KR20010030246A - Keypad with multi-directional rocker button having enhanced tactility - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A keypad with built-in multidirectional locker button having smooth feel is provided to improve sharp and light sense of touch and reduce possibility of driving a plurality of functions of a multifunctional locker button 44 at the same time. CONSTITUTION: A soft member(23) of a keypad(20) is provided integrally with a rigid key(22) inserted into the soft member(23) at the position of a multifunctional locker button(44). In combining the soft member(23) and the rigid key(22), the keypad(20) has an improved sharp and light sense of touch. The rigid structure of the key(22) and a central column offered as a portion of the key(22) substantially prevent the plural functions of the multifunctional locker button(44) from being driven at the same time.

Description

KEYPAD WITH MULTI-DIRECTIONAL ROCKER BUTTON HAVING ENHANCED TACTILITY}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to keypads for electronic devices, and more particularly to flexible keypads having multidirectional keys.

Keypads such as, for example, telephones, and those used in personal digital assistants and other smart devices such as pagers and calculators, often move the screen cursor up, down, left, or right to scroll the data displayed on the device's screen. It contains multi-directional or multi-function keys used for the purpose. These multidirectional keys provide convenience for the user and minimize the need for keypad space.

These keypads are often made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber. The flexible material is typically in the form of one integral molded piece with a skirt over which a number of buttons protrude. The outer surface (surface exposed to the user) of the flexible material typically includes printed, laser etched, or otherwise imprinted characters to facilitate the operator's ease of use. In a typical telephone keypad, the buttons are typically labeled with the well-known “0-9, *, #” blocks. The aforementioned multidirectional key may be labeled accordingly with four arrows, as appropriate.

The inner surface of the keypad may include a number of actuator tips, one behind each button. These four tips may be provided on the back of a typical four-way multifunction key. Each actuator tip is suppressed when an individual button is suppressed, which then suppresses the conductive (often carbon) contact against other metal contacts to close the circuit to generate a signal related to the function of the suppressed button.

Flexible silicone keypads provide the user with the desired touch with durability by single input keys, but silicone rubber in multidirectional keys can suffer certain disadvantages. For example, due to the flexibility of the material itself, the user may not know for certain in which direction it is oppressed. In addition, if sufficient force is applied to the center of the multidirectional key, the plurality of actuator tips may be simultaneously suppressed resulting in a malfunction of the device to which the keypad is attached.

Therefore, some keypads provide a central post or other structure behind the center of the multidirectional key to avoid multiple actuations, but such structures are typically made of the same flexible material and are therefore easily compressed. Thus, sufficient force applied against the center of the multidirectional key can also result in multiple actuations in these designs as well.

Another type of keypad provides a more robust design, for example in sheet metal stamping. This increased stiffness increases the certainty as to whether or not the button is suppressed, but also results in fatigue, cracking, and shortening the useful life. Other types of keypads combine rigid and flexible materials, but the outer touch feels much harder to print and reduces aesthetic appeal.

Accordingly, there is a need for a keypad that not only reduces the possibility of simultaneous operation of multiple functions of the multifunction key but also improves the feel and durability.

1 is a top perspective view of a keypad embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the keypad shown in Fig. 1 with the multifunction key being disassembled from the keypad.

3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the upper side of the multifunction key is turned up;

4 is a top plan view of an electronic substrate and apparatus to which a keypad can be attached.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

20: keypad

22: Hard Rocker Key

23: flexible member

24: decorative surface

26: working surface

34: button

44: rocker button

56: actuator tip

68: center column

74: electronic board

78: texture dome

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below. However, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the specific forms disclosed, but rather, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that it contains water.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as a keypad 20. While the keypad 20 shown is for use with a telephone, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to any smart electronic device, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, facsimile devices, and the like.

The keypad 20 not only reduces the possibility of simultaneous operation of multiple functions of the multifunction key, but also provides an improved tactile feel for prior art designs. The keypad 20 can achieve this feature by inserting the hard rocker key 22 into the flexible member 23, among other things, as best shown in FIG. 2 and described in more detail below. have.

