KR20120138469A - Apparatus of inputting data - Google Patents

Abstract

An information input device is disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the information including a direction button for receiving direction information by the action of the load, and a direction switch that is pressed by the direction button, to generate a different kind of direction signal according to the magnitude of the applied load An input device is provided.

Description

Information input device {APPARATUS OF INPUTTING DATA}

The present invention relates to an information input device.

With the development of portable multimedia devices and the high functionality of televisions, there is a demand for an input device that can be mounted directly on a portable device or mounted on a device such as a remote controller to perform various functions.

In other words, according to the high functionalization of portable devices and televisions, an input device capable of freely moving a pointer like a mouse of a computer is needed, instead of simply using a four-way key method. (touch screen), tack ball (small) mouse, and the like has been proposed.

However, in these methods, a problem is that it is relatively expensive and difficult to accurately point, or the screen is covered by a finger, making it difficult to see the entire screen.

The present invention provides an information input device that can be manufactured at a relatively low cost and that can input various information.

According to one aspect of the invention, the information including a direction button for receiving direction information by the action of the load, and a direction switch that is pressed by the direction button, to generate a different kind of direction signal according to the magnitude of the applied load An input device is provided.

The direction switch may be arranged in plurality along the edge of the direction button.

The direction switch may be arranged at regular intervals.

The direction switch may be a dome switch including a plurality of contacts.

The plurality of contacts may be operated by a first load to generate a pointer direction signal for pointer movement in a display image, and a second load greater than the first load by the action of the first load. Thereby, a second contact for generating an activation area direction signal for movement of the activation area in the display image.

The first contact may be formed at both sides on the direction switch, and the second contact may be formed at the center on the direction switch.

The information input device is pressed by a selection button for receiving selection information for execution of contents corresponding to an icon or a menu item of a display image by the action of a load, and a selection button to execute the contents. It may further include a selection switch for generating a selection signal for.

The selection button may be integrally formed with the direction button and positioned at the center of the direction button.

The selection switch may generate a switching signal for moving only one of the pointer and the activation area by the action of the third load maintained for a preset time.

The information input device receives a pointer direction signal or an activation area direction signal from the direction switch, respectively, and outputs a pointer movement signal for moving the pointer or an activation area movement signal for moving the activation area, respectively, and receives a selection signal from the selection switch. The control unit may further include a control unit configured to output an execution signal for executing the content, and output only one of the pointer movement signal and the activation area movement signal by receiving the switching signal from the selection switch.

The information input device may further include a printed circuit board having a direction switch installed on one surface thereof and having a direction button coupled thereto to cover the direction switch.

The information input device may further include a transmission member interposed between the directional button and the directional switch to transmit a load acting by the directional button to the directional switch.

The lower portion of the transmission member may be formed with a pressing protrusion to correspond to the position of the direction switch.

The information input device may further include an elastic member for elastically supporting the transmission member.

The information input device may further include a holder that covers at least a portion of the transfer member to support the transfer member.

According to the present invention, an information input device manufactured at a relatively low cost and capable of inputting various information can be implemented.

1 is a perspective view showing an information input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exploded perspective view showing an information input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the information input device according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line AA of FIG. 1.
4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a direction switch of an information input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a plan view showing a contact point of the direction switch of the information input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a plan view showing a metal dome of the direction switch of the information input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a circuit diagram illustrating a direction switch of an information input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating a movement state of a pointer and an activation area by an information input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of an information input apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals and duplicate description thereof It will be omitted.

1 is a perspective view showing an information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the information input device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along the line AA of FIG. 1.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the direction button 110, the selection button 120 located at the center of the direction button 110, the direction button 110, and the selection button 120 are disposed below. Combined transmission member 160, the direction switch 130 and the selection switch 140 disposed below the transmission member 160, the printed circuit board 150 formed with the direction switch 130 and the selection switch 140, transmission An information input device 100 is provided that includes an elastic member 170 that elastically supports the member 160 and a holder 180 coupled to the printed circuit board 150 to partially cover the transmission member 160. .

According to the present embodiment as described above, the information input device 100 which can be produced at low cost compared to a touch pad, a touch screen, a trackball, and the like, and which can input various information can be implemented.

That is, in the case of the information input device 100 of the present embodiment, by using the direction switch 130 of the dome switch type, different direction signals are generated according to the magnitude of the load, which is larger in manufacturing than the touch pad, touch screen, trackball, and the like. Similarly, without the cost, it is possible to implement the function of moving the pointer 16 such as the mouse of the computer and the moving of the activation area 18 such as the direction key.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the information input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

Direction button 110 may receive the direction information by the action of the external load, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lower portion may be coupled to the transmission member 160 for transmitting the external load, The printed circuit board 150 on which the direction switch 130 and the selection switch 140 are formed may be disposed below the transfer member 160.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printed circuit board 150 may have a plurality of direction switches 130 installed in a circumferential direction thereof, and a selection switch 140 may be formed in the center thereof. The transfer member 160 and the direction button coupled thereto may be disposed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 150 to cover the direction switch 130 and the selection switch 140.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transmission member 160 is interposed between the direction button 110 and the selection button 120 integrally formed therebetween, the direction switch 130, and the selection switch 140. The load applied by the button 110 and the select button 140 may be transmitted to the direction switch 130 and the select switch 140, respectively.

