DE102015114800A1 - Knob for controlling an electronic device and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary control for controlling an electronic device, wherein the rotary control has an evaluation unit which determines an output signal for a control parameter based on an angular position of the rotary control, and a storage unit for storing the angular position of the rotary control, and the rotary control a fine adjustment device and a coarse adjustment device for Detecting a rotation angle and / or the angular position and a switching means for reversible switching between the fine adjustment device and the coarse adjustment device, so that when switching from the fine adjustment device to the coarse adjustment device or vice versa means of the switching device, the angular position of the rotary control obtainable and / or transferable and / or is customizable. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electronic device.

Description

The invention relates to a rotary control for controlling an electronic device, wherein the rotary control has an evaluation unit which determines an output signal for a control parameter based on an angular position of the rotary control, and a memory unit for storing the angular position of the rotary control. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electronic device.

A rotary encoder is usually used for measuring the angle of rotational movements of mechanical components. Rotary encoders are often used in rotary encoders as controls to control electronic devices. For example, rotary encoders are commonly used in plant and machinery, automotive, and audio-producing and audio-editing equipment (such as MIDI controllers, synthesizers, and effects processors).

Conventionally, a rotary knob has either an incremental or an absolute rotary encoder.

Incremental encoders have an incremental coding, the relative angular position being determined as a result of a rotational movement. Incremental encoders can be rotated beyond a full 360 ° rotation and the value range of the parameter to be controlled can be mapped. Traversed angle segments are counted independently of the absolute angular position. Since only angle changes are registered with the incremental encoder, there is no absolute value assignment when a device is switched on and the incremental encoder must be referenced if necessary.

In contrast, an absolute encoder has a unique absolute angular position. In this case, the actual physical position is clearly linked to the parameter value to be controlled so that the assignment already exists when a device is switched on. With absolute coding, encoders usually have fixed position limits which can not be exceeded.

For these reasons, electronic devices often have a rotary encoder with an incremental encoder and a second knob with an absolute encoder. Thus, the rotary encoder with the absolute value encoder is used for a coarse and fast setting of the parameter over the entire value range, while the second rotary knob with the incremental encoder (endless controller) is used for the fine adjustment of the parameter.

The disadvantage here is that two rotary control must be arranged on an electronic device and thus there is a correspondingly high space requirements and high costs. In addition, it is disadvantageous for the operator that he must operate at least two individual rotary control for setting an electronic device.

The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

The object is achieved by a rotary control for controlling an electronic device, the rotary control having an evaluation unit which determines an output signal for a control parameter based on an angular position of the rotary control, and a storage unit for storing the angular position of the rotary control, and the rotary control a fine adjustment device and a Rough adjustment device for detecting a rotation angle and / or the angular position and a switching device for reversible switching between the fine adjustment device and the coarse adjustment device, so that when switching from the fine adjustment device to the coarse adjustment device or vice versa by means of the switching device, the angular position of the rotary control obtainable and / or transferable and / or customizable.

Thus, a rotary control is provided which allows both the fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment of a control parameter. By a switching device ensures that the reversible switching between the fine adjustment device and the coarse adjustment device, an angular position remains usable despite the different modes of operation of the two adjustment devices. As a result, signal jumps of the parameter to be controlled during reversible switching are avoided. Consequently, an incremental and / or fine and an absolute and / or coarse adjustment mode can be combined in a rotary control.

An essential idea of the invention is based on designing a fine adjustment device and a coarse adjustment device together in a hybrid rotary control such that both jumps in the value range of the control parameter are both used for setting the same control parameter by reversibly switching between the two modes of operation.

The following concept is explained:
A "rotary control" (also "rotary knob") is in particular an adjustable by turning and / or controllable operating element. An electric rotary control is in particular a potentiometer. A rotary controller for a processor-controlled process is, in particular, a pulse generator, which supplies a directional indication by distributing the pulses on two lines.

By "controlling" is meant, in particular, the directed influencing of the behavior of a technical system. In particular, by controlling a control parameter of an electronic device is set.

