CN1269009C

CN1269009C - Touch control key

Info

Publication number: CN1269009C
Application number: CN 03106036
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周志昌
Original assignee: Inventec Appliances Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Appliances Corp
Priority date: 2003-02-18
Filing date: 2003-02-18
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-18
Also published as: CN1523476A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch control key which is suitable for being arranged on an electronic device and is mainly composed of a support member, a switch element, a button and a flexible printing circuit, wherein the support member is arranged on a circuit board, the switch element is arranged on the support member, and the button is used for pressing the switch element to make the switch element generate actuation. Additionally, the switch element also has a plurality of contact points which are connected with a sticking pad of the flexible circuit by a surface sticking technique for example. In order to make a PDA electronic device have the advantages of a hand-hold game machine, the position of the touch control key is arranged at the side edge of a PDA housing, the switch element can be fixed on the circuit board by the support member, and relatively, the support member and the circuit board belong to mechanicalness connection. Therefore, after the direction of the support member is changed, the support member can be fixed on the circuit board without newly changing a circuit board line so as to reduce the whole manufacture cost.

Description

The touch-control key

Technical field

The present invention is relevant for a kind of touch-control key, and is particularly to a kind of employed touch-control key of individual digital aid (PDA) that applies to.

Background technology

Information household appliances are new milestones of electronics industry after the industry of relay brain, so-called " information household appliances " (IA; Information Appliances) be that general reference possesses communication or Internet connection ability, and the device of special-purposes such as information and amusement.According to this definition, Internet appliance product is available for users to connect to network at any time, does work such as speech communication, transceive data and network browsing.Personal digital assistant device (Personal Digital Assistant is designated hereinafter simply as PDA) is to belong to the information household appliances series products.The basic functions of PDA, just as the general-purpose notepad that usually used in the past, the all items that the general-purpose notepad comprises, similarly be address list, account, record keeping, reading notes, calendar etc., PDA has both invariably, and utilize digital recording, store, consult, aspects such as modification, data-switching, powerful more many than the general-purpose notepad of paper notes record especially.PDA has also possessed the ability with the PC data transmission, has extended the application of people to desktop computer, and then included inexhaustible resource on the internet, makes that the purposes of PDA is abundant and polynary day by day.PDA is because carrying convenience and function are simple and easy, so be fit to be used as individual's " information carrier " and " transaction processor " with oneself.

Though the function of known PDA is many, the function that PDA possessed of each label is almost similar, can't highlight the characteristics of PDA.PDA all has a contact panel, a pointer and one group of touch-control key on the market at present, PDA saw through pointer to click function shown on the contact panel in the past, some simple functions are also just imported in the use of touch-control key, for example power supply, homepage and menu button etc.When PDA and game electronics are combined into multi-functional PDA, because game electronics is with many groups touch-control key, direction indication key, function selecting key comes operate game, therefore PDA is at the sensitivity of touch-control key and the raising of operating life (100 ten thousand times ~ 500 ten thousand times), and relatively the quality requirements of touch-control key also can increase.Hereinafter do detailed explanation at the manner of execution of PDA touch-control key.

Please refer to Figure 1A ~ 1B, wherein Figure 1A has illustrated the installing synoptic diagram of the touch-control key of known a kind of PDA, and Figure 1B has illustrated the amplification cut-away view of the touch-control key of Figure 1A.Touch-control key 110 has a switch module 112 and a button 114, switch module is equipped on the circuit board 10 of PDA inside, and switch module 112 is not when being subjected to pressed by external force, its switch inside element 113 is under the open-circuit condition, when switch module 112 is subjected to pressed by external force, when for example pushing the button 114 of PDA with hand, but the shake-up end 115 of the button 114 contact-making switch assemblies 112 that press down, so that on-off element 113 is in channel status, and make switch module 112 produce action.Please refer to Figure 1B, for reaching above-mentioned function, the switch module 112 of known touch-control key 110 directly is fixed on the circuit board 10, and the pin 116 of switch module 112 for example is electrically connected at the circuit of circuit board 10 with the surface adhering technology, so that the action signal of switch module 112 can pass to circuit board 10.

It should be noted that the position of touch-control key 110 for example is installed in the side of PDA housing 20 in order to make PDA have the advantage of handheld game device, the convenience when being beneficial to finger (as forefinger) touch-control.In addition, also have a prescription on the housing 20 of PDA, lay respectively at the both sides of contact panel 30 to indication key 120 and one group of function selecting key 130.Yet known touch-control key 110 is fixed on the surface of circuit board 10, and its orientation is fixed, so touch-control key 110 can't change and the change position along with the external form of housing 20.Even touch-control key 110 will change angle, for example the horizontal view angle θ of 30 degree ~ 60 degree also wants pin 116 positions of alternation switch assembly 112 on circuit board 10, thereby must change the circuit of circuit board 10 again, and relatively required manufacturing cost also increases thereupon.

