CN214254196U - Key module and terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a key module and a terminal, including: a key circuit for generating a pressing signal based on the pressing force; a key body; the sealing piece is positioned between the key circuit and the key body; the sealing element and the key body penetrate through the mounting hole of the key module and form a liquid sealing structure at the mounting hole; the key body has a pressing force, and the sealing element is in contact with the key circuit; the key body has no pressing force, and the sealing piece is separated from the key circuit. This openly increases the sealing member between the button body and keying circuit, utilizes sealing member and mounting hole formation liquid seal structure, and liquid can't pass liquid seal structure and cause the influence to keying circuit, has improved the liquid seal effect of button module to the risk to keying circuit inefficacy that liquid caused has been reduced.

Description

Key module and terminal

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an intelligence field of making especially relates to a button module and terminal.

Background

Along with the development of smart phones, the popularization and application scenes of smart phones are increasing, how to improve the waterproof function and meet the use requirements of users in liquid environments such as water is one of the development directions of smart phones at present. Mechanical keys are commonly used in smart phones, and at present, liquid such as water easily enters the smart phones from the positions of the mechanical keys to influence the use of the smart phones.

Disclosure of Invention

The utility model provides a button module and terminal has improved the liquid seal effect of button module, has reduced in liquid such as water gets into the terminal, has reduced the risk that liquid leads to the keying circuit to become invalid.

According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a key module is provided, which includes:

a key circuit;

a key body;

the sealing piece is positioned between the key circuit and the key body;

the sealing element and the key body penetrate through a mounting hole of the key module, and a liquid sealing structure is formed at the mounting hole;

the key body has a pressing force, and the sealing element is in contact with the key circuit; the key body has no pressing force, and the sealing piece is separated from the key circuit.

In some embodiments, the seal comprises:

a first elastic member;

the key terminal is arranged on the first elastic piece;

the key body has a pressing force, and the key terminal of the sealing element is in contact with the key circuit; the key body has no pressing force, and the key terminal of the sealing element is separated from the key circuit.

In some embodiments, the first elastic member has a through hole thereon;

the key terminal penetrates through the through hole, is in interference fit with the first elastic piece, and forms a liquid sealing structure.

In some embodiments, the first elastic member is in interference fit with the mounting hole to form the liquid sealing structure.

In some embodiments, the first surface of the first elastic element is in contact with the key body;

the key terminal is mounted on the second surface of the first elastic piece, and the key terminal is arranged opposite to the key circuit, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface.

In some embodiments, the key circuit includes thereon: a conductive spring plate; the key body has a pressing force effect, the key terminal is in contact with the conductive elastic sheet, the conductive elastic sheet is compressed, and the key circuit is switched from a disconnected state to a connected state.

In some embodiments, the key module further comprises:

the second elastic piece is positioned between the key body and the sealing piece;

the end part of the key body opposite to the sealing element is provided with a limiting groove, and the second elastic element is embedded into the limiting groove.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a terminal, including:

the key module according to any one of the above embodiments;

the shell is provided with a mounting hole of the key assembly, and the sealing element of the key module is inserted into the mounting hole.

In some embodiments, the housing comprises:

the edge of the middle frame is provided with a blocking wall, a mounting wall and a mounting groove positioned between the blocking wall and the mounting wall, the mounting hole is positioned on the mounting wall, and the mounting hole is communicated with the mounting groove;

the key circuit is positioned in the mounting groove and is mounted on the side surface of the blocking wall opposite to the mounting wall;

the rear shell is arranged on the middle frame and covers the mounting groove;

the waterproof glue is positioned between the rear shell and the blocking wall and used for sealing a gap between the rear shell and the blocking wall; and the sealing element is also positioned between the rear shell and the mounting wall and seals a gap between the rear shell and the retaining wall.

In some embodiments, the housing comprises:

the key circuit is positioned on the boss and is arranged on the side surface of the blocking wall, which deviates from the central position of the middle frame;

the rear shell is arranged on the middle frame and covers the blocking wall and the boss; the mounting hole is positioned on the rear shell;

the waterproof glue is positioned between the rear shell and the blocking wall and used for sealing a gap between the rear shell and the blocking wall; the waterproof glue is also positioned between the rear shell and the boss to seal a gap between the rear shell and the boss.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can have the following beneficial effects:

according to the embodiment, the sealing element is additionally arranged between the key body and the key circuit, the liquid sealing structure is formed by the sealing element and the mounting hole, liquid in the external environment is blocked by the sealing element through a path in which the liquid enters the terminal through a gap between the key body and the inner wall of the mounting hole, the liquid cannot penetrate through the liquid sealing structure to affect the key circuit, the liquid sealing effect of the key module is improved, and the risk that the key circuit fails due to the liquid is reduced.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal;

fig. 2 is one of the schematic structural diagrams of a terminal shown according to an exemplary embodiment;

fig. 3 is a second schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment;

fig. 4 is a third schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the exemplary embodiments below are not intended to represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of devices consistent with certain aspects of the present disclosure, as detailed in the appended claims.

