CN212347706U

CN212347706U - Direction key assembly

Info

Publication number: CN212347706U
Application number: CN202020733064.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 古里洛二世·吉帕玛
Original assignee: Razer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Razer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-07
Filing date: 2020-05-07
Publication date: 2021-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-07
Also published as: AU2019100491A4; DE202020102543U1; TWM606325U

Abstract

A direction key assembly may include a direction control structure having an upper face and a lower face. The direction key assembly may comprise fulcrum means which may be such that the direction control structure may support the centre of the underside of the direction control structure in a multi-directionally tiltable manner about the fulcrum means. The direction key assembly may further comprise four or more switches distributed around the fulcrum device. Each switch may have an actuating element directed towards the lower side of the direction control structure. The direction key assembly may further include four or more elastically deformable spacers. Each spacer may be disposed between a respective switch and the underside of the directional control structure. Each spacer may have a first portion abutting a respective actuation element of a respective switch and a second portion abutting a corresponding portion of the underside of the direction control structure.

Description

Direction key assembly

Technical Field

Various embodiments are generally directed to a direction key assembly. In particular, various embodiments relate generally to a directional key assembly for a directional pad (D-pad) button of a game controller.

Background

The directional key (D-pad) button of a game controller is typically used to control the direction while the user is playing the game. In some combat-type games, a combination or joint action/movement may require a user to press a series of two or more directions on directional key buttons of a game controller in a relatively quick manner in order to initiate the combination or joint action/movement. Typically, a game may require that the series of two or more directions be pressed on the directional key buttons of the game controller within milliseconds in order for the game to recognize that the user is initiating a combined or joint action/movement. Most conventional direction key buttons comprise four switches representing four different directions, wherein the switch activating elements are suspended from the respective switches by the membrane structure such that there is always a gap between the respective switch and the respective switch activating element. Thus, to activate a particular direction, the desired direction must be activated by deforming the membrane structure to move the corresponding switch activating element through the gap to contact the corresponding switch. Moving the switch activating element through the corresponding gap permanently creates a time delay when the user presses the direction key button to activate a direction.

Therefore, a more efficient direction key assembly is needed to solve the above problems.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to various embodiments, a directional key assembly is provided. The directional key assembly may include a directional control structure having an upper face and a lower face. The direction key assembly may comprise fulcrum means which may be such that the direction control structure may support the centre of the underside of the direction control structure in a multi-directionally tiltable manner about the fulcrum means. The direction key assembly may further comprise four or more switches distributed around the fulcrum device. Each switch may have an actuating element directed towards the lower side of the direction control structure. The direction key assembly may further include four or more elastically deformable spacers. Each elastically deformable spacer may be disposed between a respective switch and the underside of the direction control structure. Each elastically deformable spacer may have a first portion abutting a respective activation element of a respective switch and a second portion abutting a corresponding portion of the underside of the direction control structure.

Drawings

In the drawings, like reference numerals generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of a direction key assembly according to various embodiments;

FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the directional key assembly of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of a directional key assembly, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view (A-A) of the directional key assembly of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view (B-B) of the directional key assembly of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3A illustrates an assembly view of a directional key assembly, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view (A-A) of the directional key assembly of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional view (B-B) of the directional key assembly of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments; and is

FIG. 3D illustrates an exploded view of the directional key assembly of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments.

Detailed Description

The embodiments described below in the context of an apparatus are similarly valid for the respective method, and vice versa. Further, it is to be understood that the embodiments described below can be combined, e.g., a portion of one embodiment can be combined with a portion of another embodiment.