A "fine adjustment device" is in particular a device for fine adjustment of an angle change and / or an angular position and thus for controlling a control parameter. A fine adjustment device is, in particular, a rotary encoder and / or an incremental encoder.

A "coarse adjustment device" is in particular a device for roughly setting an angle change and / or an angular position and thus for controlling a control parameter. In a coarse adjustment device is in particular a rotary encoder and / or an absolute encoder.

An "evaluation unit" is in particular a unit which decodes the mostly digital output signals of the fine adjustment device and / or the incremental encoder and / or the coarse adjustment device and / or the absolute value encoder. By means of the evaluation unit, the relative angular position as a result of a rotational movement and / or absolute coding the absolute angular position is determined in particular in incremental coding. This determination can be made in particular by optical, mechanical and / or electrical measuring methods. This can be done in particular via sliding contacts, wherein on a code disk electrically conductive and non-conductive areas are applied or there is an optical detection of the coding on a code disk with multiple code tracks. Likewise, the detection can be done with magnetic, capacitive and / or inductive systems. In particular, the evaluation unit also has a memory unit for storing the angular position of the rotary encoder. In addition, the evaluation unit has, in particular, a controller which, when switching between the fine and / or incremental and the coarse and / or absolute coding, detects and / or stores the current state of the rotary control and / or forwards the correct signals depending on the selected mode.

A "storage unit" (also referred to as "data storage" or "storage medium") is in particular a unit for storing data. A memory unit stores in particular the angular position of a rotary control. In particular, a memory unit may be a volatile memory and / or a read-only memory, with the latter still being present when the electronic device is switched off when it is switched on again.

An "angular position" is in particular the position within a full circle of 360 ° of the rotary control and / or rotary encoder. In the case of multiturn encoders, in particular the angular position is uniquely determined over the range of 360 °. The angular position is in particular a current and / or absolute and / or relative and / or stored and / or minimum and / or maximum angular position of a rotary encoder. The absolute angular position is in particular the actual physical position, which is uniquely associated with the parameter value to be controlled.

A "switching device" is in particular a device which, after mechanical and / or electrical actuation, switches over from the fine adjustment device to the coarse adjustment device or vice versa. In particular, the switching device switches reversibly, wherein a jump does not occur in the value range of the control parameter.

In a further embodiment of the rotary control, the fine adjustment device has an incremental encoder and / or the coarse adjustment device has an absolute value transmitter.

Thus, a hybrid knob can be realized by means of an incremental encoder and / or absolute encoder.

An "incremental encoder" is in particular a sensor for detecting rotating angle changes, wherein the angle change and / or the direction of rotation can be detected. In particular, an incremental encoder at the output provides two signals phase-shifted by 90 ° with respect to each other, by means of which the direction of rotation and angle of rotation can be determined. In particular, with an incremental encoder relative angular positions are determined as a result of a rotational movement by means of the incremental coding. In particular, an incremental encoder is an endless encoder and can map a value range of the parameter to be controlled over a complete 360 ° rotation. In particular, the incremental encoder supplies a certain number of pulses per revolution and / or a zero pulse (reference pulse) per revolution. In particular, the value is formed by counting the pulses in an evaluation unit. An absolute angular position is possible only after processing a reference mark and / or detecting the marking of the zero point (referencing). Therefore, in particular when switching on an electronic device there is no absolute value assignment with the incremental encoder according to the prior art, so that parameter values in particular into one Memory of the evaluation and / or be managed by a downstream system of an electronic device. In particular, an incremental encoder has an incremental coding, which is evaluated by an evaluation unit. In particular, an incremental encoder according to the invention can be a rotary encoder for fine-tuning a control parameter without there being any incremental coding and / or use and / or evaluation. Thus, an incremental encoder can in particular also allow several but not endlessly many revolutions.