Referring now again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible member 23 preferably comprises an upper or decorative surface 24 and a lower or operating surface 26. The flexible member 23 is preferably made from silicone rubber via a press molding operation to provide the surfaces 24, 26 on both sides of a single piece. In alternative embodiments, surfaces 24 and 26 may be molded into separate layers and assembled together, or may be made of other materials or manufacturing techniques. However, flexible members are preferably used to provide the desired touch and durability.

The decorative surface 24 comprises a generally planar face or skirt 28 from which the plurality of buttons 34 extend. Each button 34 includes a cell 36 and an upper portion 38 suitable for printing, laser etching, or otherwise stamping with user guiding characters. Each cell 36 is preferably hollow, but may also be provided in solid form. The illustrated embodiment is not only a sufficient number of buttons 34 to accommodate the common shaped characters 0-9, *, and #, but also the “send” and “end” buttons 40 42 and the multi-directional or rocker button 44 are shown. The locker button 44 allows the cursor provided on the screen (not shown) to move up and down, left and right, among other things, and occupies a relatively small space on the keypad 20 while being important in any portable electronic device. As a consideration, it allows you to quickly scan the displayed material and makes it easier to use for electronic games.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the working surface 26 is provided on the side opposite the decorative surface 24 of the flexible member 23. This working surface 26 comprises a generally opposing side of the flat skirt 28 and a plurality of holes 46 leading to a plurality of cells 36 of the decorative surface 24. The actuator tip 56 extends downward from the internal ledge 54 of each cell 36. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator tips are truncated cone shaped, although other shapes and shapes are of course possible.

It should be noted that the actuator tips 56 extend from each cell 36 except for the cell 36 ′ of the rocker button 44. Rather, as shown in FIG. 2, a rigid key 22 is inserted into the hollow cell 36 ′ of the rocker button 44. The hard key 22 is shown in detail in FIG. As shown, the rigid key 22 includes a base 58 in the shape of a trapezoidal prism with a bottom 60, a top 62, and four sides 64. It should be understood that various other shapes may be employed, including parallelepipeds, cylinders, truncated cones, hemispheres, and the like. A plurality of tips 66 of similar size and shape as the actuator tip 56 extends from the bottom 60. In the embodiment shown, four such tips 66 are provided, one close to each side 64. In the lower part 60 is located a central column 68 which is larger than the tips 66, the importance and function of which will be explained in more detail later. Top 62 includes an arcuate surface 70 proximate each side 64 and a divot 72 provided centrally within top 62. Alternatively, the top 62 may have a flat surface or bump instead of the divot 72.

In contrast to the decorative surface 24 and the working surface 26, which are preferably made of a flexible material, the hard key 22 is preferably made of a hard material and, in a preferred embodiment, is made of polycarbonate plastic. Other materials are also possible, including acrylics and resins. The stiffness of the key 22 is combined with the flexibility of the flexible member 23 to provide an improved feel to the keypad 20.

4, the keypad 20 is adapted to be placed on a panel switch or electronic board 74 of an electronic device 76 such as a telephone. Electronic substrate 74 includes a plurality of tactile domes 78 made of a conductive material such as gold. The feel dome 78 is provided on a planar sheet 80 typically made of plastic. Below each touch dome 78 is provided a second conductive contact (not shown). Therefore, when a particular touch dome 78 is pressed down, the touch dome 78 engages a corresponding second contact, closes the circuit, and generates a signal corresponding to the suppressed character button 34. . More specifically, the user suppresses button 34 (shown in FIG. 2), which in turn suppresses actuator tip 56 (shown in FIG. 2), which in turn causes touch dome 78 (FIG. 3). Suppressed).

