TW201528303A - Switch structure and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A switch structure and an electronic device using the same are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, and the switch structure is located in an inner side of a button portion of the housing. The switch structure includes an elastic element, a force transmission element, and a strain sensing element. The elastic element connects the housing. The force transmission element is disposed in an inner side of the housing. The strain sensing element is disposed on elastic element. The strain sensing element and the force transmission element are respectively located on two opposite sides of the elastic element. When an outer side of the button portion sustains an external forcing, the elastic element is deformed through the force transmission element.

Description

Switch structure and electronic device using the same

The present invention relates to a switch structure and an electronic device using the switch structure, and more particularly to a switch structure having a seamless button design and an electronic device using the switch structure.

In recent years, technology products are mostly demanding in terms of mobility and functionality. Therefore, portable electronic devices such as smart mobile phones, tablet PCs, and notebooks (NB) have been installed. Become the mainstream of today's electronic consumer market.

In general, a portable electronic device is usually provided with a button on a housing, and a switching element corresponding to the button is provided in the housing. The button and the switching element are coupled to each other, and the user can control the switching element by pressing the button, thereby controlling the power, the Bluetooth or the wireless network, or adjusting the volume, recording the image or scrolling the display page. Generally, the housing of the portable electronic device must be provided with a corresponding external opening to install a button for the user to operate.

However, the foregoing configuration method causes waste of the internal configuration space of the portable electronic device, and the assembly process thereof is also complicated, so that there are problems such as high manufacturing difficulty, long manufacturing time, and low assembly yield. On the other hand, dust and moisture easily enter the inside of the electronic device through the gap between the button and the external opening, so that the function of the electronic component is affected and the service life is reduced.

The invention provides a switch structure and an electronic device using the switch structure, which can simplify the process steps, reduce the assembly time and reduce the manufacturing cost, and achieve the design of a seamless button to maintain the integrity of the appearance of the electronic device, and It can prevent dust or moisture from entering the inside of the electronic device and ensure the service life and reliability of the electronic device.

The switch structure of the present invention is suitable for use in an electronic device. The electronic device has a housing, and the switch structure is located inside the button portion of the housing. The switch structure includes an elastic member, a force transmitting member, and a strain sensing member. The elastic member is coupled to the housing. The force transmitting member is disposed on the inner side of the housing. The strain sensing element is disposed on the elastic member, and the strain sensing element and the force transmitting member are respectively located on opposite sides of the elastic member. When the outer side of the button portion receives an external force, the elastic member is deformed by the force transmitting member.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a body, a housing, and a switch structure. The housing encloses the body, and the housing has a button portion. The switch structure is located inside the button portion of the housing. The switch structure includes an elastic member, a force transmitting member, and a strain sensing member. The elastic member is coupled to the housing. The force transmitting member is disposed on the inner side of the housing. The strain sensing element is disposed on the elastic member, And the strain sensing element and the force transmitting member are respectively located on opposite sides of the elastic member. When the outer side of the button portion receives an external force, the elastic member is deformed by the force transmitting member.

Based on the above, the present invention creates a strain-type switch structure on the inner side of the button portion of the casing, so that the user can perform the function of the button by pressing the button portion of the casing. In other words, the present invention can realize the button function without additionally providing an opening in the housing of the electronic device to accommodate the physical button or additionally providing other independent sensing elements on the housing, thereby greatly simplifying the process steps and reducing the assembly time. Reduce manufacturing costs and increase assembly yield. On the other hand, since the electronic device of the present invention adopts a seamless button design, there is no gap between the housing and the area for realizing the function of the button, which not only maintains the integrity of the overall appearance, but also prevents dust or moisture from entering. Inside the electronic device, the life and reliability of the electronic device are ensured.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100‧‧‧Electronic devices

110‧‧‧ body

111‧‧‧Control unit

112‧‧‧Vibration element

120‧‧‧shell

121‧‧‧Keys

130, 130a, 130b‧‧‧ switch structure

131‧‧‧Flexible parts

131a‧‧‧Deformation

131a1‧‧‧ surface

131b‧‧‧Connecting Department

132, 132a‧‧‧ the first force transmission

133, 133a‧‧‧Second force parts

134, 134a, 134b‧‧‧ first strain sensing element

135, 135a, 135b‧‧‧ second strain sensing element

136‧‧‧Soft circuit board

D, D1‧‧‧ spacing

F‧‧‧External force

G‧‧‧ gap

P‧‧‧ Press zone

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

2 is a top plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1.

3 is a schematic view of the switch structure of FIG. 2.

