Abstract:
An inputting apparatus for use in an electronic device, etc., that includes: a case, which has a through-hole and which forms an interior space; an upper movement key, which has a portion exposed to the exterior through the through-hole and which is movable in certain directions in a plane; an elastic member, which is secured to the case and which supports the upper movement key, such that if the upper movement key deviates from the center of the through-hole, the elastic member returns the upper movement key to the center by elastic force; and a lower movement key, which is coupled with the upper movement key with the elastic member positioned in-between, so that information may be inputted in correspondence to the movement of the upper movement key. The apparatus allows convenient manipulation and reduced overall thickness, while allowing manipulation with only a small amount of force.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0091012 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an inputting apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, a personal mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone or PDA (personal digital assistant), employs a user interface that uses a keypad. That is, a conventional mobile phone, etc., has a keypad made up of multiple buttons for inputting numbers and letters, etc., such that a user can input information, such as a telephone number or text message, etc., by pressing the buttons. 
         [0006]    With the recent commercialization of wireless Internet services, such as the WIBRO (wireless broadband) service, etc., a window-type operating system that supports a GUI (graphical user interface) is being employed also in personal mobile terminals. An example of an operating system for the personal mobile terminal may include Windows CE, etc. Moreover, with advances in technology, personal mobile terminals are being made to offer various additional services, such as satellite broadcasting, etc., where the window-type operating system that supports a GUI is being employed also for convenient utilization of such additional services. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the growing complexity of functions performed by the mobile terminal and with the increasing amount of information inputted, there is a need for the development of an inputting apparatus that makes it easy to input information. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An aspect of the invention is to provide an inputting apparatus which allows easy inputting and smaller size. One aspect of the invention also aims to provide an inputting apparatus which allows easy manipulation with only a small amount of force. 
         [0009]    One aspect of the invention provides an inputting apparatus that includes: a case, which has a through-hole and which forms an interior space; an upper movement key, which has a portion exposed to the exterior through the through-hole and which is movable in certain directions in a plane; an elastic member, which is secured to the case and which supports the upper movement key, such that if the upper movement key deviates from the center of the through-hole, the elastic member returns the upper movement key to the center by elastic force; and a lower movement key, which is coupled with the upper movement key with the elastic member positioned in-between. Information may be inputted in correspondence to the movement of the upper movement key. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the inputting apparatus according to a certain aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. For example, the case may be made of a cover, in which the through-hole is formed, and a base, which is coupled to the cover. The elastic member may include a body portion, which is coupled to the upper movement key and the lower movement key, and a plurality of elastic arms formed around the body portion, where the arms may be secured by bosses formed in the base. 
         [0011]    The arms may be positioned symmetrically with respect to the body portion, to maintain a balance between the upper movement key and the lower movement key, and the arms may branch out from the body portion in particular intervals with at least three arms supporting the body portion, to prevent the upper movement key and the lower movement key from shaking or rolling. 
         [0012]    For easy manufacture, the body portion and the arms may be formed as a single body by performing press processing on silicone rubber, etc. Also, a magnet insertion portion, in which a magnet is inserted, may protrude out from one side of the body portion and may be inserted in the upper movement key, while a printed circuit board, on which a detection element is mounted that recognizes the movement of the magnet, may be positioned below the lower movement key. 
         [0013]    The upper movement key and the elastic member may have at least one or more coupling holes that correspond with one another, and the lower movement key may have at least one coupling protrusion that is inserted and secured in the coupling holes, such that the lower movement key is sequentially coupled with the elastic member and the upper movement key. 
         [0014]    A downwardly protruding portion may be formed on the other side of the elastic member, and a center hole may be formed in the lower movement key in correspondence with the protruding portion, such that the protruding portion may be inserted and secured in the center hole. The upper movement key may include a head portion, which is exposed to the exterior through the through-hole, and a body portion, which has a diameter greater than that of the head portion, with the body portion placed in contact with the inner surface of the case Furthermore, the lower movement key may be placed in contact with the printed circuit board, to prevent the lower movement key from shaking or rolling. 
