TWI892849B - Full area uniform pressure control panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A full-area uniform pressure control panel includes a surrounding frame, two elastic frames, and a fixing member. The surrounding frame includes two first side portions spaced apart along a first direction, and two second side portions spaced apart along a second direction, with each second side portion connected to the first side portions. The elastic frames are located between the first side portions, and each elastic frame is connected to the second side portions along the second direction. The fixing member includes a main body region disposed on the bottom surface of the elastic frames, two first extension regions extending from the main body region along the second direction to above one of the adjacent second side portions, and two second extension regions extending from the main body region along the second direction to above another of the adjacent second side portions. This ensures that different pressure positions can generate uniform feedback force, thereby improving the user's operating feel.

Description

Full area uniform pressure control panel

The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly to a full-area uniform pressure control panel.

As mobile computers have become a common tool for many people, manufacturers are constantly developing new models. The touchpad is a key operating element in mobile computers. To ensure users receive a comfortable feedback when touching the touchpad, further research is necessary.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a full-area uniform pressure control panel that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

Therefore, the full-area uniform pressure control panel of the present invention includes a surrounding frame, two elastic frames, and a fixing member.

The surrounding frame includes two first side portions spaced apart along a first direction, and two second side portions spaced apart along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first side portions extend along the second direction, and the second side portions extend along the first direction. Each of the second side portions is connected to the first side portions on two opposite sides of the first direction. The elastic frames are spaced apart along the first direction and located between the first side portions. Each of the elastic frames is connected to the first side portions on two opposite sides of the second direction. Connected to the second side portions, the fixing member includes a main body disposed on the bottom surface of the elastic frames, two first extension regions spaced apart along the first direction and extending from the main body region to above one of the adjacent second side portions along the second direction, and two second extension regions spaced apart along the first direction and extending from the main body region to above another of the adjacent second side portions along the second direction. The thickness of the main body region is greater than the thickness of each of the first extension regions and each of the second extension regions.

The present invention provides a first extension extending above one of the adjacent second side portions, and a second extension extending above the other adjacent second side portion, thereby generating uniform feedback force at different pressing positions and enhancing the user's operating feel.

2: Surrounding frame

21:First side

211: First Border Area

212: Sheltered Area

22:Second side

3: Elastic rack

31: Screw hole

32: Positioning ring

4: Fixing parts

41: Main area

411: Perforation

42: First Extension

43: Second Extension

91: Plate unit

911:Substrate

912: Reed

913: Accessories

92: Fixed bracket

93: Structural screws

X: First direction

Y: Second direction

Other features and functions of the present invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fully uniform pressure control panel, a panel unit, and a mounting bracket of the present invention; FIG2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment, the panel unit, and the mounting bracket; FIG3 is a bottom view of the embodiment; FIG4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment from another angle; FIG5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG1; FIG6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG1; FIG7 is a view similar to FIG5 , illustrating a substrate under pressure on the left side; and FIG8 is a view similar to FIG6 , illustrating a substrate under pressure on the left side.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, an embodiment of the present invention's full-area uniform pressure control panel is applied between a panel unit 91 and a mounting bracket 92. Panel unit 91 includes a base plate 911, a spring 912 (commonly referred to as a dome) positioned in the center of base plate 911, and an auxiliary member 913 positioned below spring 912. In this embodiment, auxiliary member 913 is 0.195 mm thick and is made of PET or sponge material.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the full-area uniform pressure control panel includes a surrounding frame 2, two elastic frames 3, and a fixing member 4.

The surrounding frame 2 includes two first side portions 21 spaced apart along a first direction X, and two second side portions 22 spaced apart along a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. The first side portions 21 extend along the second direction Y, and the second side portions 22 extend along the first direction X. Each second side portion 22 connects to the first side portions 21 on opposite sides of the first direction X.

Each first side portion 21 has a first side region 211 extending along the second direction Y, and two shielding regions 212 spaced apart along the second direction Y and extending along the first direction X from one first side region 211 toward the other first side region 211.

The flexible frames 3 are spaced apart along the first direction X and located between the first side portions 21. Each flexible frame 3 is connected to the second side portions 22 on opposite sides along the second direction Y. Each flexible frame 3 includes two screw holes 31 and two positioning rings 32 protruding downward from the bottom surface of the flexible frame 3 and surrounding the screw holes 31. Each shielding region 212 extends from its respective first side region 211 to below an adjacent flexible frame 3. In this embodiment, the flexible frames 3 are flexible and can bend under load.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6, the fixing member 4 includes a main portion 41 disposed on the bottom surface of the elastic frame 3, two first extension portions 42 spaced apart along the first direction X and extending from the main portion 41 to above one of the adjacent second side portions 22 along the second direction Y, and two second extension portions 43 spaced apart along the first direction X and extending from the main portion 41 to above the other of the adjacent second side portions 22 along the second direction Y.

The thickness of the main body 41 is greater than the thickness of each first extension region 42 and each second extension region 43. The main body 41 has four through-holes 411 corresponding to the screw holes 31 and for the positioning rings 32 to be inserted and positioned.

Referring to Figures 2, 4, and 5, during assembly, the base plate 911 is placed on the surrounding frame 2. The first extensions 42 of the fixing member 4 are inserted above one of the second side portions 22, and the second extensions 43 of the fixing member 4 are inserted above the other second side portion 22. The center of the bottom of the main body 41 is then positioned upward against the auxiliary member 913. The auxiliary member 913 then rests against the bottom of the spring 912. The through-holes 411 are then positioned over the positioning rings 32. Four screws 93 are then passed through the through-holes 411 and screwed into the screw holes 31 to secure the fixing member 4 to the elastic frames 3. Finally, the fixing member 4 is secured to the fixing frame 92 to complete the assembly.

