Push button assembly

Abstract

This provides a push-button assembly for reliably controlling the operation of a device. [Solution] The push-button assembly allows the user to press the push-button body, which is positioned in contact with an electrical switch, and the electrical switch is activated by moving the push-button body toward the base. The push-button body is rotatable about a fixed first axis located at the first end, and is movable toward or away from the base. The push-button body is rotatable about a second axis located at the second end, and is movable toward or away from the base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a user-operable push button assembly suitable for controlling the operation mode of a device, particularly suitable as a user-operable push button assembly for a communication device.

Background Art

[0002] As a recent trend in the development of user interfaces (UIs) for operating various types of devices, the use of touchscreens, touchpads, and corresponding technologies has been increasing. However, conventional user-operable push buttons are still an important part of the UIs of various devices and apparatuses, such as communication devices, vehicles, and heavy machinery.

[0003] Push buttons can provide a particularly advantageous means for a user to operate a device when the user is wearing protective gear such as gloves and it is difficult or impossible to operate a touchscreen or touchpad, for example, outdoors, in a relatively cold place, in a relatively hot place, or in (other) dangerous environments. Another example of a convenient operating situation for push buttons is when, for example, operating a vehicle or heavy machinery, or when performing other tasks that require the user's main attention, it is important that the device can be operated without the need for the user to look at it (eyes-free operation) because the user needs to direct attention to the surroundings simultaneously. The latter examples include various tasks performed by professionals such as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical service (EMS) staff, and military personnel.

[0004] One advantage of push buttons in such operating situations is that when the user physically presses the push button, it provides the user with immediate and specific tactile feedback that the user has operated the push button correctly. However, in such situations, it is equally important that the indication that the push button has been pressed is reliably transmitted to the device controlled by the push button.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a push-button assembly for reliably controlling the operation of a device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment, a push-button assembly for controlling the operation of a device is provided. The push-button assembly comprises a chassis including a base portion and a cover portion, spaced apart from each other and forming a space between them, wherein the cover portion includes a through-opening and the base portion includes an electrical switch facing the opening; a push-button body disposed in the space, the top of which extends into the opening provided in the cover portion, allowing a user to press the push-button body via the top, and the bottom of which is positioned in contact with the electrical switch, causing the electrical switch to be activated by moving the push-button body toward the base portion; and a frame disposed in the space, extending laterally across the space from a first side to a second side, with the first side of the push-button body adjacent to the first side of the space, and The push button body includes a frame that holds the push button body such that a second side of the push button body is adjacent to the second side of the space, the frame being rotatable relative to the chassis about a fixed first axis located at a first end of the frame on the first side of the space, thereby allowing the second side of the push button body to move selectively toward or toward the base as the frame rotates, and the push button body being rotatable about a second axis located at a second end of the frame on the second side of the space, thereby allowing the first side of the push button body to move selectively toward or toward the base as the push button body rotates.

[0007] According to another embodiment, a device is provided that includes a push-button assembly according to the above-described embodiment. This push-button assembly is configured to control at least one mode of operation of the device, or a device communicatively connected to the device.

