Flat input device having push switches

• US 6,479,775 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Satoh, Hidenobu, Shigetaka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/865,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/17.R, 200/18, 200/512, 200/517, 200/600, 341/22, 345/173, 345/901, 400/472, 400/477, 400/479, 400/479.1, 434/317, 434/169
• US Class Current: 200/517
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7094 with switch operated by engagement of PCB

Abstract

A an inexpensive input device is formed having excellent operability. A step-wise gap is formed on a metallic basement, with a flat input member disposed on an upper stage and a filmy board on a lower stage. On the filmy board is disposed a push type input member, which is secured directly to the basement. At the step-wise gap of the basement is formed a through hole, in which a part of the filmy board is inserted. The inserted filmy board is connected to the flat input member and a computer.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a basement;

a flexible filmy board in part stuck onto the basement;

a first operation member placed on the basement; and

a second operation member that is placed on the filmy board and is connected to a conductive pattern on the filmy board,

wherein the conductive pattern of a portion of the filmy board, not stuck to the basement, is connected to the first operation member.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first operation member is a flat input member.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second operation member is a push type input member.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein the push type input member includes push switch elements mounted on the filmy board, and a supporter that supports operation buttons to activate the push switch elements and is secured to the basement.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the push type input member includes a pair of push switch elements that output different signals between when one of the push switch elements is pressed and when the other of the push switch elements is pressed.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the basement is a metallic plate.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein a step-wise gap is formed on the metallic plate, with the first operation member formed on one stage of the basement and the filmy board stuck to another stage of the basement, wherein the second operation member is mounted on the filmy board.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein:

a through hole is formed in the step-wise gap of the basement;

the first operation member is formed on a higher stage of the basement and the filmy board is stuck onto a lower stage of the basement;

a portion of the filmy board, not stuck onto the basement, extends to a back of the higher stage of the basement through the through hole; and

the filmy board is connected to a back of the first operation member through a hole formed in the higher stage.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein

a portion of the filmy board is extendable to an outside of the basement to form an outside connection part.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the filmy board is a resinous film made of polyethylene terephthalate in which an Ag base paste is printed.