WO2023036074A1

WO2023036074A1 - Key structure and electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2023036074A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/117002
Authority: WO
Inventors: 黄锐程
Original assignee: 维沃移动通信有限公司
Priority date: 2021-09-10
Filing date: 2022-09-05
Publication date: 2023-03-16
Also published as: CN113764221A; CN113764221B

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a key structure and an electronic device, which belong to the technical field of input apparatuses. The key structure comprises: a key main body, which is movably inserted into a key through-hole provided in a frame body of the electronic device; and a press detection component, which comprises a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a light-blocking member and a control unit, wherein the transmitting unit transmits an optical signal to the receiving unit; the light-blocking member can be driven by the key main body to switch between a first state and a second state, so as to change the strength of the optical signal received by the receiving unit; and the control unit determines whether the key main body is pressed according to the strength of the optical signal received by the receiving unit.

Description

A key structure and electronic device

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111061062.X filed in China on September 10, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

technical field

The present application belongs to the technical field of input devices, and in particular relates to a button structure and electronic equipment.

Background technique

At present, the common smart devices on the market are usually equipped with buttons. When the button is pressed hard, the button will move inward with the metal shrapnel, press down the built-in contact, and complete a button-triggered action. When the force applied to the button is released Finally, the spring of the internal mechanism will drive the button and the metal shrapnel to return.

However, the above design has at least the following problems: During use, the button presses down on the metal dome and then triggers the built-in contact, so the stress on the metal dome will be relatively large. At this time, the deformation of the metal dome is relatively large, and it is easy to Metal fatigue occurs, and after long-term use, the resilience of the metal shrapnel will be insufficient, which will lead to poor contact between the button and the built-in contact.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a button structure and electronic equipment, which can solve the problem that the metal shrapnel in the prior art is prone to metal fatigue, and the metal shrapnel is prone to insufficient resilience after long-term use, which in turn leads to poor contact between the button and the built-in contact. question.

In the first aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a button structure, the button structure includes:

A key body, the key body can be movably inserted into the key through hole opened on the electronic equipment frame;

Press detection assembly, the press detection assembly includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a shading member and a control unit, the transmitting unit transmits an optical signal to the receiving unit, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are connected to the control unit connected, the shading member is at least partially disposed between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the shading member is connected to the key body, and the shading member can be in the first state driven by the key body switch between the second state and the second state to change the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit, and the control unit judges whether the main body of the key is pressed according to the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit.

Optionally, the shading member includes a first shading sheet and a second shading sheet, the first shading sheet is fixedly connected to the key body, and the second shading sheet is fixedly arranged on the transmitting unit and the receiving unit. Between units, when the shading member is in the first state, the first shading sheet overlaps with the second shading sheet, and when the shading member is in the second state, the first shading sheet and the second shading sheet The two shading sheets are dislocated.

Optionally, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second light-shielding sheet, and the control unit are all fixedly arranged on a circuit board, and the circuit board is arranged in an enclosed area of the frame.

Optionally, the receiving unit is a photodiode.

Optionally, the material of the shading member is a light-absorbing material or a shading material.

Optionally, the key body is made of conductive material, and the key body is also a measurement electrode of a measurement circuit, and the key structure further includes:

A metal spring pin, one end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key body, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the circuit board.

Optionally, the button structure also includes:

The elastic member is arranged between the frame body and the key body, and the elastic member can provide a reset force for the key body.

Optionally, the key body includes a key head and a key column fixedly connected to the key head, and a groove is provided on the frame body, and the key through hole is opened at the bottom of the groove, so that The key column can be movably inserted in the key through hole, and the elastic member is at least partially disposed in the groove.

Optionally, the elastic member is a spring, the spring is arranged in the groove and sleeved outside the button post, one end of the spring is against the groove bottom of the groove, and the spring’s The other end is against the key head.