4 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a switch structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a switch structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of Figure 7.

1 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a top plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in the embodiment, the electronic device 100 includes a body 110 , a housing 120 , and a switch structure 130 . The electronic device 100 is, for example, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, or an e-book. The body 120 is, for example, a plastic case or a carbon fiber case, and may also be a composite case made of plastic and metal.

3 is a schematic view of the switch structure of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , in the embodiment, the housing 120 is disposed outside the body 110 , and the housing 120 has a button portion 121 . The switch structure 130 is located inside the button portion 121 of the housing 120. Specifically, the switch structure 130 includes an elastic member 131, a first force transmitting member 132, a second force transmitting member 133, a first strain sensing element 134, and a second strain sensing element 135, wherein the elastic member 131 can be made of steel or other ductility. The first strain sensing element 134 and the second strain sensing element 135 are, for example, strain gauges.

Structurally, the elastic member 131 includes a deformed portion 131a and a connecting portion 131b. The deformed portion 131a maintains a gap G with the housing 120, wherein the deformed portion 131a is, for example, flat and parallel to the button portion 121. The connecting portion 131b connects the deforming portion 131a and the housing 120, wherein the connecting portion 131b is joined to the housing 120 by, for example, welding. The first force transmitting member 132 and the second force transmitting member 133 are disposed in the housing in pairs The inside of the 120 is located in the gap G, and the first force transmitting member 132 and the second force transmitting member 133 may be disposed on the housing 120 and integrally formed with the housing 120 to protrude from the inner side of the button portion 121. On the other hand, the first strain sensing element 134 and the second strain sensing element 135 are disposed in pairs on the surface 131a1 of the deformation portion 131a of the elastic member 131, and the first strain sensing element 134 and the second strain sensing element 135 and A force transmitting member 132 and a second force transmitting member 133 are respectively located on opposite sides of the deforming portion 131a, wherein the outer side of the button portion 121 has a button region P.

In the present embodiment, the switch structure 130 further includes a flexible circuit board (FPC) 136, wherein the first strain sensing element 134 and the second strain sensing element 135 are electrically connected to the flexible circuit board 136, respectively. That is, the first sensing element 134 and the second sensing element 135 are respectively disposed on the surface 131a1 of the deforming portion 131a by the flexible circuit board 136, wherein the flexible circuit board 136 is joined to the elastic member 131 by, for example, soldering.

4 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , when the outer side of the button portion 121 receives an external force F, that is, when the user applies an external force F to the button region P , the deformation portion 131 a is deformed by the first force transmitting member 132 . More specifically, when the user applies the external force F to the button area P, the button portion 121 is partially deformed, wherein the first force transmitting member 132 moves toward the deforming portion 131a and abuts against the deforming portion 131a. When the deformation portion 131a is deformed by force, the flexible circuit board 136 and the first strain sensing element 134 disposed on the deformation portion 131a are deformed to exhibit a tensile state, and thus the line on the first strain sensing element 134 is Narrowing and lengthening, so that the first strain sensing element 134 produces a change in resistance value, The voltage signal passing through the first strain sensing element 134 also changes.

On the other hand, the body 110 includes a control unit 111 and a vibration element 112, wherein the vibration element 112, the first strain sensing element 134, and the second strain sensing element 135 are electrically connected to the control unit 111, respectively. When the body 110 detects the change of the voltage signal, the control unit 111 disposed in the body 110 can generate a control signal according to the change of the voltage signal, wherein the control signal is, for example, a power switching signal, a volume adjustment signal or a picture. Scrolling signals and so on. After the electronic component of the electronic device 100 receives the control signal, the electronic component will be driven to perform the corresponding function. The control unit 111 also generates another control signal according to the change of the voltage signal, wherein the control signal is, for example, a vibration signal. After the vibrating element 112 receives the vibration signal, the vibrating element 112 is activated to allow the user to feel the sense of feedback.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment not shown, the external force F can also deform the deformation portion 131a through the second force transmitting member 134. Specifically, in the case where the deformation portion 131a is deformed by the second force transmitting member 134, the second strain sensing element 135 is also deformed and generates a change in the resistance value, wherein the second strain sensing element 135 operates. The control signal generation and the corresponding operation of the related electronic components of the body 110 can be referred to the description of the first strain sensing element 134, and details are not described herein. For example, if the deformation of the first strain sensing element 134 of the above embodiment is used to turn on the power, amplify the volume, or scroll up the animation surface, the deformation of the second strain sensing element 135 is used as a power off, a low volume, or The downward scrolling of the animated surface is compared to the first strain sensing element 135.

