Electronic device with joystick

An electronic device with joystick is provided. The joystick includes a receiving space includes a plurality of first conductive elements. The device further includes a plurality of resistors, a chip, and a rotatable post. Each of the first conductive elements is electrically connected to the ground via a resistor. The chip includes a plurality of input pins, and each of the pins is electrically connected to a node between a first conductive element and a resistor. The rotatable post includes a second conductive element. The second conductive element is electrically connected to a direct current power source. When the joystick is rotated, causing the second conductive element to contact with one of the first conductive elements, the voltage of the pin connected to the second conductive element is changed. The chip detects a change of the voltage of the pins and executes corresponding functions according to the detected change.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, particularly, to an electronic device with a joystick.

2. Description of Related Art

With the development of portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, and so on, more and more functions, such as e-mail, word processing and so on are being added. In order to better perform various functions, more keys may be needed to add. However, nowadays those electronic devices having less bulky bodies are more popular. Therefore, in order to make electronic devices having less bulky bodies, using fewer keys and small display panels would be unavoidable.

SUMMARY

An electronic device with a joystick is provided. The electronic device includes a main body, a number of resistors, a chip, and a joystick. The main body defines a hollow receiving space. A number of first conductive elements protrude out from the inner sidewall of the receiving space and extend along the axis of the first receiving space. Each of the first conductive elements has a resistance. Each of the first conductive elements is electrically grounded via one of the number of the resistors. The chip includes a number of input pins. Each of the pins is electrically connected to a node between a first conductive element and a resistor connected to the first conductive element. The joystick includes a rotatable post received in the receiving space. A second conductive element protrudes out from the sidewall of the rotatable post and extends along the axis of the rotatable post. The second conductive element is electrically connected to a direct current power source. When the joystick is rotated, causing the second conductive element to contact with a portion of one of the first conductive elements, a voltage value of the pin connected to the second conductive element is changed. The chip detects a change of the voltage value of the pins and executes corresponding functions according to the detected change of the voltage value of the pins.

Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-2, an embodiment of an electronic device1with a joystick is illustrated. The electronic device1includes a main body10, a conductive post20, and a joystick30. The conductive post20is rotatably connected to the main body10, and the joystick30is movably connected to the conductive post20.

Referring also toFIG. 3, the main body10includes a cover12and an elongate base14. A first receiving portion16is formed along a longitudinal of the base14. The first receiving portion16includes a first slot162, a second slot164, and a third slot166. The first slot162, the second slot164, and the third slot166are generally half-cylindrical.

A plurality of insulating ribs1602protrudes out from the surface of the first slot162, and each of the ribs1602extends along the longitudinal of the base14. A fist conductive element1604is disposed between two adjacent ribs1602. In the exemplary embodiment, each conductive element1604has a resistance value. The second slot164communicates with the first slot162and the third slot166. The radius of the second slot164is less than that of the third slot166.

A second receiving portion (not shown), corresponding to the first receiving portion16, is formed along a longitudinal of the cover12, and has the same configuration as the first receiving portion16. The first receiving portion16and the second receiving portion cooperatively forms a first receiving space18. The receiving space18is for receiving the conductive post20and the joystick30.

A recessed portion142is formed along a transverse side, adjacent to the first receiving portion16, of the base14, and an opening122is formed along a transverse side of the cover12, corresponding to the recessed portion142. The recessed portion142and the opening122cooperatively form a second receiving space124. The receiving spaces18and124cooperatively receive the joystick30.

Referring also toFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the conductive post20is electrically connected to a direct current power source70(seeFIG. 9). In the exemplary embodiment, the resistance value of the conductive post20is very small and negligible. The conductive post20includes a cylindrical body22, a neck portion24and a head portion16. An elastic projection220protrudes out from the surface of the body22from one end thereof. The radius of the neck portion24is less than that of the head portion16and the second slot164. The radius of the head portion26is less than that of the third slot166, but greater than that of the second slot164.

Referring also toFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the joystick30includes a rotatable post32and a handle34. The rotatable post32is generally cylindrical. A receiving hole320is defined in the rotatable post32and extends along the axis of the rotatable post32. A sliding slot322is defined in the sidewall of the rotatable post32and extends along the axis of the rotatable post32. The sliding slot322has two opposite ends. The receiving hole320communications with the sliding slot322. A second conductive element324protrudes out from the sidewall of the rotatable post32, and extends along the axis of the rotatable post32.