Optionally, the elastic member includes a first elastic plastic ring and a second elastic plastic ring, the diameter of the first elastic plastic ring is smaller than the diameter of the second elastic plastic ring, and the first elastic plastic ring sleeves fixed on the outer periphery of the key column and located in the groove, the second elastic plastic ring is fixedly arranged on the side of the key head facing the groove and located outside the groove, on the key body When being pressed, the first elastic plastic ring abuts against the bottom of the groove to generate deformation, and the second elastic plastic ring abuts to the frame to generate deformation.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, and the electronic device includes the button structure as described in the first aspect.

Optionally, the button structure includes metal spring pins, and the electronic device further includes:

A circuit board, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second light-shielding sheet and the control unit are all arranged on the circuit board;

An ECG measurement circuit, the ECG measurement circuit is arranged on the circuit board, one end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key body, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the ECG measurement circuit.

In the embodiment of the present application, by using the main body of the button to change the shading effect of the shading member between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the pressing judgment is realized according to the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit, and the service life of the button structure is improved. The trigger logic is simple and the effect is good.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a button structure in the related art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a button structure provided in an embodiment of the present application in an unpressed state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a key structure provided in an embodiment of the present application in a pressed state;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the connection of the metal spring provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the positions of the first elastic plastic ring and the second elastic plastic ring provided by the embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The following will clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, but not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in this application belong to the protection scope of this application.

The terms "first", "second" and the like in the specification and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific sequence or sequence. It should be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the application can be practiced in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein, and that references to "first," "second," etc. distinguish Objects are generally of one type, and the number of objects is not limited. For example, there may be one or more first objects. In addition, "and/or" in the specification and claims means at least one of the connected objects, and the character "/" generally means that the related objects are an "or" relationship.

The button structure and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments and application scenarios with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic structural diagram of a button structure in the related art. As shown in Figure 1, in the related art, a printed circuit board (Printed Circuit Board, PCB) is provided with a metal contact 13 on the board, and the metal shrapnel 12 is arranged in a hook shape, and one end of the metal shrapnel is fixedly connected to the PCB board, and the other One end is fixedly connected to the end of the button 11. When the button 11 is applied with an external force, the button 11 presses down on the metal dome 12, thereby making contact with the metal contact 13 to realize the button function. When the external force is removed, the metal dome 12 exerts a rebound force to make Press button 11 to reset. However, the above-mentioned structure has at least the following problems: in the process of pressing down, the stress on the metal dome 12 will be relatively large. At this time, the deformation of the bend of the metal dome 12 is relatively large, and metal fatigue is prone to occur. After long-term use (that is, multiple times) After pressing), the metal dome 12 will be deformed and unable to return to its original position, that is, the resilience is insufficient, which will lead to poor contact between the button 11 and the built-in metal contact 13, resulting in poor button effect. At the same time, the metal dome 12 and the button 11 There will also be poor contact between them. Moreover, in some designs, the button 11 is made of a metal material as a measurement electrode for electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement. If the button 11 is in poor contact with the built-in metal contact 13, the ECG signal cannot be captured, or The captured ECG signal is poor or even invalid, which in turn leads to a decrease in the accuracy of ECG measurement, and even makes it impossible to perform further analysis and processing of the ECG signal.

Therefore, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a button structure provided by the embodiment of the present application in an unpressed state, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a button structure provided in the embodiment of the present application in a pressed state The schematic diagram below. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, the button structure in the embodiment of the present application is applied to an electronic device, the frame of the electronic device is provided with a key through hole, and the frame can be a metal middle frame of the electronic device, so The button structure includes a button body and a press detection component, the button body can be movably inserted into the button through hole opened on the frame of the electronic device, and the press detection component includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a light shield and a control unit; Wherein, the transmitting unit is used to transmit optical signals to the receiving unit, while the receiving unit can receive the optical signals emitted by the transmitting unit, and both the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are electrically connected to the control unit; Between them, the shading part is connected with the key body. If the key body moves in the key through hole, the shading part will also move synchronously thereupon. Specifically, the shading part can be driven by the key body in the first state and the second state. During the switching process, the blocking degree of the light shielding member to the light signal emitted by the transmitting unit is different, thereby changing the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit, so that the control unit judges the main body of the key according to the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit is pressed.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, by using the key body to change the shading effect of the shading member between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the pressing judgment is realized according to the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit, which improves the use of the key structure. Long life, button trigger logic is simple and effective.

In some embodiments of the present application, the shading member includes a first shading sheet and a second shading sheet, wherein the first shading sheet is fixedly connected to the key body, and the second shading sheet is fixedly arranged between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit; the shading member When in the first state, the first light-shielding sheet overlaps with the second light-shielding sheet, and when the light-shielding element is in the second state, the first light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet form a dislocation. That is to say, when the main body of the key is not pressed, corresponding to the first state of the light-shielding member, the first light-shielding sheet overlaps the second light-shielding sheet at this time, since the first light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet are arranged at the emission Between the unit and the receiving unit, therefore, most of the optical signal sent by the transmitting unit is blocked by the first light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet, then the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit is weak at this time; In the case of pressing, the first light-shielding sheet originally overlapped with the second light-shielding sheet is separated from the second light-shielding sheet under the drive of the key body and is dislocated. At this time, the corresponding light-shielding piece is in the second state. The part of the optical signal sent by the unit can be transmitted to the receiving unit through the dislocation area between the first light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet. The intensity of the received light signal is used to determine whether the main body of the key is pressed.

In some embodiments, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second light-shielding sheet and the control unit are all fixedly arranged on the circuit board, and the circuit board is arranged in the enclosing area of the frame and on the side of the key body.

In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the transmitting unit is a light-emitting device such as a light-emitting diode or a laser tube. Exemplarily, the transmitting unit is an infrared light-emitting diode, and the receiving unit is a photodiode. The infrared light-emitting diode and the photodiode have a structure The advantages of simplicity, convenient control, low cost, and small footprint. Wherein, when the key body is not pressed, the first light-shielding sheet overlaps with the second light-shielding sheet, and since the first light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet are arranged between the infrared light-emitting diode and the photodiode, the infrared light-emitting diode Most of the emitted light signal is blocked by the first shading sheet and the second shading sheet, then the intensity of the light signal received by the photodiode is weak at this time, and the photocurrent generated is small, which can be recorded as I1; In the case of being pressed, the first light-shielding sheet originally overlapped with the second light-shielding sheet is separated from the second light-shielding sheet under the drive of the main body of the button and is dislocated. Therefore, the light signal part emitted by the infrared LED can pass through the first light-shielding sheet. The dislocation area between the light-shielding sheet and the second light-shielding sheet is transmitted to the photodiode, then the light signal intensity received by the photodiode is stronger at this time, and the photocurrent generated is larger, which can be recorded as I2, then the key body is pressed before/ The subsequent photocurrent change amount ΔI=I2-I1, thus, the control unit can judge whether the key body is pressed according to the photocurrent change amount.

In some other embodiments of the present application, the material of the shading member is a light-absorbing material or a shading material. Due to the short distance between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the light-absorbing material or light-shielding material can be used to improve the blocking efficiency of the light signal. Optionally, the light-absorbing material may be light-absorbing foam, light-absorbing silica gel, and the like.

Please refer to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of connection of the metal spring pin provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments of the present application, the key body is made of a conductive material, and the key body is also used as a measurement electrode of a measurement circuit. Exemplarily, the measurement circuit can be an ECG measurement circuit, which can be used to measure human body In order to obtain the electrocardiogram by the bioelectrical signal, the main body of the key is used as one of the measuring electrodes of the measuring circuit. In order to realize the connection with the measuring electrode, the key structure also includes a metal spring pin, and one end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key main body, specifically The part of the key body located inside the frame is connected, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the circuit board, specifically to the measuring circuit on the circuit board. Thus, the key body can not only realize the key function, but also can be used as the measurement electrode of the measurement circuit to achieve multiplexing; and, because the key body is always in good contact with the measurement circuit, there will be no poor contact, and the measurement results can be achieved. It is effectively guaranteed; in addition, the metal spring pin can also have a supporting (connecting) function, that is, it is equivalent to a guide rail, which can support the left and right movement of the key body, and improve the consistency of the path of the key body during the pressing process.

In some other embodiments of the present application, the button structure further includes: an elastic member, the elastic member is arranged between the frame body and the button main body, and the elastic member can provide a reset force for the button main body. That is to say, when the key body is pressed, the elastic member generates elastic deformation to accumulate elastic force, and after the external force pressing the key body is removed, the elastic member releases the elastic force to act on the key body to return the key body to its original position.

In some embodiments, optionally, the key body includes a key head and a key post fixedly connected to the key head, and a groove is provided on the frame body, and the key through hole is opened at the bottom of the groove, and the key post can be It is movably inserted in the key through hole, and the elastic member is at least partially arranged in the groove. Therefore, the groove can be used for accommodating the elastic member, and also plays a certain guiding role.

In some optional embodiments, the elastic member is a spring, and the spring is arranged in the groove and sleeved outside the button column, and one end of the spring is against the groove bottom of the groove, so The other end of the spring is against the button head. When the key body is pressed, the spring is compressed to accumulate elastic force, and after the external force pressing the key body is removed, the spring releases the elastic force to reset the key body. The spring structure has the advantages of low cost and simple installation, but it is easy to make the whole button structure not sealed, and there is a problem of dust leakage.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which is a schematic diagram of the positions of the first elastic plastic ring and the second elastic plastic ring provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, in other embodiments of the present application, the elastic member adopts an elastic plastic ring. Specifically, the elastic member includes a first elastic plastic ring and a second elastic plastic ring, and the diameter of the first elastic plastic ring is smaller than that of the second elastic ring. The diameter of the elastic plastic ring, the first elastic plastic ring is sleeved and fixed on the outer periphery of the key column and located in the groove, the second elastic plastic ring is fixedly arranged on the side of the key head facing the groove and located in the Outside the groove, when the key body is pressed, the first elastic plastic ring abuts against the bottom of the groove to generate deformation, and the second elastic plastic ring abuts to the frame to generate deformation, thus, When the external force pressing the key body is removed, the first elastic plastic ring and the second elastic plastic ring can simultaneously release the elastic force (resetting force) to reset the key body, and the first elastic plastic ring and the second elastic plastic ring can adjust the key structure. For sealing, that is, the first elastic plastic ring can seal the through hole of the button, and the second elastic plastic ring can seal the groove, so as to play a dustproof effect.

In short, in the embodiment of the present application, by using the key body to change the shading effect of the shading member between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the pressing judgment is realized according to the intensity of the optical signal received by the receiving unit, which improves the service life of the key structure , The button trigger logic is simple and the effect is good.

Another embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, the electronic device includes the button structure described in any of the above embodiments, and has the same technical effect as the above button structure, in order to avoid repetition, it is not repeated here Let me repeat.

In some embodiments of the present application, the button structure includes metal spring pins, and the electronic device further includes a circuit board and an ECG measurement circuit, wherein the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second shading sheet and The control units are all arranged on the circuit board, and the circuit board can be arranged in the enclosing area of the frame and directly below the key body; the ECG measurement circuit is also arranged on the circuit board, One end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key body, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the ECG measurement circuit. The key body is made of metal material, which can be used as a measurement electrode of the ECG measurement circuit, and is passed through the metal spring. The pin remains connected to the ECG measurement circuit, thereby enabling the electronic device to perform ECG measurement. Optionally, the ECG measurement circuit includes a plurality of measurement electrodes in addition to a measurement electrode formed by the key body. Contact, while the main body of the button does not contact the surface of the human body. When using the ECG measurement circuit to measure the ECG electrical signal, multiple measurement electrodes are in contact with the user's body surface to obtain the ECG electrical signal, and the user further presses the key body by hand, and the ECG measurement circuit also passes the metal spring pin and the key body. Obtain the ECG electrical signal of the human body, and finally realize the ECG measurement together. When the ECG measurement is not performed, the key body is only used as a part of the key structure to realize the key function.