[0008] According to one embodiment, a method for operating an electrical switch is provided.The method provides a push-button assembly including a chassis having a base portion and a cover portion arranged at intervals from each other and forming a space between them, wherein the cover portion includes a through-opening, the base portion includes the electrical switch facing the opening, and a push-button body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion is arranged in the space, so that the first side portion of the push-button body is adjacent to the first side of the space, the second side portion of the push-button body is adjacent to the second side of the space, and the top portion is located in front of the cover portion. Providing a push-button assembly having an opening that extends into the opening and allows the user to press the push-button body via the top, with the bottom positioned in contact with the electric switch, and when pressure is applied to the top of the push-button body at a position closer to the first side than to the second side, the push-button body rotates around a first axis fixed to the chassis on the first side of the space, moving the second side of the push-button body closer to the base, thereby moving the front of the push-button body The bottom of the push button is pressed against the electric switch, causing the electric switch to activate. The push button rotates around the first axis, and when pressure is applied to the top of the push button body at a position closer to the second side than to the first side, the push button body rotates around a second axis, which is located on the second side of the space and is movable relative to the first axis as the push button body rotates around the first axis, causing the first side to move closer to the base, thereby causing the bottom of the push button body to move closer to the electric switch. The mechanism includes: rotation of the push button about the second axis, which is pressed against the switch and activates the electric switch; and rotation of the push button about the first axis and the second axis, which is caused by applying pressure to the top of the push button body at a position approximately equidistant from its first and second sides, thereby rotating the push button body with respect to the first and second axes, causing the push button body to move toward the base, and the bottom of the push button body to be pressed against the electric switch and activate the electric switch.

[0009] The exemplary embodiments of the invention presented in this patent application should not be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims. The verb "includes" and its derivatives are used in this patent application as open limitations that do not exclude the existence of features not described.

[0010] Some features of the present invention are described in the appended claims. However, aspects relating to the structure and operation of the present invention, as well as its additional purposes and advantages, will be best understood by reading the following description of some exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings.

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are not limited thereto. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1A] This provides a schematic overview of some components of a push-button assembly using one example. [Figure 1B] A schematic diagram of a push-button assembly is shown as an example. [Figure 1C] A schematic diagram of a push-button assembly is shown as an example. [Figure 2A] A schematic diagram of a push button body is shown as an example. [Figure 2B] A schematic diagram of a push button body is shown as an example. [Figure 2C] A schematic diagram of a push button body is shown as an example. [Figure 3A] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 3B] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 4A] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 4B]A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 5A] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 5B] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 6A] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 6B] A schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a push-button assembly using one example is provided. [Figure 7] A schematic representation of the frame is shown using one example. [Figure 8] This demonstrates the method using one example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C schematically show some components of a push-button assembly 100 according to one example. The push-button assembly 100 includes a chassis 110, which includes a base portion 112 and a cover portion 114, a push-button body 120, and a frame 130. In particular, Figure 1A shows a perspective view of the base portion 112, cover portion 114, push-button body 120, and frame 130 separately installed from each other, Figure 1B shows a perspective view of the push-button assembly 100 in its assembled form, and Figure 1C shows a side view of the push-button assembly 100 in its assembled form. As shown in Figure 1A, the push-button assembly 100 may further include a spring 140 positioned between the push-button body 120 and the base portion 112.

[0014] The push-button assembly 100 according to the present disclosure can be applied to control the operation mode of a device. In this regard, the push-button assembly 100 can be provided as part of a user interface (UI) or a control panel of a device, or as part of a device that is operated to provide the UI of the device, and the push-button assembly 100 can be provided in the housing of such a device or device. Basically, the push-button assembly 100 according to the present disclosure is applicable as a user-operable control means of a device that requires user control, and in this regard, non-limiting examples include communication devices, various types of vehicles, outdoor and industrial heavy machinery, and the like. In a specific example, the push-button assembly 100 according to the present disclosure is applied as a push-to-talk (PTT) button of a mobile communication device intended to be used in potentially difficult operating situations by experts such as firefighters, police officers, emergency team members, military personnel, and the like.

[0015] As described above, the chassis 110 includes a base portion 112 and a cover portion 114, and these two components are spaced apart from each other and form a space therebetween. The space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 is provided to accommodate the push-button body 120 and the frame 130, as will be described in more detail later. The cover portion 114 includes a through-opening 114a, and the base portion 112 includes an electrical switch 112a facing the through-opening 114a penetrating the cover portion 114. In some examples, the cover portion 114 and the base portion 112 are provided separately from each other (see FIG. 1A), and are attached to each other to form the chassis 110 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C), while in some examples, the chassis 110 can be easily provided as an integral structure as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 are physically connected via a pair of support members 113, whereas in another example, the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 are not physically connected by a dedicated support member, but are individually supported via the respective structures of the housing of the device that the push-button assembly 100 controls, for example.