In this manner, the button portion 121 of the housing 120 and the switch structure 130 can form a virtual button to provide the functionality of a conventional physical button. In other words, in the case where the housing 120 does not need to additionally provide an opening to accommodate a physical button, the process steps can be greatly simplified, the assembly time can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the assembly yield can be improved. Since the electronic device 100 is maintained by a seamless button design, there is no gap between the housing 120 and the aforementioned virtual button, which not only maintains the integrity of the overall appearance, but also prevents dust or moisture from intruding into the interior of the electronic device 100. The service life and reliability of the electronic device 100 are ensured.

On the other hand, in order to improve the user's convenience in operation, an identification pattern may be formed in the key area P, which may be a conventional representative symbol such as an arrow, or a structural change such as a protrusion or a rough surface of the surface of the housing 120. . According to this, the user can easily recognize the position of the button portion 121 by visual or touch, and accurately press the button portion 121 to operate the function to be executed. Specifically, the rigidity of the button portion 121 of the housing 120 is smaller than the rigidity of other adjacent portions of the housing 120, that is, when the same force is applied to the button portion 121 of the housing 110 and other adjacent portions of the housing 110. The button portion 121 of the housing 110 can generate a large amount of deformation to ensure that the external force F can deform the deformation portion 131a through the first force transmitting member 132 or the second force transmitting member 133, and the first portion disposed thereon A deformation of the strain sensing element 134 or the second strain sensing element 135 produces a change in resistance value.

Due to the external force applied by the user when holding or picking up the electronic device, the slight deformation of the housing may be caused to accidentally trigger the button function of the first strain sensing element 134 or the second strain sensing element 135, so the first embodiment is Transfer member 132 And the second force transmitting member 133 is individually spaced from the deformed portion 131a by a distance D as shown in FIG. Specifically, the pitch D can be used as a buffer for the aforementioned slight deformation to prevent the electronic device 100 from malfunctioning.

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a switch structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of Figure 5. Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , in the embodiment, the first force transmitting member 132 a and the second force transmitting member 133 a of the switch structure 130 a can be disposed on the deforming portion 131 a of the elastic member 131 , and is, for example, with the elastic member 131 . One piece. Further, the first force transmitting member 132a and the second force transmitting member 133a are individually spaced apart from the inner side of the button portion 121 by a distance D1. Therefore, compared with the switch structure 130 of FIG. 3, when the user applies the external force F to the pressing area P, the button portion 121 may locally deform and push against the first force transmitting member 132a or the second force transmitting member. 133a (here, the first force transmitting member 132a is pushed as an example). At this time, the external force F can deform the deformation portion 131a through the first force transmitting member 132a or the second force transmitting member 133a. When the deformation portion 131a is deformed by force, the first strain sensing element 134a or the second strain sensing element 135a disposed on the deformation portion 131a is deformed to exhibit a tensile state, so that the first strain sensing element 134a or the first The two strain sensing elements 135a produce a change in resistance value. For the operation of the first strain sensing element 134a or the second strain sensing element 135a, the generation of the control signal, and the corresponding operation of the electronic related component of the body 110, reference may be made to the description of the above embodiments, and details are not described herein.

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a switch structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic view of the operation of the switch structure of Figure 7. Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , in the embodiment, the switch structure 130 b is different from the switch structure 130 of FIG. 3 in that: the switch structure The 130b does not have the flexible circuit board 136 disposed on the surface 131a1 of the deformation portion 131a. Here, the first strain sensing element 134a or the second strain sensing element 135a is directly disposed on the surface 131a1 of the deformation portion 131a of the elastic member 131, wherein The elastic member is made of, for example, a flexible plastic material. On the other hand, the switch structure 130b further includes wires 137 and 138, wherein the wires 137 are electrically connected, for example, between the first strain sensing element 134a and the control unit 111 and the vibration unit 112 shown in FIG. 2, and the wire 138 is, for example, It is electrically connected between the second strain sensing element 135a and the control unit 111 and the vibration unit 112 shown in FIG. 2 . For the operation of the first strain sensing element 134b or the second strain sensing element 135b, the generation of the control signal, and the corresponding operation of the electronic related component of the body 110, reference may be made to the description of the above embodiments, and details are not described herein.

In the embodiment, the first force transmitting member 132 and the second force transmitting member 133 are disposed on the housing 120 as an example. However, in other embodiments not shown, the switch structure 130b may also be used. The first force transmitting member 132a and the second force transmitting member 133a disposed on the deforming portion 131a of the elastic member 131 are not limited in the present invention.

