KR20080079796A

KR20080079796A - Rotatable multi-key

Info

Publication number: KR20080079796A
Application number: KR1020070020244A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박영일; 이갑진
Original assignee: 엘지이노텍 주식회사
Priority date: 2007-02-28
Filing date: 2007-02-28
Publication date: 2008-09-02

Abstract

A rotatable multi-key is provided to secure smooth rotation of a wheel key by installing a ring-shaped rotary washer with a low friction coefficient between a holder and the wheel key. A rotatable multi-key includes a holder(40), a wheel key(50), an operation feeling unit(60), a substrate(20), and a dome sheet(30). The wheel key is rotatably installed on the holder and has a ring-shaped magnet(52) in which N and S poles are alternately arranged. The operation feeling unit is made of a magnetic steel plate to so that only attraction acts between the magnet and the operation feeling unit. The operation feeling unit has a plurality of contact pieces(62) corresponding to the magnet. The substrate has a plurality of contact units(22a,22b) and a magnetic field detecting element(23). The dome sheet is attached on the substrate and has a plurality of metal domes(31) corresponding to the contact units of the substrate.

Description

ROTATABLE MULTI-KEY}

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a rotary multi-key according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is an exploded bottom view showing the coupling structure of the holder and the operation feeling means shown in Figure 1 exploded.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a rotary multi-key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view showing a coupling state of the holder and the operation feeling means shown in Figure 3 exploded.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the operating state of the magnet and the operation feeling means provided in the rotary multi-key according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

A-Multikey 10-Base

20-Board 22-Contacts

23-Magnetic field detection means 30-Dome sheet

40-Holder 41-Pressing protrusion

50-Wheelkey 52-Magnet

60-Sense of operation 61-Fixing part

62-contact piece

The present invention relates to a rotary multikey.

With the rapid development of communication technology, the spread of portable terminals is becoming more common and the demands of consumers related to portable terminals are becoming more diversified as wireless internet services are commercialized. Accordingly, the retrieval of a lot of information has become essential. Accordingly, the portable terminal is equipped with a multi-key in which a plurality of function keys for performing functions in separate locations are integrated and used as a single key. Typical implementations allow users to easily and conveniently implement various searches using only one finger.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assembly structure of a rotatable multi-key according to the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a coupling state of the magnet for operating feeling shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary multi-key according to the related art is attached to the substrate 110 on which the plurality of contact parts 111, the magnetic field detecting element 112 are installed, and the substrate 110. For example, a dome sheet 120 provided with a plurality of metal domes 121 corresponding to the contact part 111 and a plurality of pressing protrusions 131 corresponding to the metal dome 121 are formed and the dome sheet 120 is formed. The wheel 130 is installed in the upper portion of the holder 130, the rotatable structure is installed in the upper portion of the holder 130 and the ring-shaped magnet 141 is alternately arranged in the lower portion of the wheel key 140 It is configured to include.

Accordingly, as the wheel key 140 rotates, the magnetic field detecting element 112 detects a change in magnetic flux of the magnet 141 to detect a rotation direction, and presses the outer peripheral edge of the wheel key 140 into the holder. The pressing protrusion 131 provided at 130 presses a contact portion to generate a signal.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the holder 130, a pair of operation feeling magnet 150 is provided on both sides of the position corresponding to the magnet 141 to form a feeling of operation when the wheel key 140 is rotated.

That is, the operation feeling is formed by using the attraction force and the repulsive force generated by the polarity difference between the magnet 141 provided on the wheel key 140 and the magnet 150 for the operation feeling.

However, the rotating multi-key according to the related art is operated by the polarity difference between the magnet 141 installed on the wheel key 140 and the operation feeling magnet 150, but there is a play every time the wheel key 140 is rotated. Since a phenomenon occurs and a mud appears, there is a problem that the operation feeling is not felt softly but is roughly felt.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the object of the present invention is to rotate the wheel key to feel a predetermined rotational operation while enabling a smooth rotation operation without rattling In providing multi-keys.

