Patent ID: 6784384
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
In an apparatus for inputting data by use of keys in a portable terminal, a rotation key device comprising:a base plate attached, at a lower surface thereof, to an upper surface of a first printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in a body of the portable terminal; a second PCB attached, at a lower surface thereof, to the upper surface of the base plate, the second PCB being provided with a plurality of first dome switches and a second dome switch at the lower and upper surfaces thereof, and with a plurality of contact surfaces along the circumference of the second dome switch, for receiving an electrical contact signal in either a fixed or rotated state of a contact terminal and thus sensing the rotated position of the contact terminal according to the rotation direction thereof; a ring-shaped washer attached to the upper surface of the second PCB; a rotation key supported by an upper surface of the ring-shaped washer so that the rotation key is rotatable in forward and reverse directions by an external force applied thereto; a contact plate provided in the rotation key to rotate along with the rotation key, the contact plate having a plurality of contact terminals each adapted to come into contact with one of the contact surfaces of the second PCB and to generate an electrical signal from a rotation contact and a fixed contact of the rotation key and apply the electrical contact signal to each of the contact surfaces coming into contact therewith; and a fixed button coupled centrally with the rotation key so that the rotation key is rotatable.