TWI469168B - Keypad assembly and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Description

Button structure and electronic device having the same

The present invention relates to a button structure, and more particularly to a button structure for an electronic device.

The panel structure of the electronic device is often provided with a button structure for controlling the power switch or performing other function adjustments. With the rapid development of the electronic industry, the control precision of the buttons in the electronic device is also higher and higher.

A button structure is provided on a casing of an electronic device. The housing is provided with a receiving hole. The button structure includes a key cap and a key switch housed in the receiving hole. The bottom of the key cap is provided with a bump. The button switch has a triggering portion and a fixed contact, and the triggering portion is an arched elastic piece. The bump abuts against the top of the trigger. Pressing the key cap in the button structure, the bump presses the trigger portion to be connected with the fixed contact; and the key cap is released, and the trigger portion abuts the bump to reset the key cap.

However, in the above-mentioned button structure, due to manufacturing tolerances or assembly errors, it is easy to cause a certain gap between the bump of the key cap and the top of the trigger portion in the untriggered state, thereby forming an idle stroke, resulting in the above-mentioned button structure. Feel poor.

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a button structure with a better hand feeling when pressed and an electronic device having the same.

A button structure includes a support member, a button switch disposed on the support member and having a trigger portion, a key cap and an elastic member disposed opposite the trigger portion, and the elastic member includes a rotatably coupled with the key cap and the support member a rotating portion and an elastic supporting portion connected to the rotating portion and abutting against the supporting member, the elastic supporting portion elastically deforming against the supporting member in an untriggered state of the push button switch to provide an elastic recovery The rotation portion is further urged to keep the key cap in close contact with the trigger portion of the push button switch.

An electronic device includes a housing and a button structure disposed on the housing, the housing is provided with a receiving hole, and the button structure comprises a supporting member fixedly connected to the housing, and is disposed on the supporting member a key switch having a triggering portion, a key cap and an elastic member disposed opposite to the triggering portion and partially received in the receiving hole, the elastic member including a rotating portion rotatably coupled to the key cap and the supporting member and connected to the rotating portion and The elastic supporting portion abuts against the supporting member, and the elastic supporting portion elastically deforms against the supporting member in an untriggered state of the push button switch to provide an elastic restoring force to the rotating portion, thereby making the key The cap is in close contact with the triggering portion of the push button switch, and the button structure further includes a fixing bracket fixedly coupled to the support member.

The elastic supporting portion of the elastic member of the button structure is elastically deformed by the supporting member of the fixing member when the button switch is not triggered, and provides an elastic restoring force to the rotating portion of the elastic member, so that the key cap is held and the key switch is The triggering portion is in close contact, so that a gap is formed between the key cap and the trigger portion of the push button switch, so that the button structure is pressed to have a better hand feeling.

100‧‧‧Electronic devices

101‧‧‧shell

102‧‧‧ accommodating holes

103‧‧‧Key structure

10‧‧‧Key Cap

11‧‧‧ Pressing Department

13‧‧‧Limited

15‧‧‧Connecting Department

151‧‧‧Axis hole

152‧‧‧ gap

20‧‧‧Fixed bracket

21‧‧‧First Fixed Department

23‧‧‧Second fixed department

25‧‧‧The third fixed department

30‧‧‧Support

31‧‧‧Ontology

312‧‧‧through hole

32‧‧‧Support

50‧‧‧Key switch

51‧‧‧Trigger

60‧‧‧Flexible parts

61‧‧‧Rotation

62‧‧‧Elastic support

70‧‧‧Fixed parts

71‧‧‧ Fixed Department

72‧‧‧ first hook

73‧‧‧Second hook

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the button structure of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the assembly of the key structure of the electronic device shown in FIG.

The key structure of the present invention and the electronic device having the same will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the electronic device 100 includes various functional modules for implementing various functions. However, in order to save space, the present embodiment focuses on the housing 101 of the electronic device 100 and is fixed on the housing 101 . The button structure 103. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the button structure 103 is a function table button of the electronic device 100, and the casing 101 is an outer casing of the electronic device. A receiving hole 102 is defined in the housing 101.

The button structure 103 includes a key cap 10, a fixing bracket 20, a support member 30, a push button switch 50, and an elastic member 60 and a fixing member 70. The button cap 10 is partially received in the receiving hole 102 of the housing 101. The fixing bracket 20 is fixed to the inner side surface of the casing 101 and disposed adjacent to the receiving hole 102. The support member 30 is fixedly connected to the fixing bracket 20 and disposed opposite to the receiving hole 102. The push button switch 50 is fixed to the support member 30. The elastic member 60 is rotatably coupled to the keycap 10 and the fixing member 70. The fixing member is fixedly connected to the support member 30.

