Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2209/00—Layers
  • H01H2209/006—Force isolators
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/002—Actuators integral with membrane
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/024—Transmission element
  • H01H2221/026—Guiding or lubricating nylon
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/036—Return force
  • H01H2221/042—Foam
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/058—Actuators to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2221/00—Actuators
  • H01H2221/084—Actuators made at least partly of elastic foam
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2223/00—Casings
  • H01H2223/034—Bezel
  • H01H2223/0345—Bezel with keys positioned directly next to each other without an intermediate bezel or frame

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electronic Endgerat, in particular a Kom unikations-Endgerat, Tatur with a Tas ⁇ having a plurality of out with a control surface formed ⁇ push buttons, wherein at least two pressure ⁇ keys are arranged to each other immediately adjacent.
• Electronic terminals for example mobile radio telephones, with keyboards are known from the prior art, with web-shaped housing sections running between adjacent pushbuttons.
• This web-shaped housing sections advertising the utilized to ten said movable between a passive position and an active position by pressurizing Drucktas ⁇ to lead and to be prevented by the leadership tilting or caused thereby insufficient contacting one of the respective push-button associated electrical contact.
• an electronic terminal in particular a communication terminal, with a keyboard which has a plurality of pushbuttons designed with an operating surface, at least two pushbuttons being arranged directly adjacent to one another and with the pushbuttons adjacent to one another facing away from the operating surface
• Side guide means are assigned to guide a push button movement triggered by pressurizing the control surface between a passive position and an active position.
• the arrangement of guide means on a side facing away from the operating surface of the respective pushbutton makes it possible, on the one hand, to achieve a directed pushbutton movement between a passive position and an active position and to prevent undesired tilting or an undesired inclination of the respective pushbuttons.
• guide means on a side of the pushbutton facing away from the control surface an appealing visual appearance of individual pushbuttons and the entire keyboard can be achieved, in particular because the clear gap between adjacent pushbuttons is relative due to the directional pushbutton movement can be made small.
• the outer It is ⁇ pearance the keyboard and individual buttons not affected by the guide means, as this side facing away from a non-visible to the user operating surface of the individual push buttons are arranged.
• IMP EXP ⁇ together results in a keyboard with individual buttons which m defined manner are guided and thus a true make overall to ⁇ reliable operation of the individual pushbuttons particularly reliable making electrical contact, and which, moreover, each with a saving of a web-shaped housing section between the pressure ⁇ keys an appealing visual appearance with the possibility for further miniaturization of electronic Endgerats offer.
• the pushbuttons are biased into the passive position by spring means. It can be provided, for example, that the push buttons are attached to a mat made of elastically deformable material, in particular made of silicone.
• the push buttons can be glued to the mat, so that the mat is locally deformed when the push button is moved.
• the mat can be designed with target deformation points, for example with sections of reduced wall thickness.
• the mat On its side facing away from the respective pushbuttons, the mat can then be formed with certain projections which can cooperate with switching foils located below for the production of electrical contacts.
• the guide means there is at least one spacing projection which, when one of the pushbuttons is transferred from the passive position into the active position, this pushbutton m at a predetermined minimum distance from the at least one in each case the adjacent pushbutton stops.
• this embodiment according to the invention are two adjacent pushbuttons on the Wenig ⁇ least one spacer protrusion in the passive position and wah ⁇ rend the movement of the buttons from the passive Stel ⁇ development in the active position always at the predetermined distance kept one another.
• the leadership ei ⁇ is ner the buttons achieved by this is positioned above the at least one projection distance relative to the other pushbutton.
• the guide means it can also be provided that they have guide projections which are essentially fixed in place in a housing of the terminal and which engage on corresponding guide surfaces of the pushbuttons facing away from the control surface.
• the guide projections can be formed, for example, on the mat mentioned above. But they can also be formed on a housing of the terminal or on a carrier fixed in the housing. It is possible to design the guide protrusions in small dimensions or in the form of a
• each pushbutton is at least partially guided within its contour.
