JP2523233Y2 - Braking device for rotary encoder - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary encoder, and more particularly, to a device for braking the rotation of a rotary encoder when it is rotated to a predetermined angle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In principle, a rotary encoder is provided, for example, with a disk provided on a rotating shaft, and slits formed at predetermined angles along the periphery of the disk, and sandwiches the slit of the disk. A phototransistor and a light-emitting diode are arranged in the above. According to the rotation of the rotation axis, the pulses generated each time the phototransistor receives the light from the LED through each slit are counted, so that the rotation angle of the rotation axis is known. Things. Such a rotary encoder may be used for setting a music number, for example, in a music selection start device of a CD player.

[0003]

However, such a rotary encoder, like a rotary variable resistor, rotates clockwise and counterclockwise by a certain angle, respectively.
It is not configured to rotate any more, and rotates in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Therefore, for example, when used for setting the music number of the music selection cueing device of the CD player, even though the rotating shaft is already rotating in a certain direction to an angle corresponding to the upper limit of the music number. Still, the rotating shaft is rotatable. In such a case, even if the rotating shaft is rotated further, the song number does not increase any further, but unlike a rotary variable resistor, the operator has already set the upper limit by the feel when rotating. Since it is not possible to know that the value has reached the value, the upper limit value of the song number is always stored, and whether the numerical value displayed on the display portion of the song number of the song selection cueing device is the upper limit value or not. Had to be confirmed. Further, when the numerical value displayed on the display section of the song number does not change at the upper limit value, it is determined whether the change is not changed due to the failure or because the rotation has already been performed to the angle corresponding to the upper limit value. There was also a problem that it could not be immediately recognized.

According to the present invention, when it is no longer necessary to rotate the rotary encoder, it is possible to inform the operator of the rotary encoder of the need to rotate the rotary encoder by touch. It is an object to provide a braking device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotary encoder for generating an output corresponding to a rotation angle of a rotary shaft according to the rotation of the rotary shaft. Means and control means are provided. The rotation braking means is provided so as to be disengageable from the rotation shaft, and is configured to brake rotation of the rotation shaft in a predetermined direction in a state of engagement with the rotary encoder. It is configured to be in one of a state in which it is engaged with the rotating shaft and an engagement-releasing state in which the engagement of the rotation braking means with respect to the rotating shaft is released.
The control means compares the output of the rotary encoder with a predetermined allowable value, and when the output of the rotary encoder is within the allowable value, sets the engagement / disengagement means to the escape state, and when the output of the rotary encoder deviates from the allowable value. The engaging / disengaging means is configured to be in an engaged state.

Further, the first of the rotary shafts of the rotary encoder is
When braking is applied to both the rotation in the second direction and the rotation in the second direction, the control means compares the output of the rotary encoder with predetermined tolerances in the first and second directions, When the output of the encoder is out of the range defined by the allowable values in the first and second directions, the engagement / disengagement means can be configured to be engaged.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the output of the rotary encoder is within the allowable value, the control means sets the engagement / disengagement means in the escape state. Therefore, the rotation braking means is not engaged with the rotary encoder, and the rotary encoder can rotate freely. When the rotation axis of the rotary encoder rotates in a predetermined direction and the output of the rotary encoder deviates from the allowable value, the control means engages the engagement / disengagement means, and the engagement / disengagement means engages the braking means with the rotary encoder. Therefore, braking is applied to the rotary encoder, and the operator of the rotary encoder can feel by touch that the rotary encoder is rotating to the allowable value. Similarly, if an allowable value is set for each of the first and second directions, braking can be applied to both directions.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a rotary encoder used for a music selection and cueing device of a CD player. The rotary encoder 2 has a rotating shaft 4, and the rotating shaft 4 has a knob. 6 is attached. Then, as the knob 6 is rotated, the rotation shaft 4 also rotates, and the rotation angle is read by the rotation angle reading unit 8 and supplied to the CPU 10. The rotation angle reading unit 8 sequentially increases the read value when the rotation shaft 4 rotates clockwise, and sequentially decreases the read value when the rotation shaft 4 rotates counterclockwise. The CPU 10 controls the control target 12, for example, a music selection cueing mechanism of a CD player, according to the reading angle of the rotation angle reading unit 8. As the rotation angle read by the rotation angle reading unit 8 increases, the music selection is performed. The music number of the cueing mechanism is increased, and the music number is decreased as the rotation angle decreases.

The CPU 10 is provided with a memory 14, which includes an upper limit value of a song number of a song selection cueing mechanism, for example, the number of songs recorded on a CD disk set in a CD player, a lower limit value, For example, 1 is stored.

