Abstract:
Disclosed herein are an operating apparatus and an electronic device having the same. According to the operating apparatus, key values of a button can be variably changed each time a key value changing button is pushed so that the button can have several key values. Accordingly, a variety of functions of the electronic device can be achieved although the total number of the buttons is reduced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0088020, filed on Sep. 8, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments relate to an operating apparatus and an electronic device having the same, and more particularly, to an operating apparatus to input a predetermined operational signal to an electronic device, and the electronic device having the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Electronic devices, for example an air conditioner, are equipped with an operating apparatus enabling a user to input predetermined operational signals. 
         [0006]    In general, the operating apparatus is configured in a manner that buttons and key pads are sequentially deposited and connected on a substrate. As the buttons are pushed by a user, signals are selectively exchanged between the buttons and terminals formed at the key pads. The operational signals are thus input through the signal exchange between the buttons and the key pad terminals, and accordingly the substrate perceives the signals and controls the device. 
         [0007]    The button includes a printed side printed with figures, diagrams or letters, so that the user can check the printed patterns and select desired buttons. Optionally, the button may be equipped with a light source including a light emitting diode (LED) disposed under the button so that the printed side can be recognized even in a dark state, for example, at night. As the LED emits light, the user can recognize the figures, diagrams or letters on the printed side by a backlighting effect. 
         [0008]    In case of an air conditioner, the operating apparatus is mounted at one side on a front panel of the air conditioner, including diverse buttons to be input with various functions regarding a wind direction, a wind force, temperature and the like by the user. 
         [0009]    Recently, although it is required to increase the number of the buttons as functions of the electronic devices are diversified, a button mounting space is being decreased, which restricts the increase of the number of buttons. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Therefore, it is an aspect of exemplary embodiments to provide an operating apparatus for an electronic device, capable of implementing various functions of the device while reducing the number of operation buttons, by allocating a plurality of functions to one operation button, and the electronic device having the same. 
         [0011]    Additional aspects of exemplary embodiments 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 exemplary embodiments. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided an operating apparatus including a first button that changes key values, and a second button which changes the key values according to operation of the first button. 
         [0013]    The key values of the second button may be alternately changed each time the first button is operated. 
         [0014]    The second button may include two buttons having key values opposite to each other. 
         [0015]    The second button may include patterns denoting the key values, and the patterns are alternately changed each time the first button is operated. 
         [0016]    The patterns may include any one of figures, diagrams, and letters, or combination of figures, diagrams, and letters. 
         [0017]    The second button may include a casing, a plurality of light sources mounted in the casing, a plurality of first polarizing sheets disposed corresponding to the light sources to transmit lights in respectively different directions according to the light sources, and a plurality of second polarizing sheets each including a transmission part to transmit the lights of all directions transmitted through the first polarizing sheets, and a pattern part to block lights being incident in directions other than a predetermined direction. 
         [0018]    The light sources may each include a light emitting diode (LED) emitting lights of the same wavelength. 
         [0019]    The pattern part may be shaped in any of signs, figures, diagrams and letters. 
         [0020]    The transmission part may be shaped in any of signs, figures, diagrams and letters. 
         [0021]    The plurality of second polarizing sheets may selectively include a first polarizing sheet having the signs, a second polarizing sheet having the figures, a third polarizing sheet having the diagrams, and a fourth polarizing sheet having the letters. 
         [0022]    In accordance with another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided an electronic device an electronic device including an operating apparatus which includes a first button that changes key values, and a second button which changes the key values according to operation of the first button, and a control unit which changes the key values of the second button when the first button is pushed. 
         [0023]    The control unit may alternately change the key values of the second button each time the first button is operated. 
         [0024]    The second button may include a casing, a plurality of light sources mounted in the casing, a plurality of first polarizing sheets disposed corresponding to the light sources to transmit lights in respectively different directions according to the light sources, and a plurality of second polarizing sheets each including a transmission part to transmit the lights of all directions transmitted through the first polarizing sheets, and a pattern part to block lights being incident in directions other than a predetermined direction. 
         [0025]    The control unit may turn on the plurality of light sources sequentially each time the first button is operated. 
         [0026]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention exemplary embodiments, there is provided a control apparatus for controlling an electronic device, the control apparatus including a first button operated by a user to alternately change key values of at least one second button; and a control unit which alternately changes key values of at least one second button in response to operation of the first button by the user, wherein the control unit instructs the electronic device to operate in response to operation of at least one second button. 
         [0027]    The operation of the first button may performed when the user pushes the first button. 
         [0028]    The operation of the at least one second button may performed when the user pushes the at least one second button. 
         [0029]    The at least one second button may include a casing; a plurality of light sources mounted in the casing; a plurality of first polarizing sheets disposed corresponding to the light sources to transmit lights in respectively different directions according to the light sources; and a plurality of second polarizing sheets each including a transmission part to transmit the lights of all directions transmitted through the first polarizing sheets, and a pattern part to block lights being incident in directions other than a predetermined direction. 
