[go: up one dir, main page]

EP1158553A1 - Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes - Google Patents

Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1158553A1
EP1158553A1 EP00610051A EP00610051A EP1158553A1 EP 1158553 A1 EP1158553 A1 EP 1158553A1 EP 00610051 A EP00610051 A EP 00610051A EP 00610051 A EP00610051 A EP 00610051A EP 1158553 A1 EP1158553 A1 EP 1158553A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dome
key
keyboard
foil
front plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00610051A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Magnus Andersson
Pernilla Jonsson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority to EP00610051A priority Critical patent/EP1158553A1/fr
Priority to AU2001256311A priority patent/AU2001256311A1/en
Priority to PCT/EP2001/004498 priority patent/WO2001091150A1/fr
Priority to MYPI20012002 priority patent/MY133854A/en
Priority to US09/848,796 priority patent/US20010035334A1/en
Publication of EP1158553A1 publication Critical patent/EP1158553A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/022—Asymmetric; Elliptic; Square
    • H01H2215/024—Spider
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/036—Return force

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a keyboard for an electronic device, said keyboard comprising a front plate and at least one key extending through an aperture in the front plate, said key having a shoulder that is wider than the aperture in the front plate, said keyboard further comprising a dome foil having a carrier part and at least one collapsible dome connected to the carrier part by an elastically deformable portion that is more liable to deformation than the dome itself when a pressure is applied to a top surface of the dome, said dome being positioned underneath the key that abuts the dome.
  • the invention also relates to an electronic device provided with such a keyboard.
  • US-A-3,898,421 discloses a keyboard of this type comprising a dome foil provided with domes of a double dome type comprising a central dome and a peripheral dome connected annularly to the rim of the central dome.
  • a pressure is applied to the central dome, e.g. by providing an external pressure to a key positioned above the dome, the peripheral dome collapses first, thereby contacting electrodes provided underneath the dome.
  • a continued pressure on the key causes the central dome eventually to collapse.
  • the peripheral dome as well as the central dome undergoes sudden flexural deformation due to the pressure applied and that the electric circuit is closed when the peripheral dome collapses. The subsequently and sudden collapse of the central dome is said to minimize wear of the keyboard.
  • DE-C2-25 59 681 discloses another keyboard comprising a dome foil.
  • This dome foil comprises a carrier part and single domes that are formed in one piece with the carrier part and connected thereto via strips formed in the dome foil.
  • the domes are collapsible and each dome is designed to undergo sudden flexural deformation when a pressure is applied to the top of the dome by a key positioned above the dome.
  • Each key of the keyboard is positioned above a dome of the dome foil and is held laterally in this position by a part of the key extending through an aperture provided in the front of the keyboard.
  • the key is held between the dome and the front of the keyboard by means of the dome at the lower end and, at the upper end, by a shoulder provided at the key, said shoulder being engageable with the rear side of the front of the keyboard.
  • each dome of the dome foil is designed in such a way that it undergoes sudden flexural deformation when a pressure is applied to the top of the dome.
  • the dome should be fully unstressed when the key above the dome is not activated. Even a slightly pre-tensioned dome of the above type may be caused to flex or collapse if a small, unintended pressure is applied to the dome via the key above it.
  • Keyboards of the above-mentioned type provided with a dome foil are therefore manufactured under manufacturing tolerances that allow the domes to be fully unstressed when the keys are not activated, i.e. the distance between the dome top and the rear side of the front of the keyboard is larger than the height of the key part that is positioned between the dome top and the rear side of the front of the keyboard. In other words, mechanical play exists between the key and the front of the keyboard.
  • the keys are only held loosely between the dome foil and the rear side of the front of the keyboard, and the keys are therefore allowed to rattle, if the keyboard is moved or shaken. Furthermore, the positions of the keys in relation to the front of the keyboard are not well defined, since they can be positioned against the rear side of the front of the keyboard or against the dome foil or anywhere there between.
  • the keyboard is a part of e.g. a mobile telephone rattling of the keys is most undesirable and it is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph in which the rattling is eliminated and in which the position of the keys in relation to the front of the keyboard is well defined.
  • the key will be firmly held between the dome foil and the rear side of the front plate, since the dome foil provides a constant pressure on the key to force it against the rear side of the front plate. Because the key is under constant pressure, no rattling is allowed to occur.
  • the elastically deformable portion of the dome foil has a shape of an annular collar connected to the dome rim and to the carrier part.
  • the elastically deformable portion of the dome foil comprises a number of individual strips provided between the dome rim and the carrier part. This embodiment calls for a more complicated manufacturing method, but a better key pressure characteristic may be achieved since the elasticity of the elastically deformable portion can be adjusted by varying the width of the strips.
