An operation switch 30 is a gaming machine operation button that receives operation inputs to a gaming machine 1, and comprises a base plate 50, an operation button unit 36, and a touch switch 31. The operation button unit 36 is supported by the base plate 50, and is used by a player to input a first operation. The touch switch 31 is provided around the outer periphery of the operation button unit 36, and is used by the player to input a second operation that is different from the first operation.

An input device includes one or more pressure detectors. Each of the one or more pressure detectors includes an electrode, an elastic body on the electrode, a pressing member disposed on an opposite side of the elastic body from the electrode, and a protective member. The protection member is disposed between the elastic body and the pressing member and has higher strength than the elastic body.

A portable electronic device including a housing; a button hole formed in the housing; and a button unit arranged in the button hole of the housing is provided. The button unit includes a top button coupled to the housing and covering the button hole, with a first direction length larger than a second direction length; a button frame provided in the housing, with one portion in the second direction coupled to a bottom of the top button and the other portion in the second direction coupled to an internal space of the housing; an actuator projected from a bottom surface of the button frame; and a dome switch pressed by the actuator and generating a signal, when the top button is pressed.

Electronic devices are provided that have components. A housing protrusion may be interposed between a display cover layer and display components. A button may have a button member. A support structure for a dome switch in the button may have a screw hole. A housing may have screw holes through which a screw passes. The screw may also pass through the screw hole of the support structure to hold the switch structure near the button member. A clip may have a spring. A metal plate may prevent the clip from becoming worn by the spring. A display may be mounted on a ledge in a device housing. The ledge may have gaps with supports and removed corners.

This application relates to various button related embodiments for use with a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a snap clip can be integrated with a button bracket to save space where two separate brackets would take up too much space in the portable electronic device. In other embodiments, a tactile switch can be waterproofed by welding a polymeric layer atop a tactile switch assembly. In this way water can be prevented from contacting moisture sensitive components of the tactile switch assembly. The weld joining the polymeric layer to the tactile switch can include at least one gap to trapped gas surrounding the tactile switch assembly to enter and exit during heat excursions caused by various operating and/or assembly operations.

A piezoelectric device includes a first region for receiving a pressing operation and a second region located outside of the first region. A piezoelectric element outputs a stronger potential when a pressing operation is applied to the first region than when the pressing operation is applied to the second region.

A piezoelectric device includes a first region for receiving a pressing operation and a second region located outside of the first region. A piezoelectric element outputs a stronger potential when a pressing operation is applied to the first region than when the pressing operation is applied to the second region.

An input device including a housing and a depressible key plate disposed thereon. The key plate includes a front user-accessible portion, a pivot support portion, and a rear portion. A shaft is disposed in the pivot support portion, where the key plate rotates with respect to the shaft. A force sensor is disposed in the housing and in contact with a bottom surface of the front portion of the key plate, and activates in response to receiving a predetermined force by the bottom surface of the front portion of the key plate. The depressible key plate depresses in response to receiving a predetermined depression force on the top surface. A biasing mechanism is disposed in the housing and in contact with the bottom surface of the rear portion of the key plate to provide an upward force tuned to be substantially equal to the predetermined depression force.

A detection device includes a variable resistor portion formed between first and second electrodes, and an elastically deformable contact member having a contact area for making contact with the variable resistor portion. The contact area increases according to a load that is applied to the contact member in a direction toward the variable resistor portion. The variable resistor portion includes an output varying region that varies an output voltage from the second electrode according to the contact area. The output varying region is formed so that a contact distance between the variable resistor portion and an outer peripheral portion of the contact member becomes longer as the contact area becomes larger, so that the contact area varies correspondingly to the load for improved linearity of the output voltage.

An operation detection device includes an operation unit including an operation surface to be operated thereon, a load sensor disposed on a lower surface of the operation unit to detect a load applied to the operation surface, and a protective member that allows a load of not more than a predetermined first load to be applied to the load sensor and that prevents a load more than the predetermined first load from being applied to the load sensor by a contact with the lower surface of the operation unit so as to protect the load sensor.