         [0030]    In an operating apparatus and electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment, key values of the button can be variably changed each time the key value changing button is pushed so that the button can have several key values. Accordingly, a variety of functions or operations of the electronic device can be achieved while reducing the total number of the buttons. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    These and/or other aspects of exemplary embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an air conditioner equipped with an operating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view schematically showing a second button shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the second button shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a pattern of the second button shown in  FIG. 3 , in a state where light is emitted from a first light source but not from a second light source; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a pattern of the second button shown in  FIG. 3 , in a state where light is emitted from the second light source but not from the first light source; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a control block diagram of the air conditioner equipped with the operating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0038]      FIGS. 7-9  show that functions of the second button are changed as the first button is pushed, in an operating apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain exemplary embodiments by referring to the figures. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows an air conditioner equipped with an operating apparatus  20  according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the air conditioner includes a main body  10  in a box form. The main body  10  includes side suction inlets  11  on both lower sides thereof to draw in the interior air. Exhaustion outlets  12  are formed at the front and both upper sides of the main body  10  to exhaust a conditioned air being driven by a ventilation unit mounted therein, to the interior space. Inside the main body  10 , additionally, are mounted a heat exchange unit (not shown) to perform heat exchange and the ventilation unit to drive the conditioned air to the interior space. 
         [0041]    With the above structure, the air conditioner cools or heats the interior air through processes of drawing in the interior air through the side suction inlets  11 , performing heat exchange, and exhausting the conditioned air to the interior space through the exhaustion outlets  12 . 
         [0042]    The operating apparatus  20  is disposed below the front exhaustion outlet  12 . The operating apparatus  20  includes a first button  21  for change of key values and a second button  22  changed in its key values according to the operation of the first button  21 . A user can select a desired function through the first button  21  and then command the air conditioner to perform the function through the second button  22 . Although the two types of buttons  21  and  22  are illustrated in this exemplary embodiment, exemplary embodiments are not limited to the number of the buttons and so may include one or more than one button. In addition, exemplary embodiments are not limited to one first button. Exemplary embodiments may include more than one first button. Further, exemplary embodiments are not limited to one second button. Exemplary embodiments may include more than one second button. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  schematically shows the second button  22  formed at the operating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the second button  22 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the second button  22  includes a cylindrical casing  30 , a plurality of, for example, two light sources  31   a  and  31   b  mounted in the casing  30 , and polarizing members  32 ,  33  and  34  transmitting light having a predetermined incident angle while blocking light of the other incident angles, among lights emitted from the light sources  31   a  and  31   b.    
         [0045]    The polarizing members  32 ,  33  and  34  may include a plurality of polarizing sheets  32 ,  33  and  34 . The first polarizing sheets  32  are disposed corresponding to the light sources  31   a  and  31   b  to polarize the lights respectively in different directions according to the light sources  31   a  and  31   b . The second polarizing sheet  33  and the third polarizing sheet  34  are disposed at a predetermined distance from the respective first polarizing sheets  32 , both having greater diameters than the first polarizing sheet  32 . 
         [0046]    The second and the third polarizing sheets  33  and  34  respectively include transmission parts  33   a  and  34   a  transmitting all the lights passed through the first polarizing sheets  32 , and pattern parts  33   b  and  34   b  blocking lights being incident in directions other than a predetermined direction. 
         [0047]    The second and the third polarizing sheets  33  and  34  each include a polarizing pattern area having predetermined patterns. The polarizing pattern areas of the second and the third polarizing sheets  33  and  34  block transmission of the lights incident in certain directions, thereby displaying the shape of the predetermined polarizing patterns. Hereinafter, technical features of exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the illustrated structures of the second button  22  and the respective polarizing sheets  32  to  34 , and light advancing paths being different according to the sheets  32  to  34 . 
         [0048]    The light source  31  includes the first light source  31   a  and the second light source  31   b  regardless of colors. Generally known light emitting diodes (LED) or other light emitting devices can be employed as the light sources  31   a  and  31   b.    
         [0049]    The first polarizing sheets  32  are disposed corresponding to the first and the second light sources  31   a  and  31   b  and polarize lights emitted from the respective light sources  31   a  and  31   b , in predetermined directions. For example, if a polarizing sheet  32   a  corresponding to the first light source  31   a  is a 90° polarizing film, a 180° polarizing film may be applied to a polarizing sheet  32   b  corresponding to the second light source  31   b.    