  • the dome rim is preferably elevated to a plane above the plane of the carrier part such that when a key is pressed downwards, the elastically deformable portion is deformed until the dome rim abuts a surface which may be provided with electrical terminals. This position corresponds to the position of the dome rim according to the prior art.
  • the underside of the dome is electrically conductive, and it is positioned above electrical terminals that can be electrically connected by the dome when an external pressure is applied to the key causing the dome to flex.
  • the dome preferably undergoes a sudden flexural deformation when it flexes.
  • the keyboard is especially suitable for use in mobile electronic devices, such as a mobile telephone.
  • Fig. 1a shows a part of a keyboard according to the invention, said part comprising a key 1, a front plate 2, a dome foil 3 comprising a collapsible dome 4 and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 5 provided with electrical terminals 6 that are to be electrically connected when the key 1 is depressed.
  • PCB Print Circuit Board
  • the key 1 has a press surface 7, preferably provided with a number or a sign, and extends through an aperture in the front plate 2.
  • a shoulder 8 is provided on the key 1, said shoulder abutting the rear side of the front plate 2 when the key is in its initial position shown in Fig. la.
  • the shoulder 8 determines the outermost extension of the key 1 through the aperture in the front plate 2.
  • the key 1 is further provided with backwards extending ribs 9, 10 that abut the dome 4.
  • the dome foil 3 comprises a carrier part 11 and a dome 4 that is formed integrally with the carrier part 11 and is connected to this via an elastically deformable portion.
  • the dome 4 is provided with an electrically conductive underside and is therefore able to electrically connecting the two electrical terminals 6 provided at the PCB when the dome 4 are forced to collapse as described later.
  • the elastically deformable portion has in the shown embodiment a shape of an annular collar 12 connected to the dome rim and to the carrier part 11.
  • the annular collar is designed in such a way that it is more liable to deformation than the dome 4.
  • the carrier part 11 of the dome foil 3 is positioned on the top surface of the PCB 5 and the dome is raised in relation to the PCB 5 via the annular collar 12.
  • the distance between the dome 4 and the rear side of the front plate 2 is slightly less than the extend of the key part that is positioned between the dome 4 and the rear side of the front plate 2. Therefore, when the key is mounted as shown in Fig. 1a, the annular collar 12, which is more liable to deformation than the dome 4, is slightly elastically deformed and forces the key 1 against the rear side of the front plate 2. The key 1 is thereby held firmly between the dome 4 and the rear side of the front plate 2 and no rattling can occur.
  • a downwardly extending force F 1 is applied to its press surface 7.
  • the downwardly movement of the key 1 causes the annular collar 12, which is more liable to deformation than the dome 4, to deform until the rim of the dome 4 engages the PCB as shown in Fig. 1b.
  • the dome 4 has not collapsed yet and the electrical terminals 6 are not electrically connected.
  • the dome 4 collapses or flex downwards until its electrically conducting underside interconnects the two electrical terminals 6 provided on the PCB. This is shown in Fig. 1c.
  • the annular collar 12 does not deform any further when applying the additional force F 2 .
  • the only possible deformation is flexural deformation of the dome 4 which causes the electrical terminals 6 to be electrically connected because the electrically conducting underside of the dome 4 engage both electrical ducting underside of the dome 4 engage both electrical terminals 6.
  • the dome 4 is preferably designed such that it undergoes a sudden flexural deformation which gives the user a feelable "click", indicating that the key 1 has been operated.
  • the dome 4 When the key 1 is released the dome 4 first flex back to its initial shape forcing the key 1 partly upwards. Immediately afterwards the elastically deformed annular collar 12 forces the key 1 further upwards until the shoulder 8 of the key 1 abuts the rear side of the front plate 2. The key 1 is then in its initial position shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 2 shows in a perspective view a dome foil 3 having four domes 4 of the type described above.
  • the domes 4 are formed integrally with the carrier part and it can be clearly seen how the domes 4 are connected to the carrier part 11 by annular collars 12.
  • the annular collars 12 are designed such that they are more liable to deformation than the domes 4 themselves as described above.
  • the dome foil 3 is preferably made in one piece from a plastics material, e.g. by vacuum-forming, and an electrically conducting layer is applied to the underside of each dome.
  • Fig. 3 shows a dome foil 13 in an alternative embodiment comprising four domes 14 that each is connected to a carrier part 21 by four elastically deformable strips 22 which together constitute an elastically deformable portion that is more liable to deformation than the dome 14 itself.
  • the dome foil 13 may be manufactured in one piece as the dome foil 3 having the openings between the strips 22 being punched out. However, the dome foil 13 may also be provided with thin metal domes that are glued or welded to the strips 22 which preferably are formed integrally with the carrier part 21, e.g. from a plastics material.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP00610051A 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes Withdrawn EP1158553A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00610051A EP1158553A1 (fr) 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes
AU2001256311A AU2001256311A1 (en) 2000-05-24 2001-04-20 Keyboard comprising a dome foil
PCT/EP2001/004498 WO2001091150A1 (fr) 2000-05-24 2001-04-20 Clavier comprenant une feuille en forme de dome
MYPI20012002 MY133854A (en) 2000-05-24 2001-04-27 Keyboard comprising a dome foil
US09/848,796 US20010035334A1 (en) 2000-05-24 2001-05-04 Keyboard comprising a dome foil

