Abstract:
A testing module is provided including a driving assembly, a positioning assembly and a testing head mechanism. The positioning assembly positions the driving assembly and the testing head mechanism therein. The positioning assembly includes a positioning member. The positioning member includes a base seat. The base seat defines a receiving cavity. The testing head mechanism includes a cushioning mechanism accommodated in the receiving cavity and driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the positioning assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to testing modules, and particularly to a testing module for testing key buttons of portable electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Inputting devices for portable electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones) require to be repeatedly operated. Usual inputting devices such as keypads are provided with key buttons. Key buttons typically should be tested e.g., for proper contacting to the printed circuit board. 
         [0005]    A typical testing apparatus includes a pressing block and a pneumatically-driven testing module. The pressing block press downwardly against the key buttons directly and rigidly (i.e., without using any buffering means) by the testing module. When done this way, the key buttons tend to be damaged. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the new housing and method for fabricating the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the new housing and method for fabricating the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of a testing module. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the testing module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the testing module in  FIG. 2  along line III-III. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a testing module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Exemplary testing modules  100  and  200  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  4  can be suitably used for testing e.g., key buttons of keypads of mobile phones. The testing module  100  embodied in  FIG. 1  includes a driving assembly  10 , a positioning assembly  20 , and a testing head mechanism  30 . The positioning assembly  20  is configured for securing the driving assembly  10  and the testing head mechanism  30 , and positioning the testing head mechanism  30  in alignment with e.g., one of the key buttons required to be tested. 
         [0013]    The driving assembly  10  has and end connecting to a cylinder, and an opposite end (a stepped shaft portion) slidably engaged with the positioning assembly  20  for controlling movement of the testing head mechanism  30 . 
         [0014]    The positioning assembly  20  includes a positioning seat  21  and a positioning member  23 . The positioning seat  21  includes a horizontal upper board  211 , a vertical first side board  213  and a second side board  215 . The upper board  211  defines a through positioning hole  2111  at the center and four through connecting holes  2113  at four corners. The connecting holes  2113  extend through the first side boards  213  and the second side board  215 . The upper board  211  further defines two securing holes  217  along a direction nearly perpendicular to the positioning hole  2111 . 
         [0015]    The positioning member  23  includes a base seat  231 , a first cover member  237  and a second cover member  239 . The base seat  231  includes a first end portion  232  and an opposite second end portion  234 . The base seat  231  defines a through, hollow and stepped cylindrical receiving cavity  233  for receiving an engagable and stepped cylindrical sleeve  2331 . The sleeve  2331  forms an abutting end portion  2332  at one end. When being fully received in the receiving cavity  233 , the abutting end portion  2332  abuts the stepped inner wall of the receiving cavity  233 . The base seat  231  defines four fixing holes  235  in the side for facilitating the mounting of the positioning member  23  to a testing machine (not shown). The first end portion defines four blind, threaded holes  2321  and four mounting holes  2323 . 
         [0016]    The first cover member  237  defines a through first limiting holes  2371  at the center and four first attaching holes  2373  corresponding to the mounting holes  2323 . The second cover member defines a second limiting hole  2391  at the center and four second attaching holes  2393 . 
         [0017]    The testing head mechanism  30  includes a cushioning mechanism  31  and a head cap  33 . The cushioning mechanism  31  includes a first sliding column  311 , a second sliding column  313 , a first elastic member  315 , a second elastic member  317 . The first sliding column  311  has a first protrusion  3111  protruding downwardly from one end therefrom. The second sliding column  313  includes a base column  3131 , a second protrusion  3133  on a side of the base column  3131 , a first extending column  3135 , and a second extending column  3137  on an opposing side of the base column  3131 . The diameters of the base column  3131 , the first extending column  3135 , and the second extending column  3137  decrease, in order written. The first elastic member  315  can be coiled around the first protrusion  3111  and the second protrusion  3133 . The second elastic member  317  can be coiled around the first extending column  3135  and the second extending column  3137  for resisting the base column  3131  and the second cover member  239 . 
         [0018]    The head cap  33  is provided with resiliency and has a blind hole  331  defined for securely receiving the second extending column  3137 . Due to resiliency, the key button pressed by the head cap  33  can be protected from rigid striking. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , during assembly, the second cover member  239  is fixed to the second end portion  234  by a fixing of screws into the mounting holes and the second attaching holes  2393 . The second elastic member  317 , the second sliding column  313 , the first elastic member  315  and the first sliding column  311  can be mounted into the receiving cavity  233 , in the order written. The second elastic member  317  resists the second cover member  239  and the base column  3131 , and coils around the second extending column  3137  and the first extending column  3135 . The first elastic member  315  resists the first sliding column  311 . After that, the first cover member  237  can be fixed to the positioning member  23  by fixing screws into the first attaching holes  2373  and the mounting holes  2323 . The positioning member  23  can be fixed to the positioning seat  21  by fixing screws into the connecting holes  2113  and the threaded holes  2321 . 
         [0020]    The assembled positioning assembly  20  can be mounted within the testing machine by the securing hole  217  and the fixing holes  235 . The driving assembly  10  passes through the positioning hole  2111  and the first limiting holes  2371  to resist the first sliding column  311 . 
         [0021]    To test the key button, the driving assembly  10  moves downwardly to press the first sliding column  311  downwardly. During this course, the first elastic member  315  transmits the pressing force of the sliding column  311 , enabling the head cap  33  to be forced to press the key button. In such case, the movement of the second sliding column  313  compresses the second elastic member  317 . After above testing, once the driving assembly  10  is released, the second elastic member  317  returns to urge the first elastic member  315 , first sliding column  311 , and the second extending column  3137  to move reversely. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows another testing module  200  of another embodiment, which is structurally similar to the testing module  100 , yet, replaces the cushioning mechanism  30  of the first embodiment. The testing module  200  includes a driving assembly  201 , a positioning assembly  203  and a testing head mechanism  205 . The positioning assembly  203  includes a positioning seat  2031  and a positioning member  2033 . The positioning member  2033  defines a hollow stepped receiving cavity  2034 . The positioning assembly  203  further includes a sleeve  2035  mounted into the receiving cavity  2034 , and a first cover member  2038  and a second cover member  2039  secured to two opposite sides of the positioning member  2033 . The interior wall of the sleeve  2035  forms a limiting ring  2036  for controlling pressure of the testing head mechanism  205  against the key button. 
         [0023]    The testing head mechanism  205  includes a first sliding column  2051 , a second sliding column  2053 , and a head cap  2054 . The first sliding column  2051  is securely connected to the driving assembly  201 . The second sliding column  2053  protrudes an extending column  2055  for mounting the head cap  2054 . The first sliding column  2051  and the second sliding column  2053  can be engagably received in the sleeve  2035  to seal a changeable sealed chamber  2037  therebetween. Gas can be filled into the sealed chamber  2037 . 
         [0024]    During testing, the driving assembly  201  can be pressed to move downwardly. In this course, the first sliding column  2051  moves along to compress the gas of the sealed chamber  2037 . With the sealed chamber  2037  shortened, the gas pressure is accordingly leveled up to transmit the pressing force of the driving assembly  201 , which moves the second sliding column  2053  downwardly. The head cap  2054  can be forced to press the key button. To prevent the key button from being pressed overly, when the first sliding column  2051  reaches to the limiting ring  2036 , the first sliding column  2051  cannot move further by the resisting of the limiting ring  2036 . After above testing, once the driving assembly  201  is released, the sealed chamber  2037  enlarges and the gas pressure to be lowered down to urge the second sliding column  2053 , the first sliding column  2051  and the driving assembly  201  to move reversely. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.