KEY INPUT DEVICE FOR MOBILE PHONE

• US 20080198135A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BYUN, Chang-Heum
• Application Number:
  US11/858,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198135A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/005 Electromechanical pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/20 Driving mechanisms allowing angular displacement of the operating part to be effective in either direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/326 using bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/043 the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/048 having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033

Abstract

A key input device for a mobile phone is provided. The key input device includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of dome switches. The key input device further includes a holder unit provided on the top of the print circuit board, a wheel key provided on the top of the holder unit and rotatably assembled to the holder unit and a rotary means interposed between the holder unit and the wheel key, the rotary means having a plurality of balls for allowing the wheel key to be rotated in such a manner that frictional force and wear produced by the rotation of the wheel key can be reduced.

Claims

1. A key input device for a mobile phone with a printed circuit board, on which a plurality of dome switches are mounted, the key input device comprising:

a holder unit provided on the top of the printed circuit board;

a wheel key provided on the top of the holder unit and rotatably assembled to the holder unit; and

a rotary means interposed between the holder unit and the wheel key, the rotary means having a plurality of balls for allowing the wheel key to be rotated in such a manner that frictional force and wear produced by the rotation of the wheel key can be reduced.

2. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a settling member on the holder unit, wherein the rotary means comprises a first bearing element fitted and settled in the settling member.

3. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fastening part formed on the bottom side of the wheel key so as to support the rotation of the wheel key, wherein the rotary means comprises a second bearing element fitted on the fastening part.

4. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary means comprises a ball bearing, the ball bearing comprising a first bearing element positioned at the outer part of the ball bearing and assembled with the holder unit, a second bearing element positioned at the inner part of the ball bearing and assembled with the wheel key, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first and second bearing elements so as to render the wheel key to be rotatable.

5. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a center key at the center of the wheel key.

6. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more anchoring parts formed on the periphery of the holder unit so as to anchor the holder unit on the top of the printed circuit board.

7. The key input device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising one or more anchoring loops on the printed circuit board, the anchoring loops being coupled with the anchoring parts, thereby anchoring the holder unit.

8. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more rotation detecting sensors on the printed circuit board, the sensors detecting the rotation of the wheel key by detecting the variation of magnetic force of a magnet provided on the wheel key.

9. The key input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel key comprises a metallic material.

10. A portable mobile phone, the portable mobile phone comprising:

a main body, the main body comprising;

a holder unit;

a wheel key; and

a rotary means coupling the holder unit and the wheel key, wherein the rotary means comprises a plurality of balls for allowing the wheel key to be rotated relative to the holder unit.

11. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a settling member on the holder unit, wherein the rotary means comprises a first bearing element coupled to the settling member.

12. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a fastening part formed on the bottom side of the wheel key, wherein the rotary means comprises a second bearing element coupled to the fastening part.

13. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rotary means comprises a ball bearing, the ball bearing comprising a first bearing element positioned at the outer part of the ball bearing and coupled to the holder unit, a second bearing element positioned at the inner part of the ball bearing and coupled to the wheel key, and a plurality of balls interposed between the first and second bearing elements so as to render the wheel key to be rotatable.

14. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a center key at the center of the wheel key.

15. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising a plurality of dome switches, wherein the holder unit is coupled between the printed circuit board and the wheel key.

16. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 15, further comprising one or more anchoring parts formed on the periphery of the holder unit so as to anchor the holder unit on the top of the printed circuit board.

17. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 16, further comprising one or more anchoring loops on the printed circuit board, the anchoring loops being coupled with the anchoring parts, thereby anchoring the holder unit.

18. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 15, further comprising one or more rotation detecting sensors on the printed circuit board, the sensors detecting the rotation of the wheel key by detecting the variation of magnetic force of a magnet provided on the wheel key.

19. The portable mobile phone as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wheel key comprises a metallic material.

20. A key input device, the key input device comprising:

a holder unit;

a wheel key; and

a rotary means coupling the holder unit and the wheel key, wherein the rotary means comprises a plurality of balls for allowing the wheel key to be rotated relative to the holder unit.