TWI399965B - Keypad assembly - Google Patents

Description

Button assembly

The invention relates to a button assembly structure and a portable electronic device equipped with the same.

With the rapid development of economy and technology and the improvement of people's quality of life, various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become more and more popular. In addition to requiring the portable electronic devices to meet their functional requirements, the consumer also puts forward higher requirements on the appearance, feel and ease of use of the portable electronic device, and hopes that the appearance is beautiful, full of personality, and comfortable to the touch. Easy to operate.

Most of the keyboard structures of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants adopt a push button structure or a keyboard structure in which a joystick and a push button are combined. In this way, the number of buttons of the portable electronic device is relatively large, the operation is relatively cumbersome, and the manufacturing cost of the entire keyboard is relatively high; and in the design process, the feel of the keyboard is difficult to be guaranteed.

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a key assembly of a portable electronic device that is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in operation, and novel in structure.

In addition, it is also necessary to provide a portable electronic device having the above-mentioned button assembly with low manufacturing cost, simple operation, and novel structure.

a button assembly is mounted on a housing of a portable electronic device, the housing is provided with a plurality of button holes; the button assembly includes a plurality of buttons, and the button is disposed in a button hole of the housing; The button is slidable in a keyhole parallel to the surface of the housing, the button assembly further comprising at least one mounting member coupled to the button such that the button does not disengage from the housing.

A portable electronic device includes a casing and a button assembly, wherein the casing is provided with a plurality of button holes; the button assembly includes a plurality of buttons, and the button is disposed in a button hole of the casing; The button is slidable in the button aperture in a direction parallel to the surface of the housing, the button assembly further comprising at least one mounting component coupled to the button such that the button does not disengage from the housing.

Compared with the prior art, the button assembly of the present invention changes the keyboard operation mode of the conventional portable electronic device, and changes the conventional push button operation mode into a push and slide keyboard operation mode. The button assembly not only makes the operation simpler, more convenient, and novel, but also greatly reduces the complexity of the entire button assembly, and greatly reduces the production cost.

10‧‧‧ button

12‧‧‧Keys

122‧‧‧Operation surface

13‧‧‧Slip section

15‧‧‧Connecting Department

20‧‧‧shell

22‧‧‧ panel

221‧‧‧ outer surface

222‧‧‧ button hole

2221‧‧‧Depression

2222,358‧‧‧through hole

223‧‧ ‧ characters

225‧‧‧Screen display window

227‧‧‧ inner surface

228‧‧‧Bump

30‧‧‧Assembly components

31‧‧‧Installation Department

311‧‧‧ accommodating space

32‧‧‧Connecting body

35‧‧‧ positioning end

40‧‧‧ viscose

50‧‧‧ boards

51‧‧‧ switch

1 is a schematic perspective view of a key assembly of a portable electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key assembly of the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a portable electronic device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the assembly of the key assembly of the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the working principle of the portable electronic device key assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The portable electronic device of the present invention includes various portable electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant. In the present embodiment, a mobile phone will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the mobile phone includes a button assembly (not shown) and a housing 20. The button assembly includes a plurality of buttons 10 and at least one assembly member 30.

Referring to FIG. 3 together, the button 10 includes an operating portion 12 and a connecting portion 15 . The operation portion 12 has an elliptical column shape and includes an operation surface 122. The operation surface 122 is a curved surface of an arcuate depression, and an anti-slip portion 13 is disposed at a central position thereof. The anti-slip portion 13 has a stripe-shaped rib structure for increasing the frictional force to prevent the user from slipping with the button 10 when the user presses the button 10. The connecting portion 15 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed to the other surface of the operating portion 12 opposite to the operating surface 122. The button 10 can be formed by in-mold molding.

It can be understood that the operation surface 122 of the operation portion 12 can also be a plane.

It can be understood that the anti-slip portion 13 can also be disposed as a plurality of bumps protruding from the surface of the operating portion 12.

It can be understood that the operation surface 122 of the operation portion can also adopt various pattern layers made of anti-slip and anti-friction materials.

