KR100931069B1 - Pointing device and electronic device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pointing device and an electronic device having the same, an operating member moved by a user, a magnet part located in a lower region of the operating member, a cover part exposing and covering a part of the operating means; A central portion supporting the magnet portion, a plurality of pattern portions extending in a curved shape from the central portion, a plurality of fixing portions provided at ends of the pattern portion and fixed to the cover portion, protruding from the central portion, A pointing device and an electronic device having the same include a mediating member including a plurality of fixing protrusions for fixing the center portion to the operation member, and sensing means for sensing a movement of the magnet part and outputting an electrical signal. At this time, a restoring force can be applied to the center part fixed to the magnet part and the operation member through a pattern part having an S-shaped bent line part through a plurality of arc-shaped lines between the center part and the fixing part, and the slimming of the pointing device as well. It can be miniaturized.

Description

POINTING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING THE SAME}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device and an electronic device having the same. The present invention relates to a pointing device that can be reduced in size and miniaturized by sufficiently securing a moving distance while minimizing the area of an intermediate member for moving the operation means.

In recent years, electronic devices have become smaller and smaller, and a graphic user interface (GUI) method is used to make electronic devices easier to operate. Various input devices such as a mouse or a touch pad are used to control the movement of the pointer of the graphical user interface.

Recently, an input device for controlling the movement of the pointer on the screen by detecting the two-dimensional movement of the magnet using a sensor for detecting the direction and strength of the magnet is used. Such an input device provided a silicone resin on a substrate, arranged a magnet on the silicone resin, and attached a sensor to the lower substrate.

An input device using such a silicone resin (ie rubber) is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2004-002918. In the Published Patent Publication, a silicone resin is used instead of the existing coil spring to reduce the number of parts and improve the assembly of the mechanism. At this time, the silicone resin is easily deformed by applying an external force, and returns to the initial state when the external force is removed.

However, such a prior art has a problem that the silicone resin is easily damaged due to the friction between the silicone resin and the substrate. In addition, as in the Japanese Patent Application, the space between the magnet mounting portion of the silicone resin and its vicinity is made thinner than that of the silicone resin on which the magnet is not provided. At this time, since the space portion protrudes more than the surrounding silicone resin, it acts as a factor of increasing the overall thickness of the pointing input device.

In addition, the overall size of the pointing input device depends on the size of the silicone resin rather than the size of the magnet. This is because silicone rubber has to maintain a certain size or more in order to maintain elasticity and restoring force. That is, the elastic and restoring force of the silicone rubber is generated by the contraction and expansion of the silicone rubber. Therefore, when the size of the silicone rubber is reduced, the shrinkage and expansion length of the silicone rubber are shortened, and the target elastic force and the restoring force are lost. As a result, there is a limit to reducing the size of the silicone rubber, which is a big obstacle to miniaturization by reducing the overall size of the pointing input device.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the media member for moving, rotating, and restoring the magnet member may be manufactured as a plurality of curved lines bent in a curved shape, and the number of the lines may be optimized to reduce the size and the size thereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pointing device and an electronic device having the same, which can minimize the interference between elements in the intermediate member to improve the user's feeling of operation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pointing device and an electronic device having the same, which can improve the assemblability of the intermediate member and simplify the manufacturing process.

An operation member moved by the user according to the present invention, a magnet portion located in the lower region of the operation member, a cover portion for exposing and covering a part of the operation means, a central portion for supporting the magnet portion, and the central portion A plurality of pattern portions extending in a curved shape, a plurality of fixing portions provided at ends of the pattern portions and fixed to the cover portion, and protruding from the central portion to fix the magnet portion and the central portion to the operation member. It provides a pointing device comprising a media member including a fixing projection of the sensing means and the sensing means for detecting the movement of the magnet portion to output an electrical signal.

The actuating member may include a first mounting groove into which a portion of the magnet part is to be drawn on a bottom surface, and a diameter larger than a diameter of the first mounting groove, and provided outside the first mounting groove to surround the magnet part. It is preferable to have a 2nd mounting groove, the pillar part exposed to the outer side of the said cover part, and the separation prevention part extended in the plate shape in the lower area | region of the said pillar part.

Each of the fixing protrusions protrudes in the horizontal direction from the center portion to support the magnet portion, and protrudes in the vertical direction from the horizontal protrusion portion to be fixed to the space between the second mounting groove of the operating member and the magnet portion. It is preferable to have a vertical projection.

It is effective that the operating member is made of at least one of plastic, silicone resin, rubber and metallic material.

Each of the plurality of pattern portions preferably includes a bending line portion whose both ends are connected to the central portion and the fixing portion and bent in an S-shape shape, and at least one sag preventing protrusion formed on a lower surface of the bending line portion. Do.

The sag prevention protrusion may be manufactured in at least one of a hemispherical shape, a semi-elliptic sphere shape, a cone shape, an elliptic cone shape, and a polygonal cone shape.

The bent line portion includes a first connecting portion connected to the central portion, a first arc extending arc portion extending from the first connecting portion, and an arc extending second arc extending portion extending in a direction opposite to the first extending portion. It is effective to have a second connection portion extending from the second extension line portion and connected to the fixed portion.

When the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc of the first extension line is 1, the first extension line extends within a range of 1/2 to 5/6 of the circumference, and the diameter of the circle is larger than the diameter of the central portion. It is preferable.