The keycap 10 includes a pressing portion 11 , a limiting portion 13 and two connecting portions 15 . The pressing portion 11 is substantially elliptical in shape and is slidable in the receiving hole 102 of the housing 101. The stopper portion 13 is provided on one side of the pressing portion 11. The size of the limiting portion 13 is larger than the size of the receiving hole 102 of the housing 101 to prevent the pressing portion 11 from falling out of the receiving hole 102. The two connecting portions 15 are respectively disposed at both ends of the outer surface of the limiting portion 13 . In the present embodiment, each of the connecting portions 15 is provided with a shaft hole 151 and a notch 152 communicating with the shaft hole 151.

The fixing bracket 20 includes a first fixing portion 21, two second fixing portions 23 and a third fixing portion. Part 25. The first fixing portion 21 is a rectangular plate body that is fixed to the inner side of the casing 101. The second fixing portions 23 are bent and extended from both ends of the first fixing portion 21 side. Both ends of the third fixing portion 25 are connected to the second fixing portions 23, respectively. The first fixing portion 21, the second fixing portion 23, and the third fixing portion 25 together form an annular frame. In the present embodiment, the first fixing portion 21 is fixed to the inner side of the casing 101 by welding. The third fixing portion 25 is for fixing other components (not shown) that are connected to the electronic device 100.

The support member 30 includes a body 31 and a support portion 32 provided at a middle portion of the body 31 side. A through hole 312 is defined in each of the two ends of the body 31. The body 31 is fixed to the second fixing portion 23 of the fixing bracket 20 by a through hole 312 through a screw (not shown).

The push button switch 50 is fixed to the support portion 32 of the support member 30 (see Fig. 4). The push button switch 50 has a trigger portion 51. The stopper portion 13 of the keycap 10 presses the trigger portion 51 to activate the key switch 50. In the present embodiment, the push button switch 50 is fixed to the support member 30 by welding.

The elastic member 60 includes a rotating portion 61 and an elastic supporting portion 62 connected to the rotating portion. Both the rotating portion 61 and the elastic supporting portion 62 are substantially U-shaped, and both ends of the rotating portion 61 are respectively connected to both ends of the elastic supporting portion 62, and finally form a substantially "concave" type structure. The size of the rotating portion 61 is larger than the size of the elastic supporting portion 62, and the two are not coplanar, that is, the elastic supporting portion 62 is inclined with respect to the rotating portion 61. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 60 is made of an elastic steel wire.

The fixing member 70 includes a fixing portion 71 , two first hooks 72 and a second hook 73 disposed on the fixing portion 71 . In the present embodiment, the fixing member 70 is integrally molded from an elastic material.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 simultaneously, when the button structure 103 is assembled, the middle portion of the rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60 is first inserted into the second hook 73 of the fixing member 70, and the two sides of the rotating portion 61. The sides are respectively inserted into the first hooks 72 of the fixing member 70. The two ends of the elastic member 60 are respectively inserted into the shaft holes 151 from the notches 152 of the two connecting portions 15 of the keycap 10, so that the elastic member 60 is rotatable relative to the keycap 10. The pressing portion 11 of the keycap 10 is housed in the receiving hole 102 of the casing 101. The first fixing portion 21 of the fixing bracket 20 is fixed to the inner side of the casing 101. The two ends of the body 31 of the support member 30 are fixedly connected to the second fixing portions 23 of the fixing bracket 20 . The key switch 50 is fixed to one side of the support member 30, and the fixing portion 71 of the fixing member 70 is fixed to the support member 30. In a state where the key switch 50 is not triggered, the rotating portion of the elastic member 60 is rotated by a certain angle corresponding to the fixing member 70, so that the elastic supporting portion 62 is elastically deformed by being pressed against the supporting member 30, thereby providing an elastic restoring force to elasticity. The rotating portion 61 of the member 60 is such that the limiting portion 13 of the keycap 10 is in close contact with the trigger portion 51 of the push button switch 50.

When the button structure 103 is used, the pressing portion 11 of the keycap 10 is pressed to slide the keycap 10 toward the trigger portion 51 of the key switch 50 until the key switch 50 is activated. The elastic support portion 62 of the elastic member 60 completely recovers the deformation or the elastic variable is reduced. When the pressing portion 11 of the keycap 10 is released, the triggering portion 51 of the key switch 50 is automatically reset to lift the keycap 10, so that the rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60 is rotated by a certain angle corresponding to the fixing member 70, so that the elastic member 60 is The elastic supporting portion 62 is deformed to provide an elastic torque to the rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60, so that the limiting portion 13 of the keycap 10 is kept in close contact with the trigger portion 51 of the push button switch 50.

