CN115248618A

CN115248618A - Touch panel structure

Info

Publication number: CN115248618A
Application number: CN202110466587.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 白廷文; 郭彦麟; 刘志钧; 苏宏仁; 吴东昇
Original assignee: Acer Inc
Current assignee: Acer Inc
Priority date: 2021-04-28
Filing date: 2021-04-28
Publication date: 2022-10-28

Abstract

The invention provides a touch pad structure which comprises a machine shell, a touch pad, a trigger piece, a switch piece and a supporting plate. The housing has an opening. The touch pad is arranged in the opening, wherein the touch pad is provided with a fulcrum end and a movable end opposite to the fulcrum end, and the fulcrum end is connected with the shell. The trigger piece is arranged in the machine shell in a swinging mode, corresponds to the movable end of the touch pad and is provided with a fulcrum portion, a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion is located between the fulcrum portion and the second contact portion, and the fulcrum portion is connected with the touch pad. The switch piece is arranged at the movable end of the touch pad and is positioned between the touch pad and the first contact part of the trigger piece. The backup pad sets up in the casing detachablely, and wherein the backup pad corresponds the expansion end setting of touch pad, and triggers the piece and is located between switch spare and the backup pad. The first contact portion or the second contact portion of the trigger abuts against the support plate.

Description

Touch panel structure

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to touch panels, and particularly to a touch panel applied to a notebook computer.

Background

Because the notebook computer has the characteristics of high operation efficiency, multitasking, portability and the like, the notebook computer becomes an indispensable tool for modern people in life or work. Generally, a notebook computer includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body, wherein the first body is a host with logical operation and data access capabilities, and the second body is a display with image display capabilities. In order to facilitate the user to operate or input information, the first body is mostly provided with a keyboard and a touch pad (touch pad), and the user can perform actions such as moving a cursor, selecting an application program item, scrolling a web page or a file, and zooming a web page or a file through the touch pad.

With the existing touch pad design, the touch pad includes a fulcrum end and a movable end opposite to the fulcrum end, wherein the fulcrum end is connected to the housing of the first body, and the switch (e.g., a dome switch) is disposed at the movable end. When a user's finger strikes the touch pad, the movable end swings downward relative to the fulcrum end and moves toward the boss, so that the boss contacts and triggers the switch. Based on the lever principle, if the force application point on the touch pad is too close to the fulcrum end, the movable end is not easy to be driven to swing downwards relative to the fulcrum end, so that the boss cannot contact and trigger the switch, and the operation of a user is quite inconvenient. That is, the operable range of the touch pad is limited, and once the tapping position of the finger of the user is too close to the fulcrum end, the actions of moving the cursor, selecting the application program item, scrolling the web page or the document, and zooming the web page or the document may not be executed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a touch panel structure having excellent operational convenience and flexibly adjustable operational ranges.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch panel structure includes a case, a touch panel, a trigger, a switch, and a support plate. The housing has an opening. The touch pad is arranged in the opening, wherein the touch pad is provided with a fulcrum end and a movable end opposite to the fulcrum end, and the fulcrum end is connected with the shell. The trigger piece is arranged in the machine shell in a swinging mode, corresponds to the movable end of the touch pad and is provided with a fulcrum portion, a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion is located between the fulcrum portion and the second contact portion, and the fulcrum portion is connected with the touch pad. The switch piece is arranged at the movable end of the touch pad and is positioned between the touch pad and the first contact part of the trigger piece. The backup pad sets up in the casing detachablely, and wherein the backup pad corresponds the expansion end setting of touch pad, and triggers the piece and is located between switch spare and the backup pad. In the first mode, the second contact portion of the trigger abuts the support plate. In the second mode, the first contact portion of the trigger abuts the support plate.

In view of the above, in the touch panel structure of the present invention, one end of the trigger is connected to the touch panel, and the other end of the trigger abuts against the support plate. When a user knocks the touch pad, the movable end of the touch pad swings downwards relative to the fulcrum end and synchronously drives the trigger piece. Since the trigger member is supported by the support plate, the trigger member swings upward and moves close to the switching member to press and trigger the switching member. Because the position of the supporting plate is adjustable, the size of the down force required by a user when the user operates the touch pad can be adjusted by adjusting the part of the trigger piece, which is abutted against the supporting plate, and meanwhile, the size of the operation range of the touch pad is adjusted. Therefore, the touch panel structure has excellent operation convenience, and the operation range can be flexibly adjusted.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a touch plate structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic bottom views of the touch pad structure of FIG. 1 in two different modes;

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the touchpad structure of FIG. 2 with the support plate removed;

fig. 5 and 6 are schematic cross-sectional views of the touch panel structure of fig. 1 taken along section linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A in two different modes.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