         [0015]    Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an inputting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inputting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unassembled state. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the inputting apparatus of  FIG. 1  across line I-I′. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   a  is a schematic drawing illustrating the upper movement key positioned in the middle of the through-hole of the cover, in an inputting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   b  is a schematic drawing illustrating the upper movement key deviating from the middle of the through-hole of the cover, in an inputting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The inputting apparatus according to certain embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which those components are rendered the same reference numeral that are the same or are in correspondence, regardless of the figure number, and redundant explanations are omitted. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an inputting apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an inputting apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention may have a cylindrical case, composed of a cover  19  and a base  47 . In the middle of the inputting apparatus  10 , a portion of an upper movement key  11  may be exposed to the exterior, which may be moved in certain horizontal directions by the user. Here, a horizontal direction refers to a direction that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the cover  19 . A lead  42  may extend from inside the case of the inputting apparatus  10  to the exterior. For example, the lead  42  may extend from a printed circuit board  39  (see  FIG. 2 ) inside the case to be connected to an external device. 
         [0024]    As such, an inputting apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention may be mounted on a mobile phone (not shown), etc., so that a pointer or cursor may be moved in certain directions in the display of a mobile phone in accordance to the movement direction of the upper movement key  11 . Accordingly, inputting may be facilitated, as the user may move the upper movement key  11  in a desired direction using a finger, etc., to input information. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inputting apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unassembled state, and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the inputting apparatus of  FIG. 1  across line I-I′. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in an inputting apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention, the cover  19  and base  47  which may form the case, may in effect form the outer body. The cover  19  and base  47  may be cylindrical in shape, and may be coupled to each other to form a cylinder-shaped column having an internal space. Inside the case may be positioned a Hall element  57 , printed circuit board  39 , lower movement key  61 , elastic member  27 , magnet  17 , and upper movement key  11 . 
         [0027]    In the inputting apparatus  10  of this embodiment, the lower movement key  61  and upper movement key  11  may be movable in certain horizontal directions, while the magnet  17  may move in conjunction with the movement keys  11 ,  61 . The movement of the magnet  17  may be sensed by the Hall element  57 , which may generate a signal that causes the cursor or pointer, etc., to move. Also, if the upper movement key  11  is moved from its original position, it may be returned to the original position by the elastic force of the elastic member  27 . 
         [0028]    The elastic member  27  may be manufactured as a single body by a pressing process using elastic rubber, etc., where a body portion  29  that is coupled for concurrent movement with the upper movement key  11  may be connected by arms  33 , such that after the body portion  29  moves in a certain direction, it is returned to its original state by elastic force. Thus, in the inputting apparatus  10  according to this embodiment, even if the upper movement key  11  is moved in a certain direction in a plane, the upper movement key  11  may be returned to its original state by the elastic member  27 , for easy manipulation. Moreover, because the elastic member  27  may be made as a single member and may have a small thickness, the manufacture of the inputting apparatus can be facilitated, and its thickness can be reduced. 
         [0029]    The elastic member  27  may be positioned between the upper movement key  11  and the lower movement key  61 , where the coupling of the lower movement key  61 , elastic member  27 , and upper movement key  11  may be maintained by having coupling protrusions  63  on the lower movement key  61  inserted in the coupling holes  16  of the upper movement key  11  and the coupling holes  31  of the elastic member  27 . Since the upper movement key  11  may be in contact with one side of the cover  19  and the lower movement key  61  may be in contact with one side of the printed circuit board  39 , the upper movement key  11  and lower movement key  61  may be prevented from shaking. 
         [0030]    The cover  19  may couple with the base  47  to form the case of the inputting apparatus  10 . The cover  19  may have a through-hole  23  formed in the middle and multiple detent protrusions  25  protruding downward around the edge, where the detent protrusions  25  may be inserted in cover securing apertures  55  of the base  47 . The detent protrusion  25 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , may be shaped as a hook at one end and may be caught on a cover securing aperture  55 . 
