Keypad and compact video device equipped therewith, provided with a screen

Abstract

The pocket video player comprises a screen 1 and a keypad 2. The keypad 2 is composed of rocking keys each controlling two antinomic functions which cannot be activated simultaneously. Three of the adjacent keys (4c, 4d, 4e) constitute a navigator with rocking keys. The central key (4d) controls two opposite directions and the two side keys (4c, 4e) each control one of the two other directions respectively. Useful for increasing the size of the screen, reducing the size of the keypad, and making the actuation of the functions easier and more reliable.

Description

In the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket video device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the keypad;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the keypad in FIG. 2 showing the sub-assemblies of which it is composed.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the keys;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the actuation sub-assembly;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the keypad, in two different sectional planes;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the actuation sub-assembly, with partial view of the pin and a pivot bearing of the base in the left part;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the keypad during an actuation; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic end view of a modified embodiment of the keypad.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pocket video player is presented in the form of a flat parallelepipedic object comprising a rectangular screen 1 occupying the greater part of one of the large faces of the parallelepiped beside a keypad 2 which extends over one of the widths of this large face, between two end trim covers 3. As an indication, the dimensions of the player are for example 13×7×1 cm approximately.

The length L of the keypad is for example approximately 50 mm and its depth P approximately 15 mm.

The keypad comprises keys 4a . . . 4e aligned in parallel to its length L. In the example, there are five keys.

According to the invention, each key 4 has two opposite actuation zones 6 situated on either side of an inactive zone 7 of the key. The inactive zones 7 are aligned over a longitudinal axis 8 of the keypad. The longitudinal axis 8 is parallel to the length L of the keypad. For each key, the two actuation zones 6 are situated on either side of the pin 8. Each actuation zone allows a corresponding function of the player to be activated, symbolized by an icon 9. To activate the function, the user presses with the finger on the corresponding actuation zone 6.

In the example which will be described more in detail, the keys 4 are rockable independently of each other about the longitudinal axis 8 in one direction of rocking or in the other from a neutral position in which neither of the two functions associated with the key is activated.

The key is supported mechanically under the inactive zone 7. Therefore the pressure of the user's finger in general has the effect that the key is more substantially pressed on one side of the axis 8 and that the actuation zone which is remote from the side receiving the majority of the pressure tends to be lifted up. If the user inadvertently presses centrally on the inactive zone 7, possibly on both sides of the latter with an equal pressure on both actuation zones, no activation will take place, as the pressure is completely absorbed by the mechanical support in place under the inactive zone 7.

Preferably, the two functions associated with a single key are antinomic, in the sense that their simultaneous activation is undesirable. In the example represented, the two functions which can be activated by the key 4a are the “Menu” function and the “Exit menu” function. The key 4b controls the “Accept” and “Reject” functions. Devices of the type envisaged by the invention ideally comprise a small number of keys, and an increasing number of functions is required by the average user. This can be obtained by giving a different function to a second, third etc. successive pressure on a single actuation zone. Information displayed on the screen can also temporarily allocate a different function to a particular actuation zone. In such cases, the notion of antinomy between the functions associated with the two actuation zones of a single key can be temporarily abandoned without leaving the framework of the antinomy feature provided for according to the invention.

According to one aspect of the invention, a navigator is grouped over three adjacent keys, namely keys 4c, 4d, and 4e of the keypad. The two actuation zones of the central key 4d control two mutually opposed navigation directions. The two side keys 4c and 4e each control respectively one of the two navigation directions perpendicular to the two opposed directions of the key 4d. The other actuation zone of each side key 4c or 4e controls scrolling at accelerated speed.

In the example represented, the two actuation zones for accelerated scrolling are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis 8, in such a way that the four scrolling functions at normal speed have a T-shaped configuration. It would also be possible to arrange these four functions according to a Z-shaped configuration, i.e. for example by reversing the two functions which can be activated by the key 4e or those which can be activated by the key 4c.