It should be understood that the terms "on … …," "above … …," "top," "bottom," "down," "side," "back," "left," "right," "front," "lateral," "up," and the like are used for convenience in the following description and to aid in understanding the relative position or orientation, and are not intended to limit the orientation of any device or structure or any portion thereof. In addition, the singular terms "a", "an" and "the" include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word "or" is intended to include "and" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Various embodiments are generally directed to a direction key assembly. In particular, various embodiments relate generally to a directional key assembly for directional key (directional key) buttons of a game controller. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly may be a mechanism that converts the action of a user's thumb pressing a directional key button of the game controller into an electronic signal when a switch is actuated by movement of the directional control assembly of the directional key assembly. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly may be configured such that immediate activation of the corresponding switch may be achieved without a permanent time delay due to gaps in the conventional directional key assembly. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly may provide fast response and good feedback.

FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of a directional key assembly 100, according to various embodiments. FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the directional key assembly 100 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 100 may include a directional control structure 110, the directional control structure 110 having an upper face 112 and a lower face 114. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 110 may be configured to move in cooperation with the motion of the user's thumb as the user moves his/her thumb to control direction with the direction key buttons of the game controller. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 110 may be a plate-like structure in the form of a flat piece of material. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 110 may include, but is not limited to, a disk shape, a circle, a ring shape, an oval shape, a cross shape, or a quadrilateral shape. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 110 may be a disk-like structure.

According to various embodiments, the directional control structure 110 may be an integral part of the directional key buttons of the game controller. According to various embodiments, the directional control structure 110 may be a directional key button of a game controller that is directly engageable by a thumb of a user. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 100 may include a button cover (not shown) that may be coupled to the upper face 112 of the directional control structure 110. Accordingly, the direction control structure 110 and the button cover may be two separate pieces that are fixedly coupled together such that a user's thumb may engage the button cover to move the direction control structure 110.

According to various embodiments, the upper face 112 of the direction control structure 110 and the lower side 114 of the direction control structure 110 may be opposite faces of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, when the directional key assembly 100 is installed in a game controller, the upper side 112 of the directional control structure 110 may face the outside of the game controller and the lower side 114 of the directional control structure 110 may face the inside of the game controller. According to various embodiments, when the directional key assembly 100 is installed in a game controller, the directional control structure 110 of the directional key assembly 100 may be oriented such that the underside 114 of the directional control structure 110 may point towards the base cover of the game controller.

According to various embodiments, directional key assembly 100 may include a fulcrum arrangement 120 that may enable directional control structure 110 to support center 116 of underside 114 of directional control structure 110 in a multi-directionally tiltable manner about fulcrum arrangement 120. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may be configured to support the direction control structure 110 to be tiltable in at least four radial directions relative to the center 116 of the direction control structure 110, the four directions being separated by 90 °. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may be configured such that the direction control structure 110 may be tilted in all radial directions with respect to the fulcrum device 120. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum arrangement 120 may include any suitable joint arrangement, including, but not limited to, a ball joint or a horizontal free joint or a universal joint, for example.

According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may include a central support 118 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the central support 118 of the direction control structure 110 may protrude from the center 116 of the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the central support 118 of the direction control structure 110 may protrude downward from the center 116 of the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110 in such a way that the central support 118 of the direction control structure 110 may protrude from the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the center support 118 may include a rounded root 119. According to various embodiments, the center support 118 may be a rounded or hemispherical protrusion, or a protrusion with an end or hemispherical end. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may include a socket portion 122 having a corresponding concave portion 124. According to various embodiments, the rounded root 119 of the center support 118 may be located in a corresponding concave portion 124 of the socket portion 122. Thus, in this configuration, the direction control structure 110 may be tiltable in all radial directions relative to the center 116 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the socket portion 122 may be secured to the reference base frame 102. According to various embodiments, the reference base frame 102 may be an internal frame of a game controller. Accordingly, the direction control structure 110 may be tiltable relative to the reference base frame 102. According to various embodiments, the reference base frame 102 may be a printed circuit board of a game controller to which the directional key assembly 100 may be mounted.

According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 100 may include four or more switches 130 distributed around the fulcrum device 120. According to various embodiments, four or more switches 130 may be disposed at regular intervals around the fulcrum device 120. According to various embodiments, when the direction key assembly 100 includes four switches 130, the four switches 130 may be disposed around the fulcrum device 120 at 90 ° intervals from each other with respect to the fulcrum device 120. According to various embodiments, four or more switches 130 may be mounted to the reference base frame 102.

