GB2381071A

GB2381071A - A Rotary Encodable Switch

Info

Publication number: GB2381071A
Application number: GB0124793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wen Lin Chen
Original assignee: Arc Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Arc Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-16
Filing date: 2001-10-16
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Also published as: DE20117170U1; NL1019536C1; FR2833390A3; GB0124793D0; FR2833390B3

Abstract

A switch includes a circuit board 10 having a number of conductor members, one or more plate 40 rotatably secured to the circuit board 10 and each having one or more conductor blades 43 selectively engaged with the conductor members of the circuit board for encoding purposes. The switches may be engaged in the remote control device and the receiver of the electric facilities and may be coded to the same codes for controlling the selected electric facilities. A housing 20 is secured to the circuit board, and a seat 30 is rotatably secured in the housing for receiving the plate 40. The housing 20 may include a chamber 21 formed by a number of bulges 26. The seat may include a projection 36 for engaging with these bulges 26. The seat may also include a slot 38, allowing rotation of the seat using a coin or screwdriver.

Description

ENCODABLE SWITCH FOR REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES The utility model relates to an encodable switch for remote control devices.

Typical remote control devices have been widely used for controlling the electric facilities, such as the televisions, refrigerators, electric fans, ceiling fans, light devices. computers, vehicles, anti-theft control devices for vehicles and families, etc.

However, the typical remote control devices may each be used for controlling one of the electric facilities, and may not be used for controlling the other electric facilities. Some of the electric facilities may include an encodable integrated circuit for allowing the users to change. or to encode the remote control devices. However. the integrated circuits or devices are expensive.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an encodable switch for remote control devices and for allowing the remote control devices to be encoded to control various kinds of electric facilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a switch comprising a circuit board including a number of conductor members. At least one plate is rotatably secured to the circuit board, and includes at least one conductor blade selectively engaged with the

conductor members of the circuit board for encoding purposes. The switches may be engaged in the remote control device and the receiver of the electric facilities and may be coded to the same codes for controlling the selected electric facilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an encodable switch for remote control devices; FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the encodable switch for remote control devices, as seen from the bottom of the encodable switch; FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the switch device: FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the. encodable switch for remote control devices, as seen from the upper of the encodable switch; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the encoding of the encodable switch for the remote control devices; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the encodable switch for the remote control devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an encodable switch for remote control devices is illustrated and comprises a circuit board 10 including one or more orifices 11 formed therein and including one or more areas 12 each having an aperture 16 formed therein and a number of

conductor members 14 disposed thereon (FIG. 4). One or more housings 20 each includes one or more legs 23 engaged into the orifices 11 of the circuit board 10, and each having a catch 24 for securing to the circuit board 10 and an inclined surface 25 for allowing the catches 24 to be easily engaged through the orifices 11 of the circuit board 10 and to lock the housings 20 to the circuit board 10. The housings 20 each includes a chamber 21 formed by a number of convex bulges 26. a number of cavities 27 formed between every pair of adjacent bulges 26, and an opening 22 formed therein.

The housings 20 each includes an outer portion having a number of marks or letters 28, such as A, B, C... P, provided thereon (FIG. 4).

A seat 30 is rotatably received in the chamber 21 of each of the housings 20, and includes an axle 31 engaged into the aperture 16 of the circuit board 10 and for rotatably securing the seat 30 to the circuit board 10. The seat includes one or more pins 32, and one or more. such as two opposite curved grooves 33 formed therein for forming or defining a pair of opposite resilient flanges 34 respectively. The flanges 34 each includes a projection 36 extended outward therefrom for engaging with the bulges 26 and the cavities 27 of the housings 20 and for positioning the seat 30 relative to the housings 20 at the required angular position. The seat 30 includes a swelling 37

rotatably engaged in the opening 22 of the housing 20 and a slot 38 formed in the swelling 37 for aligning or indicating to either of the marks or letters 28 of the housing 20. A screw driver, a coin, or the other tools may be engaged into the slot 38 for rotating the seat 30 relative to the housing 20 and the circuit board 10.

A conductor plate 40 includes a hole 41 for receiving the axle 31 of the seat 30, and one or more holes 42 for receiving the pins 32 and for securing the plate 40 to the seat 30 and for allowing the plate 40 and the seat 30 to be rotated in concert with each other. The plate 40 includes one or more conductor blades 43 extended therefrom and each having a conductor protrusion or point 44 provided on the free end thereof for engaging with the conductor members 14 of the circuit board 10.

Referring next to FIG. 5, the plate 40 includes four conductor blades 43, for example, for engaging with the conductor members 14 of the circuit board 10. When the respective conductor blade 43 is electrically contacted with the respective conductor members 14, a low potential (0). for example, will be generated. On the contrary, when the respective conductor blade 43 is not electrically contacted with the respective conductor members 14, a high potential (1) will be generated. The electric contacts of the four conductor blades 43 with the conductor members 14 of the circui

board 10 may thus be encoded as shown in Table 1 and FIG. 5.

Table 1: the codes corresponding to the marks.

mark code ------------------------------A 0 0 0 0 B 0001 C 0010 D 0011 E 0 1 0 0 F 0 1 0 1 G 0 1 1 0 H 0111 I 1000 J 1001 K 1 0 1 0 L 1011 M 1100 N 1101 0 1 1 1 0 P 1 1 1 1

In operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the electric facilities 70, such as the televisions. refrigerators. electric fans. ceiling fans, light devices, computers. vehicles, anti-theft control devices for vehicles and families, etc. , may each include a receiver 60 provided or engaged therein. The remote control device 50 and the receiver 60 of the electric facilities 70 may each include an encodable switch as shown in FIGS. 1-4 engaged therein. When the encodable switches engaged in both the remote control device 50 and the receiver 60 of the electric facilities 70 are both encoded to the same code, such as the code A (0 0 0 0), the remote control device 50 may be used for controlling the

selected electric facility 70. Similarly, the encodable switches may also be encoded to the other codes, such as the codes B, C.... P, etc. , the remote control device 50 may then be used for controlling the other selected electric facilities 70.

Claims

CLAIMS :-

1. A switch comprising a circuit board including a number of conductor members, characterized in that: at least one plate is rotatably secured to the circuit board, and includes at least one conductor blade selectively engaged with the conductor members of the circuit board for encoding purposes.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a seat rotatably secured to the circuit board, the plate being secured to said seat and rotated in concert with the seat.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seat includes a slot for rotating purposes.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a housing secured to the circuit board and including a chamber for rotatably receiving the seat.

5. A switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a number of convex bulges and cavities formed between the bulges, the seat includes at least one projection for engaging with either of the cavities of the housing.

6. A switch as claimed in claim 5. wherein the seat includes at least one curved groove for forming a flange, the projection is provided on the flange.

7. A switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes at least one catch for securing the housing to the circuit board.

8. A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seat includes at least one pin, the plate includes at least one hole for receiving the pin and for securing the plate to the seat.

9. A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seat includes an axle engaged with the circuit board for rotatably securing the seat to the circuit board.

10. A switch substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.