Electronic device

An electronic device includes a pad which can detect an operating coordinate position by a touch operation, and a single push-switch provided under the pad. A touch operation to the pad at a given place allows a preliminary announcement of a function, and a further press-down of the pad being kept at the same position prompts the push-switch to work and determine the function preliminary announced. This structure allows excellent operability, and a single push-switch allows reducing the number of components of the operating section, so that the electronic device having these advantages is obtainable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic devices such as audio-visual devices, office automation devices, and more particularly, it relates to electronic devices which have a multi-directional operating section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Development of various electronic devices has been accompanied with market requirement about more excellent operability. Portable electronic devices such as cellular phones and digital still cameras have been required to be further downsized and light-weighted, and yet, an improvement in usability has been also needed.

A cellular phone taken as an example of conventional electronic devices is described hereinafter.FIG. 11is an perspective appearance of a general cellular phone. First enclosure1and second enclosure2are hinged together and are foldable. Display3is placed inside first enclosure1, and a top face of second enclosure2works as operator panel2afor manipulating various functions. A controller (not shown) is placed inside second enclosure2for controlling operations through an input to operator panel2a.

On operator panel2a, operating keys are arranged such that multi-directional operating section (key)4and enter keys5are placed forward, and ten-key6is placed backward. Each one of the respective keys has a push switch (not shown) provided on a circuit board placed in second enclosure2and an operating button which prompts the push switch from the top to work.

Multi-directional key4is formed of four push switches assigned to front, back, left and right directions and one operating button which prompts the four push switches to work. Depressing a disk-like operating button protruding from panel2aat its front, back, left or right position results in obtaining a switch signal corresponding to the position depressed.

Enter keys5are placed on both sides of multi-directional key4respectively. Pressing the operating buttons protruding from panel2aresults in obtaining a switch signal corresponding to the push switch placed under the operating button.

Ten-key6includes operating buttons arranged on three rows and four lines. Pressing each one of the operating buttons protruding from panel2aresults in obtaining a switch signal corresponding to each one of the push switches placed under the respective operating buttons.

In the conventional electronic device, signals from the respective switches are supplied to the controller placed in second enclosure2, and the controller controls a content to be displayed on display3and various functions. When a user operates operator panel2ain a given way, various information is displayed on display3, then the user selects a desirable item or a function and enters it through enter key5for execution.

A displayed condition on display3is described hereinafter. A telephone number is taken as an example of a display on display3. Choices such as telephone numbers to be selected are displayed in a format of one choice by one line as shown inFIG. 12, and a selected one is usually indicated with cursor7. Only a part of the respective choices is usually displayed due to a limited area of display3. In such a case, the user needs to read the hidden part by depressing multi-directional key4at its left or right position to scroll the displayed content in a lateral direction through the control by the controller. A choice of lines in a vertical direction needs to depress key4at its front or back position to scroll the displayed content in the vertical direction, and the controller controls the display in the vertical direction accordingly.

The user selects a line and puts cursor7to the selected choice, then depress enter key5. This operation sends a switch signal corresponding to the selected item to the controller, which then confirms the selected choice, or executes a move to a menu on the lower level.

Recently, a cellular phone has been sophisticated, which is accompanied with increment of functions available to users, and yet, the usability of those functions has been improved. As a result, functions and choices to be displayed on display3are increasingly symbolized using an icon instead of describing them in the format of one choice by one line.

A display using icons is described with reference toFIG. 13. On display3, pointer8(indicated with an arrow mark) is displayed and various icons9are displayed in a given arrangement.

InFIG. 13, eight icons9are schematically arranged equidistantly shaping like a square on display3. To be more specific, three icons are arranged equidistantly on a upper line and a lower line respectively, and two icons are placed on a middle line except at the center position. Depressing multi-directional key4at its front, back, left or right position prompts pointer8to move to the choice selected, because a switch signal corresponding to the depressing is sent to the controller, which then moves pointer8accordingly.

