Patent Publication Number: US-11656696-B2

Title: Touch pad structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/148,598, filed on Jan. 14, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,314,343 B2, which claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 109113791, filed on Apr. 24, 2020, and the content of which in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a touch pad structure. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Vigorous development of electronic devices has facilitated human lives, and thus how to operate the electronic devices in a more user-friendly manner is an important issue. For instance, common electronic devices in our daily lives include notebook computers, mobile phones, satellite navigation devices, and so on. In order to operate the electronic devices efficiently, touch pads acting as input devices has been widely adopted to control the electronic devices. 
     Generally, a pressing point of a user on the touch pad does not stay unchanged, and different pressing points not only bring different pressing feelings to the user but also affect motion stability of the touch pad. Therefore, how to improve the pressing feeling when the user operates the touch pad and improve motion stability of the touch pad has drawn more and more attention. At the same time, how to maintain the pressing feeling in the design trend of miniaturizing bodies of the electronic devices in response to the requirements for compactness and light weight of the electronic devices has become a research and development project to which relevant manufacturers are dedicated. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure provides a touch pad structure, and the full field of the touch pad structure can be pressed. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a touch pad structure includes a touch module, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a plurality of linkage rods. The first bracket has a plurality of first pivoting portions, and the touch module is disposed on the first bracket. The second bracket has a plurality of second pivoting portions. Each of the linkage rods is pivotally connected between the first pivoting portion and the second pivoting portion, so that the touch module is moved together with the first bracket when the touch module is pressed. One portion of each of the linkage rods is pivotally rotated at the first pivoting portion, and another portion of each of the linkage rods is pivotally rotated and moved at the second pivoting portion, so that the touch module and the first bracket are moved toward a plane where the second bracket is located. 
     Based on the above, in the touch pad structure provided in one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the touch module is disposed on the first bracket, and the linkage rods are connected between the first bracket and the second bracket, so that one portion of each of the linkage rods connected to the first pivoting portion is pivotally rotated, and another portion of each of the linkage rods connected to the second pivoting portion is pivotally rotated and moved, whereby the first bracket may be moved toward the plane where the second bracket is located when the touch module is pressed. In other words, no matter which portion of the touch module is pressed by the user, the touch module and the first bracket may be smoothly moved relative to the second bracket in the above-mentioned manner due to the connection relationship of the linkage rods. 
     As such, it is unlikely for the touch pad structure not to receive an average force due to its driving structure. At the same time, the simple mechanism composed of the first bracket, the second bracket, and the linkage rods may effectively reduce the thickness of the touch pad structure, so as to comply with the requirements for stable driving, light weight, and compactness. 
     Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below to further describe the disclosure in details. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles described herein 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a touch pad structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3 A  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1    along a sectional line A-A. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  3 A  in another state. 
         FIG.  3 C  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1    along a sectional line B-B. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    is a top view of a touch pad structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1   . Here, rectangular coordinates X-Y-Z are provided to facilitate descriptions of components. With reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    at the same time, in the embodiment, a touch pad structure  100  includes a touch module  130 , a first bracket  110 , a second bracket  120 , and a plurality of linkage rods  140 . The first bracket  110  has a plurality of first pivoting portions  111 , and the touch module  130  is disposed on the first bracket  110 . The second bracket  120  has a plurality of second pivoting portions  121 . Each of the linkage rods  140  is pivotally connected between the first pivoting portion  111  and the second pivoting portion  121 , so that the touch module  130  is moved together with the first bracket  110  when the touch module  130  is pressed. One portion of each of the linkage rods  140  is pivotally rotated at the first pivoting portion  111 , and another portion of each of the linkage rods  140  is pivotally rotated and moved at the second pivoting portion  121 , so that the first bracket  110  and the touch module  130  on the first bracket  110  are moved toward the second bracket  120 . 
     Here, relevant features of the touch pad structure  100  adapted to a notebook computer are depicted in the embodiment, which should however not be construed as a limitation in the disclosure; that is, the touch pad structure  100  may be substantially adapted to any electronic device whose operation requires a touch pad. 
