WO2006100344A1 - Softkey cover - Google Patents

Softkey cover Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006100344A1
WO2006100344A1 PCT/FI2006/050094 FI2006050094W WO2006100344A1 WO 2006100344 A1 WO2006100344 A1 WO 2006100344A1 FI 2006050094 W FI2006050094 W FI 2006050094W WO 2006100344 A1 WO2006100344 A1 WO 2006100344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
softkey
push button
bond
cover
button part
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2006/050094
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Renoldus Broens
Original Assignee
Elcoteq Se
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elcoteq Se filed Critical Elcoteq Se
Publication of WO2006100344A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006100344A1/en
Priority to FI20077129A priority Critical patent/FI20077129A/en
Priority to FI20070341U priority patent/FI7847U1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H01H13/705—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/002—Actuators integral with membrane
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/036—Return force
    • H01H2221/044—Elastic part on actuator or casing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/09—Flexible integral part of housing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to mobile stations, PDA devices and similar devices. More precisely the invention relates to keyboard solutions mobile stations, PDA devices and such portable devices.
  • keyboard solutions are typically separate mechanical device components that are fit on the keyboard PCB, which are related as such separate components for example to a casing part of a mobile station, PDA device or such a portable device.
  • Such device components' weakness is its weak tightness against dust, humidity and liquids.
  • the weak point of such a softkey cover is that its manufacturing is not possible with one working phase, and that the singular inner parts of the softkey cover are connected to each other only by the top surface that has been laminated into them.
  • the manufacturing process is though complex and susceptible to inaccuracies, and the softkey cover is a separate component, due to which the manufacturing and the positioning of the softkey cover is not cost-effective.
  • One of the purposes of the invention is to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the disadvantages and the weak points of known keyboard solutions and to evoke a new and ingenious softkey cover for mobile stations, PDA devices and such portable devices.
  • the second purpose of the invention is to evoke the softkey cover, which could be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.
  • the third purpose of the invention is to evoke the softkey cover that could be a part of a casing part of mobile station, PDA device or a similar device or that could be integrated in such a casing part.
  • the softkey cover for a mobile station, PDA device or such portable device, which is equipped with a mechanically used keyboard in order to use the mentioned device, for example in a way that the softkey cover consists of at least one push button part and at least of one bond part, which is a flexibly functioning spring device.
  • the push button part can move substantially vertically as for an outer or top surface of the casing.
  • the bond panV-s is/are arranged in order to circle the push button part.
  • the push button part is located centrally inside the circle that should go through the bond part or bond parts.
  • the casing, the push button parts and the bond parts that form one united piece, are according to the invention made of flexible material, such as plastic, in which case due to the material's and especially the bond part's or bond parts' elasticity, the push button part can be moved by pressing it substantially in the direction of the pressing.
  • the softkey cover and the casing can according to the invention form a united, integrated element that can be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.
  • the bond parts are arranged symmetrically around the push button part. Particularly advantageous is that the bond parts are arranged symmetrically around their central push button part.
  • the visible outer surfaces of the push button part and of each of the bond parts as well as of the casing are substantially in the same level.
  • each space or hole that is demarcated by the border of the keyboard part, the border of the bond part and the border of the casing can be arranged with filling material, which is more elastic than the bond part.
  • the filling material does not encumber or encumbers only a little the push button part's moving.
  • FIG.1 illustrates diagrammatically as a 3D projection the softkey cover according to the invention.
  • FIG.1 a softkey cover 1 , 2, 3, 4 according to the invention, suitable for realizing a mobile station's keyboard.
  • the mobile station is typically equipped with a keyboard that is used mechanically in order to use the mentioned device.
  • the softkey cover has been realized generally in a way that the softkey cover consists of at least one push button part (2) and at least one bond part 3 that functions as a spring device.
  • the push button part 2 can move as for the casing part 1.
  • the bond panV-s 3 circle/-s the push button part, in which case between the bond part and the push button part (2) there can be an impairment 4 or a gap divided in parts, that enables the push button part's moving as for the casing part 1.
  • the push button part is centrally inside the circle line that should go through the bond part or bond parts.
  • the bond parts 3 are arranged symmetrically around the push button part. In this case, particularly advantageous is that the bond parts are symmetrically around the central push button part as for them.
  • the visible outer surfaces pf the push button part 2 and of each of the bond parts 3 and of the casing part 1 would be in the same level.
  • the whole casing area or at least the keyboard area is to be left in one level, over or in each space or hole that is demarcated by the border of the keyboard part, the border of the bond part and the border of the casing, over or in the so called impairment 4, can be arranged with filling material.
  • the filling material it is advantageous for the filling material to be more elastic than the bond part's material. In this case the filling material does not encumber (or encumbers only a little) the moving of the push button part.
  • the casing part 1 , the push button part 2 and the bond parts 3, that according to the invention form one united piece, are according to the invention made of elastic material, such as plastic, in which case due to the material's and especially the bond part's or bond parts' elasticity, the push button part can be moved by pressing, by moving it substantially in the direction of the pressing.
  • the united element can be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a softkey cover for example for a mobile station, which is equipped with a mechanically used keyboard. According to the invention the softkey cover consists of a push button part (2) and at least one bond part (3) that functions as a spring device and with the help of which the push button part can move as for the cover (1).

