Abstract:
An input apparatus and a mobile device having the input apparatus are disclosed. By using an input apparatus, incorporated in a terminal comprising a circuit board and a case that forms an overall outer shape, which includes: a maneuver part, of which one side faces one side of the circuit board; a magnet coupled to the maneuver part; a magnetism sensor, which is coupled to the other side of the circuit board, and which detects magnetic forces generated by the magnet; and a housing, which is coupled to the case, and which covers at least a portion of the maneuver part, the thicknesses of parts can be reduced and individual parts can freely be replaced, as the housing is detachably coupled to the case by hooks.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0119278 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property. Office on Nov. 29, 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 input apparatus and a mobile device that includes the input apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    An input apparatus may be an auxiliary apparatus installed in various mobile terminals, such as a mobile phone or a remote controller, etc., for receiving input from the user. As current trends demand smaller and thinner mobile terminals, the input apparatus is also becoming smaller and thinner, and developments are being made to allow easier maneuver by the user. 
         [0006]    However, in a pointing device according to prior art, because the maneuver part is affixed to the upper box or the circuit board by an attachment or adhesion means, etc., not only is the extra attachment or adhesion means additionally required, but also the part cannot be separated once it is affixed. Thus, in cases where a replacement of a part is required, such as when the part is broken, etc., there is the difficulty that all of the circuit board, etc., has to be replaced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An aspect of the invention is to provide a thin input apparatus and a mobile device that includes the input apparatus, with which the thicknesses of parts can be reduced and individual parts can freely be replaced, as the housing is detachably installed to the main circuit board of the terminal. 
         [0008]    One aspect of the invention may provide an input apparatus, to be incorporated in a terminal comprising a circuit board and a case that forms an overall outer shape, which includes: a maneuver part, of which one side faces one side of the circuit board; a magnet coupled to the maneuver part; a magnetism sensor, which is coupled to the other side of the circuit board, and which detects magnetic forces generated by the magnet; and a housing, which is coupled to the case, and which covers at least a portion of the maneuver part. 
         [0009]    A contact part may be formed on the maneuver part that provides a surface of contact for a user, an opening may be formed in the housing that exposes the contact part to the exterior, and the opening may be made to be bigger than the contact part. 
         [0010]    The input apparatus can further include an elastic body, coupled to one side of the maneuver part, that supplies an elastic force to the maneuver part. 
         [0011]    A plurality of coupling protrusions may be formed on the housing, while a plurality of coupling indentations may be formed in the inner wall of the case, in correspondence with the coupling protrusions. The end of at least one coupling protrusion may be shaped as a hook protruding outwards. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the invention may provide a mobile device, which includes: a maneuver part; a magnet coupled to the maneuver part; a circuit board, one side of which faces one side of the maneuver part; a magnetism sensor, which is coupled to the other side of the circuit board, and which detects magnetic forces generated by the magnet; a housing that covers at least a portion of the maneuver part; and a case, which is coupled to the housing, and which forms an overall external shape. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments, the mobile device can further include an elastic body, coupled to one side of the maneuver part, that supplies an elastic force to the maneuver part, and can further include a dome switch coupled to the one side of the circuit board, while a protrusion directed towards the dome switch may be formed on the elastic body in a predetermined position corresponding to the dome switch. 
         [0014]    A contact part may be formed on the maneuver part that provides a surface of contact for a user, an opening may be formed in the housing that exposes the contact part to the exterior, and the opening may be made to be bigger than the contact part. 
         [0015]    A plurality of coupling protrusions may be formed on the housing, while a plurality of coupling indentations may be formed in the inner wall of the case, in correspondence with the coupling protrusions. The end of at least one coupling protrusion may be shaped as a hook protruding outwards. 
         [0016]    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 maybe learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a mobile device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating the magnetism sensor shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The input apparatus and mobile device 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 number that are the same or are in correspondence, regardless of the figure number, and redundant explanations are omitted. 