[0016] According to one example, the push button assembly 100 is provided as an independent component for installation in the housing of a device that controls an operation. In such a case, the housing may be provided with a recess for accommodating the push button assembly 100, and may include electrical connection portions necessary for electrical connection to the electrical switch 112a provided in the recess. In another example, the push button assembly 100 is partially integrally formed with the housing of the device that controls the operation. For example, the base portion 112 is provided as part of the device (housing), or the cover portion 114 is provided as part of the housing of the device.

[0017] In the present disclosure, the electrical switch 112a includes an electromechanical structure. The operation of the electrical switch 112a is achieved by applying a sufficient force to the electrical switch 112 from a reference direction, whereas the lack of operation of the electrical switch 112a (i.e., the absence of operation) is caused by the lack of application of a sufficient force from the reference direction. By operation, the electrical switch 112a can supply an electrical signal with specific electrical characteristics, whereas by the lack of operation, the electrical switch 112a may not supply an electrical signal or may supply an electrical signal with different electrical characteristics.

[0018] The electrical switch 112a of the base portion 112 is provided to control the operation mode of the device. However, the effect that occurs in the operation of the device when the electrical switch 112a is operated or the operation is stopped depends on the operation characteristics of the device and the role of the push button assembly 100 in the control of the device. In a non-limiting example of using the push button assembly 100 as a PTT button of a mobile communication device, by operating the electrical switch 112a, a voice channel from the mobile communication device to one or more other communication devices via a wireless communication channel or network is opened, whereas by stopping the operation of the electrical switch 112a, the voice channel is closed.

[0019] Typically, the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 are positioned on their respective (conceptual) planes that are substantially parallel to each other, and the reference direction (of the electric switch 112a) is perpendicular to these (conceptual) planes. In this respect, the direction perpendicular to the above (conceptual) planes can be called the vertical direction, and the direction parallel to the above (conceptual) planes can be called the horizontal direction. Furthermore, any direction whose angle with the vertical direction (and therefore the reference direction) exceeds 45 degrees can be considered a horizontal direction. The terms vertical and horizontal are used herein as spatial references for the push-button assembly 100, but it should be noted that whether or not they coincide with the actual vertical and horizontal directions depends on the orientation of the push-button assembly 100 relative to the operating environment and may change over time.

[0020] In one example, the opening 114a that penetrates the cover portion 114 is substantially rectangular, for example, substantially square in shape. The word "substantially" is used to take into consideration the fact that in actual implementation, the shape of the opening 114a may not be strictly rectangular, but rather closer to a rectangular shape with rounded or chamfered corners. In other examples, the shape of the opening 114a that penetrates the cover portion 114 may differ from that of a substantially rectangular one, for example, substantially circular or substantially elliptical. In one example, the electrical switch 112a of the base portion 112 is positioned relative to the opening 114a such that its vertical projection substantially coincides with the center of the opening 114a. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the electrical switch 112a is positioned relative to the opening 114a such that it is located substantially at the center of the projection of the opening 114a in the vertical direction.

[0021] As described above, the push button body 120 is positioned in the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114. Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C schematically show the push button body 120 from different directions in a non-limiting example. In the example in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the push button body 120 is shown as a block having a substantially rectangular cross-section in the horizontal direction, and has a top portion 122 extending into an opening in the cover portion 114 so that the push button assembly 100 can be operated by pressing the top portion 122 of the push button body 120, and a bottom portion 123 provided on the side of the block opposite the top portion 122 and positioned in contact with the electric switch 112a, so that when any part of the push button body 120 moves toward the base portion 112, the bottom portion 123 presses the electric switch 112. Furthermore, the push button body 120 has, at least conceptually, a first side portion 124a and a second side portion 124b opposite the first side portion 124a. Thus, the top portion 122 and the bottom portion 123 are the respective ends of the push button body 120 along the vertical direction, and the first and second sides 124a and 124b of the push button body 120 are the respective ends of the push button body 120 along the horizontal direction.