Description

SOFTKEY COVER
The invention relates to mobile stations, PDA devices and similar devices. More precisely the invention relates to keyboard solutions mobile stations, PDA devices and such portable devices.
Already known keyboard solutions are typically separate mechanical device components that are fit on the keyboard PCB, which are related as such separate components for example to a casing part of a mobile station, PDA device or such a portable device. Such device components' weakness is its weak tightness against dust, humidity and liquids.
It is already known from the patent specification JP2003045273 a two-layered softkey cover made with mould casting, which has outwards protruding key bars and a sculptured inner part. The key bars' coating is laminated into the first direction, into the advantageously upwards protruding inner part's top surface. The inner part is sculptured to consist in the opposite direction as for its top surface, of an advantageously downwards protruding centering part and an edging part, which surrounds circularly the centering part. According to this pubblication, pressing centrally the key bar's top surface, the inner part's centering part moves in the direction of the pressing.
The weak point of such a softkey cover is that its manufacturing is not possible with one working phase, and that the singular inner parts of the softkey cover are connected to each other only by the top surface that has been laminated into them. The manufacturing process is though complex and susceptible to inaccuracies, and the softkey cover is a separate component, due to which the manufacturing and the positioning of the softkey cover is not cost-effective.
One of the purposes of the invention is to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the disadvantages and the weak points of known keyboard solutions and to evoke a new and ingenious softkey cover for mobile stations, PDA devices and such portable devices. The second purpose of the invention is to evoke the softkey cover, which could be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting. The third purpose of the invention is to evoke the softkey cover that could be a part of a casing part of mobile station, PDA device or a similar device or that could be integrated in such a casing part.
These purposes can be achieved with the softkey cover for a mobile station, PDA device or such portable device, which is equipped with a mechanically used keyboard in order to use the mentioned device, for example in a way that the softkey cover consists of at least one push button part and at least of one bond part, which is a flexibly functioning spring device. With the help of such device the push button part can move substantially vertically as for an outer or top surface of the casing. In this case it is advantageous that the bond panV-s is/are arranged in order to circle the push button part. In one of the invention's performance examples the push button part is located centrally inside the circle that should go through the bond part or bond parts.
The casing, the push button parts and the bond parts that form one united piece, are according to the invention made of flexible material, such as plastic, in which case due to the material's and especially the bond part's or bond parts' elasticity, the push button part can be moved by pressing it substantially in the direction of the pressing.
The softkey cover and the casing can according to the invention form a united, integrated element that can be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.
In order to get the push button part's movement, obtained by pressing the push button part, to take exactly the desired course against the keyboard PCB, it is advantageous that the bond parts are arranged symmetrically around the push button part. Particularly advantageous is that the bond parts are arranged symmetrically around their central push button part.
According to the invention it is furthermore advantageous that the visible outer surfaces of the push button part and of each of the bond parts as well as of the casing are substantially in the same level. In this case, if the the whole keyboard area is to be left in one level, each space or hole that is demarcated by the border of the keyboard part, the border of the bond part and the border of the casing, can be arranged with filling material, which is more elastic than the bond part. In this case the filling material does not encumber or encumbers only a little the push button part's moving.
The invention is described in the following with the help of one of its performance examples considered advantageous, which relates to a mobile station without however being bounded to it, referring to the attached patent drawings, where FIG.1 illustrates diagrammatically as a 3D projection the softkey cover according to the invention.
In the FIG.1 is illustrated a softkey cover 1 , 2, 3, 4 according to the invention, suitable for realizing a mobile station's keyboard. The mobile station is typically equipped with a keyboard that is used mechanically in order to use the mentioned device.
In order to solve the purposes of the invention: to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the disadvantages and the weak points of known keyboard solutions and to evoke the new and ingenious softkey cover; to evoke the softkey cover which could be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting; and to evoke the softkey cover that could be a part of the casing part of the mobile station or that could be integrated in such casinf part; the softkey cover has been realized generally in a way that the softkey cover consists of at least one push button part (2) and at least one bond part 3 that functions as a spring device.
Due to the spring device the push button part 2 can move as for the casing part 1.
According to a prevailing performance form's execution example, the bond panV-s 3 circle/-s the push button part, in which case between the bond part and the push button part (2) there can be an impairment 4 or a gap divided in parts, that enables the push button part's moving as for the casing part 1. Particularly advantageous for the moving of the push button part is, that the push button part is centrally inside the circle line that should go through the bond part or bond parts. In order to get the push button part's movement, obtained by pressing the push button part 2, to take exactly the desired course against the keyboard PCB, it is advantageous that the bond parts 3 are arranged symmetrically around the push button part. In this case, particularly advantageous is that the bond parts are symmetrically around the central push button part as for them.
According to the invention it is furthermore advantageous that the visible outer surfaces pf the push button part 2 and of each of the bond parts 3 and of the casing part 1 would be in the same level. In this case, if the the whole casing area or at least the keyboard area is to be left in one level, over or in each space or hole that is demarcated by the border of the keyboard part, the border of the bond part and the border of the casing, over or in the so called impairment 4, can be arranged with filling material. It is advantageous for the filling material to be more elastic than the bond part's material. In this case the filling material does not encumber (or encumbers only a little) the moving of the push button part.
The casing part 1 , the push button part 2 and the bond parts 3, that according to the invention form one united piece, are according to the invention made of elastic material, such as plastic, in which case due to the material's and especially the bond part's or bond parts' elasticity, the push button part can be moved by pressing, by moving it substantially in the direction of the pressing. The united element can be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.
The invention has been described here only as an example and with the help of one of its performance examples considered advantageous. As it is evident to a skilled in the art many alternative application forms, alternative structure solutions and structure variations and functionally equivalent solutions are possible within the scope of inventional idea defined by the attached patent claims.