         [0031]    The head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11  may be exposed to the exterior through the through-hole  23  formed in the middle of the cover  19 . The diameter of the through-hole  23  may be greater than the diameter of the head portion  13 , so that the head portion  13  may move horizontally in certain directions inside the through-hole  23 . If an external force is not applied, the upper movement key  11  may be positioned in the middle of the through-hole  23  (see  FIG. 4   a ), and if an external force is applied and afterwards removed, the upper movement key  11  may be returned by the elasticity of the elastic member  27  to the center of the through-hole  23 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11  may be exposed to the exterior through the through-hole  23 , while the through-hole  23  may always be closed by the head portion  13  or body portion  15  of the upper movement key  11 . Also, a buffer member (not shown), such as silicone, may be interposed between the through-hole  23  and the upper movement key  11 . 
         [0032]    While the cover  19  is illustrated in this embodiment as having a circular shape, the invention is not thus limited, and it is to be appreciated that the cover  19  may have other shapes, such as a polygonal or elliptical shape, etc., according to design considerations of the mobile terminal on which the inputting apparatus  10  is mounted. Furthermore, while this embodiment also illustrates a circular shape for the through-hole  23 , the invention is not thus limited, and the shape of the through-hole  23  may vary as necessary to be given any of various different shapes, such as an elliptical shape, etc., in which case the shape of the head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11  may also correspondingly have an elliptical shape. 
         [0033]    The upper movement key  11  may include the head portion  13 , positioned in the through-hole  23  of the cover  19 , and a body portion  15 , formed at the bottom of the head portion  13 . The upper movement key  11  may be moved in certain directions by the user, and since the magnet  17  may be moved in conjunction with the upper movement key  11 , an input may be made according to the movement of the upper movement key  11 . 
         [0034]    The head portion  13  may have the shape of a cylinder having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through-hole  23 , and may have a cavity (not shown) formed on the reverse side in which a magnet insertion portion  35  may be inserted. The head portion  13  may move in certain directions inside the through-hole  23 , the maximum distance that can be moved corresponding to the difference in diameters between the through-hole  23  and the head portion  13 . The middle of the head portion  13 , when there is no external force applied, may lie at the middle of the through-hole  23  (see  FIG. 4   a ). The upper surface of the head portion  13  may be exposed to the exterior, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , so that when the user places a finger on the upper surface of the head portion  13  and moves it in a certain direction, the entire upper movement key  11  may move accordingly. 
         [0035]    The body portion  15  may be formed as a single body with the head portion  13 , and may have the shape of a circular plate. The bottom of the body portion  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , may be in contact with the body portion  29  of the elastic member  27 . In the body portion  15 , there may be formed multiple coupling holes  16 . The coupling protrusions  63  of the lower movement key  61  may be inserted through the coupling holes  31  of the elastic member  27  and into these coupling holes  16 , whereby the lower movement key  61 , elastic member  27 , and upper movement key  11  may be coupled sequentially. 
         [0036]    The magnet  17  positioned in the magnet-insertion portion  35  of the elastic member  27  may move in a horizontal direction together with the upper movement key  11 . Since the magnetic forces generated by the magnet  17  may be sensed by the Hall element  57 , a movement signal may be generated that corresponds with the movement of the magnet  17 . In an inputting apparatus  10  according to the present embodiment, if the upper movement key  11  is positioned at the center of the through-hole  23 , the center of the magnet  17  and the centers of the head portion  13  and through-hole  23  may coincide. 
         [0037]    The elastic member  27  may be manufactured by press processing elastic rubber, etc., and may have a body portion  29  and arms  33  formed as a single body. The elastic member  27  may be formed from silicone rubber, as silicone rubber not only provides good molding characteristics and high tensile modulus but also provides superb durability The elastic member  27  may be secured to the base  47  and may be coupled with the upper movement key  11  to provide an elastic force, if the upper movement key  11  deviates from the original position, and thus return it to the center of the through-hole  23 . The elastic member  27  can readily be manufactured by press processing, and since it may be small in thickness, the thickness of the entire inputting apparatus  10  can be reduced. 
