KR20100015109A - Pointing device and electronic device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A pointing device and an electronic device with the same are provided to move a clicking sense improving button together with an operating member and a mediating member, thereby improving a clicking sense feeling without increasing thickness. CONSTITUTION: An operating member(400) is moved by a user. A mediating member(200) applies restoring force to the operating member. A clicking sense maintaining unit is in a combination area of the operating member and the mediating member. A sensing unit generates a moving signal and a click signal according to motion of the operating member.

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, and more particularly, to a pointing device capable of improving a feeling of click by reducing a thickness and improving a sensing capability.

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 an upper portion of a substrate, arranged a magnet on the silicone resin, and attached a sensor to the lower portion of the substrate. Through this, the sensor detects the change according to the movement of the magnet and uses the result to move the pointer on the screen. In the conventional input device, a dome switch is disposed in a space between the substrate and the silicone resin to generate a click signal by pressing the dome switch so that the click operation is performed at the pointer position on the screen.

Such a conventional input device has a problem in that the silicone resin is poor in durability and the silicone resin is easily damaged (torn) due to friction between the silicone resin and the dome switch.

In addition, since the dome switch is positioned between the silicone resin and the substrate, there is a disadvantage that the thickness of the dome switch should be thicker. In addition, since the dome switch is fixed and the silicone resin is moved by a user's operation, the user's click force applied to the silicone resin is not smoothly transmitted to the dome switch, which results in a deterioration of the click feeling. There is.

Accordingly, the present invention can reduce the thickness of the dome switch by detecting the click operation using a sensor to reduce the thickness to reduce the thickness in order to solve the above problems, between the operating member and the intermediate member It is an object of the present invention to provide a pointing device capable of improving the click feeling without increasing the thickness by disposing a click feeling improving button in a space and moving the click feeling improving button together with the operating member and the intermediate member, and an electronic device having the same.

An operation member moved by the user according to the present invention, an intermediate member coupled to the operation member to apply a restoring force to the operation member, a click holding portion provided in a coupling area of the operation member and the intermediate member, and the operation It provides a pointing device including a sensing means for generating a movement signal and a click signal in accordance with the movement of the member.

The actuating member is moved by the user in the horizontal direction, in the vertical direction, or simultaneously in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with respect to the sensing means, and the intermediate member is the restoring force against the horizontal movement of the operating member. It is preferable to apply.

It is effective to apply the restoring force to the click-sensing holding part against the vertical movement of the operating member.

It is possible to include a support protrusion provided between the operating member and the intermediate member to apply a restoring force to the vertical movement of the operating member.

It is effective that the click holding portion includes a dome-shaped body protruding from the center thereof.

It is preferable that it comprises the actuator part provided in the engagement area | region of the said operation member and the said intermediate member, and connected to the said operation member, and arrange | positioned adjacent to the center part of the said click feeling holding part.

The intermediate member preferably includes a central portion fastened to the operation member, a pattern portion for applying a restoring force to the central portion, and a fixing portion provided at an end of the pattern portion.

Preferably, the actuating member includes a contact portion having a groove portion in a lower region, a separation preventing portion extending outwardly from the contact portion in the contact portion, and the actuator portion extends downward from the bottom surface of the groove portion.

The sensing means senses a change in the magnetic field of the magnet, and it is effective that a magnet part is provided inside the coupling area of the operating member and the intermediate member.

Preferably, the magnet part is fixed to the operating member, and the magnet part has a through groove through which the actuator part passes.

The contact portion has an upper contact plate and sidewalls extending downward from an edge region of the upper contact plate, the magnet portion is fixed to a lower region of the upper contact plate, and a part of the intermediate member is connected to the magnet portion. It is effective to be drawn in and secured to the area between the side walls.

The contact portion has an upper contact plate, a sidewall extending downward from an edge region of the upper contact plate, and a receiving groove provided in a lower region of the sidewall, and a part of the medial member is fixed to the receiving groove inlet. Do.