The actuating member includes a pillar portion and a separation prevention portion extending from the lower portion of the pillar portion, the cover portion includes a top plate having a through groove through which the pillar portion passes, and a side wall portion extending from an edge region of the upper plate. The separation distance between the pillar portion and the through groove is smaller than the separation distance between the separation preventing portion and the side wall portion, and the minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion and the side wall portion is equal to the separation distance between the pillar portion and the through groove. Equal or less effective.

When the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc of the second extension line is 1, the second extension line extends in the range of 1/6 to 1/3 of the circumference, and the diameter of the circle is the first extension line. It is preferable that it is 10 to 60% of the diameter of the circle | round | yen made by the circular arc of.

It is preferable to have only three or four pattern portions.

The intermediate member is produced through a plastic injection or metal etching process, and the line width of the bent line portion is effective to be 0.2 to 1.0mm.

Further comprising a substrate on which the cover part is fixed to the upper side and the sensor part is fixed to the lower side, wherein the cover part has an upper plate having a through groove through which the pillar part penetrates and a side wall part extending from an edge region of the upper plate. It is effective to have a body portion, a plurality of fixing groove portions provided in the lower partial region of the side wall portion, and a plurality of hook portions extending from the lower partial region of the side wall portion and fixed to the substrate.

A dome switch is located at the center of the upper side of the substrate, and the center has a click protrusion formed on the dome switch protruding from the bottom surface of the center, and the diameter of the center is 20 to 80% of the diameter of the magnet part. Is preferably.

In addition, a control unit for processing data according to the present invention, a screen display unit for displaying an image and a pointing device for outputting a signal for moving the pointer in the screen display unit, the pointing device is an operating member to be moved by the user A magnet part located in the lower region of the actuating member, a cover part exposing and covering a part of the actuating means, a center part supporting the magnet part, and a plurality of pattern parts extending in a curved shape from the center part; And a plurality of fixing parts provided at the end of the pattern part and fixed to the cover part, and a plurality of fixing protrusions extending from the central part to fix the magnet part and the central part to the operation member. It provides an electronic device comprising a sensing means for detecting a negative movement to output an electrical signal.

As described above, the present invention can support the magnet part through a plurality of fixing protrusions protruding from the center of the intermediate member, and fix the center part and the magnet part to the operation member so that the operation member and the magnet part are driven by a force applied from the user. And the center can be moved simultaneously.

In addition, the present invention can fix the intermediate member whose central portion is fixed to the operating member together with the magnet portion by the fixing protrusion through the fixing portion of the intermediate member to the cover portion.

In addition, the present invention can simplify the assembling process by attaching the fixing protrusion and the fixing portion of the intermediate member to the operation member and the cover portion, respectively.

In addition, the present invention can apply a restoring force to the center portion fixed to the magnet portion and the operation member through a pattern portion having an S-shaped bent line portion through a plurality of arc-shaped lines between the center portion and the fixing portion, As well as slimming, it can be miniaturized.

In addition, the present invention is provided with only three pattern portions to minimize the interference between the pattern portion having a bent line portion can improve the user's feeling of operation as well as maximize the movement of the magnet portion.

In addition, the present invention can form a deflection prevention projection on the lower side of the bent line portion to prevent the bent line fixed to the cover portion sags toward the substrate to increase the friction force.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention in more detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various forms, and only the embodiments are intended to complete the disclosure of the present invention, and to those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the invention. It is provided to inform you. Like numbers refer to like elements in the figures.

1 is a perspective view of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the pointing device according to an embodiment. 3 is a plan view of an intermediate member of a pointing device according to an embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate member according to an embodiment. 5 is a sectional view of an intermediate member according to a modification of the embodiment; 6 is a rear view of the intermediate member assembled to the cover unit, according to an exemplary embodiment.

1 to 6, the pointing device according to the present embodiment moves the magnet part 300 through the substrate 100, the magnet part 300 provided on the substrate 100, and a user's movement. The operation member 400, the intermediate member 200 for moving, rotating and restoring the magnet part 300 and the operation member 400, and the magnetic field change according to the movement of the magnet part 300 are detected and output. Sensor unit 600 for generating a signal, and the intermediate member 200 is fixed, and includes a cover portion 500 fixed to the substrate 100.

Here, as the board | substrate 100, it is preferable to use a printed circuit board. The shape of the substrate 100 may be modified into various shapes according to the electronic device to which the pointing device is applied. In this embodiment, a rectangular substrate 100 is used. Of course, for example, a circle or ellipse shape or a polygonal shape is possible. In addition, the substrate 100 may be omitted as necessary. That is, the main substrate of the electronic device to which the pointing device is applied may take the role of the substrate 100.

The dome switch 110 is positioned on the upper surface of the substrate 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, when the operation member 400 is lowered in the Z-axis direction, the dome switch 110 is pressed by the intermediate member 200. In addition, the substrate 100 includes a hook fixing groove 120 to which the hook part 530 of the cover part 500 is fixed and a protrusion fixing groove 130 into which the fixing pin part 540 of the cover part 500 is inserted. Prepared. Through this, the cover part 500 may be fixed to the substrate 100 to fix the movement of the cover part 500. Here, the hook fixing groove 120 and the projection fixing groove 130 is preferably disposed around the dome switch 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lubrication pad 140 is attached to at least the dome switch 110 of the substrate 100. In this case, the friction between the dome switch 110 and the intermediate member 200 may be reduced by using a Teflon tape as the lubrication pad 140. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and friction between the dome switch 110 and the intermediate member 200 may be reduced by using a material having excellent lubricity and wear resistance.

