Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a thin input device. The thin input device includes a manipulation means, a displacement detection means, and a housing. The manipulation means is capable of being displaced in any direction. The displacement detection means is electrically connected to an external device and detects the displacement of the manipulation means. The housing detachably is mounted on the support element of the external device and contains the manipulation means.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0068631, filed on Jul. 21, 2006, entitled “Thin Input Device and Handset Provided with the Same,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to an input device and, more particularly, to an input device that is thin and allows the parts thereof to be separately and easily repaired or replaced in the event of the failure of the parts, such as a manipulation element that is frequently used, and a terminal equipped with the input device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Input devices are auxiliary devices that are installed in various mobile terminals, such as a mobile phone and a remote control, which are widely used in homes, and that are used to receive input commands from users. In line with the reduction in the size and thickness of mobile terminals, the size and thickness of input devices have been reduced, and input devices have been developed to increase the ease of manipulation by users. 
         [0006]    An example of a prior art input device is a “Terminal Equipped with Pointing Device,” which was disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-107672 and is shown in FIG. 5. 
         [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a prior art pointing device  22  includes a manipulation member  30  for securely accommodating a magnet  28 , and a support member  32  for supporting the manipulation member  30  so that the manipulation member  30  can be displaced with respect to a circuit board  44 . The magnet  28 , the manipulation member  30  and the support member  30  constitute a manipulation assembly  34 . The support member  36  is fastened to the central depression bottom  30   a  of the manipulation member  30 , and horizontally moves while sliding along the support surface  32   a  of the support member  32  in any direction. 
         [0008]    The manipulation member  30  has elasticity, so that it can be easily deformed on the support member  32  to perform displacement manipulation. The manipulation member  30  integrally includes a touch manipulation part  38  having a central depression bottom( 30   a ), an elastic spring part  40  extending outward from the touch manipulation part  38 , and a connection part( 42 ) spanning from the elastic spring part  40  to the support member  32 . The elastic spring part  40  is arranged coaxially with the support member  32 , and has a high and flat cone or dome shape. 
         [0009]    The support member  32  has a flat support surface  32   a  that supports the support member  36  so that the support member  36  freely slides in a horizontal direction. A cylindrical wall  44  for defining the range of the horizontal movement of the support member  36  is formed to protrude. The central axis of the cylindrical wall  44  passing through the center of the support surface  32   a  constitutes the central axis P of the pointing device  22  and, at the same time, defines the location of the origin of the horizontal movement of the support member  36  on the support surface  32   a.    
         [0010]    The connection part  42  of the manipulation member  30  is attached within an annular groove defined between the cylindrical wall  44  of the support member  32  and the outer wall  46 . A cover plate  48  having an central opening  48   a  is mounted on the support member  32  so that the cover plate  48  substantially covers the circumferential regions of the manipulation member  30  and the support member  32  where they are engaged with each other. The cover plate  48  holds the manipulation member  30  and the support member  32  in an appropriately assembled state, with the support member  36  fastened to the manipulation member  30  being placed on the support surface  32   a  of the support member  32  so that the support member  36  can freely slide on the support surface  32   a.    
         [0011]    The manipulation assembly  34  is fastened to the upper box  20  or the circuit board  14  using a method, such as bonding or welding, with the touch manipulation part  38  of the manipulation member  30  being inserted through the opening  24  of the upper box  20 . Four magneto-electric transducers  26  fixedly mounted on the back of the circuit board  14  are distributed and arranged around the central axis P of the pointing device  22  at regular intervals. 
         [0012]    However, in the prior art pointing device having the above-described construction, the manipulation assembly  34  is fastened to the upper box  20  or circuit board  14  using the method, such as bonding or welding, so that a bonding means or a welding means is required for the fastening, and so that the assembly  34  cannot be detached once it has been fastened. Accordingly, a problem arises in that the assembly  34 , together with the circuit board  14 , must be replaced in the event that the assembly  34  is required to be replaced due to failure or the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention is intended to provide a thin input device, in which a housing for containing a manipulation assembly is detachably and directly mounted on the main circuit board of a terminal, so that the thickness of parts can be reduced and the parts can be separately replaced, and a mobile terminal equipped with the thin input device. 
         [0014]    The present invention provides a thin input device, including a manipulation means capable of being displaced in any direction; a displacement detection means electrically connected to an external device, and configured to detect the displacement of the manipulation means; and a housing detachably mounted on the support element of the external device and configured to contain the manipulation means. 
         [0015]    The input device according to the invention is characterized that the external device is a terminal, and the support element is a main circuit board mounted in the terminal. 
         [0016]    The manipulation means has magnetism, and the displacement detection means detects the displacement of the manipulation means by detecting variation in intensity of magnetic force resulting from the displacement of the manipulation means. 
         [0017]    The displacement detection means includes a plurality of Hall sensors that are responsive to magnetic force. 
