(12) United States Patent
`Yeh
`
`USOO63964.19B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,396,419 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 28, 2002
`
`(54) VOLUME CONTROL KNOB FOR USE WITH
`A LAPTOP COMPUTER
`
`(75) Inventor: Shih-Ping Yeh, Taipei (TW)
`(73) Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc., Taipei (TW)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/524,423
`(22) Filed
`Mar 11, 2000
`CC
`ar. II,
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................. H03M 1/22
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................................... 341/16; 381/109
`(58) Field of Search ............................. 341/16; 710/38;
`381/104, 109, 107, 118, 26, 306, 58, 124
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,548,655 A
`8/1996 Takahashi ................... 381/104
`
`5,977.499 A * 11/1999 Black et al. ................ 200/303
`6,009,181 A 12/1999 Kim ........................... 381/109
`6,170,024 B1 * 1/2001 Wakeland et al. ............ 710/38
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Data Sheet; Oct. 9, 1997.
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner Peguy JeanPierre
`Assistant Examiner Joseph J Lauture
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rabin & Berdo, P.C.
`57
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A volume control knob for use with a laptop computer uses
`the engagement between the Springs and the connecting
`plates to generate different messages. The messages will
`then be transmitted to the chip received in the Secondary
`control device. With the messages received by the chip, the
`Volume of the laptop computer is controlled.
`
`7 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
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`61
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`Lenovo EX-1008, Page 001
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 1 of 15
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`Fig. 1
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 3 of 15
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`Fig.2b
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 4 of 15
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 5 of 15
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`Fig. 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 6 of 15
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`Fig. 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 7 of 15
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`Fig. 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 8 of 15
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 9 of 15
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`Fig. 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mav 28, 2002
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`Sheet 10 Of 15
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 11 Of 15
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`Fig. 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 12 of 15
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`Fig.11
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 13 Of 15
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`Fig. 12
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 14 of 15
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`Fig. 13
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 28, 2002
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`Sheet 15 of 15
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`Fig. 14
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`Lenovo EX-1008, Page 016
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`1
`VOLUME CONTROL KNOB FOR USE WITH
`A LAPTOP COMPUTER
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a Volume control knob,
`and more particularly to a Volume control knob for use with
`a laptop computer. With the knob, the user is able to control
`the Volume of the laptop computer directly, as well as the
`volume control Software.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Traditionally, a laptop computer uses a volume control
`Software to control the volume. There is no other auxiliary
`device provided to control the volume. However, due to the
`bug in the Software, a variable resistance is introduced to
`control the volume of the laptop. Still, the variable resistance
`has the following disadvantages:
`1. not easy to control the Volume
`Because the manner of using a variable resistance to
`control the Volume of a laptop has nothing to do with the
`Software, the user might be confused as to what he/she
`should adjust to control the Volume.
`2. easy to have malfunction
`After a long period of using the variable resistance, the
`mechanical parts of the variable resistance may have bad
`connection, which causes inaccuracy of controlling the
`Volume or can not adjust the Volume at all. That is, the user
`will have to Send the laptop for repair quite often. To
`overcome the aforementioned problems, a later improve
`ment to control the Volume of the laptop is to directly use the
`keyboard, so called “Hot Key” to complete the work.
`However, because the user complains about the inconve
`nience of using a Single hot key to control the Volume, using
`two keys to control the volume of the laptop is then invented
`to facilitate the control. But Still, using two keys to control
`the Volume confronts the same problem of inconvenience.
`Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a
`Volume control knob to mitigate and/or obviate the afore
`mentioned problems.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The primary objective of the invention is to provide a
`volume control knob with which the volume of a laptop
`computer is controlled. The Volume control knob uses a
`variable resistance as the Switch to control the Volume,
`which is easy to operate and needs almost no extra attention.
`Another objective of the invention is to provide a knob
`having a mute function, Such that when the user does not
`want to bother others, the user only needs to press the knob
`to dramatically reduce the Volume.