         [0038]    The body portion  29  may have the shape of a thin circular plate and may have a magnet insertion portion  35  in the middle protruding upward. A cavity may be formed inside the magnet insertion portion  35  in which a magnet  17  may be inserted. The perimeter of the magnet insertion portion  35  may be inserted in the cavity formed in the bottom of the upper movement key  11 , whereby the upper movement key  11  and the body portion  29  may be coupled and may move together. Arms  33  may be attached to the perimeter of the body portion  29  in tangent directions. Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , at the lower part of the body portion  29  there may be formed a protruding portion  38 , which may be inserted through the center hole  65  of the lower movement key  61  for a more secure coupling between the lower movement key  61  and the elastic member  27 . 
         [0039]    The arm  33  may be composed of a pair of rods  34  branching off from the perimeter of the body portion  29  in a tangent direction, and may be shaped as a “V”. To prevent shaking, at least three arms  33  may be equipped, while  FIG. 2  illustrates four arms  33  equipped in particular intervals around the body portion  29 . The arms  33  may be manufactured from elastic rubber, so that if the body portion  29  deviates from its original position (the center of the through-hole  23 ), the arms  33  may provide elastic forces that return the body portion  29  to its original state. At the ends of the arms  33 , there may be formed securing holes  37 , through which bosses  51  formed on the base  47  may be inserted to secure the elastic member  27 . 
         [0040]    Since the arms  33  may be made of a pair of rods  34 , the arms  33  may be contracted by the movement of the body portion  29 . Thus, the arms  33  need not obstruct the movement of the body portion  29 , and may prevent rolling of the body portion  29 . In the case that the body portion  29  is supported by arms  33  that are each made of one rod, rolling may occur, in which the body portion  29  rotates about an axis of linearly arranged arms  33 . 
         [0041]    The printed circuit board  39  may be connected to an external control device to allow the inputting of information using input signals generated by the Hall element  57 . The Hall element  57  may be attached to a lower portion of the printed circuit board  39 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the printed circuit board  39 , a plurality of securing holes  41  may be formed in which the board securing protrusions  48  of the base  47  may be inserted, whereby the printed circuit board  39  may be secured to the base  47 . The printed circuit board  39  may have an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of the lower movement key  61  to undergo planar movement. Thus, rolling or shaking, etc., may be prevented for the lower movement key  61 . The Hall element  57  may be attached and secured to the bottom of the printed circuit board  39 , and may sense the movement of the magnet  17 , which moves together with the upper movement key  11 . The Hall element  57  may generate electromotive forces, in accordance with the magnetic forces generated by the magnet  17 , that may be transferred through the printed circuit board  39  to an external control device (not shown). 
         [0042]    Of course, other sensors, such as an MR sensor or a GMR sensor, may be used for the sensor element instead of the Hall element  57 . The MR (magneto-resistive) sensor or the GMR (giant magneto-resistive) sensor is an element of which the resistance value is changed according to changes in the magnetic field, and utilizes the property that electromagnetic forces curve and elongate the carrier path in a solid to change the resistance. Not only are the MR sensor and GMR sensor small in size with high signal levels, but also they have excellent sensitivity to allow operation in low-level magnetic fields, and they are also superior in terms of temperature stability. 
         [0043]    The lower movement key  61  may be shaped as a circular plate, in correspondence with the body portion  15  of the upper movement key  11 , and may have a center hole  65  formed in the middle, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , with the protruding portion  38  formed on the elastic member  27  inserted in the center hole  65 . Also, a pair of coupling protrusions  63  may protrude upward on one side of the lower movement key  61 , where the coupling protrusions  63  may be inserted through the coupling holes  31  of the elastic member  27  and the coupling holes  31  of the upper movement key  11 , so that the lower movement key  61 , elastic member  27 , and upper movement key  11  may be coupled as one. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , by having the lower surface of the lower movement key  61  be in contact with the upper surface of the printed circuit board  39 , shaking may be prevented in the lower movement key  61 . 