• guide surfaces on the push buttons it can be provided that they are formed separately on the underside of the respective push button, or a side one
• Front surface of the push button is used as a guide surface.
• the guide means have a plurality of elastically deflectable spring arms and that the push buttons are each attached to an associated one of the spring arms.
• the guide means may have a plurality of guide pins which are guided linearly in guide openings, which are formed on a housing of the terminal or on a support fixed to the housing. and that the push buttons are each attached to an associated one of the guide pins.
• Both embodiments ge ⁇ true afford a secure leadership of the push button in its movement between the passive position and the active position and ensure a sufficiently long life of Tas ⁇ Tatur.
• individual pushbuttons for example after damage or wear, replace, erfmdungsge responsibly may WEI be ter provided that the pushbuttons each with the parent to ⁇ arm or Fuhrungszapfen are locked.
• the locking can take place by receiving a conical pin in a corresponding conical opening with a defined stop (friction locking) or by locking a ball head into a corresponding locking receptacle (snap locking).
• the guide means on the side facing away from the control surface comprise guide legs on the pushbuttons which are guided in corresponding guide receptacles which are formed on a housing of the terminal device or on a carrier fixed to the housing.
• the guide means on the side facing away from the control surface comprise guide legs on the pushbuttons which are guided in corresponding guide receptacles which are formed on a housing of the terminal device or on a carrier fixed to the housing.
• the passive position can be provided according to the invention that a stop is provided on at least one guide per pushbutton to limit the movement of the guide legs in the corresponding guided tours.
• the at least one guide member engages behind the guide receptacle with its stop.
• the push buttons can so in the first assembly in the guide receptacles with the stop and are then biased under the action of the spring means such that the stop comes into contact with the guide receptacle. Under pressure then moves the at least one Fuhrungsbem in Fuh ⁇ approximately pickup, wherein the stop of the lost Fuhrungstext.
• a pushbutton should come loose under heavy mechanical stress, because at least one of the guides will jump out of the guide receptacle with its stop, or if a pushbutton for replacement has been removed from the guide receptacle, the pushbutton or a new pushbutton with its at least a guide and stop are reinserted into the guide receptacle and locked in place. This makes it easier to replace individual keys, for example for repair purposes.
• the guide means and / or possibly the spring means are made of light-conducting material. It is crucial that the components in contact with the push buttons are made of light-conducting material.
• Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a mobile radio terminal with a keyboard according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view corresponding to section line II-II from FIG. 1 of a first exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of the image section designated III in FIG. 2;
• Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 shows a partial sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 shows a partial sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 shows an enlarged partial sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 of a sixth exemplary embodiment according to the invention.
• a mobile radio terminal according to the invention is generally designated 10.
• This includes an housing 12 in which a keyboard 14 and a display 16 are integrated. Furthermore, an antenna 18 is formed on the housing 12.
• the keyboard 14 comprises a multiplicity of pushbuttons which are arranged immediately adjacent to one another in pairs, only three pushbuttons being designated by way of example with 20, 22, 24. The pushbuttons are only separated from one another by a narrow clear gap and there are no web-shaped housing sections between adjacent pushbuttons.
• FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the keyboard 114 according to the invention, in a partial sectional view corresponding to the section line II-II through the mobile radio terminal 10 according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 shows a section through the pushbuttons 20, 22, 24. These each include a plastic plate 26, 28, 30, with smooth and abrasion-resistant controls presented to the environment laugh 32, 34, 36.
• the plastic plates 26, 28, 30 are on a sili- matte 38 glued on. Between the corresponding Kle ⁇ beflachen 40, 42, 44 38 respectively de ⁇ formable recesses 46, 48 are formed in the silicone mat.
• the silicone mat 38 is placed on a carrier plate 50 with its side facing away from the plastic plates 26, 28, 30.
• the silicone pad 38 When pressure is applied, for example, the push button 20 by means of a force F ⁇ , the silicone pad 38 is deformed in the region lying below the plastic plate 26 area and printed with the printing portion 58 to the hood 52, which is deformed and is printed on the upper surface of the support plate 50 ge ⁇ , The two electrical contacts lying on the upper side of the carrier plate 50 are short-circuited.