The transfer member 160 may be elastically supported on the printed circuit board 150 by the elastic member 170 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As such, the transmission member 160 is elastically supported by the elastic member 170 so that the direction button 130 or the selection button 140 is in the original position by the elastic force of the elastic member 170 when the external load applied thereto is removed. Can be returned to. The elastic member 170 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the holder 180 may cover the at least a portion of the transfer member 160, that is, the edge thereof, to support the transfer member 160. That is, the holder 180 may be coupled to the printed circuit board 150 while covering the edge of the transfer member 160, and thus the transfer member 160 and the direction button 110 and the selection button 120 coupled thereto. ) May be stably coupled to the printed circuit board 150.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the direction switch 130 may be disposed under the transmission member 160, and thus may be pressed by the direction button 110 and the transmission member 160 coupled thereto. However, different kinds of direction signals can be generated depending on the magnitude of the applied load.

That is, the direction switch 130 may generate a plurality of different direction signals corresponding to the magnitude of the applied load, and by using the direction switch 130 as described above, a computer using a single switch as described above It is possible to simultaneously implement the function of moving the pointer 16, such as a mouse, and the function of moving the activation area 18, such as a four-way key of a computer.

Regarding the structure and function of the direction switch 130 as described above, referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the detailed configuration of the direction switch 130 and FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. A detailed description will be provided in the description of the movement of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the information input device 100 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of direction switches 130 may be disposed along the edge of the direction button 110, for example, four of the direction switches 130 may be arranged at regular intervals. They may be arranged to generate direction signals corresponding to up, down, left and right, respectively.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four pressing protrusions 166 may be formed at the lower portion of the transmitting member 160 to correspond to the position of the direction switch 130. Accordingly, the direction button 110 may be formed. Direction information corresponding to each direction may be respectively input to an area indicating four directions along the edge of the direction, and according to the input of the direction information, the direction button 110 and the transmission member coupled thereto ( The direction switch 130 located below the 160 generates a direction signal corresponding to each direction.

The selection button 120 may receive selection information for executing contents corresponding to the icon 12 or the item 14 of the display image 10 by the action of the vertical load. 1 to 3, it is formed integrally with the direction button 110 and may be located at the center of the direction button 110.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the selector switch 140 may be disposed under the transfer member 160 and pressed by the selector button 120 and the transfer member 160 coupled thereto. As the 140, a dome switch or the like may be used. The selection switch 140 may generate a selection signal for executing the content corresponding to the icon 12 or the menu item 14 of the display image 10.

2 and 3, a pressing protrusion 166 may be formed at the center of the transfer member 160 so as to correspond to the position of the selection switch 140. When the load is applied, the selection switch 140 may be pressed by the pressing protrusion 166 formed at the center of the lower transmission member 160. The selection switch 140 may be configured in addition to the selection signal as described above. The switching signal for moving only one of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 may be generated by the action of the third load maintained for a predetermined time.

Regarding the function of the selection switch 140, a part of presenting movement of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the information input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Will be explained again.

The control unit receives the direction signal and the selection signal from the above-described direction switch 130 and the selection switch 140, outputs a moving signal and an execution signal corresponding thereto, and inputs a switching signal from the selection switch 140. The signal can be controlled so that only one of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 is moved. The device may be mounted in the information input device 100 or may be mounted on a device external to the information input device 100, that is, a remote controller or a portable device.

Hereinafter, each function of the control unit will be described in more detail.

First, since the direction switch 130 may generate a pointer direction signal for the movement of the pointer 16 or an activation area direction signal for the movement of the activation area 18 according to the magnitude of the applied load, the control unit May receive a pointer direction signal or an activation area direction signal from the direction switch 130, respectively, and output a pointer movement signal for moving the pointer 16 or an activation area movement signal for moving the activation area 18, respectively.

In addition, since the selection switch 140 may generate a selection signal for executing the content corresponding to the icon 12 or the menu item 14 of the display image 10 by the applied load, the control unit may select the selection switch ( The execution signal for executing each content may be output by receiving the selection signal from the 140.

In addition, since the selection switch 140 may generate a switching signal for moving only one of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the third load maintained for a predetermined time, the control unit may select the selection switch ( The output of any one of the above-described pointer movement signal and the activation region movement signal may be blocked such that only one of the pointer movement signal and the activation region movement signal is outputted from the switch signal.