According to various embodiments, each switch 130 may include an activation element 132 pointing towards the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. Accordingly, the actuating element 132 of the respective switch 130 may face the underside 114 of the directional control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the activation element 132 of the respective switch 130 may be located at an uppermost portion of the respective switch 130.

According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 100 may include four or more elastically deformable spacers 140. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 140 may be disposed between the respective switch 130 and the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. Accordingly, each elastically deformable spacer 140 may act as a cushion between the corresponding switch 130 and the underside 114 of the directional control structure 110. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 140 may have a first portion 142 abutting a respective activation element 132 of a respective switch 130 and a second portion 144 abutting a corresponding portion of the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the first portion 142 of the elastically deformable spacer 140 may be a first surface and the second portion 144 of the elastically deformable spacer 140 may be a second surface. According to various embodiments, the first and second surfaces may be opposing surfaces of the elastically deformable spacer 140. In another example embodiment, each elastically deformable spacer 140 may wrap around a foot or push protrusion (not shown in fig. 1A) that may extend downward from the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. The first portion 142 of the elastically deformable spacer 140 may contact the corresponding activation element 132. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 140 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer.

According to various embodiments, the tilting movement of the direction control structure 110 may activate the activation element 132 of the corresponding switch 130 with minimal time delay via the elastically deformable spacer 140 with the respective elastically deformable spacer 140 sandwiched between the respective switch 130 and the direction control structure 110. At the same time, the direction control structure 110 may also deform the elastically deformable spacer 140 when the direction control structure 110 is tilted, such that the tilting movement of the direction control structure 110 may be similar to the tilting movement of a conventional directional key that moves through a gap before actuating the switch. Accordingly, the directional key assembly 100 may minimize or eliminate time delay issues while still providing similar tactile sensations and sensations to the user when pressing the directional control structure 110 of the various embodiments.

Fig. 2A illustrates a top view of a directional key assembly 200, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view (A-A) of the directional key assembly 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view (B-B) of the directional key assembly 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C may contain all the features of the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B. Accordingly, all the features, changes, modifications and variations applied to the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B may also be applied to the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A to 2C. According to various embodiments, similar to the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B, the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C may include a direction control structure 110, a fulcrum device 120, four or more switches 130, and four or more elastically deformable spacers 140. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C may differ from the directional key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B in that the directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C may further include the following additional features and/or limitations.

According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 200 may further include four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 distributed around the fulcrum device 120 in an alternating manner with four or more switches 130. Accordingly, four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 and four or more switches 130 may be distributed around the fulcrum device 120 one after the other in an alternating manner, such that one switch 130 may be followed by one elastically deformable support structure 250, and the elastically deformable support structure 250 may be followed by another switch 130, and so on.

According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may be configured to bias the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110 in a manner that balances the neutral-balanced, untilted orientation of the direction control structure 110 relative to the fulcrum device 120. Accordingly, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may be configured to have a tendency to return the directional control structure 110 to a neutral, equilibrium, untilted orientation after the directional control structure 110 has been tilted by the user. According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may cooperatively return the directional control structure 110 to a neutral, equilibrium, untilted orientation regardless of the radial direction in which the directional control structure 110 may be tilted by the user. According to various embodiments, each of the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer.

According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may be mounted directly to the same reference base frame 102 to which the four or more switches 130 may be mounted. According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250 may be mounted to a bracket (not shown), which in turn may be mounted to the reference base frame 102.

According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable support structure 250 may comprise a hollow frustoconical structure having a respective narrower head portion 252 pointing towards the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110 and a respective wider base portion 254 pointing away from the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, a respective narrower head portion 252 of each elastically deformable support structure 250 may engage with the underside 114 of the direction control structure 110. According to various embodiments, the respective wider base portions 254 may be directly coupled to the reference base frame 102. Accordingly, each elastically deformable support structure 250 may be between the direction control structure 110 and the reference base frame 102. According to various embodiments, the respective wider base portions 254 may be coupled to brackets, which in turn may be mounted to the reference base frame 102.