         [0021]    First, embodiments of an input apparatus according to one aspect of the invention will be described below. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an input apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1  are illustrated a maneuver part  110 , a contact part  112 , a magnet  114 , a holding recess  116 , an elastic body  120 , a mounting part  122 , a protruding part  124 , a housing  130 , an opening  132 , coupling protrusions  134 ,  136 , a perimeter wall  138 , a circuit board  140 , a dome switch  142 , a magnetism sensor  144 , a case  150 , and coupling indentations  154 . 
         [0023]    The maneuver part  110  can be the portion which a user can maneuver in any direction of 360 degrees to input a signal through the input apparatus  100  according to this embodiment. The maneuver part  110  may have a contact part  112  formed in the center, which serves as the point of contact with the user&#39;s finger, and may have a holding recess  116  in the reverse side, which serves to hold the magnet  114 , as will be described later in further detail. 
         [0024]    The contact part  112  may be made of a material such as aluminum, for instance, that has a certain degree of rigidity and a light weight, while several ring-shaped grooved protrusions can be formed in the surface of the contact part  112  for better contact with the finger. In addition, the surface of the contact part  112  can be coated with a material that provides a pleasant tactile feel. 
         [0025]    The magnet  114  delivers magnetic forces to sensors, such as Hall sensors (not shown), for example, included in the magnetism sensor  144 , to allow the magnetism sensor  144  to detect the displacement of the magnet  114  or the maneuver part  110 . The magnet  114  can be held in the holding recess  116  formed in the maneuver part  110 . The magnet  114  may be held directly in the holding recess  116 , but other arrangements can also be used. For example, the magnet  114  can be mounted on the mounting part  122  formed on the elastic body  120  described later, and held together with the mounting part  122  in the holding recess  116 . An example of the magnet  114  would include a permanent magnet. 
         [0026]    The elastic body  120  can serve to return the maneuver part  110 , which may have moved in a particular direction, to its original position. The elastic body  120  can be made of a material, such as rubber, for example, that is high in elasticity and high in toughness. While rubber is presented in this embodiment as the material for the elastic body  120 , other materials having elasticity may obviously be employed, after various modifications as necessary. 
         [0027]    Coupling holes  126  can be formed in this elastic body  120  for coupling with the housing  130 , while coupling protrusions  136  can be formed in the housing  130  in correspondence with the coupling holes  126  formed in the elastic body  120 , by which the elastic body  120  and the housing  130  may be coupled to each other. Obviously, the method of coupling the elastic body  120  and the housing  130  may vary according to design requirements. 
         [0028]    As described above, the magnet  114  can be arranged to be held by the elastic body  120 , and then the magnet  114  and portions of the elastic body  120  that hold the magnet  114  can be held in the holding recess  116  formed in the maneuver part  110 . For this, the mounting part  122  can be formed in the center of the elastic body  120  on which to mount the magnet  114 . The mounting part  122  can have a protruding shape. 
         [0029]    Also, a protruding part  124  may be formed on the reverse side of the elastic body  120 , to more efficiently be in contact with the dome switch  142 , which will be described later. 
         [0030]    The magnetism sensor  144  may serve to detect the movement of the magnet  114  or maneuver part  110 , and may be coupled to the lower surface of the circuit board  140 . The magnetism sensor  144  may include, for example, four Hall sensors arranged in particular distances from the central axis. The movement of the magnet  114  or maneuver part  110  can be detected by the four Hall sensors, and the detected signal can be transferred to the circuit board  140 , for signal processing with regards the movement of the magnet  114  or maneuver part  110 . 
         [0031]    While four Hall sensors are presented in this embodiment, the number and type of sensors may obviously vary according to design requirements. 