[0022] The push button body 120 is movable relative to the chassis 110, and when the top 122 is pressed, the push button body 120 tilts and / or moves vertically toward the base 112. When no pressure is applied to the top 122, the push button body 120 remains (or returns) to the idle position. On the other hand, any movement of the push button body 120 due to pressure applied to the top 122 places the push button body 120 in the pressed position. As described above, the spring 140 shown in Figure 1A is placed between the push button body 120 and the base 112 and applies a force that separates the push button body 120 from the base 112, thereby keeping or returning the push button body 120 to the idle position when no pressure is applied to the top 122. In other examples, a mechanism different from the spring 140 can be applied to keep or return the push button body to the idle position when no pressure is applied to the top 122.

[0023] In particular, the push button body 120 in the example shown in Figures 1A, 2A, 2B, and 2C can be considered a dome-shaped structure having a substantially rectangular cross-section and a substantially flat closed end that forms the top 122, whereas the bottom 123 is provided as a projection extending toward the open end of the dome-shaped structure within a recess formed inside the dome-shaped structure. Furthermore, the first and second sides 124a and 124b are provided as opposing sides of the dome-shaped structure. In the case of a push button body 120 having such a structure, the spring 140 can be arranged within the recess so as to surround the projection that forms the bottom 123. In other examples, the shape of the elements that function as the push button body 120 may differ from those described above and shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, but even in that case, it still has a top 122, a bottom 123, and the first and second sides 124a and 124b that play a role and are positioned relative to the chassis 110 in accordance with the above description. In other designs, the arrangement of the spring 140 relative to the push button body 120 may differ from that described above for the push button body in the examples of Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, and / or a different mechanism than the spring 140 may be applied to ensure that the push button body 120 is kept in or returned to the idle position when no pressure is applied to the top 122.

[0024] Similarly, the frame 130 is positioned in the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114, extending laterally across the space from a first side to a second side. Here, the second side is opposite to the first side. Here, the first and second sides of the space are located on opposite sides along the horizontal direction of the space. The frame 130 is positioned to hold the push button body 120 in the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 such that the first side portion 124a of the push button body 120 is adjacent to the first side of the space, and the second side portion 124b of the push button body 120 is adjacent to the second side of the space. Furthermore, the position of the push button body 120 relative to the frame 130 is such that the frame 130 moves together with the push button body 120 and / or the push button body 120 moves relative to the frame 130 depending on the position in which the top portion 122 of the push button body 120 is pressed. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0025] The top portion 122 of the push button body 120 has a shape and size such that the opening 114 can accommodate the top portion 122, so that when a user presses the top portion 122 of the push button body 120, the top portion 122 can move linearly vertically through the opening 114a and the top portion 122 can tilt relative to the cover portion 114 (and therefore horizontally). In this regard, when the top portion 122 of the push button body 120 is pressed to set the push button body 120 to the pressed position, the first side portion 124a and / or the second side portion 124b of the push button body 120 move toward the base portion 112, so that the bottom portion 123 of the push button body 120 is pressed against the electric switch 112a, and the electric switch 112a is activated (by applying sufficient force from the reference direction). In contrast, when no pressure is applied to the top 122 of the push button body 120, the push button body 120 remains in the idle position, and the bottom 123 contacts the electric switch 112a without applying significant pressure, resulting in no activation.