An "absolute encoder" is in particular an angle measuring device which has a unique absolute angular position. The absolute measured value is available in particular without referencing immediately after switching on an electronic device, since the actual physical position is uniquely associated with the coding of the rotary encoder and thus with the parameter value to be controlled. An absolute value encoder has fixed position limits, in particular with absolute coding, which can not be exceeded. An absolute value encoder outputs the position information, in particular in the form of a digital numerical value, which is unique over the entire resolution range of the absolute value encoder. The transmission of the absolute values from the absolute encoder to the controller takes place in particular partially in series via a corresponding interface and / or with a bus system. An absolute value encoder may in particular be a single-turn rotary encoder which can only resolve one revolution and then starts again from zero, or it is a multi-turn rotary encoder which can resolve several revolutions. By means of a single-turn rotary encoder, in particular each angular position is assigned a coded position value. Thus, in particular, the absolute position after several revolutions remains known, the revolutions must be counted by the controller and / or evaluation and stored at power off. By a multi-turn encoder in particular each angular position and every full revolution is assigned a coded position value. So that the absolute position remains known after several revolutions, in particular the revolutions in the evaluation unit are also counted after switching off. To detect the revolutions, for example, a plurality of code discs, which are internally connected via a transmission used. An absolute value encoder is used in particular for coarse adjustment of a control parameter.

In a further embodiment of the rotary control, the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder are configured in one component.

As a result, the incremental encoder and the absolute value encoder can advantageously be integrated in a single rotary knob / knob. This saves space and costs and reduces the operator effort. Thus, a component is provided, which includes both modes of operation - the fine adjustment and coarse adjustment.

For easy switching and function change, the rotary control has a switching element, in particular a push button, for reversible switching between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder.

As a result, the operator can switch reversibly between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder in a simple manner by actuating the switching element. Consequently, the operator can quickly switch between a fine and a coarse adjustment of the control parameter.

In this case, the switching element can be arranged separately, for example next to the rotary control, and / or be integrated in the rotary control. It is particularly advantageous if the rotary knob itself is designed as a rotatable push button, so that can be switched reversibly by pushing in and / or pulling out of the push button between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder. Also, the push button may be configured such that not the entire push button but only an outer ring and / or an inner portion of the push button is pressed to switch and / or pulled out.

With the reversible switching between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder by actuation of the switching element, the switching device can be activated and / or operated.

A "switching element" is in particular a mechanically actuated electrical component. The switching element is in particular a component which establishes or separates (switching contact) and / or produces a mechanical operative connection by means of two electrically conductive materials or a semiconductor component an electrically conductive connection and / or dissolves. In particular, the switching device can be activated and / or switched directly by actuating the switching element. In particular, the switching element performs a circuit / movement in the Z direction and thus perpendicular to the plane of rotation. When integrating the switching element in the push button, which is designed as a knob, this can be done in a simple manner, an operation in two levels. So can be changed between the incremental and / or fine and the absolute and / or coarse operation by pulling or pushing in the rotary control.

In a further embodiment of the rotary control, the switching device has two concentrically arranged shafts, wherein the two shafts are operatively connected directly and / or via a transmission, so that upon a manual rotation of the rotary control, the driving shaft performs an identical or a different rotation than the driven shaft and reversible switching between the incremental encoder and / or the fine adjustment device and the absolute encoder and / or the coarse adjustment device by means of the switching element, a ratio of the rotations of the two waves to each other changes.

Thus, in this embodiment, no incremental coding is used, but instead of an incremental encoder, the fine adjustment is realized via the two operatively connected shafts by means of the absolute encoder. There are several but not any number of revolutions of the rotary knob for fine adjustment possible. Consequently, only the absolute coding needs to be evaluated.

As a result, an immediate jump of the parameter value to be controlled during a change in the mode of operation from the fine adjustment to the coarse adjustment or vice versa can be avoided.

The fact that the two shafts are arranged concentrically, both can be set by manually turning the rotary control directly into rotation. It is particularly advantageous if the outer shaft designed as a ring gear and is arranged concentrically around the inner shaft. Since the manual operation of the rotary control is usually carried out on the outer jacket, it is advantageous that the outer shaft drives the inner shaft. Likewise, it is also possible conversely that the inner shaft drives the outer shaft.