The sensor unit 600 is disposed in the lower region of the substrate 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. At this time, the sensor unit 600 detects a magnetic field change according to the movement of the magnet unit 300 disposed in the upper region of the substrate 100 and outputs a corresponding movement signal. That is, the sensor unit 600 detects the movement of the magnet unit in the up, down, left, and right directions (ie, two-dimensional movement).

The sensor unit 600 detects a magnetic field change according to the movement of the magnet unit 300 in the X-axis direction and outputs an X coordinate value corresponding thereto, and detects the magnetic field change according to the movement in the Y-axis direction. And a plurality of magnetic sensors for outputting corresponding Y coordinate values. In addition, a control unit (not shown) which amplifies the output of the magnetic sensor, aggregates, and detects and outputs a change in the final magnetic field. In the present embodiment, a sensor chip having a plurality of magnetic sensors described above as one chip is used as the sensor unit 600. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plurality of magnetic sensors may not be chipped, and the plurality of magnetic sensors may be spaced apart from each other in four directions (ie, up, down, left, and right directions) with respect to the magnet part 300. The magnetic sensors of the are preferably arranged to be symmetrical to each other in the center point region of the magnet portion 300.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use any one of a Hall element, a semiconductor magnetoresistive element, a potato magnetoresistive element or a GMR (Giant Magneto Resistive) element as the magnetic sensor in the sensor unit 600. It is preferable to use an element in which such a magnetic sensor changes its electrical characteristics in response to a change in the magnetic field. In this embodiment, a magnetic element uses a Hall element whose output voltage changes in proportion to the magnetic flux density.

Subsequently, the magnet part 300 is positioned in the upper region of the substrate 100 as described above. At this time, the magnet part 300 is disposed in the central region of the intermediate member 200 and the operation member 400 to move in accordance with the movement of the operation member 400, the shape change and shape of the lines in the intermediate member 200 It is restored to its initial position through the restoration.

A square magnet magnetized up and down by the magnet part 300 according to the present embodiment is used. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and magnets in which single-sided multi-pole (2-pole, 4-pole, 8-pole) magnetization or cross-sectional release multi-pole magnetization is performed may be used. Of course, the magnet of circular, oval, circular band and polygonal shape may be used as the magnet.

An operating member 400 that is moved by a user's manipulation is disposed above the magnet part 300.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the operation member 400 includes a pillar part 410 in which the magnet part 300 is positioned in the lower center area, and a departure prevention part 420 extending from the pillar part 410. Equipped. The pillar portion 410 is formed in a circular pillar shape, the bottom of the first mounting groove 411 on which a portion of the magnet portion 300 is to be mounted, and the media member 200 for fixing the magnet portion 300 A second mounting groove 412 to be mounted is provided. At this time, the first mounting groove 411 is preferably located inside the second mounting groove 412. Here, the diameter of the first mounting groove 411 is preferably similar to the diameter of the magnet portion 300. Of course, it is effective that the diameter of the first mounting groove 411 is 0.01 to 0.5 mm larger than the diameter of the magnet part 300. The reason for being as large as the above range is because a portion of the upper region of the magnet part 300 is fixed to the first mounting groove 411.

The departure prevention part 420 extends in a plate shape in the lower region of the pillar part 410. In addition, the detachment preventing part 420 is preferably a single plate form as shown in Figure 1 and 6 the pillar portion 410 is preferably formed along the circumference. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the separation prevention part 420 may include a plurality of plates, and the plurality of plates may be formed along the circumference of the pillar part 410. At this time, the departure prevention part 420 prevents the operation member 400 from leaving the cover portion 500 located above the operation member 400.

In this embodiment, it is effective to manufacture using the metallic material as the operation member 400. This is because the magnet part 300 may be fixed to the operation member 400 by the magnetic force of the magnet part 300 when a part of the magnet part 300 is inserted and fixed inside the first mounting groove 411. . Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the operating member 400 may be manufactured using plastic, silicone resin, and rubber. In this case, when the metal is used, not only the magnetic field of the magnet part 300 may be prevented from being discharged to the outside, but also the thickness of the operation member 400 may be reduced, thereby miniaturization.

The operation member 400 described above is moved and rotated by a force applied from the outside (that is, a user's manipulation force), and the movement and rotational force are transmitted to the magnet part 300. The magnet part 300 is fixed to the operation member 400 to move and rotate together with the operation member 400.

The operation member 400 and the magnet 300 moving and rotating are restored to the initial position by the intermediate member 200 when the external force disappears. The intermediate member 200 of the present embodiment not only fixes the magnet part 300 to the operation member 400 but also applies a restoring force to the magnet part 300 and the operation member 400.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the intermediate member 200 may include a central portion 210, a plurality of pattern portions 220 extending from the central portion 210, and ends of each of the pattern portions 220. A plurality of fixing portions 230 and a fixing protrusion 240 protruding from the central portion 210 to support and fix the magnet portion 300 is provided. Here, the intermediate member 200 is preferably manufactured by an injection process using a high-strength plastic (for example, POM, PC, etc.). Through this, the manufacturing process of the intermediate member 200 can be simplified, and mass production can be performed. As a result, the central portion 210, the pattern portion 220, the fixing portion 230, and the fixing protrusion 240 are manufactured as a single body. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the intermediate member 200 may be made of a metallic material. In the case of using a metallic material, the metal is manufactured through an etching process or a metal cutting process. In addition, a material having excellent lubricity, wear resistance, and restoring force may be used as the intermediate member 200.

