwhile, an output device for outputting information from such various systems may be provided in a center fascia of a vehicle. Conventionally, simple output devices such as an indicator lamp are provided in order to output information, but nowadays, a large display may be utilized in order to output various information to a user as needed. Furthermore, by providing a touch input means in a large display device, a user may intuitively perform an input according to output contents. 
     Recently, as a device for manipulating in-vehicle devices, development of knob-on-display technologies that may provide driving environment information through a display and control in-vehicle systems through a physical manipulation method has been ongoing. A knob allows a driver to manipulate devices precisely without taking their eyes off a road, and enables intuitive and physical control through a moderate sense of resistance. 
     However, such a knob may detect only a simple rotation input, so research on a user interface device that allows a user to control a system through various inputs is required. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a knob structure of a user interface device that is easily detachable using a magnet. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a user interface device includes a hinge configured to slide in a first direction along a rail extending in the first direction; and a knob coupled to the hinge to slide in the first direction and configured to detect a rotation input; wherein the knob includes a knob base coupled to the hinge, a bearing including a first member coupled to the knob base and a second member rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the first member, and a knob body coupled to the second member and configured to rotate with respect to the knob base, wherein the knob body is detachably coupled to the second member. 
     The second member may be provided as a magnetic material, and the knob body may be provided with a plurality of first magnets having a predetermined radius based on a center of rotation and arranged along a circumferential direction, the knob body coupled to the second member. 
     The knob body may be provided with a plurality of second magnets having a first predetermined radius based on a center of rotation and arranged at equal intervals along a circumferential direction, and the knob base may be provided with a plurality of third magnets having a second predetermined radius based on a center of rotation and arranged at equal intervals along a circumferential direction, the number of third magnets equaling to the number of the second magnets. 
     Polarities of the plurality of second magnets and the plurality of third magnets may be arranged in a direction in which attractive force is applied to each other. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a user interface device includes a display; a rail extending in a first direction parallel to the display at one side of the display; a hinge configured to slide along the rail in the first direction; and a knob coupled to the hinge to slide in the first direction on a display surface of the display and configured to detect a rotation input; wherein the knob includes a knob base coupled to the hinge, a bearing including a first member coupled to the knob base and a second member rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the first member, and a knob body coupled to the second member to rotate with respect to the knob base, wherein the knob body is detachably coupled to the second member. 
     The knob may include a hollow portion, and an image displayed on the display may be seen through the hollow portion. 
     The knob body is partially or entirely formed of a light-transmitting material, so that the image displayed on the display may be seen through the knob body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view illustrating a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of a magnet provided in a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are schematic views illustrating a cross-section of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic view illustrating a polarity arrangement of a magnet of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic view illustrating a polarity arrangement of a magnet of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic view illustrating a polarity arrangement of a magnet of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation. Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic view illustrating a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     A user interface device  1000  may be provided on a center fascia of a vehicle to concisely provide driving environment information through a display  100 , and at the same time, control an in-vehicle system through a physical manipulation method of a knob  200 . The knob  200  may slidably move on a display surface of the display  100  and may detect a rotation input. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the user interface device  1000  may include the display  100 , a rail  280  provided to extend in a first direction (indicated by an arrow in  FIG.  2   ) parallel to the display  100  on one side of the display  100 , a hinge  300  sliding along the rail  280  in the first direction, the knob  200  coupled to the hinge  300  to slide in the first direction on the display surface of the display  100  and detect the rotation input, a magnet holder  400  disposed in a second direction of the hinge  300  opposite to the hinge  300  and extending in the first direction, and a hinge sensor  500  for detecting a position of the hinge  300 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the user interface device  1000  may further include a case  150  in which the rail  280 , the magnet holder  400 , and the hinge sensor  500  are accommodated therein so as not to be exposed to the outside. The case  150  may be provided to cover an area close to the knob  200  in order to minimize the exposure of the hinge  300 , and the hinge  300  may have a surface similar to the material of the display  100  so as not to be not easily noticeable on the display  100 . 
     The display  100  may display information necessary for a user. For example, the display  100  may be a touch display device including a touch panel (not shown). The user may input information into the user interface device  1000  through such a touch panel or may input information through a manipulation of the knob  200 . 