Wherein, the electronic device may be a device such as a smart watch or a smart bracelet.

It should be noted that, in this document, the term "comprising", "comprising" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article or apparatus comprising a set of elements includes not only those elements, It also includes other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent in the process, method, article, or device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising that element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, and may also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in reverse order according to the functions involved. Functions are performed, for example, the described methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may also be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

The embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementations. The above-mentioned specific implementations are only illustrative and not restrictive. Those of ordinary skill in the art will Under the inspiration of this application, without departing from the purpose of this application and the scope of protection of the claims, many forms can also be made, all of which belong to the protection of this application.

Claims

A button structure, comprising:

A key body, the key body can be movably inserted into the key through hole opened on the electronic equipment frame;

Press detection assembly, the press detection assembly includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, a shading member and a control unit, the transmitting unit transmits an optical signal to the receiving unit, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are connected to the control unit connected, the shading member is at least partially disposed between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the shading member is connected to the key body, and the shading member can be in the first state driven by the key body switch between the second state and the second state to change the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit, and the control unit judges whether the main body of the key is pressed according to the intensity of the light signal received by the receiving unit.
The button structure according to claim 1, wherein the shading member comprises a first shading sheet and a second shading sheet, the first shading sheet is fixedly connected to the key body, and the second shading sheet is fixedly arranged on Between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, when the shading member is in the first state, the first shading sheet overlaps the second shading sheet, and when the shading member is in the second state, the The first light-shielding sheet is misaligned with the second light-shielding sheet.
The button structure according to claim 2, wherein, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second light-shielding sheet and the control unit are all fixedly arranged on a circuit board, and the circuit board is arranged on the frame within the enclosed area of the body.
The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is a photodiode.
The button structure according to claim 1, wherein the material of the light-shielding member is a light-absorbing material or a light-shielding material.
The button structure according to claim 1, wherein the button body is made of conductive material, and the button body is also a measurement electrode of a measurement circuit, and the button structure further includes:

A metal spring pin, one end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key body, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the circuit board.
The button structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

The elastic member is arranged between the frame body and the key body, and the elastic member can provide a reset force for the key body.
The key structure according to claim 7, wherein the key body comprises a key head and a key post fixedly connected to the key head, a groove is provided on the frame body, and the key through hole is opened in the The bottom of the groove, the button column can be movably inserted in the through hole of the button, and the elastic member is at least partially arranged in the groove.
The button structure according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a spring, the spring is arranged in the groove and sleeved outside the button column, and one end of the spring is connected to the groove of the groove. The bottom of the groove is in contact with each other, and the other end of the spring is in contact with the key head.
The button structure according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member comprises a first elastic plastic ring and a second elastic plastic ring, the diameter of the first elastic plastic ring is smaller than the diameter of the second elastic plastic ring, so The first elastic plastic ring is sleeved and fixed on the outer periphery of the key column and is located in the groove, and the second elastic plastic ring is fixedly arranged on the side of the key head facing the groove and is located in the groove. Outside the groove, when the key body is pressed, the first elastic plastic ring abuts against the bottom of the groove to generate deformation, and the second elastic plastic ring abuts to the frame to generate deformation .
An electronic device, comprising the key structure according to any one of claims 1-10.
The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the key structure comprises metal spring pins, and the electronic device further comprises:

A circuit board, the transmitting unit, the receiving unit, the second light-shielding sheet and the control unit are all arranged on the circuit board;

An ECG measurement circuit, the ECG measurement circuit is arranged on the circuit board, one end of the metal spring pin is connected to the key body, and the other end of the metal spring pin is connected to the ECG measurement circuit.