Patent ID: 8094141

Claim:
A portable electronic device comprising: a base segment defining more than one indicator; a sliding segment slidably disposed on the base segment, the sliding segment defining a pointer operable to align with one of the more than one indicator; and an input module comprising: a first magnet received in the base segment; a second magnet fixed in the sliding segment and aligned with the first magnet, the second magnet being configured for applying a magnetic force to the first magnet; and a sensor connected to the first magnet, the sensor being configured to sense the magnetic force and convert the magnetic force into a corresponding electrical signal to indicate an input mode, the electrical signal being inputted to the electronic device; further wherein the base segment comprises a bottom shell and a main body, the main body comprising a cover plate disposed on the bottom shell and a keypad protruding from the cover plate, the keypad comprising a receiving frame defining a receiving slot in which the first magnet and the sensor are received; further wherein the sliding segment comprises a bottom plate and a sliding body, the bottom plate being slidably connected to the cover plate, the second magnet being fixed to the bottom plate, the sliding body being disposed on the bottom plate to enclose the second magnet; further wherein the cover plate defines a through hole therein, the bottom plate defining more than one positioning through hole each corresponding to an indicator, the base segment further comprising a positioning module, the positioning module comprising a positioning frame disposed on a bottom surface of the cover plate, a compressed positioning spring received in the positioning frame, and a positioning member, the positioning member comprising a base plate connected to the positioning spring and a positioning column extending upwards from the base plate and inserted through the through hole, the positioning column being operable to protrude from the through hole to insert into a positioning through hole corresponding to the indicator aligned with the pointer.