A rotary disk 16 is provided at an end of the rotary encoder 2 opposite to the end where the knob 6 of the rotary shaft 4 is provided. The surface of the rotating disk 16 opposite to the rotary encoder 2, that is, the lower surface is a friction surface 16a. Below the rotating disk 16, another rotating disk 18 is provided concentrically with the rotating disk 16, and the surface of the rotating disk 18 facing the friction surface 16 a of the rotating disk 16, that is, the upper surface is also a friction surface. 18a. This rotating disk 18
The sleeve 20 is provided further downward from the center of the lower surface of the. Below the sleeve 20, there is provided a fixed portion 22 which is arranged concentrically with the rotating disk 18, and a columnar portion 24 extending from the center of the upper surface thereof is provided with a sleeve 2.
The rotating disk 18 is rotatable with respect to the columnar portion 24. A cylindrical portion 26 extends downward from the center of the lower surface of the fixed portion 22, and is fixed to a rotation stop mechanism 28. Therefore, the fixed part 22 itself cannot rotate.

An annular peripheral wall 29 is provided at the peripheral edge of the fixed portion 22. A strip-shaped elastic member, for example, a leaf spring 30, is provided between the peripheral wall 29 and the sleeve 20, as shown in FIG. When the sleeve 20 and, consequently, the rotating disk 18 rotate clockwise in FIG. 2A, the leaf spring 30 rotates the sleeve 20 and the rotating disk 18 counterclockwise to return to the original position. The action force is generated. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2B, the sleeve 20 and the annular peripheral wall 2
9, another leaf spring 32 is provided, and this leaf spring 32 is moved counterclockwise in FIG.
When the rotating disk 18 rotates, an acting force for rotating the sleeve 20 and the rotating disk 18 clockwise to return to the original position is generated. The rotating disk 16 described above,
18, the fixing portion 22, the leaf springs 30, 32, and the like constitute the rotation braking means 33.

Although not shown in the drawing, the rotation stopping mechanism 28 can be composed of, for example, a plate-like portion to which the columnar portion 26 is fixed, and an actuator for moving the plate-like portion up and down. May include, for example, a spring and a solenoid. In a state where the solenoid is not biased, that is, in a de-energized state, the spring of the actuator presses the fixing portion 22 upward to engage the friction surfaces 16a and 18a of the rotating disks 16 and 18, and both are engaged. It can be turned around. When the solenoid is energized, the solenoid pulls the spring downward against its acting force, and the friction surfaces 16a, 1
8a is in a non-engaged state, that is, an out-of-engagement state.

The rotation stop mechanism control section 34 controls the rotation stop mechanism 28 according to a control signal from the CPU 10. That is, the CPU 10 compares the rotation angle from the rotation angle reading unit 8 with the upper limit value and the lower limit value stored in the memory 14, respectively, and when the rotation angle from the rotation angle reading unit 8 is less than or equal to the upper limit value. When the rotation angle is greater than or equal to the lower limit, a control signal is supplied to the rotation stop mechanism controller 34 so as to energize the solenoid of the rotation stop mechanism 28, and the rotation angle from the rotation angle reading unit 8 becomes higher than the upper limit. When it is larger or smaller than the lower limit, the rotation stop mechanism controller 3 is configured to deenergize the solenoid.
4 is supplied with a control signal.

According to the braking device for a rotary encoder configured as described above, for example, if the reading value of the rotation angle of the rotary encoder 2 by the reading unit 8 is equal to or less than the upper limit value and equal to or greater than the lower limit value, Since the CPU 10 supplies a control signal for energizing the solenoid of the rotation stop mechanism 28 to the rotation stop mechanism control unit 34, the rotation disk 1
8 is not engaged with the friction surface 16 a of the rotating disk 16. Therefore, the rotating shaft 4 of the rotary encoder 2 can freely rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. Here, for example, when the rotation shaft 4 is rotated clockwise, a music number corresponding to the rotation angle is assigned to the CPU 10.
Is supplied to the music selection start mechanism 12 of the CD player, which is the control object 12, and the music numbers are sequentially increased.

Then, the rotation angle read by the reading unit 8 becomes
When the value becomes larger than the upper limit value stored in the memory 14, the CPU 10 supplies a control signal for deactivating the solenoid of the rotation stop mechanism 28 to the rotation stop mechanism control unit 34. Thereby, the rotation stop mechanism 28 raises the fixed portion 22. Thereby, the friction surface 16 of the rotating disc 16
When the rotating disk 16 rotates clockwise according to the rotation of the rotating shaft 4, the rotating disk 18 also rotates clockwise. At this time, the sleeve 20 and the fixed portion 22 are
Since the leaf spring 30 provided between the annular spring 29 and the annular peripheral wall 29 is pulled in the clockwise direction, the knob 6 cannot be rotated smoothly as before, and the rotary encoder is rotated to the upper limit value as a touch. I understand that there is. If the rotating shaft 4 is further rotated clockwise in this state, the leaf spring 30 will eventually be in a completely tensioned state, and the rotating shaft 4 will not rotate any more, and the rotating shaft 4 will be rotated to an angle exceeding the upper limit. This can be completely recognized by touch.
In this state, when the rotating shaft 4 is rotated counterclockwise, the tension state of the leaf spring 30 is released.

