Patent Description:
Current electronic devices, such as smart toothbrushes, dental flossers, shavers, hair dryers, handheld vacuum cleaners and other home appliances, are limited by the small size of the electronic devices. As a result, many mechanical switches of the electronic devices have a simple function, and signal input can only be performed by pressing or rotating buttons, which cannot meet the diversified signal input requirements of users. The publication <CIT> describes a watch case with a control knob. <CIT> D3 discloses a crown that can be pushed to activate one switch and rotated to activate another switch via a gear linkage.

The present invention provides a signal entry apparatus for an electronic device based on mechanical gear and provides a signal input mode which meets the diversified signal input requirements.

The present invention is achieved by a signal entry apparatus for an electronic device based on mechanical gear linkage, which is applied to an electronic device, the signal entry apparatus according to claim <NUM> and the operation of the electronic device is correspondingly adjusted by the circuit board according to the input electrical signal.

Preferably, the transmission mechanism comprises:.

Preferably, a sliding rail provided on a curved outer wall of the rotating disk is slidably arranged inside a sliding groove provided in an inner wall of the bottom shell, and the end face gear is hidden by a top inner edge of the bottom shell.

A pressure encoder, a pressure sensing module provided on the encoder senses pressure change values, and these pressure change values generate corresponding electrical signals through regular rotation, so that the encoder transmits appropriate electrical signals to the circuit board.

A a sliding mechanism is provided between the transmission shaft and the encoder, the sliding mechanism comprising:.

Preferably, a bottom side wall of the sliding plate is provided with a sliding rail, and a rolling ball structure provided in the sliding rail rolls between the sliding groove and the sliding plate.

Preferably, a contact surface between the sliding plate and the stepped teeth is arc-shaped, which can reduce the friction between the sliding groove and the sliding plate, so as to fully transmit the pressure generated by the stepped teeth pushing the sliding plate to the pressure sensing module of the encoder.

Preferably, a prompt mechanism is provided on the bottom shell, the prompt mechanism comprising:.

Preferably, the end face gear is provided with a marking gear tooth. The sound generated by the rolling ball when the rolling ball rotates to the marking gear tooth made of a different material is different from the sound generated when the rolling ball rotates to the other gear teeth, which can help the user to determine the number of rotations, and improve the user's control over the rotation information sent by the rotating disk.

Compared with the prior art, embodiments of the present invention have the beneficial effects as follows.

Unless otherwise defined, all technological and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used in the description of the present application herein are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "first", "second", etc. in the description and the claims of the present application as well as the foregoing drawings are used to distinguish between different objects, rather than describing a specific order.

The phrase "embodiment" mentioned herein means that the specific features, structures and characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment may be included in at least one of the embodiments of the present application. The phrase at various positions in the description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, or an independent or alternative embodiment exclusive of another embodiment. Those skilled in the art understand explicitly or implicitly that an embodiment described herein may be combined with another embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a signal entry apparatus for an electronic device based on mechanical gear linkage. As shown in <FIG>, the signal entry apparatus for an electronic device based on mechanical gear linkage is applied to an electronic device and comprises: a rotating disk <NUM> mounted on a bottom shell <NUM> of the electronic device; a transmission mechanism <NUM> arranged inside the bottom shell <NUM> and rotatably connected to the rotating disk <NUM>; and an encoder <NUM> connected to the transmission mechanism <NUM>. The encoder <NUM> converts a mechanical movement characteristic generated by the transmission mechanism <NUM> into an electrical signal, which electrical signal is transmitted through a circuit to a circuit board <NUM> arranged inside the bottom shell <NUM>, and the electronic device is adjusted by the circuit board <NUM>.

It should be noted that the electronic device could be one of a smart toothbrush, a dental flosser, sa haver, a hair dryer, a handheld vacuum cleaner and other home appliances, which will not be limited here.

A waterproof inner shell <NUM> is provided inside the bottom shell <NUM> of the electronic device, the circuit board <NUM> arranged inside the waterproof inner shell <NUM> is connected via a circuit to a surface <NUM> provided on an outer side of the rotating disk <NUM>. A closed space is formed between the surface <NUM>, the waterproof inner shell <NUM> and the bottom shell <NUM>. Except for a connection line between the circuit board <NUM> and the encoder <NUM>, the closed space formed between the surface <NUM>, the waterproof inner shell <NUM> and the bottom shell <NUM> is not in contact with the outside, thus reducing the entry of external air moisture and increasing the waterproof performance of the electronic device. The circuit board <NUM> and the surface <NUM> are both components of the electronic device, which are applications of the prior art.