The housing 20 is a housing for a mobile phone that includes a panel 22 in the form of a flat plate. The panel 22 includes an outer surface 221 and an inner surface 227 opposite the outer surface 221 . One end of the panel 22 is provided with a plurality of button holes 222 for accommodating the button 10; the other end of the panel 22 extends through the outer surface 221 to the inner surface 227 to form a rectangular screen display window 225. Used to install the display screen (not shown). The button hole 222 has an elliptical stepped hole shape, and includes a recessed portion 2221 and a through hole 2222. The recessed portion 2221 is recessed from the outer surface 221 of the panel 22 toward the inner surface 227, and the through hole is formed. The recessed portion 2221 is integrally connected to the recessed portion 2221 , and the through hole 2222 extends through the inner surface 221 of the panel 22 along the surface of the recessed portion 2221 . The recessed portion 2221 and the through hole 2222 are respectively fitted to the operation portion 12 and the connecting portion 15 of the button 10. The aperture size of the recessed portion 2221 of the buttonhole 222 is larger than the outer dimension of the operating portion 12 of the button 10, and the aperture size of the through hole 2222 of the buttonhole 222 is larger than the outer dimension of the connecting portion 15 of the button 10. In order to facilitate the sliding of the button 10 in the direction of the outer surface 221 of the panel 22 of the housing 20 after the button 10 is mounted in the button hole 222. In this embodiment, the button 10 is in the The button holes 222 on the outer casing 20 are slidable back and forth in the X direction away from or near the screen display window 225. The button hole 222 is provided with characters 223 corresponding to the respective buttons 10 on both sides of the sliding direction of the button 10. The inner surface 227 of the panel 22 is provided with a plurality of positioning protrusions 228 protrudingly disposed at two side edges of the inner surface 227 of the panel 22 for positioning the assembly component 30.

In this embodiment, the button 10 and the button hole 222 are each nine, and are arranged in three rows on the panel of the housing 20 of the button assembly. It can be understood that the number of the button 10 and the button hole 222 is not limited to that described in this embodiment, and the button 10 and the button may be appropriately increased or decreased according to the specific functional requirements of the portable electronic device and the design requirements of the button. The number of holes 222.

It will be appreciated that the character 223 can be made by techniques such as pad printing, thermal transfer, in-mold molding, and the like. The character 223 can also be disposed on the operation surface 122 of the button 10 and integrated with the button 10.

It will be appreciated that the housing 20 can be formed by in-mold molding.

Referring to FIG. 4 together, the assembly component 30 is an arc-shaped curved strip-shaped body disposed on the inner surface 227 of the panel 22 for fixing to the connecting portion 15 of the button 10. . The assembly component 30 includes a plurality of key mounting portions 31, a plurality of connecting strap bodies 32, and a plurality of positioning end portions 35. The key mounting portion 31 has a cylindrical shape with one end open and one end closed, and includes a cylindrical hole-shaped accommodating space 311 which is recessed inward. The accommodating space 311 is for accommodating the connecting portion 15 of the button 10. The connecting strip body 32 is an arc-shaped strip-shaped strip-shaped elastic body for connecting the key mounting portion 31 and the positioning end portion 35 to each other. The positioning end portion 35 is substantially columnar and disposed at two ends of the mounting member 30. The positioning end portion 35 is provided with a cylindrical through hole 358, and the through hole 358 is inside the housing 20. The positioning posts 228 on the surface 227 are mated to each other. In the embodiment, the assembly elements 30 are three. It will be appreciated that the number of assembly elements 30 can be increased or decreased as appropriate to the particular needs.

Referring to FIG. 5 together, when the button assembly of the present invention is assembled, first, the button 10 is mounted in the button hole 222 of the housing 20; next, the key mounting portion 31 on the mounting member 30 is The connecting portions 15 of the buttons 10 are engaged with each other by the adhesive 40; finally, the positioning end 35 of the mounting member 30 is snapped onto the positioning post 228 on the inner surface 227 of the housing 20, that is, The installation work of the button assembly.

It can be understood that the accommodating space 311 of the key mounting portion 31 can be slightly smaller than the connecting portion 15 of the button 10, and when the button 10 is mounted on the key mounting portion 311, the connecting portion 15 of the button 10 and the key mounting portion 31 The accommodating space 311 is tightly fitted to achieve the function of the clamping button 10.

In use, the button assembly is mounted in a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device has a keyboard circuit board 50 on which a switch 51 is provided corresponding to the character 223 of the panel 22. When the user slides the button 10 to one side thereof in the X direction of the figure, the button 10 drives the key mounting portion 31 to slide together to cause the key mounting portion 31 to push the switch 51 on the keyboard circuit board 50 to generate electricity. The connection is made and the electrical signal is transmitted to the body of the portable electrical device. When the user releases the button 10, the connecting strip body 32 connected to the key mounting portion 31 drives the button to return to the initial position of the button.