In this state, the reading rotation angle from the reading section 8 is almost at the upper limit. When the rotating shaft 4 is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the reading rotation angle of the reading unit 8 becomes smaller than the upper limit value, and the CPU 10 supplies a control signal for energizing the solenoid to the rotation stop mechanism control unit 34. . As a result, the rotation stopping mechanism 28 is
And the friction surface 16a of the rotating disk 16 and the rotating disk 1
8 is disengaged from the friction surface 18a, that is, the engagement is released, and the rotating shaft 4 of the rotary encoder 2 freely rotates.

When the rotation shaft 4 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the rotation angle read by the reading unit 8 gradually decreases. When the CPU 10 eventually decreases to the lower limit value, the CPU 10 again supplies a control signal to the rotation stop mechanism control unit 34, and the rotation stop mechanism unit 2
8 rises, the friction surface 16a of the rotating disc 16 and the rotating disc 1
8 with the friction surface 18a. When the rotation shaft 4 is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the leaf spring 32
Is pulled. As a result, it is possible to feel by touch that the motor has been rotated counterclockwise to the lower limit, and if it is further rotated counterclockwise, it does not rotate further in the counterclockwise direction, and it is completely felt that it has been rotated to the lower limit. Can be understood by the operator.

In the above-described embodiment, the rotation stop mechanism 28 is described as using a spring and a solenoid. However, as long as the fixed portion 22 can be moved up and down in response to a control signal, various types can be used. Can be used. Also,
In the above embodiment, the brake is applied to both the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, that is, both the upper limit value and the lower limit value. However, only one of them may be provided in some cases. In the above embodiment, the rotating shaft 4 is braked by using the plate springs 30 and 32.
8 is fixed to the sleeve 20 so as not to rotate, and is engaged with the rotating disk 16 to thereby rotate the rotating shaft 4.
Can be configured to make the operator feel resistance when trying to rotate. In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a rotary encoder used for a track selection unit of a CD player. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a rotary encoder used for another device. . In the above embodiment, one control object is controlled by the output of one rotary encoder. However, a configuration is adopted in which a selected one of a plurality of control objects is controlled by the output of one rotary encoder. Can also. In that case, the upper limit value and the lower limit value can be changed according to each control object, and some control objects may not be braked by the present invention. Further, the maximum rotation angle of the rotary encoder defined by the upper limit value and the lower limit value does not need to be limited to 360 degrees, and may be, for example, 400 degrees or 500 degrees.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the rotary shaft of the rotary encoder is rotated beyond a permissible value in a certain direction, or the first permissible value or the second permissible value in the first direction.
When the rotation is performed in a direction exceeding the second allowable value in accordance with the control of the engagement / disengagement means by the control means, the engagement / disengagement means engages the rotation braking means with the rotary encoder to brake the rotation of the rotary encoder. . Therefore, the operator of the rotary encoder can know from the tactile feeling that the brake has been rotated to the allowable value. Therefore, for example, when used in a music selection head search device of a CD player, it is possible to recognize that the music has been rotated to the allowable value without checking the display of the music number each time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a track selection unit for a CD player in which a rotary encoder braking device according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section at a different position of a fixing portion of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 rotary encoder 4 rotating shaft 10 CPU (control means) 16 18 rotating disk 22 fixed part 28 rotation stopping mechanism 30 32 leaf spring 33 rotation braking means

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A rotary encoder configured to generate an output corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotary shaft in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft; Any one of a state in which the rotation braking means is engaged with the rotation shaft and an engagement escape state in which the rotation braking means is released from engagement with the rotation shaft. Control means for comparing the output of the rotary encoder with a predetermined allowable value, and setting the engaging / disengaging means to the engaged state when the output of the rotary encoder deviates from the allowable value. A braking device for a rotary encoder comprising: 2. A rotary encoder, which generates an output corresponding to a rotation angle in accordance with rotation of a rotation shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite thereto, is provided detachably with respect to the rotation shaft. Rotation braking means for braking the rotation of the rotating shaft in an engaged state with the rotary encoder,
Engaging / disengaging means for setting the rotation braking means to one of a state in which the rotation braking means is engaged with the rotation shaft and an engagement release state in which the rotation braking means is released from engagement with the rotation shaft; and Is compared with predetermined allowable values in the first and second directions, and when the output of the rotary encoder is out of the range defined by the allowable values in the first and second directions, the engagement / disengagement means is turned off. A braking device for a rotary encoder, comprising: a control unit for setting an engagement state.