FIG. 1 moreover illustrates a feature of the invention which is the ability at any time, according to the functional requirements of the device, to reallocate all or part of the keys to other functions than those represented by the icons 9 marked on the keys. In the example represented, all the available keys are reallocated to the functions linked to the input of alphanumeric characters 41. This reallocation depends on the display of a representation 42 of the new keypad thus constituted on the screen 1. In this example, the characters 43 have been distributed in a uniform manner over the representation of the largest possible number of keys in order to reduce the maximum number of sequential presses necessary to achieve all the characters. It is possible to make other allocation choices without exceeding the scope of the invention, for example by giving privileged access to the characters most frequently used. Similarly, in the non-limitative example represented in FIG. 1, the acceptance and cancellation functions are reallocated to other keys 4a than those normally intended for this purpose 4b in order to group together the keys involved in the input of characters 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e.

In a more particular embodiment represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the keypad comprises tactile identification patterns on the visible face of the keys, i.e. the face accessible to the user's finger and which has the actuation zones and the inactive zone. In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, these patterns are recesses which extend over the faces of several adjacent keys. These tactile identification patterns allow the user, after a period of practice, to be guided by touch to locate on the keypad the actuation zone corresponding to the function that it is desired to activate. Moreover, patterns 11, 12 guide the user from one actuation zone to another.

The identification patterns also have the function of defining a visual and tactile grouping of certain adjacent keys, and therefore a logical grouping of the functions which are activated by these keys.

In the more precise example represented, the pattern 11 groups in a visual and tactile manner the three keys 4c, 4d and 4e of the navigator. The contour of the recess 11 surrounds and groups together the four actuation zones for scrolling at normal speed in the four directions. Thus, the user accustomed to his player can select the scrolling directions by moving his finger within the recess 11, which has the general shape of T, like the arrangement already described of the four corresponding actuation zones. The two actuation zones for the accelerated scrolling are situated outside the recess 11. The user locates them by touch by crossing from the inside to the outside of the contour of the recess 11 on either side of the leg of the T.

The pattern 12 is also, in this example, a recess which the user's finger must go all the way round in order to encounter successively the four actuation surfaces of the two keys 4a and 4b. The recess 12 straddles the boundary between the keys 4a and 4b, being symmetrical on either side of the axis 8 and without reaching the edges of the assembly formed by the keys 4a and 4b.

In the modified embodiment represented in FIG. 4, the pattern 12 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is replaced by a pattern 12a constituted by a projection having substantially the same contour as the recess 12 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, the mechanical construction of the keypad in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. The keypad comprises a base 13 in which are installed two rows of actuation detectors 14 constituted in this example by micro-contacts of a known type. The two rows 14 are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 8. The keypad 2 also comprises an actuation sub-assembly 16 comprising the keys 4a to 4e already described, preassembled together by means of an elastomer interface 17 (FIG. 5) which once the keypad is assembled is interposed between the keys 4a to 4e on the one hand and an upper face 18 of the base 13 on the other hand.

Finally, the keypad 2 comprises a cylindrical pin 19 of greater or substantially equal length to L (FIG. 1) in order to connect the keys 4a to 4e in a hinged manner to the base 13.

To make this connection possible, the base 13 has on its upper face 18 six pivot bearings 21 aligned along the axis 8 and forming bearings for the cylindrical pin 19. Moreover, each key 4 (FIG. 5) has on its lower face two pivot bearings 22 intended to be placed between two successive pivot bearings 21 of the base 13, substantially without axial clearance between them, as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 and the left part of FIG. 7 also show that each pivot bearing 21 is positioned without axial clearance between two successive pivot bearings 22 belonging to two adjacent keys 4, thus defining between these two keys a very small clearance “j” (FIG. 7), of for example a few tenths of a mm, in order to allow the keys 4 to be actuated independently of each other in a reliable manner. The bearings 21 therefore form a spacer between the keys 4.