In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in fig. 2 to 4.

As shown in fig. 1, rear case 10 is mounted on middle frame 60, key body 20 is inserted into the mounting hole of the rear case and faces key circuit 30 mounted on the side wall of middle frame 60, and key body 20 can contact key circuit 30 when key body 20 is pressed. The waterproof glue 50 between the rear case 10 and the middle frame 60 can seal the gap between the rear case 10 and the middle frame 60, and reduce the liquid such as water in the external environment from entering the inside of the middle frame 10 through the gap between the rear case 10 and the middle frame 60. However, liquid from the external environment can still enter the position of the key circuit 30 through the gap 40 between the key body 20 and the rear case 10, which easily causes the key circuit 30 to fail. In order to further improve the sealing effect at the position of the key body, the following technical scheme is further provided in the disclosure.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a key module, including:

a key circuit 140 for generating a pressing signal based on the pressing force;

a key body 110;

a sealing member 170 positioned between the key circuit 140 and the key body 110;

the sealing element 170 and the key body 110 penetrate through the mounting hole 164 of the key module, and a liquid sealing structure is formed at the mounting hole 164;

wherein, the key body 110 has a pressing force, and the sealing member 170 contacts with the key circuit 140; the key body 110 is not pressed, and the sealing member 170 is separated from the key circuit 140. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing element 170 is added between the key body 110 and the key circuit 140, a liquid sealing structure is formed by the sealing element 170 and the mounting hole 164, a path through which liquid enters the terminal through a gap between the inner walls of the key body 110 and the mounting hole 164 in an external environment is blocked by the sealing element 170, and the liquid cannot pass through the liquid sealing structure to affect the key circuit 140, so that a liquid sealing effect of the key module is improved, and a risk of failure of the key circuit 140 caused by the liquid is reduced.

In the disclosed embodiment, the liquid sealing structure broadly refers to a sealing structure capable of at least blocking liquid from passing through the mounting hole 164, and is not limited to a sealing structure capable of only sealing liquid. It may also be a gas seal that inhibits the passage of gas before liquid ingress.

When the terminal is applied, the housing of the terminal is provided with a mounting hole 164, and at least part of the key module is mounted in the mounting hole 164. For example: as shown in fig. 2, the sealing member 170 and the key body 110 are disposed through the mounting hole 164 of the key module.

The seal 170 is resilient and the seal 170 may seal the mounting hole 164 by interference fit with the mounting hole 164.

The sealing member may be a single component, for example, the sealing member is a sealing post made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the sealing member forms a liquid-tight structure by interference fit with the mounting hole due to the elasticity of the rubber. Alternatively, the sealing member is a combination of at least two components, for example, the sealing member includes a rigid column and a rubber member mounted outside the column, and the sealing member forms a liquid-tight structure with the mounting hole by utilizing elasticity of the rubber member.

Generally, as shown in fig. 3, key body 110 and sealing member 170 are inserted into mounting hole 164, and key body 110 is in contact with key circuit 140 through sealing member 170, so that sealing member 170 can be made smaller in volume relative to key body 110. Accordingly, the volume of the mounting hole 164 for accommodating the sealing member 170 is smaller than the volume of the mounting hole 164 for accommodating the key body 110, that is, the smaller inner diameter portion of the mounting hole 164 is opposite to the key circuit 140, which is more favorable for sealing the sealing member 170, and improves the sealing effect.

Without limitation, the key module may be a volume key module or a power key module.

In other alternative embodiments, the seal 170, comprises:

a first elastic member 120;

a key terminal 130 mounted on the first elastic member 120;

the key body 110 has a pressing force, and the key terminal 130 of the sealing member 170 contacts with the key circuit 140; key body 110 is not pressed, and key terminal 130 of sealing member 170 is separated from key circuit 140.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing member 170 includes two portions, namely, the first elastic member 120 and the key terminal 130. The first elastic member 120 has elasticity, and the key terminal 130 can serve as a rigid portion to support the first elastic member 120, thereby ensuring the strength of the sealing member 170. When the key body 110 is pressed, the force is transmitted from the key terminal 130, and the first elastic member 120 seals the mounting hole 164 by elasticity, so as to form a liquid-tight structure in the mounting hole 164.