In addition, with the specification of present switch module 112, the operating life of on-off element 113 improves, and then relatively the volume of switch module 112 is also bigger, on the contrary the reduction of the operating life of on-off element 113, and relatively the volume of switch module 112 is then less.Yet, utilize the touch-control key 110 of the switch module 112 of present specification as PDA, because touch-control key 110 required operating lifes must be increased to 500 ten thousand times,, thereby taken the inner space of PDA integral body so relatively its volume also can increase.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, purpose of the present invention is providing a kind of touch-control key exactly, and the operating life of its on-off element can reach 500 ten thousand times, and the volume of touch-control key is less than the volume of the touch-control key of known specification, and then reduces the inner space that takies PDA integral body.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of circuit board module, when wherein change the position of on-off element on circuit board, does not need to change again the circuit of circuit board, to reduce the cost of manufacture of circuit board.

For reaching above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, the present invention proposes a kind of touch-control key, is suitable for being installed on the electronic installation, and this electronic installation has a housing and a circuit board, and the touch-control key mainly is by a support member, an on-off element, and a button and a flexible printed wiring constitute.Wherein, support member is equipped on the surface of circuit board, and support member has a plane, and it is approximately perpendicular to the surface of circuit board, and on-off element is equipped on the plane.In addition, button is equipped on the housing, and button is suitable for press switching element, so that on-off element produces action.In addition, flexible printed wiring is equipped in the housing, and flexible printed wiring is electrically connected at on-off element and circuit board respectively.

For reaching above-mentioned purpose of the present invention, the present invention proposes a kind of circuit board module, is suitable for being installed in the housing of an electronic installation, and this circuit board module is made of a circuit board, a support member, an on-off element and a flexible printed wiring.Support member is equipped on the surface of circuit board, and support member has a plane, and it is approximately perpendicular to the surface of circuit board, and on-off element is equipped on the plane.In addition, flexible printed wiring is equipped in the housing, and flexible printed wiring is electrically connected at on-off element and circuit board respectively.

Described according to preferred embodiment of the present invention, above-mentioned on-off element also has a plurality of contacts, and these contacts are the joint sheets that are electrically connected at flexible printed wiring with the surface adhering technology.

The present invention is because of adopting the touch-control key of free-standing, therefore the touch-control key can change its position with respect to circuit board with the housing external form change of electronic installation, convenience when being beneficial to finger touch, and need not change the circuit of circuit board, therefore can reduce whole manufacturing cost.

For above-mentioned and other purposes of the present invention, feature and advantage can be become apparent, a preferred embodiment cited below particularly, and conjunction with figs. are described in detail below:

Description of drawings

Figure 1A illustrates the installing synoptic diagram of the touch-control key of known a kind of PDA.

Figure 1B illustrates the stereo amplification figure of the touch-control key of Figure 1A.

Fig. 2 A illustrates the synoptic diagram according to a kind of touch-control key of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 B illustrates the stereo amplification figure of the touch-control key of Fig. 2 A.

Fig. 2 C illustrates the three-dimensional exploded view of the touch-control key of Fig. 2 A.

Embodiment:

Please refer to Fig. 2 A and 2B, wherein Fig. 2 A has illustrated the synoptic diagram according to a kind of touch-control key of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 B has illustrated the stereo amplification figure of the touch-control key of Fig. 2 A.Touch-control key 210 is suitable for being installed in the electronic installation 40, and this electronic installation 40 has a housing 50 and a circuit board 60, and touch-control key 210 mainly is made of a support member 212, an on-off element 220, a button 230 and a flexible printed wiring 240.Wherein, support member 212 for example is equipped on the surface of circuit board 60 in the mode of welding, and support member 212 has a plane 214, it is approximately perpendicular to the surface of circuit board 60, and on-off element 220 is equipped on the plane 214, and its operating life can reach more than 500 ten thousand times at least, and button 230 is equipped on the housing 50, in order to press switching element 220, so that on-off element 220 produces action.

Shown in Fig. 2 A, it should be noted that, because the position of touch-control key 210 is not to be the mode of fixing, it is any position that the button 230 of touch-control key 210 can be installed in housing 50 sides of electronic installation 40, so when the position change of touch-control key 210, only need to change support member 212 and get final product with respect to the position of circuit board 60.Wherein, flexible printed wiring (Flexible Printed Cuircuit, FPC) 240, it has frivolous, flexible and advantage such as configuration space is little, when therefore electrically connecting the circuit board 60 of on-off element 220 and electronic installation 40, can reduce taking electronic installation 40 volume inside by flexible printed wiring 240.In addition, even the position change of touch-control key 210 also need not change the circuit of the circuit board 60 of electronic installation 40.So, circuit board 60 does not need to change slightly at the position of touch-control key 210, and must change the circuit of circuit board 60 again, so can reduce the cost of manufacture of electronic installation 40 integral body.Hereinafter will with personal digital assistant (PDA) this type of electronic installation as an example, function and configuration mode at its touch-control key are done more detailed explanation, but and non-limiting touch-control key of the present invention is only applicable to this type of electronic installation of PDA, also applicable to the game machine of hand held.

