Patent Publication Number: US-8115119-B2

Title: Multi-directional key and key assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to keys in electronic devices and, more particularly to a multi-directional key for an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A plurality of keys may be positioned on the shells of electronic devices, such as mobile phones and set-top boxes. These keys may be pressed to control one or more operations of the electronic devices. These keys are typically placed in close proximity to each other in order to reduce the overall size of the electronic devices often resulting in one of the keys interfering with one or more other keys on the shell of an electronic device. As a result, the electronic devices may be operated erroneously. 
     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in electronic devices to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY 
     A multi-directional key for an electronic device, including: a hollow frame, including a pair of first opposite parallel bars and a pair of second opposite parallel bars, wherein perpendicular planes of the first opposite parallel bars and perpendicular planes of the second opposite parallel bars are substantially perpendicular to each other; a key substrate, wherein each of two opposite sides of the key substrate is correspondingly connected to each of the first opposite parallel bars of the hollow frame by a pair of first connection portions; a multi-directional key body positioned on the key substrate; and a supporting frame connected to the second opposite parallel bars of the hollow frame by a pair of second connection portions. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will be drawn from the following detailed description, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a multi-directional key in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an inverted, isometric view of the multi-directional key of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a single-directional key in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an inverted, isometric view of the single-directional key of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a key assembly in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a panel in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an inverted, isometric view of the panel of  FIG. 6  and the key assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a circuit board in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of one embodiment of an electronic device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTION EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a multi-directional key  11  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is an inverted, isometric view of the multi-directional key  11  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The multi-directional key  11  includes a hollow frame  100 , a key substrate  110 , a multi-directional key body  120 , and a first supporting frame  140 . 
     The hollow frame  100  includes a pair of first opposite parallel bars  102  and a pair of second opposite parallel bars  104 . Perpendicular planes of the first opposite parallel bars  102  and the second opposite parallel bars  104  are substantially perpendicular to each other. In one embodiment, the hollow frame  100  may be rectangular-shaped, while joints between the first opposite parallel bars  102  and the second opposite parallel bars  104  may be arc-shaped. In another embodiment, the hollow frame  100  may be circular-shaped. 
     Each of the first opposite parallel bars  102  of the hollow frame  100  includes a shoulder portion  1020  substantially placed in a center of each of the first opposite parallel bars  102 . The shoulder portion  1020  makes the center of each first opposite parallel bar  102  to protrude outwardly. Correspondingly, each first opposite parallel bar  102  defines a groove placed inside each first opposite parallel bar  102 . In another embodiment, a pair of stanchions  1022  may be positioned on the shoulder portion  1020  and accommodated in the groove. 
     Each second opposite parallel bar  104  of the hollow frame  100  includes a supporting portion  1040  protruding opposite to the multi-directional key  11  for supporting the hollow frame  100  so that the hollow frame  100  can pivotally rotate about the supporting portion  1040 . In one embodiment, the supporting portion  1040  may be shaped like a half-circle. 
     The key substrate  110  includes a pair of third opposite parallel bars  112  which includes two sides of the key substrate  110  corresponding to the sides of the first opposite parallel bars  102  of the hollow frame  100 . The pair of third opposite parallel bars  112  of the key substrate  110  is connected to the shoulder portions  1020  of the first opposite parallel bars  102  by a pair of first connection portions  130 . In one embodiment, the key substrate  110  is rectangular-shaped and is accommodated in the hollow frame  100 . One end of the first connection portion  130  is connected to the shoulder portion  1020  of the first opposite parallel bars  102  of the hollow frame  100 , while another end of the first connection portion  130  is connected to a center of the third opposite parallel bars  112  of the key substrate  110 . Therefore, the key substrate  110  can rotate slightly about the first connection portion  130 . 
     The key substrate  110  further includes a pair of fourth opposite parallel bars  114  which are two sides of the key substrate  110  corresponding to the sides of the second opposite parallel bars  104  of the hollow frame  100 . Perpendicular planes of the third opposite parallel bars  112  and the fourth opposite parallel bars  114  are substantially perpendicular to each other. In another embodiment, the key substrate  110  may also be circular-shaped. 