       FIG.  3 A  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1    along a sectional line A-A. With reference to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   , and  FIG.  3 A  at the same time, specifically, the touch pad structure  100  further includes an upper cover  170  and a base  160 , wherein the base  160  is formed by placing a supporting plate  161  on a bottom board  162 . The second bracket  120  is disposed on the support plate  161 , and after the first bracket  110 , the linkage rods  140 , and the touch module  130  are completely assembled and arranged, the upper cover  170  is assembled to the base  160 , and the touch module  130  is exposed by an opening  171  of the upper cover  170 . 
     Furthermore, the first bracket  110  and the second bracket  120  form a stacked frame body with the same central axis L 1 , which is shown in  FIG.  3 A  on the condition that the touch module  130  is not pressed. An orthogonal projection of the first bracket  110  on a plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located is surrounded by the second bracket  120 . Here, the plane P 1  is parallel to the x-y plane. That is, for the first bracket  110 , the first pivoting portions  111  are formed by winding a plurality of outer edges of the first bracket  110 . The second bracket  120  is a hollow frame body, and the second pivoting portions  121  are formed by bending a plurality of inner edges of the hollow frame body. In addition, each of the linkage rods  140  has a first rod body  141  and at least one second rod body  142  extending from the first rod body  141 , wherein the first rod body  141  is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portion  111 , and the second rod body  142  is movably pivotally connected to the second pivoting portion  121 . Here, the second rod body  142  extends from two opposite ends of the first rod body  141  and is bent to form a rectangular outline with a gap. 
     After the corresponding connection relationship between the linkage rods  140  and the first bracket  110  and the second bracket  120  are respectively established, the first bracket  110  may float up and down relative to the second bracket  120 , i.e., the first bracket  110  moves along the z-axis. Here, the orthogonal projection of the first bracket  110  on the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located does not overlap the second bracket  120 , so that the touch module  130  and the first bracket  110  approach each other in parallel with respect to the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located when the touch module  130  is pressed. 
       FIG.  3 B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  3 A  in another state. With reference to  FIG.  3 A  and  FIG.  3 B  at the same time, when the first bracket  110  and the touch module  130  on the first bracket  110  are pressed, the process from what is shown in  FIG.  3 A  to what is shown in  FIG.  3 B  is clearly illustrated. Namely, while the first bracket  110  and the touch module  130  thereon are moved toward the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located, the first bracket  110  remains in a state parallel to the x-y plane. For the second bracket  120 , the first bracket  110  or the touch module  130  may be considered as moving toward the second bracket  120  at an equal distance; that is, the distance from the plane P 1  to any region on the same plane (parallel to the x-y plane) on the first bracket  110  or to any pressed region on the same plane (parallel to the x-y plane) on the touch module  130  remains unchanged during said moving process. 
     It should also be mentioned that for the second bracket  120 , each of the second pivoting portions  121  has a gap  121   a  facing away from the first bracket  110 , the first rod body  141  of each of the linkage rods  140  is pivotally rotated at the first pivoting portion  111 , while the second rod body  142  is simultaneously pivotally rotated and moved at the second pivoting portion  121 , wherein the moving direction is parallel to the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located. As shown in  FIG.  2 B , when the touch module  130  is pressed, the gap  121   a  of the second pivoting portion  121  provides a margin for the second rod body  142  to move toward the positive y-axis direction, so that the first bracket  110  and the touch module  130  may smoothly descend along the z axis. Meanwhile, the support plate  161  provided in the embodiment has a plurality of hollow-carved portions  161   a  and a latching opening  161   b , and the latching opening  161   b  corresponds to a latching portion  122  of the second bracket  120 , so that the second bracket  120  may be smoothly assembled on the support plate  161 . Each of the hollow-carved portions  161   a  is located at a moving path of the first pivoting portion  111  (and the first rod body  141 ) on the moving path, so that when the touch module  130  is pressed, the first pivoting portion  111  is partially moved into the hollow-carved portion  161   a . That is, in addition to the moving path of the first rod body  141  and the first pivoting portions  111  along the z axis, the hollow-carved portions  161   a  of the support plate  161  may further provide the first pivoting portions  111  with a margin of movement along the z axis. On the other hand, with reference to  FIG.  2    again, in the embodiment, the first pivoting portions  111  of the first bracket  110 , the second pivoting portions  121  of the second bracket  120 , and the linkage rods  140  are symmetrical with respect to the central axis L 1 , respectively. That is, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the first pivoting portions  111  are located at side edges of four outer edges of the first bracket  110 , and the second pivoting portions  121  are located at side edges of four inner edges of the second bracket  120 . Similarly, the linkage rods  140  are located between the first bracket  110  and the second bracket  120  and surround the four outer sides of the first bracket  110 . Accordingly, the components constitute a mechanism that allows the first bracket  110  (and the touch module  130  thereon) to distribute stress and move stably. 
