US 6,686,906 B2 · Tactile electromechanical data input mechanism

Abstract

An electromechanical data input mechanism 200, 700, 750 comprises a first structural entity 210, 710, having a first surface 211 and a conductive coupling area 107 on said first surface, and a second structural entity 220, 720 having a second surface 212 located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom by a gap. It further comprises a dome-like member 102 adjacent to said conductive coupling area, and extending from the second surface, an actuator 105 adjacent to the dome-like member. The mechanism is characterized in that within an pressing area elastic properties of the second structural entity are substantially uniform and said first and second structural entities are kept apart from each other solely through the dome-like members, and said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that under the influence of a force pressing them towards each other, the actuator moves towards the dome-like member.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims44

Dependent claims

An electromechanical data input mechanism, comprising:

a first structural entity,
a second structural entity arranged to move with respect to said first structural entity and having certain elastic properties,
as a part of said first structural entity, a first surface,
as a part of said second structural entity, a second surface located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom substantially by a gap,
a first conductive coupling area on said first surface,
a second conductive coupling area on said first surface,
between said first and second surfaces and adjacent to said conductive coupling area a first dome-like member and a second dome-like member, each of said first and second dome-like members having a conductive surface adjacent to the respective conductive coupling area, and
extending from the second surface, a first actuator located adjacent to the first dome-like member and a second actuator located adjacent to the second dome-like member;
wherein:
the mechanism provides a pressing area for exerting a force pressing the first and second structural entities towards each other, substantially within which pressing area the first and second dome-like members are located,
within the pressing area, the elastic properties of the second structural entity are substantially uniform,
said first and second structural entities are within the pressing area kept apart from each other solely through the dome-like members,
under the influence of a force exerted on a first area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move, with respect to each other, so that the first actuator moves towards the first dome-like member,
under the influence of a force exerted on a second area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that the second actuator moves towards the second dome-like member, and
under the influence of a force exerted on a third area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that the first actuator moves towards the first dome-like member, and the second actuator moves towards the second dome-like member.

12 more elements

An electronic device, comprising:

an electromechanical data input mechanism, and
within said electromechanical data input mechanism
a first structural entity,
a second structural entity arranged to move with respect to said first structural entity and having certain elastic properties,
as a part of said first structural entity, a first surface,
as a part of said second structural entity, a second surf ace located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom substantially by a gap,
a first conductive coupling area on said first surface,
a second conductive coupling area on said first surface,
between said first and second surfaces and adjacent to said conductive coupling area a first dome-like member and a second dome-like member, each of said first and second dome-like members having a conductive surface adjacent to the respective conductive coupling area, and
extending from the second surface, a first actuator located adjacent to the first dome-like member and a second actuator located adjacent to the second dome-like member;
wherein:
said mechanism provides a pressing area for exerting a force Pressing the first and second structural entities towards each other, substantially within which pressing area the dome-like members are located,
within the pressing area, the elastic properties of the second structural entity are substantially uniform,
said first and second structural entities are within the pressing area kept apart from each other solely through the dome-like members,
under the influence of a force exerted on a first area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move, with respect to each other, so that the first actuator moves towards the first dome-like member,
under the influence at a force exerted on a second area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that the second actuator moves towards the second dome-like member, and
under the influence of a force exerted on a third area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that the first actuator moves towards the first dome-like member, and the second actuator moves towards the second dome-like member.

14 more elements

An electronic device, comprising:

an electromechanical data input mechanism, and
within said electromechanical data input mechanism
a first structural entity and a second structural entity arranged to move with respect to said first structural entity, so that one of said first and second structural entities also constitutes a chassis of the electronic device and the other of said first and second structural entities comprises electronic circuitry,
as a part of said first structural entity, a first surface,
as a part of said second structural entity, a second surface located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom substantially by a gap,
a conductive coupling area on said first surface,
between said first and second surfaces and adjacent to said conductive coupling area a dome-like member having a conductive surface adjacent to the respective conductive coupling area, and
extending from the second surface, an actuator located adjacent to the dome-like member;
wherein:
said mechanism provides a pressing area for exerting a force pressing the first and second Structural entities towards each other, substantially underneath which pressing area the dome-like member is located,
under the influence of a force exerted on an area within the pressing area, said first and second structural entities are arranged to move, with respect to each other, so that the actuator moves towards the dome-like member.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,315 words

Summary3,264 words

#The invention relates in general to data input mechanism related to an electrical device. In particular the invention relates to an input mechanism especially suitable for small portable communication devices.