According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may include an elastically deformable portion 222. According to various embodiments, the socket portion 122 of the fulcrum device 120 may be an elastically deformable portion 222. Accordingly, the rounded root 119 of the center support 118 of the direction control structure 110 may be located in the corresponding concave portion 124 of the elastically deformable portion 222. According to various embodiments, the elastically deformable portion 222 of the fulcrum device 120 of the direction key assembly 200 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 120 may allow a limited degree of movement along the fulcrum device 120 in a direction perpendicular to the untilted direction control structure 110, with the elastically deformable portion 222 provided in the fulcrum device 120. Accordingly, in addition to tilting about the fulcrum device 120, the directional control structure 110 may also translate in an up/down motion along a direction perpendicular to the non-tilted directional control structure 110. According to various embodiments, with the elastically deformable portion 222 provided in the fulcrum device 120, the direction control structure 110 may be pressed by a user in a manner that may activate all switches 130 simultaneously, but may prevent accidental activation of all switches 130, because the elastically deformable portion 222 may need to apply a predetermined force before the direction control structure 110 may be pressed by the user in a manner that activates all switches 130.

According to various embodiments, the elastically deformable portion 222 of the fulcrum device 120 of the direction key assembly 200 may be made of a material having a hardness higher than that of the material of the four or more elastically deformable support structures 250. Accordingly, the force required to tilt the direction control structure 110 (i.e., deform the corresponding elastically deformable support structure 250) may be less than the force required to translate the direction control structure 110 up and down (i.e., deform the elastically deformable portion 222 of the fulcrum device 120 of the direction key assembly 200).

According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 200 may include a button cover 260 that may be coupled to the upper face 112 of the directional control structure 110. Accordingly, the direction control structure 110 and the button cover 260 can be two separate pieces that are fixedly coupled together such that a user's thumb can engage the button cover 260 to move the direction control structure 110.

FIG. 3A illustrates a directional key assembly 300 in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view (A-A) of the directional key assembly 300 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional view (B-B) of the directional key assembly 300 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments. Fig. 3D illustrates an exploded view of the directional key assembly 300 of fig. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 300 of fig. 3A to 3D may contain all the features of the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A to 2C. Accordingly, all of the features, changes, modifications and variations applied to the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A to 2C may also be applied to the direction key assembly 300 of fig. 3A to 3D. According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 300 of fig. 3A-3D may further include additional features and/or limitations in addition to those of the directional key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or the directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C.

According to various embodiments, directional key assembly 300 may include a directional control structure 310 having an upper face 312 and a lower face 314, similar to directional key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 310 may be configured to move in cooperation with the motion of the user's thumb as the user moves his/her thumb to control direction with the direction key buttons of the game controller. According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 310 may be a plate-like structure in the form of a flat piece of material. As shown, the directional control structure 310 may be a disk-like structure, according to various embodiments. It is to be appreciated that, according to various embodiments, the direction control structure 310 may include, but is not limited to, a disk, a circle, a ring, an ellipse, a cross, or a quadrilateral.

As shown, according to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 300 may include a button cover 360 that may be coupled to the upper face 312 of the directional control structure 310. Accordingly, the directional control structure 310 and the button cover 360 may be two separate pieces that are fixedly coupled together such that a user's thumb may engage the button cover 360 to move the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the directional control structure 310 may be an intermediate structure or interface structure between the button cover 360 that directly interacts with the user's thumb and the electronic components of the game controller.