A third conductive element40is attached to one end of the rotatable post32. The third conductive element40is generally cylindrical, and a through hole42is defined in the conductive element40. The through hole42communications with the receiving hole320. A fourth conductive element328protrudes out from the end326of the rotatable post32. The end3240of the second conductive element324is connected to the third conductive element40via the fourth conductive element328.

The joystick30further includes a handle34. The handle34is attached to another end of the rotatable post32, and generally perpendicular to the rotatable post32, thus it is convenient for users to operate the joystick30. When the joystick30is not operated, the handle34can be put and received in the second receiving space124.

Referring also toFIG. 8, in the exemplary embodiment, the head portion26of the conductive post20is received in the third slot166, and the neck portion24of the conductive post20is received in the second slot164. The radius of the head portion26is less than that of the third slot166, but greater than that of the second slot164, thus the head portion26cannot slide out from the third slot166. The body22of the conductive post20can pass through the through hole42of the third conductive element40when the elastic projection220is in a deformed state. When the body22of the conductive post20is received in the receiving hole320of the rotatable post30and the elastic projection220is aligned with the sliding slot322, the elastic projection220penetrates the sliding slot322and can slide along the sliding slot322. When the elastic projection220slides along the sliding slot322, the ends3222and3224of the sliding slot322resists the elastic projection220, thus the conductive post20cannot be disengaged from the joystick30.

Referring also toFIG. 9, the electronic device1further includes a chip50. The chip50has a plurality of input pins. One end of each of the first conductive element1604is electrically connected to the ground via a resistor60. The node between the first conductive element1604and the resistor60is electrically connected to one of the input pins of the chip50.

When the second conductive element324does not contact with any of the first conductive element1604, the voltage value of the pins connected to the first conductive elements1604are 0 volt.

When the rotatable post32is rotated, causing the second conductive element3240to contact with a portion of one of the first conductive elements1604, the source70, the conductive post20, the third conductive element40, the fourth conductive element328, the end3240of the second conductive element324, the remaining portion of the first conductive element1604which is not contacted by the second conductive element324, and the resistor60connected to the first conductive element1604form a loop circuit. As the conductive post20is electrically connected to the direct current power source70, the resistance value of the conductive post20is negligible, thus the voltage value of the loop circuit is invariable, and the voltage value of each of the pins connected to a first conductive element324is equal to the voltage value of the resistor60connected to the first conductive element324.

The chip50detects the voltage value of the pins and executes predetermined functions according to the detected voltage value of the pins. In the exemplary embodiment, when the chip50detects the voltage value of one of the pins is a fixed value within a predetermined time interval, it executes a predetermined function accordingly.

After the second conductive element324contacts with a portion of one of the first conductive element1604, the contact area between the second conductive element324and the first conductive element1604becomes larger if the rotatable post32is pushed along the axis of the first receiving space18. Therefore, the resistance value of the remaining potion of the first conductive element1604which is not contacted by the second conductive element324decreases, the voltage value of the resistor60connected to the first conductive element1604correspondingly increases, and the voltage value of the pin connected to the first conductive element1604also correspondingly increases. The chip50detects the change value of the pin and correspondingly executes a predetermined function, for example, turns up the volume of the electronic device1.

After the second conductive element324contacts with a portion of one of the first conductive elements1604, the contact area between the second conductive element324and the first conductive element1604becomes smaller if the rotatable post32is pulled along the axis of the first receiving space18. Therefore, the resistance value of the remaining portion of the first conductive element1604which is not contacted by the second conductive element324increases, the voltage value of the resistor60connected to the first conductive element1604correspondingly decreases, and the voltage value of the pin connected to the first conductive element1604also correspondingly decreases. The chip50detects the change value of the pin and correspondingly executes a predetermined function, for example, turns down the volume of the electronic device1.

It should be noted that if the second conductive element324is large enough, that is, when the rotatable post20is rotated, causing the second conductive element324to simultaneously contact with at least portion of two conductive elements1604, the chip50detects the voltage value of the pins connected to the at least two conductive elements1604and executes a predetermined function according to the detected voltage value.