Patents Examined by J. P. Scott
  • Patent number: 6525278
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator member of the multifunction key type, in particular of the navigation key type, consisting of a rigid button mounted with limited mobility and a separate detector component having a plurality of active sites. The button has underside formations each intended to come into contact with one of the active sites. Three active sites are disposed at the corners of a triangle, wherein a non-active bearing site is disposed between two of the active sites, alone or in conjunction with the third active site, so as to allow tilting of the button by pivoting on the non-active site toward one of the first two active sites situated on respective sides thereof until the corresponding formation comes into contact with one of the active sites to activate it, for example by compressing it or depressing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Bertrand Cupif, Luc Brisson