In fig. 1 to 6, a part of the chassis, for example, a lower chassis, is omitted. In addition, fig. 2 and 5 correspond to the first mode, and fig. 3 and 6 correspond to the second mode. Referring to fig. 1 to fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the touch panel structure 100 may be disposed on a host of a notebook computer for a user to perform actions such as moving a cursor, selecting an application program item, scrolling a web page or a file, and zooming a web page or a file. In detail, the touch panel structure 100 includes a housing 110, a touch panel 120, a trigger 130, a switch 140, and a support plate 150, wherein the housing 110 has an opening 111, and the touch panel 120 is disposed in the opening 111. The operation surface 121 of the touch panel 120 is exposed from the opening 111 to the outside of the housing 110 to facilitate the user's finger to hit the operation surface 121 or slide on the operation surface 121.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 5, the touch pad 120 has a fulcrum end 122 and a movable end 123 opposite to the fulcrum end 122, wherein the fulcrum end 122 extends out of the opening 111 and is connected to the inner surface 112 of the housing 110. In addition, the movable end 123 falls within the opening 111. When the user's finger strikes the operation surface 121 of the touch panel 120, the movable end 123 swings downward with respect to the fulcrum end 122. When the user's finger moves away from the operation surface 121, the movable end 123 swings upward relative to the fulcrum end 122 and returns to the initial position.

The housing 110 may be an upper housing of a host of a notebook computer, wherein the trigger 130 is swingably disposed in the housing 110 and disposed corresponding to the movable end 123 of the touch pad 120. The switch 140 is disposed at the active end 123 of the touch pad 120 and located between the touch pad 120 and the trigger 130. The switch 140 may be a dome switch and contacts the trigger 130. The supporting plate 150 is disposed in the housing 110, wherein the supporting plate 150 is disposed corresponding to the movable end 123 of the touch pad 120, and the trigger 130 is disposed between the switch 140 and the supporting plate 150.

In detail, the trigger 130 has a fulcrum 131, a first contact 132 and a second contact 133, wherein the first contact 132 is located between the fulcrum 131 and the second contact 133, and the switch 140 is located between the touch pad 120 and the first contact 132. The fulcrum portion 131 of the trigger 130 is connected to the touch pad 120, wherein the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 133 are separated from the touch pad 120, and the first contact portion 132 contacts the switch 140. In addition, the fulcrum portion 131 is closer to the fulcrum end 122 of the touch panel 120 than the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 133.

In the first mode shown in fig. 5, the second contact portion 133 of the trigger 130 abuts the support plate 150. When the user's finger strikes the operation surface 121 of the touch pad 120, the movable end 123 of the touch pad 120 swings downward relative to the fulcrum end 122, and synchronously drives the trigger 130. Since the second contact portion 133 of the triggering member 130 is supported by the support plate 150, the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 133 swing upward with respect to the fulcrum portion 131, and the first contact portion 132 presses the switching member 140 to trigger the switching member 140.

In the second mode shown in fig. 6, the first contact portion 132 of the trigger 130 abuts the support plate 150. When the user's finger strikes the operation surface 121 of the touch pad 120, the movable end 123 of the touch pad 120 swings downward relative to the fulcrum end 122, and synchronously drives the trigger 130. Since the first contact portion 132 of the trigger 130 is supported by the support plate 150, the first contact portion 132 and the second contact portion 133 swing upward with respect to the fulcrum portion 131, and the first contact portion 132 presses the switch 140 to trigger the switch 140.

As shown in fig. 5, the second contact portion 133 of the trigger 130 abuts against the support plate 150, and a first moment arm is provided between the fulcrum portion 131 and the position where the second contact portion 133 abuts against the support plate 150. As shown in fig. 6, the first contact portion 132 of the trigger 130 abuts against the supporting plate 150, and a second moment arm smaller than the first moment arm is provided between the fulcrum portion 131 and the abutting position of the first contact portion 132 and the supporting plate 150.

Based on the principle of leverage, assuming that the user applies a pressing force at the same position of the touch pad 120, in the first mode, the user must apply a first pressing force to the touch pad 120 to drive the trigger 130 to trigger the switch 140. In the second mode, the user must apply a second pressing force to the touch pad 120 to drive the trigger 130 to trigger the switch 140, wherein the second pressing force is greater than the first pressing force.

Based on the principle of leverage, assuming that the user applies the same third pressing force to the touch pad 120, in the first mode, the user must apply the third pressing force to the touch pad 120 within the first operation range to drive the trigger 130 to trigger the switch 140. In addition, in the second mode, the user must apply a third pressing force within a second operation range of the touch pad 120 to drive the trigger 130 to trigger the switch 140, wherein the second operation range is smaller than the first operation range.