According to various embodiments, upper side 312 of direction control structure 310 and lower side 314 of direction control structure 310 may be opposing sides of direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, when the directional key assembly 300 is installed in a game controller, the upper side 312 of the directional control structure 310 may be directed to the outside of the game controller and the lower side 314 of the directional control structure 310 may be directed to the inside of the game controller. According to various embodiments, when the directional key assembly 300 is installed in a game controller, the directional control structure 310 of the directional key assembly 300 may be oriented such that the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310 may point towards the base cover of the game controller.

According to various embodiments, similar to directional key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C, directional key assembly 300 may include a fulcrum device 320, which may enable directional control structure 310 to support center 316 of underside 314 of directional control structure 310 in a multi-directionally tiltable about fulcrum device 320. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum arrangement 320 may be configured to support the direction control structure 310 so as to be tiltable in at least four radial directions relative to the center 316 of the direction control structure 310, the four directions being separated by 90 °. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 320 may be configured such that the direction control structure 310 may be tiltable in all radial directions relative to the fulcrum device 320.

According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 320 may include a central support 318 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, a central support 318 of the direction control structure 310 may protrude from a center 316 of the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the central support 318 of the direction control structure 310 may protrude downward from the center 316 of the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310 in such a manner that the central support 318 of the direction control structure 310 may protrude from the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the center support 318 may include a rounded root 319. According to various embodiments, the center support 318 may be a rounded or hemispherical projection, or a protrusion with rounded or hemispherical ends. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 320 may include an elastically deformable socket portion 322. According to various embodiments, the elastically deformable socket portion 322 may include a corresponding concave portion 324. According to various embodiments, the rounded root 319 of the center support 318 may be located in a corresponding concave portion 324 of the elastically deformable socket portion 322. Accordingly, in this configuration, the directional control structure 310 may be tiltable in all radial directions relative to the center 316 of the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, elastically deformable socket portion 322 of fulcrum arrangement 320 of directional key assembly 300 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer. According to various embodiments, the fulcrum device 320 may also allow a limited degree of movement along the fulcrum device 320 in a direction perpendicular to the untilted directional control structure 310, using an elastically deformable socket portion 322 provided in the fulcrum device 320. Accordingly, in addition to tilting about the fulcrum device 320, the directional control structure 310 may also be translated in an up/down motion in a direction perpendicular to the non-tilted directional control structure 310.

According to various embodiments, similar to directional key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or directional key assembly 200 of fig. 2A-2C, directional key assembly 300 may include four or more switches 330 distributed around fulcrum device 320. According to various embodiments, four or more switches 330 may be disposed at regular intervals around the fulcrum device 320. According to various embodiments, when directional key assembly 300 includes four switches 330, the four switches 330 may be disposed around fulcrum device 320 at 90 ° intervals from each other with respect to fulcrum device 320. According to various embodiments, four or more switches 330 may be mounted to the reference base frame 302. According to various embodiments, the reference base frame 302 may be an internal frame of a game controller. Accordingly, the direction control structure 310 may be tiltable relative to the reference base frame 302. According to various embodiments, the reference base frame 302 may be a printed circuit board of a game controller to which the directional key assembly 300 may be mounted.

According to various embodiments, each switch 330 may include an activation element 332 pointing towards the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. Accordingly, the actuating element 332 of the respective switch 330 may face the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the activation element 332 of the respective switch 330 may be located at an uppermost portion of the respective switch 330.

According to various embodiments, the direction key assembly 300 may include four or more elastically deformable spacers 340, similar to the direction key assembly 100 of fig. 1A and 1B and/or the direction key assembly 200 of fig. 2A to 2C. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 340 may be disposed between a respective switch 330 and the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310. Accordingly, each elastically deformable spacer 340 may act as a cushion between the respective switch 330 and the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 340 may have a first portion 342 abutting a respective activation element 332 of a respective switch 330 and a second portion 344 abutting a corresponding portion of the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the first portion 342 of the elastically deformable spacer 340 may be a first surface and the second portion 344 of the elastically deformable spacer 340 may be a second surface. According to various embodiments, the first and second surfaces may be opposing surfaces of the elastically deformable spacer 340. According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable spacer 340 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer.