A sliding rail provided on a curved outer wall of the rotating disk <NUM> slides in a sliding groove provided on an inner wall of the bottom shell <NUM>, the sliding rail on the rotating disk <NUM> and the sliding groove on the inner wall of the bottom shell <NUM> are both prior art, an end face gear <NUM> is provided at a lower end face of the rotating disk <NUM>, and the end face gear <NUM> is hidden by a top inner edge of the bottom shell <NUM>.

The transmission mechanism <NUM> comprises: a rotating gear <NUM> rotatably arranged on an outer knob shell <NUM> of the bottom shell <NUM>; and a transmission shaft <NUM> connected between the rotating gear <NUM> and the encoder <NUM>. An outer edge of the rotating gear <NUM> is rotatably connected to the end face gear <NUM>, the transmission shaft <NUM> is directly connected to a rotating shaft of the encoder <NUM>, and the rotation generated by the rotating disk <NUM> is transmitted to the encoder <NUM> through the transmission mechanism <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the encoder is a sensor that converts mechanical geometric displacement of an output shaft into pulse or digital quantity and the different electrical signals are transmitted to the circuit board <NUM> located inside the waterproof inner shell <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> performs a corresponding operation according to the corresponding information, and more characteristic signals can be encoded according to the number of rotations of the rotating disk <NUM> to better complete the information conversion work of the electronic device, such as switching pages, returning, confirming and other operations. The encoder <NUM> is driven by the rotating disk <NUM>, which makes it possible to prevent a drive structure from directly coming into contact with the circuit board <NUM>, reduce the chance of the circuit board <NUM> being in contact with the outside, and improve the waterproof performance of the circuit board <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a sliding mechanism is provided between the transmission shaft <NUM> and the encoder <NUM>. The sliding mechanism comprises: a sliding plate <NUM> in contact with and connected to stepped teeth <NUM> provided at a top end of the transmission shaft <NUM>; and a sliding groove <NUM> provided on the bottom shell <NUM> and slidably connected to the sliding plate <NUM>.

Under the action of the rotation of the transmission shaft <NUM> on the stepped teeth <NUM>, an uneven surface of the stepped teeth <NUM> pushes the sliding plate <NUM> sliding in the sliding groove <NUM>, so that different pressure values are generated on the encoder <NUM> in contact with and connected to the sliding plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the encoder <NUM> is a pressure encoder. The pressure encoder can convert a pressure change value received by a pressure sensing module of the pressure encoder into a specific electrical signal. The stepped teeth <NUM> are prior art, and are composed of a cylindrical structure with an uneven arc surface. The arc surface will produce a pushing effect similar to a cam structure, and the cooperation between the sliding plate <NUM> sliding on the sliding groove <NUM> and the arc surface of the stepped teeth <NUM> will convert the rotational movement into a reciprocating movement. An effect is produced similar to the conversion of rotational movement into reciprocating movement by a crank link.

A pressure sensing module of the encoder <NUM> is in contact with and connected to one end of the sliding plate <NUM>, the other end of the sliding plate <NUM> is in contact with and connected to the stepped teeth <NUM>. Under the action of the transmission shaft <NUM>, the stepped teeth <NUM> rotates to convert the rotational movement of the transmission shaft <NUM> into a reciprocating linear movement, so as to push the sliding plate <NUM> to move back and forth in the sliding groove <NUM>. The pressure sensing module of the encoder <NUM> in contact with and connected to the sliding plate <NUM> will produce different pressure values due to the sliding plate <NUM> sliding back and forth. Through the regular rotation, these pressure change values generate a special electrical signal to record the number of rotations, so that the encoder <NUM> with a pressure sensing ability recognizes the rotation condition of the transmission shaft <NUM> according to the law of the pressure values, so as to transmit different electrical signals to the circuit board <NUM> to achieve the work of signal entry for the electronic device.