[0026] The frame 130 is rotatable about a first axis located at the first end of the frame 130 on the first side of the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114, and the frame 130 moves relative to the chassis 110. The first axis extends horizontally and allows the rotational movement of the frame 130 to move at least a portion of the push button body 120 closer to or further away from the base portion 112. The first axis is fixed in the sense that its position relative to the chassis 110 (or other components of the push button assembly 100) does not change with the rotational movement of the frame 130. Thus, the second side portion 124b of the push button body 120 is selectively movable to move closer to or further away from the base portion 112 with the rotational movement of the frame 130. Therefore, by tilting the push button body 120 in this way and bringing its second side portion 124b closer to the base portion 112, its bottom portion 123 can be pressed against the electric switch 112a, thereby activating the electric switch 112a (by applying sufficient force from the reference direction).

[0027] The push button body 120 is rotatable around a second axis located at the second end of the frame 130 on the second side of the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114, thereby tilting the push button body 120 relative to the chassis 110 and the frame 130. The second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis and therefore extends horizontally, enabling rotational movement of the push button body 120, which moves at least a portion of the push button body 120 closer to or further away from the base portion 112. Here, the second end of the frame 130 is the end opposite to the first end. The second axis moves relative to the chassis 110 with the rotational movement of the frame 130, which in turn changes the position of the second axis relative to the first axis. Thus, the first side portion 124a of the push button body 120 is selectively movable to move closer to or further away from the base portion 112 with the rotational movement of the push button body 120. Therefore, by tilting the push button body 120 in this way and bringing its first side portion 124a closer to the base portion 112, its bottom portion 123 is pressed against the electric switch 112a, and (by applying sufficient force from the reference direction) the electric switch 112a is activated.

[0028] The precise manner in which the push button body 120 moves relative to the chassis 110 depends on the position of the top 122 pressed by the user. In this regard, the schematic diagrams in Figures 3A and 3B show perspective and side views, respectively, of the push button assembly 110 with the push button body 120 in the idle position, and Figures 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B show corresponding schematic diagrams of different pressed positions of the push button body 120.

[0029] The schematic diagrams in Figures 4A and 4B show a perspective view and a side view of the push button assembly 110 in the pressed position when pressure is applied to the top 122 of the push button body 120 at a position closer to its first side 124a than its second side 124b (for example, by a user pressing it). In this situation, the push button body 120 rotates around the second axis, causing the push button body 120 to tilt so that its first side 124a moves toward the base 112, thereby pressing the bottom 123 of the push button body 120 against the electric switch 112a and activating the electric switch 112a.

[0030] The schematic diagrams in Figures 5A and 5B show a perspective view and a side view of the push button assembly 110 in the pressed position when pressure is applied to the top 122 of the push button body 120 (for example, by a user pressing it) at a position closer to the second side 124b than to the first side 124a. In this situation, the frame 130 rotates around the first axis, causing the push button body 120 to tilt so that its second side 124b moves toward the base 112, thereby pressing the bottom 123 of the push button body 120 against the electric switch 112a and activating the electric switch 112a.

[0031] The schematic diagrams in Figures 6A and 6B show a perspective view and a side view of the push button assembly 110 in the pressed position when pressure is applied to the top 122 of the push button body 120 at a position approximately equidistant from its first side 124a and second side 124b (for example, by a user pressing it). In this situation, the frame 130 rotates around the first axis and the push button body 120 rotates around the second axis, resulting in the push button body 120 moving vertically toward the base 112, which in turn presses the bottom 123 of the push button body 120 against the electric switch 112a, thereby activating the electric switch 112a.

[0032] Therefore, regardless of the position of the top 122 of the push button body 120 pressed by the user, the two-axis structure of the push button assembly 100 ensures that the push button body 120 moves to reliably apply pressure to the electric switch 112a, and as the electric switch 112a is activated, the user is simultaneously provided with immediate and physical tactile feedback indicating that the electric switch 112a has been successfully activated by pressing the push button body 120.