According to various embodiments, a tilting movement of the direction control structure 310 may activate the activation element 332 of the corresponding switch 330 with a minimum time delay via the elastically deformable spacer 340, with the respective elastically deformable spacer 340 sandwiched between the respective switch 330 and the direction control structure 310. At the same time, the direction control structure 310 may also deform the elastically deformable spacer 340 when the direction control structure 310 is tilted, so that the tilting movement of the direction control structure 310 may be similar to the tilting movement of a conventional direction key that moves through a gap before actuating a switch. Accordingly, the directional key assembly 300 may minimize or eliminate time delay issues while still providing a similar tactile sensation and feel to the user when pressing the directional control structure 310 of various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, with elastically deformable socket portion 322 disposed in fulcrum arrangement 320 of direction key assembly 300, direction control structure 310 of direction key assembly 300 may be depressed by a user in a manner that may actuate all switches 330 simultaneously, but may prevent accidental actuation of all switches 330, because elastically deformable socket portion 322 may require application of a predetermined force before direction control structure 310 may be depressed by a user in a manner that actuates all switches 330 of direction key assembly 300.

According to various embodiments, directional key assembly 300 may further include four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 distributed around fulcrum device 320 in an alternating manner with four or more switches 330. Accordingly, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 and the four or more switches 330 may be distributed around the fulcrum device 320 one after the other in an alternating manner, such that one switch 330 may be followed by one elastically deformable support structure 350, and the elastically deformable support structure 350 may be followed by another switch 330, and so on.

According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may be configured to bias the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310 in a manner that balances the neutral-balanced, untilted orientation of the direction control structure 310 relative to the fulcrum device 320. Accordingly, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may be configured to have a tendency to return the directional control structure 310 to a neutral, equilibrium, untilted orientation after the directional control structure 310 has been tilted by the user. According to various embodiments, the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may cooperatively return the directional control structure 310 to a neutral, equilibrium, untilted orientation regardless of the radial direction in which the directional control structure 310 may be tilted by the user. According to various embodiments, each of the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may be made of rubber or other suitable elastic polymer.

According to various embodiments, each elastically deformable support structure 350 may comprise a hollow frustoconical structure having a respective narrower head portion 352 pointing towards the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310 and a respective wider base portion 354 pointing away from the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. Accordingly, the narrower head portion 352 of the hollow frustoconical structure of each elastically deformable support structure 350 may engage with a corresponding portion of the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310.

According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 310 may include four or more attachment posts 313 protruding from the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, each attachment post 313 may extend downwardly from the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310 in a manner such that each attachment post 313 may be perpendicular to the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, each connection post 313 may engage with a corresponding elastically deformable support structure 350. According to various embodiments, the narrower head portion 352 of the hollow frustoconical structure of each elastically deformable support structure 350 may engage with the corresponding attachment post 313 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, the narrower head portion 352 of the hollow frustoconical structure of each elastically deformable support structure 350 may include an opening 353 into which the corresponding attachment post 313 of the direction control structure 310 may be inserted.

According to various embodiments, elastically deformable socket portion 322 of fulcrum device 320 of direction key assembly 300 may be made of a material having a higher hardness than the material of four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 of direction key assembly 300. Accordingly, the force required to tilt the direction control structure 310 (i.e., deform the corresponding elastically deformable support structure 350) may be less than the force required to translate the direction control structure 310 up and down (i.e., deform the elastically deformable socket portion 322 of the fulcrum device 320 of the direction key assembly 300).

According to various embodiments, the elastically deformable socket portion 322 and the four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 of the fulcrum device may be integrally molded as a single membrane structure. Accordingly, the elastically deformable socket portion 322 and four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may be integrated together to form a generally complete one-piece structure.