Shown in Fig. 2 A, on-off element 220 is equipped on the circuit board 60 of PDA inside, time system is under the open-circuit condition and on-off element 220 is not subjected to pressed by external force, when on-off element 220 is subjected to pressed by external force, when for example pushing the button 230 of PDA with hand, but the button 230 contact-making switch elements 220 that press down so that on-off element 220 is in channel status, and make on-off element 220 produce action.It should be noted that, in order to make PDA have the advantage of handheld game device, the position of touch-control key 210 for example is installed in the side of PDA housing 50, and touch-control key 210 cooperates the external form of PDA housing 50 and has 30 ~ 60 horizontal view angle θ that spend, the convenience when being beneficial to finger (as forefinger) touch-control.For reaching above-mentioned functions, on-off element 220 must be adopted free-standing, i.e. the position slight change of on-off element 220 also need not change the circuit of the circuit board 60 of PDA.Wherein, on-off element 220 can be fixed on the surface of circuit board 60 by support member 212, and relatively support member 212 belongs to mechanicalness with circuit board 60 and is connected, therefore support member 212 variable its orientation after be fixed in again on the circuit board 60, again on-off element 220 is positioned on the support member 212 at last, and does not need to change again the circuit of the circuit board 60 of PDA.

Please also refer to Fig. 2 B and 2C, wherein Fig. 2 C illustrates the three-dimensional exploded view of the touch-control key of Fig. 2 A.Because the button 230 of touch-control key 210 is installed in the side of PDA housing 50, so support member 212 has a plane 214 corresponding to the side of housing 50, it is perpendicular to the surface of circuit board 60, so that on-off element 220 can vertically be equipped on the circuit board 60.When user's pressing button 230 and in the contact-making switch element 220, the supporting surface that can be provided by the plane 214 of support member 212 comes touch-pressure switch element 220, so that on-off element 220 is under the channel status, and make on-off element 220 produce action, and the action signal of on-off element 220 can pass on the circuit board 60 by flexible printed wiring 240.Certainly, support member 212 also can set a plane 214 near vertical (as 70 ~ 85 degree), and its angle can cooperate PDA to go up above or below the position deflection housing 50 of button 230 and adjust.In addition shown in Fig. 2 C, support member 212 also has two kinks 216, it protrudes in the two ends on plane 214, in order to fixing flexible printed wiring 240, therefore, flexible printed wiring 240 can be arranged in the space that plane 214 and these kinks 216 are constituted, and the joint sheet 242 of flexible printed wiring 240 also can be positioned on the plane 214, and the joint sheet 242 that is beneficial to printed wire 240 is connected with the contact 224 of on-off element 220.

In sum, disclosed touch-control key mainly is that a support member, an on-off element, a button and a flexible printed wiring constitute.On-off element is equipped on the support member, and button is in order to press switching element, so that on-off element produces action.In addition, on-off element also has a plurality of contacts, and these contacts for example are electrically connected at the joint sheet of flexible printed wiring with the surface adhering technology.Because the shared space of flexible printed wiring is very little, therefore can reduce touch-control key shared space in electronic installation.In addition, in the present embodiment, in order to make PDA have the advantage of handheld game device, the position of touch-control key for example is installed in the side of PDA housing, wherein on-off element can be fixed on the circuit board by support member, and relatively support member belongs to mechanicalness with circuit board and is connected, so is fixed on the circuit board again after variable its orientation of support member, and do not need to change again the circuit of the circuit board of electronic installation, to reduce whole manufacturing cost.So when the touch-control key of design and making electronic installation, its position and angle can change according to the demand of hommization, and highlight the feature of this electronic installation.

Though the present invention discloses as above with a preferred embodiment; right its is not in order to limit the present invention; anyly be familiar with present technique field person; without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; when can doing a little change and retouching, so protection scope of the present invention is as the criterion when looking the accompanying Claim book scope person of defining.

Claims

1. a touch-control key is suitable for being installed on the electronic installation, and this electronic installation has a housing and a circuit board, and this touch-control key comprises at least:

One support member is equipped on the surface of this circuit board, and this support member has a plane, and it is approximately perpendicular to the surface of this circuit board,

One on-off element is equipped on this plane;

One flexible printed wiring, the two ends of this flexible printed wiring are connected to this on-off element and this circuit board; And

One button is equipped on this housing, and this button is suitable for pushing this on-off element, so that this on-off element produces action.

2. touch-control key as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that this support member also has a plurality of kinks, and it protrudes in this plane, and this flexible printed wiring is equipped in the space that this plane and these kinks constituted.

3. touch-control key as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that this on-off element also has a plurality of contacts, and these contacts are connected in this flexible printed wiring in the surface adhering mode.

4. a circuit board module is suitable for being installed in the housing of an electronic installation, and this circuit board module comprises at least:

One circuit board;

One support member is equipped on the surface of this circuit board, and this support member has a plane, and it is approximately perpendicular to the surface of this circuit board;

One on-off element is equipped on this plane; And

One flexible printed wiring, the two ends of this printed wire are connected to this on-off element and this circuit board.

5. circuit board module as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that this support member also has a plurality of kinks, and it protrudes in this plane, and this flexible printed wiring is equipped in the space that this plane and these kinks constituted.

6. circuit board module as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that this on-off element also has a plurality of contacts, and these contacts are connected to this flexible printed wiring with surface adhering technical battery.