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00610051A EP1158553A1 (fr) 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1158553A1 true EP1158553A1 (fr) 2001-11-28

Family

ID=8174391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00610051A Withdrawn EP1158553A1 (fr) 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1158553A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105185638A (zh) * 2009-07-15 2015-12-23 霍弗·霍斯贝克及弗斯特两合公司 电开关

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3898421A (en) * 1972-08-18 1975-08-05 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Push button switch with elastic conductive sheet
US4005293A (en) * 1974-11-29 1977-01-25 Texas Instruments Incorporated Pushbutton keyboard switch assembly having individual concave-convex contacts integrally attached to conductor strips
US4029916A (en) * 1975-04-18 1977-06-14 Northern Electric Company Limited Multi-contact push-button switch and plural embodiment for keyboard switch assembly
US4376238A (en) * 1980-03-12 1983-03-08 International Computers Limited Electrical devices
US4918271A (en) * 1984-04-19 1990-04-17 Standard Elektric Lorenz Ag Pushbutton type keyboard switch
EP0441993A1 (fr) * 1990-02-12 1991-08-21 Lexmark International, Inc. Plaque d'actionnement pour un clavier
US5136131A (en) * 1985-05-31 1992-08-04 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Push-button switch including a sheet provided with a plurality of domed members

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3898421A (en) * 1972-08-18 1975-08-05 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Push button switch with elastic conductive sheet
US4005293A (en) * 1974-11-29 1977-01-25 Texas Instruments Incorporated Pushbutton keyboard switch assembly having individual concave-convex contacts integrally attached to conductor strips
DE2559681C2 (de) * 1974-11-29 1986-01-02 Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, Tex. Betätigungsvorrichtung zum wahlweisen Schließen mehrerer elektrischer Stromkreise
US4029916A (en) * 1975-04-18 1977-06-14 Northern Electric Company Limited Multi-contact push-button switch and plural embodiment for keyboard switch assembly
US4376238A (en) * 1980-03-12 1983-03-08 International Computers Limited Electrical devices
US4918271A (en) * 1984-04-19 1990-04-17 Standard Elektric Lorenz Ag Pushbutton type keyboard switch
US5136131A (en) * 1985-05-31 1992-08-04 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Push-button switch including a sheet provided with a plurality of domed members
EP0441993A1 (fr) * 1990-02-12 1991-08-21 Lexmark International, Inc. Plaque d'actionnement pour un clavier

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105185638A (zh) * 2009-07-15 2015-12-23 霍弗·霍斯贝克及弗斯特两合公司 电开关
CN105185638B (zh) * 2009-07-15 2019-04-23 霍弗·霍斯贝克及弗斯特两合公司 电开关

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6624369B2 (en) Keyboard device and method for manufacturing the same
US7094979B2 (en) Switching device and portable terminal device
US4366355A (en) Keyboard
US5895901A (en) Long-stroke push-on switch with reduced height
USRE44405E1 (en) Switch integrated casing and electronic equipment having the casing
US5967298A (en) Keyboard device
GB2086804A (en) Keyblock assembly
US3995128A (en) Pushbutton keyboard system having preformed recessed support with contacts mounted on face and in recesses
EP1524679B1 (fr) Contact mobile pour un interrupteur à poussoir et interrupteur à poussoir
US6688790B2 (en) Keyboard input device
US11670465B2 (en) Key structure
US20010035334A1 (en) Keyboard comprising a dome foil
EP1158553A1 (fr) Clavier pourvu d'une feuille à dômes
GB2375892A (en) Press button structure and method of manufacture
US20030136650A1 (en) Two-stage touch switch
US6633641B1 (en) Key input device
CN111292989B (zh) 按键装置及键盘装置
US6621902B1 (en) Key input device
US20130319838A1 (en) Press key
CN112652496B (zh) 圆顶致动器结构与包括该结构的圆顶开关
JP3380431B2 (ja) 電子機器におけるツマミ取付構造
JP3392845B2 (ja) キースイッチ装置
KR100459772B1 (ko) 키버튼 어셈블리
JPH06164153A (ja) 電子機器用操作装置
JPH0359529B2 (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20020521

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20070123