The central portion 210 is manufactured in a circular plate shape. This may minimize the interference between the central portion 210 and the pattern portion 220 by making the central portion 210 in a circular shape. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the central portion 210 may be manufactured in an ellipse or polygonal shape. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the center portion 210 includes a click protrusion 211 protruding to a lower bottom surface. The click feeling of the dome switch 110 may be improved through the click protrusion 211. That is, the dome switch 110 may be clicked with a small force, and may have a uniform click feeling regardless of the position of the center portion 210. In addition, the pattern portion 220 formed on the same plane as the central portion 210 may be spaced apart from the substrate 100 by the click protrusion 211. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the click protrusion 211 may be manufactured by protruding a part of the center area of the middle portion 210 to the outside as in the modification of FIG. 5.

The central portion 210 is disposed in the center point region of the fixing portions 230. That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, three fixing parts 230 are disposed in the region around the central portion 210. In this case, the center portion 210 is disposed in the center point region of the triangle formed by the three fixing portions 230.

At this time, the central portion 210 is preferably smaller than the magnet portion 300 to be located in the upper portion, as shown in FIGS. That is, the diameter of the central portion 210 is preferably 20 to 80% of the diameter of the magnet portion. By adjusting the diameter of the central portion 210 within the above range, the moving space (that is, region) of the pattern portion 220 extending from the central portion 210 may be widened. And, it is effective that the minimum diameter of the central portion 210 is 0.6mm. When the diameter of the central portion 210 is smaller than this, a problem arises in that it is difficult to manufacture the central portion 210 and the pattern portion 220 extending therefrom using an injection process.

Each of the plurality of pattern portions 220 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a bending line portion 221 which is connected at both ends to the central portion 210 and the fixing portion 230, respectively, and is bent in a curved shape. Each of the plurality of pattern portions 220 also includes a plurality of sag preventing protrusions 222 formed on the lower surface of the bent line portion 221 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

Here, the sag prevention protrusion 222 is manufactured in a protrusion shape protruding in the direction of the substrate 100 from the lower surface of the bent line portion 221. At this time, the sag prevention protrusion 222 prevents sagging of the plurality of pattern portions 220. This is the central portion 210 of the present embodiment is located above the dome switch, the fixing portion 230 is fixed to the cover portion 500. As a result, the plurality of pattern portions 220 provided between the two are spaced apart from the substrate 100. However, deflection may occur in the bent line portions 221 of the plurality of pattern portions 220 due to prolonged use and own weight. Therefore, when the pattern portion 220 is struck, most areas of the bent line portion 221 of the pattern portion 220 are connected to the substrate 100. This causes a problem that the friction between the bent line 221 and the substrate 100 is increased to greatly reduce the operation feeling. However, in this embodiment, even if the bent line portion 221 of the pattern portion 220 sags, most of the area of the bent line portion 221 is not connected to the substrate 100, and only the region of the sag prevention protrusion 222 is the substrate. By being connected to the (100) it is possible to suppress the increase in the friction between the pattern portion 220 and the substrate 100 to prevent the operation feeling is reduced. 2 and 6, one sag prevention protrusion 222 is formed in one pattern portion 220. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of bending preventing protrusions 222 may be provided at one bending line portion 221. In addition, the sag prevention protrusion 222 preferably has a hemispherical shape as shown in FIG. 4. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be manufactured in the form of a semi-ellipse, a cone, an elliptic cone, and a polygonal horn.

Here, the pattern part 220 supports the central part 210 when the central part 210 is moved or rotated by an external force, and the shape and position of the bent lines 221 are changed according to the external force. In addition, when the external force is not applied (ie, when the central portion 210 does not move and rotate), the pattern portion 220 returns to the original shape and position of the bent line portion 221 that has been deformed and returns to the central portion 210. ) To its original position.

At this time, the shape and number of the pattern portion 220 affects the restoring force and the user's operation feeling. That is, there is a large difference in the restoring force and the feeling of operation depending on the number of the bent lines 221, the shape and shape of the line in the one bent line 221, and the number of bent regions of the line. In addition, a difference occurs in the restoring force and the operation feeling depending on the separation distance between the bent lines 221.

This is because the restoring force and the feeling of operation by the bending line portion 221 of the pattern portion 220 are generated by shape distortion such as contraction and expansion of the bending line portion 221. In addition, it is because the operation feeling may be greatly changed by contact or overlap between adjacent bent line portions 221.

First, in this embodiment, the number of pattern portions 220 (that is, the number of bent line portions 221) is three. Through this, the movement space of the bending line portion 221 can be widened to the maximum, and the central portion 210 can be effectively supported. In addition, it is possible to minimize the overlap (or contact) between the adjacent bent line portion 221 through this. In other words, if the number is smaller than the above number, it is difficult to support the central portion 210. Of course, the number of the pattern units 220 may be four. However, when the three or more pattern portion 220 is provided, the movement space of the bending line portion 221 is reduced as well as the operation feeling decreases due to the interference between the bending line portions 221 of the pattern portion 220. A problem arises.