         [0032]    The housing  130  may serve to protect the maneuver part  110 , magnet  114 , elastic body  120 , etc., from the exterior, and may be shaped as a container having a perimeter wall  138  and an opening  132 . A plurality of coupling protrusions  134  that will be coupled to the case  150 , as described later, may be formed along the perimeter wall  138  in particular intervals, where the end of a coupling protrusion  134  can be shaped as a hook directed outwards. 
         [0033]    In the center of the housing  130 , an opening  132  is formed such that a portion of the maneuver part  110 , including the contact part  112 , is exposed. The opening  132  can serve to define the movement range of the maneuver part  110 , more specifically, the contact part  112 . For this, the opening  132  can be made bigger than the contact part  112 . 
         [0034]    The circuit board  140  may have the dome switch  142  on its upper surface, and the magnetism sensor  144  on its lower surface. For efficient operation, the contact part  112  of the maneuver part  110 , the dome switch  142 , and the magnetism sensor  144  can be formed along the same axis. 
         [0035]    The dome switch  142  may be formed on the upper surface of the circuit board  140 , so that an input can be made not only by the movement of the magnet  114 , but also by applying pressure on the maneuver part  110 . As described above, for more efficient functioning, the dome switch  142  can be formed along the same axis as the maneuver part  110 . 
         [0036]    The circuit board  140  can be the circuit board of the terminal in which the input apparatus is to be incorporated. As such, by utilizing the circuit board of the terminal in which the input apparatus according to this embodiment is incorporated, the thickness of the input apparatus can be reduced, whereby the terminal in which the input apparatus according to this embodiment is incorporated may also be reduced in thickness. 
         [0037]    The case  150  serves to carry and protect the components of the terminal incorporating the input apparatus according to this embodiment, while at the same time forming the overall outer shape. 
         [0038]    A hole  152  may be formed in the case  150  that corresponds with the housing  130  described above, such that the housing  130  and portions of the maneuver part  110  including the contact part  112  may be exposed to the exterior. In the inner wall of the case  150  formed by such a hole  152 , there may be coupling indentations  154  formed, which correspond with the coupling protrusions  134  formed on the perimeter wall  138  of the housing  130 . The coupling of the indentations  154  and protrusions  134  allow the housing  130  and the case  150  to be coupled to each other. 
         [0039]    For an easier assembly of the housing  130  and case  150 , the end of a coupling protrusion  134  can be shaped as a hook protruding outwards, i.e. towards the inner wall of the case  150 . By way of such a structure, the housing  130  and case  150  can be coupled efficiently by inserting the housing  130  from above the hole formed in the case  150 . 
         [0040]    Also, by having the housing  130  coupled to the case  150  and not the circuit board  140 , no additional processing procedures may be needed, such as of forming through-holes in the circuit board  140  for coupling with the housing  130 . Considering how through-holes may act as obstacles in forming circuit patterns on the circuit board  140  or in mounting various components, having the housing  130  coupled with the case  150  and obviating the need to form through-holes in the circuit board  140  can be an important factor in increasing efficiency. 
         [0041]    The composition of the input apparatus according to embodiments of the invention has been described above, and the operation of the input apparatus according to embodiments of the invention will now be described below. 
         [0042]    When the contact part  112  or the maneuver part  110  is maneuvered in a certain direction by the user, the magnet  114  held in the maneuver part  110  may be moved as well. The movement of the magnet  114  induces changes in magnetic forces, and as these changes can be detected by the magnetism sensor  144 , the movement of the magnet  114  or maneuver part  110  can also be detected. The movement of the maneuver part  110  thus detected may be transferred through the circuit board  140  to be displayed by way of a cursor, etc., in the display unit of the terminal. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating the magnetism sensor shown in  FIG. 1 . The portion represented in  FIG. 3  as the origin may be the position aligned with the central axis of the maneuver part  110 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the example where the magnet positioned at the origin has been moved in an upward right direction. 
