Key input device and portable telephone incorporating same
First Claim
1. A key input device comprising a seesaw switch unit (4) mounted on a base, and a key rubber (8) provided on the base covering the seesaw switch unit (4), a seesaw key (10) provided on the surface of the key rubber (8) for depressing the seesaw switch unit (4), the seesaw switch unit (4) comprising a base plate (5), a dome sheet (7) provided on the base plate (5) and having a plurality of dome portions (71)(72), and a pivotally movable member (6) provided over the dome sheet (7) to selectively depress each dome portion (71), the seesaw key (10) disposed over the pivotally movable member (6), a dome portion being elastically restorably invertable by being depressed by the pivotally movable member (6) to bring a contact terminal (52) formed on an inner surface of the dome portion into contact with a contact electrode (51) formed on a surface of the base plate (5) and closing contacts.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A key input device embodying the present invention comprises a seesaw switch unit (4) installed on a sheet (41), and a key rubber (8) installed on the sheet (41) covering the seesaw switch unit (4). A seesaw key (10) is arranged on the surface of the key rubber (8) for depressing the seesaw switch unit (4). The seesaw switch unit (4) comprises a base plate, a dome sheet provided on a base plate having a plurality of dome portions, and a pivotally movable member 6 provided over the dome sheet to depress selectively each dome portion. The depression of the pivotally movable member 6 causes a dome portion to be elastically restorably invertable, to have a contact terminal formed on an inner surface of the dome portion into contact with a contact electrode formed on a surface of the base plate, closing contacts. With the key input device, the device can be made thinner, and the complete waterproof can be achieved with reduced number of components.
57 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A key input device comprising a seesaw switch unit (4) mounted on a base, and a key rubber (8) provided on the base covering the seesaw switch unit (4), a seesaw key (10) provided on the surface of the key rubber (8) for depressing the seesaw switch unit (4), the seesaw switch unit (4) comprising a base plate (5), a dome sheet (7) provided on the base plate (5) and having a plurality of dome portions (71)(72), and a pivotally movable member (6) provided over the dome sheet (7) to selectively depress each dome portion (71), the seesaw key (10) disposed over the pivotally movable member (6), a dome portion being elastically restorably invertable by being depressed by the pivotally movable member (6) to bring a contact terminal (52) formed on an inner surface of the dome portion into contact with a contact electrode (51) formed on a surface of the base plate (5) and closing contacts.
- 5. A portable telephone comprising a circuit board (3) disposed inside a casing (1) and formed with a circuit for radio communication, a sheet key assembly (40) installed on the circuit board (3), a seesaw switch unit (4) installed on the surface of the sheet key assembly (40), a key rubber (8) provided covering the surface of the sheet key assembly (40) and the seesaw switch unit (4), the key rubber (8) having arranged on its surface a plurality of manual keys (14) for depressing the sheet key assembly (40) and a seesaw key (10) for depressing the seesaw switch unit (4), the seesaw switch unit (4) comprising a base plate (5), a dome sheet (7) having a plurality of dome portions (71) (72) and provided over the base plate (5), and a pivotally movable member (6) provided over the dome sheet (7) for selectively depressing each dome portion (71), the seesaw key (10) disposed over the pivotally movable member (6), a dome portion being elastically restorably invertable by being depressed by the pivotally movable member (6) to bring a contact terminal (52) formed on an inner surface of the dome portion into contact with a contact electrode (51) formed on the surface of the base plate (5) and closing contacts.
Specification