Patent Grant
9251975
1. Field
The present disclosure is directed an apparatus including a push-button with a compressible member. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus including a push-button that has a compressible member that is offset from a switch actuation plane that reduces the space required by the push-button.
2. Introduction
Presently, portable electronic devices have push-buttons that users press to activate functions and features of the electronic devices. For example, a smartphone uses a home key that a user presses to activate the home screen of the smartphone. As another example, a music player includes volume buttons that a user presses to change the volume of the music player. As a further example, a camera includes a shutter button that a user presses to take a picture. To be as portable as possible, the electronic devices are relatively small to fit in a user's hand, in a user's pocket or on a user's body. Due to size constraints, components of an electronic device are tightly packaged into the device's housing to make a device as portable as possible.
Unfortunately, the size constraints make it a challenge to fit all of the desired components into the device while keeping the device small and portable. The size makes it especially challenging to incorporate push-buttons into the device because push-buttons require extra space for movement of the button and for springs to return a push-button to its original position after the push-button is pressed.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus with a push-button having a compressible member that reduces the space required by the push-button.
In order to describe the manner in which advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a description of the disclosure is rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only example embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope.
Embodiments provide an apparatus with a push-button having a compressible member that reduces the space required by the push-button. According to a possible embodiment the apparatus includes a switch and a push-button coupled to the switch. The push-button can include a push-button head including a push-button face and a contact portion opposite from the push-button face. An applied force can move the push-button head in an actuation direction in a switch actuation plane relative to the switch to actuate the switch. The contact portion can actuate the switch when the applied force moves the push-button head in the actuation direction. The push-button can also include a compressible member that compresses in a compression plane parallel with and offset from the switch actuation plane. The compressible member can include a first end coupled to the push-button head and a second end opposite from the first end. The second end can be coupled to a fixed point relative to the switch.
The push-button 120 can also include a compressible member 130 that compresses in a compression plane 132 parallel with and offset 200 from the switch actuation plane 112. The compressible member 130 can be unitary with the push-button head 122, such as made of the same material or in the same mold, or can a separate element coupled to the push-button head 122. The compressible member can include a first end 134 coupled to the push-button head 122 and a second end 136 opposite from the first end 134. The second end 136 can be coupled to a fixed point 140 relative to the switch 110. For example, the compressible member 130 can include an aperture 138 and the fixed point 140 can be a fixed support rib 140. The aperture 138 can encircle the fixed support rib 140. The fixed support rib 140 can couple the compressible member 130 to a fixed point relative to the switch 110. The fixed support rib 140 can be a protrusion that comes from a base wall 142 and the fixed support rib 140 can extend up from the base wall 142 orthogonal to a plane of the base wall 142. The second end 136 can also be coupled to the fixed point 140 using other options of affixing a compressible member to a fixed point, such as by using a heat stake, glue, a post, a boss, or other options for affixing a compressible member to a fixed point. According to a possible embodiment, the switch 110 can have a switch face 114 that contacts the push-button contact portion 126 and the compressible member 130 can extend beyond the switch face 114 and/or beyond the entire switch 110 in a direction parallel with the actuation direction of the applied force in the switch actuation plane 112.
The distance between the push-button head 122 and the fixed point 140 can accomplish a linear translation motion of the push-button head 122 along the switch actuation plane 112 using the compressible member with the offset 200 rather than rotating or pivoting the push-button head 122. This can provide an evenly applied force normal or orthogonal to the push-button face 124 and the switch face 114 for more reliable actuation of the switch 110 and for switch longevity. Otherwise a side, rotational, or off axis force, such as from a button that pivots, can produce less reliable switch actuation and can produce a shear force that damages the switch 110.
The apparatus 100 can also include an apparatus housing 150 coupled to the push-button 120 and the switch 110 and a printed circuit board 160 encased within the apparatus housing 150 and electrically coupled to the switch 110. The printed circuit board 160 can have a printed circuit board side 162 and a printed circuit board face 164 perpendicular to the printed circuit board side 162. The printed circuit board face 164 can be in a printed circuit board face plane parallel with the switch actuation plane 112 and parallel with and offset from the compression plane 132. The fixed support rib 140 can be located central to the push-button 120 below the printed circuit board 160 and can provide a reaction force for the compressible member 130 to drive the push-button 120 away from the switch 110 when the applied force is no longer present.
The apparatus housing 150 can have an outer housing face 152 and an outer housing side 154 perpendicular with the outer housing face 152. The outer housing side 154 can have a push-button aperture 156, where the push-button 120 can be disposed within the push-button aperture 156. Alternately, the push-button 120 can be located in an aperture on the housing face 152 or elsewhere on a housing.
The apparatus housing 150 can include an inner housing surface, such as the base wall 142, and the compressible member 130 can be contoured along the inner housing surface. For example, the compressible member 130 can be a deflection beam contoured to the apparatus housing 150 while being offset relative to the printed circuit board 160 to minimize clearance needed between the printed circuit board side 162 and/or other components and the housing 150. The compressible member 130 can be positioned and offset in from the printed circuit board 160 and the switch 110, which can reduce space requirements of the push-button and can reduce clearance between the push-button 120 and the switch 110. For example, clearance can be reduced because a spring, foam, rubber, and/or other restoration material is not necessary between the push button 120 and a supporting surface about the switch 110. Thus, the number of items in the mechanical stack up between the switch 110 and the push-button 120 can be reduced to minimize space needed within the housing 150.
Embodiments can provide button return force when there is minimal space available for component actuation. Otherwise, size constraints eliminate virtually all clearance between the printed circuit board and the housing side. Embodiments can provide better tactile feedback for a user by avoiding the use of other material between push button and switch. While button restoration materials, such as rubber gasket, foam, spring, etc., may be used, they are not necessary as they absorb the tactile feel of the switch, such as the click of the switch.
While this disclosure has been described with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various components of the embodiments may be interchanged, added, or substituted in the other embodiments. Also, all of the elements of each figure are not necessary for operation of the disclosed embodiments. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art of the disclosed embodiments would be enabled to make and use the teachings of the disclosure by simply employing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosure as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
In this document, relational terms such as “first,” “second,” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The phrase “at least one of” followed by a list is defined to mean one, some, or all, but not necessarily all of, the elements in the list. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “a,” “an,” or the like does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. Also, the term “another” is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including,” “having,” and the like, as used herein, are defined as “comprising.” Furthermore, the background section is written as the inventor's own understanding of the context of some embodiments at the time of filing and includes the inventor's own recognition of any problems with existing technologies and/or problems experienced in the inventor's own work.
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| 7238906 | Michel | Jul 2007 | B2 |
| 8493742 | Li et al. | Jul 2013 | B2 |
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| 20100059349 | Wuestenbecker | Mar 2010 | A1 |