The first elastic member 120 may be an elastomer such as rubber, for example, silicon rubber or natural rubber.

The key terminal 130 may be a pillar shape made of metal or engineering plastic. For example, the key terminal 130 is a pin (pin) pin.

The key terminal 130 may be a conductive terminal or an insulating terminal.

The conductive terminal can disconnect or connect the key circuit through separation or release of the conductive terminal and the key circuit, and thus, the detection of key operation is realized through cooperation with the key circuit.

If the key terminal 130 is an insulating terminal, the insulating terminal enables a mechanical switch on the key circuit to be turned on or off by pressing the key circuit, so that the case operation detection is realized by matching with the key circuit.

In other alternative embodiments, as shown in fig. 2 and 4, the first elastic member 120 has a through hole;

the key terminal 130 passes through the through hole, is in interference fit with the first elastic member 120, and forms a liquid-tight structure.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner ring of the first elastic member 120 is sleeved outside the key terminal 130 to form a liquid seal structure with the key terminal 130; the outer ring of the first elastic member 120 forms a liquid seal structure with the inner wall of the mounting hole 164.

Without limitation, the first elastic element 120 may be in interference fit with the key terminal 130, that is, the inner diameter of the first elastic element 120 is smaller than the outer diameter of the key terminal 130, so as to achieve liquid sealing between the inner ring of the first elastic element 120 and the key terminal 130. Alternatively, the first elastic member 120 may be formed outside the key terminal 130 by injection molding, for example, a flowing injection molding material is wrapped outside the key terminal, and after cooling and solidifying, the first elastic member 120 may be formed outside the key terminal 130 and a liquid seal is formed between the first elastic member and the key terminal.

Without limitation, the first elastic member 120 is a rubber ring, such as: silicone rubber rings or nitrile rubber rings, etc.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the key terminal 130 includes: a middle part 132 and end parts 131 at both ends of the middle part 132, the outer diameters of the two end parts 131 being larger than that of the middle part 132; the middle portion 132 of the key terminal 130 is located in the through hole of the first elastic member 120. Therefore, the two end parts 131 with larger outer diameters can be used for limiting the axial movement of the first elastic element 120 along the key terminal 130, and the sealing effect is ensured.

In other alternative embodiments, the first resilient member 120 is interference fit with the mounting hole 164 to form a fluid tight structure.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the outer diameter of the first elastic member 120 is larger than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 164 to achieve an interference fit of the first elastic member 120 with the mounting hole 164.

In other alternative embodiments, the first surface of the first elastic element 120 contacts the key body 110;

the key terminal 130 is mounted on the second surface of the first elastic element 120, and the key terminal 130 is disposed opposite to the key circuit 140, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the first elastic member 120 may be installed at an end of the key terminal 130 close to the key body 110, that is, the first elastic member 120 is located between the key body 110 and the key terminal 130. Since the first elastic member 120 forms a liquid-tight structure with the mounting hole 164, the liquid-tight structure also prevents liquid from affecting the key terminal 130. Particularly, when the key terminal 130 is a metal member, corrosion of the liquid to the key terminal 130 can be reduced, and the service life of the key terminal 130 can be prolonged.

In other alternative embodiments, the key circuit 140 includes thereon: a conductive dome 141; when the key body 110 is pressed, the key terminal 130 contacts the conductive elastic piece 141, the conductive elastic piece 141 is compressed, and the key circuit 140 is switched from the off state to the on state.

Without limitation, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the key Circuit further includes a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) 142, the conductive elastic piece 141 may be made of a conductive material such as metal or alloy, and the conductive elastic piece 141 may be fixed on the FPC 142 through a non-conductive body such as plastic.

When the key body 110 is pressed, the key terminal 130 is driven to move toward the conductive elastic piece 141, and the conductive elastic piece 141 is compressed, so that the conductive elastic piece 141 generates elastic deformation, the conductive elastic piece 141 contacts the flexible circuit board 142, and the key circuit 140 is turned on. After the acting force applied to the key body is cancelled, the conductive elastic piece 141 is elastically deformed, the key circuit 140 is in an off state, and the key terminal 130 and the key body 110 are sequentially reset under the elastic restoring force of the conductive elastic piece 141.

