Looking for a bidirectional 2 pole rotary switch

[drventure]

Anyone know what such a thing might be called?

Basically, imagine a mouse wheel, but in a rotary switch form factor.

Ie, I can put a knob on it and when I turn it one way, I get clicks on one pole, when I turn it the other, I get clicks on the other pole.

It's pretty much exactly like how a typical Mousewheel works, only in rotary switch form.

I'm sure someone makes such a thing, I'm just not sure what it'd be called.

[lilshawn]

rotary encoder?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_encoder

[drventure]

Thank you!

That's it exactly.

Looks like this might work very nice (and it's a pushbutton to boot)

http://adafruit.com/products/377

[Vigo]

Since you found your solution, I think I might hijack your thread a tad. 

I have been looking at using a rotary encoder for a small project as well, but could never figure out a way to translate it to USB cheaply enough for my needs. I figured I could use something like plug it in to a opti-wiz and that would read it ok, even though I only would need only 1 axis. The thing is the opti-wiz would be around $20 after shipping, plus the 5+ bucks for the rotary dial seemed a bit steep when the same components are already housed in a $2.00 mouse.

Anyone know any cheap and clean USB solutions If I want a USB plug in rotary encoder like that? 

[drventure]

Actually, you're not hijacking at all

I got to reading the spec sheet and that link I posted isn't +exactly+ what I was hoping for.

The issue is with the encoding.

What I was hoping to find is a rotary encoder that essentially "Presses a button" for each click when you turn one direction, and "presses a different button" each click in the other direction.

The encoders I'm finding essentially have 2 output pins who's outputs are offset a half cycle from each other. So effectively at a detente, one output is high the other low. When you rotate the knob, the high output will go low and the low, high, but one will switch before the other, depending on the direction, and you have to have a microcontroller of some sort to register that. or possibly some simple latching circuit?

It's certainly doable, but a tad more than I was hoping to invest.

Basically, I'm looking to put 3 knobs on a jukebox build I'm doing.

Each one can be turned in each direction, and I was HOPING to just hook the knobs up to an IPAC or other keyboard encoder to have the knobs emulate PGUP-DOWN and LEFT-RIGHT.

The idea is for volume, and maybe quick playlist selection or track selection.

[drventure]

Hmm, So with a cheap rotary encoder and a couple flipflops, it's doable

Found this circuit...

http://basicelectronic.blogspot.com/2006/08/rotary-encoder-converter-circuit.html

[lilshawn]

maximic.com has tons of chips. one of over 9000 of them has to be a rotary encoder interface... and free samples to boot! 

[SavannahLion]

Hmm, So with a cheap rotary encoder and a couple flipflops, it's doable

Found this circuit...

http://basicelectronic.blogspot.com/2006/08/rotary-encoder-converter-circuit.html

Looks like it'll work. Your low time is a little long so you'll end up turning the knob further to get the pulses you want.

Watch your signal inversion. If whatever you're hooking up to wants a LOW signal to indicate a button press such as the iPac, you need to pull the signal off of pins 6 and 8 instead of 5 and 9.

But never mind that, doesn't the iPac support rotary encoders directly?

[drventure]

Doesn't look like the IPac would, but the Optipac would. It's 40$, but I'd need to get an IPAC or hack a keyboard anyway, so the optipac just might be the ticket.

[Vigo]

maximic.com has tons of chips. one of over 9000 of them has to be a rotary encoder interface... and free samples to boot! 

I'll have to check that site out. 

[Dechene]

Anyone know what such a thing might be called?

Basically, imagine a mouse wheel, but in a rotary switch form factor.

Ie, I can put a knob on it and when I turn it one way, I get clicks on one pole, when I turn it the other, I get clicks on the other pole.

It's pretty much exactly like how a typical Mousewheel works, only in rotary switch form.

I'm sure someone makes such a thing, I'm just not sure what it'd be called.

Weird, I started this thread just a week or so ago...
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=115402.0

For what its worth,  I installed it in my jukebox for volume control via a cheapo hacked usb game controller and it works an absolute treat.

[drventure]

Interesting idea. 2 switches and a little toggle plate between them... Nice.

I was looking for a different feel though. Where you could actually rotate the knobs like on the original units.

[SavannahLion]

Just had a thought. You might need a pair of small caps to prevent the DC signal. or turn off key repeat in your OS, Otherwise, you might have "stuck" keys.