Exposing a substrate on which the intermediate member is placed, a portion of the operation member coupled to the intermediate member, a cover portion fixedly mounted to the substrate, and a sliding pad provided on at least a portion of an area between the intermediate member and the substrate. It is effective to include more.

The intermediate member includes a central portion fastened to the operating member, a pattern portion for applying a restoring force to the central portion, a fixing portion provided at an end of the pattern portion, and the operating member includes a contact portion having a groove portion in a lower region thereof, It is preferable that the contact portion has a departure prevention portion extending in the outward direction of the contact portion, wherein the cover portion secures the fixing portion to the substrate, the cover portion exposes a portion of the contact portion, and covers a portion of the release prevention portion. Do.

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 And a media member coupled to the actuating member to apply a restoring force to the actuating member, a click holding portion provided in the engagement region of the actuating member and the medial member, and a movement signal and a click signal according to the movement of the actuating member. It provides an electronic device comprising a sensing means for generating.

As described above, the present invention generates a click signal according to the downward movement of the magnet by arranging the magnet part and the click feeling holding part in the engagement region of the intermediate member and the operation member, and does not use the dome switch by pressing the click feeling holding part. For example, the click signal generation and the click feeling can be maintained.

In addition, the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost by not using the dome switch, it is possible to slim down by reducing the thickness of the pointing device.

In addition, the present invention can provide a feeling of click by arranging the click feeling retaining portion in the engagement region of the intermediate member and the actuating member, so that even if the actuating member is moved by the user, the center region of the click feeling retaining portion can be pressed at all times.

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 for describing an operation of a pointing device according to an embodiment. 5 to 7 are cross-sectional views of a pointing device according to a modification of the embodiment.

1 to 4, 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 the user's movement. A click feeling provided between the operating member 400, the intermediate member 200 for moving, rotating and restoring the magnet part 300 and the operating member 400, and the intermediate member 200 and the operating member 400. The holding unit 700, the sensor unit 600 that detects a magnetic field change according to the movement of the magnet unit 300, and generates a predetermined output signal, and the intermediate member 200 are fixed to the substrate 100. It includes a fixed cover 500.

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.

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 introduced. do. Through this, the cover part 500 may be fixed to the substrate 100 to fix the movement of the cover part 500.

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 are preferably arranged to be symmetrical with each other in the center point region of the magnet part 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.

In addition, the intermediate member 200 is positioned on the upper surface of the substrate 100. The intermediate member 200 is fixedly mounted to the operating member 400 so that a part thereof moves together with the movement of the operating member 400, and applies a restoring force to the operating member 400.

As described above, since the intermediate member 200 of the present exemplary embodiment moves on the upper surface of the substrate 100 (that is, the substrate surface above the sensor unit 600), as shown in FIGS. It is effective that a lubrication pad 800 is provided between the upper surface and the intermediate member 200 to reduce friction therebetween. That is, when the intermediate member 200 moves in close contact with the substrate 100, the intermediate member 200 may be easily worn due to the friction force between the intermediate member 200 and the substrate 100. In this case, instead of the lubrication pad 800, a lubricating material such as grease may be applied between the substrate and the intermediate member 200.

Of course, the present embodiment uses a high strength plastic (for example, POM, PC, etc.) with excellent wear resistance as the intermediate member 200 compared to the conventional silicone rubber. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a thin metal thin film may be used.

In addition, when the high strength plastic is used as the intermediate member 200, the intermediate member 200 may be manufactured by an injection process to simplify the manufacturing process, and mass production may be performed. Of course, when the metallic material is used as the intermediate member 200, the intermediate member 200 may be manufactured through a metal etching process or a metal cutting process as well as an injection process. In addition, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a material having excellent lubricity, wear resistance, and restoring force may be used as the intermediate member 200.