In other optional embodiments, the key module further includes:

second elastic member 150 located between key body 110 and sealing member 170;

the end of the key body 110 opposite to the sealing member 170 has a limiting groove 111, and the second elastic member 150 is embedded in the limiting groove 111.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the elasticity of the second elastic member 150 can buffer the pressing force applied to the key body 110, thereby reducing damage to the sealing member 170 and the key circuit 140 due to excessive pressing force. Meanwhile, the second elastic member 150 can provide a pressing body feeling when the key body 110 is pressed, thereby improving user experience.

The second elastic member 150 is, without limitation, an elastic material such as rubber, for example, silicon rubber or natural rubber.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a terminal, including:

the key module according to any one of the above embodiments;

and a housing having a mounting hole 164 for the key module, into which a sealing member of the key module is inserted.

The terminal includes, but is not limited to, an electronic device with a key body, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook, a desktop computer, a television, a display, or a wearable device.

Generally, the key body 110 is located at the edge of the housing, and the key circuit 140 is located inside the housing. When key body 110 is inserted into mounting hole 164, at least a portion of the key body is exposed outside the housing for the user to touch and press.

By utilizing the liquid sealing structure formed by the sealing element 170 at the mounting hole 164 in the embodiment of the disclosure, the IP 68-grade waterproof performance of the terminal (namely, the protection grade of the GB T4208 and 2017 shell, for example, the terminal is soaked in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes) can be realized, the key circuit is ensured not to be corroded by liquid, and the reliability of the device is improved.

As shown in fig. 3, the terminal further includes a key insertion sheet 180 located in the mounting hole 164 and connected to the key body 110 to limit the key body 110 from being detached from the mounting hole 164. Generally, the key body 110 has a flange, and the flange can be used to hook the key insertion sheet 180, so as to limit the key body 110 by the key insertion sheet 180.

The mounting hole may be located in the rear case of the terminal according to different structures of the terminal; alternatively, the mounting hole may be located in the center frame of the terminal.

In other alternative embodiments, the housing comprises:

a middle frame 160 having a blocking wall 161 and a mounting wall 162 at the edge, and a mounting groove 163 between the blocking wall 161 and the mounting wall 162, wherein a mounting hole 164 is formed on the mounting wall 162, and the mounting hole 164 is communicated with the mounting groove 163;

the key circuit 140 is positioned in the mounting groove 163 and is mounted on the side surface of the blocking wall 161 opposite to the mounting wall 162;

a rear case (not shown) mounted on the middle frame 160 and covering the mounting groove 163;

a waterproof glue (not shown) between the rear case and the blocking wall 161 to seal a gap between the rear case and the blocking wall 161; and the sealing member 170 is also positioned between the rear case and the mounting wall 162 to seal a gap between the rear case and the blocking wall 161.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the mounting wall 162 and the blocking wall 161 are substantially parallel, and the mounting hole 164 and the mounting groove 163 are substantially perpendicular. The key circuit 140 is fixed on the blocking wall 161, and the conductive elastic piece 141 of the key circuit 140 is opposite to the mounting hole 164, so that the sealing member 170 in the mounting hole 164 can contact with the conductive elastic piece 141.

The waterproof glue can further seal the gap between the rear shell and the middle frame, and liquid which limits the external environment enters the mounting groove and the middle frame through the gap between the rear shell and the middle frame, so that the sealing effect is further ensured.

Without limitation, the center of the middle frame is provided with a battery compartment for installing a battery, and the rear shell can be used as a battery shell and simultaneously cover the battery compartment.

The waterproof adhesive may be, without limitation, a double-sided tape, such as a foam tape. Or directly coating an adhesive on the rear case, wherein the adhesive includes but is not limited to epoxy resin glue or acrylate glue.

The middle frame is generally made of metal or alloy material.

In other alternative embodiments, the housing comprises:

the edge of the middle frame is provided with a baffle wall and a boss formed by protruding from the baffle wall away from the central position of the middle frame, and the key circuit is positioned on the boss and is arranged on the side surface of the baffle wall away from the central position of the middle frame;

the rear shell is arranged on the middle frame and covers the blocking wall and the lug boss; the mounting hole is positioned on the rear shell;

the waterproof glue is positioned between the rear shell and the blocking wall and used for sealing a gap between the rear shell and the blocking wall; the waterproof glue is also positioned between the rear shell and the boss to seal the gap between the rear shell and the boss.

In the disclosed embodiment, the mounting hole 164 is located at the edge of the rear case, and the rear case covers the middle frame 160. The waterproof glue and the sealing piece 170 seal gaps at different positions of the terminal, and the sealing effect is further improved.

