Patent Publication Number: US-9897325-B2

Title: Light-emitting knob assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104113560, filed on Apr. 28, 2015. The contents of the Taiwan patent application are entirety incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a knob assembly, and more particularly to a light-emitting knob assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In prior art, devices for providing a heat source or fire (such as gas stoves, furnaces and electric stoves . . . ) are controlled by a knob, to adjust the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. However, the devices for providing a heat source or fire only display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire on panels on where the knobs are disposed, users at a distance are unable to know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire, hence, the users must come closer to the devices for providing a heat source or fire to know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire on the panels. It is not convenient to the users who want to know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire at a distance. 
     Consequently, there is a need to solve the above-mentioned problem that the user can&#39;t know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire at a distance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting knob assembly, which is able to solve the above-mentioned problem that the user cant know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire at a distance. 
     In order to achieve the object, a light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention is disposed on a device for providing a heat source or fire, the light-emitting knob assembly comprises a knob, a light-sensing plate, an axial bush, a base, and a light generating unit. The light-sensing plate is fixed in the knob. One terminal of the axial bush is fixed in the knob, one other terminal of the axial bush is configured for being rotatably connected with the device. The light generating unit is fixed in the base. The knob is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device, and driving the light-sensing plate and the axial bush to be rotated relative to the light generating unit, the light generating unit generates different brightnesses and/or different colors of lights according to corresponding different regions after the light-sensing plate is rotated, to correspondingly display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the light generating unit comprises a printed circuit board assembly, a control unit, at least one light sensor and at least one light-emitting diode. The control unit is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly. The at least one light sensor is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and is electrically connected to the control unit, and senses different lights reflected by figures of the different regions of the light-sensing plate, after rotating the light-sensing plate, to generate different control signals. The at least one light-emitting diode is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and is electrically connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit control the at least one light-emitting diode to generate different brightnesses and/or different colors of lights, according to the different control signals. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the light generating unit further comprises a power unit and a micro switch. The power unit is at least used to provide power to the at least one light-emitting diode. The micro switch is electrically connected with the control unit and the power unit, the micro switch is activated to stop the power unit from providing power when the knob is rotated to a certain position. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the other terminal of the axial bush penetrates the light-sensing plate and rotatably connects with the device. 
     In order to achieve the object, a light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention is disposed on a device for providing a heat source or fire, the light-emitting knob assembly comprises a knob, a driving unit, an axial bush, a base, and a light generating unit. The driving unit is fixed in the knob. One terminal of the axial bush is fixed in the knob, one other terminal of the axial bush is configured for being rotatably connected with the device. The light generating unit is fixed in the base. The knob is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device, and driving the driving unit and the axial bush to be rotated relative to the light generating unit, the light generating unit generates different brightnesses according to a rotating level of the driving unit with respect to the light generating unit after the driving unit is rotated, to correspondingly display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the driving unit comprises a sliding rail, the light generating unit comprises a printed circuit board assembly, a slide potentiometer and at least one light-emitting diode. The slide potentiometer is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and comprises a sliding rod, the sliding rod is slidably disposed in the sliding rail. The at least one light-emitting diode is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and is electrically connected to the slide potentiometer. When the knob rotates to make the driving unit rotate, the sliding rail of the driving unit makes the sliding rod move, to adjust a resistance value of the slide potentiometer, and the at least one light-emitting diode generates light corresponding to the resistance value. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the light generating unit further comprises a power unit and a micro switch. The power unit is used to provide power to the at least one light-emitting diode. The micro switch is electrically connected with the power unit and the slide potentiometer, the micro switch is activated to stop the power unit from providing power when the knob is rotated to a certain position. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the other terminal of the axial bush penetrates the driving unit and rotatably connects with the device. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the driving unit comprises a connecting rod and a pin, the connecting rod connects the knob via the pin. The light generating unit comprises a printed circuit board assembly, a slide potentiometer and at least one light-emitting diode. The slide potentiometer is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and comprises a sliding rod, the sliding rod is slidably disposed in the connecting rod. The at least one light-emitting diode is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly and is electrically connected to the slide potentiometer. When the knob rotates to make the driving unit rotate, the connecting rod of the driving unit makes the sliding rod move, to adjust a resistance value of the slide potentiometer, and the at least one light-emitting diode generates light corresponding to the resistance value. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the light generating unit further comprises a power unit and a micro switch. The power unit is used to provide power to the at least one light-emitting diode. The micro switch is electrically connected with the power unit and the slide potentiometer, the micro switch is activated to stop the power unit from providing power when the knob is rotated to a certain position. 
