448results about "Switch side location" patented technology

A touch screen 1111 having an active surface area 1112 which extends in three physical dimensions (x-, y- and z-dimensions) is provided. In the figure the active surface area has an U-shaped form. When a user slides his finger over the active surface area the tactile feedback gives him information about the position of the finger. The touch screen is activated when the active surface area senses a certain pressure from the finger. The use of the touch screen is facilitated especially when the user is on the move or when the touch screen is out of sight. Such use is common when operating hand-held terminals.

A keypad (7) of a mobile telephone handset comprises a keymat (17) beneath which are disposed capacitive sensing plates (20, 21). The keypad may be used in a conventional manner to enter alphanumeric data by pressing keys (18) or as a touch pad by sliding a finger over the surface of the keymat (17).

An electronic device includes a housing and a button assembly. The housing defines a through hole. The button assembly includes a button, a first sealing frame, a second sealing frame, and a sticking layer. The button includes a button body and a plate. The button body is attached to the plate, extending through the through hole and external to the housing. The plate provides a rebounding force to return the button body. The first sealing frame, the second sealing frame and the sticking layer are made of waterproof material. The first sealing frame seals the housing defining the through hole and the plate, the second sealing frame seals the plate and the sticking layer, the sticking layer covers the through hole and prevents water from entering the housing through the through hole.

A two-level pressure sensitive keyboard includes at least one key and a membrane switch circuit module. The membrane switch circuit module includes a first contact, a second contact, a first spacing layer for separating the first contact from the second contact, a third contact, a fourth contact, and a second spacing layer for separating the third contact from the fourth contact. The thickness of the second spacing layer is greater than that of the first spacing layer. When the key is depressed in response to the first pressure, the first contact and the second contact are electrically connected with each other to generate a first sensing signal. When the key is depressed in response to the second pressure, the first contact and the second contact are electrically connected with each other and the third contact and fourth contact are electrically connected with each other to generate a second sensing signal.

A key activation system for use in a handheld communication device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

A two-step switch, which may be minimized in radial direction and is suitable for PCB or FPC circuit board, has a first contact spring, having outer peripheral contacts in regular contact with first fixed contacts and having an inner contact inside the outer peripheral contacts and reversed by depressing, and a second contact spring, stacked on the first contact spring via an insulation sheet, having an outer peripheral contact in regular contact with a second fixed contact and having an inner contact inside of the outer peripheral contact and reversed by depressing. Through a first depressing, the inner contact of the first contact spring is reversed and in contact with the inner contact of the second contact spring, whereby a first electric circuit is actuated. Also through a second depressing, the inner contact of the second contact spring is reversed and in contact with the third fixed contact, whereby a second electric circuit is actuated.

A dual tactile feedback, three-state, low profile pushbutton switch comprising an insulated housing, a metal dome, an extended travel molded elastomeric dome or stem having a conductive material on a bottom surface for contacting the metal dome and contacts in the switch housing, a collar having an opening for a top portion of said elastomeric dome to protrude therethrough, and a fixed contact under the metal dome on the base of the insulated housing connected to a switch terminal. A flat plate with four legs is placed above the stem which moves adjacent to the walls of the housing. The plate extends through a frame and openings on the sides of the frame snap on to the sides of the insulated housing. Greater switch reliability is achieved by having the elastomeric dome with a bottom portion comprising a conductive material for contacting the metal dome. An alternate embodiment of the three-state switch comprises a pushbutton disposed above an upper, extruded, elastomeric element for lower cost advantages having conductive material on a bottom surface for making electrical contact within the base of the switch housing and a lower metal dome, when the pushbutton is activated. The lower metal dome also makes electrical contact with contacts in the base of the switch housing.

An electronic device, e.g. a mobile telephone, may comprise an input device such as a rocker key device for operating functions in the electronic device. The input device may comprise a switch device with at least one switch pad mounted on a support structure, and an input actuator for actuating the switch device. Each switch pad comprises a plurality of press detection switches. Each press detection switch of the multiple press detection switches is configured to output a signal upon depression of the press detection switch, when the switch pad is actuated by means of the input actuator. Some embodiments of the present invention provide the user of a communication device with a more reliable input of data/commands and at the same time achieves a higher redundancy for such input. The invention also reduces the height of a portable electronic device and also the number of components required for doing this, and therefore reduces the cost of the device. Furthermore, the invention also provides a very low height and a flat shape of the actuator when implemented in a mobile device, whereby the use of the restricted space in such a device is optimized.

A mobile terminal is provided that includes a housing having an opening formed therein, a cover disposed in the opening of the housing, the cover including at least one light transmission opening, an input switch located beneath the opening of the housing and the at least one light transmission opening, a light emitter to illuminate the at least one light transmission opening, and a light constraining member to direct light from the light emitter towards the light transmission opening and to minimize light emitted from the light emitter from being directed peripherally of the light transmission opening.

The present invention relates to a multi-step operation electrical switch having an elastic conductive plate, which is deformed to establish an electrical contact when a pressing force is applied thereto and is restored to the initial state to break the electrical contact when the pressing force is removed.

According to the present invention, the elastic plate has a plurality of dome portions formed integrally therewith, each of the dome portions bulges in the direction opposite to the direction in which the elastic plate is pressed and is depressed by the pressing force applied thereto. The applied pressing force varies with the dome portions. In order to prevent an electrical contact from being established when no pressing force is applied to the elastic plate, spacer portions are necessary. According to the present invention, inclined spacer portions are provided along the outer peripheries of a first and a second dome portions, respectively.

Therefore, since the pressing force is temporarily reduced when one dome portion is depressed, a click feel can be provided. Since the pressing force varies with the dome portions, a multi-step operation can be achieved. In addition, since the elastic plate has a plurality of dome portions and a plurality of spacer portions formed integrally therewith, the overall size of the switch can be readily miniaturized.

A keypad device for a mobile telephone or other device utilizing a keypad or keyboard is comprised of a flexible substrate and a keypad cover. The flexible substrate includes a plurality of keys affixed to the surface as well as a plurality first conductive strips associated with each key. The keypad cover is attached to the flexible substrate. The keypad cover typically includes holes that permit the plurality of keys to protrude through the keypad cover. In addition, the keypad cover further includes a plurality of second conductive strips that selectively contact a corresponding first conductive strip on the flexible substrate. The plurality of first conductive strips is coupled to ground and the plurality of second conductive strips is coupled to logic circuitry. Or, in another embodiment, both sets of conductive strips are coupled with the logic circuitry. The default position of the keypad device has each of the first conductive strips in contact with each of the corresponding second conductive strips. This creates a short circuit condition that prevents key signals from being received by the logic circuitry. When a particular key is depressed to the point where the first conductive strip associated with that particular key is separated from the second conductive strip corresponding to the first conductive strip, the short circuit condition is removed. This allows a signal to be transmitted to and processed by the logic circuitry indicating that a particular key has been selected.