[0033] Figure 7 schematically shows a frame 130 in one example. The frame 130 includes a first hinge pin 132 located at its first end and a pair of arms 134a, 134b extending from the first hinge pin 132, each arm 134a, 134b having a second hinge socket 136a, 136b located at its distal end. When positioned in place within the push-button assembly 100, the first hinge pin 132 extends along a first axis, and each of the second hinge sockets 136a, 136b is positioned along a second axis, so that the arms 134a, 134b extend from the first side of the space between the base portion 112 and the cover portion 114 to the second side of this space. In this regard, the base portion 112 can be connected to the cover portion 114 by attaching a first hinge pin 132 to a pair of first hinge sockets 113a, 113b, which are provided as holes located within each support member 113 that hold the cover portion 114 at a desired distance from the base portion 112. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the push button body 120 may have a second hinge pin 126 located on its second side portion 124b. When the push button body 120 is positioned in a predetermined location within the push button assembly 100, the second hinge pin 126 extends along a second axis and is attached to a pair of second hinge sockets 136a, 136b so as to allow the push button body 120 to rotate relative to the frame 130.

[0034] The structure of the frame 130 shown in Figure 7 and described with reference to Figure 7 is an example and not limiting, and it should be noted that the structural elements of the frame 130 that enable the holding of the push button body 120, enable rotation of the frame 130 around the first axis, and / or enable rotation of the push button body 120 around the frame 130 may differ from the arms 134a and 134b used in this example, where the respective second hinge sockets 136a and 136b are located at the distal ends.

[0035] The push button body 120 may further include one or more tabs 128 extending laterally, for example horizontally, such that when the push button body 120 is positioned in a predetermined location within the push button assembly 100, each tab 128 is positioned to abut against the side of the frame 130 facing the base portion 112. This arrangement of one or more tabs 128 relative to the frame 130 prevents the push button body 120 from moving in the "wrong" direction relative to the frame 130, i.e., when pressure is applied to the top portion 122 of the push button body 120, closer to its second side portion 124b than its first side portion 124a, the first side portion 124a of the push button body 120 from separating from the base portion 112, while also facilitating a secure hold of the push button body 120 against the frame 130 in both the idle and pressed positions. Assuming a frame 130 having the structure shown in the example in Figure 7, each of the one or more tabs 128 can be positioned in contact with either the first hinge pin 132 or the arms 134a, 134b, such that it is positioned on the side facing the base portion 112 of the first hinge pin 132 or the arms 134a, 134b. In the former approach, each tab 128 can extend from the first side portion 124a of the push button body 120, whereas in the latter approach, each tab 128 can extend from the third side portion of the push button body 120. Here, the third side portion is the side portion that connects the first side portion 124a of the push button body 120 to the second side portion 124b.

[0036] Although the above has been described primarily through exemplary structural characteristics, the operation of the push-button assembly 100 according to this disclosure can also be described as a method step. As an example in this regard, Figure 8 shows a method 200 for operating the electric switch 112a. This method 200 is, The present invention provides a push-button assembly 100 including a chassis 110 having a base portion 112 and a cover portion 114 spaced apart from each other and forming a space between them, wherein the cover portion includes a through-opening 114a, the base portion 112 includes an electrical switch 112a facing the opening 114a, and a push-button body 120 having a top portion 122, a bottom portion 123, a first side portion 124a and a second side portion 124b is positioned in this space so that the first side portion 124a of the push-button body 120 is adjacent to the first side of this space, the second side portion 124b of the push-button body is adjacent to the second side of this space, the top portion 122 extends into the opening 114a provided in the cover portion 114 so that the user can press the push-button body 120 via the top portion 122, and the bottom portion 123 is positioned in contact with the electrical switch 112a (block 202). When pressure is applied to the top of the push button body at a position closer to its first side than to its second side, the push button body rotates around a first axis fixed to the chassis on the first side of this space, moving the second side of the push button body closer to the base, thereby pressing the bottom of the push button body against the electric switch and activating the electric switch (block 204). When pressure is applied to the top of the push button body at a position closer to its second side than its first side, the push button body is positioned on the second side of this space, and as the push button body rotates around the first axis, the push button body rotates around a second axis that is movable relative to the first axis, moving the first side closer to the base, thereby pressing the bottom of the push button body against the electric switch and activating the electric switch (block 206). When pressure is applied to the top of the push button body at a position approximately equidistant from its first and second sides, the push button body rotates relative to the first and second axes, causing it to move toward the base, and the bottom of the push button body is pressed against the electric switch, activating the electric switch (block 208). This includes the following.

