Multifunctional switch structure

Details Multifunctional switch structure Multifunctional switch structure

2002-05-24

2004-08-17

Friedhofer, Michael A. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Electric switch details

Cases and bases

Reexamination Certificate

active

06777632

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a multi-function switch, and in particular to a multi-function switch structure used in a portable phone and a portable phone using the same.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, portable phones have been widely used. Correspondingly, techniques for improving reliability thereof have been developed.
FIG. 10
is a plan view of a conventional portable phone. Referring to
FIG. 10
, a conventional portable phone
500
includes: a front case
101
; a protection window
102
attached to front case
101
; a multi-function switch operation key
504
provided in a central portion of front case
101
; push buttons
105
; a microphone
108
provided below push buttons
105
; a flip
106
provided on a lower end side of front case
101
; a receiver
107
provided in an upper portion of front case
101
; and an antenna
109
provided retractably on an upper end side of portable phone
500
.
Antenna
109
is stored in a rear case (not shown). Receiver
107
is provided on the upper side of front case
101
.
Below receiver
107
, an opening is provided in front case
101
, in which protection window
102
is fit. A liquid crystal display
103
is positioned in front case
101
so as to be covered with protection window
102
. Multi-function switch operation key
504
is arranged below and in the cinity of liquid crystal display
103
. Operation key
504
makes a pivoting movement by a prescribed angle in upward and downward directions in FIG.
10
. By a plurality of pivoting movements of operation key
504
and according to the number of the movements, various kinds of data are selected, which will then be displayed on liquid crystal display
103
.
Below operation key
504
, a plurality of push buttons
105
are provided. Information input by pressing push buttons
105
is displayed on liquid crystal display
103
.
Below push buttons
105
, microphone
108
is provided.
Flip
106
is pivotably attached to the lower end side of front case
101
. As shown in
FIG. 10
, when flip
106
pivots in a direction away from receiver
107
, push buttons
105
are exposed. When flip
106
pivots toward receiver
107
of portable phone
500
, flip
106
covers push buttons
105
.
FIG. 11
is a plan view of a keypad of the portable phone shown in FIG.
10
. Referring to
FIG. 11
, push buttons
105
are arranged on a prescribed keypad
510
. Push buttons
105
are provided to protrude from a base rubber
114
. In the upper portion of base rubber
114
, other push buttons
112
are provided, spaced apart from each other. Between push buttons
112
, a hole
511
is provided for inserting a multi-function switch. Hole
511
is large enough to insert the multi-function switch, and has a shape corresponding to the external shape of the multi-function switch.
FIG. 12
shows a cross-section viewed along the line XII—XII in FIG.
10
. Referring to
FIG. 12
, in a multi-function switch structure of a conventional portable phone, a multi-function switch
550
consisting of a fixed portion
151
and a pivoting portion
552
is provided on a base plate
123
. Fixed portion
151
is fixed on base plate
123
, and has a slide switch inside. Pivoting portion
552
has a portion fit with fixed portion
151
, and pivots in a prescribed direction about the same. In pivoting portion
552
, the portion fit with fixed portion
151
has a smaller diameter compared with other portions. Pivoting portion
552
is formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to base plate
123
. Operation key
504
is provided so as to be in direct contact with pivoting portion
552
. Operation key
504
is formed like a dome having a certain curvature, with its top portion protruded.
Base rubber
114
is provided on base plate
123
. In base rubber
114
, hole
511
is provided for accommodating multi-function switch
550
. Base rubber
114
is pressed toward front case
101
and is fixed to base plate
123
.
On multi-function switch
550
, operation key
504
with enhanced appearance is fixed. Moreover, this operation key
504
is exposed through the hole of front case
101
. In some cases, operation key
504
may have a sliding scheme in addition to pivoting scheme in a prescribed direction.
Recent portable phones have had smaller housings, while having more functions. Therefore, a variety of principal functions have been assigned to a single multi-function switch, and, instead of conventional push buttons
105
, operation key
504
has been more frequently used. When a person operates operation key
504
, water, for example, perspiration, will adhere thereto. Since operation key
504
pivots or slides in various directions, adhered water may enter the inside of a portable phone from a gap between operation key
504
and front case
101
, to reach base plate
123
. Consequently, short-circuit of a patterned interconnections on base plate
123
tends to occur, resulting in malfunction when using the portable phone.
In addition, because of pivoting movement of operating key
504
, it was difficult to interpose a cushion or the like between operation key
504
and front case
101
, and to achieve waterproof and dustproof property as required in daily use.
The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a multi-function switch structure of high reliability, having a dustproof and waterproof structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal of high reliability, having a dustproof and waterproof structure.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A multi-function switch structure according to the present invention includes a multi-function switch provided on a base plate to pivot in a prescribed direction, and a rubber film provided on the base plate to cover at least a portion of an outer surface of the multi-function switch.
In the multi-function switch structure thus constructed, the rubber film covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the multi-function switch. Accordingly, this rubber film can prevent dust and water from entering the inside of a portable terminal from the multi-function switch. As a result, a multi-function switch structure of high reliability having dustproof and waterproof property can be provided.
Preferably, the rubber film is adhered to the multi-function switch and is provided with a portion easing tension of the rubber film caused by pivoting movement of the multi-function switch. In this case, even if tensile stress is produced in the rubber film having been pulled to move by the multi-function switch, the tensile stress will be eased, and therefore, the rubber film can move smooth. As a result, an excellent operability can be maintained.
A multi-function switch structure according to another aspect of the present invention includes a multi-function switch provided on a base plate to pivot in a prescribed direction, a rubber film provided above the base plate, and an operation key provided on the multi-function switch. The rubber film extends underneath the multi-function switch.
In the multi-function switch structure thus constructed, the rubber film extends underneath the operation key. Therefore, even if dust or water adhered to the outer surface of the operation key comes down the surface of the operation key to enter the inside of a portable phone, the dust and water will be collected on the rubber film and does not reach the base plate. Consequently, a multi-function switch structure of the present invention will have dustproof and waterproof property and improved reliability.
Preferably, the operation key pivots from one end to the other along with the multi-function switch, and even when the operation key has pivoted to reach one end, the rubber film is arranged to extend underneath the operation key. In this case, since the rubber film is positioned to be always underneath the operation key even when the operation key has pivoted, the multi-function switch structure will exhibit waterproof and dustproof property no matter whatever way the operation key may be moved. As a result, a mul

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