         [0018]    Additionally, the present invention provides a thin input device, including a manipulation element capable of being displaced in an any direction; a magnetic element having a displacement identical to a displacement of the manipulation element; a magnetic sensor mounted on a main circuit board of a terminal, and configured to detect the displacement of the manipulation element by detecting variation in intensity of magnetic force resulting from the displacement of the magnetic element; and a housing detachably mounted on the main circuit board, and configured to contain the manipulation element and the magnetic element. 
         [0019]    The thin input device further includes an elastic element that is fastened to the manipulation element and returns the manipulation element to an original position thereof. 
         [0020]    The housing has an opening that exposes a contact part of the manipulation element to the outside and that provides a displacement region for the contact part. 
         [0021]    The housing has an accommodation cavity for accommodating the manipulation element and the magnetic element, and a circumferential wall for defining the accommodation cavity. 
         [0022]    The housing has a plurality of coupling protrusions to be inserted into and engaged with coupling holes formed in the main circuit board, the coupling protrusions being formed at a free end of the circumferential wall at regular intervals. 
         [0023]    The coupling protrusions have hook-shaped ends that face outward. 
         [0024]    Additionally, the present invention provides a mobile terminal, including the above-mentioned input device; and a main circuit board on one surface of which the housing is detachably mounted and on a remaining surface of which the displacement detection means or the magnetic sensor is mounted. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a thin input device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view showing the input device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the movement of a magnetic element resulting from the movement of the manipulation unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded perspective diagram showing part of a terminal in which the input device of  FIG. 1  is installed; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional diagram showing a prior art input device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. 
         [0032]    An input device and a mobile terminal equipped with the input device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0033]    First, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the thin input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the thin input device  100  according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view showing the input device of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the input device  100  according to the embodiment includes a manipulation element  110 , a magnetic element  130 , an elastic element  150 , a magnetic sensor  170 , and a housing  190 . 
         [0035]    The manipulation element  110  is used by a user to input desired signals to the input device  100  through manipulation in specific directions. A contact part  111 , which actually comes into contact with the user&#39;s finger, is provided at the center of the manipulation element  110 , and an accommodation depression  113 , which accommodates a magnetic element mount  151 , on which the magnetic element  130  is mounted, is provided in the back of the manipulation element  110 . 
         [0036]    The contact part  111  is made of lightweight aluminum having a predetermined strength, and is provided with a plurality of small annular protrusions that increase the area of contact with the user&#39;s finger. Alternatively, the contact part  111  may be at least partially coated with material that has an excellent contact property. 
         [0037]    The magnetic element  130  is a detection means for transmitting a signal about the displacement of the magnetic element  130  or manipulation element  110  to Hall sensors (HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3 , and HS 4  of  FIG. 3 ) by applying magnetic force to the Hall sensors contained in the magnetic sensor  170 . The magnetic element  130  is accommodated in and mounted on the magnetic element mount  151  formed in the elastic element  150 . In an embodiment, a permanent magnet may be used as the magnetic element  130 . 
         [0038]    The elastic element  150  is used to restore the manipulation element  110 , which has been displaced in a specific direction, to its origin, and is made of material having excellent rigidity as well as excellent elasticity. However, any means for generating restoring force, other than the element made of rubber, may be used. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, the magnetic element mount  151 , in and on which the magnetic element  130  is accommodated and mounted, protrudes somewhat from the center of the elastic element  150 , and a plurality of coupling holes  153  (in the present embodiment, four coupling holes), which will be engaged with coupling protrusions  197 , is arranged along the area of the elastic element  130  near the circumference of the elastic element  150 . In an embodiment, the coupling holes  153  are formed to have a diameter identical to or somewhat smaller than that of the coupling protrusions  197 , so as to be tightly engaged with the coupling protrusions  197 . 
         [0040]    Furthermore, a protrusion  155 , which is somewhat inclined and is disposed coaxially with the manipulation element  110 , is provided at the center of the back of the elastic element  150 . The protrusion  155  comes into contact with an operation switch  15 , such as a metal dome switch, which is provided on a circuit board  10  coaxially with the manipulation element  110 . 
         [0041]    The manipulation element  110 , the magnetic element  130  and the elastic element  150  may be constructed in the form of a single assembly, which may be called a manipulation assembly. 
         [0042]    The magnetic sensor  170  is a displacement detection means for detecting the displacement of the magnetic element  130  or manipulation element  110 , and is disposed on the back of the circuit board  10  coaxially with the magnetic element  130 . 
         [0043]    The magnetic sensor  170  contains a plurality of Hall sensors, in the present embodiment, 4 Hall sensors (HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  of  FIG. 3 ), which detect variation in the intensity of magnetic force resulting from the displacement of the magnetic element  130 , and which are disposed at equal distances from a central axis. 
         [0044]    The housing  190  is a means for containing the manipulation assembly made up of the manipulation element  110 , the magnetic element  130  and the elastic element  150 , and protecting it from the outside, and is constructed in the form of a container having an accommodation depression  191  and a side wall  193 . A plurality of coupling protrusions  194 , in the present embodiment, four coupling protrusions, which will be engaged with the circuit board  10 , is provided on the side wall  193  at regular intervals. The ends of the coupling protrusions  194  have the shape of a hook that faces outward. 