It should be noted from FIG. 4 that the four touch domes 78 are provided in the diamond shape 79 at the position just below the rocker button 44. These four feel domes 78 represent a "up" feel dome, a "down" feel dome, a "right" feel dome, and a "left" feel dome. In the center of the four touch domes 78 in the diamond feature 79 is provided a non-conductive region 82. The central column 68 of the rigid key 22 is a pivot against the non-conductive region 82 when the rocker button 44 is suppressed. Therefore, if force is applied in the general direction against the rocker button 4, ie against any one of the four sides 64 of the rigid key 22, the central column 68 is a non-conductive region. Engaged in 82, the four touch domes 78 ensure that no direction signal is generated. This provides greater reliability than the prior art, which includes flexible structures in the center of the multifunction key as well as flexible actuation tips for this multidirectional key. The flexible structures in the center of the multifunction key are susceptible to suppression and allow for multidirectional operation, even if only general forces are applied against the multifunction key.

The rigid key 22 preferably provides a continuous silicone rubber surface and desirable hand to the decorative surface 24, while at the same time providing a more easily printable surface for the character. It is installed on the lower side. Although the preferred embodiment forms the pivot by making the central column 68 longer than the tip 66, alternative pivots can be constructed by shortening or eliminating the central column 68 and raising the non-conductive area 82. It may be.

Accordingly, it can be seen from the above description that the present invention provides an improved keypad with improved tactile feel and less possibility of simultaneous operation of multiple functions of the multifunction key. Various additional changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Some categories of modifications have been described above. Other categories will be apparent from the appended claims.

Claims (10)

In the telephone provided with the keypad 20, Flexible member 23 having decorative surface 24 and operating surface 26-The decorative surface 24 has a plurality of suppressable buttons 34, the operating surface 26 having a decorative surface 24. And having a plurality of features 56 positioned opposite to and corresponding to the number and location of the plurality of suppressable buttons 34, the actuating surface 26 being coupled to the plurality of suppressable buttons 34 It is adapted to be positioned over a plurality of touch domes 78 corresponding to the number and position of the features 56, wherein the feel dome is adapted to suppress the corresponding suppressable button 34 and the corresponding feature 56. It works And a multidirectional key (22) adapted to be inserted into the flexible member (23) and to be positioned over a plurality of touch domes (78) and having greater rigidity than the flexible member (23). 2. The multidirectional key 22 is adapted to be positioned above the "upward" texture dome 78 and the "downward" texture dome 78, and the multidirectional key 22 is also "upward". And a central column (68) to inhibit one or more actuations of the dome (78) and the "downward" feel dome (78). 3. The multi-directional key 22 is adapted to be positioned above the "right" feel dome 78 and the "left" feel dome 78, and the central column 68 is adapted to the "up" feel dome ( 78), a telephone down which inhibits one or more operations of the “down” touch dome 78, the “right” touch dome 78 and the “left” touch dome 78. FIG. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member (23) is made of silicone rubber and the multidirectional key (22) is made of polycarbonate plastic. 5. The telephone according to claim 4, wherein the flexible member (23) is formed of a single molded material, and the multidirectional key (22) is forcibly fitted to the lower side of the flexible member (23). The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the decorative surface (24) is labeled with symbols that provide guidance to the user of the telephone. The multidirectional key 22 according to claim 1, wherein the multidirectional key 22 has a base 58 having a bottom surface 60, four shapes 66 extending from the bottom surface 60 of the base 58, and four pieces. And a pillar (68) extending parallel to at least one of the features (66) and positioned centrally on the bottom surface (60) of the base (58). 8. A telephone according to claim 7, wherein the upper surface of the multidirectional key (22) is a central dibot (72). In the keypad 20, A flexible member 23 to which at least one hollow button 44 which can be suppressed in multiple directions extends, A keypad comprising a hard key (22) inserted into at least one hollow button (44). 10. The lower surface 60 of the rigid key 22 comprises a plurality of actuation tips 66 and a central pivot portion 68, wherein the center pivot portion 68 is a plurality of actuation tips 66. Keypad, characterized in that to suppress one or more simultaneous suppression.