The longitudinal axis 8, about which the keys 4 can rock with respect to the base 13, extends close to the plane of the upper surface 18 of the base 13, where the sensitive faces of the actuating detectors 14 are situated. Thus, the sensitive faces of the detectors 14 are struck almost perpendicularly by each key. However, it is preferable for the axis 8 to be slightly offset towards the keys 4 with respect to the surface 18 so that the movement of the upper face of the keys 4 is substantially perpendicular to the adjacent external surface of the device, in order to minimise the functional clearance to be allowed for between the edges of the keys and the adjacent fixed parts. In order to position the pin 19 close to the upper face 18, the latter has on either side of the pivot bearings 21, recesses or openings 23 (FIG. 3) allowing the pivot bearings 22 of the keys to penetrate slightly inside the base 13 once the assembly is achieved. This penetration, shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, also has the effect of pre-positioning the pivot bearings 22 in axial alignment with the pivot bearings 21 during assembly, for insertion of the pin 19.

In practice, the surface 18 of the base 13 is made of an elastomer membrane which completely covers the micro-contacts 14 while transmitting to them the actuating forces received from the keys 4. The left part of FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 show that the body of the base supports the membrane in certain appropriate areas situated between the detectors 14 or around them.

The interface 17 is a plate having openings 24 (FIG. 5) for the passage of the pivot bearings 22, zones 26 for bonding by adhesive onto the corresponding lower faces 27 of the keys 4, bridges 28 which are free relative to the keys 4 and connect together the successive zones 26 bonded to adjacent keys 4. The bridges 28 are lower towards the base 13 with respect to the bonding zones 26 and comprise projections 29 which permanently bear on the surface 18 of the base 13 between the successive contacts 14 of a same row. Thus, the interface 17 establishes between the base 13 and the keys 4 a pre-stressing thanks to which the interface is pre-compressed between the base 13 and the keys 4, and the keys 4 are held under stress away from the base 13. Any play of the pin 19 in the pivot bearings 21 and 22 is thus eliminated. The above mentioned pre-stress returns the keys 4 to their neutral position in which neither of the two functions associated with each key 4 is activated. When a key 4 is actuated in one direction or the other with respect to this neutral position, as represented in FIG. 8, this corresponds to an additional local compression of the interface 17 with deformation of the two bridges 28 situated on either side of the zone 26 bonded to the key 4 on the side where the latter is pressed by the user.

On the side facing the base 13, the zones 26 for bonding to the key 4 each have an actuation projection 31. As shown in the left part of FIG. 6, when the keys 4 are at rest, the projections 31 are away from the contacts 14. When a key 4 is actuated (FIG. 8), the corresponding boss 31 acts on the sensitive face of the associated micro-contact 14.

Thus, each zone 26 for bonding to a key 4 is at the same time a zone for transmitting actuation of the key 4 to a particular micro-contact 14, via a projection 31 carried by this zone. The two zones 26 associated with a single key 4 are connected by a bracket 33 in form of a channel opening towards the base 13. The hollow of this channel accommodates the pin 19.

For assembly of the keypad, there is manufactured separately on the one hand the base 13, and on the other hand the actuation sub-assembly by bonding the keys onto the interface 17. Then the pivot bearings 21 and 22 are aligned, the pin 19 is inserted and immobilized axially by means of the trim covers 3 (FIG. 1).

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the multi-strand ribbon cable 34 by which the micro-contacts 14 can be connected to the electronics of the player (not shown).

In the modified embodiment represented in FIG. 9, the key 4 has an unsymmetrical profile with a concave actuation face 6v and convex actuation face 6x, to facilitate tactile location by the user.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

A device according to the invention can have two keypads instead of a single one, the navigator being for example a separate keypad. A device according to the invention can also have conventional keys with a single actuation surface, in addition to a keypad according to the invention.

