Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a rotatable inputting apparatus. When a circuit board of the rotatable inputting apparatus is coupled to a main circuit board of a terminal or remote control, the rotatable inputting apparatus of the invention allows reference points of the boards to be instinctively recognized without the necessity of forming reference projections or using screws, thus enabling its easy assembly. The rotatable inputting apparatus includes a wheel having a ring magnet, a support having a pressure pin, a center key moving in a vertical direction, a dome seat including a central dome button and peripheral dome buttons, a circuit board to which the dome seat is attached, and a connecting guide which is secured to the circuit board and has a connecting part. The connecting part passes through the circuit board and is inserted into the main circuit board.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0053637, filed on Jun. 9, 2008, entitled “rotatable inputting apparatus”, 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 a rotatable inputting apparatus which is mounted to a terminal, such as a mobile communication terminal or a PDA, or a remote control and, more particularly, to a rotatable inputting apparatus which can be coupled to a main circuit board of a terminal or remote control while reference points are instinctively recognized without the necessity of forming reference projections or using screws, when a circuit board of the rotatable inputting apparatus having a dome-shaped switch, a wheel, and other parts is coupled to the main circuit board, thus enabling its easy assembly. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, a portable terminal such as a mobile communication terminal or a PDA, or a remote control for controlling a TV or machine from a distance is provided with a navigation key to perform various functions of the machine, that is, the search for a menu and a phone number, the adjustment of volume, and the change of a channel. 
         [0006]    The navigation key includes a button which recognizes the manipulation force applied by a user, a wheel which is rotated in a forward or backward direction by the user, and a sensor which detects the rotation of the wheel. 
         [0007]    Such a conventional rotatable inputting apparatus having the button and the wheel includes a wheel, a center key, a support holder, a dome seat and a circuit board. 
         [0008]    The wheel is the member which is rotated in a forward or backward direction by a user. A multi-pole ring magnet is provided on the lower edge of the wheel. The rotating angle, direction, and speed of the wheel constructed as described above are detected by a magnetic device of a circuit board. Further, the wheel has in a central portion thereof a center key which is movable up and down. When the center key is pushed by a user, the center key presses a central dome button of the dome seat. 
         [0009]    The support holder rotatably supports the wheel, and is secured to the circuit board. When the wheel is pushed by a user, a pressure pin of the support holder pushes peripheral dome buttons of the dome seat. 
         [0010]    The central dome button is provided on the central portion of the dome seat to correspond to the center key, and the peripheral dome buttons are provided around the central dome button. The peripheral dome buttons are arranged to be pushed by the pressure pin. Further, the dome seat is attached to and supported by the upper surface of the circuit board. 
         [0011]    The dome seat is attached to the upper surface of the circuit board to be electrically connected to the circuit board. The circuit board is provided with the magnetic device which detects the rotation of the wheel. 
         [0012]    However, the conventional rotatable inputting apparatus constructed as described above is problematic in that holes must be bored through both sides of the circuit board of the rotatable inputting apparatus, and the circuit board must be assembled with a main circuit board of an objective product using screws, so as to precisely place and mount the inputting apparatus on the main circuit board of the objective product, such as a remote control or a mobile phone, so that the number of assembly processes is increased. 
         [0013]    Further, the conventional rotatable inputting apparatus is problematic in that, when the rotatable inputting apparatus is placed on the main circuit board of the objective product, it is difficult to set the reference position of the rotatable inputting apparatus, so that the assembly period is relatively long. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a rotatable inputting apparatus, which is provided with a connecting guide, thus allowing the reference position of the rotatable inputting apparatus to be easily set, and allowing a circuit board of the rotatable inputting apparatus to be easily coupled to a main circuit board of an objective product, when the rotatable inputting apparatus is placed and mounted on the main circuit board of the objective product such as a remote control or a mobile phone, therefore reducing the number of assembly processes and the assembly period. 
         [0015]    In a rotatable inputting apparatus mounted to a product having a main circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention, a wheel has in a central portion thereof a center hole, is rotated by a rotating manipulating force, and has a ring magnet. A support holder rotatably supports the wheel and has on an edge thereof at least one pressure pin. A center key passes through the center hole of the wheel and moves in a vertical direction. A dome seat includes a central dome button which generates a signal by pushing force of the center key and the pressure pin, and one or more peripheral dome buttons which are provided around the central dome button at regular intervals. A circuit board includes a circuit for transmitting a signal from the central and peripheral dome buttons, and a magnetic device for detecting a rotation of the ring magnet of the wheel, and the dome seat is attached to the upper surface of the circuit board. A connecting guide comes in close contact with the upper surface of the circuit board such that at least portion of the connecting guide is exposed to a lower surface of the circuit board. The exposed portion is inserted into the main circuit board to connect the circuit board to the main circuit board. 