In a specific example, the terminal is a mobile phone, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the key is mounted in the mobile phone, when in use, a finger presses the key, a force is transmitted to the conductive elastic piece 141 through the waterproof pin (i.e., the key terminal 130), the key circuit 140 is triggered to be turned on, and the output of high and low levels is realized, so as to provide a signal to the mobile phone, and the mobile phone realizes volume adjustment or power on/off through the signal. In the waterproof process, the sealing element 170 prevents liquid from entering the mounting groove 163, so that the liquid is effectively prevented from entering the key circuit 140, the key circuit 140 is prevented from being corroded by the liquid to be invalid, and the waterproof purpose is achieved. The assembly steps of the key module can include in order: passing the seal 170 through the mounting hole 164; installing the key circuit 140 in the installation groove 163; key body 110 is inserted into mounting hole 164; finally, the key insertion sheet 180 is inserted into the mounting hole 164 and connected with the key body 110 to limit the key body 110 from being separated.

Table 1 below shows the distribution of the relative sizes of the key module when the key module is applied to a mobile phone.

TABLE 1

As can be seen from the table 1, the terminal of the embodiment of the disclosure has the advantages that the key module is compact in position structure, the occupied space of the whole terminal is small, and more space can be reserved for the battery compartment.

Features disclosed in several of the product embodiments provided in this disclosure may be combined in any combination to yield new product embodiments without conflict.

Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure following, in general, the principles of the disclosure and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the disclosure pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements described above and shown in the drawings and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A key module, comprising:

a key circuit;

a key body;

the sealing piece is positioned between the key circuit and the key body;

the sealing element and the key body penetrate through a mounting hole of the key module, and the sealing element forms a liquid sealing structure at the mounting hole;

the key body has a pressing force, and the sealing element is in contact with the key circuit; the key body has no pressing force, and the sealing piece is separated from the key circuit.

2. The key module of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises:

a first elastic member;

the key terminal is arranged on the first elastic piece;

the key body has a pressing force, and the key terminal of the sealing element is in contact with the key circuit; the key body has no pressing force, and the key terminal of the sealing element is separated from the key circuit.

3. The key module of claim 2,

the first elastic piece is provided with a through hole;

the key terminal penetrates through the through hole, is in interference fit with the first elastic piece, and forms a liquid sealing structure.

4. The key module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first elastic member is in interference fit with the mounting hole to form the liquid-tight structure.

5. The key module of claim 2,

the first surface of the first elastic piece is contacted with the key body;

the key terminal is mounted on the second surface of the first elastic piece, and the key terminal is arranged opposite to the key circuit, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface.

6. The key module of claim 2, wherein the key circuit comprises: a conductive spring plate; the key body has a pressing force effect, the key terminal is in contact with the conductive elastic sheet, the conductive elastic sheet is compressed, and the key circuit is switched from a disconnected state to a connected state.

7. The key module of claim 1, wherein the key module further comprises:

the second elastic piece is positioned between the key body and the sealing piece;

the end part of the key body opposite to the sealing element is provided with a limiting groove, and the second elastic element is embedded into the limiting groove.

8. A terminal, comprising:

the key module of any one of claims 1 to 7;

the shell is provided with a mounting hole of the key module, and a sealing element of the key module is inserted into the mounting hole.

9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises:

the edge of the middle frame is provided with a blocking wall, a mounting wall and a mounting groove positioned between the blocking wall and the mounting wall, the mounting hole is positioned on the mounting wall, and the mounting hole is communicated with the mounting groove;

the key circuit is positioned in the mounting groove and is mounted on the side surface of the blocking wall opposite to the mounting wall;

the rear shell is arranged on the middle frame and covers the mounting groove;

the waterproof glue is positioned between the rear shell and the blocking wall and used for sealing a gap between the rear shell and the blocking wall; and the waterproof glue is also positioned between the rear shell and the mounting wall to seal a gap between the rear shell and the retaining wall.

10. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises:

the key circuit is positioned on the boss and is arranged on the side surface of the blocking wall, which deviates from the central position of the middle frame;

the rear shell is arranged on the middle frame and covers the blocking wall and the boss; the mounting hole is positioned on the rear shell;

the waterproof glue is positioned between the rear shell and the blocking wall and used for sealing a gap between the rear shell and the blocking wall; the waterproof glue is also positioned between the rear shell and the boss to seal a gap between the rear shell and the boss.

Images