As described above, the intermediate member 200 includes a central portion 210 coupled to the operation member 400 and a plurality of extension members extending from the central portion 210 to apply a restoring force to the central portion 210 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The pattern unit 220 and a plurality of fixing units provided at ends of each of the pattern units 220 are provided.

The central portion 210 includes a central plate 211 having a circular plate shape and fixing protrusions 212 and 213 protruding from the central body 211 and fixed to the operating member 400. In this case, the fixing protrusions include a plurality of horizontal protrusions 212 protruding in the horizontal direction from the center body 211, and vertical protrusions protruding vertically from the horizontal protrusions 212 (that is, an upper direction of the central body 211). 213 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, this embodiment includes three fixing protrusions 212 and 213.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertical protrusion 213 is fixedly coupled to the operation member 400. Through this, the moving force applied to the operation member 400 may be provided to the central portion 210. This means that the central portion 210 moves in the direction of movement of the operation member 400. In the present embodiment, the magnet part 300 is positioned inside the edge of the vertical protrusion 213 of the central part 210. In this case, the magnet 300 may descend into the vertical protrusion 213 for the click operation. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is effective that the vertical protrusion 213 has a thickness smaller than that of the lower region. As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical protrusion 213 is preferably fixed due to being inserted into a space between the operation member 400 and the magnet part 300.

In this case, the bottom surface of the central portion 210, that is, the central body portion 211 and the horizontal protrusion 212 may be in close contact with the substrate 100. That is, the lower bottom surface of the center portion 210 is connected to the substrate 100. In this case, as mentioned above, friction may occur between the central portion 210 and the substrate 100. Therefore, in order to reduce the contact area between the central portion 210 and the substrate 100, it is effective that at least one protrusion having a hemispherical shape is provided on the lower bottom surface of the central portion 210. Of course, the projections may be omitted to reduce the thickness of the pointing device. In addition, the click feeling maintaining part 700 of the present embodiment is located inside the central portion 210. That is, it is preferable to be located in the space between the central body 211 and the horizontal protrusion 212.

1 and 3, the central portion 210 is disposed in the center point region of the fixing portions 230. In the present embodiment, three fixing parts 230 are provided, and the fixing parts 230 are disposed in the peripheral area of the central part 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.

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. Although not shown, protrusions (referred to in the center portion 210 above) to reduce friction with the substrate 100 may be provided below the bent line 221.

Here, the pattern unit 220 supports the central portion 210 when the central portion 210 moves or rotates by an external force, and when the external force is not applied (that is, the central portion 210 does not move and rotate). The central portion 210 is restored 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, this may minimize overlap (or contact) between adjacent bent lines 221. 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 and 3. 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 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. In addition to linear motion, 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.

Here, the fixing part 230 includes a fixing support part 231 and a fixing protrusion part 232 protruding in the horizontal direction from the fixing support part 231 and fixed to the cover part 500.

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 is in close contact with the substrate 100.

As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, the click feeling maintaining part 700 is provided inside the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200. That is, the pointing device of the present embodiment can reduce the overall thickness (ie, height) of the pointing device by omitting the existing dome switch. This is because the existing dome switch is located in the space between the substrate 100 and the intermediate member 200, so that the intermediate member 200 must be raised by the height of the dome switch. This increases not only the overall thickness of the pointing device but also causes the media member 200 to sag due to its own weight after a long time of use, thereby degrading the feeling of operation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, such a dome switch is omitted, and the click signal generation by the dome switch is generated by using the signal change of the sensor unit 600 due to the vertical drop of the magnet unit 300. That is, for example, when four magnetic sensors are disposed in the directions of ± X and ± Y, respectively, the sensitivity of the maximum two magnetic sensors increases when the magnet part 300 moves on a two-dimensional plane. However, as shown in FIG. 4, when the magnet part 300 descends in the vertical direction (for example, about 0.2 mm in the vertical direction), that is, when the click operation is performed by the user, four magnetic sensors are performed. The sensitivity of three or four magnetic sensors is increased. This is because when the magnet part 300 moves in the horizontal direction on the two-dimensional plane, only the sensitivity of the magnetic sensor in the direction in which the magnet part 300 moves increases. However, when the magnet unit 300 moves in the vertical direction, the distance between the magnet unit 300 and the magnetic sensor located below the device increases, so that the sensitivity of at least three magnetic sensors increases. In this embodiment, when the sensitivity of at least three or more magnetic sensors increases by using this, it is recognized as a click signal.