Each of the bent lines 221 of this embodiment is manufactured to have an approximately S shape (ie, approximately sinusoidal shape) as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. In the present embodiment, the intermediate member 200 including the pattern part 220 is manufactured through an injection process. Therefore, the line width of the bent line portion 221 is effective to have a range within 0.2 to 1.0mm.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bent line portion 221 has a first connecting portion 221-a connected to the central portion 210 and a first extension portion 221 extending in an arc shape from the first connecting portion 221-a. -b) and an arc-shaped second extension line portion 221-c and a second extension line portion 221-c extending from the first extension line portion 221-b and connected to the fixing portion 230. Provided second connection portion 221-d. Here, the first extension line portion 221-b and the second extension line portion 221-c are bent in opposite directions. That is, for example, when the extension direction of the first extension line portion 221-b extends clockwise from the first connection portion 221-a, as shown in FIG. 3, the second extension line portion 221-c. The extension direction of is preferably a counterclockwise direction.

The first connection portion 221-a is an end region of the bent line portion 221 and is connected to one surface of the central portion 210.

The first extension line portion 221-b is manufactured in the form of an arc-shaped line. In this case, when the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc is 1, the first extension line portion 221-b is preferably extended within the range of 1/2 to 5/6 of the circumference. Through this, the operation feeling of the first extension part 221-b may be maximized, and the restoring force may be maximized. If the range is larger than the above range, the first extension line portion 221-b overlaps the center portion 210. If the range is smaller than the range, the restoring force of the first extension line portion 221-b is reduced to decrease the center portion. It may be difficult to restore the position of the 210. In addition, a portion of the circle formed by the arc preferably overlaps with the central portion 210.

As such, when the first extension line portion 221-b is formed in an arc shape and the central portion 210 is moved by the movement of the operation member 400, the moving force (that is, the two-dimensional movement) is the first extension line portion. 221-b. In addition, the first extension line 221-b may be formed in an arc shape (that is, an unconnected circular band shape or a rough horseshoe) so that the two end regions of the arc may be brought closer or further away from the external force to disperse the external force. Can be easily restored to its original position if external forces are removed.

At this time, the diameter of the circle forming the arc shape is preferably larger than the diameter of the central portion 210, less than the distance between the central portion 210 and the cover portion 500. In this case, preferably, the diameter of the circle is a distance obtained by subtracting a separation distance between the separation prevention part 420 of the operation member 400 and the side surface of the cover part 500 from the distance between the central part 210 and the cover part 500. Is less than or less than. Of course, it may be larger than the above distance, but may be disadvantageous in miniaturization. Of course, the diameter of the circle minus the horizontal separation distance between the pillar portion 410 of the operating member 400 and the through groove 512 of the cover portion 500 from the distance between the central portion 210 and the cover portion 500. It may be smaller or smaller.

 In this case, it is effective that the first extension part 221-a is located in the region inside the departure preventing part 420 of the operation member 400 as shown in FIG. 6. Through this, the separation distance of the operation member 400 may be utilized to the maximum, and the first extension part 221-a may be moved even with a small force. In addition, interference between the first extension line portion 221-a and the inner wall of the cover portion 500 can be avoided.

The minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion 221-a and the side surface (that is, the side wall surface) of the cover portion 500 is the separation distance between the separation preventing portion 420 and the side wall surface of the cover portion 500. Is effective. That is, it can be miniaturized. Through this, the moving distance of the first extension line portion 221-a may be increased. Of course, the minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion 221-a and the side surface (that is, the side wall surface) of the cover part 500 is the separation distance between the separation preventing part 420 and the side wall surface of the cover part 500. Can be less than Through this, the moving distance of the first extension line portion 221-a may be extended. In this case, the minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion 221-a and the side surface (that is, the side wall surface) of the cover part 500 is greater than the separation distance between the separation preventing part 420 and the side wall surface of the cover part 500. In this case, a problem occurs that the moving distance of the first extension line portion 221-a is reduced. Of course, if necessary, the minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion 221-a and the side surface (that is, the side wall surface) of the cover portion 500 may be variously changed.

Of course, the minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion 221-a and the side surface (that is, the side wall surface) of the cover part 500 may be the through hole of the pillar part 410 of the operating member 400 and the cover part 500. The same distance within the horizontal separation distance and the error range between 512) is effective.

The second extension line portion 221-c is also produced in the form of an arc. The second extension line portion 221-c is bent in the opposite direction with respect to the first extension line portion 221-b to support the movement of the first extension line portion 221-b, and the first extension line portion 221-b. Dissipates some of the force). In this case, the diameter of the imaginary circle formed by the arc of the second extension line portion 221-c is preferably smaller than the diameter of the circle of the arc of the first extension line portion 221-b. At this time, when the diameter of the circle of the circular arc of the first extension line portion 221-b is 1, the diameter of the circular arc of the second extension line portion 221-c is preferably 0.1 to 0.6. When the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc of the second extension line portion 221-c is 1, the second extension line portion 221-c preferably extends in the range of 1/6 to 1/3 of the circumference. Do. In this case, when the second extension line portion 221-c is smaller than the above-described ranges, a problem occurs that the second extension line portion 221-c is easily damaged by an external force. There is a problem that the movement of the line portion 221 is slowed.