According to various embodiments, the directional key assembly 300 may further include a membrane holder 370 that acts as a base to support a single membrane structure having the elastically deformable socket portion 322 of the fulcrum device and four or more elastically deformable support structures 350. According to various embodiments, the membrane holder 370 may be fixed to the reference base frame 302. According to various embodiments, a single membrane structure having an elastically deformable socket portion 322 of a fulcrum arrangement and four or more elastically deformable support structures 350 may be disposed over the membrane support 370. According to various embodiments, the respective wider base portion 354 of each elastically deformable support structure 350 may be directly coupled to the membrane holder 370. Accordingly, each elastically deformable support structure 350 may be between the direction control structure 310 and the membrane holder 370. According to various embodiments, the elastically deformable socket portion 322 of the fulcrum device 320 may be coupled directly to the membrane holder 370 in a manner such that the concave portion 324 of the elastically deformable socket portion 322 may receive the root end 319 of the central support 318 of the direction control structure 310. Accordingly, the elastically deformable socket portion 322 of the fulcrum device 320 may be between the membrane holder 370 and the central support 318 of the direction control structure 310.

According to various embodiments, the membrane holder 370 may be co-molded as a single piece with the elastically deformable socket portion 322 having the fulcrum means and a single membrane structure of four or more elastically deformable support structures 350. According to various embodiments, the membrane holder 370 may have a material different from that of the single membrane structure. Accordingly, the co-molded membrane holder 370 and the single membrane structure may bond the two materials together when forming the workpiece.

According to various embodiments, the direction control structure 310 may include four or more pushing protrusions 315 protruding from the underside 314 of the direction control structure 310. According to various embodiments, each pushing projection 315 may extend downward from the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310 in such a manner that the corresponding pushing projection 315 may be perpendicular to the underside 314 of the directional control structure 310. According to various embodiments, each pushing projection 315 may have an end 317 abutting a respective second portion 344 of a respective elastically deformable spacer 340. According to various embodiments, the end 317 of each push protrusion 315 may be in contact with the respective second portion 344 of the respective elastically deformable spacer 340.

According to various embodiments, the respective second portion 344 of the respective elastically deformable spacer 340 may comprise a recess 346, the respective end 317 of the respective pushing projection 315 being insertable into the recess 346. According to various embodiments, the respective end 317 of the respective pushing projection 315 may be inserted or fitted into the recess 346 of the respective second portion 344 of the respective elastically deformable spacer 340. Accordingly, the respective elastically deformable spacer 340 may be configured to surround the respective end 317 of the respective push protrusion 315.

The following examples relate to various embodiments.

Example 1 is a direction key assembly, comprising:

a direction control structure having an upper face and a lower face;

fulcrum means supporting a center of the lower side of the direction control structure in a manner such that the direction control structure can tilt multi-directionally about the fulcrum means;

four or more switches distributed around the fulcrum means, each switch having an actuating element pointing towards the underside of the direction control structure; and

four or more elastically deformable spacers, each elastically deformable spacer disposed between a respective switch and the underside of the direction control structure, and each elastically deformable spacer having a first portion abutting a respective actuation element of a respective switch and a second portion abutting a corresponding portion of the underside of the direction control structure.

In example 2, the subject matter of example 1 can optionally include four or more elastically deformable support structures distributed around the fulcrum device in an alternating manner with the four or more switches, wherein the four or more elastically deformable support structures can be configured to bias the underside of the direction control structure in a manner that balances the direction control structure in a neutral-balanced, untilted orientation relative to the fulcrum device.

In example 3, the subject matter of example 2 can optionally include: each elastically deformable support structure may comprise a hollow frustoconical structure having a respective narrower head portion directed towards the underside of the direction control structure and a respective wider base portion directed away from the underside of the direction control structure.

In example 4, the subject matter of example 2 or 3 can optionally include: the direction control structure may comprise four or more connecting posts projecting from the lower side of the direction control structure, each connecting post engaging with a corresponding resiliently deformable support structure.

In example 5, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 4 can optionally include: the fulcrum means may comprise a resiliently deformable portion.