In such an electronic device, depressing multi-directional key4at its front, back, left, or right position moves pointer8to a desirable choice, then entry key5is depressed. This operation prompts the controller to execute a control in response to the switch signal transmitted, thereby executing a function assigned to icon9selected, or executing a move to a menu on the lower level.

The foregoing prior art is disclosed in, e.g. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2002-351598.

The progress of a slimmer and lighter body of the conventional cellular phone entails use of the switches shown inFIG. 14orFIG. 15as multi-directional key4. To be more specific, a set of four fixed contacts11of the switch is placed on circuit board10in second enclosure2, and domed movable contact12for on/off is mounted to the respective fixed contacts11. This type of switch has been employed mainly in the cellular phones. The structure of the switch discussed above makes the body advantageously slim; however, use of four individual switches needs structural elements for four ones, and is resistant to a decrease in the number of components. Amid such circumstances, users of the cellular phone still need further improvement in the usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the problems discussed above, and aims to provide electronic devices having a multi-directional operating section formed of a fewer number of components and excellent in operability. The electronic device of the present invention comprises the following elements for achieving the foregoing objectives:a pad for detecting an operating coordinate position by touching;a single push-switch, having moderate tactile feeling, disposed under the pad; anda controller for receiving a signal from the pad through the push-switch and recognizing the input signal as well as controlling respective functions.

A touch operation to the pad prompts the controller to recognize the position touched at the pad and to execute a first action in response to the corresponding coordinate position. The touch operation is kept and accompanied by further depressing, which turns on the push-switch, then the controller executes a second action based on the switch signal.

Since the electronic device of the present invention has an operating section with a single push-switch, the number of components can be reduced. A light touch to the operating section activates the first action, and a further depress of the operating section activates the second action, so that the electronic device excellent in operability is obtainable.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A cellular phone as an example of electronic devices, similar to the description of prior art, is demonstrated hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements similar to those used in the prior art have the same reference marks, and the descriptions thereof are omitted here.

Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1shows a sectional view of a multi-directional operating section of cellular phone100in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2shows an exploded perspective view of the multi-directional operating section shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3shows a perspective appearance of cellular phone100.FIG. 1is the sectional view cut along line X-X inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIG. 1, multi-directional operating section20of cellular phone100includes pad51which can detect an operating coordinate position by touching, and single push-switch41placed under the center of pad51.

As shown inFIG. 3, multi-directional operating section20is placed at front on the top face of second enclosure25hinged with first enclosure1having display3. Second enclosure25can be thus folded on first enclosure1. The top face of second enclosure25is used as operator panel25aas it is used so in the conventional cellular phone, and ten-keys6are placed behind multi-directional operating section20at a rear part of operator panel25a. Other structures of cellular phone100remain unchanged from the conventional one.

Push-switch41comprises a pair of fixed switch contacts31A and31B provided on circuit board21in second enclosure25, and one domed movable contact12. Domed movable contact12is stuck onto circuit board21with adhesive tape and placed on fixed contact31B, for turning on/off fixed contacts31A and31B. Fixed switch contacts31A and31B are collectively called fixed switch contact31. Fixed contact31A corresponds to center contact31A, and fixed contact31B corresponds to outer contact31B.

An operation of push-switch41is demonstrated hereinafter. Domed movable contact12is depressed from the top, then the center portion of movable contact12moderately turns from upward to downward and an underside of the center of the dome touches center contact31A. As a result, center contact31A is conducting, via domed movable contact12, to outer contact31B on which a lower end of the circumference of movable contact12is placed. When the depressing force is removed from domed movable contact12, domed movable contact12restores itself to its original domed shape, namely protruding upward, so that center contact31A and outer contact31B become electrically independent of each other again.