The second connecting portion 221-d is manufactured in the form of a straight line extending from one end of the second extension line portion 221-c. When the second extension line (221-c) is bent by the external force thereby serves to support this.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, it is effective that the separation distance between two adjacent bending portions 221 is greater than or equal to the separation distance between the one bending portion 221 and the cover 500. Here, it is preferable that the first extension part 221-b of the one bent line part 221 and the second extension part 221-c of the other bend part 221 adjoin.

The end of the above-described bent line 221 is connected to the fixing portion 230. In this case, the fixing part 230 is fixed to the cover part 500. This prevents the departure of the bending line 221. In addition, by fixing one end of the plurality of bending line portion 221 may be a criterion for imparting a restoring force.

Due to the structure of the bent line 221 as described above, the central portion 210 may perform two-dimensional movement by an external force within a range of 0.6 to 3.0 mm. Not only linear motion but also curved and circular motions are possible. When the external force is removed, the center portion 210 may be naturally restored to the center point of the fixing portion 230 by the bending line portion 221.

At this time, the fixing part 230 of the present embodiment is fixed to the cover part 500. The fixing part 230 includes a fixed support part 231, a fixed protrusion part 232 protruding in the horizontal direction from the fixed support part 231, and fixed to the cover part 500, and the fixed support part 231 and the fixed protrusion part 232. Fixing protrusion 233 protruding in the downward direction of the) is provided.

Here, the fixing protrusion 232 is preferably fixed to the groove shape of the cover portion 500. In this embodiment, the fixing protrusion 232 may be manufactured in a trapezoidal shape so as to be firmly mounted in the groove of the cover part 500. In this case, when the fixing protrusion 232 is fixed to the cover unit 500, the fixing unit 230 may be spaced apart from the substrate 100 by a predetermined distance. As a result, the fixing protrusion 232 may be fixed to the substrate by an external force. It is pushed in the (100) direction and can be easily separated. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the fixing protrusion 233 may be provided to eliminate the separation distance between the fixing part 230, that is, the fixing protrusion 232 and the substrate 100, and thus, the cover part 500 and the substrate 100 may be removed. When assembling, the fixing protrusion 232 may be pressed from the lower side of the fixing protrusion 232 so that the fixing unit 230 may be completely mounted to the cover 500. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in the modification of FIG. 5, the fixed support part 231 and the fixed protrusion part 232 may be horizontally bent at the bending line part 221 without forming the fixed protrusion part 233. It can also be placed below the face. That is, the fixing portion 230 may be formed to be bent downward from the bending line portion 221.

The medial member 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment manufactures the size of the central portion 210 smaller than the magnet portion 300 in order to increase the moving space of the pattern portion 220, in particular, the bending line portion 221. However, in this case, the center portion 210 may not fully support the magnet portion 300, and the force applied to the magnet portion 300 by the operation member 400 may not be applied to the center portion 210. In addition, the restoring force of the pattern unit 220 may not be applied to the magnet unit 300 through the central portion 210.

Accordingly, the intermediate member 200 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of fixing protrusions 240 protruding from the central portion 210 to support the magnet part 300 for smooth transfer of the moving force and the restoring force.

In this case, each of the plurality of fixing protrusions 240 is a plurality of horizontal protrusions 241 protruding in the horizontal direction from the central portion 210 and a vertical direction from the horizontal protrusions 241 (that is, the upper direction of the central portion 210). It has a vertical projection 242 protruding into. As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment includes three fixing protrusions 240. In this case, each of the fixing protrusions 240 is positioned in a space between the first connecting portions 221-a of the plurality of bent lines 221 connected to the central portion 210, respectively. That is, the horizontal protrusions 241 protrude and extend in regions of the center portion 210 between the first connecting portions 221-a of the center portion 210. At this time, the horizontal protrusion 241 extends to the inner region of the first extension line 221-b of the bent line 221. In this case, the separation distance between the end of the horizontal protrusion 241 and the first extension line portion 221-b is equal to or greater than the separation distance between the separation prevention part 420 of the operation member 400 and the side surface of the cover part 500. It is preferable.

Since the horizontal protrusion 241 of the present exemplary embodiment extends in the horizontal direction with respect to the central portion 210, the horizontal protrusion 241 supports the lower region of the magnet portion 300 together with the central portion 210. In addition, since the vertical protrusion 242 extends perpendicularly with respect to the central portion 210, the vertical protrusion 242 supports the side region of the magnet part 300. Here, the vertical protrusion 242 is preferably manufactured in an arc shape (ie, curved shape) for smooth support of the magnet part 300. That is, it is manufactured in a shape corresponding to the side surface of the magnet portion 300 of a circular shape and is in close contact with the magnet portion 300. The vertical protrusion 242 is fixed to the space between the magnet 300 and the operation member 400. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the vertical protrusion 242 is fixed to the space between the magnet part 300 and the second mounting groove 412.

Through this, not only the magnet part 300 can be fixed but also the movement of the operation member 400 can be transmitted to the pattern part 220 through the central part 210, and the restoring force of the pattern part 220 is transmitted to the operation member 400. ) And the magnet unit 300 can be provided.