Through the signal change of the sensor unit 600 as described above, the click can be recognized without using the dome switch. However, when the dome switch is not used, a problem in which the user senses a click when the dome switch is pressed decreases.

In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, the click feeling maintaining part 700 is disposed on the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200. That is, the click feeling maintaining part 700 is disposed in the region of the intermediate member 200 positioned below the magnet part 300. As a result, when the magnet unit 300 descends together with the operation member 400, the sensor unit 600 generates a click signal by the magnet unit 300 descending, and the click feeling maintaining unit is operated by the operation member 400. The 700 is pressed so that the user can feel a click feeling similar to the existing dome switch. Of course, the click feeling holding part 700 may be pressed by the magnet part 300.

To this end, the click maintaining unit 700 includes a dome-shaped body protruding from the center thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is effective to manufacture the click feeling holding part 700 with a metallic material. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, as the operation member 400 descends, the protruding center area of the body of the click feeling maintaining part 700 is pressed, and the protruding center area is pressed to make the user feel the click. . Preferably, the click feeling holding part 700 is preferably manufactured in a shape similar to a conventional dome switch. That is, it is preferable that the appearance is similar to the existing dome switch, and does not serve as an electrical switch. This is because the click feeling holding part 700 is not fixed to the substrate 100 and is separated from the substrate 100. In addition, since the click feeling holding part 700 is located at the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200, the click feeling holding part 700 moves together with the intermediate member 200, so that it is difficult to apply an electrical signal to the click feeling holding part 700. Because.

In addition, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the click feeling maintaining part 700 may have various shapes having a restoring force to improve the click feeling. In addition, an elastic body such as a spring may be used as the click feeling holding part 700.

As described above, the magnet part 300 is disposed in the upper region of the click feeling maintaining part 700. As a result, the click feeling maintaining part 700 is pressed by the falling of the magnet part 300, so that the user can feel the click feeling, and the sensor part 600 generates the click signal. In general, the magnet part 300 is manufactured in a plate shape.

At this time, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to improve the feeling of click, a separate actuator part 430 provided at the center of the dome-shaped click maintaining part 700 in the operation member 400 is provided. It is preferable to press using. Of course, the actuator part may be omitted by protruding a part of the magnet part 300 in the downward direction (that is, the click feeling maintaining part 700 direction).

In this way, since the actuator part 430 of the operation member 400 passes through the magnet part 300, the magnet part 300 includes a magnet body 310 and a through groove 320 provided in the magnet body 310. do. The actuator part 430 of the operation member 400 penetrates through the through groove 320 and is positioned above the center area of the click feeling holding part 700. In addition, the magnet part 300 is fixedly coupled to the operation member 400. Through this, the magnet part 300 moves together with the operation member 400, and is restored to the initial position by the intermediate member 200.

In this way, the through hole 320 is formed by moving the hole in the center of the magnet body 310 of the magnet part 300 to provide a higher magnetic force to the sensor part 600 with magnets of the same size. . This makes the magnet thinner.

The magnet in the form of a circular ring 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.

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

The operation member 400 includes a contact portion 410 having a groove portion 411 in a lower region, an actuator portion 430 protruding downward from a bottom surface of the groove portion 411 of the contact portion 410, and the contact portion ( At 410 is provided a departure prevention portion 420 extending in the outward direction.