• the silicone mat 38 When the pushbutton 20 is released, that is to say when the force F_ is reduced, the silicone mat 38 resiliently reforms, so that the pushbutton 20 is moved back into the starting position shown in FIG.
• FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the keyboard according to the invention.
• the plastic sheets 126, 128 and 130 are during a push-button motion Fuh ⁇ approximately projections 170, guided 172, which have cally tapering in cross-section ko ⁇ flanks and which ingly formed with corres ⁇ portions of the end faces cooperate 164 and 166 of the individual buttons .
• the Fuhrungsvor- jumps 170, 172 are formed along the gitterformig pushbuttons ⁇ contour on the silicone pad 138, so that a ⁇ individual buttons 120, 122 and 124 of a push button movement can be guided during its entire periphery.
• FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a keyboard according to the invention, again using the same reference numerals as with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, but preceded by the number 2.
• guide plugs 274, 276 are formed on the underside, that is to say on the side of the plastic plates 226, 228, 230 opposite the respective operating surface 232, 234 and 236, which cooperate with corresponding guide pegs 278, the guide pegs 278 are integrally formed on the support plate 250.
• the abutting surfaces of the guide ribs 274, 276 slide on the corresponding contact surfaces of the guide pins 278 and drive the pushbutton movement.
• the guide pins 278 preferably only extend in sections along the contour of the respective push buttons 220, 222 and 224 and penetrate into them Areas, the silicone mat 238.
• the silicone pad 238 is positioned as ⁇ through relative to the carrier plate 250th
• FIG. 6 shows em further exemplary embodiment, wherein ⁇ again used for the same for the same or similar components reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 5, JE but prefixed with the numeral.
• FIG. 6 also shows a part of the device house 312, 3122, the two housing components 312 and 3122 being latched to one another via a latching connection 379.
• conical pins 380 with a stop shoulder 381 are formed on the undersides of the plastic plates 326, 328 (described here by way of example for the pushbutton 320).
• a plastic body 382 is placed on the carrier plate 350 and fixed in the housing 312.
• the plastic body comprises a self-supporting arm 383, at the free end of which an annular receptacle 384 is arranged.
• the receptacle 384 has a conical opening, in which the conical pin 380 of the plastic plate 326 is received with a friction fit and a form fit.
• the abutting surfaces can be connected to one another by a latching or gluing.
• the silicone mat 338 rests on the plastic body, which in its regions that come into contact with the underside of the plastic plate 326 has an essentially parallel to the edge contour of the plastic plate 326 extending sealing lip 385 is formed.
• the sealing lip 385 is thin-walled in cross section and is therefore relatively easily elastically deformable. Due to its elasticity, it ensures a suitable restoring force when a push button is pressed.
• both the plastic plate 326 and the pin 380 formed thereon as well as the plastic body 382 are made of light-conducting material, so that the light emitted by an LED 386 arranged on the carrier plate 350 comes from the plastic body 382 and the pin 380 is introduced into the plastic plate 326 and illuminates it.
• the plastic plate 326 that is to say the pushbutton 320, is guided when the pushbutton is actuated by deflecting the free end of the arm 383. Because of the elasticity of the arm 383 and because of the elasticity of the lip 385, the plastic plate 326 moves in after its deflection the active position and automatically returns to its original passive position when released. In the active position of the pushbutton 320, that is to say in the depressed state, the hood 352 is pressed onto the carrier plate 350 via the end of the pin 380 remote from the plastic plate 326 in order to make contact.
• FIG. 7 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Again, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the exemplary embodiments described above, but preceded by the number 4.
• the fifth exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7 differs from the fourth exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6 in that the individual pushbuttons — explained here by way of example for the pushbutton 424 — are not guided via a guide arm, but rather via cylindrical guide pins.
• a receiving opening 487 is made in the plastic body 482. formed, in which a pin 488 is guided substantially linearly.