The function of such a control unit will be described again in the following section referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 in the movement of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the information input device 100 according to the present embodiment. Do it.

Next, a detailed structure and function of the direction switch 130 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a direction switch 130 of the information input apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a plan view illustrating a contact point of the direction switch 130 of the information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a plan view illustrating the metal dome 132 of the direction switch 130 of the information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The direction switch 130 may be a dome switch including a plurality of contacts, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, so that the direction switch 130 may move the pointer 16 similarly to a mouse of a computer. It is possible to generate both a pointer direction signal and an activation area direction signal for movement of the activation area 18 similarly to the four direction keys of the computer.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the direction switch 130 may include a first contact 135, a second contact 136, and a support point 137 formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 150. It may be composed of a metal dome 132 to cover, a top tape 131 to cover the metal dome 132, a base tape 133 to support it, and an EMI shielding layer 134 to cover the base tape 133. have.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of contacts may include a first contact 135 formed at both sides of the direction switch 130 and a second contact 136 formed at the center of the direction switch 130. Support points 137 may be formed on the left and right sides of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 6, the metal dome 132 has a central portion 132c corresponding to the position of the second contact 136, and a wing portion 132b formed to correspond to the position of the first contact 135 at an edge thereof. , And a support 131a_ formed at the edge of the center 132c to correspond to the position of the support 137.

When the user applies the first load to the direction button 110 and the metal dome 132 is pressed, the wing portions 132b formed on both sides of the metal dome 132 are first in contact with the first contact 135. As such, the size of the first load that comes into contact with the wing portion 132b at the first contact point 135 may be adjusted. For example, a load that the user touches the direction button 110 may be, for example, 10 To 50gf, the user may generate a pointer direction signal for the movement of the pointer 16 by making the first contact 135 and the wing 132b contact each other without recognizing that a separate pressing operation is required. have.

When the user applies the load of the second load greater than the first load to the direction button 110 to further press the metal dome 132, the center portion 132c of the metal dome 132 is in contact with the second contact 136. . As such, the second load for bringing the center portion 132c of the metal dome 132 into contact with the second contact point 136 may be adjusted, for example, to the extent that the user can feel the click of a button. Load, for example 220gf. When the user applies a load such that the central portion 132c and the second contact 136 contact each other, an activation area direction signal for moving the activation area 18 between the menu items 14 may be generated.

As described above, the first contact 135 comes into contact with the wing 132b of the metal dome 132 by the action of the first load, and thus the pointer direction for moving the pointer 16 in the display image 10. You can generate a signal.

That is, when a first load as much as a user touches is applied to the direction button 110, the direction switch 130 at the bottom thereof is pressed to move the pointer 16 similarly to a mouse of a computer. A signal can be generated.

The second contact 136 is brought into contact with the central portion 132c of the metal dome 132 by the action of the second load greater than the first load, thereby activating the movement of the activation region 18 in the display image 10. An area direction signal can be generated.

That is, when a second load of the degree that the user clicks is applied to the direction button 110, the lower direction switch 130 is further pressed, so that the activation area between the menu items 14 is similar to the four direction keys of the computer. It is possible to generate an activation area direction signal for the movement of 18).

7 is a circuit diagram illustrating a direction switch 130 of the information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the direction switch 130 according to the present embodiment receives two different inputs and generates a signal corresponding to the first contact 135 (SW1-1) and the second contact 136. (SW1-2), and accordingly, the direction switch 130 can generate different direction signals according to the magnitude of the load as described above, resulting in a variety of functions using a single switch The information input device 100 can be implemented.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the movement of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the information input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating a movement state of the pointer 16 and the activation area 18 by the information input device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the first load corresponding to the degree of touch by the user is applied to the direction button 110, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the pointer 16 may move in the direction in the display image 10.

Here, the pointer 16 means a symbol indicated by an arrow or the like used to designate a point that can be positioned on the display image 10 or to designate a selection.

That is, the direction switch 130 under the direction button 110 is pressed by the first load applied by the user to make contact between the first contact 135 and the wing 132b of the metal dome 132. In the direction switch 130, a pointer direction signal, which is a direction signal for moving the pointer 16, may be generated and transmitted to the control unit.

In this case, four direction switches 130 corresponding to the up, down, left, and right sides may be arranged. When pressing a portion of the direction button 110 corresponding to each of the direction switches 130, the up, down, left, A pointer direction signal corresponding to a right direction may be generated, and when a portion corresponding to a region between each direction switch 130 of the direction button 110 is pressed, a pointer direction signal corresponding to a diagonal direction may be generated.

The pointer direction signal generated as described above is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit generates the pointer movement signal corresponding to the pointer direction signal to move the pointer 16 in the corresponding direction in the display image 10.