That is, by adjusting the portion of the trigger 130 abutting against the supporting plate 150, the magnitude of the pressing force required when the user operates the touch pad 120 can be adjusted, and the magnitude of the operation range of the touch pad 120 can be adjusted. Therefore, the touch panel structure 100 has excellent convenience in operation, and the operation range can be flexibly adjusted.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, in the embodiment, the housing 110 further has a first positioning portion 113 located on the first side 111a of the opening 111, a second positioning portion 114 adjacent to the second side 111b of the opening 111, and a third positioning portion 115 adjacent to the second side 111b of the opening 111, wherein the first side 111a and the second side 111b are opposite to each other, and the first side 111a is closer to the keyboard on the computer host than the second side 111 b. On the other hand, the second positioning portion 114 is located between the first positioning portion 113 and the third positioning portion 115, wherein the fulcrum end 122 of the touch panel 120 is mounted to the first positioning portion 113, and the movable end 123 of the touch panel 120 is adjacent to the second positioning portion 114 and the third positioning portion 115.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, in the first mode, the support plate 150 is mounted to the third positioning portion 115. The user can detach the supporting plate 150 from the third positioning portion 115 and mount the supporting plate on the second positioning portion 114 to switch to the second mode, as shown in fig. 3 and 4. That is, by adjusting the installation position of the support plate 150, the portion of the trigger 130 abutting against the support plate 150 can be adjusted.

As shown in fig. 4, the second positioning portion 114 includes two positioning pillars 114a respectively located on the third side 111c and the fourth side 111d of the opening 111, and the third positioning portion 115 includes two positioning pillars 115a respectively located on the third side 111c and the fourth side 111d of the opening 111. The third side 111c and the fourth side 111d are opposite to each other and located between the first side 111a and the second side 111 b. In detail, the

positioning posts

114a and 115a located on the third side 111c of the opening 111 are aligned on a straight line, and the

positioning posts

114a and 115a located on the fourth side 111d of the opening 111 are aligned on another straight line, so that the user can assemble and disassemble the supporting plate 150. In addition, the positioning posts 114a on the same side of the opening 111 are closer to the first positioning portion 113 than the positioning posts 115a.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, in the first mode, two ends of the supporting plate 150 are respectively locked to two positioning posts 115a of the third positioning portion 115. The user can detach the supporting plate 150 from the third positioning portion 115 according to the requirement, and lock the two ends of the supporting plate 150 to the two positioning columns 114a of the second positioning portion 114 respectively, so as to switch to the second mode, as shown in fig. 3 and fig. 4. On the other hand, the supporting plate 150 overlaps the opening 111 of the housing 110 and extends from the third side 111c of the opening 111 to the fourth side 111d along the second side 111b, as shown in fig. 2 and 3.

Referring to fig. 2, 3, 5 and 6, the supporting plate 150 is overlapped on the trigger 130, and the supporting plate 150 has a supporting protrusion 151 facing the trigger 130. In the first mode shown in fig. 2 and 5, the second contact portion 133 of the trigger 130 contacts the supporting protrusion 151, and the first contact portion 132 is separated from the supporting protrusion 151. In the second mode shown in fig. 3 and 6, the first contact portion 132 of the trigger 130 contacts the supporting protrusion 151, and the second contact portion 133 is separated from the supporting protrusion 151.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the trigger 130 further has a first protrusion 134 protruding from one side of the first contact portion 132 and a second protrusion 135 protruding from the other side of the first contact portion 132, wherein the first protrusion 134 faces the touch pad 120 and contacts the switch 140, so that the pressed touch pad 120 is prevented from falling down instantly, and the falling feeling in operation is avoided. On the other hand, the second protrusion 135 faces the support plate 150, and in the first mode shown in fig. 5, the second protrusion 135 is separated from the support plate 150. In the second mode shown in fig. 6, the second protrusion 135 contacts the support plate 150, and may be a contact support protrusion 151.

Referring to fig. 5 and fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the touch pad 120 further has a pressing portion 124 located at the movable end 123, and the pressing portion 124 presses against the fulcrum portion 131 of the trigger 130. Further, the fulcrum portion 131 includes a first extending segment 131a, a second extending segment 131b, and a turning segment 131c located between the first extending segment 131a and the second extending segment 131b, wherein the first extending segment 131a and the turning segment 131c can contact the touch pad 120, and the second extending segment 131b is connected to the first contact portion 132 of the trigger 130. An included angle is formed between the first extension segment 131a and the second extension segment 131b to form a turning segment 131c, wherein one side of the turning segment 131c contacts the touch pad 120, and the pressing portion 124 presses against the other side of the turning segment 131c to prevent the trigger 130 from being separated from the touch pad 120 and prevent the fulcrum portion 131 from arbitrarily sliding relative to the touch pad 120.

