Abstract:
A modular input device includes a manipulator movable in random directions, a sensor chip to detect displacement of the manipulator, an elastic member to return the displaced manipulator to its originally set position, a direction manipulator operating independently from the manipulator to provide manipulation space for the manipulator and to manipulate directions, a magnetic body moving in association with the manipulator to inform the sensor chip of the displacement of the manipulator, a circuit board having an operation switch at a position corresponding to the manipulator to output a signal detected by the sensor chip to an external device, and a housing to enclose the manipulator, the sensor chip, the magnetic body and the circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. divisional application filed under 37 USC 1.53(b) claiming priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 11/700,779 filed in the United States on Feb. 1, 2007, which claims earlier priority benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0035826 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 20, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a modular input device and a portable handset, and more particularly, to a small-sized modular input device and a portable handset provided with the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    An input device is an interface unit installed in a variety of handsets, such as mobile telephones or remote controls generally used in households, in order to deliver input signals from a user to the handset. The input device has evolved so as to have a small size and to be easy for a user to manipulate. 
         [0006]    With reference to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , a conventional portable handset with an input device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-50666, entitled “Input Device and Portable Handset Provided with the same,” is illustrated. 
         [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a mobile telecommunication handset according to the conventional art comprises a first box  10 A, a second box  10 B, and a hinged part  9 . 
         [0008]    The first box  10 A encloses an input device  20  and a microphone  12  therein, and the second box  10 B encloses a display unit  11 , a speaker  13  and an antenna  14  therein. Further, the first box  10 A has a grooved bottom serving as a manipulation area, and the input device  20  has a manipulation part  15  and a manipulation area  16 . 
         [0009]      FIG. 10  illustrates details of the input device  20  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0010]    The input device  20  includes a movable body  21 , a substrate  23 , an elastic body  25 , horizontal direction sensors  26  and  27 , a vertical direction sensor  28 , and a conductor  29 . The movable body  21  comprises a horizontally movable part  21   a  and a vertically movable part  21   b.    
         [0011]    The movable body  21  is elastically connected to the third box  22  since the horizontally movable part  21  is connected to the third box  22  by the elastic body  25 . The elastic body  25  returns the movable body  21 , which previously moved against the direction of the elasticity, to its original position. 
         [0012]    On a circuit board  24 , the substrate  23  having the horizontal sensors  26  and  27  and the vertical sensor  28  thereon is installed. A conductor  29  is provided to the horizontally movable part  21   a  for each direction to be sensed, and moves on the substrate  23 . 
         [0013]    If a force is vertically applied to the movable body  21 , the flexible part  30  of the movable body  20  bends and the vertically movable part  21   b  is suspended and moves in the vertical direction. Further, if the vertically movable part  21   b  is suspended and moves in the vertical direction, the vertically movable part  21   a  comes into contact with the vertical direction sensor  28 . The vertical direction sensor  28  detects the displacement of the vertically movable part  21   b  by detecting contact between the vertically movable part  21   b  and the sensor  28 . The vertical direction sensor  28  is a metal dome. 
         [0014]    The above-described conventional input device has a disadvantage because the circuit board  24  of the input device is the main circuit board installed in a mobile telecommunication handset and is integrated with a key pad. As a consequence thereof, it is impossible to selectively replace only damaged parts from a handset in the case in which some parts in the handset, such as the input device or the key pad, are damaged. That is, the handset including the failed input device or the damaged key pad must be replaced as a whole. 
         [0015]    Further, since the input device is installed on the main circuit board, it is difficult for handset manufacturers to obtain discrete input devices through an outsourcing method in the case in which the handset manufacturers want to use discrete input devices manufactured by other component manufacturers in order to install the discrete input device in their handsets. 
         [0016]    Still further, since the input device detects the displacement of the movable body  21  by sensing the contact state between the conductor  29  and the sensors  26  and  27 , it is impossible to detect displacement occurring before the conductor  29  installed on the movable body  21  comes into contact with the sensors  26  and  27 . 