The contact portion 410 is manufactured in a substantially columnar shape with an open lower region. That is, the contact portion 410 includes an upper contact plate 412 and a sidewall 413 extending downward from an edge region of the upper contact plate 412. Through this, the contact portion 410 has a groove portion 411 formed by the upper contact plate 412 and the side wall 413. The upper contact plate 412 is manufactured in the form of a circular plate, and the sidewalls are manufactured in the shape of a circular ring. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the upper contact plate 412 may be manufactured in a polygonal shape.

Here, the upper surface of the upper contact plate 412 is a surface that the user is in contact with the surface is preferably a non-slip treatment. In addition, the sidewall 413 extends in the edge region of the lower surface (ie, the bottom surface) of the upper contact plate 412. The lower surface of the upper contact plate 412 surrounded by the sidewall 413 becomes the bottom surface of the groove 411. In this case, the magnet part 300 is fixedly coupled to the lower surface of the upper contact plate 412, that is, the bottom surface of the groove part 411. At this time, it is effective that the magnet unit 300 is connected through a separate adhesive. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the operation member 400 is used as a metallic material, the magnet part 300 may be fixed to the operation member 400 by the magnetic force of the magnet part 300. In addition, when the metal is used, not only the magnetic field of the magnet part 300 may be prevented from being released to the outside, but also the thickness of the operation member 400 may be reduced, thereby miniaturization. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the operating member 400 may be manufactured using plastic, silicone resin, and rubber.

As described above, the magnet part 300 is manufactured in a ring shape having a through groove. And, as shown in Figure 2 it is preferable that the maximum diameter of the bottom surface of the groove portion 411 is larger than the maximum diameter of the magnet portion 300. As a result, a space is formed between the magnet part 300 and the side wall 413. In this embodiment, the intermediate member 200 is introduced into such a space. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the vertical protrusion 213 of the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 is introduced into the space. Through this, the movement of the magnet part 300 in the bottom surface of the groove part 411 can be caught, and the intermediate member 200 can be fixed to the magnet part 300 and the operation member 400.

Through this, the pushing force (ie, operating force) of the user applied to the operation member 400 may be provided together with the central portion 210 of the magnet part 300 and the intermediate member 200, and when the pushing force disappears, The restoring force of the pattern part 220 of the member 200 may be provided together with the magnet part 300 and the operation member 400.

At this time, the operation member 400 is moved by the user in the horizontal direction (ie, the two-dimensional plane direction, for example, X-axis direction, Y-axis direction) relative to the surface of the substrate 100, or vertical direction (that is, Y-axis direction). Of course, you can move in the horizontal and vertical directions at the same time. Therefore, when the operating member 400 moves in the horizontal direction because the intermediate member 200 is fixedly inserted into the space between the operating member 400 and the magnet part 300, the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 may also be moved. Will move together. When the force in the horizontal direction is removed through this, the center portion 210 is restored by the pattern portion 220 of the intermediate member 200, and thus the operation member 400 is also restored to the initial position. At this time, when the operation member 400 is moved in the vertical direction, the center portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 does not move because the substrate 100 is located below it. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the operation member 400 descends vertically, the center region of the click feeling holding part 700 is pressed downward. That is, the shape of the click feeling holding part 700 is changed. In this case, when the force in the vertical direction is removed, the click feeling holding part 700 is restored to its original shape, and thus the operation member 400 is also restored to the initial position.

The departure prevention part 420 extends in a plate shape in the lower region of the contact part 410. That is, it extends outward in the lower edge region of the sidewall 413 of the contact portion 410. And, the departure prevention portion is preferably in the form of a single plate as shown in Figure 1 contact portion 410 is formed along the circumference. That is, it is produced in a circular ring shape. 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 contact 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.

