Pressure sensitive direction switches
US6313731A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2239/078
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Pressure sensitive direction devices are provided which may facilitate assembly and provide higher tolerance for variation in alignment of components while still providing for pressure sensitive direction detection. The devices of the present invention may be particularly advantageous when integrated into devices, such as cellular radiotelephones, to provide a user interface to facilitate user navigation through increasingly complex menu structures. In various embodiments, the present invention may detect pressure in addition to two and, preferably, at least four directions. In particular embodiments, the devices of the present invention provides a switching device having a plurality of trace grid areas located, for example, on a printed circuit board and actuated responsive to pressure applied by a user through a poly-dome layer where increase pressure results in contact with a greater number of the traces in respective grids. Alternative embodiments include trace patterns which are substantially circumferentially arranged in patterns configured to detect user input. A select switch is included in various embodiments of the present invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.