         [0050]    The second and the third polarizing sheets  33  and  34  respectively include the transmission parts  33   a  and  34   a , and the pattern parts  33   b  and  34   b . More specifically, the second and the third polarizing sheets  33  and  34  have the pattern parts  33   b  and  34   b  each having a predetermined pattern such as a triangle and letters “set” shown in  FIG. 2 . The patterns parts  33   b  and  34   b  block transmission of lights being incident in directions other than the predetermined direction. On the contrary, the pattern parts  33   b  and  34   b  may be applied to the background areas of the polarizing sheets  33  and  34  excluding the pattern areas in the form of figures, diagrams or letters. 
         [0051]    The second polarizing sheet  33  includes the pattern part  33   b  blocking the lights incident not in the same direction as the polarizing sheet  32   a.    
         [0052]    The third polarizing sheet  34  includes the pattern part  34   b  blocking the lights being incident not in the same direction as the polarizing sheet  32   b.    
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the first light source  31   a  is turned on, the light emitted from the first light source  31   a  is polarized in a certain direction and transmitted through the first polarizing sheet  32   a . The light passed through the first polarizing sheet  32   a  can transmit both the transmission part  33   a  and the pattern part  33   b  of the second polarizing sheet  33  but, at the third polarizing sheet  34 , can transmit only the transmission part  34   a  while blocked by the pattern area  34   b . Accordingly, the area where the light is blocked by the pattern parts  34   b  of the third polarizing sheet  34  is shown as a dark pattern to the user. That is, in the case shown in  FIG. 2 , the user is able to recognize the triangle pattern generated as the pattern part  34   b  blocks the light. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the second light source  31   b  is turned on, the light emitted from the second light source  31   b  is polarized in a certain direction and transmitted through the first polarizing sheet  32   b . The light passed through the first polarizing sheet  32   b  is transmitted through only the transmission part  33   a  but blocked by the pattern part  33   b  of the second polarizing sheet  33 . Also, after passing through the transmission part  33   a  of the second polarizing sheet  33 , the light transmits both the transmission part  34   a  and the pattern part  34   b  of the third polarizing sheet  34 . Accordingly, the area where the light is blocked by the pattern part  33   b  of the second polarizing sheet  33  is shown as a dark pattern to the user so that the user is able to recognize the letter pattern “set” in the case shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , as described above, when the first light source  31   a  is turned on, the second button  22  can be used as a function button displaying the triangle pattern and, when the second light source  31   b  is turned on, as a function button displaying the letter pattern “set.” In addition, the patterns displayed on the second button  22  may denote opposite functions to each other, for example, figures of a triangle and an inverse triangle or letters of “set” and “cancel.” 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , an electronic device equipped with the operating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a control unit  40  controlling the overall operation of the device and a switching unit  50 . 
         [0057]    The first and the second buttons  21  and  22  of the operating apparatus  20  are operated by the user&#39;s pushing or touching. When the user pushes the first button  21  of the operating apparatus  20 , the control unit  40  turns on and off the first light source  31   a  or the second light source  31   b , selectively, formed on the second button  21  through the switching part  50 . Specifically, the second unit  40  may sequentially turn on the first and the second light sources  31   a  and  31   b  each time of pushing the first button  21 . Here, the control unit  40  may turn on a light source which is preset to operate in response to the number of pushings of the first button  21 . 
         [0058]    When the first button  21  is pushed, the control unit  40  operates to change a key value of the second button  22 . Here, the control unit  40  understands the key values of the second button  22  differently according to states of the first and the second light source  31   a  and  31   b . For example, if the second button  22  is pushed with the first light source  31   a  being in an on state, the control unit  40  recognizes the key value related to increase of the temperature. If the second button  22  is pushed when the first light source  31   b  is in an on state, the control unit  40  recognizes the key value related to increase of a wind force. 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9  show that functions of the second button are changed as the first button is pushed, in an operating apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the operating apparatus  20  includes one first button  21  (first type of button) and two second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  (second type of button). When the first button  21  is not pushed by the user yet, the second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  display initial states. In this state, light sources of the second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  are in an off state. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , when the user&#39;s finger F pushes the first button  21 , any of the two light sources corresponding to the two second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  is turned on. According to this, predetermined patterns formed on the second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  are displayed through polarizing sheets. In this exemplary embodiment, the second buttons  22   a  and  22   b  have key values opposite to each other and patterns corresponding to the respective key values. As shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, the second button  22   a  may have a triangle pattern to denote increase of a certain set value while the second button  22   b  has an inverse triangle pattern to denote decrease of the certain set value. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the user&#39;s finger F pushes the first button  21  once more, the one of the light sources that has been in the on state is now turned off whereas the other light source that has been in the off state is turned on. Accordingly, there are displayed other patterns different from the previous patterns shown through the polarizing sheets. As shown in  FIG. 9 , while the second button  22   a  shows the letter pattern “set” to denote setting of the function, the second button  22   b  shows the letter pattern “cancel” to denote cancellation of the set function. 
         [0063]    Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.