#A push button or a press key consists of a certain mechanical structure and of an accompanying electrical circuitry. When a user presses a push button or a key of an electrical device, the pressing of a button is converted to an electrical input signal for the device. Typically the mechanical part of a push button requires more space than the accompanying electrical circuitry.

#A typical user interface of a portable electrical device comprises at least few push buttons or keys. In a mobile phone, for example, there typically is a display, push buttons for the digits and some push buttons for choosing proper action. As portable electrical devices become smaller and smaller, there is less space for the push buttons. Consider, for example, a communication device that has the shape of a watch, a pen or a pendant.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#The invention is described below in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings where

#FIG. 1 presents the structure of a prior-art push button,

#FIG. 2 presents schematically the structure of an electromechanical data input mechanism according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention,

Detailed description3,891 words

#In the drawings same reference numerals are used to refer to same parts. FIG. 1 is discussed in connection with the description of prior art push buttons.

#FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the structure of an electromechanical data input mechanism 200 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2a illustrates a cross section of the data input mechanism 200, when there are no external forces pressing the first structural entity 210 and the second structural entity 220 towards each other. FIG. 2a presents the mechanism 200, for example, when a user is not pressing the data input mechanism. On top of the first surface 211 of a first structural entity 210 there are domes 102a, 102b. The domes can be, for example, a part of a dome sheet. The first structural entity 210 comprises conductive coupling areas, which are needed to convert the pressing of domes into electrical signals. This conversion is discussed in more detail in connection with the description of the prior art solutions. FIG. 2a presents conductive coupling areas 107, but they are not presented in the other figures accompanying this description. In FIG. 2a the domes are in a position, where their conductive area is not in contact with the conductive coupling areas. The actuators 105a, 105b are part of a second structural entity 220, which covers the domes.

#When the first and second structural entities are pressed towards each other, for example the second structural entity is pressed towards the first structural entity as arrow 230 indicates, the first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other. If, for example, the position of the first structural entity is fixed relative to the chassis of an electrical device, the elastic properties of the second structural entity can be such it bends (FIG. 2b) or the second structural entity can be rigid and it tilts (FIG. 2c) in the presence of an external force pressing the first and second structural entities towards each other. It is also possible that the second structural entity experiences both bending and tilting. It is also possible that the second structural entity is fixed relative to the chassis, and the first member bends and/or tilts. When the distance between the first and second structural entities substantially decreases because of the pressing, typically at least one of the domes is pressed against a conductive coupling area. In FIGS. 2b and 2c the conductive area of the dome 102b is in contact with the corresponding conductive coupling area, and the dome 102a is still in a position, where its conductive area is not in contact with a conductive coupling area.

Facts

Application

09/885,202Filed 20 Jun 2001

Priority

FI 2000151026 Jun 2000

Published

US 2002/0000976 A13 Jan 2002

Granted

3 Feb 2004

Term ended

22 Nov 2021

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 155 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification8 codes

G06F 3/0338
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: with detection of limited…
H01H 25/041
Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick: having a generally flat operating member depressible at different…
H01H 9/181
Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks: using a…
H01H 2223/002
Casings: sealed

Timeline

26 Jun 2000Priority claimedFI 20001510
20 Jun 2001Application filedUS 09/885,202
20 Jun 2001Assigned to Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.assignment of assignor's interest
3 Jan 2002PublishedUS 2002/0000976 A1
3 Feb 2004GrantedUS 6,686,906 B2
11 Feb 2021Assigned to Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.assignment of assignor's interest
22 Nov 2021Term endedEstimated, includes 155 days of adjustment

Tactile electromechanical data input mechanism

Life of this patent

Tactile electromechanical data input mechanism

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims44

Description7,315 words

Drawings

Description7,315 words

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent