TWM587299U - Touch pad structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch pad structure includes a first casing, a second casing, a touch pad, a moving rod and two mounting bases. The first casing has an opening, and is disposed on the second casing. The touch pad is disposed at the opening, wherein the touch pad includes a fulcrum end and a moving end opposite to each other, and the fulcrum end is connected to the first casing. The moving rod is located between the touch pad and the second casing, wherein the moving rod includes two connecting portions and a rod portion located between the two connecting portions, and the rod portion is movably connected to the moving end. The two mounting bases are mounted to the first casing and located between the first casing and the second casing. The two mounting bases are respectively located at two opposite sides of the opening, and the two connecting portions are rotatably connected to the two mounting bases.

Description

Touchpad structure

The novel creation relates to a touchpad structure, and more particularly to a touchpad structure applied to an electronic device.

A common electronic device, such as a notebook computer, is provided with a keyboard and a touchpad on the host computer as a user's physical operation interface. On the other hand, keyboards and touchpads are also commonly used in docking stations, where docking stations can be installed on tablets or smartphones, and users can choose to operate the tablet through the keyboard and touchpad Computer or smartphone.

Generally speaking, the user's pressing point on the touchpad is not fixed. Different pressing points will not only make the user feel a different pressing feel, but also cause the smoothness of the touchpad's movement. influences. Therefore, how to improve the user's pressing feel when operating the touchpad and improve the smoothness of the touchpad has become a research and development project actively invested by related manufacturers.

The novel creation provides a touchpad structure, which helps to improve the pressing feel when operating the touchpad, and improves the smoothness when the touchpad moves.

The novel touchpad structure includes a first housing, a second housing, a touchpad, a linkage lever, and two mounting bases. The first housing has an opening. The first casing is disposed on the second casing. The touchpad is disposed in the opening, wherein the touchpad includes an opposite fulcrum end and a movable end, and the fulcrum end is connected to the first housing. The linkage lever is located between the touch pad and the second housing, wherein the linkage lever includes two connecting portions and a lever portion located between the two connecting portions, and the lever portion is movably connected to the movable end. The two mounting seats are mounted on the first casing and are located between the first casing and the second casing. The two mounting bases are respectively located on opposite sides of the opening, and the two connecting portions are rotatably connected to the two mounting bases, respectively.

Based on the above, the novel touchpad structure guides the movement of the touchpad through a linkage lever, thereby improving the pressing feel of the user when operating the touchpad, and improving the smoothness of the movement of the touchpad.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the novel creation more comprehensible, embodiments are described below in detail with the accompanying drawings as follows.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are partial disassembly diagrams of a touchpad structure according to an embodiment of the present invention at two different perspectives. 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views of a touch panel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention at two different sections. Please refer to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the touchpad structure 100 can be applied to a notebook computer or a docking station, and is integrated into the casing of the host of the notebook computer or the docking station. The touchpad structure 100 includes a first casing 110 and a second casing 120, where the first casing 110 and the second casing 120 may be part of a casing of a host of a notebook computer or a casing of an expansion base. Partially, and the first casing 110 is disposed on the second casing 120.

On the other hand, the touch pad structure 100 further includes a touch pad 130, a linkage lever 140, a first mounting base 150 and a second mounting base 151. The first casing 110 has an opening 111, and the touch pad 130 is disposed in the opening 111. Further, the first casing 110 further has an outer surface 112 of the connection opening 111, and the touch pad 130 is slightly lower than the outer surface 112. The touchpad 130 includes an opposite fulcrum end 131 and a movable end 132. The fulcrum end 131 is connected to the first housing 110 and serves as a rotating fulcrum of the touchpad 130. According to different operation states, if the user presses the movable end 132 with force, the touch pad 130 rotates downward relative to the first casing 110. Conversely, if the force applied to the movable end 132 is removed, the touch pad 130 is rotated upward relative to the first housing 110 to return to the initial state.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3A. In this embodiment, the linkage lever 140 is located between the touchpad 130 and the second housing 120, wherein the linkage lever 140 includes a first connection portion 141, and The second connection portion 142 of the first connection portion 141 and the rod portion 143 located between the first connection portion 141 and the second connection portion 142, and the rod portion 143 is movably connected to the movable end 132. On the other hand, the first mounting base 150 and the second mounting base 151 are mounted on the first casing 110 and located between the first casing 110 and the second casing 120. The first mounting base 150 and the second mounting base 151 are located on opposite sides of the opening 111, respectively. The first connecting portion 141 is rotatably connected to the first mounting base 150, and the second connecting portion 142 is rotatably connected to the second mounting base. 151. That is, the interlocking lever 140 has a degree of freedom of movement relative to the first housing 110.

Further, the movable end 132 of the touch pad 130 bears on the lever portion 143. During the downward rotation of the touch pad 130 relative to the first housing 110, the movable end 132 sinks and drives the lever portion 143. The linkage lever 140 is caused to rotate relative to the first casing 110. Because the movable end 132 is supported by the lever portion 143, and the movable end 132 sinks in synchronization with the lever portion 143, it is helpful to improve the pressing feeling of the user when operating the touch pad 130, and to improve the smoothness of the movement of the touch pad 130. Furthermore, the movable end 132 is provided with at least two positioning portions 132a arranged side by side and facing the second housing 120. The two positioning portions 132a may be positioning hooks or positioning slots, and the rod portion 143 passes through the two positioning portions. 132a.

During the process where the movable end 132 sinks and drives the lever 143 or the movable end 132 rises and drives the lever 143, the two positioning portions 132a can ensure that the lever 143 moves synchronously with the movable end 132 and prevents the lever 143 from leaving the movable end 132. On the other hand, the two positioning portions 132 a may be symmetrically disposed on the movable end 132 to improve the smoothness of the movement of the touch pad 130. Since the two positioning portions 132a can use positioning hooks or positioning grooves, the step of mounting the rod portion 143 on the two positioning portions 132a is quite simple and intuitive.

In addition, the first mounting base 150 and the second mounting base 151 are detachably mounted on the first housing 110. In the step of assembling the touch panel structure 100, the first connecting portion 141 of the linkage lever 140 is first Mounting to the first mounting base 150, and mounting the second connecting portion 142 to the second mounting base 151, and then mounting the first mounting base 150 and the second mounting base 151 to the first housing 110, and thereafter, combining the linkage lever The rod portion 143 of 140 and the two positioning portions 132 a of the movable end 132 of the touch pad 130 connect the fulcrum end 131 of the touch pad 130 to the first housing 110. So far, the touchpad structure 100 is almost assembled, and the assembling steps are quite simple and intuitive. Generally speaking, the steps of assembling the touchpad 130 and the linkage lever 140 are quite simple and intuitive, which is convenient for users to disassemble, assemble or perform maintenance.

As for the geometric structure of the linkage lever 140, the cross-sectional shapes of the first connecting portion 141, the second connecting portion 142, and the lever portion 143 are all circular, so as to ensure the pivoting between the first connecting portion 141 and the first mounting base 150. Relationship, the pivoting relationship between the second connecting portion 142 and the second mounting seat 151, and the pivoting relationship between the lever portion 143 and the two positioning portions 132a. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the first connecting portion 141 and the second connecting portion 142 are both cylindrical structures, so the cross-sectional shapes of the first connecting portion 141 and the second connecting portion 142 are circular.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. The first housing 110 includes a first extension 113 and a second extension 114 extending into the opening 111, and the first extension 113 and the second extension 113. The extension portions 114 are located on opposite sides of the opening 111, respectively. The fulcrum end 131 of the touch panel 130 is connected to the first extension portion 113, and the movable end 132 and the rod portion 143 are located on the second extension portion 114. Specifically, the first extension portion 113 and the second extension portion 114 are located between the touch pad 130 and the second housing 120, and the lever portion 143 is located between the touch pad 130 and the second extension portion 114, but the lever portion 143 is not in direct contact with the second extension 114. In addition, the two positioning portions 132 a face the second extending portion 114.

On the other hand, the second extension portion 114 is provided with a convex pillar 114 a facing the touch panel 130, and the movable end 132 is provided with a trigger element 132 b facing the second extension portion 114. The rod portion 143 is staggered to the trigger element 132b and the convex pillar 114a, so as to avoid accidentally touching the trigger element 132b and avoid structural interference with the convex pillar 114a. On the other hand, the trigger element 132b is opposite to the convex pillar 114a. The trigger element 132b can be a metal dome switch, a rubber dome switch, other types of contact switches or non-contact switches. Moreover, the protrusion 114a is configured to contact the trigger element 132b, so that the trigger element 132b generates a corresponding electrical signal. The two positioning portions 132 a are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the trigger element 132 b to improve the smoothness of the movement of the touch pad 130.

In this embodiment, the first extension portion 113 includes at least two branches 113a (three are shown schematically), and the fulcrum end 131 is connected to these branches 113a. For example, these branches 113a are arranged at equal distances to stably support the fulcrum end 131 of the touch panel 130.

In summary, the novel touchpad structure guides the movement of the touchpad through a linkage lever, thereby improving the pressing feel of the user when operating the touchpad, and improving the smoothness of the movement of the touchpad. On the other hand, the steps of assembling the touchpad and the linkage lever are quite simple and intuitive, which is convenient for users to disassemble, assemble or repair.

Although this new type of creation has been disclosed in the above examples, it is not intended to limit the new type of creation. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this new type of creation. Retouching, so the protection scope of this new type of creation shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100‧‧‧Touchpad structure
110‧‧‧First case
111‧‧‧ opening
112‧‧‧ Outer surface
113‧‧‧First extension
113a‧‧‧ branch
114‧‧‧second extension
114a‧‧‧ convex post
120‧‧‧Second shell
130‧‧‧Touchpad
131‧‧‧ fulcrum
132‧‧‧Event side
132a‧‧‧Positioning Department
132b‧‧‧Trigger Element
140‧‧‧Linking lever
141‧‧‧First connection section
142‧‧‧Second connection section
143‧‧‧pole
150‧‧‧First Mount
151‧‧‧Second Mount

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are partial disassembly diagrams of a touchpad structure according to an embodiment of the present invention at two different perspectives.
3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views of a touch panel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention at two different sections.

Claims (8)

A touchpad structure includes:
A first housing having an opening;
A second casing, which is disposed on the second casing,
A touch pad is disposed in the opening, wherein the touch pad includes an opposite fulcrum end and a movable end, and the fulcrum end is connected to the first housing;
A linkage lever is located between the touch pad and the second housing, wherein the linkage lever includes two connecting portions and a lever portion located between the two connecting portions, and the lever portion is movably connected to the movable end; A mounting seat is installed on the first casing and is located between the first casing and the second casing, wherein the two mounting seats are respectively located on opposite sides of the opening, and the two connecting portions are rotatably Connect the two mounts. The touchpad structure according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the linkage lever includes a circle. The touchpad structure according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first housing includes a first extension portion and a second extension portion extending into the opening, and the first extension portion and the second extension portion They are located on opposite sides of the opening, the fulcrum end is connected to the first extension portion, and the movable end and the rod portion are opposite to the second extension portion. The touchpad structure according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are located between the touchpad and the second housing, and the lever portion is located on the touchpad And the second extension. The touchpad structure according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second extension portion is provided with a convex pillar facing the touchpad, and the movable end is provided with a trigger element facing the second extension portion, and the lever The misalignment is located on the trigger element and the convex post, and the trigger element is directly opposite the convex post. The touchpad structure according to item 5 of the scope of patent application, wherein the movable end is provided with at least two positioning portions facing the second extension portion, which are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the trigger element, and the rod portion passes through Pass the two positioning portions. The touchpad structure according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first extension portion includes at least two branches arranged side by side, and the fulcrum end is connected to the two branches. The touchpad structure according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the movable end is provided with at least two positioning portions arranged side by side and facing the second housing, and the rod portion passes through the two positioning portions.