         [0044]    While the drawing represents Hall sensors (HS 1 , HS 2 , HS 3 , HS 4 ) located with substantial distances to the outwards of the magnet for convenience in understanding and explanation, the arrangement and type of sensors may vary according to design requirements, as already mentioned above. 
         [0045]    When the magnet  114  is positioned at the origin, as depicted by the dotted lines, the four Hall sensors may detect equal amounts of magnetic force, but when the magnet is positioned to the top right, as depicted by the solid lines, the Hall sensors closer to the magnet (HS 1 , HS 2 ) may detect relatively greater magnetic forces, while the Hall sensors further from the magnet (HS 3 , HS 4 ) may detect relatively smaller magnetic forces. 
         [0046]    As such, the intensity of magnetic forces detected by each Hall sensor may vary according to the movement of the magnet  114 , and such changes in the detected magnetic forces makes it possible to detect the movement and displacement of the magnet  114 . Thus, the movement and displacement of the maneuver part  110  can be detected. 
         [0047]    Next, embodiments of a mobile device according to another aspect of the invention will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . The mobile device  200  according to these embodiments incorporate the input apparatus described above, and in describing the mobile device according to these embodiments, detailed descriptions on the input apparatus will not be repeated. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a mobile device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 2  are illustrated an input apparatus  100 ′, a maneuver part  210 , a housing  230 , coupling protrusions  234 , a circuit board  240 , a dome switch  242 , switches  244 , a case  250 , coupling indentations  254 , a key panel  260 , and buttons  262 . 
         [0049]    The circuit board  240  may have several switches  244  and the dome switch  242  on its front side that enable major functions, and may have a magnetism sensor (not shown) and several other electronic components coupled on its reverse side. 
         [0050]    The key panel  260  can be made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber, etc., and may be shaped to have several elastically deformable buttons  262  protruding from its surface in positions corresponding to the several switches formed on the circuit board  240 . Each of the buttons  262  may be arranged to substantially overlap each of the switches  244  on the circuit board  240 . 
         [0051]    Also, in order that the dome switch  242  formed on the circuit board  240  can be pressed using the maneuver part  210 , a hole  264  can be formed in a position of the key panel  260  that corresponds with the maneuver part  210  and the dome switch  242 . 
         [0052]    The case  250  may serve to carry the above-mentioned circuit board  240  and key panel  260 , etc., and protect these from the exterior, and may be made of materials such as synthetic resin or metal.  FIG. 2  illustrates only an upper case  250 , a part of a case formed by upper and lower portions. A lower case (not shown) that corresponds with the upper case  250  can be coupled to the lower surface of the circuit board  240 . 
         [0053]    In the case  250  may be formed several button holes  256 , through which the buttons  262  can pass and be exposed to the exterior, as well as an opening  252 , through which a portion of the input apparatus  100 ′ can be exposed to the exterior. The user may maneuver the buttons  262  and input apparatus  100 ′ exposed through the button holes  256  and the opening  252 , to activate the desired functions. 
         [0054]    Coupling protrusions  234  may be formed on the perimeter wall of the input apparatus  100 ′, while coupling indentations  254  corresponding to the coupling protrusions  234  may be formed in the inner wall formed by the opening  252 , which allow the input apparatus to be coupled to the case  250 . As already described above, in order to facilitate the coupling between the input apparatus  100 ′ and the case  250 , the ends of the coupling protrusions  234  can have hook-like shapes protruding outwards, i.e. towards the inner wall. 
         [0055]    While this embodiment illustrates a key panel  260  which has several buttons  262  and which is separate from the case  250 , the key panel and the case may obviously be formed as a single integrated body, and the shapes, etc., of the case and key panel may vary according to design requirements. 
         [0056]    Using the input apparatus and the mobile device incorporating the input apparatus according to certain embodiments of the invention as set forth above, the thicknesses of parts can be reduced and individual parts can freely be replaced, as the housing is detachably coupled to the case by hooks. 
         [0057]    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.