[0037] The operations described with respect to blocks 204, 206, and 208 above are not necessarily performed in the order they appear in the description of method 200 above. For example, the operations described with respect to one of blocks 204, 206, and 208 can be performed in any order, and / or the operations described with respect to one of blocks 204, 206, and 208 can be repeated before performing the operations described with respect to another of blocks 204, 206, and 208. Method 200 can be modified and / or supplemented in various ways without departing from the scope of this disclosure, for example, according to examples relating to the structure and operation of the push-button assembly 100 described above.

Claims

1. A push-button assembly (100) for controlling the operation mode of a device, A chassis (110) comprising a base portion (112) and a cover portion (114) arranged at intervals from each other and forming a space between them, wherein the cover portion includes a through-opening (114a), and the base portion (112) includes an electrical switch (112a) facing the opening (114a), A push button body (120) is positioned within the aforementioned space, the top portion (122) of which extends into the opening (114a) provided in the cover portion (114), the user can press the push button body (120) via the top portion (122), and the bottom portion (123) of which is positioned in contact with the electric switch (112a), and the operation of the electric switch (112a) is caused by moving the push button body (120) toward the base portion (112), and A frame (130) disposed within the space, extending laterally across the space from a first side to a second side, and holding the push button body (120) such that the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120) is adjacent to the first side of the space and the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120) is adjacent to the second side of the space, Includes, The frame (130) is rotatable relative to the chassis (110) about a fixed first axis located at the first end of the frame (130) on the first side of the space, thereby allowing the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120) to move selectively towards or away from the base portion (112) as the frame (130) rotates. The push button body (120) is rotatable with respect to a second axis located at the second end of the frame (130) on the second side of the space, thereby allowing the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120) to move selectively towards or away from the base portion (112) as the push button body (120) rotates. Push button assembly (100).

2. The push-button assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the frame (130) includes a first hinge pin (132) extending along the first axis, the first hinge pin (132) being attached to a pair of first hinge sockets (113a, 113b) located on the first side of the space, thereby allowing the frame (130) to rotate about the first axis.

3. The push button assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein the pair of first hinge sockets (113a, 113b) are provided as holes located within each support member (113) that connects the base portion (112) to the cover portion (114).

4. The second end of the frame (130) includes a pair of second hinge sockets (136a, 136b), The push button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the push button body (120) includes a second hinge pin (126) positioned on the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120), the second hinge pin (126) extending along the second axis and attached to the pair of second hinge sockets (136a, 136b), thereby allowing the push button body (120) to rotate relative to the frame (130).

5. The push-button assembly (100) according to claim 4, wherein the frame (130) includes a pair of arms (134a, 134b) extending from the first side of the frame (130) toward the second side, with each arm (134a, 134b) having a second hinge socket (136a, 136b) positioned at its distal end.

6. The frame (130) includes a first hinge pin (132) positioned at the first end of the frame (130), and a pair of arms (134a, 134b) extending from the first hinge pin (132) toward the second end of the frame (130), with each arm (134a, 134b) having a second hinge socket (136a, 136b) positioned at its distal end. The frame (130) is positioned in the space such that the first hinge pin (132) extends along the first axis and is attached to a pair of first hinge sockets (113a, 113b) located on the first side of the space, thereby enabling the frame (130) to rotate about the first axis. The push button assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the push button body (120) includes a second hinge pin (126) positioned on the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120), and the push button body (120) is positioned in the space such that the push button body (120) is rotatable relative to the frame (130) by mounting the second hinge pin (126) to the respective second hinge sockets (136a, 136b) located at the distal ends of each arm (134a, 134b).