         [0044]    The base  47 , which may have the shape of a circular plate, may couple with the cover  19  to form the case, and may have an element insertion hole  49  formed in the middle. The Hall element  57  may be inserted and secured in the element insertion hole  49 . Inside the base  47 , there may be bosses  51 , which can be inserted in the securing holes  37  of the elastic member  27 , and board securing protrusions  48 , which can be inserted in the securing holes  41  of the printed circuit board  39  to secure the printed circuit board  39 . Also, at one side of the base  47 , there may be formed a ledge  53  over which the lead  42  of the printed circuit board  39  may be extended. Around the edge of the base  47 , a plurality of cover securing apertures  55  may be formed in particular intervals, on which the detent protrusions  25  of the cover  19  may be caught. 
         [0045]    While the inputting apparatus  10  in this embodiment is illustrated as having a cylindrical case, the invention is not thus limited, and instead of being equipped with a separate case, the inputting apparatus  10  may utilize the internal space of the mobile terminal, etc., on which the inputting apparatus  10  is mounted as the case. 
         [0046]    The operation of an inputting apparatus  10  according to certain embodiments of the invention will be described below with respect to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4   a , and  FIG. 4   b.    
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a particular gap may be formed between the inner perimeter of the through-hole  23  of the cover  19  and the outer perimeter of the head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11 . Thus, the head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11  may move in certain directions inside the through-hole  23 . As the body portion  15  of the upper movement key  11  may move while in contact with the lower part of the cover  19 , the upper movement key  11  may be prevented from shaking or becoming detached. 
         [0048]    The magnet  17  may be inserted in the coupling part between the body portion  29  of the elastic member  27  and the head portion  13  of the upper movement key  11 . Thus, the upper movement key  11 , magnet  17 , body portion  29 , and lower movement key  61  may be moved as one by the user&#39;s manipulation. The body portion  29 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4   a , may be supported by multiple arms  33  to be positioned in the middle of the through-hole  23 . If the user moves the upper movement key  11  in a certain direction (in  FIG. 4   b , the left direction), the arms  33  positioned in the direction of movement may contract, while the arms  33  positioned on the opposite side may extend, as illustrated in  FIG. 4   b , to provide elastic forces on the body portion  29 . As the arms  33  according to this embodiment may be in contact with the perimeter of the body portion  29  in tangent directions, the arms  33  need not obstruct movement when the body portion  29  is moved in a certain direction. In addition, as the upper movement key  11  and lower movement key  61  may be returned not by compressive forces but by tensile forces of the arms  33 , a smaller amount of force is required for moving the upper movement key  11 . 
         [0049]    When the magnet  17  is moved in accordance with the movement of the body portion  29 , the Hall element  57  recognizes this movement, so that an input signal can be generated in correspondence with the movement direction of the body portion  29 . 
         [0050]    As set forth above, an inputting apparatus  10  according to the present embodiment allows easy inputting, as the inputting may be performed by moving the upper movement key  11  in certain directions. Since an elastic member  27  may be used which can be formed as a single body by a pressing process, the thickness of the inputting apparatus  10  may be reduced. Also, in an inputting apparatus  10  according to this embodiment, the arms  33  that elastically support the body portion  29  may be coupled to the perimeter of the body portion  29  in tangent directions, and thus may not obstruct the movement of the body portion  29 , so that a better tactile feel may be provided, and since the upper movement key  11  and lower movement key  61  may be returned by the tensile forces of the arms  33 , a smaller amount of force may be required for operating the upper movement key  11 . 
         [0051]    According to certain embodiments of the invention, an inputting apparatus can be provided that allows easy inputting and smaller sizes. Certain embodiments may also provide an inputting apparatus that can be easily manipulated with a small amount of force. 
         [0052]    While the spirit of the invention has been described in detail with reference to particular embodiments, the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the invention. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.