In addition, as described above, a lower side of the operating member 400 is provided with a first mounting groove 411 into which the magnet part 300 is inserted, and a second diameter larger than that of the first mounting groove 411. The mounting groove 412 is provided outside the first mounting groove 411. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the magnet part 300 is mounted in the first mounting groove 411, and then the fixing protrusion 240 of the intermediate member 200 is disposed between the magnet part 300 and the second mounting groove 412. The insertion may fix the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 as well as the magnet part 300. As such, it is possible to fix the magnet part 300, the operation member 400, and the intermediate member 200 without using a separate adhesive or a separate adhesive member, thereby improving assembly performance.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the magnet part 300 is fixed to the operation member 400 by the fixing protrusion 240 of the intermediate member 200, and the fixing part of the intermediate member 200 fixed to the cover part 500 ( The operating member 400 and the magnet part 300 are fixed to the cover part 500 by 230.

The cover part 500 includes a top plate 511 having a through groove 512, a housing body part 510 having a side wall part 513, and a plurality of lower parts of the side wall part 511. The fixing groove 520, the plurality of fixing hooks 530 extending in the lower portion of the side wall portion 511, and the plurality of fixing pins 540 extending in the lower portion of the side wall portion 511. It is provided.

Here, the pillar portion 410 of the operation member 400 protrudes through the through groove 512. At this time, the diameter of the through groove 512 is preferably larger than the diameter of the pillar portion 410. As a result, a space is formed between the pillar part 410 and the through hole 512, and the two-dimensional moving area of the magnet part 300 is defined by the space. At this time, the separation distance between the pillar portion 410 and the through groove 512 is preferably smaller than the separation distance between the separation prevention portion 420 of the operation member 400 and the side wall portion 511 of the cover 500. Do. At this time, when the distance in the horizontal direction between the pillar portion 410 and the through groove 512 is 1, the horizontal direction between the separation prevention portion 420 and the side wall portion 511 of the cover portion 500 It is effective that the separation distance is 1.05 to 1.2. At this time, when the range is out of the range, a problem occurs in that the movement (that is, the operation feeling) of the operation member 400 is lowered. If it is smaller than the above range, the movement of the operation member 400 is not smooth, and if it is larger than the above range, not only the operation feeling is lowered but also it is difficult to miniaturize.

The fixing part 230 of the medium member 200 is fixed to the fixing groove 520 described above. Through this, the intermediate member 200 can be fixed to the cover part 500, and the magnet part 300 and the operation member 400 fixed by the fixing protrusion 240 of the intermediate member 200 are covered with the cover part 500. ) Can be fixed.

In addition, the fixing hook 530 described above is mounted in the hook fixing groove 120 of the substrate 100. Through this, the bottom surface of the side wall part 511 of the cover part 500 is tightly fixed to the substrate 100. In the present embodiment, the plurality of fixing pins 540 of the cover part 500 are fixed to the protrusion fixing groove 130 of the substrate 100. That is, the two fixing pin parts 540 facing each other based on the center point of the storage member 510 are fixed to the protrusion fixing groove 130 of the substrate 100, respectively, so that the movement and separation such as the shaking of the cover part 500 may occur. prevent.

As such, the cover part 500 is fixed to the substrate 100 by the fixing hook part 530 and the fixing pin part 540, and thus the central part 210 of the intermediate member 200 is fixed to the dome switch 110. do. That is, the click protrusion 211 of the center portion 210 is connected to the dome switch 110.

At this time, as mentioned above, the center portion 210 supports the magnet portion 300, and the magnet portion 300 is fixed to the operation member 400 by the fixing protrusion 240 protruding from the center portion 210. In addition, the central portion 210 is fixed to the operation member 400. Therefore, when the first force is applied to the operation member 400 by the user, the operation member 400 is vertically lowered (Z-axis movement) to click on the dome switch 110 by the click protrusion 211. In addition, when a second force smaller than the first force is applied, the operation member 400 moves in a horizontal direction (two-dimensional directions, X and Y axes). At this time, the magnet 300 and the central portion 210 also move together. As such, the click protrusion 211 is in close contact with the dome switch 110 and clicks the dome switch 110 according to the user's force, or the two-dimensional motion of the central portion 210, the magnet portion 300, and the operation member 400. It serves to support. That is, the central portion 210 is prevented from being treated down. Of course, the central portion 210 is restored to the initial position by the restoring force by the pattern unit 220 when the force applied by the user is removed. At this time, one end of the pattern portion 220 is fixed by the fixing portion 230. The fixing part 230 may also be fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 100 by the fixing groove 520 of the cover part 500. Through this, it is possible to prevent the artificial movement of the fixing unit 230 (that is, the movement by the user's applied force).

The pointing device according to the above embodiments may be applied to various electronic devices including a portable terminal. That is, the portable telephone may be used in various types of electronic devices such as a digital camera, a camcorder, an MP3, a PMP, a PDA, a GPS, a laptop, a game machine, a remote controller, an electronic dictionary, and the like. Such an electronic device includes a control unit for processing a predetermined signal (data) and a screen display unit for displaying an image, and a pointer or a cursor is provided in the screen display unit. The electronic device moves a pointer or cursor in the screen display unit according to an input signal applied through the input device. A pointing device can be used as such an input device. That is, the sensor unit output (coordinate signal) of the pointing device is applied to the control unit, and the control unit moves the pointer in the screen display unit.