7. The push button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the push button body (120) includes one or more tabs (128) that extend laterally and are positioned in contact with the side of the frame (130) facing the base portion (112), the one or more tabs (128) preventing the push button body (120) from rotating relative to the frame (130), thereby moving the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120) away from the cover portion (114).

8. The push button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push button body (120) at a position closer to the first side portion (124a) than to the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120), the push button body (120) rotates about the second axis, moving the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120) toward the base portion (112), thereby pressing the bottom portion of the push button body (120) against the electric switch (112a) and activating the electric switch (112a).

9. The push-button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push-button body (120) at a position closer to the second side portion (124b) than to the first side portion (124a) of the push-button body (120), the frame (130) rotates about the first axis, moving the second side portion (124b) of the push-button body (120) toward the base portion (112), thereby pressing the bottom portion (123) of the push-button body (120) against the electric switch (112a) and activating the electric switch (112a).

10. The push-button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push-button body (120) at a position approximately equidistant from the first side portion (124a) and the second side portion (124b) of the push-button body (120), the frame (130) rotates about the first axis and the push-button body (120) rotates about the second axis, moving the push-button body (120) toward the base portion (112), thereby pressing the bottom portion (123) of the push-button body (120) against the electric switch (112a) and activating the electric switch (112a).

11. A push button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a spring (140) disposed between the push button body (120) and the base portion (112) so as to exert a force that pushes the push button body (120) away from the base portion (112).

12. A device comprising a push-button assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the push-button assembly (100) is configured to control at least one operating mode of the device or a device communicatively connected to the device.

13. The device according to claim 12, including a mobile communication device.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the push-button assembly is a push-to-talk (PTT) switch for the mobile communication device.

15. A method (200) for operating an electrical switch (112a), To provide a push-button assembly (100) including a chassis (110) having a base portion (112) and a cover portion (114) arranged at intervals from each other and forming a space between them, wherein the cover portion includes a through-opening (114a), the base portion (112) includes the electrical switch (112a) facing the opening (114a), and a push-button body (120) having a top portion (122), a bottom portion (123), a first side portion (124a), and a second side portion (124b) is arranged in the space. As a result, the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120) is adjacent to the first side of the space, the second side portion (124b) of the push button body is adjacent to the second side of the space, the top portion (122) extends into the opening (114a) provided in the cover portion (114), allowing the user to press the push button body (120) via the top portion (122), and the bottom portion (123) is positioned in contact with the electric switch (112a), thereby providing the push button assembly (100), When pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push button body (120) at a position closer to the first side portion (124a) than to the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120), the push button body (120) is rotated around a first axis fixed to the chassis (110) on the first side of the space, causing the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120) to move closer to the base portion (112), thereby pressing the bottom portion (123) of the push button body (120) against the electric switch (112a) and activating the electric switch (112a), the rotation of the push button around the first axis, When pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push button body (120) at a position closer to the second side portion (124b) than to the first side portion (124a) of the push button body (120), the push button body (120) rotates around a second axis located on the second side of the space, which is movable relative to the first axis as the push button body (120) rotates around the first axis, causing the first side portion (124a) to move closer to the base portion (112), thereby pressing the bottom portion (123) of the push button body (120) against the electric switch (112a) and activating the electric switch (112a), the rotation of the push button (120) around the second axis, When pressure is applied to the top portion (122) of the push button body (120) at a position approximately equidistant from the first side portion (124a) and the second side portion (124b) of the push button body (120), the push button body (120) rotates with respect to the first axis and the second axis, thereby moving the push button body (120) toward the base portion (112), and the bottom portion (123) of the push button body (120) is pressed against the electric switch (112a), causing the electric switch (112a) to operate. A method that includes this.

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