The actuator part 430 is manufactured in the shape of a protrusion or a rod protruding downward from the lower surface of the contact portion 410, that is, the bottom surface of the groove 411. That is, the actuator part 230 penetrates through the magnet part 300 and extends upwardly of the click feeling holding part 700 provided between the magnet part 300 and the intermediate member 700. At this time, it is preferable that one end of the actuator portion 230 is disposed adjacent to the maximum protruding region (ie, the central region) of the dome-shaped click maintaining portion 700. This maximizes the user's click feeling.

As described above, in this embodiment, the intermediate member 200 is positioned on the substrate 100, and the operating member 400 coupled to the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 is positioned above the intermediate member 200. . At this time, the magnet part 300 is disposed above the space formed by the coupling of the contact portion 410 of the operation member 400 and the center portion 210 of the intermediate member 200, and maintains a feeling of click below the space. The part 700 is disposed. This makes it possible to reduce the thickness (ie height) of the entire pointing device.

That is, if the dome switch is formed on the substrate 100, the intermediate member 200 is positioned on the dome switch, and the operation member 400 is positioned on the intermediate member 200. This increases the thickness (ie the height) of the entire pointing device. That is, the increase amount is increased by the maximum height of the dome switch. However, in the present embodiment, as mentioned above, the dome switch is omitted, and the combination of the intermediate member 200 and the operation member 400 provides a click feeling holding part 700 that gives a user a feeling of clicking among the functions of the dome switch. Placement in the formed space can reduce the height by the thickness of the dome switch. For example, when the total height of the pointing device having the dome switch is 2.0 mm, and the height of the dome switch is about 0.3 mm, in this embodiment, the overall height of the pointing device may be 1.7 mm.

In addition, by omitting the dome switch in this way, the gap between the magnet portion 300 (or the gap between the magnet portion 300 and the sensor portion 600) on the surface of the substrate 100 is reduced. As a result, the sensing capability of the sensor unit 600 that detects the magnetic change of the magnet unit 300 may be improved.

In addition, in the present embodiment is located in the space formed by the combination of the contact portion 410 of the operating member 400 and the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 is connected to the contact portion 410 of the operating member 400, the feeling of click A feeling of click can be improved by placing an actuator part protruding and extending in the holding part 700 direction.

In the conventional case, in the case of the plate-shaped mediator 200 moving on the dome switch, when the mediator 200 is biased to one side, the center of the mediator 200 and the protruding area of the dome switch (that is, the center of the dome) ) Is a mixed problem. As a result, it was difficult to press the dome switch with the intermediate member 200. In addition, even if the actuator is placed below the intermediate member 200, the dome switch is fixed, and since the intermediate member 200 is moved, the actuator is not located in the center region of the dome switch, so that the click feeling is reduced. Problem occurs. Furthermore, in the case of drag and drop operation, the dome switch may be damaged by moving the operating member 400, that is, the intermediate member 200 while the dome switch is pressed, and may cause a malfunction. .

However, as in the present embodiment, the actuator part 430 is placed inside the operation member 400 and the click feeling maintaining part 700 is placed in the space between the operation member 400 and the intermediate member 200 to be fixed. As a result, even when the operating member 400 or the intermediate member 200 moves, the actuator part 430 may be always located in the protruding region (ie, the central region of the dome) of the click feeling holding part 700. That is, even when the operation member 400 and the intermediate member 200 are moved, the center of the actuator part 430 is always located in the center area of the click feeling maintaining part 700 to prevent damage and malfunction of the dome switch described above. Can improve the feeling of click.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the operation member 400 and the magnet part 300 are fixed to the cover part 500 by the fixing part 230 of the intermediate member 200 that is mounted and fixed to the cover part 500. Movement on the two-dimensional plane of the operation member 400 is limited by the cover portion 500.

The cover part 500 may include a top plate 511 having a through hole 512, a receiving body part 510 having sidewalls 513, and a plurality of fixing parts provided at partial regions below the sidewalls 511. The groove portion 520, the plurality of fixing hook portions 530 extending in the lower portion of the side wall portion 511, and the plurality of fixing pin portions 540 extending in the lower portion of the side wall portion 511 may be disposed. Equipped.