This invention is a holder; A wheel key installed in a rotatable structure on an upper portion of the holder and including a magnet having a ring shape in which N and S poles are alternately disposed and divided into a plurality of section surfaces; A predetermined manipulation feeling means made of a magnetic iron plate so that only the magnet and the attraction force are provided, and a plurality of contact pieces are formed at positions corresponding to the magnet and installed below the holder; A substrate provided with a plurality of contact portions and a magnetic field detecting element; And a dome sheet attached to the substrate and provided with a plurality of metal domes corresponding to the contact portions.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a rotary multi-key according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view showing a coupling state of the holder and the operation feeling means shown in Figure 3 exploded.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary multi-key A according to the present invention has a base 10, a substrate 20, a dome sheet 30, a holder 40, and a wheel key 50. ) And the operation feeling means (60) to have a structure in which each of the components are sequentially laminated and coupled within the base (10).

The board 20 is connected to a main board mounted in various electronic devices such as a portable terminal, thereby transmitting a signal input through the multi-key A to the main board.

The substrate 20 is provided with a connecting portion 21 at one end thereof so as to be connected to the main substrate of various electronic devices, and has a plurality of circuit patterns and predetermined arrangements for sensing the operation of the multi-key A on the surface thereof. The contact portion 22 is provided, the dome sheet 30 is attached to the surface.

At this time, the plurality of contact portions 22 are arranged in a circular direction in the four directions of up, down, left and right, the first contact portion 22a used as a direction key, and the second independently installed in the center and used as an input key. It is divided into the contact parts 22b.

The dome sheet 30 is a sheet of paper coated with an adhesive material on one surface thereof, and the metal dome 31 is attached to a position corresponding to the contact portion 22 provided on the substrate 20 so that the metal dome 31 may be formed. It is configured to be in contact with the contact portion 22 as a signal is applied as it is pressed.

In addition, the substrate 20 is provided with a magnetic field detecting means 23 composed of a pair of Hall ICs in order to detect rotation of the wheel key 40 which will be described later, in addition to the contact portion 22, and around the contact portion 22. A plurality of LEDs (not shown) which emit light in accordance with the electrical contact signal of 22 are provided.

The holder 40 is installed to press the metal dome 31 attached to the dome sheet 30 so that a signal is applied.

The holder 40 has a disc-shaped body 41 having a through hole 41a at the center thereof, and is formed below the body 41, and has a metal dome 31 at a position corresponding to the metal dome 31. It is configured to include a pressing projection (42) formed of a structure capable of pressing ().

The wheel key 50 has a disc shape having an assembly hole 51 formed in the center thereof, and is seated in a rotatable structure on the upper surface of the holder 40 to provide the magnetic field detecting means 23 installed on the substrate 20 according to the user's rotation operation. Signal is generated. To this end, a ring-shaped magnet 52 corresponding to the magnetic field detecting means 23 installed on the substrate 20 is fixedly installed under the wheel key 50.

At this time, the magnet 52 is formed in a structure in which the N pole and the S pole are alternately arranged by dividing the entire area into a plurality of section surfaces having the same area.

Thus, when the magnet 52 is rotated by the rotation of the wheel key 50, the magnetic field detecting means 23 can detect the magnetic flux change of the magnet 52, it is possible to detect the rotation position of the wheel key 50 Will be.

In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferable that a ring-type rotary washer 53 having a small coefficient of friction is installed between the holder 40 and the wheel key 50 in order to secure a smooth rotation operation of the wheel key 50.

In addition, a center key 70 is provided at the center of the wheel key 50 to operate the second contact portion 22b provided on the substrate 20.

The center key 70 is installed on the second contact portion 22b of the substrate 20 in a structure capable of vertically moving through the assembling hole 51 of the wheel key 50 and is pressed by the second contact portion 22b. Accordingly the signal is detected.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the holder 40 is provided with a predetermined manipulation feeling means 60 in order to keep the rotation operation of the wheel key 50 stable and smooth.

The operation feeling means 60 is configured to include a ring-shaped fixing portion 61 fixed to the lower portion of the holder 40, and at least one contact piece 62 formed around the fixing portion 61 do.

At this time, the contact piece 62 is preferably composed of a magnetic iron plate to provide a fixed force to the wheel key 50 in accordance with the attraction force with the magnet (52).

In addition, the contact piece 62 is configured to be able to change the distribution of the magnetic field strength during rotation of the magnet 52.

That is, at least one contact piece 62 is formed at the position corresponding to the magnet 52 and at least one circumference of the fixing part in the same area as each section surface provided in the magnet 52, preferably the magnetic field detecting means. It is preferable that a plurality of portions (23) be provided at regular intervals except for portions to be exposed.