     Each of the fourth opposite parallel bars  114  of the key substrate  110  includes a first pressing portion  1140  substantially placed on a center of each of the fourth opposite parallel bars  114 . In one embodiment, the first pressing portion  1140  is shaped as a tri-dimensional cross. In another embodiment, the first pressing portion  1140  may be shaped having a cylindrical shape. 
     The multi-directional key body  120  is positioned on the key substrate  110 . The multi-directional key body  120  includes a pair of first keys  124  and a pair of second keys  126  on the surface of the multi-directional key body  120  for indicating a toggle direction of the multi-directional key body  120 . In another embodiment, the multi-directional key body  120  may be integrated with the key substrate  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the multi-directional key body  120  defines a hole  122  in a center of the multi-directional key body  120 . The hole  122  may be rectangular-shaped. In other embodiments, the multi-directional key body  120  may not define the hole  122 . 
     The first supporting frame  140  is connected to the second opposite parallel bars  104  of the hollow frame  100  by a pair of second connection portions  150 . In one embodiment, the first supporting frame  140  includes a pair of first supporting arms  142 . Each second connection portion  150  is connected to a center of each second opposite parallel bar  104  of the hollow frame  100 . In one embodiment, the first supporting arms  142  may be designed having a sinuous shape for increasing the flexibility of the multi-directional key  11 . 
     The first supporting frame  140  further includes a first fixing portion  144 . In one embodiment, the first fixing portion  144  is elongated. Each end of the first fixing portion  144  is connected to each of the pair of first supporting arms  142 . The first fixing portion  144  defines a pair of first assembling holes  1440  for assembling the multi-directional key  11  with an electronic device. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a single-directional key  16  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 4  is an inverted, isometric view of the single-directional key  16  of  FIG. 3 . The single-directional key  16  includes a single-directional key body  160  and a second supporting frame  170 .  FIG. 5  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a key assembly  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. The key assembly  10  includes the multi-directional key  11  and the single-directional key  16 . 
     The single-directional key body  160  is accommodated in the hole  122  defined by the multi-directional key body  120 . In one embodiment, the single-directional key body  160  may be rectangular-shaped. In another embodiment, the single-directional key body  160  may be circular-shaped. 
     The single-directional key body  160  includes a second pressing portion  162 . In one embodiment, the second pressing portion  162  may shaped as a tri-dimensional cross. In another embodiment, the second pressing portion  162  may be cylindrically shaped. 
     The second supporting frame  170  is connected to the single-directional key body  160  for supporting and fixing the single-directional key body  160 . 
     The second supporting frame  170  includes a pair of second supporting arms  172  connected to the single-directional key body  160  for supporting the single-directional key body  160 . In one embodiment, each second supporting arm  172  includes a former supporting arm  1720  and a latter supporting arm  1722  for increasing the flexibility of the single-directional key body  16 . The former supporting arm  1720  and the latter supporting arm  1722  are both U shaped. The plane of the former supporting arm  1720  and that of the latter supporting arm  1722  are substantially perpendicular to each other. 
     The second supporting frame  170  further includes a second fixing portion  174 . The second fixing portion  174  includes a pair of assembling stanchions  176  placed on two ends of the second fixing portion  174 . Each assembling stanchion  176  defines a second assembling hole  1760  for assembling the second supporting frame  170  with the electronic device. The assembling stanchions  176  connect the second fixing portion  174  to the second supporting arms  172 . In one embodiment, the assembling stanchions  176  may be cylindrically shaped. Each assembling stanchion  176  flanks with each end of the second fixing portion  174  and each of the second supporting arms  172 . 
     In one embodiment, when assembling the multi-directional key  11  with the single-directional key  16 , the second fixing portion  174  and the assembling stanchions  176  are accommodated in the space formed by the second opposite parallel bars  104  of the hollow frame  100  and the fourth opposite parallel bars  114  of the key substrate  110 . 