Pad51provided above push-switch41is electrically coupled to a given pattern (not shown) on circuit board21, and an output signal can be taken out via this pattern. Pad51includes pressing protrusion60projecting downward on its underside at the center, and pressing protrusion60is provided at the center on domed movable contact12with the center of protrusion60aligned over the center of contact12. Meanwhile, a plate-like member placed on the top face of push-switch41can be used as pressing protrusion60. The outer size of the plate-like member is preferably smaller than the outer diameter of domed movable contact12, and the plate-like member preferably shapes like a circular; however, it can shape like a polygon.

Pad51as a whole can be slanted, and the center of pad51is aligned to the center of push-switch41. The member of pad51can detect four positions of second enclosure25, namely, front, back, left and right. In addition to these four positions, the member can detect another four positions, namely, respective mid points between the foregoing four positions. The member thus can detect eight positions in total. The foregoing member is used as pad51.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, pad51comprises upper substrate52and lower substrate53with a given space in between, and resistor element54, which can detect a coordinate position, provided between upper and lower substrates52and53. Pad51shown inFIG. 2is detailed hereinafter.

Pad51comprises the following elements:disk-like lower substrate53; andupper substrate52shaping like lower substrate53and having tail52A integrally formed with substrate52; andresistor element54confronting lower substrate53with a given space in between.

Lower substrate53is made of flat conductive metal thin plate made by stainless steel (SUS). Upper substrate52is made of flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Both the substrates confront each other via an adhesive layer (not shown) and a given space in between. Resistor element54shaping like a horseshoe is formed on underside of upper substrate52, and confronts lower substrate53with a given space in between.

As shown inFIG. 4, resistor element54has first end54A and second end54B at its both ends respectively. First end54A and second end54B are led out to the outside via first terminal55A and second terminal55B respectively placed on tail52A. Resistor value outlet56corresponding to an output terminal of the resistor is placed outside the circular area formed of the horseshoe shape, and led out to the outside via third terminal55C on tail52A. Resistor value outlet56is connected to lower substrate53. Between first end54A and second end54B, there is a space where no resistor element54is formed. This space is placed at an angle such that this space does not need to work as the multi-directional (in this case, eight directions) operating section.

Pad51discussed above is similar to a structure of a variable resistor. An operation of pad51is demonstrated hereinafter. A predetermined voltage is applied to resistor element54at between first end54A and second end54B, via first terminal55A and second terminal55B, and a user operates the top of upper substrate52, where resistor element54is formed, by putting his/her finger on the top of operating button61. Then the place operated by the user is partially bowed downward, so that the corresponding place of resistor element54is brought into contact with lower substrate53. An output voltage thus can be read from lower substrate53via resistor value outlet56and third terminal55C, thereby identifying the operating position in response to a resistance division ratio. First end54A and second end54B correspond to applying terminals of resistor element54, and resistor value outlet56corresponds to an output terminal of resistor element54.

The center of operating button61is aligned over the center of push switch41. Round section61A of operating button61protrudes from a round hole of second enclosure25as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3and is exposed on operator panel25a. Operating button61is prevented from coming out upward by upper case25C of second enclosure25as well as from rotating by some regulating device, on the other hand, it is mounted movable up and down as well as tilted with respect to second enclosure25.

Operating button61has eight ball-like projections62A-62H protruding downward and arranged at 45° interval on its underside. A supposed ring running through eight projections62A-62H has the same diameter as that of resistor element54. The front, back, left and right directions of second enclosure25are assigned to ball-like projections62D,62H,62B and62F respectively. On top of that, operating button61is mounted above upper substrate52such that respective projections62A-62H correspond to the place where resistor element54is formed. The foregoing structure allows resistor element54to touch lower substrate53through up-down moving of projections62A-62H.

An output from push-switch41and pad51of multi-directional operating section20is input to digital port81A and analog-digital converting port81B of controller81which controls given functions. Controller81is accommodated in second enclosure25and can also carry out various functions. In this embodiment, necessary parts for operating multi-directional operating section20are illustrated as a connected status, and other functions and their connected status are omitted here. Controller81can control a content to be displayed on display3based on signals supplied from multi-directional operating section20to ports81A and81B.