For example, in the operation of the incremental encoder for fine parameter setting, the outer shaft is directly connected to the inner shaft, so that the rotational speed and / or the angular range of the two shafts are the same. By pressing in the hybrid rotary control, the changeover to the functioning of an absolute value encoder for coarse parameter setting takes place. Here, the inner shaft is connected, for example via gears with the outer shaft and has a higher rotational speed and / or a larger angular range covered than the outer shaft. The angle measurement of the encoder is based on the absolute coding, which is placed on the inner shaft. By always reading only the absolute coding of the inner shaft, no signal jumps occur when the modes of operation between the fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment change.

A "gear" is in particular a machine element with which movement quantities are changed. In particular, the transmission changes the rotational movement of the two concentrically arranged shafts to each other. A transmission is in particular a gear transmission. In particular, the transmission is switchable by the switching device in its transmission ratio, so that depending on the position of the switching element an equal or different rotation of the two concentrically arranged waves can be present.

So that no signal jumps occur during the reversible switching between the incremental encoder and / or the fine adjustment device and the absolute encoder and / or the coarse adjustment device, an encoding of an absolute angular position is determined by the driving shaft or the driven shaft by means of the evaluation unit.

Because the absolute angular position is determined only by one shaft - either the driving shaft or the driven shaft - the absolute position is transmitted and / or adjusted.

In a further embodiment of the rotary control, when switching from the incremental encoder to the absolute encoder, the switching device has a default element, in particular a latch, for setting a minimum angular position and / or a maximum angular position for the absolute encoder.

As a result, in the case of an incremental coding and an absolute coding in parallel, position limits in the absolute mode of the absolute value encoder are determined in spite of an incremental encoder with any number of revolutions. By the default element is ensured during the transition from incremental to absolute mode that the knob can not be further rotated arbitrarily, but has a minimum position and / or maximum position. The rotary knob holds these position limits in absolute mode until it is set back into incremental mode by pressing the switching element.

A "default element" is in particular a component which specifies the minimum angular position and / or the maximum angular position for the absolute value encoder when switching from the incremental encoder to the absolute value encoder. A default element may in particular be a latch.

To recode the absolute position in absolute mode, an incremental encoder deviation between the absolute angular position and a current one becomes Control value assigned angular position after switching from the incremental encoder to the absolute encoder by a manual rotation of the rotary control over a correct control parameter associated angular position by the evaluation by a controller, the evaluation unit unlocks the absolute angular position or the correct the control parameter value associated angular position from a memory unit in the absolute encoder.

It is advantageous to indicate to the operator the currently stored absolute angular position by, for example, a LED ring on the rotary knob.

In this case, signal jumps are avoided in particular by the fact that the parameter value to be controlled during the transition from incremental mode to absolute mode is initially maintained despite the angular position deviation until the operator "picks up" the current stored value of the absolute angular position.

In a further embodiment, the rotary controller has an incremental coding and / or an absolute coding, so that the incremental coding or the absolute coding can be evaluated by means of the evaluation unit as a function of the switching element.

As a result, it is determined, depending on the position of the switching element, which of the two codes is read out.

So that the absolute angular position, in particular after switching off a power supply, can be called up and / or adjusted, the memory unit stores the absolute angular position of the rotary control in a memory.

As a result, the absolute angular position in reversible switching between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder can be retrieved from the memory and / or adjusted. In addition, no referencing of the hybrid rotary control after, for example, a power failure is required.

In a further embodiment, the rotary control has a display element for displaying a stored and / or current and / or absolute angular position.

Thus, the operator can be displayed the relevant angular position for him. This is particularly useful for the operator, since in the presence of two parallel encodings, the incremental and the absolute encoding, it can not initially know which absolute angular position is currently stored. This can be displayed to him, for example, by an LED ring on the controller.

