Tactile electromechanical data input mechanism

• US 20020000976A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Salminen, Seppo, Kaikuranta, Terho
• Granted Patent: US 6,686,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/022 Application wake up; switches or contacts specially provided for the wake up or standby shift of a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

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.

Claims

1. 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 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 conductive coupling area, and

extending from the second surface, an actuator located adjacent to the 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 dome-like member is 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, and

under the influence of a pressing force exerted on an area within the pressing area and pressing said first and second structural entities towards each other, 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.

2. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first structural entity and the second structural entity are arranged to move with respect to each other as whole structural entities.

3. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second structural entity is arranged to experience under the influence of the pressing force an elastic deformation so that said portion and said actuator move towards said dome-like member.

4. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first structural entity is arranged to experience under the influence of the pressing force an elastic deformation so that said portion and said actuator move towards said dome-like member.

5. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductive coupling area on said first surface,

between said first and second surfaces and adjacent to said second conductive coupling area a second dome-like member having a second conductive surface adjacent to the second conductive coupling area, and

extending from the second surface, a second actuator located adjacent to the second dome-like member;

wherein;

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 actuator moves towards the dome-like member, and

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.

6. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 5, wherein 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 actuator moves towards the dome-like member, and the second actuator moves towards the second dome-like member.

7. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 5, wherein 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 all actuators constituting a part of the electromechanical data input mechanism move towards the dome-like members constituting a part of the electromechanical data input mechanism.

8. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the third area is substantially in the middle of the pressing area.

9. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising electrical circuitry, which, when the conductive areas of all the dome-like member are in contact with the corresponding conductive coupling areas at the same time for a certain predefined time, is arranged to generate a first signal, when a device, of which the electromechanical data input mechanism constitutes a part of, is in a power off mode, and a second signal, when said device is in a power on mode.

10. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the dome-like members are located substantially symmetrically in a vicinity of the perimeter of the pressing area.

11. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the pressing area is polygonal and the dome-like members are in a vicinity of the corners of the pressing area.

12. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the pressing area is rectangular and the dome-like members are in a vicinity of the corners of the pressing area.

13. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the pressing area is polygonal and the dome-like members are in a vicinity of the middle points of the sides of the polygonal pressing area.

14. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the pressing area is rectangular.

15. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the pressing area is circular.

16. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the pressing area is oval.

17. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second structural entity is a plate having said actuator as an extension.

18. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of said plate is transparent.

19. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 18, further comprising a third member, which is a planar member between said first and second structural entities and which comprises a display element, so that information being displayed with the display element is viewable through the transparent part of the plate.

20. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 18, wherein:

said plate comprises a transparent layer and a planar display element, said transparent layer being on the opposite side of the plate than the actuator, and

the information being displayed with the display element is viewable through the transparent layer.

21. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first structural entity is a plate.

22. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 21, wherein said plate has a transparent layer and a planar display element, said transparent layer being on the opposite side of the plate than the first surface, and

the information being displayed with the display element is viewable through the transparent layer.

23. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the gap is at least partly filled with an elastic material allowing the first and second structural entities to move with respect to each other.

24. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the number of dome-like members between said first and second surfaces is one, and one actuator extends from the second surface.

25. An electromechanical data input mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the number of dome-like members between said first and second surfaces is equal to a positive integer greater than one, and as many actuators extend from the second surface as there are dome-like members between said first and second surfaces.

26. 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 surface located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom 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 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 within which pressing area the dome-like member is 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, and

under the influence of a pressing force exerted on an area within the pressing area and pressing said first and second structural entities towards each other, 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.

27. An electronic device according to claim 26, the device being a portable device.

28. An electronic device according to claim 27, the device being a portable telecommunication device.

29. An electronic device according to claim 28, the device being a mobile phone.

30. An electronic device according to claim 27, the device having an outer appearance of a wrist watch.

31. An electronic device according to claim 27, the device having an outer appearance of a pen.

32. An electrical device according to claim 26, wherein the first structural entity is a chassis of the electrical device.

33. An electrical device according to claim 26, wherein the second structural entity is a chassis of the electrical device.

34. An electrical device according to claim 26, the device being a computer.

35. An electrical device according to claim 34, the device being a portable computer.