Manipulating apparatus and mobile terminal including the same

• US 8,263,889 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Nobuyuki, Masuda, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US12/758,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20100258425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 200510-514, 200/5.R, 200/6.R, 200/343, 200/339, 200/5.A, 200/6.A, 463 36- 37, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/10 Laminated contacts with divided contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/018 Tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/022 Collapsable dome

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a manipulating apparatus (mobile terminal) including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion (directional manipulating portion) with which an input manipulation is carried out. The manipulating portion includes: a key top exposed to an outside of the chassis through an opening portion, which the chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which the key top is formed within the chassis; a circuit board in which a detecting portion (switches) is disposed in a position corresponding to the key top; and a flat plate-shaped elastic body (elastic body) interposed between the key main body and the detecting portion; in which the elastic body is provided integrally with the base portion. According to the manipulating apparatus, not only the soft click feeling can be obtained from the elastic body, but also the manipulating apparatus can be thinned as compared with the case where the existing elastic body (contact rubber) is adopted by adjusting the thickness size each of the elastic body.

Claims

1. A manipulating apparatus including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion with which an input manipulation is carried out, said manipulating portion comprising:

a key top exposed to an outside of said chassis through an opening portion, which said chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which said key top is formed within said chassis;

a circuit board in which a detecting portion is disposed in a position corresponding to said key top; and

a flat plate-shaped elastic body interposed between said key main body and said detecting portion, wherein

said elastic body is provided integrally with said base portion,

said elastic body has a protrusion portion which protrudes from a surface facing said detecting portion and which is adapted to press said detecting portion, and

said base portion has a fulcrum point portion which protrudes from said base portion toward said circuit board to be brought into contact with said circuit board, and which becomes a fulcrum point for inclination of said key main body in a phase of depressing said key top.

2. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said key top includes a plurality of key tops, and

said fulcrum point portion protrudes from an approximately central position of said base portion surrounded by said plurality of key tops toward said circuit board.

3. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base portion has a thick portion in a circumference of said fulcrum point portion.

4. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said flat plate-shaped elastic body located outside said thick portion of said base portion is located closer to a side of said key top than to a portion of said thick portion facing said circuit board;

and

a portion of a tip portion of said protrusion portion in a protrusion direction is located closer to the side of said key top than to said portion of said thick portion facing said circuit board.

5. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an urging member which is adapted to urge said key main body to a side of said circuit board is provided between said chassis and a position of said key main body corresponding to said fulcrum point portion.

6. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said key main body has a recess portion in a position, in a surface on a side opposite to a surface having said fulcrum point portion formed therein, corresponding to said fulcrum point portion;

and

said chassis has a main body supporting portion which is formed in a portion corresponding to said recess portion, and which is accommodated in said recess portion to support said key main body.

7. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said urging member is provided in a circumference of said main body supporting portion.

8. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein of rigidity of said flat plate-shaped elastic body, said urging member and said detecting portion, the rigidity of said flat plate-shaped elastic body is highest, and the rigidity of said urging member is lowest.

9. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said elastic body is formed integrally with each other through two-color molding.

10. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elastic body has a size corresponding to said key top.

11. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting portion includes:

a first contact portion disposed on said circuit board;

a second contact portion disposed at a predetermined gap from said first contact portion; and

a dome portion which covers said second contact point, and which has flexibility with which when said dome portion is pressed by the corresponding said flat plate-shaped elastic body, said second contact point and said first contact point are made to electrically contact each other.

12. A manipulating apparatus including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion with which an input manipulation is carried out, said manipulating portion comprising:

a key top exposed to an outside of said chassis through an opening portion, which said chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which said key top is formed within said chassis; and

a circuit board having a detecting portion for detecting an input manipulation using the desired key top, said detecting portion being disposed in a position corresponding to said key top, wherein

said base portion has a fulcrum point portion protruding in a direction of becoming close to said circuit board and being brought into contact with said circuit board, thereby becoming a fulcrum point for inclination of said key main body in a phase of depressing of the desired key top, and

an urging member for urging said key main body to a side of said circuit board is provided between said chassis and said key main body.

13. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said key main body has a recess portion in a position, in a surface on a side opposite to a surface having said fulcrum point portion formed therein, corresponding to said fulcrum point portion;

and

said chassis has a main body supporting portion which is formed in a portion corresponding to said recess portion, and which is accommodated in said recess portion to support said key main body.

14. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a gap corresponding to a displacement amount of key main body is defined between said main body supporting portion and an inner surface of said recess portion.

15. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said key main body includes a flange portion which extends to an outside of said key top, and which faces end edges of said opening portion in said chassis;

and

said urging member is provided between said chassis and said flange portion.

16. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said base portion has a thick portion in a circumference of said fulcrum point portion.

17. The manipulating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a flat plate-shaped elastic body is provided integrally with said key main body in a position corresponding to said key top, on a side opposite to a side, of said key main body, through which said key top is exposed to an outside of said chassis.

18. A mobile terminal comprising

a manipulating apparatus including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion with which an input manipulation is carried out, said manipulating portion including:

a key top exposed to an outside of said chassis through an opening portion, which said chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which said key top is formed within said chassis;

a circuit board in which a detecting portion is disposed in a position corresponding to said key top; and

a flat plate-shaped elastic body interposed between said key main body and said detecting portion, wherein

said elastic body is provided integrally with said base portion,

said elastic body has a protrusion portion which protrudes from a surface facing said detecting portion and which is adapted to press said detecting portion, and

said base portion has a fulcrum point portion which protrudes from said base portion toward said circuit board to be brought into contact with said circuit board, and which becomes a fulcrum point for inclination of said key main body in a phase of depressing said key top.

19. A mobile terminal comprising

a manipulating apparatus including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion with which an input manipulation is carried out, said manipulating portion including:

a key top exposed to an outside of said chassis through an opening portion, which said chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which said key top is formed within said chassis; and

a circuit board having a detecting portion for detecting an input manipulation using the desired key top, said detecting portion being disposed in a position corresponding to said key top, wherein

said base portion has a fulcrum point portion protruding in a direction of becoming close to said circuit board and being brought into contact with said circuit board, thereby becoming a fulcrum point for inclination of said key main body in a phase of depressing of the desired key top, and

an urging member for urging said key main body to a side of said circuit board is provided between said chassis and said key main body.