         [0045]    An opening  195 , through which some of the manipulation element  110 , including the contact part  111 , is exposed to the outside, is formed in the center of the housing  190 . The opening  195  defines the manipulation element  110 , particularly the region of the displacement of the contact part  111 . The coupling protrusions  199 , which are engaged with the elastic element  150 , are provided between the opening  195  and the side wall  193 . 
         [0046]    The coupling protrusions  199  are configured such that the combination of the elastic element  150  is easy and the separation thereof is difficult because they are formed to have a column shape and free ends inclined and somewhat wider than column parts. 
         [0047]    A main circuit board installed in a mobile terminal in which the input device  100  is installed may be used as the circuit board  10 . As described above, the metal dome switch  15  is disposed on the upper surface of the elastic element  150  coaxially with the manipulation element  110 , and the magnetic sensor  170  is disposed on the lower surface of the elastic element  150  coaxially with the manipulation element  110 . A plurality of coupling holes  13 , in the present embodiment, four coupling holes  13 , into which coupling protrusions  194  are inserted, is provided at locations corresponding to those of the coupling protrusions  194  of the housing  190 . 
         [0048]    In the above-described input device  100 , when the contact part  111  or manipulation element  110  is manipulated in a specific direction by a user, the magnetic element  130  contained in the manipulation element  110  is manipulated in the same way, and the location of the magnetic element  130  is changed. Information about the displacement of the magnetic element  130  is transmitted to the Hall sensors provided in the magnetic sensor  170 , and the displacement of the magnetic element  130  or manipulation element  110  is detected. Furthermore, the information about the displacement is transmitted through the circuit board  10 , and is displayed on the display unit of the terminal by a display means, such as a cursor. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  schematically shows the displacement of the magnetic unit resulting from the manipulation of the manipulation element  110 . Here, a point indicated as an origin is a location that coincides with the central axis of the manipulation element  110 .  FIG. 3  shows an example in which the magnetic element  130 , which was located at the origin and is indicated by the dotted line, has been moved in the upper left direction. Furthermore, although, for ease of description, the Hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  have been illustrated as being somewhat far away from the magnetic element  130 , the Hall sensors are actually disposed in the same arrangement within an area corresponding to the size of the magnetic element  130 . 
         [0050]    When the magnetic element  130  is located at the origin, as indicated by the dotted line, all four of the Hall sensors detect magnetic force having the same magnitude. In contrast, when the magnetic element  130  is located in the upper right, as indicated by the solid line, the Hall sensors HS 1  and HS 2  closer to the magnetic element  130  detect stronger magnetic force, while the Hall sensors HS 3  and HS 4  further from the magnetic element  130  detect weaker magnetic force. The intensity of magnetic force detected by the Hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  varies with the displacement of the magnetic element  130 , and the Hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  detect the displacement of the magnetic element  130  based on the variation in the intensity of magnetic force detected as described above. Through the above-described process, the displacement of the manipulation element  110  can be detected. 
         [0051]    The installation of the above-described input device  100  in the mobile terminal is illustrated in  FIG. 4  as an example. 
         [0052]    The mobile terminal includes the circuit board  10 , the key panel  20 , and the case  30 , separated into upper and lower parts. 
         [0053]    The circuit board  10  is provided with a plurality of switches  11 , which are main functional elements, on the front thereof. Although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of electronic parts, including the magnetic sensor ( 170  of  FIG. 1 ), is mounted on the back of the circuit board  10 . As described above, coupling holes  13  engaged with the input device  100  are formed in the center portion of the upper part of the circuit board  10 . The metal dome switch  15 , which is an operation switch, is disposed coaxially with the manipulation element  110 . 
         [0054]    The key panel  20  is a thin member made of elastic material, such as synthetic rubber. A plurality of elastically deformable pressing elements  21  protrudes from the upper surface of the key panel  20  at locations corresponding to the locations of the switches  11  of the circuit board  10 . The pressing elements  21  are arranged to substantially overlap respective switches  11  of the circuit board  10 . An opening  23 , through which the input device  100  passes, is formed in the upper center of the key panel  20 . 
         [0055]    The case  30  is a thin box-shaped member, which is a resin molded product. In this drawing, only the upper one of upper and lower cases is illustrated. A plurality of through holes  31 , through which the pressing elements  21  pass and are exposed, is formed in the case  30  at corresponding locations. An opening  33 , through which the input device  100  pass and are exposed, is formed in the upper center of the case  30  at a location corresponding to that of the opening  23 . 
         [0056]    According to the input device of the present invention, the housing in which the manipulation assembly is contained is directly mounted on the main circuit board of the terminal, so that the thickness of the terminal can be reduced, thus making it possible to realize thin or slim terminals. 
         [0057]    Furthermore, since the housing is mounted on the circuit board by inserting the hook-shaped coupling protrusions into the circuit board, the housing can be freely separated from the circuit board, therefore parts can be separately and freely replaced. 
         [0058]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.