The button assembly of the present invention changes the keyboard operation mode of the conventional portable electronic device, and changes the traditional push button operation mode into a push and slide keyboard operation mode. The button assembly not only makes the operation simpler, more convenient, and novel, but also greatly reduces the complexity of the entire button assembly, and greatly reduces the production cost.

In summary, the present invention complies with the requirements of the invention patent and submits a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to make equivalent modifications or variations in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. It should be covered by the following patent application.

10‧‧‧ button

20‧‧‧shell

22‧‧‧ panel

223‧‧ ‧ characters

225‧‧‧Screen display window

Claims (21)

A button assembly is mounted on a casing of a portable electronic device, and the casing is provided with a plurality of button holes; the button assembly includes a plurality of buttons and at least one assembly component, and the button is installed in the button hole of the casing and Sliding parallel to the surface of the housing in the button hole, the mounting member is coupled to the button to prevent the button from coming off the housing; the mounting member includes a fixed connection with the button a plurality of key mounting portions, a plurality of positioning end portions fixed to the housing, and a plurality of connecting straps connecting the key mounting portion and the positioning end portions; the button driving the button when the button is pushed The key mounting portion of the assembly member slides together, and the connecting belt body drives the button to return to the initial position of the button. The button assembly of claim 1, wherein the button comprises an operation portion and a connection portion, and the connection portion is fixed to the operation portion. The button assembly of claim 2, wherein the assembly component is a curved and curved strip-shaped body, and the connection portion of the button is fixed to each other. The button assembly of claim 3, wherein the key mounting portion has a cylindrical shape with one end open and one end closed, and includes an inwardly recessed connecting portion for accommodating the button. The cylindrical hole-shaped accommodation space. The button assembly of claim 4, wherein the connecting strip body is a strip-shaped strip-shaped elastic body curved in a curved shape. The button assembly of claim 5, wherein the surface of the operating portion is provided with an anti-slip portion. The button assembly of claim 6, wherein the surface of the operating portion is a curved curved surface or a planar shape. A portable electronic device includes: a housing and a button assembly, the housing is opened a plurality of button holes are provided, the button assembly includes a plurality of buttons and at least one mounting member, the button is disposed in the button hole of the housing and is slidable in a direction parallel to the surface of the housing in the button hole Moving, the assembly component is coupled to the button such that the button does not disengage from the housing; the assembly component includes a plurality of key mounting portions fixedly coupled to the button, and a plurality of positioning ends fixed to the housing And a plurality of connecting straps connecting the key mounting portion and the positioning end portion; when the button is pushed, the button drives the key mounting portion of the mounting component to slide together, and the connecting strap body drives The button returns to the initial position of the button. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the button comprises an operation portion and a connection portion, and the connection portion is fixed to the operation portion. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a flat panel, the panel comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, wherein the button hole is The outer surface of the casing is recessed toward the inner surface. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the panel is provided with a plurality of positioning protrusions, and the positioning protrusions are protrudingly disposed on the inner surface for The assembly components are positioned. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the positioning end portion is substantially columnar and disposed at two ends of the mounting member, and the positioning end portion is provided with a cylindrical through hole. And a positioning post on the inner surface of the housing cooperates with each other. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the button hole comprises a recessed portion and a through hole, the recessed portion being recessed from an outer surface of the panel toward an inner surface, The through hole is integrally connected to the recessed portion, and the through hole extends through the surface of the recessed portion toward the inner surface of the panel. The portable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the apertures of the button holes and the apertures of the through holes are respectively larger than the size of the operating portion and the connecting portion of the button, so that the button is mounted on the button. The keyhole can be realized in the direction parallel to the outer surface of the panel of the housing. Slip. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the connection portion of the key mounting portion and the button is fixed to each other. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a keyboard circuit board, wherein the keyboard circuit board is provided with a switch, and the key mounting portion of the mounting component is moved The switch is pushed to make an electrical connection with the switch. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the assembly component is a curved and curved strip-shaped body, and the connection portion of the button is fixed to each other. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the key mounting portion has a cylindrical shape with one end open and one end closed, and includes an inwardly recessed shape for accommodating the button. A cylindrical hole-shaped accommodating space of the connecting portion. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the surface of the operation portion is provided with an anti-slip portion. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the surface of the operating portion is a curved curved surface or a planar shape. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the button hole is provided with a character corresponding to each button along both sides of the sliding direction of the button.