5-directional key operation device

• US 7,746,323 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Mamoru, Nanmoku, Teruo, Ohira, Akinori, Kitamura, Toshiyasu, Otsuki, Susumu, Yamamoto, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin
• Application Number:
  US09/857,155
• Time in Patent Office: 3,561 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 341/20, 341/22, 361/680, 400/472, 400/489, 200/330, 379/433.07
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/024 Packing between substrate and membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• 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

A 5-direction key operating device is provided in which the structure of diaphragm contacts disposed on a printed circuit board is improved to allow five diaphragms to be disposed in a minimum space, and a single button key is enabled to operate the five diaphragms. Moreover, a 5-direction key operating device is provided in which an operation space can be reduced, and desired one of information displayed on a display section can be selected and determined by a smooth key operation without causing an erroneous operation.

In each of diaphragm contacts on which diaphragms (4) that are arranged in the shape of a cross in correspondence with 5-direction keys are to be placed, a circular contact (1) which is a first contact, and strip-like contact portions (3a to 3d) which are elongated in a fan-like shape with respect to the center of the first contact (1) are disposed in a second contact (2) and in the side opposite to the side of the first contact (1). According to this configuration and arrangement, the space for disposing the diaphragm contacts can be reduced, and the whole device can be miniaturized and lightened. Five diaphragms are shown on the printed circuit board, and five pusher portions are disposed on a core face opposed to the diaphragms and on a key base. The height of the upper, lower, right, and left pusher portions is set to be different from that of the center pusher portion.

Claims

1. A 5-direction key operating device in which diaphragms respectively corresponding to five directions are proximately arranged in a shape of a cross, which comprises pushers corresponding to the five directions on a key core face opposed to the diaphragms, and in which a single key is enabled to perform key operations of the five directions, and characterized in that

each of diaphragm contacts which are disposed on a printed circuit board opposed to the diaphragms is structured to have a first contact, and at least one second contact surrounding the first contact, at least one strip-like contact portion which are elongated from each of the second contact to a side opposite to a side of the first contact is disposed in the second contact, and

the diaphragm contacts are arranged on the printed circuit board in a shape of a cross correspondingly with the five directions with tilting the strip-like contact portions of the diaphragm contacts by about 45 degrees to vertical and horizontal directions.

2. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 1, wherein the strip-like contact portions are elongated in a fan-like shape with respect to a center of the first contact.

3. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 1, wherein the strip-like contact portions are rectangular.

4. A 5-direction key operating device characterized in that five diaphragms are proximately arranged in a shape of a cross, pusher portions are disposed on a key core face opposed to the diaphragms, and a structure of a center pusher portion is different from a structure of pusher portions surrounding the center pusher portion.

5. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 4, wherein a height of the center pusher portion from the diaphragm is different from a height of the surrounding pusher portions from the respective diaphragms.

6. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 4, wherein a shape of the center pusher portion is different from a shape of the surrounding pusher portions.

7. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the center pusher portion is different from a cross-sectional diameter of the surrounding pusher portions.

8. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 4, wherein one of a rib and a boss stands from an arbitrary position of the key core face which comprises the pusher portions.

9. A 5-direction key operating device characterized in that five diaphragms are proximately arranged in a shape of a cross, and a structure of a key skirt portion which is formed in a periphery of a key core face opposed to the diaphragms is changed.

10. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 9, wherein one of a width and thickness of the key skirt portion is changed.

11. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 9, wherein a shape of the key skirt portion is changed.

12. A 5-direction key operating device characterized in that five diaphragms are proximately arranged in a shape of a cross, and a load on a center diaphragm is changed from loads on surrounding diaphragms.

13. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 12, wherein pusher portions are disposed on a key core face opposed to the diaphragms, and a structure of a center pusher portion is different from a structure of pusher portions surrounding the center pusher portion.

14. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 13, wherein one of a rib and a boss stands from an arbitrary position of the key core face on which the pusher portions exist.

15. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 12, wherein a structure of the key skirt portion which is formed in a periphery of the key core face opposed to the diaphragms is changed.

16. The 5-direction key operating device according to claim 12, wherein pusher portions are disposed on the key core face opposed to the diaphragms, a structure of a center pusher portion is different from a structure of pusher portions surrounding the center pusher portion, and a structure of the key skirt portion which is formed in a periphery of the key core face opposed in the diaphragms is changed.