Patent Application
20100258421
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to control keys and, more particularly, to a control key for an electronic device and an electronic device utilizing the key.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices generally have a plurality of keys for conveniently operating the electronic devices. The keys correspond to different functions, such as taking photographs and adjusting the volume.
A typical key includes a support body connected to an operating body. The support body is positioned at a side of a circuit board of the electronic device. A contact pin is formed on the support body, and faces the circuit board. Pressing the support body impels the contact pin to electrically connect to the circuit board, thus operating the electronic device. The support body and the operating body are generally integrally formed by a multi-shot mold or glued together.
However, when the operating body is glued to the support body, resulting bonding strength between the operating body and the support body is relatively poor, and considerable time is required for bonding thereof. When the operating body and the support body are molded together to form the key, a connecting protrusion is formed therebetween, such that the key is easily disengaged from the multi-shot mold by pushing the connecting protrusion. However, the support body of the key is generally thin, and easily damaged by a knockout pin of the multi-shot mold during disengagement from the mold.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The housing 11 includes two opposite first sidewalls 112 and two opposite second sidewalls 114. The first sidewalls 112 and the second sidewalls 114 define a receiving groove 115 receiving the main circuit board, the battery, and the display body. One first sidewall 112 defines three assembly cutouts 1124. The fixing assembly 12 includes a first fixing plate 122 and a second fixing plate 124, configured to fix the display body and the battery. One or more switches 131 are formed on the side circuit board 13. In the exemplary embodiment, three switches 131 are formed on the side circuit board 13. The side circuit board 13 is electrically connected to the main circuit board.
The key 20 includes a support body 21 and an operating body 23. The support body 21 and the operating body 23 are integrally formed by multi-shot molding. The support body 21 is a substantially flat plate, and includes a first surface 212 and a second surface 213 opposite to the first surface 212. The operating body 23 is formed on the first surface 212 of the support body 21. The operating body 23 includes a first contact portion 231 and a second contact portion 232. The first contact portion 231 includes a first contact end 2312 and a second contact end 2314, configured to adjust the volume of the electronic device 10. The second contact portion 232 may be configured to turn a camera function on and off. One or more connecting pins 2132 may be formed on the second surface 213 of the support body 21, corresponding to the first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 232. Here, three connecting pins 2132 are formed on the second surface 213 of the support body 21. A plurality of positioning protrusions 2134 may be also formed on the second surface 213.
The first contact portion 231 defines a first groove 2315 and a second groove 2316 in a side surface adjacent to the support body 21. The second contact portion 232 defines a third groove 2325 and a fourth groove 2326 adjacent to the support body 21. The first groove 2315, the second groove 2316, the third groove 2325, and the fourth groove 2326 are substantially aligned in a straight line parallel to the support body 21, and configured for receiving knockout pins (not shown) of a multi-shot mold (not shown), so that the key 20 is easily dislodged from the multi-shot mold.
The support body 21 may be elastic material such as thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, or a combination. The operating body 23 may be rigid material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, or a combination.
During multi-shot mold manufacture, the operating body 23 is formed in the multi-shot mold, and the support body 21 is further formed on a side of the operating body 23. After the key 20 is formed, two knockout pins are inserted into the first groove 2315 and the second groove 2316, and slide to ends of the first contact portion 231 respectively to dislodge first contact portion 231 from the multi-shot mold. At the same time, two knockout pins are inserted into the third groove 2325 and the fourth groove 2326, and slide to ends of the second contact portion 232 respectively for dislodging the second contact portion 232 from the multi-shot mold.
Since the operating body 23 is thicker than the support body 21, the operating body 23 has sufficient strength to withstand damage when the knockout pins resist the operating body 23. In addition, a plurality of flanges 238 (as shown in
Referring to
In use, when the first contact portion 231 and the second contact portion 232 are subject to external force, the support body 21 deforms, and the connecting pins 2132 of the key 20 contact the corresponding switches 131 of the side circuit board 13. Accordingly, the side circuit board 13 generates a control signal to implement functions such as camera or volume adjustment. When the external force is released, the support body 21 returns to a normal state. The connecting pins 2132 withdraw from the switches 131 of the side circuit board 13.
It should be pointed out that the side circuit board 13 may be integrally formed with the main side circuit board 13. In addition, the operating body 23 may define one or more grooves to receive the knockout pins of the multi-shot mold.
The support body 21 is elastic, so as to absorb collision force between the connecting pins 2132 and the switches 131. Thus, the side circuit board 13 is protected from damage by the connecting pins 2132, and the key 20 comfortably operated. The operating body 23 is rigid, withstanding repeated use.
It is believed that the disclosure and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910301537.0 | Apr 2009 | CN | national |
