Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Pivoted contact
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-05-01
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Pivoted contact
C200S0050EA, C200S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225579
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to pushbutton selector switches. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gimbal mounted selector switch that selectively actuates a plurality of underlying switches.
2. Description of the Background Art
Assemblies for selectively actuating switch closures in response to a manual movement of a member, such as a multifunction button, have seen increasing utility and are often found in such devices such as computer interfaces, joysticks, automotive mirror controls and the like. One application for multifunction buttons is in telecommunication devices such as televisions and associated peripherals (i.e., control boxes, remotes, video players and the like). These multifunction buttons allow a user to select responses to menu prompts in a quick and efficient manner, using a minimal user interface.
However, multifunction buttons require careful and meticulous design in order to enable an actuator of the multifunction button to close an appropriate contact or switch. Often, the motion enabling device, or hinge, allows some translational motion of the actuator that may allow the actuator to miss the switch, or become “hung-up”, i.e., stuck, upon the switch or other surrounding structure. Additionally, some multifunction buttons have a “mushy” or indistinct feel that causes the user to hesitate during selection and rely on a display to confirm that the desired selection was made.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a multifunction button providing good positional accuracy in relation to the switches associated with the button. Furthermore, such multifunction buttons should have a “positive” tactile feedback such that a user may confidently, and rapidly navigate through a menu screen or otherwise interact with a device or system.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by the present invention of a gimbal mounted multifunction button. Specifically, the multifunction button of the present invention comprises a selector button having a boss and a plurality of protruding actuators. The selector button is connected to a gimbal disposed in a plate. The gimbal has a plurality of fingers for receiving and retaining the selector button in fixed orientation to the boss. A printed circuit board is disposed at a predetermined distance from the plate. The printed circuit board has a plurality of switches aligned correspondingly with the plurality of protruding actuators. The selector button may be biased to selectively cause one of the of actuators to actuate a corresponding switch, or alternately selectively cause an adjacent pair of actuators to actuate a corresponding pair of adjacent switches.
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Bose William Hofmann
Ritter Darin Bradley
Scott J. R.
Shedd R. D.
Thomson Licensing S.A.
Tripoli J. S.
Wein F. A.
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