Operating button with multiple functions for a handheld product

• US 6,622,920 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Chien-Min, Ho, San-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMBERLY D
• Application Number:
  US09/810,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 235/472.01, 235/380, 455/90, 455/558, 361/681
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/048 comprising microphone or speaker
• 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

Abstract

An operating button with multiple functions comprising the functions of the four-direction control key, the action control key and the speaker is equipped in the handheld products. The operating button includes the housing, the four-direction and action control assembly, and the speaker, wherein the four-direction and action control assembly includes a spring.

Claims

1. An operating button with multiple functions, for inclusion in a handheld product, the operating button comprising:

a housing having plural crevices for transmitting sound;

a four-direction and action control assembly located under the housing and connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) of the handheld product, wherein the four-direction and action control assembly includes a spring; and

a speaker located under the housing and above the four-direction and action control assembly.

2. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 1, wherein the housing has eight crevices, and the arrangement of the crevices on the housing is petal-like.

3. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 1, wherein the four-direction and action control assembly further comprises:

a four-direction rubber membrane; and

an action message receiver located at the center of the four-direction rubber membrane and around by the spring.

4. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 3, wherein the four-direction and action control assembly includes:

a forward message receiving membrane, a backward message receiving membrane, a leftward message receiving membrane and a rightward message receiving membrane to receive the pressure messages of the forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions respectively, wherein the four-direction and action control assembly are connected to the PCB.

5. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 4, wherein the forward message receiving membrane, the backward message receiving membrane, the leftward message receiving membrane, and the rightward message receiving membrane surround the action message receiver.

6. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 3, wherein the action message receiver connected to the PCB receives the pressure message while user presses the center or near to the center of the housing.

7. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 1, wherein the operating button with multiple functions is equipped in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

8. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 1, wherein the operating button with multiple functions is equipped in a cellular phone.

9. The operating button with multiple functions according to claim 1, wherein the operating button with multiple functions is equipped in a handheld computer.

10. An operating button for inclusion in a handheld product, comprising:

a housing;

a direction and action control assembly located under the housing and connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) of the handheld product, wherein when the housing is depressed the direction and action control assembly is activated; and

a speaker located between the housing and the direction and action control assembly.

11. The operating button according to claim 10, wherein the direction and action control assembly comprises:

a four-direction rubber membrane;

an action message receiver located at a center of the four-direction rubber membrane; and

a spring around the action message receiver.

12. The operating button according to claim 11, wherein the operating button is adapted for includes in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

13. A handheld product, comprising:

a product housing;

a printed circuit board (PCB) within the product housing; and

an operating button exposed at an outer surface of the product housing, the operating button including

a button housing,

a direction and action control assembly located under the button housing and connected to the PCB, wherein when the button housing is depressed the direction and action control assembly is activated, and

a speaker located between the button housing and the direction and action control assembly.

14. The handheld product according to claim 13, where the operating button is a multi-function operating button.

15. The handheld product according to claim 14, wherein the direction and action control assembly is a four-direction and action control assembly including a spring.

16. The handheld product according to claim 14, wherein the button housing has plural crevices for transmitting sound from the speaker.

17. The handheld product according to claim 14, wherein the direction and action control assembly comprises:

a four-direction rubber membrane;

an action message receiver located at a center of the four-direction rubber membrane; and

a spring around the action message receiver.

18. The handheld product according to claim 17, wherein said handheld product is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).