     The knob  200  may detect a rotation input by a user&#39;s manipulation. To this end, the knob  200  may include a knob body that rotates about a rotation axis. The knob  200  may include a hollow portion  290 . 
     The knob  200  is coupled to the hinge  300 , and the hinge  300  may slide along the rail  280  in the first direction. Accordingly, the knob  200  may also slide in the first direction. At this time, the knob  200  may slide on the display surface of the display  100 . 
     On the other hand, the hinge sensor  500  detects a position of the hinge  300 . Because the hinge sensor  500  detects the position of the hinge  300 , the user may input information into the user interface device  1000  through the hinge sensor  500  by sliding the knob  200  coupled to the hinge  300  to move the position of the hinge  300 . 
     Accordingly, the user may input information by touching the display surface of the display  100 , or may input information by sliding or rotating the knob  200  positioned on the display surface. 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    are schematic views illustrating a configuration of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the knob  200  may include a knob base  210  coupled to the hinge  300 , a bearing  220  coupled to the knob base  210 , and a knob body  230  coupled to the bearing  220  to rotate with respect to the knob base  210 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the knob base  210  may include a base member  211  coupled to the hinge, and a ring member  215  coupled to the base member  211 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , a plurality of third magnets  212  may be provided between the base member  211  and the ring member  215 . The third magnet  212  will be described later. 
     The knob body  230  may include a grip member  231  forming an outer circumferential surface of the knob, and a connector member  232  coupling the grip member  231  to the bearing  220 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , a plurality of first magnets  233  may be provided on the connector member  232 , and a plurality of second magnets  234  may be provided on the grip member  231 . The first and second magnets  233  and  234  will be described later. 
     In this case, the knob body  230  may be detachably coupled to the bearing  220 . 
     Because the knob body  230  is detachably coupled to the bearing  220 , the knob body  230  may be easily separated from the knob base  210  coupled to the hinge  300 . Accordingly, the user may replace the knob body  230  by coupling other knob body  230   b  to the bearing  220  after separating the knob body  230   a  from the knob base  210  and the bearing  220 . As a result, the user may use the knob body  230  having various materials, sizes, and designs, depending on a situation. For example, in the case of a user with a small hand, a feeling of manipulation of the knob  200  may be improved by combining the knob body  230  with a small diameter. In addition, the knob body  230  of a different color based on a user&#39;s taste may be combined to improve aesthetics. In addition, on a day when the temperature is low, cold feeling transmitted when the knob  200  is held may be reduced by replacing the knob body  230  made of a metal material with the knob body  230  made of a plastic material. 
     Meanwhile, because the knob  200  slides on the display surface of the display  100 , an image displayed on the display  100  may be buried by the knob  200 . At this time, the knob  200  may include the hollow portion  290 , and the image displayed on the display  100  is visible through the hollow portion  290  so that the user may identify the image displayed on the display  100 . 
     At this case, the knob body  230  according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be partially or entirely formed of a light-transmitting material so that the image displayed on the display  100  may be seen through the knob body  230 . The user may see the image displayed on the display  100  through the knob body  230  by replacing the knob body  230  of such a light-transmitting material depending on a situation, or allow the knob body  230  to shine by the image displayed on the display  100  so that the knob serves as a decorative object. 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of a magnet provided on a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating a cross-section of the knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  5    is a plan view of the knob  200  and  FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A section of  FIG.  5   . Referring to  FIG.  6 A , the bearing  220  may include a first member  221 , and a second member  222  rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the first member  221 . In this case, the first member  211  may be coupled to the knob base  210 , and the second member  222  may be coupled to the knob body  230 . Due to such a connection therebetween, the knob body  230  may be rotatably coupled to the knob base  210 . Bearing balls  223  may be provided between the first and second members  221  and  222  to reduce friction during rotation. 
     The bearing  220  may be a thrust bearing in which the first and second members  221  and  222  are arranged to face each other in a rotation axis direction, as shown in  FIG.  6   , but the first and second members  221  and  222  may be a radial bearing in which the second member  222  is arranged face each other in a rotational radius direction. 
