INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100313680A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Seong-Woo, JOUNG, Ho-Chul
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.68
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/10 adjustable by mechanical pressure or force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/78 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/038 Contact lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/038 to be bridged by a dome shaped contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/016 Separate bridge contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 using a force resistance transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

An input device that is capable of sensing how hard a user is pressing when contacted is disclosed. The input device includes a pressure sensing unit generating an electrical signal in accordance with pressure applied on one surface of the pressure sensing unit and a fixed resistance making a parallel electrical connection with the pressure sensing unit. Thus, not only can the input device receive a form of information that is changed proportionally in accordance with the pressure applied by the user, but the deviation in electrical characteristics that may occur during the manufacturing of different products can also be reduced. Also, by adjusting the resistance value of the fixed resistance, the sum of the resistance values by the parallel connection between the fixed resistance and the pressure sensitive resistance can be adjusted so that the electrical signal generated by the input device through pressing can be adjusted.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a pressure sensing unit configured to generate an electrical signal in accordance with pressure applied on one surface of the pressure sensing unit; and

a fixed resistance making a parallel electrical connection with the pressure sensing unit.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a dome-switch unit configured to generate an electrical signal by pressing the dome-switch unit.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the dome-switch unit is electrically connected to the pressure sensing unit.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the dome-switch unit comprises:

a central terminal electrically connected to the pressure sensing unit;

a perimeter terminal separated from the central terminal; and

a metal dome covering the central terminal and the perimeter terminal so as to electrically connect the central terminal to the perimeter terminal.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensing unit comprises:

connection terminals separated from each other; and

a pressure sensitive resistance placed facing the connection terminals, a resistance value of the pressure sensitive resistance being changeable in accordance with a pressure applied on one surface thereof.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the central terminal is disposed on the pressure sensing unit so as to press the pressure sensitive resistance.