         [0016]    The circuit board includes on an outer circumference thereof two connecting pieces in which first and second through holes are formed, respectively, portion of the connecting guide being connected to the first and second through holes. 
         [0017]    Further, the first and second through holes have different diameters. 
         [0018]    The connecting guide includes a ring part which comes into close contact with the dome seat in such a way as to surround the central dome button, an extension part which extends from each of opposite ends of the ring part and comes into close contact with the dome seat, and a connecting part which extends vertically from an end of the extension part to pass through the circuit board and thereby be inserted into the main circuit board. 
         [0019]    The connecting part has a hook shape, so that the connecting part is elastically deformed when the connecting part passes through and is connected to the circuit board. 
         [0020]    Further, portions of the connecting part which pass through the circuit board and are inserted into the main circuit board have different sizes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    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: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded perspective view illustrating a rotatable inputting apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the rotatable inputting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating part of the rotatable inputting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the back of part of the rotatable inputting apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Hereinafter, a rotatable inputting apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a rotatable inputting apparatus  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a wheel  110 , a center key  120 , a support holder  130 , a dome seat  140 , a circuit board  150  and a connecting guide  160 . 
         [0028]    The wheel  110  is manipulated directly by a user to be rotated in a forward or backward direction. A center hole  111  is bored through the central portion of the wheel  110 , and a multi-pole ring magnet  112  is provided along the edge of the bottom of the wheel  110 . The wheel  110  is rotatably supported by the support holder  130 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wheel  110  is manufactured to have the shape of a disc having a predetermined thickness. An annular groove  113  is formed at a position adjacent to the lower edge of the wheel  110  in such a way as to be stepped, so that the ring magnet  112  is attached to the annular groove  113 . Here, the ring magnet  112  adheres to the groove  113  using an adhesive or the like, so that the ring magnet  112  is rotated along with the wheel  110 . 
         [0030]    When the wheel  110  constructed as described above is manipulated by a user, the wheel  110  is rotated along with the ring magnet  112 . The rotating angle, rotating direction, and rotating speed of the rotating wheel  110  are detected by magnetic devices  151  of the circuit board  150 . 
         [0031]    The center key  120  is a member having the shape of a cylinder which is closed at a top and bottom thereof. A center pin  121  protrudes from the center of the bottom of the center key  120  and functions to push a dome button  141  which is provided on the center of the domes seat  140 . When the center key  120  is pushed by a user, the center pin  121  pushes the central dome button  141  which is provided on the center of the dome seat  140 . 
         [0032]    Such a center key  120  is provided with guide pins  122  which are inserted into guide holes formed in the dome seat  140  and the circuit board  150  such that the center key  120  is movable in a vertical direction in the wheel  110  but is not rotatable. 
         [0033]    The support holder  130  is provided on the lower portion of the wheel  110  to rotatably support the wheel  110 . Four coupling protrusions  131  are provided on the bottom of the support holder  130  at regular intervals and are coupled to the dome seat  140  and the circuit board  150 . A hole  132  is formed in the central portion of the support holder  130  and has a diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the center key  120  so that the center key  120  passes through the hole  132 . 
         [0034]    Further, the support holder  130  is provided with four pressure pins  133  at positions corresponding to peripheral dome buttons  142 . Thereby, when one end of the wheel  110  is pushed by a user, the pressure pins  133  push one of the four peripheral buttons  142  of the dome seat  140 . 
         [0035]    Further, a Teflon washer  134  is interposed between the support holder  130  and the wheel  110  so as to reduce friction between the wheel  110  and the upper surface of the support holder  130  when the wheel  110  is rotated. The support holder  130  has a support washer  135  which is fitted into the wheel  110  so as to prevent the wheel  110  from being removed from the support holder  130 . 
         [0036]    The dome seat  140  has the central dome button  141  which is provided on the central portion to correspond to the center key  120 , and the four peripheral dome buttons  142  which are provided around the central dome button  141 . The four peripheral dome buttons  142  are arranged to be pressed by the four pressure pins  133  which are provided on the support holder  130 . 