`Still another objective of the invention is to provide a
`volume control knob which is able to simultaneously control
`the volume control Software so as that the user will not be
`confused when adjusting the Volume next time.
`Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inven
`tion will become more apparent from the following detailed
`description when taken in conjunction with the accompa
`nying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a volume control knob
`in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2a is a top plan view showing a primary control
`device of the invention;
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`2
`FIG.2b is a bottom plan view showing a primary control
`device of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing a Secondary control
`device of the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the combination
`between the primary control device and the Secondary
`control device;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the user is controlling
`the volume control knob of the invention with the finger;
`FIG. 6 is a Schematic view showing the user is rotating the
`Volume control knob clockwise,
`FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the user is rotating the
`Volume control knob counterclockwise,
`FIG. 8 is a side view showing the second preferred
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a primary control
`device constructed in accordance with the Second preferred
`embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a mediate control
`device constructed in accordance with the Second preferred
`embodiment;
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a Secondary control
`device constructed in accordance with the Second preferred
`embodiment;
`FIG. 12 is a side view showing the assembled volume
`control knob of the second preferred embodiment; and
`FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic views showing that the
`user is rotating the Volume control knob to control the
`Volume of the laptop computer.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`With reference to FIG. 1 of the first preferred embodiment
`of the invention, the volume control knob (12) has a primary
`control device (14). The volume control knob (12) uses
`digital control method (i.e., digital control signals) to control
`the Volume of the laptop computer.
`With reference to FIG.2a, the primary control device (14)
`has a control disc (141), an annular recess (142) defined in
`a connecting member (not numbered) Securely connected
`with the control disc (141) and a leaf spring (143) received
`in the annular recess (142) with its two distal ends extending
`out respectively in different directions.
`With reference to FIG. 3, the secondary control device
`(16) has two elongate notches (161) and multiple chips (162)
`respectively defined and mounted in a base (not numbered).
`As shown in FIG. 4, when the primary control device (14)
`is assembled with the secondary control device (16), the
`two distal ends of the leaf spring (143) respectively rest in
`one of the two notches (161). With Such a structure, the
`control disc (141) is able to move up and down with respect
`to the secondary control device (16) and is able to move
`inward. With the assistance of the recoil force of the leaf
`spring (143), after the control disc (141) moves inward, the
`control disc (141) is able to return to its original position.
`The primary control device (14) further has multiple con
`necting plates (144).shown in FIG. 2b, Securely mounted
`thereon, such that when the control disc (141) moves
`upward, downward or inward with respect to the Secondary
`control device (16), the contact between the connecting
`plates (144) and the multiple chips (162) will therefore
`generate different messages (i.e., control Signals) with
`which, the volume control knob (12) uses as a control
`Switch.
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`US 6,396,419 B1
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`3
`With reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, besides the move
`ments described above, the volume control knob (12) is
`controlling the Volume by rotating clockwise to increase the
`Volume and to decrease the Volume by rotating the knob
`counterclockwise. Furthermore, when pressing the knob, the
`laptop computer is in Silence. That is, when the knob is
`pressed, the laptop is in mute mode.
`Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, it is to be noted that
`the second preferred embodiment is shown. The volume
`control knob (22) has a primary control device (24), a
`mediate control device (26) and a secondary control device
`(28). The primary control device (24) is mounted on top of
`the mediate control device (26) and the Secondary control
`device (28) is mounted below the mediate control device
`(26). The primary control device (24) has a controlling rod
`(241) and multiple helical springs (242) Securely connected
`with one distal end of the controlling rod (241), such that
`when the controlling rod (241) is rotated, the Springs (242)
`will simultaneously be rotated. Furthermore, the controlling
`rod (241) is able to return to its original position after being
`pressed with the assistance of the recoil force of the Springs
`(242). The mediate control device (26) has a annular recess
`(261) defined therein and multiple connecting plates (262)
`Securely received in the annular recess (261). The Secondary
`control device (28) has a chip (281) mounted therein for
`transmitting messages.