The pointing device that can be used in the electronic device according to the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and various sensors for moving the cursor on the screen and devices for driving the sensor may be further added. For example, the cursor on the screen may be moved by detecting the movement of the operating member using an optical sensor.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be implemented in various forms. That is, the above embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be understood by the claims of the present application. .

1 is a perspective view of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the pointing device according to one embodiment.

3 is a plan view of an intermediate member of the pointing device according to one embodiment;

4 is a sectional view of an intermediate member according to an embodiment;

5 is a sectional view of an intermediate member according to a modification of the embodiment;

6 is a rear view of the intermediate member assembled to the cover unit, according to an exemplary embodiment;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: substrate 200: intermediate member

210: center 220: pattern part

221: bending line 222: deflection preventing projection

230: fixing part 240: fixing protrusion

241: horizontal projection 242: vertical projection

300: magnet 400: operating member

410: pillar portion 420: separation prevention portion

500: cover portion 510: storage body portion

520: fixing groove portion 530: fixing hook portion

Claims (15)

An actuating member moved by the user; A magnet part located in the lower region of the actuating member; A cover part exposing and covering a part of the operating means; A center portion supporting the magnet portion, a plurality of pattern portions extending in a curved shape from the center portion, a plurality of fixing portions provided at ends of the pattern portion and fixed to the cover portion, and the plurality of pattern portions connected to the center portion A media member including a plurality of fixing protrusions extending from the central portion of an interspace to fix the magnet portion and the central portion to the operation member; And And a sensing means for sensing a movement of the magnet and outputting an electrical signal. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation member, A first mounting groove into which a part of the magnet part is to be drawn, a diameter larger than a diameter of the first mounting groove, and a second mounting groove provided on an outer side of the first mounting groove to surround the magnet part; It has a pillar portion exposed to the outside of the cover portion, Pointing device having a departure prevention portion extending in the plate shape in the lower region of the pillar portion. The method according to claim 2, Each of the fixing protrusions protrudes in the horizontal direction from the center portion to support the magnet portion, and protrudes in the vertical direction from the horizontal protrusion portion to be fixed to the space between the second mounting groove of the operating member and the magnet portion. Pointing device having a vertical projection. The method according to claim 2, And the operating member is made of at least one of plastic, silicone resin, rubber and metallic material. The method according to claim 1, Each of the plurality of pattern portions includes a bending line portion whose both ends are connected to the central portion and the fixing portion and bent in an S-shape shape, and at least one deflection preventing protrusion formed on a lower surface of the bending line portion. . The method according to claim 5, The deflection preventing protrusion is a pointing device manufactured in at least one of a hemispherical shape, a semi-elliptic sphere shape, a cone shape, an elliptical cone shape, and a polygonal cone shape. The method according to claim 5, The bent line portion and the first connection portion connected to the central portion, An arc-shaped first extension line extending from the first connection portion, An arc-shaped second extension line that bends and extends in a direction opposite to the first extension line; And a second connection portion extending from the second extension line portion and connected to the fixing portion. The method according to claim 7, When the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc of the first extension line is 1 The first extension line extends within a range of 1/2 to 5/6 of the circumference, The diameter of the circle is greater than the diameter of the central portion. The method according to claim 7, The actuating member includes a pillar portion and a separation prevention portion extending from the pillar lower region, The cover part includes a top plate having a through groove through which the pillar part passes, and a side wall part extending from an edge region of the top plate, The separation distance between the pillar portion and the through groove is smaller than the separation distance between the separation preventing portion and the side wall portion, And a minimum separation distance between the first extension line portion and the side wall portion is equal to or smaller than a separation distance between the pillar portion and the through groove. The method according to claim 7, When the entire circumference of the circle formed by the arc of the second extension line is 1, The second extension line extends in the range of 1/6 to 1/3 of the circumference, And the diameter of the circle is 10 to 60% of the diameter of the circle formed by the arc of the first extension line. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 5, Pointing device having only three or four pattern portions. The method according to claim 5, The intermediate member is made through a plastic injection or metal etching process, The line width of the bent line portion is 0.2 to 1.0mm pointing device. The method according to claim 2 or 5, It is further provided with a substrate on which the cover portion is fixed to the upper side, the sensor portion is fixed to the lower side, The cover part includes an upper body having a through hole through which the pillar part penetrates, a receiving body part having a side wall part extending from an edge region of the upper plate, a plurality of fixing groove parts provided in a partial lower area of the side wall part, and a lower side of the side wall part. And a plurality of hook portions extending from a portion of the substrate and fixed to the substrate. The method according to claim 13, The dome switch is located at the center of the upper side of the substrate, The central portion has a click protrusion projecting to the bottom surface of the central portion and positioned on the dome switch, The diameter of the central portion is 20 to 80% of the diameter of the magnet portion. A controller for processing data; A screen display for displaying an image; And A pointing device for outputting a signal for moving a pointer in the screen display unit; The pointing device includes an actuating member that is moved by a user, a magnet part located in a lower region of the actuating member, a cover part that exposes and covers a part of the actuating means, a center part for supporting the magnet part, and the center part. A plurality of pattern portions extending in a curved shape, a plurality of fixing portions provided at ends of the pattern portions and fixed to the cover portion, and protruding from the central portion to fix the magnet portion and the central portion to the operation member. And an intermediary member including a fixing protrusion of the sensing unit and sensing means for sensing an movement of the magnet unit and outputting an electrical signal.

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