     The knob body  230  may be detachably coupled to the bearing  220  by being detachably coupled to the second member  222 . At this time, the second member  222  is provided as a magnetic material, and the knob body  230  is provided with a plurality of first magnets  233  having a predetermined radius based on a center of rotation and arranged along a circumferential direction, so that the knob body  230  may be coupled to the second member  222 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , six first magnets  233  are provided in the circumferential direction of the connector member  232  of the knob body  230 . On the other hand,  FIG.  6 A  is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A section when the knob body  230  is coupled to the second member  222 , and  FIG.  6 B  is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A section when the knob body  230  is separated with the second member  222 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , the first magnets  233  are arranged below the connector member  232  to contact the second member  222  when the knob body  230  is coupled to the knob base  210 , and are coupled to the second member  222  provided with a magnetic material. Accordingly, the knob body  230  may be coupled to the second member  222  to rotate with respect to the first member  221  by the bearing balls  223 . 
     Meanwhile, the user may separate the knob body  230  with the second member  222  by holding the knob body  230  and applying force to be spaced apart the first magnet  233  and the second member  222 . 
     Preferably, the first magnets  233  are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. When the first magnets  233  are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, first magnets may be symmetrically coupled to the second member  222 , thereby achieving stable coupling. 
     On the other hand, in an embodiment of the disclosure, the knob body  230  is provided with the plurality of second magnets  234  having a first predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and the knob base  210  is provided with the plurality of third magnets  212  with a second predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. At this time, the number of third magnets  212  equals to the number of second magnets  234 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , the second and third magnets  234  and  212  are arranged in 25 pieces, respectively. 
     The third magnets  212  are provided on the knob base  210  and are fixedly disposed. Meanwhile, the second magnets  234  are provided on the knob body  230  and rotates together with the rotation of the knob body  230 . In this case, polarities of the plurality of second and third magnets  234  and  212  may be arranged in a direction in which attractive force is applied to each other. 
     In a position shown in  FIG.  5   , the second magnets  234  create a force in a direction that resists or induce rotation by applying an attraction force to the third magnet  212  facing each other. For example, one second magnet  234   a  applies an attractive force to the third magnet  212   a  facing each other, and another second magnet  234   b  applies an attractive force to the third magnet  212   b  facing each other, and another second magnet  234   c  applies an attractive force to the third magnet  212   c  facing each other. As such, because the second magnets  234  and the third magnets  212  are applied an attractive force to each other at positions facing each other, when the knob body  230  rotates clockwise, a force that resists increasing distance between the second magnet  234  and the third magnet  212  facing each other is generated. In this case, when one second magnet  234   a  is closer to the adjacent third magnet  212   b  than the facing third magnet  212   a  as the knob body  230  continues to rotate, the attractive force between the second magnet  234   a  and the third magnet  212   b  adjacent to the second magnet  234   a  becomes greater than the attractive force between the second magnet  234   a  and the third magnet  212   a  facing the second magnet  234   a . Likewise, the attractive force between another second magnet  234   b  and the adjacent third magnet  212   c  becomes greater than the attractive force between the second magnet  234   b  and the facing third magnet  212   b . As such, the attractive force between the second magnets  234  and the adjacent third magnets  212  generates a force in a direction inducing rotation of the knob body  230 , leading to the second magnets  234  and the adjacent third magnets  212  facing each other. 
     In the embodiment in which the 25 second and third magnets  234  and  212  are arranged as shown in  FIG.  5   , the force resisting rotation and the force inducing rotation are appeared alternately whenever the knob body  230  rotates 14.4 degrees. Accordingly, when a user holds the knob body  230  and rotates, feedback on the rotation is provided to the user, thereby improving manipulation feeling. 
       FIGS.  7  to  9    are schematic views illustrating a polarity arrangement of magnets of a knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Each drawings is cross-sectional view taken along A-A section of the knob  200  of  FIG.  5    as shown in  FIG.  6   , and the bearing  220  is omitted for convenience of description. 