         [0037]    Here, when the central dome button  141  and the four peripheral dome buttons  142  are pressed by the center key  120  and the pressure pins  133  of the support holder  130 , the central dome button  141  and the peripheral dome buttons  142  are elastically deformed. The deformation of the central and peripheral dome buttons  141  and  142  is deformed by circuits  152  formed on the circuit board  150 , so that a signal is generated. Using the signal, the function of a terminal or remote control is performed. 
         [0038]    Further, the dome seat  140  is cut at portions corresponding to the magnetic devices  151  to form cut parts  143 , in such a way that the magnetic devices  151  provided on the circuit board  150  face the ring magnet  112 . 
         [0039]    The circuit board  150  is placed on the lower surface of the dome seat  140  to support the dome seat  140 . The magnetic devices  151  which detect the magnetic variation of the ring magnet  112  and the circuits  152  which detect the deformation of the central and peripheral dome buttons  141  and  142  and generate a signal are provided on the upper surface of the dome seat  140 . Further, the circuit board  150  is provided with terminal parts  153  which transmit the signal from the magnetic devices  151  and the central and peripheral dome buttons  141  and  142  to a main circuit board of the terminal or remote control. 
         [0040]    Further, connecting pieces  154  protrude integrally from both sides of the circuit board  150  so that the connecting guide  160  is connected to the circuit board  150 . First and second connecting holes  155   a  and  155   b  having different diameters are formed in the connecting pieces  154  for the connection with the connecting guide  160 . 
         [0041]    The connecting guide  160  serves to connect the circuit board  150  to which the dome seat  140  is attached to the main circuit board of the remote control or terminal. The connecting guide  160  includes a ring part  161  which surrounds the central dome button  141 , extension parts  162  which extend from opposite ends of the ring part  161 , and connecting parts  162  which extend vertically from ends of the corresponding extension parts  162  to pass through the circuit board  150 . 
         [0042]    Preferably, the ring part  161  and the extension parts  162  of the connecting guide  160  are thin so as not to interfere with the pushing operation of the center key  120  and the pressure pins  133 . 
         [0043]    The connecting parts  163  are inserted, respectively, into the first and second connecting holes  155   a  and  155   b  which are formed in the connecting pieces  154  of the circuit board  150 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , one end of each connecting part  163  is bent inwards to have a hook-shaped section. Thereby, when the connecting parts  163  are inserted into the first and second connecting holes  155   a  and  155   b , the connecting parts  163  are elastically deformed at ends thereof to be secured to the first and second connecting holes  155   a  and  155   b.    
         [0044]    Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the portions of the connecting parts  163  which protrude to the lower surface of the circuit board  150  have different sizes. Thereby, when the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  is mounted to the main board of the terminal or remote control after the wheel  110 , the center key  120 , and other parts of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  are assembled with each other, a worker may instinctively know the mounting direction of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  based on the size of each connecting part  163 . 
         [0045]    In detail, fastening holes having different sizes are formed in the main circuit board of the remote control or the like, and the portions of the connecting parts  163  which protrude to the lower surface of the circuit board  150  are inserted into the corresponding fastening holes, thus allowing a worker to more easily control the mounting direction of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100 . 
         [0046]    The rotatable inputting apparatus  100  constructed as described above is assembled as follows. 
         [0047]    First, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , after the dome seat  140  is attached to the circuit board  150 , the connecting parts  163  of the connecting guide  160  are inserted into the first and second connecting holes  155   a  and  155   b  so that the connecting guide  160  presses the upper surface of the dome seat  140 . 
         [0048]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the support holder  130 , the center key  120  and the wheel  110  are sequentially mounted on the dome seat  140 , so that the assembly of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  is completed. 
         [0049]    Next, although not shown in the drawings, the connecting parts  163  which protrude to the lower surface of the circuit board  150  of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  are inserted into the main circuit board of the remote control or terminal. Here, since the connecting parts  163  have different sizes, the reference position of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  can be precisely seen by a worker&#39;s eyes, and the assembly of the rotatable inputting apparatus  100  can be easily performed. 
         [0050]    According to the present invention, connecting parts of a connecting guide mounted on a circuit board of a rotatable inputting apparatus pass through the circuit board to be inserted into a main circuit board of an objective product, thus allowing the rotatable inputting apparatus to be easily assembled with the main circuit board of the objective product without using screws, thus simplifying the assembly process. 
         [0051]    Further, the connecting parts of the connecting guide have different sizes, thus allowing a worker to instinctively know the reference position of the rotatable inputting apparatus, therefore considerably reducing the assembly period. 
         [0052]    Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has 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.