Referring to Figure 7 , when the substrate 911 is pressed downwardly by a force applied to one side along the second direction Y, for example, the left side in Figure 7 , the auxiliary member 913 receives the reaction force from the fixing member 4 and presses upward against the reed 912 . At this point, the second side portion 22 on the left side is forced downward and away from the first extensions 42 . The second side portion 22 on the right side moves upward, using the fixing member 4 as a fulcrum, and is restrained by the second extensions 43 above, generating a feedback force when pressed. Similarly, if the right side is pressed, the second side portion 22 on the left side is also restrained by the first extensions 42 above, generating a feedback force.

Referring to FIG8 , when the substrate 911 is pressed downwardly by a force on one side along the first direction X, for example, FIG8 shows that the left side is pressed, the auxiliary member 913 is subjected to the reaction force of the fixing member 4 and presses upwardly against the spring 912. At this time, the first side portion 21 on the left side moves downwardly, and the elastic frame 3 on the left side is subjected to the main body. The reaction force of the main body 41 causes the shielding areas 212 on the left side to bend upward, moving downward away from the upper edge of the main body 41. The first side portion 21 on the right side moves upward, using the fixing member 4 as a fulcrum. This causes the shielding areas 212 on the right side to be restrained by the elastic frame 3 above, thereby generating a feedback force when pressed. Similarly, if the right side is pressed, the shielding areas 212 on the left side will also be restrained by the elastic frame 3 above, generating a feedback force.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 , similarly, when the substrate 911 is pressed downward at a corner, one of the first extensions 42 or one of the second extensions 43 adjacent to the diagonal corner restrains the second side portion 22 below. The elastic frame 3 on the main body 41 adjacent to the diagonal corner also restrains the shielding areas 212 below. With these two points restrained simultaneously, a feedback force is generated.

When pressure is applied to different locations, the opposite locations are restrained and feedback force is generated. This creates a uniform pressure feel across the entire area, giving users a better operating feel.

It is worth noting that because the thickness of the main region 41 is greater than the thickness of each first extension region 42 and each second extension region 43, the first extension regions 42 and the second extension regions 43 are elastic relative to the main region 41, resulting in an elastic pressure tactile sensation when the substrate 911 is compressed.

In summary, by providing the first extensions 42 capable of extending above one of the adjacent second side portions 22, the second extensions 43 capable of extending above the other adjacent second side portion 22, and the fixing member 4 capable of being restrained by the blocking regions 212, uniform feedback force is generated at different pressing positions. Furthermore, the thickness of the main region 41, which is greater than the thickness of each first extension 42 and each second extension 43, creates a resilient pressing feel, thereby enhancing the user's operational feel. Therefore, the present invention effectively achieves its objectives.

However, the above descriptions are merely examples of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent variations and modifications made within the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification are still covered by the present patent.

2: Surrounding frame

21:First side

211: First Border Area

212: Sheltered Area

22:Second side

3: Elastic rack

31: Screw hole

32: Positioning ring

4: Fixing parts

41: Main area

411: Perforation

42: First Extension

43: Second Extension

X: First direction

Y: Second direction

Claims (4)

A full-area uniform pressure control panel comprises: A surrounding frame comprising two first side portions spaced apart along a first direction, and two second side portions spaced apart along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first side portions extending along the second direction, the second side portions extending along the first direction, and each second side portion being connected to the first side portions along opposite sides of the first direction; Two elastic frames spaced apart along the first direction and positioned between the first side portions, each elastic frame being connected to the second side portions along opposite sides of the second direction; and A fixing member comprising a main body region disposed on the bottom surface of the elastic frame, two first extension regions spaced apart along the first direction and extending from the main body region to above one of the adjacent second side portions along the second direction, and two second extension regions spaced apart along the first direction and extending from the main body region to above another of the adjacent second side portions along the second direction. The thickness of the main body region is greater than the thickness of each of the first extension regions and each of the second extension regions. When the second side portions corresponding to the first extension areas are subjected to force and move downwardly away from the first extension areas, the second side portions corresponding to the second extension areas will move upwardly with the fixing member as a fulcrum and be restrained by the second extension areas above, so that a feedback force is applied when pressed. When the second side portions corresponding to the second extension areas are subjected to force and move downwardly away from the second extension areas, the second side portions corresponding to the first extension areas will move upwardly with the fixing member as a fulcrum and be restrained by the first extension areas above, so that a feedback force is applied when pressed. As described in claim 1, the full-area uniform pressure control panel, wherein each elastic frame includes a plurality of screw holes and a plurality of positioning rings protruding downward from the bottom surface of the elastic frame and respectively surrounding the screw holes, and the main body area has a plurality of through holes corresponding to the screw holes and for the positioning rings to be embedded and positioned. A full-area uniform pressure control panel as described in claim 1, wherein each first side portion has a first edge region extending along the second direction, and two shielding regions spaced apart along the second direction and extending from the first edge region to below one of the adjacent elastic frames along the first direction. A full-area uniform pressure control panel as described in claim 1, wherein each elastic frame includes a plurality of screw holes, and the main body area has a plurality of through holes corresponding to the screw holes.