       SUMMARY 
       [0017]    Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular input device that can be independently and separately manufactured from a handset into a discrete unit so that it alone can be easily replaced when necessary, whereby input devices and portable handsets using the input devices can be manufactured in different production lines. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular input device that can form a signal by precisely and finely detecting even a small amount of displacement of a manipulator via a hall sensor using magnetic force as a positioning sensor. 
         [0019]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a portable handset with the modular input device. 
         [0020]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a modular input device comprising a manipulator movable in random directions, a displacement detector for detecting displacement of the manipulator, a signal output unit for outputting a signal detected by the displacement detector to an external device, and a storage unit for storing the manipulator, the displacement detector, and the signal output unit therein. 
         [0021]    The displacement detector of the modular input device may estimate the displacement of the manipulator by detecting a change in intensity of magnetic force caused by movement of the manipulator. 
         [0022]    The displacement detector may include a plurality of hall sensors responding to magnetic force. 
         [0023]    In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular input device comprising a manipulator movable in random directions, a sensor chip for detecting displacement of the manipulator, a magnetic body moving in association with the manipulator for informing the sensor chip of the displacement, a circuit board having an operation switch installed at a position corresponding to the manipulator for outputting a signal from the sensor chip to an external device, and a housing for enclosing the manipulator, the sensor chip, the magnetic body and the circuit board. 
         [0024]    The modular input device may further comprise an elastic body for returning the displaced manipulator to its originally set position. 
         [0025]    The modular input device may further comprise a cover for covering the housing and establishing a manipulation space for the manipulator. 
         [0026]    In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular input device comprising all the elements in the modular input device according to the first embodiment, and further comprising a direction manipulator for providing a manipulation space for the manipulator and manipulation in various directions. 
         [0027]    The modular input device may further comprise an elastic body for returning the displaced manipulator to its originally set position. 
         [0028]    The direction manipulator of the modular input device may have a plurality of direction keys and the circuit board may have a plurality of direction switches corresponding to respective direction keys. 
         [0029]    In the input devices according to all of the embodiments, the sensor chip may have a plurality of hall sensors responding to magnetic force, and the plurality of hall sensors may be arranged at regular intervals and have the same distance from the originally set position of the magnetic body. 
         [0030]    The circuit board may have a flexible circuit part extending to the outside thereof, and the flexible circuit part has a contact terminal to be connected to an external device at an end portion thereof. 
         [0031]    The elastic body may have a magnetic body mounting part for mounting the magnetic body thereon, and the manipulator may have a groove for receiving the magnetic body mounting part on which the magnetic body is mounted. 
         [0032]    The elastic body may be made of rubber having high elasticity. 
         [0033]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable handset in which any of the input devices according to the above-mentioned embodiments is embedded in such a manner that the input device alone can be replaced. 
         [0034]    In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable handset to which any of the input devices according to the above-mentioned embodiments can be externally installed to be connected thereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    The above and other objects, features and other advantageous effects of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modular input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view illustrating the input device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing movement of a magnetic body, which is in association with movement of a manipulator; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modular input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the input device shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a mobile phone provided with the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a remote control provided with the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a mobile phone having the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4 , in which the input device is installed in an external manner; 
           [0044]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating a mobile phone provided with the conventional input device; and 
           [0045]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating the input device shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    Hereinafter, a modular input device and a portable handset having the modular input device according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0047]    First, a modular input device will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modular input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the input device  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a discrete unit and comprises a housing  110 , a sensor chip  120 , a circuit board  130 , an elastic body  140 , a magnetic body  150 , a manipulator  160  and a cover  170 . 
         [0049]    The housing  110  serves to encase all of the other elements of the input device  100 , so it forms a bowl shape comprised of a main wall  112  and a space  111 . The housing  110  further has a sensor chip mounting part  113  on a central portion thereof in order to receive the sensor chip  120  thereon. The sensor chip mounting part  113  is formed to protrude from the central portion of the housing  110 . The main wall  112  has an aperture  114  so that a flexible circuit part  131  connected to the circuit board  130  can be exposed outside so as to be connected to an external device. 