Although the above embodiments are all described in the first force transmitting member and the second force transmitting member disposed in pairs and the first strain sensing member and the second strain sensing member disposed in pairs. However, in other embodiments not shown, a single set of mutually corresponding force transmitting members and strain sensing elements can be selectively configured to perform functions such as power switching, volume adjustment, or screen scrolling, depending on the actual needs of the design. Or, in response to the integrated design of the multi-function button, the number of the corresponding force transmitting member and the strain sensing element is adjusted to Three groups, four groups or more to perform the required button functions.

On the other hand, in addition to the above embodiments, by maintaining the spacing between the force transmitting member and the deforming portion or between the force transmitting member and the button portion to avoid misoperation of the electronic device, the strain can also be set. The critical value of the sensing element (for example, the shape variable of the strain sensing element) is to achieve the technical effect of avoiding the malfunction of the electronic device. In particular, although the external force applied by the user when holding or picking up the electronic device may deform the strain sensing element to cause a change in the resistance value and cause the voltage signal passing through the strain sensing element to change accordingly. However, when the shape variable of the strain sensing element does not exceed the set threshold, the change of the voltage signal does not enable the control unit to generate a control signal. In other words, the above-described setting method can effectively prevent the electronic device from malfunctioning even when the force transmitting member abuts the deformation portion and the button portion without maintaining a gap therebetween.

In summary, the present invention produces a strain-type switch structure on the inner side of the button portion of the housing, so that the user can perform the function of the button by pressing the button portion of the housing. In other words, the present invention can realize the button function without additionally providing an opening in the housing of the electronic device to accommodate the physical button or additionally providing other independent sensing elements on the housing, thereby greatly simplifying the process steps and reducing the assembly time. Reduce manufacturing costs and increase assembly yield. On the other hand, since the electronic device of the present invention adopts a seamless button design, there is no gap between the housing and the area for realizing the function of the button, which not only maintains the integrity of the overall appearance, but also prevents dust or moisture from entering. Inside the electronic device, the life and reliability of the electronic device are ensured. In order to improve the user's convenience, an identification pattern can be formed in the button area for use. The person can visually or touch the position of the button portion. In addition, the electronic device can be effectively avoided by maintaining the spacing between the force transmitting member and the deforming portion or between the force transmitting member and the button portion, or setting the critical value of the strain sensing element such as a strain variable of the strain sensing element. Mistakes happen.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

121‧‧‧Keys

130‧‧‧Switch structure

131‧‧‧Flexible parts

131a‧‧‧Deformation

131a1‧‧‧ surface

131b‧‧‧Connecting Department

132‧‧‧First force transmission

133‧‧‧Second force transmission parts

134‧‧‧First strain sensing element

135‧‧‧Second strain sensing element

136‧‧‧Soft circuit board

D‧‧‧ spacing

G‧‧‧ gap

Claims (11)

A switch structure is applicable to an electronic device, the electronic device has a casing, and the switch structure is located inside a button of the casing, the switch structure includes: an elastic member connecting the casing; and a force transmitting member a strain sensing element is disposed on the inner side of the elastic member, and the strain sensing element and the force transmitting member are respectively located on opposite sides of the elastic member, wherein an outer force is received when the outer side of the button portion is received The elastic member is deformed by the force transmitting member. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises: a deformation portion, a gap is maintained with the housing, the strain sensing element is disposed on a surface of the deformation portion; and a connecting portion is connected The flat portion and the housing. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the deformation of the elastic member is flat and parallel to the button portion. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the force transmitting member is disposed on the elastic member, and the force transmitting member protrudes from the deformation portion. The switch structure of claim 4, wherein the force transmitting member is integrally formed with the elastic member. The switch structure of claim 2, further comprising a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the flexible circuit board and disposed on the surface of the deformation portion by the flexible circuit board. The switch structure of claim 2, wherein the number of the strain sensing element and the force transmitting member are two, and the two strain sensing elements are disposed on the elastic member, and the two force transmitting members are disposed in the gap. Inside, the outside of the button portion has a button area. The switch structure of claim 1, wherein the force transmitting member is disposed on the housing, and the force transmitting member protrudes from an inner side of the button portion. The switch structure of claim 8, wherein the force transmitting member is integrally formed with the housing. An electronic device comprising: a body; a casing covering the body, the casing having a button portion; and a switch structure as claimed in claim 1. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the body comprises a control unit and a vibrating element, and the vibrating element and the strain sensing element are electrically connected to the control unit respectively, and the control unit is configured according to the strain sensing element A voltage signal activates the vibrating element.