By the above-described method, the pointer 16 can be moved in the display image 10. After the pointer 16 is positioned on the icon 12, the user presses the selection button 120. The lower selection switch 140 may receive a load to generate a selection signal. The controller may receive the selection signal and output an execution signal for executing the content corresponding to the icon 12 to execute the corresponding content, for example, an application program.

On the other hand, when the user applies a third load to the selection button 120 for a predetermined time, for example, for 1 to 2 seconds, the third load is applied to the selection switch 140 under the selection button 120 so that the pointer 16 The shift signal for mode switching may be generated by moving the active region 18 from the shift. The controller may block the output of the pointer movement signal for moving the pointer 16 in response to the switch signal, and thus no further movement of the pointer 16 is performed in this case.

This mode switching may be applied in the same principle even when switching from the activation area 18 to the pointer 16 movement.

After switching to the activation area 18 movement by the selection switch 140, the user applies a second load greater than the first load to the direction button 110, as shown in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 9. The active area 18 between the menu items 14 can be moved in the.

Here, the activation area 18 is a concept that is different from the above-described pointer 16. The activation area 18 is activated and enables input of texts, etc., and activated and selected menu items 14. It is a meaning including all, etc. In the case of the present embodiment, the latter case will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 9, the direction switch 130 under the direction button 110 is pressed by the second load applied by the user, such that the second contact 136 and the center portion 132c of the metal dome 132 contact each other. As a result, the direction switch 130 may generate an activation area direction signal, which is a direction signal for moving the activation area 18 between the menu items 14 in the display image 10.

The activation area direction signal generated as described above is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit generates an activation area movement signal corresponding to the activation area direction signal to move the activation area 18 in the corresponding direction in the display image 10. It becomes possible.

By the above-described method, the activation area 18 can be moved in the display image 10, and after the activation area 18 is positioned in the menu item 14, the user presses the selection button 120. When the selection switch 140 under the load is applied, the selection switch 140 may generate a selection signal. The controller may receive the selection signal and output an execution signal for executing the content to the menu item 14 to execute the corresponding content.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The present invention can be variously modified and changed by those skilled in the art, and it is also within the scope of the present invention.

10: display image
12: icon
14: Menu item
16: pointer
18: active area
100: information input device
110: direction button
166120: Select button
130: direction switch
131: top tape
132: metal dome
132a: support
132b: wing section
132c: center
133: base tape
134: EMI shielding layer
135: first contact
136: second contact
137: support
140: selection switch
150: printed circuit board
160: delivery member
166: pressing projection
170: elastic member
180: holder

Claims (15)

Direction button for receiving direction information by the action of the load; And
And a direction switch pressed by the direction button to generate different kinds of direction signals according to the magnitude of the applied load.
The method of claim 1,
The direction switch is an information input device, characterized in that disposed in plurality along the edge of the direction button.
The method of claim 2,
And the direction switches are arranged at regular intervals.
The method of claim 1,
And the direction switch is a dome switch including a plurality of contacts.
5. The method of claim 4,
The plurality of contacts,
A first contact for generating a pointer direction signal for pointer movement in a display image by the action of the first load; And
And a second contact for generating an activation area direction signal for moving the activation area in the display image by the action of a second load that is greater than the first load.
The method of claim 5,
The first contact is formed on both sides on the direction switch,
And the second contact point is formed centrally on the direction switch.
The method according to claim 6,
A selection button for receiving selection information for executing contents corresponding to an icon or a menu item of the display image by the action of a load; And
And a selection switch pressed by the selection button to generate a selection signal for executing the content.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The selection button is formed integrally with the direction button and the information input device, characterized in that located in the center of the direction button.
The method of claim 7, wherein
And the selection switch generates a switching signal for moving only one of the pointer and the activation area by the action of a third load maintained for a preset time.
10. The method of claim 9,
Receiving the pointer direction signal or the activation area direction signal from the direction switch, respectively, and outputting a pointer movement signal for moving the pointer or an activation area movement signal for moving the activation area, respectively,
Receiving the selection signal from the selection switch and outputting an execution signal for executing the content;
And a control unit which receives the switching signal from the selection switch and outputs only one of the pointer movement signal and the activation area movement signal.
The method of claim 1,
And a printed circuit board on which one side switch is installed and the one direction button is coupled to cover the direction switch.
The method of claim 1,
And a transmission member interposed between the directional button and the directional switch to transfer a load applied by the directional button to the directional switch.
The method of claim 12,
An information input device, characterized in that the pressing projection is formed in the lower portion of the transmission member to correspond to the position of the direction switch.
The method of claim 12,
And an elastic member for elastically supporting the delivery member.
The method of claim 12,
And a holder for covering at least a portion of the transfer member to support the transfer member.

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