Pointing device and key sheet for pointing device

• US 20060284710A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kasei Corporation, Polymatech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei Electronics Co., Ltd. (Asahi Kasei Corporation), Polymatech Company Limited
• Inventors: Honmatsu, Yoshifumi, Takatsuka, Toshinori, Arai, Masami
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/006 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/014 Slide selector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/024 with inductive switch

Abstract

Provided are a pointing device allowing accurate depressing operation on a key top and involving no erroneous input or erroneous operation, and a key sheet for the pointing device. On the back surface of a base sheet (14) of a key sheet (15) for a pointing device, an accommodating portion (17) for a magnet (13), for accommodating portion greatly protrudes toward a board (P) beyond a pusher (14b) is provided. When the key top (12) is depressed, the accommodating portion (17) and the magnet (13) come into contact with the board (P), and causes the depressed key top (12) to tilt using the point of contact as a fulcrum, thereby pressing the pusher (14b) against a contact switch (Pi, Po). Thus, it is possible to reduce the thickness and weight of the pointing device (10) and the key sheet (15) for the pointing device. Further, a reduction is achieved in terms of the possibility of erroneous input and erroneous operation, making it possible to reliably effect confirmation input.

Claims

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

a key top;

a base sheet formed of a rubber-like elastic material having, on a back surface of the base sheet opposed to a board, a protrusion-like pusher opposed to a contact switch provided on the board, and having the key top on a front surface of the base sheet on the side opposite to the back surface; and

a magnet provided on the base sheet,

the pusher being displaced toward the board through a depressing operation of the key top to depress the contact switch provided on the board,

the magnet being laterally moved through elastic deformation of the base sheet as a result of a lateral moving operation of the key top to cause a change in magnetic flux density with respect to a magnetic sensor provided on the board,

wherein an accommodating portion for the magnet for accommodating portion greatly protrudes toward the board beyond the pusher is provided on the back surface of the base sheet, and

wherein the accommodating portion comes into contact with the board when the key top is depressed and causes the key top depressed to tilt using the point of contact as a fulcrum to thereby press the pusher against the contact switch.

2. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein both the accommodating portion and the pusher are situated so that the accommodating portion and the pusher at least partially overlap the key top in the direction of the key top being depressed.

3. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the accommodating portion and the pusher are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the key top.

4. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pushers are provided, wherein the accommodating portion is provided at the center of the key top, and wherein the pushers are provided radially around the accommodating portion.

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

a key top;

a base sheet formed of a rubber-like elastic material having, on a back surface of the base sheet opposed to a board, a protrusion-like pusher opposed to a contact switch provided on the board, and having the key top on a front surface of the base sheet on the side opposite to the back surface; and

a magnet provided on the base sheet,

the pusher being displaced toward the board through a depressing operation of the key top to depress the contact switch provided on the board,

the magnet being laterally moved through elastic deformation of the base sheet as a result of a lateral moving operation of the key top to cause a change in magnetic flux density with respect to a magnetic sensor provided on the board,

wherein an accommodating portion for the magnet for accommodating portion retains the magnet while greatly protruding toward the board beyond the pusher is provided on the back surface of the base sheet, and

wherein the magnet comes into contact with the board when the key top is depressed and causes the key top depressed to tilt using the point of contact as a fulcrum to thereby press the pusher against the contact switch.

6. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 5, wherein both the accommodating portion and the pusher are situated so that the accommodating portion and the pusher at least partially overlap the key top in the direction of the key top being depressed.

7. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 5, wherein the accommodating portion and the pusher are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the key top.

8. A key sheet for a pointing device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the pushers are provided, wherein the accommodating portion is provided at the center of the key top, and wherein the pushers are provided radially around the accommodating portion.

9. A pointing device equipped with a key sheet, and a board having a contact switch and a magnetic sensor,

the key sheet, comprising:

a key top;

a base sheet formed of a rubber-like elastic material having, on a back surface of the base sheet opposed to a board, a protrusion-like pusher opposed to a contact switch provided on the board, and having the key top on a front surface of the base sheet on the side opposite to the back surface; and

a magnet provided on the base sheet,

the pusher effecting depression input on the contact switch upon a depressing operation of the key top,

the magnet being laterally moved through elastic deformation of the base sheet as a result of a lateral moving operation of the key top, at least one of the magnetic sensor detecting a change in magnetic flux density as a result of the lateral movement,

wherein an accommodating portion for the magnet for accommodating portion greatly protrudes toward the board beyond the pusher is provided on the back surface of the base sheet, and

wherein the accommodating portion comes into contact with the board when the key top is depressed and causes the key top depressed to tilt using the point of contact as a fulcrum to thereby press the pusher against the contact switch.

10. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein both the accommodating portion and the pusher are situated so that the accommodating portion and the pusher at least partially overlap the key top in the direction of the key top being depressed.

11. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the accommodating portion and the pusher are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the key top.

12. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the pushers are provided, wherein the accommodating portion is provided at the center of the key top, and wherein the pushers are provided radially around the accommodating portion.

13. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic sensor is provided on the back surface of the board not opposed to the key sheet.

14. A pointing device equipped with a key sheet, and a board having a contact switch and a magnetic sensor,

the key sheet comprising:

a key top;

a base sheet formed of a rubber-like elastic material having, on a back surface of the base sheet opposed to a board, a protrusion-like pusher opposed to a contact switch provided on the board, and having the key top on a front surface of the base sheet on the side opposite to the back surface; and

a magnet provided on the base sheet,

the pusher effecting depression input on the contact switch upon a depressing operation of the key top,

the magnet being laterally moved through elastic deformation of the base sheet as a result of a lateral moving operation of the key top, at least one of the magnetic sensor detecting a change in magnetic flux density as a result of the lateral movement,

wherein an accommodating portion for the magnet for accommodating portion retains the magnet while protruding greatly toward the board beyond the pusher is provided on the back surface of the base sheet, and

wherein the magnet comes into contact with the board when the key top is depressed and causes the key top depressed to tilt using the point of contact as a fulcrum to thereby press the pusher against the contact switch.

15. A pointing device according to claim 14, wherein both the accommodating portion and the pusher are situated so that the accommodating portion and the pusher at least partially overlap the key top in the direction of the key top being depressed.

16. A pointing device according to claim 14, wherein the accommodating portion and the pusher are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the key top.

17. A pointing device according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of the pushers are provided, wherein the accommodating portion is provided at the center of the key top, and wherein the pushers are provided radially around the accommodating portion.

18. A pointing device according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic sensor is provided on the back surface of the board not opposed to the key sheet.