The keypad according to the invention can be placed on a face corresponding to the thickness of the player, or on a face which is sloped with respect to the face carrying the screen.

The base or other underlying structure can comprise fewer pivot bearings such as 21, some of which can advantageously be replaced by braces which maintain the functional clearance required between adjacent keys.

The pivot bearings 21 or 22 can be shaped as open bearings which clip onto the pin such as 19.

The keys can be fixed onto the interface by a means other than bonding, for example clipping.

The clearance “j” between keys can be ensured by a collar which extends the flank of the key close to the axis of rotation, or also by the positioning of the keys on the interface.

Claims

1. Keypad for a device provided with a screen, in particular a portable video player, characterized in that it comprises at least one control key (4) having on either side of an inactive zone (7) situated over a mechanical support for the key, two opposite zones (6) actuated by being depressed by the user, for controlling two different functions.

2. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that the two different functions are antinomic.

3. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two different functions is shown on the screen (1) by a graphical representation (42) of at least one corresponding key (4).

4. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that the two actuation zones (6x, 6v) have differences in shape which can be felt by the user's finger.

5. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that the keypad comprises a base (13) comprising actuation detectors (14), in particular contacts, each associated with one of the actuation zones (6) of the key (4).

6. Keypad according to claim 5, characterized in that the mechanical support of the inactive zone of the key is ensured relative to the base (13).

7. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical support is provided in the form of hinging the key (4) with a base (13).

8. Keypad according to claim 7, characterized in that the hinge comprises a pin (19) extending through at least one pivot bearing (22) carried by the key (4) and at least one pivot bearing (21) carried by the base (13).

9. Keypad according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one key comprises at least two adjacent keys (4a . . . 4e) hinged to the base (13) by a pin (19) common to said two keys.

10. Keypad according to claim 9, characterized in that the base (13) and the keys (4, 4a . . . 4e) comprise pivot bearings (21, 22) through which the common pin (19) extends and which laterally abut each other to define an axial clearance (j) between keys.

11. Keypad according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one key (4) is assembled with the base (13) simply by putting the pin in place (19).

12. Keypad according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a pre-stressed elastomer interface (17) in compression between said at least one key (4) and the base (13).

13. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one key comprises at least two keys pre-assembled together by being attached onto an interface (17) which is common to the two keys.

14. Keypad according to claim 12, characterized in that the interface (17) carries actuation projections (31) on its face facing away from to the keys (4).

15. Keypad according to claim 12, characterized in that the interface (17) carries localized support projections (29) on its face facing away from the keys (4), the localized support projections (29) being intended to bear permanently onto an underlying surface (18).

16. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one key comprises at least two adjacent keys, and in that it comprises a tactile identification pattern (11, 12, 12a) common to the two keys, which straddles the two keys on their respective face which is accessible to the user.

17. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one key comprises at least three adjacent keys (4c, 4d, 4e), namely a central key (4d) for controlling two navigation functions in two opposing directions, and two side keys (4c, 4e) each controlling two other functions, comprising a navigation function respectively in one of the two directions perpendicular to the two opposing directions of the central key.

18. Keypad according to claim 17, characterized in that the second function controlled by each of the two side keys (4c, 4e) is an accelerated navigation function.

19. Keypad according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises a tactile identification pattern (11), preferably a recess, with a contour extending over the three keys (14c, d, e).

20. Keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical support such as a hinge pin is situated in the vicinity of a plane containing sensitive faces of the actuation detectors (14), preferably with an offsetting of the pin towards the keys.

21. Compact portable device with a screen (1), of the pocket or handbag type, comprising a keypad (2) according to claim 1.

22. Device according to claim 21, characterized by being capable of displaying the image in two opposite directions, in which the keypad is positioned respectively to the right and to the left of the screen.

23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the keys of the keypad can be reversed on the base by a quick-mounting means, depending on the direction of use of the screen.