         [0050]    The sensor chip  120  is a displacement detecting means for sensing movement of the magnetic body  150  or the manipulator  160 , and thus it has a plurality of hall sensors therein in order to sense the movement of the magnetic body  150  or the manipulator  160 . According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the sensor chip  120  comprises four hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0051]    The circuit board  130  is a signal outputting means for outputting a signal inputted using the input device  100  to a portable handset, for example a main circuit board of the portable handset. The circuit board  130  has an operation switch  132 , such as a metal dome switch, at a position corresponding to the sensor chip  120 . For example, the circuit board  130  has the operation switch  132  installed at the center thereof in the drawings. In the circuit board  130 , the flexible circuit part  131  extends to the outside of the circuit board  130 , and has a contact terminal  133  at an end portion thereof so as to be connected to an external device. 
         [0052]    The elastic body  140  serves to return the manipulator  160  to its originally set position, and is made of a material, such as rubber, having high elasticity. The elastic body  140  can be made of a material other than rubber as long as the material has restoring force. The elastic body  140  has a magnetic body mounting part  141  at a center portion thereof to receive a magnetic body  150  therein. The magnetic body mounting part  141  is installed to protrude from the elastic body  140 . 
         [0053]    The magnetic body  150  is a manipulation means for delivering movement of the magnetic body  150  or the manipulator  160  to the hall sensors by applying magnetic force to the hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  (see  FIG. 3 ) embedded in the sensor chip  120 , and is received in the magnetic body mounting part  141  provided on the elastic body  140 . 
         [0054]    The manipulator  160  is a means for allowing a user to input a signal to the input device  100  through manipulation. The manipulator  160  is coated with a material that gives a good tactile sensation. The manipulator  160  has a groove  161  for receiving the magnetic body mounting part  141  on which the magnetic body  150  is mounted therein and a manipulation part  162  is provided at a portion corresponding to the groove  161 . 
         [0055]    The cover  170  is provided to protect all of the above-described elements from external impact, and is coupled to the inner surface of the housing  110 . The cover  170  has an aperture  171  serving as a manipulation space in which the manipulating part  162  of the manipulator  160  is exposed outside and is displaced a certain amount. 
         [0056]    In the input device  100 , if a user applies force to the manipulating part  162  or to the manipulator  160 , the manipulation part  162  or the manipulator  160  is displaced since the magnetic body  150  received in the manipulator  160  moves. The displacement of the magnetic body  150  is delivered to each of the hall sensors provided in the sensor chip  120 , so that the movement of the magnetic body  150  or the manipulator  160  is detected. 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates the movement of the magnetic body in association with the movement of the manipulator. In  FIG. 3 , the magnetic body  150  is moved upward and rightward to a position displaced from the origin shown by the dotted line. 
         [0058]    When the magnetic body  150  is located at the origin shown by the dotted line, the same force is applied to the four hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4 . However, when the magnetic body  150  is positioned to the upper right of the origin, a relatively large magnetic force is applied to the hall sensors HS 1  and HS 2 , relatively close to the magnetic body  150 , but a relatively small magnetic force is applied to the hall sensors HS 3  and HS 4 , relatively far from the magnetic body  150 . 
         [0059]    As described above, magnetic forces applied to respective hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  vary according to the displacement of the magnetic body  150 , and the hall sensors HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3  and HS 4  detect the displacement of the magnetic body  150  using the change in intensity of magnetic forces. Due to this, the movement of the manipulating part  162  or the manipulator  160  is detected. As described above, since the displacement of the manipulation part  162  is detected by the change in intensity of magnetic force, micro displacement of the manipulation part  162  can be precisely detected, unlike the conventional art. 
         [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a modular input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinbelow.  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the modular input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the input device  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a discrete modular unit, like the module input device  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and comprises a housing  210 , a sensor chip  220 , a circuit board  230 , an elastic body  240 , a magnetic body  250 , a manipulator  260  and a direction manipulator  270 . 
         [0062]    In the modular input device  200 , most of the elements except the circuit board  230  and the direction manipulator  270  are substantially the same as the elements of the modular input device  100 . Accordingly, a detailed description of like elements in the modular input device  100  of the first embodiment and the modular input device  200  of the second embodiment will be omitted. 