     Polarities of the plurality of second magnets  234  and the plurality of third magnets  212  may be arranged in a direction in which attractive forces are applied to each other.  FIGS.  7  to  9    show various embodiments in which the second magnets  234  and the third magnets  212  are arranged on the knob body  230  and the knob base  210 , respectively. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the second magnets  234  have a first predetermined radius with respect to the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. At this time, the polarity of the second magnets  234  may be arranged in the direction of the rotation radius. In  FIG.  7   , the polarity of such magnets is indicated by an arrow, and the polarity of the second magnets  234  is arranged to face the center of rotation (right side) in the rotation radius. 
     Meanwhile, the third magnets  212  have a second predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In this case, the second predetermined radius may be smaller than the first predetermined radius. Meanwhile, the third magnets  212  may be arranged to be shifted from the second magnets  234  to one side in a direction of the rotation axis. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the third magnets  212  are placed downward from the second magnets  234  in the direction of the rotation axis. 
     At this time, the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged in the direction of the rotation axis to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged as indicated by an arrow to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . Because the third magnets  212  are shifted downward from the second magnets  234  in the direction of the rotation axis, the polarity of the third magnets  212  is also arranged to face downward in the direction of the rotation axis, so that the third magnets  212  may apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , the second magnets  234  have a first predetermined radius with respect to the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In this case, the polarity of the second magnets  234  may be arranged in the direction of the rotation axis. In  FIG.  8   , the polarity of such magnets is indicated by an arrow, and the polarity of the second magnets  234  is arranged to face upward in the direction of the rotation axis. 
     Meanwhile, the third magnets  212  have a second predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In this case, the second predetermined radius may be the same as the first predetermined radius. In other words, the third magnets  212  may be arrange to face the second magnets  234  in the direction of the rotation axis. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , the third magnets  212  are disposed below the second magnets  234  in the direction of the rotation axis. 
     At this time, the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged in the direction of the rotation axis to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnet  234 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged as indicated by an arrow to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnet  234 . Because the third magnets  212  are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotation axis from the second magnets  234 , the polarity of the third magnets  212  is also arranged to face upward in the direction of the rotation axis in the same way as the second magnets  234 , so that the third magnets  212  may apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  9   , the second magnets  234  have a first predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. At this time, the polarity of the second magnets  234  may be arranged in the direction of rotation radius. In  FIG.  9   , the polarity of such magnets is indicated by an arrow, and the polarity of the second magnets  234  is arranged to face the center of rotation (right side) in the rotation radius. 
     Meanwhile, the third magnets  212  have a second predetermined radius based on the center of rotation and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. In this case, the second predetermined radius may be smaller than the first predetermined radius. Meanwhile, the third magnets  212  may be arranged to face the second magnets  234  in the rotation radius direction. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  9   , the third magnets  212  are arranged closer to the center of rotation than the second magnets  234  along the rotation radius direction. 
     At this time, the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged in the direction of the center of rotation to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  9   , the polarity of the third magnets  212  may be arranged as indicated by an arrow to apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . Because the third magnets  212  are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotation radius from the second magnets  234 , the polarity of the third magnets  212  is also arranged to face the center of rotation in the rotation radius direction in the same way as the second magnet  234 , so that the third magnets  212  may apply an attractive force to each other with the second magnets  234 . 
     As show in  FIGS.  7  to  9   , the second magnets  234  and the third magnets  212  may be arranged in various positions, and by arranging the polarities in a direction in which attractive forces are applied to each other no matter where they are placed, feedback may be provided to the user when the knob body  200  rotates, thereby improving feeling of operation. 
     As described above, the user interface device  1000  according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be easily replaced by a user because the knob  200  for detecting the rotation input is easily detached, and also may use a magnet to provide feedback on the rotation when the knob  200  rotates, thereby improving the user&#39;s feeling of operation. 
     As is apparent from the above, embodiments of the disclosure may provide a user interface device that is easily replaced by a user because the knob for detecting the rotation input is easily detachable. 
     Further, embodiments of the disclosure may provide a user interface device capable of using a magnet to provide feedback on the rotation when the knob is rotated, thereby improving the user&#39;s feeling of operation. 
     Further, embodiments of the disclosure may provide a user interface device capable of improving aesthetic impression by allowing the displayed contents of the display located on the rear surface of the knob to be seen through the knob. 
     As described above, although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.