An operation of cellular phone100including multi-directional operating section20is demonstrated hereinafter. Display3shows plural icons9arranged in a given format. In this embodiment, the same format as described in the prior art is used, namely, eight icons9are arranged equidistantly forming a square on display3. As shown inFIG. 7, display3of cellular phone100in accordance with this embodiment does not show a pointer which indicates a choice selected. This is a difference from the conventional cellular phone shown inFIG. 13.

Starting from the status shown inFIG. 7, a user touches operating button61at a position corresponding to a desirable icon9in terms of an angular direction by putting his/her finger on the position. For instance, assume that the star mark shown at lower left of display3shown inFIG. 7is a desirable icon9A, then the user put his/her finger on button61at the left lower end, i.e. angular direction of 45° tilted from the vertical center line. This touching operation somewhat slants button61along that direction, then ball-like projection62A, provided on the underside of button61at the place corresponding to the angular direction, is depressed. Depressed projection62A bows upper substrate52in part, thereby resistor element54touches lower substrate53in part at the place corresponding to the position of ball-like projection62A. At this time, since a voltage is applied to resistor element54, an output voltage value is input to analog-digital converting port81B via resistor value outlet56and third terminal55C. The output voltage value is recognized by controller81, so that the angular direction operated can be identified. At the touching operation, a little depressing force is applied to push-switch41via pressing protrusion60; however, push-switch40maintains the OFF status as long as the force applied does not exceed a given value.

Then the angular direction operated on button61is identified, and based on the identified result, controller81changes desirable icon9A to a preliminary display showing the function assigned to icon9A.FIG. 9shows an enlarged and highlighted icon as an example of the preliminary display. When the touching operation is halted and supply of signals from pad51is stopped, this preliminary display is restored by controller81to the original display as shown inFIG. 7.

As discussed above, cellular phone100of the present invention is firstly operated by putting a finger on operating button61, namely, a touching operation, which is advantageously simple comparing with a conventional depressing operation. On top of that, a first action in response to the touching operation on button61allows showing the preliminary display such as an enlarged and highlighted display, and halting the touching operation allows canceling the preliminary display, so that a content of an icon can be visualized for confirmation without changing the function to another one. This is an excellent operability.

Next, an operation by a user how to determine a desirable icon enlarged and highlighted on display3is demonstrated hereinafter. The user touches operating button61at a certain place, then further presses down the same place, thereby determining desirable icon9A. As shown inFIG. 10, the press down of operating button61allows button61to further slant because an upper end of flange61B on the other side of the depressed place works as a fulcrum. At the same time, pad51is pushed by ball-like projection62A, so that pad51as a whole slants while the partial contact, caused by bowing upper substrate52, between resistor element54and lower substrate53is maintained.

An instance shown inFIG. 10tells that slanting operating button61prompts ball-like projection62A on the left to bow pad51. Bowing of pad51distorts both of upper substrate52and resistor element54formed on substrate52, and parts of resistor element54touches lower substrate53. In this status, press-down of button61slants pad51as a whole, so that ball-like projection62E on the right inFIG. 10touches the surface of pad51; however, projection62E does not distort pad51. Thus resistor element54formed on upper substrate52is not distorted or does not touch lower substrate53. In other words, during the press-down of button61, resistor element54contacts lower substrate53only at the position of projection62A.

The press-down of operating button61prompts lower substrate53to depress push-switch41via pressing protrusion60, and push-switch41is turned to ON status with the moderate tactile feeling maintained. Pad51thus can move up and down as well as slant with respect to operator panel25a.

Controller81receives signals from push-switch41, then executes a second action, which includes executing of a function assigned to desirable icon9A and shifting of a displayed content on display3from the present menu to another one on a lower level.