       FIG.  3 C  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch pad structure in  FIG.  1    along a sectional line B-B. With reference to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3 C , in comparison with  FIG.  3 A  and  FIG.  3 B , respectively, the touch pad structure  100  provided in the embodiment further includes a plurality of elastic members  150 , each of which has a dome structure and is disposed between the support plate  161  and the touch module  130 ; thereby, when the touch module  130  is pressed, as shown in  FIG.  3 B , the first bracket  110  is moved toward the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located, and each of the elastic members  150  is deformed to accumulate an elastic force. Next, in the state shown in  FIG.  3 B , when the user releases the force required for pressing the touch module  130  (i.e., the touch module  130  is not pressed), the elastic forces of the elastic members  150  drive the first bracket  110  to move away from the plane P 1  where the second bracket  120  is located, and the first bracket  110  and the touch module  130  are restored to the state shown in  FIG.  3 A . 
     In the embodiment, the touch module  130  includes a glass layer  131 , a circuit board  132 , and a bonding layer  133  which are stacked together. After the glass layer  131  and the circuit board  132  are completely assembled, the bonding layer  133  and the first bracket  110  are further assembled. Further, as shown in  FIG.  3 C , the circuit board  132  has a bonding pad  132   a , and the elastic member  150  has a trigger portion  151 . As such, when the touch module  130  is pressed, the trigger portion  151  abuts against and conducts electricity to the bonding pad  132   a , thereby generating a trigger signal. In the embodiment, the five elastic members  150  with the same structure are arranged according to the look of the touch pad structure  100 , and the number of elastic members  150  or their trigger positions may be adjusted in response to various requirements. On the other hand, for the touch pad module  100 , the elastic member  150  at the center and the trigger mechanism (i.e., the bonding pad  132   a  and the trigger portion  151 ) are located at the same region, while the remaining four elastic members  150  are configured to provide overall balance to the mechanism and maintain the gap at the opening  171  of the upper cover  170  of the touch module  130 . 
     To sum up, in the touch pad structure provided in one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the touch module is disposed on the first bracket, and the linkage rods are connected between the first bracket and the second bracket, so that one portion of each of the linkage rods connected to the first pivoting portion is pivotally rotated, and another portion of each of the linkage rods connected to the second pivoting portion is pivotally rotated and moved, whereby the first bracket may be moved toward the plane where the second bracket is located when the touch module is pressed. In other words, no matter which portion of the touch module is pressed by the user, the touch module and the first bracket may be smoothly moved relative to the second bracket in the above-mentioned manner due to the connection relationship of the linkage rods. 
     Furthermore, in the thickness direction of the touch pad structure (i.e., along the z axis provided in the previous embodiment), the first bracket and the second bracket are structurally connected merely by the linkage rods, so as to form the alternately arranged structure (the first bracket is on the inside while the second bracket is on the outside) with the same central axis. Therefore, the thickness of the touch pad structure and the electronic device applying the touch pad structure may be effectively reduced. Besides, the touch pad structure provided herein does not require the conventional scissor-switch mechanism and thus can comply with the requirement for slimness. Here, the slimness feature is not required by the touch pad structure itself but also by the body of the electronic device applying the touch pad structure. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure covers modifications and variations provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.