     An electronic device employing the key assembly  10  includes the key assembly  10 , a panel  20  and a circuit board  30 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the panel  20  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 7  is an inverted, isometric view of the panel  20  of  FIG. 6  and the key assembly  10  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 8  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the circuit board  30  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 9  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the electronic device employing the key assembly  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     The panel  20  includes a resisting portion  200  for resisting pressure from the key substrate  110 . The resisting portion  200  defines an assembling hole  202  for accommodating the multi-directional key body  120  and the single-directional key body  160 . The resisting portion  200  includes four protruding portions  204 . Each of the four protruding portions  204  is positioned on each corner of the resisting portion  200 . The resisting portion  200  is configured for locking the assembling stanchion  176  on the panel  20  via the pair of second assembling holes  1760 . The panel  20  further includes a pair of fixing pillars  206  for locking the multi-directional key  11  on the panel  20  via the first assembling holes  1440 . 
     By assembling the key assembly  10  and the panel  20 , the multi-directional key body  120  protrudes out from the assembling hole  202  of the resisting portion  200  and the key substrate  110  resists the resisting portion  200  on the panel  20 . As a result, the protruding portions  204  protrude out between the hollow frame  100  and the key substrate  110 . The first fixing portion  144  of the multi-directional key  11  is locked on the fixing pillar  206  of the panel  20  through the first assembling holes  1440  on the first fixing portion  144 . The single-directional key body  160  resists the key substrate  110  and protrudes out from the hole  122  of the multi-directional key body  120 . The protruding portions  204  of the resisting portion  200  are assembled in the second assembling hole  1760  of the assembling stanchion  176 . The second fixing portion  174  is then locked on the panel  20  via the assembling stanchion  176 . 
     The circuit board  30  includes a pair of first switches  32 , a pair of second switches  34 , and a third switch  36 . The first switches  32 , second switches  34 , and the third switch  36  respectively include touching portions  320 ,  340 , and  360  thereon. By assembling the key assembly  10 , the panel  20 , and the circuit board  30 , each of the first switches  32  is accommodated in the groove defined by each of the shoulder portions  1020 , each of the second switches  34  is placed over each of the first pressing portions  1140  of the key substrate  110 , and the third switch  36  is placed over the second pressing portion  162  of the single-directional key body  160 . In another embodiment, each of the touching portions  320  of the first switches  32  is accommodated between the pair of stanchions  1022  configured on each shoulder portion  1020 . 
     In a further embodiment, the multi-directional key  11  and the single-directional key  16  may also be placed on the circuit board  30 . 
     Because each first connection  130  connects the multi-directional key body  120  to each shoulder portion  1020 , the multi-directional key body  120  and the key substrate  110  slightly rotates around the second connection portion  150  when the first key  124  of the multi-directional key body  120  is affected by an external force. Therefore, the shoulder portion  1020  of the hollow frame  100  resists the first switch  32  and presses the touching portion  320  on the first switch  32 . In another embodiment, the pair of stanchions  1022  configured on each shoulder portion  1020  withstands the first switch  32  when the touching portion  320  of the first switch  32  is slightly pressed, which can prevent the touching portion  320  from damage due to being excessively pressed, in addition to interference from the first and second keys  124  and  126 . 
     When the second key  126  of the multi-directional key body  120  is affected by an external force, the multi-directional key body  120 , the key substrate  110  and the hollow frame  100  rotates slightly about the first connection portion  130 . Therefore, the first pressing portion  1140  of the key substrate  110  resists the second switch  34  and presses the touching portion  340  on the second switch  34 . 
     When the single-directional key body  160  is affected by an external force, the second pressing portion  162  on the single-directional key body  160  resists the third switch  36  and presses the touching portion  360  on the third switch. 
     In one embodiment, the multi-directional key  11  and the key assembly  10  employing the multi-directional key  11  in the present disclosure have a plurality of keys placed compactly, such as four keys  124 ,  126  on the multi-directional key body  120 , the single-directional key body  160 . These keys  124 ,  126  are protected against interference between each other via the first connection portion  130  and the second connection portion  150 . 
     Although the features and elements of the present disclosure are described as embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in other various combinations within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.