The touch panel 120 includes a support frame 120a, a circuit board 120b disposed on the support frame 120a, and a cover plate 120c disposed on the circuit board 120b, wherein the cover plate 120c is exposed outside the housing 110 from the opening 111, and the operation surface 121 is disposed on the cover plate 120 c. The switch 140 is disposed on the circuit board 120b and electrically connected to the circuit board 120b. The pressing portion 124 may be an elastic buckling arm formed on the supporting frame 120a, and the fulcrum portion 131 of the trigger 130 is clamped between the pressing portion 124 and the circuit board 120b. In addition, the pressing portion 124 and the supporting point 122 are respectively located at two sides of the supporting frame 120 a.

In summary, in the touch panel structure of the present invention, one end of the trigger is connected to the touch panel, and the other end of the trigger abuts against the supporting plate. When a user knocks the touch pad, the movable end of the touch pad swings downwards relative to the fulcrum end and synchronously drives the trigger piece. Since the trigger member is supported by the support plate, the trigger member swings upward and moves close to the switching member to press and trigger the switching member. Because the position of the supporting plate is adjustable, the size of the down force required by a user when the user operates the touch pad can be adjusted by adjusting the part of the trigger piece, which is abutted against the supporting plate, and meanwhile, the size of the operation range of the touch pad is adjusted. Therefore, the touch panel structure has excellent operation convenience, and the operation range can be flexibly adjusted.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and these modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the corresponding technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A touch panel structure, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

the touch pad is arranged in the opening, the touch pad is provided with a fulcrum end and a movable end relative to the fulcrum end, and the fulcrum end is connected with the shell;

the trigger piece is arranged in the machine shell in a swinging mode, corresponds to the movable end of the touch pad, and is provided with a fulcrum part, a first contact part and a second contact part, wherein the first contact part is located between the fulcrum part and the second contact part, and the fulcrum part is connected with the touch pad;

the switch piece is arranged at the movable end of the touch pad and is positioned between the touch pad and the first contact part of the trigger piece; and

the backup pad, detachably set up in the casing, wherein the backup pad corresponds the expansion end setting of touch pad, just trigger the piece and be located switch spare with between the backup pad, under first mode, trigger the piece the second contact site butt the backup pad, under the second mode, trigger the piece the first contact site butt the backup pad.

2. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the housing further has a first positioning portion located at a first side of the opening, a second positioning portion located adjacent a second side of the opening, and a third positioning portion located adjacent the second side of the opening, and the second positioning portion is located between the first positioning portion and the third positioning portion, the fulcrum end of the touch pad is mounted to the first positioning portion, and the movable end of the touch pad is located adjacent the second positioning portion and the third positioning portion, and wherein in a first mode, the support plate is mounted to the third positioning portion, and in a second mode, the support plate is mounted to the second positioning portion.

3. A touch pad structure according to claim 2, wherein the second positioning portion and the third positioning portion each comprise two positioning posts located on a third side and a fourth side of the opening, respectively, and the support plate extends from the third side to the fourth side of the opening, and in a first mode the support plate is locked to the two positioning posts of the third positioning portion, and in a second mode the support plate is locked to the two positioning posts of the second positioning portion.

4. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the support plate overlaps the opening of the housing.

5. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the touch pad further has a pressing portion at the movable end, and the pressing portion presses against the fulcrum portion.

6. The touch pad structure of claim 5, wherein the fulcrum portion comprises a first extending section, a second extending section and a turning section located between the first extending section and the second extending section, the second extending section is connected to the first contact portion, one side of the turning section contacts the touch pad, and the pressing portion presses against the other side of the turning section.

7. The touch panel structure of claim 5, wherein the touch panel includes a supporting frame, a circuit board disposed on the supporting frame, and a cover plate disposed on the circuit board, and the cover plate is exposed outside the housing from the opening, and the switch element is disposed on the circuit board, wherein the pressing portion is formed on the supporting frame, and the fulcrum portion of the trigger element is clamped between the pressing portion and the circuit board.

8. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the trigger further has a first convex portion protruding from one side of the first contact portion and a second convex portion protruding from the other side of the first contact portion, and the first convex portion contacts the switch member, and the second convex portion is separated from the support plate in the first mode and contacts the support plate in the second mode.

9. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the support plate has a support protrusion facing the trigger, the second contact portion of the trigger contacting the support protrusion in a first mode, and the first contact portion of the trigger contacting the support protrusion in a second mode.

10. A touch pad structure according to claim 1, wherein the support plate overlaps the trigger.