Key sheet for a pointing device and pointing device

• US 20060267937A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kasei EMD Corp (Asahi Kasei Corporation), Polymatech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei EMD Corp (Asahi Kasei Corporation), Polymatech Company Limited
• Inventors: Honmatsu, Yoshifumi, Takatsuka, Toshinori
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane

Abstract

Disclosed are a key sheet for a pointing device and a pointing device using a magnet compact in terms of both magnetic force and size to allow a reduction in thickness. Between a pusher (14f) opposed to a contact input portion (E) of a board (P) and a magnet (11) fixed to a base sheet (14) at an outside position around the pusher (14f) as a center so as to be away from a key top (15), there is provided an elastic flexible portion (14d) allowing displacement in a depressing direction through depression of the key top (15) toward the contact input portion (E). As a result, it is possible to perform depressing operation on the key top (15), with the magnet (11) being provided on the base sheet (14), making it possible to perform switch input, such as confirmation input.

Claims

1. A key sheet for a pointing device, comprising:

a key top;

a support member having a front surface constituting an operation surface to which the key top is attached, and a back surface, which is on a reverse side of the front surface, having a pusher for depressing a contact input portion on a board opposed to the back surface;

a magnet fixed to the support member at a position sidewise with respect to the pusher and around the pusher as a center,

wherein when the key top is moved sidewise, the magnet moves synchronously, with a change in magnetic flux density due to the sidewise movement of the magnet being detected by magnetic sensors provided on the board, and

wherein an elastic flexible portion allowing displacement in a depressing direction through depression of the key top toward the contact input portion is provided between the magnet and the pusher.

2. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the elastic flexible portion is formed of a rubber-like elastic material.

3. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the elastic flexible portion is a flange portion protruding from a side surface of the key top in a sidewise moving direction of the key top.

4. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 3, wherein:

the flange portion is composed of a resin film which is a member separate from the key top.

5. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the key top includes a key top main body portion composed of a hard resin in a form of a mass and a flange portion covering the key top main body portion and protruding from the key top main body portion, and

the key top main body portion and the support member are attached to each other by an adhesive while the flange portion and the support member are not attached to each other.

6. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the support member is a base sheet formed of a rubber-like elastic material, wherein the base sheet is provided with an accommodation recess retaining the magnet, and wherein the elastic flexible portion is a side wall forming the accommodation recess.

7. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 6, wherein:

the accommodation recess has a side wall having a depth larger than a thickness of the magnet in a direction in which the key top is depressed.

8. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 6, wherein:

the pusher side wall of the accommodation recess is deformable so that the side wall is spaced away from the magnet.

9. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 6, wherein, in a state in which no depressing operation is being performed on the key top:

the accommodation recess is in contact with the board.

10. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising, as the support member:

a support plate that is separate from the key top which protrudes with respect to the key top in a sidewise moving direction of the key top and on which the key top is placed, wherein the elastic flexible portion is the support plate.

11. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising, as the support member:

a support plate that is separate from the key top which protrudes with respect to the key top in a sidewise moving direction of the key top and on which the key top is placed, wherein the elastic flexible portion is a tongue portion formed by a through-hole extending through a thickness of the support plate.

12. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an annular blind member on a side of an outer peripheral surface of the key top,

wherein the blind member is a blind plate which has an insertion hole allowing relative movement of the key top in the depressing direction of the key top and hiding one of the support member and the magnet from outside at a position sidewise with respect to the key top.

13. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the blind plate is not attached to the magnet and is situated so that the blind plate covers an operation surface side of the magnet.

14. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the blind plate is attached to the magnet and is situated so that the blind plate covers an operation surface side of the magnet.

15. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein:

the magnet is composed of an annular magnet, and wherein a magnetizing direction of the magnet is an in-out direction with respect to an annulus.

16. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein;

the magnet is composed of a plurality of magnets arranged at circumferential positions, and wherein magnetizing directions of the magnets are in-out directions with respect to a circumference.

17. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an outer peripheral key top attached to the support member.

18. A pointing device comprising:

a key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1;

and

magnetic sensors.

19. A pointing device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a magnet, wherein the magnet and the magnetic sensors are arranged in a plane parallel to a board.