Pressing and rotating operation type electronic parts and communication terminal equipment using the electronic parts

• US 6,396,006 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsui, Hiroshi, Tamano, Koji, Yokoji, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/529,158
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4,5R,6R,11R,14,11A,11D,11DA,11TW,6A,6C,16R,16A,16B,16C,17R
• US Class Current: 200/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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: 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 19/11 with indexing means
• 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 2217/048 adapted for operation by left- and right-handed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A push and rotary operating type electronic device comprises a push switch unit 37 composed in a center of a bottom surface of a case 30, a rotary encoder unit 35 composed at a periphery of the push switch unit, a discoidal operating knob 39 mounted in a manner to be independently movable vertically, while also rotatable conjunctly with the rotary encoder unit 35, wherein the both component units 35 and 37 are operative by depression on a peripheral portion of the operating knob 39 during a rotary manipulation and a center portion of the same in a depressing manipulation. Communication terminal equipment uses this push and rotary operating type electronic device. This structure realizes a small projected area, and allows the rotary manipulation and the depressing manipulation by operating different portions of the single operating knob 39.

Claims

1. A push and rotary operating type electronic device comprising:

a case having an opening on top, provided with a first stationary contact for a push type component in a center of a bottom surface of said case and a second stationary contact for a rotary type component at a peripheral of said first stationary contact;

portion of said first stationary contact;

a push type movable contact disposed above said first stationary contact for constituting said push type component in combination with said first stationary contact;

a movable contact body including a cylindrical portion having a central through hole of a non-circular shape, said cylindrical portion is rotatably supported, said movable contract body provided with a rotary type movable contact for contacting with said second stationary contact, on an underside surface of a flange portion of said cylindrical portion, said movable contact body constituting said rotary type component in combination with said second stationary contact;

an actuator inserted in said central through hole in said cylindrical portion of said movable contact body and supported therein in a manner so that said actuator is independently movable vertically, while also rotatable conjunctly with said movable contact body, for actuating said push type component when depressed downward;

an operating body of a discoidal shape having a connecting portion to said actuator in a center of an underside surface of said case; and

a cover having a flat portion for covering said opening on top of said case, and a bearing hole for rotatably supporting said cylindrical portion of said movable contact body in a center of said flat portion,

wherein a predetermined clearance is provided at least between the central through hole in said cylindrical portion of said movable contact body and a periphery of said actuator inserted and supported thereby;

said operating body is provided on an underside surface near a perimeter thereof with an annular rib in concentricity to a rotational center of said operating body, with a predetermined space from said flat portion of said cover; and

said operating body tilts and rotates, while sliding on said flat portion of said cover with a lower edge of said annular rib corresponding to a depressed portion of said operating body, when said operating body is rotated while an upper peripheral surface thereof is depressed downward.

2. Communication terminal equipment, wherein the push and rotary operating type electronic device as claimed in claim 1 is mounted in a manner that a peripheral portion of said operating body protrudes from one surface of a main body of said communication terminal equipment, and an upper center surface of said discoidal operating body locates in an opening provided in another surface adjoining said one surface.

3. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 2 wherein the upper center surface of said discoidal operating body protrudes from the opening provided in said another surface of said main body.

4. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 3, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

5. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 2, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

8. Communication terminal equipment, wherein the push and rotary operating type electronic device as claimed in one claim 4 and claim 7 is mounted in a manner that a peripheral portion of said operating body protrudes from one surface of a main body of said communication terminal equipment, and said actuator locates in an opening provided in another surface adjoining said one surface.

9. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 8 wherein said actuator protrudes from the opening provided in said another surface of said main body.

10. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 9, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

11. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 8, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

12. The push and rotary operating type electronic device according to one of claims 1-7, wherein said operating body is provided on an upper surface near a perimeter thereof with ditches and ridges for a tip of a finger to catch during manipulation.

13. Communication terminal equipment, wherein the push and rotary operating type electronic device as claimed in claim 12 is mounted in a manner that at least an upper surface of said operating body is exposed entirely on one of surfaces of main body thereof.

14. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 13, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

15. Communication terminal equipment wherein the push and rotary operating type electronic device as claimed in any one of claims 1-7 is mounted in a manner that at least an upper surface of said operating body is exposed entirely on one of surfaces of a main body thereof.

16. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 15, comprising:

a control section for accepting a number of manipulations for communication;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of data for communication; and

a selection/determination unit comprising (i) a retrieving unit for retrieving a desired data among data stored in said memory unit using a first output signal obtained by a rotary manipulation of said operating body of said push and rotary operating type electronic device, and (ii) a determination unit for determining a data selected with said retrieving unit using a second output signal obtained by a manipulation for shifting downwardly said actuator of said push and rotary operating type electronic device.

6. A push and rotary operating type electronic device comprising:

a case having an opening on top, provided with a first stationary contact for a push type component in a center of a bottom surface of said case and a second stationary contact for a rotary type component at a peripheral portion of said first stationary contact;

a push type movable contact disposed above said first stationary contact for constituting said push type component in combination with said first stationary contact;

a movable contact body including a cylindrical portion having a first central through hole of a non-circular shape, said cylindrical portion is rotatably supported, said movable contact body provided with a rotary type movable contact for contacting with said second stationary contact, on an underside surface of a flange portion of said cylindrical portion, said movable contact body constituting said rotary type component in combination with said second stationary contact;

an operating body of an annular shape having a through hole in a center thereof, and a connecting portion inserted in said central through hole of said movable contact body and supported therein on an underside surface of said operating body;

an actuator inserted in said through hole in said operating body and supported therein in a manner to be vertically movable, for actuating said push type component when an upper end exposing above an upper surface of said operating body is depressed downward; and

a cover having a flat portion for covering said opening on top of said case, and a bearing hole for rotatably supporting said cylindrical portion of said movable contact body in a center of said flat portion.

7. The push and rotary operating type electronic device according to claim 6, wherein:

a predetermined clearance is provided at least between the through hole in the center of said annular operating body and a periphery of said actuator inserted and supported thereby;

said operating body is provided on an underside surface near a perimeter thereof with an annular rib in concentricity to a rotational center of said operating body, with a predetermined space from said flat portion of said cover; and

,

said operating body tilts and rotates, while sliding on said flat portion of said cover with a lower edge of said annular rib corresponding to a depressed portion of said operating body, when said operating body is rotated while an upper peripheral surface of said operating body depressed downward.