A "display element" is in particular a device for the optical signaling of variable information (states and / or values). The display element shows the operator in particular an angular position optically. In particular, the display element is integrated in and / or on the rotary control.

In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has a previously described rotary control.

As a result, an electronic device can be provided, in which not two components for fine and coarse adjustment must be arranged, but both functions can be realized by a single hybrid knob. This leads to a significant saving of space on the operator console of the electronic device.

In addition, electronic devices, which previously had only one of the two types of control dials for reasons of space, can now be extended by the hybrid rotary control in terms of functionality.

In an electronic device with previously one incrementally operating and one absolute rotary knob can therefore be halved when using the hybrid rotary control according to the invention, the number of required controls.

An "electronic device" (also called "electrical device") is a device powered by electrical energy for private and / or commercial use.

• – Einschalten des elektronischen Geräts durch einen Bediener,
• – Anzeigen der absoluten Winkelposition des Drehreglers,
• – Einstellen des Drehregler auf den Absolutwertgeber durch Bedienen des Schaltelementes, falls der Drehregler auf den Inkrementalgeber voreingestellt ist,
• – Einstellen, insbesondere grobes Einstellen, eines Steuerparameters durch Drehen des Drehreglers durch den Bediener,
• – Umschalten des Drehreglers auf den Inkrementalgeber durch Betätigen des Schaltelementes,
• – Einstellen, insbesondere feines Einstellen, des Steuerparameter durch Drehen des Drehreglers durch den Bediener,
• – Ausgeben eines Signals an einem Ausgang des Drehreglers mittels der Auswerteeinheit und
• – Einstellen des Steuerparameters des elektronischen Gerätes aufgrund des ausgegebenen Signals.

Thus, the following method of controlling an electronic device by means of a previously described rotary control can be realized with the following steps:

• Turning on the electronic device by an operator,
• Indication of the absolute angular position of the rotary control,
• - Setting the rotary control to the absolute encoder by operating the switching element, if the rotary knob is preset to the incremental encoder,
• Setting, in particular rough setting, of a control parameter by turning the rotary control by the operator,
• - switching the rotary controller to the incremental encoder by actuating the switching element,
• Setting, in particular fine adjustment, of the control parameter by turning the rotary control by the operator,
• - Outputting a signal at an output of the rotary control by means of the evaluation and
• - Setting the control parameter of the electronic device based on the output signal.

Furthermore, the invention will be explained with reference to exemplary embodiments. Show it

1 a schematic representation of a hybrid rotary control as a push button,

2a a hybrid rotary control with a switching device with Sonnenradwelle and Hohlradwelle in the position of the incremental encoder with inactive planetary gears and

2 B a hybrid rotary control with a switching device with Sonnenradwelle and Hohlradwelle in the position of the absolute value encoder with active planetary gears.

A hybrid knob 101 is on both sides in the direction of rotation 102 rotatable and arranged on the control panel of a MIDI controller. The hybrid knob 101 is as a push button 103 designed. The push button 103 indicates the position of the incremental encoder 104 and the position of the absolute encoder 105 on.

By pressing in the push button 103 becomes the position of the incremental encoder 104 to the position of the absolute value encoder 105 in the direction of the Z axis 108 switched. This will change the hybrid knob 101 from the incremental mode to the fine adjustment to the absolute mode of operation for coarse adjustment of a bass sound.

A hybrid knob 201 is as a push button 203 executed. Inside, the hybrid knob has a sun gear shaft 210 and outside a Hohlradwelle 212 on. The ring gear shaft 212 has three planet wheels 215 on. The hybrid knob 201 has a display element for displaying the absolute angular position 214 and readable encoder discs (not shown).

By pulling out the push button 203 is the hybrid knob 201 in the position of the incremental encoder 104 been put. Here is the ring gear shaft 212 directly with the sun gear shaft 210 connected and the planetary gears 215 (not shown) are inactive.