As a result, the magnet 52 is rotated in a state in which only the operation feeling means 60 and the attraction force act, thereby enabling smooth and stable rotation without any rattling during rotation.

In addition, in the state in which the wheel key 50 is rotated, the magnet 52 is also rotated so that the N pole and the S pole alternately pass through the contact piece 62. In this case, the distribution of the magnetic field strength is different at the polar boundary of the magnet 52. Since the user loses the feeling of operation by rotating the wheel key 50 as described above, the user feels the same.

Referring to the drawings in more detail the operation relationship between the magnet and the operation feeling means as follows.

In the state in which the wheel key 50 is not rotated as shown in FIG. 5A, a property that the magnet 52 tries to attach as the attraction force with the manipulation-sensing means 60 acts does not operate the wheel key 50 arbitrarily.

In this state, when the wheel key 50 is partially rotated as shown in FIG. 5B, the attraction force is continuously generated between the magnet 52 and the manipulation-sensing means 60, but the force that the user wants to operate the wheel key 50 is relatively. Because of its size, rotation is possible.

At this time, each contact piece 62 is moved along each section surface of the magnet 52 bar, the contact piece 62 has a distribution of magnetic field strength at the boundary between the section surface of the magnet 52 polarity and the section surface Will be different.

That is, the magnitude of the attraction is usually related to the distance between the two objects, because the closer the force is, the stronger the strength becomes, and the farther it is, the weaker the strength becomes. In this principle, when the magnet 52 is rotated, the contact piece 62 is further away from the first section surface and closer to the next section surface. As shown in FIG. 5C, the user may feel a sense of operation by the above operation in the process of rotating the wheel key 50 as the process is repeatedly performed.

Therefore, when the user rotates the rotary multi-key (A) configured as described above, a signal is generated according to the stable and smooth contact rotation of the magnet 52 and the operation feeling means 60, the menu can be moved, By being selected by the operation of the center key 70 installed in the center in the moved state as described above, it is possible to perform a variety of searches quickly and simply.

On the other hand, while the rotary multi-key (A) according to the present invention has been described with an example installed in the portable terminal, the rotary multi-key (A) according to the present invention is the same concept MP3, camcorder, digital camera, electronic Of course, it can be applied as a direction input key of all electronic products such as a notebook, electronic dictionary, PDA, notebook.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail using the preferable embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not limited to a specific embodiment, Comprising: It should be interpreted by the attached Claim. In addition, those skilled in the art should understand that many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As described above, according to the rotatable multi-key according to the present invention, since the rotation of the wheel key is kept stable and smooth without any rattling, the operation feeling of the wheel key is greatly improved.

Claims

holder;

A wheel key installed in a rotatable structure on an upper portion of the holder and including a magnet having a ring shape in which N and S poles are alternately disposed and divided into a plurality of section surfaces;

A predetermined manipulation feeling means made of a magnetic iron plate so that only the magnet and the attraction force are provided, and a plurality of contact pieces are formed at positions corresponding to the magnet and installed below the holder;

A substrate provided with a plurality of contact portions and a magnetic field detecting element; And

And a dome sheet attached to the substrate and provided with a plurality of metal domes corresponding to the contact portions.

The method of claim 1,

The operation feeling means,

And a ring-shaped fixing portion fixed to the lower portion of the holder, wherein the contact piece is formed around the fixing portion.

The method of claim 1,

The contact piece,

Rotating multi-key formed in the same shape and area as each section surface provided in the magnet.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

The contact piece,

Rotating multi-keys are formed in a plurality at regular intervals in the remaining portion except for the portion of the magnetic field detection device.

The method of claim 1,

The section surface provided in the magnet,

Rotating multikeys whose entire area is divided into equal areas.

The method of claim 1,

The holder is a rotary multi-key formed with a plurality of pressing projections corresponding to the metal dome.

The method of claim 1,

The center of the multi-key is a rotary multi-key is mounted.

The method of claim 1,

Each component constituting the multi-key is a rotary multi-key laminated in a separately configured base.

The method of claim 1,

Rotating multi-key is installed between the wheel key and the holder has a ring-type rotary washer with a small coefficient of friction