Here, the contact 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 separation space is formed between the contact portion 410 and the through groove 512, and the two-dimensional moving region of the magnet part 300 is defined by the separation space. At this time, the separation distance between the contact 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.

The fixing part 230 of the medium member 200 is fixed to the fixing groove 520 described above. Through this, the intermediate member 200 may be fixed to the upper side of the substrate 100 by the cover part 500.

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 portion 530 and the fixing pin portion 540, so that the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 is placed on the substrate 100. .

In the present embodiment, the movement force in the horizontal direction and the movement force in the vertical direction are provided to the operation member 400 protruding out of the cover part 500 by the user.

 Therefore, when a first force (force descending in the vertical direction) is applied to the operation member 400 by the user, the actuator part 430 and the magnet part 300 of the operation member 400 are vertically lowered (Z-axis). Move). As a result, the actuator unit 430 presses the click feeling holding unit 700, and the sensor unit 600 generates a click signal by recognizing the falling of the magnet unit 300. Subsequently, when the first force is removed, since the click feeling maintaining part 700 is restored to its original shape, the operation member 400 and the magnet part 300 are pushed upward to restore the initial position.

In addition, when a second force different from the first force (ie, the moving force in the horizontal direction) is applied, the operating member 400 moves in the horizontal direction (two-dimensional directions, the X and Y axes). At this time, the magnet 300 and the central portion 210 also move together. In this case, the sensor unit 600 outputs a sensing signal according to the movement of the magnet unit 300. Subsequently, when the second force is removed, since the pattern portion 220 connected to the central portion 210 is restored to its original shape, the magnet portion 300 and the operation member 400 are restored to their initial positions.

In addition, when the first force and the second force are simultaneously applied, the magnet part 300 and the central part 210 move together while the click feeling maintaining part 700 is pressed by the actuator part 430. Through this, the sensor unit 600 outputs a sensing signal corresponding to the click signal and the plane motion. Subsequently, when the first and second forces are removed, the central part 210 and the operation member 400 are restored to the initial position by the click feeling maintaining part 700 and the pattern part 220.

Of course, the pointing device according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above description, and various modifications are possible.

That is, as in the modification illustrated in FIG. 5, the intermediate member 200 prevents the deflection of the operation member 400, and supports a plurality of supports for pushing the lowered operation member 400 upward to restore the initial position. A protrusion 240 may be further provided.

At this time, as shown, the support protrusion 240 is manufactured in the shape of a protrusion extending from the upper side of the pattern portion 220 toward the operation member 400. And, the support protrusion 240 is preferably disposed adjacent to the lower side of the departure prevention portion 420 of the operation member 400. At this time, the support protrusion 240 has a restoring force and is easily pressed by the descending force of the operation member 400, whereas when the descending force is removed, the shape is quickly deformed to the original shape and thus the operating member ( It is preferable to serve to restore the initial position by raising 400).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower side of the actuator part 430 of the operation member 400 may be manufactured in a hook shape to fix the magnet part 300 to the bottom surface of the groove part 411. . That is, when the hook-shaped actuator part 430 is fitted into the through groove 320 of the magnet part 300, the magnet part 300 is not easily pulled out by the protrusion of the hook. Through this, the magnet part 300 may be more firmly fixed, and the phenomenon in which the magnet part 300 is shaken or separated by excessive movement of the operation member 400 may be prevented.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 is not positioned inside the groove 411 of the operation member 400, but is drawn into the receiving groove 414 of the operation member 400. Can be fixed. That is, at least one accommodating groove 414 is provided in the sidewall 412 of the contact portion 410 of the operation member 400, and the vertical protrusion 213 of the central portion 210 is fitted into the accommodating groove 414. Can be put. This can be fixedly coupled between the operating member 400 and the intermediate member 200. As a result, the external moving force applied from the user may be transmitted to the intermediate member 200 through the operating member 400, and the restoring force of the intermediate member 200 may be transmitted to the operating member 400. In addition, although not shown, the vertical protrusion 213 of the central portion 210 of the intermediate member 200 and the side wall 412 of the contact portion 410 of the operating member 400 may be coupled in a fitting form. That is, the uneven pattern may be provided on the vertical protrusion 213, and the uneven pattern corresponding to the uneven pattern may be provided on the sidewall 412 to be fixed to each other.