     Compared with the prior art, the user can know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire from a distance by the light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention. Moreover, the light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention has beautiful and decorative function when emitting light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is an isometric, assembled view of the light-emitting knob assembly of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention in which a micro switch and a wear plate are taken out; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative drawing of a light-sensing plate of the light-emitting knob assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top”, and “bottom” as wen as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation, and do not limit the scope of the invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1B  is an isometric, assembled view of the light-emitting knob assembly  10  of  FIG. 1A . 
     The light-emitting knob assembly  10  is disposed on a device (not shown) for providing a heat source or fire and includes a knob  100 , a light-sensing plate  102 , an axial bush  104 , a base  106  for being fixedly connected to the device, and a light generating unit  108 . The device for providing a heat source or fire is such as but not limited to a gas stove, furnace, or electrical stove. 
     The knob  100  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device. 
     The light-sensing plate  102  is fixed in the knob  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the light-sensing plate  102  is a semicircular and hollow plate, more specifically, a shape of the light-sensing plate  102  is not limited to the shape and/or figure as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
     One terminal of the axial bush  104  is fixed in the knob  100 , the other terminal of the axial bush  104  is rotatably connected with the device. More specifically, there is a corresponding axle in the device for providing heat source or fire, the other terminal of the axial bush  104  penetrates the light-sensing plate  102  and rotatably connects with the corresponding axle of the device for providing the heat source or fire. 
     The light generating unit  108  is fixed in the base  108 . The knob  100  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device, and driving the light-sensing plate  102  and the axial bush  104  to be rotated relative to the light generating unit  108 . The light generating unit  108  generates different levels of brightness and/or different colors of lights according to corresponding different regions of the light-sensing plate  102  after the light-sensing plate  102  is rotated, to correspondingly display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The light generating unit  108  comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  1080 , a control unit  1082 , at least one light sensor  1084 , at least one light-emitting diode  1086 , a power unit  1088 , and a micro switch  1090 . 
     The control unit  1082  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  1080 . The at least one light sensor  1084  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  1080  and is electrically connected to the control unit  1082 . The at least one light sensor  1084  senses different lights reflected by figures of the different regions of the light-sensing plate  102  (as the figure shown in the  FIG. 4 ), after rotating the light-sensing plate  102 , to generate different control signals. The at least one light-emitting diode  1086  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  1080  and is electrically connected to the control unit  1082 . The control unit  1082  control the at least one light-emitting diode  1086  to generate different levels of brightness and/or different colors of lights, according to the different control signals. More specifically, the at least one light sensor  1084  has a built-in light source, lights generated by the built-in light source of the at least one light sensor  1084  is reflected by the light-sensing plate  102 , then being sensed by the at least one light sensor  1084 , to generate the control signals. In another preferred embodiment, an additional light source is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  1080 , and no built-in light source is used within the at least one light sensor  1084 . 