• the Fuhrungszapfen 488 and the Fuhrungs ⁇ réelle 487 have corresponding tapered portions which aware afford the Fuhrungszapfen 488 and prevent from slipping in the upward direction ( Figure 7) which simultaneously a positio ⁇ discrimination of the push button.
• the plastic body 482, the guide pin 488 and the plastic plate 430 are each made of light-conducting material, so that they transmit the light emitted by an LED 486 into the plastic plate 430 and illuminate it.
• an essentially cylindrical pressure area 462 is formed on the underside of the guide pin 488, with which the hood 456 is pressed down in the active position.
• the pushbutton movement is ensured by a defined guidance of the pin 488 m of the receiving opening 487.
• FIG. 8 now shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components as for the exemplary embodiments described above, but preceded by the number 5.
• the individual push buttons are guided (in this example, for the pushbutton 524 it clears ⁇ ) directly in the Gehauseoberschale 521] _ where ⁇ in this section, a below the keyboard 514 extending waste having 590th In the housing section 590 ver ⁇ distinct breakthroughs are provided, namely on the one hand by bruche Fuhrungs- 591 and central breakthroughs 592.
• Fuhrungsbeine 593 On the underside of the plastic plate 530 are formed Fuhrungsbeine 593, are integrally formed on the free ends of stop bosses 594th The Fuhrungsbeine 593 extend through the FUH approximately by bruche 591 and engage behind these with its FUH approximately lugs 594.
• the plastic ⁇ is plate 530 em actuating pin 595 formed at the bottom, which extends through the central aperture 592 therethrough.
• the actuating pin 595 is essentially cylindrical and is received at its free end in a corresponding cylinder receptacle 596. If desired, it can be fixed in the manner of an interference fit or by means of an adhesive.
• the silicone mat 583 is reduced around the cylinder receptacle 596 in its wall thickness, so that
• Desired deformation points result.
• the plastic plate 530 is deflected downwards in FIG. 8 m. This movement is guided by the interaction of the guide legs 594 and the guide openings 591.
• the actuating pin 595 with its free end deforming the nearby areas of the silicone mat 538, presses and deforms the pressure area 562 on the hood 556, so that two contacts (not shown) arranged on the carrier plate 550 are short-circuited.
• the operating surface 536 of the pushbutton 524 After the operating surface 536 of the pushbutton 524 has been released, it moves back to its passive position (initial position according to FIG. 8) under elastic jerk deformation of the silicone mat 538.
• both the silicone mat 538 and the plastic plate 530 as well as the pin 595 molded onto it are made of light-conducting material. are over so that the push button 524 - as well as ⁇ che sämtli other push buttons - can be illuminated.
• the invention shows in several ways, such as a zuverlas- sig working keyboard with a long life reali ⁇ can be Siert, wherein the individual buttons un disposed ⁇ indirectly adjacent to each other, that is, without bulky stegformige housing sections between a ⁇ individual pushbuttons.
• the invention shows a way in which the pushbuttons of such a keyboard can be reliably guided in their pushbutton movement without tilting or inclined position occurring and without individual pushbuttons in their active position, that is to say in their depressed state, among adjacent ones Pushbuttons which are in the passive position, enter and can lever them out.
• the invention shows various possibilities for assembling such optically appealing, space-saving and yet high functionality keyboards in a simple manner and for designing them such that individual plastic plates, that is to say individual pushbuttons frequently used during operation of the mobile radio device, after wear or even Destruction can be replaced easily.

Landscapes

• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=7695731

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

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• 2001
  • 2001-08-16 DE DE10140337A patent/DE10140337B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-08-08 WO PCT/DE2002/002929 patent/WO2003017300A2/de active Application Filing
  • 2002-08-08 EP EP02754509A patent/EP1417692A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-08-08 CN CNB028160630A patent/CN1295726C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-08-08 KR KR10-2004-7002255A patent/KR20040025747A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-08-08 JP JP2003522116A patent/JP4145788B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-04-04 HK HK05102809A patent/HK1070180A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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