The ring gear shaft 212 drives the sun gear directly 210 at, wherein the rotation range of the ring gear shaft 213 and the rotation range of the sun gear shaft 211 are the same. Turn the hybrid knob 201 occurs in the position of the incremental encoder 104 the fine parameter setting.

Subsequently, the push button 203 Pressed by the operator into the position of the absolute encoder 105 , causing the hybrid knob 201 switches to coarse parameter setting mode. By pressing in the push button 203 the switching device is activated, whereby the ring gear shaft 212 over the three planet wheels 215 the sun gear shaft 210 drives. As a result, the rotation range of the ring gear shaft 213 less than the rotation range of the sun gear shaft 211 ,

The absolute coding of the sun gear shaft 210 is from an evaluation unit of the hybrid rotary control 201 evaluated and the absolute angular position 214 is attached to a LED wreath on the hybrid knob 201 displayed. An output signal from the evaluation unit sets the bass sound through the MIDI controller.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

101

 Hybrid knob

102

 direction of rotation

103

 push-button

104

 Position of the incremental encoder

105

 Position of the absolute value encoder

106

 X axis

108

 Z-axis

201

 Hybrid knob

203

 push-button

206

 X axis

207

 Y-axis

210

 sun

211

 Rotation range of the sun gear shaft

212

 ring gear

213

 Rotation range of the ring gear shaft

214

 absolute angular position

215

 planet

Claims (12)

Rotary control ( 101 . 201 ) for controlling an electronic device, wherein the rotary control is an evaluation unit, which outputs an output signal for a control parameter due to an angular position ( 214 ) of the rotary control, and a memory unit for storing the angular position of the rotary control, characterized in that the rotary control a fine adjustment device ( 104 ) and a coarse adjustment device ( 105 ) for detecting a rotation angle and / or the angular position and a switching device for reversibly switching between the fine adjustment device and the coarse adjustment device, so that when switching from the fine adjustment device ( 104 ) on the coarse adjustment device ( 105 ) or conversely, by means of the switching device, the angular position of the rotary control is obtainable and / or transferable and / or adaptable. Knob according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fine adjustment device has an incremental encoder and / or the coarse adjustment device has an absolute value encoder. Knob according to claim 2, characterized in that the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder are configured in one component. Knob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary control a switching element, in particular a push button ( 103 . 203 ), for reversibly switching between the incremental encoder and the absolute encoder. Knob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching means (two concentrically arranged shafts 210 . 212 ), wherein the two shafts directly and / or via a transmission ( 215 ), so that when a rotary knob is turned manually, the driving shaft will rotate in the same direction or different ( 211 . 213 ) as the driven shaft and reversible switching between the incremental encoder and / or the fine adjustment device and the absolute encoder and / or the coarse adjustment means by means of the switching element, a ratio of the rotations of the two waves to each other changes. Knob according to claim 5, characterized in that the rotary control is arranged such that a coding of an absolute angular position of the driving shaft or the driven shaft by means of the evaluation unit is determined. Knob according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when switching from the incremental encoder to the absolute encoder, the switching device has a default element, in particular a latch, for setting a minimum angular position and / or a maximum angular position for the absolute encoder. Encoder according to claim 7, characterized in that the knob is arranged such that an existing at the incremental difference between the absolute angular position and a current control parameter value associated angular position after switching from the incremental encoder for absolute encoder by a manual turning of the knob about a correct the control parameter value associated Angle position is canceled by the evaluation by means of a controller, wherein the evaluation unlocks the absolute angular position or the correct the control parameter value associated angular position from a memory unit in the absolute encoder. Knob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the knob comprises an incremental coding and / or an absolute coding, so that in dependence of the switching element, the incremental coding or absolute encoding is evaluated by means of the evaluation unit. Knob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memory unit stores the absolute angular position of the rotary knob in a memory, so that the absolute angular position, in particular after switching off a power supply, is retrievable and / or adaptable. Knob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary control has a display element for displaying a stored and / or current and / or absolute angular position. Electronic device, characterized by a rotary control according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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