     The power unit  1088  is at least used to provide power to the at least one light-emitting diode  1086  and the control unit  1082 . The position of the power unit  1088  is not limited; the power unit  1088  can be disposed inside or outside of the light-emitting knob assembly  10 . The micro switch  1090  is electrically connected with the control unit  1082  and the power unit  1088 ; the micro switch  1090  is activated to stop the power unit  1088  from providing power when the knob  100  is rotated to a certain position. More specifically, the certain position corresponds to OFF state of the device for providing heat source or fire. Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  particularly show the micro switch  1090  and a wear plate  110  of the light-emitting knob assembly  10 . When rotating the knob  100 , the micro switch  1090  contacts with the wear plate  110  inside the knob  100 , to start up the power unit  1088  of  FIG. 2 . When the knob  100  is rotated to the position corresponding to OFF state, the micro switch  1090  does not contact with the wear plate  110 , and the power unit  1088  of  FIG. 2  stops providing power, thereby to increase a using time of the power unit  1088 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is an illustrative drawing of the light-sensing plate  102  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the light-sensing plate  102  has bright-dark pattern and comprises a first circle X, a second circle Y, and a third circle Z. The first circle X, the second circle Y, and the third circle Z can be coded to be sensed by the light sensor  1084 , to generate different control signals. The chart below shows codes of the light-sensing plate  102  with respect to light with different strengths generated by the at least one light-emitting diode  1086 , wherein “0” corresponds with blank areas of  FIG. 4 , and “1” corresponds with slash areas of  FIG. 4  (in practice, it is an painted opaque area). Blank areas and slash areas will reflect lights with different strengths to be sensed by the light sensor  1084 . In the chart below, the light-sensing plate  102  can reflect 8 levels of lights, so it is needed to have three light sensors  1084  (2 3 =8). In another embodiment, the light-sensing plate  102  may reflect less levels than eight light levels (such as 6 levels), however, three light sensor  1084  are still used to sense. Besides, the quantity of the light sensors is not limited to three. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Level 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Code XYZ 
                 000 
                 011 
                 101 
                 110 
                 001 
                 111 
                 100 
                 010 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Strength 
                 Weak→Strong 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     For example, when the knob  100  rotates to make the light-sensing plate  102  rotate with respect to the light sensor  1084 , the light sensor  1084  senses the first circle X, the second circle Y, and the third circle Z of the light sensing plate  102  is “000”. The light sensor  1084  generates a control signal corresponding to “000” and transmits the control signal to the control unit  1082 ; the control unit  1082  controls the light-emitting diode  1086  to generate a weakest brightness light, which represents the device for providing heat source or fire is adjusted to a weakest strength of heat source or fire. 
     Relatively, when the light sensor  1084  senses the first circle X, the second circle Y, and the third circle Z of the light sensing plate  102  is “010”, the light sensor  1084  generates a control signal corresponding to “010” and transmits the control signal to the control unit  1082 . The control unit  1082  controls the light-emitting diode  1086  to generate a strongest brightness light, which represents the device for providing heat source or fire is adjusted to a strongest strength of heat source or fire. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly  20  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The isometric, assembled view of the light-emitting knob assembly  20  of the second embodiment of the present invention can be referred to  FIG. 1B . 
     The light-emitting knob assembly  20  is disposed on a device (not shown) for providing a heat source or fire and includes a knob  200 , a driving unit  202 , an axial bush  204 , a base  206  for being fixedly connected to the device and a light generating unit  208 . The device for providing a heat source or fire is such as but is not limited to a gas stove, furnace, or electrical stove. 
     The knob  200  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device for providing a heat source or fire. 
     The driving unit  202  is fixed in the knob  200 . One terminal of the axial bush  204  is fixed in the knob  200 , the other terminal of the axial bush  204  is rotatably connected with the device for providing heat source or fire. More specifically, there is a corresponding axle in the device for providing heat source or fire; the other terminal of the axial bush  204  penetrates the driving unit  202  and rotatably connects with the corresponding axle of the device for providing the heat source or fire. 
     The light generating unit  208  is fixed in the base  206 . The knob  200  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device, and driving the driving unit  202  and the axial bush  204  to be rotated relative to the light generating unit  208 . The light generating unit  208  generates different levels of brightness of lights according to a rotating level of the driving unit  202  with respect to the light generating unit  208  after the driving unit  202  is rotated, to correspondingly display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly  20  of  FIG. 5 . The light generating unit  208  comprises a printed circuit board assembly  2080 , a slide potentiometer  2082 , at least one light-emitting diode  2086 , a power unit  2088 , and a micro switch  2090 . 
     The driving unit  202  is a round plate and a sliding rail  2020  is formed herein. The slide potentiometer  2082  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  2080  and comprises a sliding rod  2084 . The sliding rod  2084  is slidably disposed in the sliding rail  2020 . The at least one light-emitting diode  2086  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  2080  and is electrically connected to the slide potentiometer  2082 . When the knob  200  rotates to make the driving unit  202  rotate, the sliding rail  2020  of the driving unit  202  makes the sliding rod  2084  move, to adjust a resistance value of the slide potentiometer  2082 , and to change a current passing through the light-emitting diode  2086 . Then, the at least one light-emitting diode  2086  generates light corresponding to the current which is inversely proportional to the resistance value. 
