Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Cases and bases
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2002-01-15
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Cases and bases
C200S292000, C200S329000, C200S336000, C361S799000, C361S816000, C361S818000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06339200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrostatic insulation for an operating unit for electronic equipment that perform a variety of operations.
2. Related Art Statement
Conventionally, electronic equipment, such as a camera, is provided with an operating unit having operating members for performing a variety of operations. In such apparatuses, however, static electricity generated at operating portions of the operating members must be prevented from effecting electric circuits within the equipment because such static electricity may cause the failure of an electric circuit element.
An operating unit for electronic equipment presented and disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-263042 comprises a switch circuit substrate
34
disposed in the casing
31
of the equipment as shown in FIG.
5
. The switch circuit substrate
34
is constructed in such a manner that even when static electricity passes into the casing through the periphery of a operating button
32
, it is redirected to the ground via a grounding pin
36
.
The switch circuit substrate
34
is covered with an insulating sheet
35
, and provided with a grounding pin
36
with one end exposed from the insulating sheet and the other end soldered to the ground pattern on the main circuit substrate
33
located within the equipment. Therefore, even when static electricity generated at or applied to the periphery of the operating button
32
enters into the electronic equipment, such static electricity will be redirected to the ground on the main circuit substrate
33
via the grounding pin
36
. A switch element
37
and other components disposed on the switch circuit substrate
34
are protected against damage due to static electricity.
However, in the operating unit for electronic equipment disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 7-263042, as a measure against static electricity, a specific insulating sheet
35
for covering the switch circuit substrate
34
is required. Also, the grounding pin
36
attached to the insulating sheet
35
has to be connected to the main circuit substrate
33
by soldering, which could be disadvantageous in terms of space and cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation unit for electronic equipment which is free of the aforementioned disadvantages and is able to protect electronic parts disposed on the electric circuit against static electricity created by the operating members and the peripheries thereof, and is advantageous in terms of space and cost.
The operating unit of electronic equipment of the present invention comprises an electrically conductive supporting member for supporting the operating member, an electric circuit substrate being disposed at the inner part of the electronic equipment with respect to the supporting member and having a conductive pattern as well as an electric circuit element, and a ground connecting means for connecting the supporting member to the ground portion provided on the electric circuit substrate, wherein a part of the supporting member is in contact with the ground of the electric circuit substrate.
The operating unit for electronic equipment according to the present invention ensures protection of electronic parts on the electric circuit substrate against static electricity from the operating members or the peripheries thereof, and is advantageous in terms of space and cost.
These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description in light of the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4303960 (1981-12-01), Sherwood et al.
patent: 5383097 (1995-01-01), DeLucia et al.
patent: 6207912 (2001-03-01), Persson
patent: 1-307195 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 7-263042 (1995-10-01), None
Kume Hideaki
Shi Lei
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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