`When the above mentioned components are assembled,
`the helical Springs (242) are received in the annular recess
`(261) and engage with the connecting plates (262) and the
`annular recess (261) engages with the chip (281). With Such
`an arrangement, the Volume control knob (22) of the inven
`tion is able generate different messages by rotating
`clockwise, counterclockwise or even pressing the control
`ling rod (241) as a control switch to control the volume of
`the laptop.
`With reference to FIGS. 12, 13, 14, the rotation of the
`volume control knob (22) is to control the volume of the
`laptop and the pressing thereof is to Set the laptop in mute
`mode.
`It is to be understood, however, that even though numer
`ous characteristics and advantages of the present invention
`have been Set forth in the foregoing description, together
`with details of the structure and function of the invention,
`the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made
`in detail, especially in matters of Shape, Size, and arrange
`ment of parts within the principles of the invention to the full
`extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms
`in which the appended claims are expressed.
`What is claimed is:
`1. In combination, a computer, and a volume control knob
`for controlling Said computer, Said Volume control knob
`comprising:
`a primary control device with a resilient member, Said
`primary control device being rotatable in a first
`direction, and rotatable in a Second direction that is
`opposite to the first direction, and being pushable; and
`a Secondary control device with at least one chip mounted
`thereon, and being rotatably engaged with distal ends
`of the resilient member,
`wherein when Said primary control device is rotated in the
`first direction, Said primary control device engages Said
`chip to generate a first control Signal to increase a
`Volume of Said computer;
`wherein when Said primary control device is rotated in the
`Second direction, Said primary control device engages
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`Said chip to generate a Second control Signal to decrease
`the Volume of Said computer;
`wherein when Said primary control device is pushed, Said
`primary control device engages Said chip to generate a
`third control Signal to mute the Volume of Said com
`puter; and
`wherein Said resilient member returns Said primary con
`trol device to an original position after being rotated in
`the first direction, after being rotated in the Second
`direction, and after being pushed.
`2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the resil
`ient member is a leaf Spring provided adjacent to the
`Secondary control device, with which the primary control
`device is able to move upward, downward and inward
`respect to the Secondary control device and to return to its
`original position.
`3. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said
`computer is a laptop computer.
`4. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said at
`least one chip comprises a plurality of chips.
`5. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein the pri
`mary control device has a control disc and a connecting
`member Securely connected with the control disc, Said
`connecting member having an annular receSS defined
`therein, Said leaf Spring being received in the annular receSS
`with two distal ends of the leaf Spring extending out respec
`tively in different directions.
`6. In combination, a computer, and a Volume control knob
`for controlling Said computer, Said Volume control knob
`comprising:
`a primary control device having a controlling rod and
`multiple helical Springs Securely connected with one
`distal end of the controlling rod, Said controlling rod
`being rotatable in a first direction, and rotatable in a
`Second direction that is opposite to the first direction,
`and being pushable, wherein when the controlling rod
`is rotated, the Springs will Simultaneously be rotated;
`a mediate control device mounted below the primary
`control device and having an annular receSS defined
`therein for receiving the helical Springs and multiple
`connecting plates Securely received in the annular
`receSS and rotatably connected with the helical Springs,
`a Secondary control device having at least one chip
`provided to engage with the annular receSS for trans
`mitting messages.
`wherein when said controlling rod is rotated in the first
`direction, Said mediate control device is caused to
`engage Said chip to generate a first control signal to
`increase a volume of Said computer;
`wherein when Said controlling rod is rotated in the Second
`direction, Said mediate control device is caused to
`engage Said chip to generate a Second control signal to
`decrease the Volume of Said computer;
`wherein when said controlling rod is pushed, said mediate
`control device is caused to engage Said chip to generate
`a third control Signal to mute the Volume of Said
`computer, and
`wherein Said Springs return Said controlling rod to an
`original position after being pushed.
`7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein said
`computer is a laptop computer.
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