     The power unit  2088  is used to provide power to the at least one light-emitting diode  2086 . The position of the power unit  2088  is not limited; the power unit  2088  can disposed inside or outside of the light-emitting knob assembly  20 . The micro switch  2090  is electrically connected with the power unit  2088  and the slide potentiometer  2082 . The micro switch  2090  is activated to stop the power unit  2088  from providing power, when the knob  200  is rotated to a certain position to increase a using time of the power unit  2088 . More specifically, the certain position corresponds to OFF state of the device for providing heat source or fire. In the present embodiment, because the driving unit  202  comprises the sliding rail  2020 , the wear plate  110  of  FIG. 3  is disposed in a middle hole of the driving unit  202 , in other words, in the first embodiment, the wear plate  110  is disposed in the knob  100  away from a center position of the knob  100 ; in the second embodiment, the wear plate  110  is disposed in the knob  200  near the center position of the knob  200 . The wear plate  110  is not shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a light-emitting knob assembly  30  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The isometric, assembled view of the light-emitting knob assembly  30  of the third embodiment of the present invention can be referred to  FIG. 1B . 
     The light-emitting knob assembly  30  is disposed on a device (not shown) for providing a heat source or fire and includes a knob  300 , a driving unit  302 , an axial bush  304 , a base  308  for being fixedly connected to the device, and a light generating unit  308 . The device for providing heat source or fire is such as but is not limited to a gas stove, furnace, or electrical stove. 
     The knob  300  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device for providing heat source or fire. 
     The driving unit  302  is fixed in the knob  300 . One terminal of the axial bush  304  is fixed in the knob  300 , the other terminal of the axial bush  304  is rotatably connected with the device for providing a heat source or fire. More specifically, there is a corresponding axle in the device for providing a heat source or fire, the other terminal of the axial bush  304  rotatably connects with the corresponding axle of the device for providing the heat source or fire. 
     The light generating unit  308  is fixed in the base  306 . The knob  300  is utilized for being rotated to control the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire of the device, and driving the driving unit  302  and the axial bush  304  to be rotated relative to the light generating unit  308 . The light generating unit  308  generates different levels of brightness of lights according to a rotating level of the driving unit  302  with respect to the light generating unit  308  after the driving unit  302  is rotated, to correspondingly display the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a block diagram of interior electrical elements of the light-emitting knob assembly  30  of  FIG. 7 . The driving unit  302  comprises a connecting rod  3020  and a pin  3022 . The connecting rod  3020  connects with the knob  300  via the pin  3022 . The light generating unit  308  comprises a printed circuit board assembly  3080 , a slide potentiometer  3082 , at least one light-emitting diode  3086 , a power unit  3088 , and a micro switch  3090 . 
     The slide potentiometer  3082  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  3080  and comprises a sliding rod  3084 ; the sliding rod  3084  is slidably disposed in the connecting rod  3020 . The at least one light-emitting diode  3086  is disposed on the printed circuit board assembly  3080  and is electrically connected to the slide potentiometer  3082 . When the knob  300  rotates to make the driving unit  302  rotate, the connecting rod  3020  of the driving unit  302  makes the sliding rod  3084  move, to adjust a resistance value of the slide potentiometer  3082 , and to change a current passing through the light-emitting diode  3086 . Then, the at least one light-emitting diode  3086  generates light corresponding to the current which is inversely proportional to the resistance value. 
     The power unit  3088  is used to provide power to the at least one fight-emitting diode  3086 . The position of the power unit  3088  is not limited; the power unit  3088  can be disposed inside or outside of the light-emitting knob assembly  30 . The micro switch  3090  is electrically connected with the power unit  3088  and the slide potentiometer  3082 . The micro switch  3090  is activated to stop the power unit  3088  from providing power, when the knob  300  is rotated to a certain position to increase a using time of the power unit  3088 . More specifically, the certain position corresponds to OFF state of the device for providing heat source or fire. The actuation of the micro switch  3090  can be referred by  FIG. 3 . 
     In the above embodiments, the quantity or color of the at least one light-emitting diode  1086 ,  2086 ,  3086  are not limited. For example, a plurality of light-emitting diodes  1086 ,  2086 ,  3086  with the same color are applied to represent the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire, or a plurality of light-emitting diodes  1086 ,  2086 ,  3086  with different colors are applied to represent the strength of heat source or the strength of fire by different colors. For example, in the first embodiment, red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes can be applied, to make the light-emitting knob assembly  10  show different kinds of colors. 
     Compared with the prior art, the user can know the strength of the heat source or the strength of the fire from a distance by the light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention. Moreover, the light-emitting knob assembly of the present invention has beautiful and decorative function while emitting light. 
     The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can also make some improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, the premise, these improvements and modifications also should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.