Claims

Claims
1. A softkey cover for a mobile station, a PDA device or such portable device, which is equipped with a mechanically used keyboard in order to use the mentioned device, characterized in that the softkey cover consists of at least one push button part (2) and at least of one bond part (3), which is a flexibly functioning spring device. With the help of such device the push button part can move as for an outer or top surface of the casing part (1) substantially vertically.
2. The softkey cover according to claim 1 , characterized in that each bond part (3) is arranged to circle the push button part (2).
3. The softkey cover according to claim 2, characterized in that the push button part (2) is centrally inside the circle line that should go through the bond part (3) or bond parts.
4. The softkey cover according to claim 3, characterized in that the bond parts (3) are arranged symmetrically around the push button part (2).
5. The softkey cover according to claim 4, characterized in that the bond parts (3) are symmetrically around the central push button part (2) as for them.
6. The softkey cover according to one of the claims 3-5, characterized in that between the push button part (2) and the bond part (3) there is an impairment (4) that can be a gap divided in parts.
7. The softkey cover according to one of the claims 3-6, characterized in that the visible outer surfaces of the casing part (1) and of the push button part (2) and of each of the bond parts (3) are substantially in the same level.
8. The softkey cover according to one of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the casing part (1), the push button part (2) and the bond parts (3), which form one united piece, are made of elastic material, such as plastic.
9. The softkey cover according to one of the claims 1-8, characterized in that the casing part (1), the push button part (2) and the bond parts (3), which form an united, integrated element, can be manufactured with one working phase, for example with extrusion or as a mould casting.
10. The softkey cover according to one of the claims 1-9, characterized in that if the whole keyboard area is to be left in one level, in each space or gap divided in parts that is demarcated by the border of the keyboard part, the border of the bond part and the border of the cover, in so called impairment (4), can be arranged with filling material that is more elastic than the bond part.
PCT/FI2006/050094 2005-03-09 2006-03-09 Softkey cover WO2006100344A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20077129A FI20077129A (en) 2005-03-09 2007-08-31 softkey
FI20070341U FI7847U1 (en) 2005-03-09 2007-09-04 Keyboard

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20050254A FI118282B (en) 2005-03-09 2005-03-09 softkey
FI20050254 2005-03-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006100344A1 true WO2006100344A1 (en) 2006-09-28

Family

ID=34385053

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2006/050094 WO2006100344A1 (en) 2005-03-09 2006-03-09 Softkey cover

Country Status (2)

Country Link
FI (1) FI118282B (en)
WO (1) WO2006100344A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3811737A1 (en) * 1988-02-15 1989-10-19 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Push-button arrangement
DE4114661A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1993-02-25 Telefunken Electronic Gmbh Contact film switch with switching domes - has slits around domes to increase ability to return to original position after contact
JP2000100277A (en) * 1998-09-25 2000-04-07 Jsr Corp Keyboard switch, and manufacture thereof
WO2004088694A1 (en) * 2003-04-03 2004-10-14 Danfoss Drives A/S A cover for a push button switch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3811737A1 (en) * 1988-02-15 1989-10-19 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Push-button arrangement
DE4114661A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1993-02-25 Telefunken Electronic Gmbh Contact film switch with switching domes - has slits around domes to increase ability to return to original position after contact
JP2000100277A (en) * 1998-09-25 2000-04-07 Jsr Corp Keyboard switch, and manufacture thereof
WO2004088694A1 (en) * 2003-04-03 2004-10-14 Danfoss Drives A/S A cover for a push button switch

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"Hot Runner", EIMO GROUP, CUSTOMER BULLETIN, November 2000 (2000-11-01), pages 3 - 5 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 07 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI20050254A (en) 2006-09-10
FI20050254A0 (en) 2005-03-09
FI118282B (en) 2007-09-14

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