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 cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of a pointing device according to an embodiment.

5 to 7 are cross-sectional views of a pointing device according to a modification of one embodiment.

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

100: substrate 200: intermediate member

210: center 220: pattern part

230: fixed portion 300: magnet portion

400: operating member 410: contact portion

420: departure prevention unit 430: actuator unit

500: cover 600: sensor

700: Click hold unit 800: Lubrication pad

Claims (15)

An actuating member moved by the user; An intermediate member coupled to the operating member to apply a restoring force to the operating member; A feeling of holding portion provided in a coupling region of the operating member and the intermediate member; And And sensing means for generating a movement signal and a click signal in response to the movement of the actuating member. The method according to claim 1, The actuating member moves by the user in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, or simultaneously in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the sensing means, And the intermediate member applies the restoring force to the horizontal movement of the operating member. The method according to claim 2, The pointing device is a pointing device for applying a restoring force to the vertical movement of the operating member. The method according to claim 2, And a support protrusion provided between the operating member and the intermediate member to apply a restoring force to the vertical movement of the operating member. The method according to claim 1, The click feeling holding part is a pointing device including a dome-shaped body protruding from the center thereof. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, And an actuator portion provided in a coupling region of the actuating member and the intermediate member and connected to the actuating member and disposed adjacent to the center of the click feeling holding portion. The method according to claim 6, The intermediate member includes a central portion fastened to the operating member; A pattern portion for applying a restoring force to the center portion; Pointing device having a fixing portion provided at the end of the pattern portion. The method according to claim 6, The operating member includes a contact portion having a groove portion in the lower region, A separation prevention part extending from the contact part in an outward direction of the contact part, And the actuator portion extends downward from the bottom surface of the groove portion. The method according to claim 8, The sensing means detects a change in the magnetic field of the magnet, and the pointing device is provided with a magnet inside the coupling region of the operating member and the intermediate member. The method according to claim 9, And the magnet portion is fixed to the actuating member, and the magnet portion has a through groove through which the actuator portion passes. The method according to claim 9, The contact portion has an upper contact plate and a side wall extending downward from an edge region of the upper contact plate, The magnet part is fixed to the lower region of the upper contact plate, And a portion of the intermediate member is fixed inlet into the region between the magnet portion and the side wall. The method according to claim 9, The contact portion includes an upper contact plate, a sidewall extending downward from an edge region of the upper contact plate, and a receiving groove provided in a lower region of the sidewall, And a portion of the intermediate member is fixedly inserted into the receiving groove. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A substrate on which the intermediate member is placed; A cover part for exposing a part of the operation member coupled with the intermediate member and fixedly mounted to the substrate; And a sliding pad provided on at least a portion of the region between the intermediate member and the substrate. The method according to claim 13, The intermediate member includes a central portion fastened to the operation member, a pattern portion for applying a restoring force to the central portion, and a fixing portion provided at an end of the pattern portion. The actuating member includes a contact portion having a groove portion in a lower region, a separation preventing portion extending outward from the contact portion in the contact portion, The cover part fixes the fixing part to the substrate, And the cover portion exposes a portion of the contact portion and covers a portion of the separation preventing 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, an intermediary member coupled to the actuating member to apply a restoring force to the actuating member, a click holding portion provided in the engaging region of the actuating member and the intermediary member, and the actuating member. And sensing means for generating a movement signal and a click signal according to the movement of the member.

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