As a preferred implementation in this embodiment, a side wall of a portion of the sliding plate <NUM> sliding in the sliding groove <NUM> is provided with a sliding rail, and a rolling ball structure <NUM> provided in the sliding rail rolls between the sliding groove <NUM> and the sliding plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the rolling ball structure <NUM> is prior art, which can reduce the friction between the sliding groove <NUM> and the sliding plate <NUM>, so as to fully transmit the pressure generated by the stepped teeth <NUM> pushing the sliding plate <NUM> to the pressure sensing module of the encoder <NUM>, thus reducing the error generated in the process of signal transmission.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a contact surface between the sliding plate <NUM> and the stepped teeth <NUM> is arc-shaped. The efficiency of the stepped teeth <NUM> pushing the sliding plate <NUM> is improved, the friction is reduced, and the error generated by the mechanical structure is further reduced.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bottom shell <NUM> is provided with a prompt mechanism <NUM>. The prompt mechanism <NUM> comprises: a mounting seat <NUM> fixed on the bottom shell <NUM>; a limitation ring <NUM> mounted to a top end of the mounting seat <NUM>; and a rolling ball <NUM> which slides on an inner wall of the mounting seat <NUM> and which is in contact with and connected to the end face gear <NUM>. A top portion of a spring <NUM> provided in the mounting seat <NUM> is in contact with and connected to the rolling ball <NUM>. When the rolling ball <NUM> slides on a gear surface of the end face gear <NUM>, the rolling ball <NUM> moves reciprocatingly inside the mounting seat <NUM> under the support of the spring <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the mounting seat <NUM> is a cylindrical structure with a circular opening on the top end surface. The spring <NUM> and the rolling ball <NUM> are both assembled inside the mounting seat <NUM>, and the limitation ring <NUM> mounted to the top end of the mounting seat <NUM> via a threaded structure is a circular through ring structure. The diameter of a circular opening on an upper end face of the limitation ring <NUM> is smaller than that of a circular opening on a lower end face, and is smaller than that of the rolling ball <NUM>. When the spring <NUM> and the rolling ball <NUM> are both assembled inside the mounting seat <NUM>, the limitation ring <NUM> prevents the rolling ball <NUM> from leaving the mounting seat <NUM>. The prompt mechanism <NUM> generates sound prompts through sliding of the rolling ball <NUM> on a gear surface of the end face gear <NUM>, which can improve the experience of the product while prompting the user to operate.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the end face gear <NUM> is provided with a marking gear tooth. The sound generated by the rolling ball <NUM> and the marking gear tooth when the rolling ball <NUM> rotates to the marking gear tooth will be different from the sound generated by the rolling ball and the other gear teeth.

In this embodiment, the marking gear tooth is prior art, and is mainly made of a different material from the other gear teeth. The sound generated when the rolling ball <NUM> rotates to the marking gear tooth being different from that when rotating to the other gear teeth can help the user to determine the number of rotations, and improve the user's control over the rotation information sent by the rotating disk <NUM>, improving the control accuracy of the signal transmission process.

Claim 1:
A signal entry apparatus for an electronic device based on mechanical gear linkage, which is applied to an electronic device, comprising:
a rotating disk (<NUM>);
a transmission mechanism (<NUM>) arranged inside a bottom shell (<NUM>) of the electronic device and rotatably connected to the rotating disk (<NUM>); and
an encoder(<NUM>) connected to the transmission mechanism(<NUM>),
wherein the encoder(<NUM>) converts a mechanical movement characteristic signal generated by the transmission mechanism (<NUM>) into an electrical signal, which electrical signal is transmitted through a circuit to a circuit board (<NUM>) arranged inside the bottom shell (<NUM>),
characterized in that
a sliding mechanism (<NUM>) is provided between the transmission shaft and the encoder (<NUM>), which is a pressure encoder, the sliding mechanism comprising:
a sliding plate (<NUM>) in contact with and connected to stepped teeth (<NUM>) provided at a top end of the transmission shaft (<NUM>); and
a sliding groove provided on the bottom shell (<NUM>) and slidably connected to the sliding plate (<NUM>),
wherein the stepped teeth (<NUM>), under the action of rotation of the transmission shaft (<NUM>), push the sliding plate (<NUM>) to move reciprocatingly in the sliding groove, and the sliding plate (<NUM>) is in contact with and connected to the encoder (<NUM>).