         [0063]    Unlike the circuit board  130  of the first embodiment, the circuit board  230  of the second embodiment has an operation switch  232  installed at the center thereof and four direction switches  234   a,    234   b,    234   c  and  234   d  disposed around the operation switch  232  in four respective directions. The direction switches  234   a,    234   b,    234   c  and  234   d  operate independently of the operation switch  232 . The direction switches  234   a,    234   b,    234   c  and  234   d  may serve as shift keys to move a cursor up, down, left and right in order to select an item from among a plurality of items when they are implemented in a mobile phone, or may serve as operation keys to adjust volume and change channels when they are adopted in a remote control. The circuit board  230  has a flexible substrate  231  that extends outside sufficiently far from an end portion of the circuit board  230 , and the flexible substrate  231  has a contact terminal  233  at an end portion thereof so as to be connected to an external device. 
         [0064]    The direction manipulator  270  is used to manipulate the direction switches  234   a ,  234   b,    234   c  and  234   d  installed on the circuit board  230 , and to protect all of the other elements from external impact, so the direction manipulator  270  is coupled to the inside of the housing  210  in a close contact manner. The direction manipulator  270  has an aperture  271  serving as a manipulation space at the center thereof so that the manipulating part  261  of the manipulator  260  is exposed through the aperture and can be displaced by a certain amount. Further, four direction keys  272   a,    272   b,    272   c  and  272   d  are installed along the edge of the circuit board  230  at respective positions corresponding to the four directions switches  234   a,    234   b,    234   c  and  234   d.    
         [0065]    On the surface of the four direction keys  272   a,    272   b,    272   c  and  272   d,  signs, such as “volume change” or “channel change”, representing the functions of respective keys, are displayed or marked so that a user can easily identify the functions of the keys. 
         [0066]      FIG. 6  illustrates a mobile phone provided with the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4 . 
         [0067]    The mobile phone  10  comprises a main body  11  including the input device  100  or  200  installed at an upper portion thereof, input buttons  12  installed at a lower portion thereof for allowing a user to input numerals or letters, and a microphone  13  installed beneath the input buttons  12  for allowing a user to input voice information, and a folder  15  including a speaker  16  for outputting voice information at an upper portion thereof and a display unit  17  installed at a lower portion thereof for displaying letters, still images or moving pictures. A user can easily and conveniently get a large volume of desired information using only the fingers. 
         [0068]      FIG. 7  illustrates a remote control in which the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4  is installed. 
         [0069]    The remote control  200  comprises the input device  100  or  200  installed at a center portion thereof. Direction keys are respectively marked with signs “channel ▴,” “channel ▾,” “          volume,” and “volume          ,” and a central operation key is marked with a sign “settings.” A user can easily operate home appliances, such as a TV, which are usually controlled with a remote control, using the input device, and can also more easily perform work to get a large amount of information using the input device instead of a mouse in the case in which the user wants to search for desired information through an internet TV. 
         [0070]      FIG. 8  illustrates a mobile phone in which the input device shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4  is installed as an external discrete unit. 
         [0071]    In the case in which the input device  100  or  200  is installed to the mobile phone  30  as an external discrete unit, the input device  100  preferably has a small size. The input device  100  is designed to be hung from the mobile phone like an accessory. In this case, the input device  100  may have a connection means for connecting the input device  100  to a main circuit board embedded in the mobile phone. 
         [0072]    Although the modular input device and the portable handset according to the present invention have been described with reference to embodiments of the present invention, 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. 
         [0073]    The modular input device according to the present invention has a variety of advantages. 
         [0074]    First, since the input device according to the embodiments of the present invention is implemented in a modular form, the input device can be separately installed in a portable handset and can alone be easily and simply replaced when the input device fails or is damaged. 
         [0075]    Second, since the input device is implemented as a discrete unit, separate from a portable handset, the input device and the portable handset can be manufactured in different production lines, so that the input device can be easily achieved through a variety of production methods. 
         [0076]    Third, since the input device detects input signals (movement of a manipulating part) based on the intensity of magnetic force using hall sensors, fine signals (micro displacement of manipulating parts) can be precisely detected. 
         [0077]    Fourth, since the portable handset equipped with the input device is easy to manipulate, a user can easily and simply manipulate the portable set by using just the fingers, without difficulty.