It should be noted that when the button switch 50 of the button structure 103 is not triggered, the elastic torque applied by the elastic member 60 to the key cap 10 is smaller than the pressing force required when the trigger portion 51 of the button switch 50 is triggered, thereby preventing the button switch 50 from being accidentally touched. The key switch 50 can be made to work normally.

The elastic supporting portion 62 of the elastic member 60 of the button structure 103 is elastically deformed by the support member 30 of the fixing member 70 when the button switch 50 is not triggered. An elastic restoring force is applied to the rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60 to keep the keycap 10 in close contact with the triggering portion 51 of the push button switch 50, thereby avoiding a gap between the keycap 10 and the triggering portion 51 of the push button switch 50, thereby eliminating the gap. The idle stroke when pressed causes a better feel when the button structure 103 is pressed.

It can be understood that the fixing bracket 20 can be omitted, and at this time, the support member 30 is directly fixed to the casing 101. The fixing member 70 can also be omitted. The rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60 can be rotatably connected to the supporting member 30. For example, the connecting portion of the supporting member 30 has a connecting portion with a shaft hole, and the rotating portion 61 of the elastic member 60 is provided. Wear the shaft hole.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

11‧‧‧ Pressing Department

15‧‧‧Connecting Department

30‧‧‧Support

50‧‧‧Key switch

61‧‧‧Rotation

62‧‧‧Elastic support

71‧‧‧ Fixed Department

72‧‧‧ first hook

73‧‧‧Second hook

Claims (10)

A button structure includes a support member, a key switch disposed on the support member and having a trigger portion, and a key cap disposed relative to the trigger portion, wherein the button structure further includes an elastic member, and the elastic member includes a rotating portion of the key cap and the support member rotatably connected, and an elastic supporting portion connected to the rotating portion and abutting against the supporting member, the elastic supporting portion abutting the supporting member in an untriggered state of the push button switch Elastic deformation occurs to provide an elastic restoring force to the rotating portion, thereby keeping the key cap in close contact with the trigger portion of the push button switch. The key structure of the first aspect of the invention, wherein the key cap comprises a pressing portion and two connecting portions disposed on one side of the pressing portion, each of the connecting portions is provided with a shaft hole and is connected with the shaft hole The notch, the two ends of the rotating portion of the elastic member are inserted into the shaft hole from the notch. The button structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the button structure further comprises a fixing member fixed to the supporting member, wherein the fixing member is provided with a hook hooked with the rotating portion to enable the rotation The portion is rotatable relative to the fixing member. The button structure of claim 1, wherein both ends of the rotating portion are respectively connected to both ends of the elastic supporting portion to form a substantially "concave" type structure, and the rotating portion and the elastic supporting portion Not coplanar. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the button structure further comprises a fixing bracket fixedly connected to the support member. The button structure of claim 5, wherein the support member includes a body fixedly coupled to the fixing bracket at both ends, and a support portion disposed at a middle portion of the body, the button switch being fixed to the support portion . An electronic device includes a housing and a button structure disposed on the housing, the housing is provided with a receiving hole, and the button structure comprises a supporting member fixedly connected to the housing, and is disposed on the supporting member The key switch having the triggering portion and the key cap disposed relative to the triggering portion and partially received in the receiving hole is improved in that the button structure further comprises an elastic member, and the elastic member comprises a rotatably connected with the key cap and the supporting member a rotating portion and an elastic supporting portion connected to the rotating portion and abutting against the supporting member, the elastic supporting portion elastically deforming against the supporting member in an untriggered state of the push button switch, thereby providing an elastic Resilience to the rotating portion, so that the key cap is in close contact with the trigger portion of the push button switch, and the button structure further includes a fixing bracket fixedly connected to the support member. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the key cap comprises a pressing portion and two connecting portions disposed on one side of the pressing portion, each of the connecting portions is provided with a shaft hole and is connected with the shaft hole The notch, the two ends of the elastic member are inserted into the shaft hole from the notch. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the button structure further comprises a fixing member fixed to the supporting member, wherein the fixing member is provided with a hook hooked with the rotating portion to enable the rotation The portion is rotatable relative to the fixing member. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the two ends of the rotating portion are respectively connected to both ends of the elastic supporting portion to form a substantially "concave" type structure, and the rotating portion and the elastic supporting portion Not coplanar.