Local key module and display device including the same

• US 9,645,658 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Daeseon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLIVER, GERALD L
• Application Number:
  US14/592,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20150205380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A local key module and a display device including the same are disclosed herein. The local key module includes the local key module includes a wheel key configured to be rotatable, the wheel key having a circular shape aligned on a first plane, a rotation detection unit configured to detect a rotating movement of the wheel key, and a circuit board configured to supply electric current to the rotation detection unit, the circuit board being aligned on a second plane, wherein the second plane is parallel is the first plane.

Claims

1. A local key module for a display device, the local key module comprises:

a wheel key having a circular shape aligned on a first plane, the wheel key including;

a rotation axis positioned to be perpendicular to a circuit board;

a ring unit to rotate with respect to the rotation axis, and to tilt with respect to the rotation axis in a backward tilting direction approaching the circuit board or in a forward tilting direction moving further away from the circuit board, respectively; and

a spring unit positioned between the ring unit and the rotation axis, the spring unit to maintain tension between the ring unit and the rotation axis,

a rotation detection unit configured to detect a rotating movement of the wheel key;

a second switch to contact the wheel key based on the backward direction tilting of the wheel key;

a third switch to contact the wheel key based on the forward direction tilting of the wheel key; and

a circuit board configured to supply electric current to the rotation detection unit, the circuit board being aligned on a second plane, wherein the second plane is parallel is the first plane.

2. The local key module of claim 1, wherein the rotation detection unit is to couple to the rotation axis of the wheel key, and the rotation detection unit is to be provided on the circuit board.

3. The local key module of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switch on the circuit board, the first switch to couple to the circuit board, and the first switch to be provided at an upper portion of the wheel key.

4. The local key module of claim 3, wherein the first switch includes a body to couple to the circuit board, and a button part at the body, and

wherein the button part of the first switch is provided along a same line as the wheel key and at the first plane.

5. The local key module of claim 3, further comprising:

a bracket provided at a surrounding area of the wheel key;

the second switch on the circuit board, the second switch to couple to the circuit board, and the second switch to face a first portion of the bracket; and

the third switch on the circuit board, the third switch to couple to the circuit board, and the third switch to face a second portion of the bracket.

6. The local key module of claim 5, wherein the second switch and the third switch are aligned along a diagonal line at the circuit board.

7. The local key module of claim 3, wherein in response to a user input, the wheel key is configured to tilt in a direction away from first plane.

8. The local key module of claim 7, wherein when the wheel key is tilted in a direction away from the first plane, the wheel key to contact the first switch.

9. The local key module of claim 7, wherein in response to a user input, the wheel key is configured to tilt to have a first portion within a close range of the circuit board and to have a second portion further away from the circuit board.

10. The local key module of claim 9, wherein when the first portion of the wheel key is within the close range, the wheel key to contact the second switch.

11. A display device comprising:

a display panel having a first face to define a first plane;

a housing provided at a side surface of the display panel and a rear surface of the display panel; and

a local key module provided at a lower portion of the housing,

wherein the local key module includes;

a wheel key having a circular shape, the wheel key including;

a rotation axis positioned to be perpendicular to a circuit board; and

a ring unit to rotate with respect to the rotation axis, and to tilt with respect to the rotation axis in a backward direction approaching the circuit board or in a forward direction moving further away from the circuit board, respectively;

a rotation detection unit configured to detect a rotating movement of the wheel key;

a second switch to contact the wheel key based on the backward direction tilting of the wheel key;

a third switch to contact the wheel key based on the forward direction tilting of the wheel key; and

a circuit board configured to supply electric current to the rotation detection unit, wherein the wheel key to define a second plane, and the circuit board to define a third plane, and wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane, and the third plane is parallel to the first plane,

wherein a portion at the wheel key is exposed to outside of the housing in a downward direction.

12. A display device, comprising:

a display;

a local key module that includes;

a wheel key having a circular shape, the wheel key including;

a rotation axis positioned to be perpendicular to a circuit board; and

a ring unit to rotate with respect to the rotation axis, and to tilt with respect to the rotation axis in a backward direction approaching the circuit board or in a forward direction moving further away from the circuit board, respectively,

a rotation detection unit configured to detect a rotating movement of the wheel key;

a circuit board configured to supply electric current to the rotation detection unit;

a second switch to be contacted by the backward direction tilting of the wheel key; and

a third switch to be contacted by the forward direction tilting of the wheel key;

a controller configured to execute a predetermined function in accordance with a first signal based on the rotating movement of the wheel key detected by the rotation detection unit,

wherein a portion at the wheel key is exposed to outside of the housing in a downward direction.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein when the rotating movement of the wheel key is detected to be equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the controller to execute a first function in accordance with the first signal, and

when the rotating movement of the wheel key is detected to be less than the predetermined rotation speed, the controller to execute a second function in accordance with the first signal, the second function being different from the first function.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein when a signal based on a rotating movement of the wheel key is detected by the rotation detection unit, the controller to detect a display screen being currently displayed on the display and to execute a predetermined function in accordance with a signal based on the rotating movement of the wheel key and the detected display screen.

15. The display device of claim 12, wherein the local key module further includes a first switch, the first switch being on the circuit board, the first switch to couple to the circuit board, and the second switch to be provided at an upper portion of the wheel key, and

wherein when the wheel key is tilted from an initial position, the wheel key to contact the first switch.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the controller to execute a predetermined function in accordance with a second signal, the second signal to be provided based on the wheel key contacting the first switch.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the controller to execute the predetermined function based on a time duration of the second signal and a total number of detections of the second signal.