Then removal of the finger from operating button61prompts domed movable contact12of push-switch41to restore itself to the original upward bowing shape, i.e. OFF status, and push back pad51, so that pad51and operating button61restore their positions as they were before the operation. Other operations done at the other places result in a similar advantage to what is discussed above.

A touch operation to button61prompts controller81to enlarge and highlight icon9for a preliminary display, where icon9corresponds to the place under the touch operation. The same place under the touch operation is further pressed down, which pushes button61and pad51while the slanted statuses of button61and pad51are maintained. As discussed above, a push-down of single push-switch41prompts controller81to execute the function assigned to the icon or determine the function.

Cellular phone100of the present invention has only one push-switch41as discussed above, and this push-switch41is depressed by pad51, which can be slanted, regardless of an operating position, thereby executing a switching operation. This structure allows multi-directional operating section20to reduce the number of components. Basically multi-directional operating section20has thin pad51as an additional item, so that it is easy to maintain a slim body of cellular phone100. A touch operation to pad51allows a preliminary display of a desirable icon, thereby achieving a quick operation, so that the usability is improved because of the better operability.

In this embodiment, the slanting of pad51is described as follows: pad51is slanted using an upper end of operating button61on the other side of the depressed place as a fulcrum, thereby depressing push-switch41. Instead of this method, the following method of slanting pad51can be used: an operated part of pad51touches on circuit board21firstly, then the other side of the operated part lowers using the touched position as a fulcrum for depressing push-switch41.

Pad51is not limited to the one discussed above, but it can be an electrostatic pad. The angular directions to be detected are not limited to eight directions, but any angular directions can be used as long as they can be detected.

The projections provided to the underside of operating button61is not limited to the ball-like shape, and a continuous annular protrusion can be used instead of plural ball-like projections arranged in an annular shape.

Push-switch41can use another structure, and a thin push-switch completed as an electronic component can be mounted on the circuit board21.

In this embodiment, cellular phone100is taken as an example of the electronic device; however, recently various electronic devices such as digital still cameras has been increasingly equipped with this function, namely, menus are displayed on the display, and a desirable choice is selected and executed. The structure of the operating section and the control method of the present invention can be used in operating sections of various electronic devices other than the cellular phones.

One feature of the electronic device of the present invention is this: a given function preliminary announced through a first action by a controller is determined or executed through a second action. The first action is, e.g. selecting an icon from among the icons displayed on the display through a touching operation onto a operating button. The second action is, e.g. the icon stays in a selected status, then the operating button is further depressed for turning a switch ON, thereby executing a desirable function assigned to the selected icon, or displaying a lower level menu related to the selected icon. The present invention allows executing the first and second actions by sequential operations onto the single operating button, so that the electronic device excellent in usability is obtainable.

The number of menus included in the first action can be arbitrarily set depending on a combination of the pad having a resistor element with the operating button having plural projections on the underside. The first action is carried out through simply slanting the operating button, so that a jump from a menu to another one can be done with ease.

Another feature of the electronic device of the present invention is that the electronic device is equipped with a display. A preliminary status can be displayed as per an instruction supplied from the controller to the display, so that a user can operate the device while watching the information displayed.

The preliminary display described as the first action is not limited to the enlarged and highlighted display taken as an example in this embodiment. For instance, an announcement other than the display, such as a notice by sound or vibration, can be used. Use of sound or vibration allows realizing this multi-directional operating section of the present invention in electronic devices which do not have the display function. The first action workable by a simple operation can be used for another function than the preliminary announcement.

As discussed above, the electronic device of the present invention has a single push-switch under a pad which can detect an operating coordinate position. A touch on the operating button slants the pad, and a further press-down of the button allows switching the push-switch while the pad stays slanted in the pressing direction regardless of the operating position onto the pad. The electronic device includes the foregoing operating section. This structure advantageously allows reducing the number of components and being excellent in operability, so that the operating section can be useful in various electronic devices such as audio visual devices and office automation devices.