In example 6, the subject matter of example 5 can optionally include: the fulcrum device may further comprise a central support of the direction control structure, which may protrude from the center of the lower side of the direction control structure, the central support having a rounded root, wherein the elastically deformable portion of the fulcrum device may comprise a corresponding concave portion, and wherein the rounded root of the central support may be located in a corresponding concave portion of the elastically deformable portion.

In example 7, the subject matter of example 5 or 6 can optionally include: when combined with any one of examples 2 to 4, the elastically deformable portion of the fulcrum device is integrally molded with the four or more elastically deformable support structures as a single film structure.

In example 8, the subject matter of example 7 can optionally include a membrane support that serves as a base to support the single membrane structure.

In example 9, the subject matter of example 8 can optionally include: the membrane holder is co-molded as a single piece with the single membrane structure.

In example 10, the subject matter of any of examples 1 to 9 can optionally include: the direction control structure may comprise four or more urging projections projecting from the lower side of the direction control structure, each urging projection having an end abutting a respective second portion of a respective resiliently deformable spacer.

In example 11, the subject matter of example 10 can optionally include: the respective second portion of the respective elastically deformable spacer may include a recess into which a respective end of the respective pushing projection is inserted.

In example 12, the subject matter of any of examples 1 to 11 can optionally include a button cover coupled to the upper face of the directional control structure.

Various embodiments have provided a more efficient directional key assembly that can convert the thumb action of a user tilting a directional key into an electronic or electrical signal without much time delay, while still allowing the user to experience a similar sense of touch and feel when the user presses the directional key. Various embodiments have also provided a more efficient directional key assembly that may allow a user to activate all directions by applying a predetermined force to the center of the directional key assembly.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and variations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A direction key assembly, comprising:

a direction control structure having an upper face and a lower face;

2. The directional key assembly of claim 1, further comprising four or more elastically deformable support structures distributed around the fulcrum device in an alternating manner with the four or more switches, wherein the four or more elastically deformable support structures are configured to bias the underside of the directional control structure in a neutral-balanced, untilted orientation balance of the directional control structure relative to the fulcrum device.

3. The directional key assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein each elastically deformable support structure comprises a hollow frustoconical structure having a respective narrower head portion directed toward the underside of the directional control structure and a respective wider base portion directed away from the underside of the directional control structure.

4. An arrow key assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the direction control structure comprises four or more attachment posts projecting from the underside of the direction control structure, each attachment post engaging with a corresponding resiliently deformable support structure.

5. The directional key assembly of claim 1, wherein the fulcrum means comprises a resiliently deformable portion, and wherein the fulcrum means further comprises a central support of the direction control structure that protrudes from the center of the underside of the direction control structure, the central support having a rounded root, wherein the resiliently deformable portion of the fulcrum means comprises a corresponding concave portion, and wherein the rounded root of the central support is located in the corresponding concave portion of the resiliently deformable portion.

6. The directional key assembly of claim 2, wherein the fulcrum device comprises a resiliently deformable portion, and wherein the fulcrum device further comprises a central support of the direction control structure that protrudes from the center of the underside of the direction control structure, the central support having a rounded root, wherein the resiliently deformable portion of the fulcrum device comprises a corresponding concave portion, and wherein the rounded root of the central support is located in a corresponding concave portion of the resiliently deformable portion, wherein the resiliently deformable portion of the fulcrum device is integrally molded with the four or more resiliently deformable support structures as a single membrane structure.

7. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a membrane holder that serves as a base to support the single membrane structure, and wherein the membrane holder is co-molded as a single piece with the single membrane structure.

8. The directional key assembly of claim 1, wherein the direction control structure includes four or more pushing projections projecting from the lower side of the direction control structure, each pushing projection having an end abutting a respective second portion of a respective elastically deformable spacer.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the respective second portions of the respective elastically deformable spacers include recesses into which the respective ends of the respective pushing protrusions are inserted.

10. The directional key assembly of claim 1, further comprising a button cover coupled to the upper face of the directional control structure.